Hazy summer days

It has been cooler this past week, and most days the island breeze has been lovely. I finished the week with the worst migraine I ever had and the source was unknown. It took two days to pass. As I’ve aged, migraines have become infrequent but this one made up for the missing. I don’t want a repeat any time soon. The headache curtailed our activity for two days this past week which was not to our liking.

The smoke from wildfires in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia was particularly bad the last few days. You could even smell it in the air as the wind brought the smoke across the Northumberland Strait. 

This time of year, Bonaparte’s Gulls enjoy the day along the shoreline of Bedeque Bay where they feed to ready themselves for the long flight south. The tiny Gulls, some mature with their black heads, are accompanied by the younger birds who have but a black dot on each side of their heads.

This time of year, fields of wheat and other crops yield to the harvest. On our recent walks on the Confederation Trail, my husband and I watched hay brought to a barn at a farm where three horses reside. 

The animals were interested in the proceedings as was the family dog. They stayed where the tractor was working and checked out the hay afterwards. Scenes of the baled hay in the fields are among my favourite harvest scenes.

Buckwheat was being cut in some of the fields as well. On Prince Edward Island, buckwheat is grown in rotation in potato fields where it is cut before it goes to seed.

It suppresses weeds, improves soil quality and suppresses pests. 

A flock of Cedar Waxwings enjoyed the berries along the trail where various types of berries are ripening now. 

Mountain ash berries and raspberries are plentiful along the trail. Lots of apples of various sizes are ripening too.

In the salt marsh, it looked like the Bald Eagles had been busy catching lunch again as feathers covered various areas of the marsh.

We saw Solitary Sandpipers 

several times last week as well as mature and younger Ruddy Turnstones. 

Meanwhile the wildflowers never fail to grab my attention. The Fireweed or Rosebay Willowherb sways in the breeze, ready to spread its cotton-like seed into the air. 

Aster has taken its place in succession and sits beside Joe Pye Weed or Goldenrod in various locations.

There are 87,000 acres of potatoes in the fields of the island this year. Presently the plants are parched since rain has been lacking the last month or more. Growth and yield may be affected this year.

The golden grand-dog, Daisy is visiting for a few days this week while her family is camping. She will keep us busy. Two walks a day may be the new norm.

I hope you have a great week!

Out and about in August

Last week was beautiful on Prince Edward Island in spite of the tremendous heat during the early part of the week. We had the hottest day ever recorded here, at 39.5 C or 103 F. The humidity made it feel warmer. However, the island breeze was blowing  and made the heat bearable. It was lovely in the house with windows open and the breeze blowing through. By Thursday, the air had cooled and with the breeze, it was comfortable. My husband and I walked early every day though to avoid the hottest hours.

One day, at low tide, Gulls were spread around the extended area of shoreline as if they owned the bay. The colours, texture of the sand and the water created an unusual sight which may never present itself in the same way again. We lingered over the scene.

As always, each day nature provided entertainment. We wished we had seen the reason this female Mallard was taking such a deed bow on her own stage. 

At the end of the show, Starlings left the marsh noisily as they usually do.

The bay was busy. Lobster season is well underway on the south coast of the island now and fishing boats crash through the rough seas to check their traps for the valuable crustaceans. The haze of the wildfires throughout Canada was present some days.

Another day, at low tide, a man and his dog enjoyed playing fetch in the bay. The dog’s enjoyment of retrieving the toy was obvious and fun to watch from the boardwalk. 

When I turned around to walk further on the trail, there was a Bald Eagle, atop the same snag as last week. Sometimes two of the birds land in the same place. 

I wondered if this bird was the same one as I had seen and photographed the previous week. I took copious photos to compare the two lots of pictures and discovered it probably is the same bird. 

There is a common mark in the same location in the left iris in the two birds photographed.

This time I captured the bird blinking, as its nictitating membrane closed over its eye. The largely transparent membrane protects the eye and keeps it clean.

The presence of the Bald Eagles on a fairly regular basis, makes me wonder if they are making meals of the ducks which frequent the salt marsh near where the Eagles hang out. 

There were a number of small young Green-winged Teals one days in the marsh. 

These are small ducks anyway but there were several young ones among the assembled birds. The next time we visited the area, lots of feathers covered the marsh and few Teals. 

We can’t help but think the Eagles dined there.

Mid week, we were entertained by a flock of Black-bellied Plovers. There were birds at various stages of development in the flock, such as this adult,

and these two younger birds. 

I was fortunate to be able to capture their markings in flight as well.

We also picked high bush blueberries this past Saturday with our daughter and grandchildren. The berries are juicy and delicious and so easy to pick. The kids love a Newfoundland recipe called blueberry grunt. 

The recipe makes a tasty blueberry jam into which you drop spoonfuls of dumplings. They cook in the jam. Our grandson loves them for breakfast.

Finally this week, our daughter, her husband and two of the children fished for mackerel which they use as a bait fish for bass. They fish for the mackerel near the Confederation Bridge. This was the scene last week one evening as the sun set. 

They caught a lot of fish that evening. My husband and I had some for a meal…so fresh and tasty.

May your week be a tasty one too!  

Through the haze

As of August 10th, there are well over a thousand wildfires burning across Canada. The smoke is evident in our area most of the time as haze visible in the distance. Air quality is affected as well and is a threat to vulnerable people. This was the scene yesterday morning in Bedeque Bay, as a tug assisted a barge out of port. The two vessels dwarf the fishing vessel nearby.

Earlier this week, looking towards two Great Blue Herons near shore, the haze in the distance is obvious. One wonders if the air quality is affecting the animals such as the birds.

The avians kept us entertained this past week however, as migration continues. Many stop on the island on their way south to warmer weather for the winter, like these four Yellowlegs.

Another day, a Solitary Sandpiper fed among Yellowlegs in the marsh.

I enjoyed watching this Green-winged Teal in the marsh. The little Teal looked to have discovered its reflection and was fascinated with it.

As always, a flock of European Starlings makes its presence known as they noisily fly from one location to another. They were particularly noisy one day last week when a Bald Eagle landed in the area. They stayed in this tree several minutes chattering while the Eagle was in residence.

That Eagle was impressive as it caught sight of something moving below the tree.

Walkers were stopping to observe the bird and once it looked in my direction. 

The red soil of the island has dyed its tail feathers and its claws are fearsome weapons. 

The beak is just as impressive. 

After some minutes, it called twice and flew off just after I walked away.

The birds along the boardwalk really enjoy cracked corn brought by many of the walkers. Some people leave the treat along the bridge railing where the birds will gather to eat their share. Various species gather there and I saw these three species on one occasion, Blue Jays, Blackbirds and a Starling.

Meanwhile, the pink Joe Pye Weed has joined Goldenrod along the borders of the boardwalk, as the succession of wildflower beauty continues. 

The bridge was obvious in the distance this past week.

Our federal government decreased bridge tolls from $50 down to $20 on leaving the island. The cost of ferry service was cut 50% as well. It is a significant decrease in cost for islanders and a popular change!

Have a great week.