The first week of March provided the usual conditions for this time of year. It felt like spring for a few days, then winter returned. Wind kept us home one day and I didn’t take my camera for two days due to falling snow, using my cell phone for photos instead.
The stream through the salt marsh was flowing again at the beginning of last week. Then the weather turned cold, the stream iced over and the flock of ducks disappeared again. The blue colour of the stream was remarkable that day.
A day later, it was mild again and the ducks were back. Fog in the bay added another element to the usual scene from the bridge.
Ducks were busy the rest of the week, flying around the marsh or chasing others in the stream. The male and female Mallards put on a show as we watched another day.
Along the walkway, I always stop in this area which has a lot of animal activity if it isn’t particularly windy.
A favourite of the Red Squirrels
and Bluejays,
the feeder is filled regularly by walkers to the area.
A favourite photo of the week was a chance photo of a Downy Woodpecker diving from one tree to another in that area.
Meanwhile, on a calm day, the resident Mourning Doves gathered in a tree overlooking the bridge.
Another day, it looked like an American Crow in the foreground and a Common Raven beside it on the bridge railing eating seed. More expert birders can correct me if I’m wrong.
Sometimes the best stories are of the non-photo events. Yesterday, it was snowing again and I left my camera home, relying on my cell phone for photos instead. As I stood in the area near the feeder for my usual few minutes there, I was buzzed by Black-capped Chickadees. The tiny birds expect food from walkers who stop. I didn’t have food with me but they didn’t give up. I could hear their wings all around my head.
As I held up the cell phone to take a photo, one of the birds landed on the top of my phone at eye level. No photos of course. Such an incredible experience looking into the face of that tiny creature about 30 centimetres away.
The little bird stayed for mere seconds but I was happy not to have reacted negatively and scared it off.
It was a memorable encounter and one I will talk about for some time.
9 comments:
Close encounters with birds are so cool. I once had a chickadee drop a seed from the feeder near which I was sitting. It landed on my chest and he flew down to collect it off me!
Your posts are always so calming.
How sweet to be eye to eye with a chik a dee.
Cathy
Chickadees are so remarkably fearless about landiing on humans, aren't they! I love them.
What a sweet encounter with that chickadee. Thanks for giving me such a smile to start my day.
I love that feeder that passersby keep replenishing. And I envy your chickadee encounter. I’ve had them but not for a long time.
Marie am sure that your encounter with the chickadee was amazing. Always think they look so dressed up with their black caps and tuxedo front and back. Sounds like they enjoy dancing too as they flittered around you. As always so enjoy your beautiful pictures. Am sure it will not be long until you are sharing some spring photos. Take care and have a wonderful week. Hugs
I love the squirrel and blue jay pictures. I don't like snow, but your pictures of the snow are always so pretty. I'd be talking about that bird encounter for a long time, too.
gorgeous pictures of the wildlife and such a great story about the chickadee. share that memory with your grandchildren, so the story lives on!! the moral of the story, never leave home without bird seed in your pocket!!
That is quite an encounter.. not to be ever forgotten.
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