A day with sparkle

We make the most of the days without much wind on Prince Edward Island, enjoying our time on the boardwalk immensely. Any day we don’t have to put hoods up and heads down as we walk along the familiar path is a bonus day. This particular day was very different from the one described in my previous post however.

It was a grey blue sky day and earlier than we normally arrive at the boardwalk. A hint of the colourful sunrise just an hour earlier remained in the eastern sky and the Confederation Bridge disappeared into the ether. 

The air was bitingly cold, with that east coast dampness that cuts to the core. Winter without the wind!

My husband and I noticed the sparkles on the water, where the ice was forming overnight. 

The bay hasn’t frozen over yet this season but nature has cast her icy wand over the sea a number of times. Every time, a return to mild temperatures foiled her efforts. Later this week, an Arctic blast of air will probably do the trick however.

This particular day, the view from the bridge presented an interesting phenomenon 

as hoar frost had collected on the bulrushes and grasses in the marsh and only there. 

The sparkles in the scene can be seen in close-ups of the bulrushes and grasses. 

Meanwhile, on the bay, ducks swam among the sparkles too.

And all the while, regardless of conditions, other animals go about their business. A Hairy Woodpecker made his presence known as he tapped on a tree. 

A fascinating discovery was a small flock of Common Redpolls, a species I had never seen.

It was a sparkling day along the boardwalk alright!

Making waves

It is a rare day any time without wind on Prince Edward Island. One day recently, it meant quiet along the boardwalk when sounds of the blue jays and chickadees filled the air and the senses, without competition from the wind. The calm in the bay meant the water which was at high tide, reflected the sky, the usual grey of winter but with a hint of fog. The horizon disappeared as a consequence. 

Meanwhile, these two went about their business as usual.

As we continued along the boardwalk, a faint line of horizon appeared to glow in the distance. 

However behind this juniper tree, the horizon was all but gone again. 

At the turn-about, the glow of the horizon was evident again. 

On the way back, a closeup of the area in photo 3 shows the reflection on the still water without a hint of horizon.

Leave it to the ducks to make a few waves in an otherwise calm day.

Another beautiful day along the boardwalk!

Territorial

We enjoy the neighbourhood crows, a flock of five which we see every day. Watching them, we have come to appreciate the birds and observe them everywhere we go. Consequently, we always notice the two crows which consider an area near the end of the boardwalk their home turf.

Recently a Bald Eagle landed in a tree in that area, settling in to watch for its next meal. The two crows weren’t having a eagle in their domain, so they dive-bombed the bird until it left the tree. It circled while the crows watched and then flew out over the bay.

In the bay, the eagle caused a stir among the ducks far into the bay, not visible until they reacted to the eagle. It was difficult to photograph them however.

Meanwhile at the nearby feeder in the crows’ domain, two Mourning Doves fed on seeds at the base of the feeder, oblivious to the danger they had just escaped. The crows had defended the area well.

Several days later, when we arrived at the end of the boardwalk, the crows were nowhere to be seen. A Bald Eagle was settled in a tree top beyond the trail overlooking the bay.

Out on the bay, a flock of diving ducks were feeding, unaware of the predator watching the scene. My husband and I watched for several minutes and when the ducks left the area,

flying out of the bay, the eagle followed.

How fortunate we are to be able to see these animals year round.

P.S.

In the fifth photo you can see the stand of a wind turbine across the Northumberland Strait in New Brunswick. It is rarely visible from shore in Prince Edward Island.

Of snow and light

It feels like it has been overcast for months with occasional periods of sun here and there. With the level of light in the January sky, the lighthouse beacon is shining in the late morning. 

Every day I look for a new focus, something to brighten the grey day. The boardwalk usually accommodates me. 

One day recently, after a snowfall, snow collected as fluffy whiteness in some areas. Leafless shrubs along the trail were covered. 

Some had an abundance of the fluffiness.

Near the end of the boardwalk, one scene was particularly striking with snow-filled shrubs standing in ice.

Nearby, water dripped from the trees as the snow melted.

My husband fed peanuts to the chickadees hanging out at a feeder in the area.

At the bridge, a small flock of Dark-eyed Juncos were feeding on the birdseed left by walkers. 

The juncos scatter quickly when walkers approach. They, unlike chickadees and blue jays, still fear humans but eat the treats they leave behind.

We will be back.