Looking for the light

The few hours of daylight this time of year can be depressing for some people, including me. Having time outside each day for a walk helps me handle the loss of light, especially if it’s a sunny day. Of course it isn’t always sunny and on those cloudy days the experience of the fresh air and the change of scenery help.

Sometimes an overcast day at our favourite walking area, the boardwalk, provides a glimmer of hope in that muted light of a wintery day. Of course, I notice the brighter spot in the heavy cloud and the faint hint of blue.

From the bridge, an almost imperceptible line of light catches my eye in a scene which looks cold but is one I love.

There it is again as my husband and I walk farther, shots of light and hints of blue! 

Further along, rays of light put a spotlight on random areas of the bay, highlighting how one can find beauty in the starkest of places.

And near the end of our walk, the Blue Jays in a tree are like players in a drama which will draw us back to another performance. 

Hope for the light to come!

The power of a peanut

The animals along the boardwalk in Summerside are a source of interest and enjoyment for many walkers. If you walk in the morning, birds and rodents are foraging and will take food from your hand if you are patient. However, there is a protocol for each species. 

Chickadees, the smallest of the lot, cannot take peanuts in the shell. 

Consequently, we crack the shells, 

remove the peanuts and break them in two. Then the tiny birds can fly off with half a peanut.

They are careful at first when you offer up peanuts but if one of the birds thinks he can trust you, soon several are in line to take the tasty morsels.

Then there are the blue jays. They will take peanuts however they are offered up, in the shell or not. They are reluctant to take peanuts from your hand, preferring them on the ground or railing. But if you are patient, they too will approach your hand to take them. 

The jays watch the area near the bridge carefully. At least one of them is always around and if a walker offers food, 

notice goes out and before long, you can have up to a dozen birds there. 

When you walk on after feeding them, some of the birds will fly from tree to tree along the way with you. They don’t want to miss out on anything.

The rodent population is represented by chipmunks and squirrels. We haven’t seen chipmunks around the boardwalk for a few weeks now but they disappear every winter into their burrows. 

However, the squirrels are still busy gathering food and will come around any walker.

They don’t hesitate to take peanuts from anyone. They usually inspect peanuts theyare given and eat any with cracked shells. Shells which are in perfect condition are taken away possibly for winter storage.

People in the area are photo worthy too. When we arrived on the boardwalk Monday morning, we could see through the trees that people on the bridge were feeding the animals. 

Later, as we continued our walk, people were busy feeding the animals further along the boardwalk, a lot of them in one area. 

The sun that day made for a poor photo however.

Animals and people are conditioned in a mutually beneficial relationship. It is enjoyed by all.

A ride along the boardwalk

It’s eighteen kilometres down and back from home to the boardwalk on bike. The ride on the Confederation Trail through part of Summerside crosses several roads before you arrive by the bay. Once there, we rode a section of the boardwalk we rarely walk. One area in particular is a favourite of Canada Geese, though ducks, crows and gulls always frequent the area. The geese have recently returned to the bay after nesting and moulting over the summer.

We had a leisurely ride along the boardwalk and stopped in various locations to take photos as we normally do when we walk there. We also stopped to talk to a friend, so an hour later when I took the same photo on our way home, the tide had receded. 

We walked to our perch on the rocks along the beach near the gazebo but there weren’t any birds among the seaweeds. However, from the gazebo itself, we could see the resident Great Blue Heron, American Black Ducks and a Solitary Sandpiper. They posed nicely together.

The sandpiper looked to be admiring its reflection.

Nearby, a Greater Yellowlegs waded in the water where ripples distorted its reflection. 

The heron looked like a contortionist as it twisted itself in a knot preening.

On the railing, three Blue Jays didn’t mind the humans nearby as they availed of the seeds left by a fellow traveler.

As we rode home, two Osprey called from their nest above the boardwalk. We wondered if one of these birds was the one we photographed in the tree last week. They will be headed south soon.

Two Ring-billed Gulls enjoyed the pond by the new industrial park.

The trail through the city is well maintained. We look forward to riding there when the leaves turn colour in a few weeks.

 

Birds of a feather

We look forward to our morning walks on the boardwalk these days as the heat and humidity keep us close to home the rest of the day. My husband and I always start at the gazebo then we walk the short trail to the beach. 

We attempt to slip into the scenery so as not to disturb any birds there. 

I like to sit on the rocks and watch quietly as they come, go and walk along the beach, feeding.

It takes a few minutes to spot the birds. This area of beach has small rocks and most of the shorebirds blend into the scene so well. In time, one sees movement among the rocks. How many birds can you see on this beach below? Hint: there are two sizes of birds there, larger Ruddy Turnstones and smaller Semi-palmated Plovers.

A scan of the water’s edge reveals other shorebirds as well. They forage in silhouette often, depending on their location in relation to the sun. Patience makes for better photos and easier identification.

                                               Left, Lesser Yellowlegs. Right, Greater Yellowlegs.

Then there are the larger birds. Recently, on a visit to Cape Egmont, we watched cormorants land on the sea stack there. Two of the birds had damaged wings which didn’t appear to impede flight. I wonder about their chances during the long flight south however.

Along the boardwalk, several of the Blue Jays recently have had bald heads, probably due to molting. The feathers grow back quickly but make for an unusual sight among the Jay population.

And finally, but consistently along the shoreline, the quiet as we sit and watch is broken by the sound of a shell dropping to earth from a gull above. 

We saw something in an old snag recently and a close-up showed it to be a shell which could have been dropped prematurely by one of the gulls. 

They will repeatedly scoop up the same shell and drop it until it breaks, then eat the food inside.

This time in nature is a great way to forget the cares of the world and just enjoy nature and life in general. 

 

P. S.

In the photo of the two species of birds on the beach, there are 6 small birds, Semi-palmated Plovers and 3 larger birds, Ruddy Turnstones.

Maebeme asked about molting in Blue Jays. The birds molt after nesting every year. The Jays on the boardwalk here already have their feathers back.

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.