Friends along the boardwalk

The boardwalk in Summerside is a great place for exercise throughout the year. We are never bored with the section which we frequent because there is always something different to see. Each season brings its own beauty and summer doesn’t disappoint. These are some of the animal friends of the boardwalk which we have enjoyed on our walks the last several weeks.

Red squirrels are as busy as ever and approach walkers for food which many provide. 

The tiny rodents have favourite areas, such as the bridge or a favourite bench where walkers pause and enjoy their company. 

Eastern Chipmunks collect maple seeds which fall on the boardwalk. 

They also take sunflower seeds from walkers although they are not as bold as their fellow rodents, the squirrels.

Dozens of Blue Jays hang out near the bridge too. 

They gather if one stops on the bridge. If you leave peanuts, they will quickly take them. The birds also provide the alarm system for the other animals if a predator comes into the area.

The Common Grackles are noisy and spend time around the bridge as well. 

They will eat seeds left in various feeders but are not as willing to be around people as the jays are.  

Red-winged blackbirds are their usual noisy selves. 

The males will chase off any crows who get too close to their nests among the bulrushes, where the females tend the young.

Every June, Sora visit the stream along the boardwalk. 

These birds are elusive and can be difficult to photograph. I was lucky enough to be there at the right time. Notice the length of its claws.

Herring gulls frequent the area 

and American Black Ducks live along the stream too. We didn’t see any ducklings this year however.

Recently, another walker pointed out a Leopard Frog in the grass along by the boardwalk. 

It was well camouflaged as it watched the proceedings. It stayed quiet and barely moved as we watched it for ten minutes. We had never see a frog there before.

The Song Sparrows are numerous along the length of the boardwalk. One doesn’t have to walk far to hear them perform.

Great Blue Herons visit the bay throughout the season and often stop by the salt water marsh and stream. 

Recently one took flight as we arrived at the gazebo and landed in a tree overlooking the boardwalk.

One great sight along the boardwalk this summer has been a pair of Belted Kingfishers. They perch in the trees along the shore and fish along the coastline. They fly to an area, hover, look below in the water and dive into the water to catch food such as fish, then fly into the trees with it. I have watched them on several occasions now and was lucky enough to take video of one such fishing expedition. You can see it here.

Finally, the last photo is of the end of a culvert which empties by the side of the boardwalk. A young fox on the walkway escaped into the culvert when people came along. We saw it poke its head out once and waited for another glimpse, to no avail. We hope to get its photo one day.

 

  

Joy of early morning

We always start a walk at the gazebo. It overlooks the saltwater marsh and the stream which empties into the Summerside Harbour. There are usually ducks in the stream or hidden among the reeds and wheatgrass. 

However, other feathered friends often drop by the area and spotting and observing them are always pleasant for my husband and I. Our early morning outings now, ahead of the heat later in the day, always start off with avian-induced smiles.

The chattering male Red-winged Blackbirds are always about,

flying amongst the reeds and trees. Occasionally, a female leaves her nesting duty and feeds in an area where she is visible. 

European Starlings congregate in the part of the stream which empties into the Summerside Harbour.

We see them later on the bridge overlooking the area.

Most of the time, Common Grackles dart around too quickly for me to photograph. This one was the exception 

and later it met up with some friends for a chat in a nearby tree.

Over a period of two weeks, I tried unsuccessfully to take a good photo of a Sora. Then early one clear morning, after numerous attempts, my husband took some great photos of the fast moving bird. I finally took a photo which shows its white crinoline.

That same morning, I saw a Killdeer for the first time. We see plovers on the beach every year but the Killdeer has always escaped us. It was camouflaged amongst the straw and other plant material in the stream but I managed a digital capture.

The ducks always interest us as well. There are Mallards and American Black Ducks living in the saltwater marsh these days. One morning, we could hear a duck among the reeds and wheatgrass long before we saw it. When the ducks appeared, one Black Duck was the source of the quacking but others weren’t thrilled with it and several chased after it. It persisted. You can hear that persistent duck here. 

“Don’t let anyone keep you from uttering your truth Ducky, “ I said as we turned to leave.

Watching birds is a great way to begin any day.

P.S.

In my last post, David at  https://travelswithbirds.blogspot.com/  asked about Piping Plovers at Cabot Beach.

On Prince Edward Island, there is a concerted effort to encourage nesting of Piping Plovers. Where the birds are known to nest, areas on the beaches are cordoned off to allow the birds to nest without interference. To my knowledge, Cabot Beach has never been such an area. 

Early morning in the fog

It’s been hot and humid so my husband, the golden grand-dog and I hit the boardwalk by seven a.m. because it’s too hot later in the day. Fog in the harbour changes the appearance of the trail through the familiar location. The fog and the early hour make for an interesting walk.

From the bridge over the stream, the gazebo is shrouded in fog.

The harbour is invisible in the distance and a Song Sparrow stands on a barren twig beside the barely visible sea. 

However, the animals are active and on the move.

In the stream, several moulting male Mallards are swimming around in the early morning mist.

A Sora which is visiting the area,

isn’t among the bulrushes this morning but its location in the fog doesn’t result in a great photo either.

The Red Squirrels are active this morning, playful really as they chase each other around the trees.

Three woodpeckers punctuate the misty air with their drilling around a broken tree trunk.

Everyone has the same idea when it’s hot and humid.