February arrived calmly, without the howling wind, so we had two pleasant days walking the boardwalk. Saturday the high winds arrived and with just a few centimeters of snow, it made our walk impossible. Since then, exercise has been relegated to indoors . This is the third day of the storm and while the western part of the island didn’t have as much snow, the drifting from the high winds with what we did have, resulted in white-out conditions which continue today.
On one of the calm days this past week, the Blue Jays put on quite a show along the boardwalk. Two of the regular walkers brought a supply of peanuts they left for the birds and squirrels at the birdhouse overlooking the salt marsh. The Jays wait nearby for them every morning.
That morning, walkers stopped to take in the scene as Jays hurried to the rail of the bridge.
The birds lined up for their chance at the raw peanuts and those in shells.
After each acquired peanuts, raw or shelled, they flew off to stash or consume them.
Black-capped Chickadees waited in the trees for any peanuts the Jays might leave. No chance of that! The Jays took all the peanuts but a Red Squirrel came by to check for himself anyway. He ate some of the birdseed from the feeder.
Meanwhile further down the stream, two American Black Ducks were mere silhouettes in the bright sunlight.
On the other calm day this month, the view from the bench was peaceful with the Confederation Bridge visible at sea level on the left. The winter sky was barely distinguishable from the frozen sea.
We wonder about the animals through all of this bad weather. We will take peanuts with us when we can return to the boardwalk.
31 comments:
Hello Marie,
Wonderful photos of the Blue Jays. They do love their peanuts.
I feel sorry for the little birds, they do not stand a chance.
The last shot of the bench with the view is beautiful.
Take care, have a great day and happy new week!
Great blog
Blue Jays are such beautiful little spots of colour in a winter landscape.
Such beautiful birds! Thanks for the update on your storm and hope you get back to normal soon.
My goodness, did NS ever get hit. Particularly NS from what I understand.
gorgeous captures and fun sentiment about those blue jays, their color is so vibrant. we had beautiful weather this past weekend, i remember thinking "marie and co." would love walking in it!! i was able to get out and i visited the beach and wandered through the boat areas!!
i did not realize the weather was so bad by you. we have had a pretty mild winter so far. a few really cold days and only a little bit of snow!! we have been lucky so far, but i don't really mind the winter!!
Beautiful birds and great photo!
Oh I love the pictures of the Jays, and how they wait in line for their treats.
Brrr that last shot makes me shiver, but it is lovely in its own way.
Sue
It sounds like you've been experiencing some interesting weather, with calm days and a snowstorm bringing about a change in your usual routine. The Blue Jays adding some excitement with their show must have been a delightful sight during your walks.
I've been watching the news and looking at the photos coming out of, Nova Scotia in particular. It's horrible how much snow has fallen at once. Do stay safe and warm indoors.
The photos of the Jays are wonderful, but my fave is the young squirrel coming to check what might be left behind.
I like how you caught the squirrel in action. we have to put up with storms. we haven't had a blizzard this year.
Hello! What amazing photos you captured! I love the Blue Jays. Have a cozy evening, my friend.
The Blue Jay photos are stunning! I had not heard about your Storms, but from the other comments I gather it must have been something else.
The Jays are so beautiful against the quiet winter background. Our friends on PEI said they were snowed in and even the plows had stopped coming by. So they were staying put and cozy at home. It's been quite the storm, especially in Cape Breton.
What beautiful birds, so blue. Lovely photographs.
Such polite little birds! We regularly see one sparrow or tit chasing another away from our feeders when there's plenty for everyone.
I'm not sure that I've seen so many bluejays all together. I love how you tell a story with your photos! Your weather sounds intense. It's been chilly in South Florida - today was 56 degrees for my morning walk. It's usually 70 degrees. Thanks for sharing these great photos!
Hi Marie I stopped by to visit you from visiting Salty Pumpkin. Your winter photos are gorgeous. Read several of your posts and enjoyed each one. I will be back to visit again soon.
Amazing photos of the birds!
The blue jays are quite a sight! I find your picture with the two black ducks as quite amazing! So, is the last picture with the bench.
Marie, this has been such a joy to read this post and see your stunning photography. To see so many Blue Jays feeding in an orderly line is simply wonderful. Their stunning blue against the winter background is sensational.
The storm in the east certainly dumped a lot of snow.
The weather seems to be exceptionally dire where you are, Marie, even by PEI winter standards. I suspect that those of us who visit in the summer barely give it a thought but winter down there is fierce. Those hurricanes at other times of the year too. Actually many years ago when I lived in Québec City I worked with a fellow who retired to the Island, based only on idyllic summers spent there, and lasted only a couple of years before he sold up and moved to southern Ontario. Waterloo is a very nice place……just sayin’!
It sounds like February started off gently, allowing for some enjoyable walks along the boardwalk, which must have been quite refreshing. However, the turn of weather with high winds and snow disrupting your outdoor activities highlights the unpredictability of winter. Being pushed to indoor exercise due to the storm and white-out conditions shows how adaptable we have to be during these colder months. The interaction with nature, especially the Blue Jays and their morning routine for peanuts, brings a bright spot to the quieter, calmer days. It's lovely to hear how wildlife can create special moments amidst the varying weather patterns. As always, love your photos! Stay safe and warm indoors until the storm passes!
Beautiful photos of the blue jays.
I feel sorry for the squirrel hanging on the rail.
Hello Marie :=)
So sorry it's taken me so long to get here. It seems that we are experiencing similar weather, stormy with high velocity winds that have already done some damage in the farm. Your photos are a joy to see, and the Blue Jay line up captures are very special, what a treat to them queuing in such an orderly fashion, and their bright blue feathers are so beautiful. Nice shot of the ducks, the bench and the poor little squirrel. I hope your weather improves so you can enjoy your walks again.
All the best
Sonjia
The Blue Jays are adorable. We can't complain about our winter... on the other hand...it indicates climate changes.
The last shot of the blue jay is funny; you can just see him thinking.
I hope your weather is back to something like normal. We have a melt. Not good, this time of the winter, as it turns to packed ice almost immediately. JG is out working on our laneway and I am here, worrying.
Incredible photos. I am partial to Blue Jays. I love their color.
Textbook images of the blue jays, Marie, and what delightful accounting of what your part of the world encounters during weather like this. So glad you had the chance to get out on the boardwalks again!
what a bliss to have sun out during such harsh windy winters
the blue jay images are enchanting ,i remember these words from our northern home town during winters along with many other guest birds
thank you so much for brightening up my heart with joyous bird photos :)
I always love seeing your bird and squirrel photos. I'm glad people are feeding them. I always try to feed animals extra when it's cold.
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