Visitors

We anticipate our first hike and picnic for this year but the wait continues. While it doesn’t have to be warm, the wind has been the ever present deterrent in the last few weeks. On our only pleasant day in recent weeks we had appointments. Meanwhile, Georgie, the golden grand-dog is visiting while her family is out of town. 

We enjoy taking Georgie to the boardwalk, a place she loves and where we see some visitors to the island.

The arrival of our warm weather feathered friends has begun. The Red-winged Blackbirds came back this past week and announced their arrival with their calls from the trees overlooking the stream. 

We suspect the males are calling their lady friends.

Along the water’s edge at the mouth of the stream, another visitor, a lone Kildeer fed along the icy shoreline. 

It was puffed up against the cold. Its arrival is a bit premature according to conditions along the shoreline.

While the squirrels have been out and about all winter, now the chipmunks are emerging from their nests and burrows having weathered another winter. This one is enjoying the spotlight.

Georgie enjoys the area immensely. There is never a shortage of other dogs walking with their owners and she sniffs every one and the scent along the trail of those who have gone before. Georgie watches over my husband and I as we walk. She doesn’t want to be out of sight of either of us. Usually he is in the lead with her, while I lag behind taking photos. Georgie stops every so often to see where I am. If I am what she judges to be too far behind, she plants her feet and refuses to move until I catch up. She does the same if my husband is the one following. 

We seniors stick together as we enjoy what nature has to offer.

Spring around here

It is warming up with day time temperatures slightly above zero, longer daylight hours and the sun feeling warmer. We have kept our walks to the boardwalk where the signs of spring are more feeling than reality yet. Still that time in nature is precious and treasured amid the reality playing out in the world.

The bay is ice covered still though the ice looks more like sloppy snow now with a few areas of open water. Birds have found these openings on the bay with the American Black Ducks dividing their time between the freely flowing stream through the salt marsh and the bay.

One morning recently, fog shrouded the Confederation Bridge which is usually like a mirage in the distance.

Rafted ice in the Northumberland Strait looks ready to drop to icy depths.

The snow, plentiful along the edges of the pathway after storms, is retreating from the walkway, exposing the path we haven’t seen since last autumn.

Red Squirrels chase each other and chatter as mating season approaches.

Small birds such a Black-capped Chickadees, 

Tree Sparrows, 

Dark-Eyed Juncos 

and Song Sparrows 

join the ubiquitous Blue Jays foraging as they are wont to do. 

Around them the snow melts a bit more every day, a hopeful sign that spring will be more than a day on the calendar. For a few minutes everything is right with the world.

 

Against the elements

These images speak to me. Snow drifted over the earth far enough from the beach where a few winter-darkened evergreens are rooted. Dried grasses, flowers and shrubs poked their heads through the snow into the biting wind. All are determined to survive.

The same evergreens in summer are tree green, a colour which disappears with the warmer temperatures and diminished light. Yet, the trees brighten up again as spring takes hold. Their determined vigil in the worst of weather and shortened daylight is inspiring.

The ground vegetation is inspiring too. It provides definition to the snow drifts which follows the contour of the land not far from the beach. The “heads up” attitude of the vegetation stands against all extremes of weather. Individual strands of dried grass stand against the skyline. Determination is on the horizon.

Against the tree line of the park, a few trees look desolate. However, they too have aspirations similar to their compatriots and dream of days when they will stand with others in their own forest.

Sometimes the affairs of nature parallel those of people.

Winter at Thunder Cove

Our friend Phyllis Buchanan DesRoches has a beautiful cottage at Thunder Cove on the north shore of Prince Edward Island. The beach at Thunder Cove is one of the most beautiful on PEI. 

The sea stacks at the western end of the beach, especially the famous Tea Cup, add to the beauty of the area. However, my husband and I have never seen Thunder Cove in winter. Phyllis shared her photos of the area with us and gave me permission to share them with you. These photos were taken on her cell phone.

Last week the ice was on-shore due to the northeasterly wind. When we were last on the north shore, a southerly wind kept the ice off-shore. That beautiful beach looks a bit different when ice fills the shoreline.

Three sea stacks in the area look different too as they stand amid the ice and snow. The one in the foreground resembles a vase. 

Behind it in the photo is a block-like stack, while the Tea Cup takes centre stage. 

Before long Phyllis will be back at the cottage for the warmer months when the snow and ice are but memories of the past winter. Meanwhile, one can appreciate the beauty of nature in any season.

P.S.

Yesterday I did the dance run as usual. I picked up my ten year old granddaughter from her dance class and dropped her home. During the fifteen minute drive we catch up on school and family news. She has my full attention and we love those precious minutes together.

She talked about war, the Russian leader and Canada taking in Ukrainian refugees. She will welcome any newcomers to our area and looks forward to meeting them. The tragedy of their situation wasn’t lost on the child and she struggled with the reason for such a tragedy.

She is not alone.