Picnic season

My husband and I have been out and about this week between the raindrops and dressed for the cold. It was a lovely week in nature however, as we revisited Cavendish one day and explored the Dunk River Trail another. There we had our first picnic of the year on a cool but wind-free day.  The boardwalk provided a much better walk than the treadmill other days too.

It was a sunny day for our first picnic, as we sat at a table overlooking Scales Pond, which is a favourite fishing spot of many. 

The area was alive with birds twittering all around us. A Red-winged Blackbird joined us, watching from a nearby tree.

We walked part of the nearby Dunk River Trail that day, a trail which runs parallel to the river and is frequented by anglers too. 

We could hear the birds high in the trees but the only one we saw was a tiny Downy Woodpecker. 

At Cavendish, we walked along the trail by Clark’s Pond. A Bald Eagle sat atop an old snag near the pond. 

A large Snowshoe Hare was feeding along the trail. 

Osprey had rebuilt their nest which was destroyed over the winter. The female was incubating eggs and keeping an eye on the area.

Along the boardwalk, we saw the mother fox and her three kits. The little ones are out and about but look to be nursing still. I like this photo of the mother being nuzzled by one of the little ones.

I hope the young squirrels who are feeding along the boardwalk lately, can avoid the fox as she hunts nearby. This little one is the smallest Red Squirrel I’ve seen and it’s new to the boardwalk this week.

I am including webcam information of an Osprey nest at Old Tracadie Harbour, Prince Edward Island. The two Osprey have at least two eggs which the female is incubating. The dynamics of the pair of birds are fascinating to watch. I look forward to seeing the chicks. The webcam is 

here.

Have a great week everyone! 

In the early morning light

It had been a miserable week of weather on the island and most of our walking was relegated to the treadmill last week. By the weekend the wind and rain had cleared so we dressed for the cold and headed out.

One Saturday my husband and I walked our usual boardwalk route and the next day we headed to Malpeque. It was finally setting day as the miserable weather had prevented the start of the lobster fishery on the north shore. 

As usual, we weren’t early enough to see the boats leave port Sunday morning but we enjoyed observing the Great Blue Heron siege nearby. 

We were surprised the birds were up and about at 6 a.m. Maybe the activity in the area had roused them or this could have been their regular time to have breakfast. We watched them catch fish, 

some tiny like the one in the photo. 

Several flew off into the trees as we watched from the road, but the morning light provided a golden hue over part of the marsh.

Smaller birds, Yellowlegs, walked among the Herons too. They were unconcerned with the bigger birds and fed along the water’s edge.

As the light changed, it appeared to highlight the Herons.

Then, somehow, I took this photo. I changed settings and unknowingly took this picture as the morning light caught the Heron near the far shore.

Meanwhile, the lobster boats had set their traps, and near the lighthouse at Yankee Hill, we watched them return. 

Maybe we’ll be able to have our first picnic this week.