Nature at its best

We walked between rain drops this week and enjoyed the boardwalk most days and a morning in Cavendish. No luck with the eagles at Cavendish but we’ll try again this week. However, in spite of the absence of eagles it was a great week in nature.

On Monday morning, Mergansers were barely visible in Clark’s Pond. I always enjoy this setting and take photos every time we’re there. This photo reminds me of an impressionist painting, with the pond, the fuzzy beach, sea and sky. 

Common Grackles were their usual noisy selves that morning and made their presence known as we walked the trail by Clark’s Pond. The iridescence of these birds is visible in the one at the apex in the photo. There were numerous flocks of the birds enjoying the day, chatting with companions.

As we walked back from Cavendish Grove, we came upon an area of trail which was alive with bird talk. While we couldn’t see any birds, we could hear a number of species singing and chatting, some in the distance. Oh how I would love to be able to identify the birds through their song! The video is only 15 seconds. Can you identify any of the birds by their sounds? You can hear the birds 

here.

Monday afternoon we enjoyed a clear sky and a beautiful view of the total solar eclipse. We had the appropriate glasses for ourselves but no special lenses for the cameras. However, a friend allowed me to use one of the photos she took with her cell phone.

During the eclipse, when totality occurred, there was a collective cheer from people in the area, a spontaneous utterance which made the experience communal. 

Can you imagine what the experience of a total eclipse would have been like for prehistoric people?

Finally today, meet Chip, a chipmunk recently returned to life along the boardwalk. He is well camouflaged among the straw and other organic material along the trail. The chipmunks disappear underground during the winter months. 

Welcome to spring, Chip!

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.

 

  

Birds of the park

It stood there alone, surveying the scene, a lone sentinel on an eroded promontory. One could easily miss it with the naked eye but a walk along Orby Head and a camera lens helped bring it into focus. A Great Cormorant kept a silent vigil in a place where many Double-crested Cormorants usually gather. It looked regal more than lonely there and doesn’t move as I watch for several minutes.

A few weeks later, Double-cresteds were at the same location at Orby Head. The crests on the sides of their heads are obvious on these males.

During our first visit to the park in early April this year, we had a picnic under a maple tree which had several Black-capped Chickadees busy flitting around its branches. Unlike our experience of chickadees in more recent days on the trails, these chickadees were silent.

We hear woodpeckers in the trees around the Grove every time we visit. On one occasion, I saw this Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on a nearby tree, more exposed than usual. It looks like its markings were painted on. 

It flew away and within seconds a mature Bald Eagle flew overhead. 

Common Grackles on the railing to Cavendish Beach were noisy, stopping briefly after doing aerial acrobatics, both gazing skyward.

Gulls in the waterways of the Homestead Trail soar on the wind. We recognized a Ring-billed Gull among them.

We’ve seen pairs of Mallards in the national park in several areas, including MacNeills Pond, Cavendish Grove and on the Homestead Trail. A pair was hanging out with the gulls.

Red-winged Blackbirds love Cavendish Grove with all the bulrushes/cattails there. The males are chatty and like to sit in nearby trees and survey their domain. The females are more elusive. This male shows a hint of red.

Finally, it could be sad news about the geese in the Grove. The goose which was nesting on an island in the pond is off the nest and there aren’t any goslings. 

This nest looked rather exposed to us, compared to those on a similar island in previous years. We fear the worst happened. The last time we visited, twice during the day we watched the proceedings, hoping to see goslings. This pair could be the couple which hung out in this location by the pond before nesting began.

Meanwhile at the opposite side of the pond, a goose and some mallards appear to tolerate each other. 

My husband and I enjoy the birds every time we visit the national park on Prince Edward Island.

Lunch on the trail

Our weather has been cold and wet with an occasional fine day. My husband and I take every opportunity we can to ride our bikes and we’ve been on the trail recently, enjoying every minute.

We take our picnic lunch with us on the new bike racks we received last autumn, replacements for two which were ill fitting. It is great to be able to stop at any of the picnic sites around the island for lunch. The National Park has lots of tables and the Confederation Trail has tables positioned at regular intervals across the island.

Meanwhile, we rode to nearby Wellington for a picnic one day, stopping at a table by a river.

The sound of the water flowing by as we had lunch was like a dream after this past pandemic year. Nearby, noisy and nosy Common Grackles were chatting it up on a wire overlooking the scene. 

Our most recent outing was from O’Leary to Elmsdale along the Confederation Trail. Along the way we passed several locations where peepers and other frogs sang happily. One area had these cattails which looked as if they had cotton tops.

Near river banks now, Coltsfoot is in bloom, the first flower we’ve seen in our travels this spring. This type of daisy is a welcome addition to the greys of early spring on the island.

Butterflies are also busy. Despite several efforts, I was unable to photograph any as they flitted around us along the trail. 

We had lunch at Elmsdale in an area where the trail runs parallel to the highway. The traffic on the road was light at that time of day.

Back at the car in O’Leary, Rock Pigeons watched us from a nearby roof as we loaded the bikes on the rack. While there are pigeons in downtown Summerside, we have never seen them around the areas we frequent.

It has stopped raining so we are headed out on our bikes again today! Yay!

   

Lucy’s garden

The grey of early spring has yet to turn to the new green of late spring, one of my favourite times of year. However, my friend Lucy’s garden has erupted with spring colour as the bulbs have pushed through the iron rich soil even though snow still lingers in the shade of the trees.

A riot of colours is close to the ground as the plants are miniature, selected for their early appearance after the snow is gone. They are interspersed among the flowers beds which bloom in three seasons. The colours lift the spirit and make me smile as I walk around the yard.

Miniature red Tulips push up through the grasses 

and spread their petals in a showy display which the insects love. The blooms are full of bees which are enjoying the early pollen and nectar from an otherwise bland countryside. 

The Irises are miniature versions of those we enjoy later in the year. The blue and purple are such an interesting contrast and the pattern of yellow black and white on the petals is striking.

The Puschkinia with their six white petals and blue veins is a favourite.

The delicate centre has a hint of yellow. This is a small plant and it draws you down to its level For observation. Its beauty is in the details.

Purples, yellows and even the white against the red soil and catch the eye.

Meanwhile at the front of the house, the bird feeders attract American Goldfinches, especially males though one female dropped by as well.

Later in the afternoon, a flock of noisy Common Grackles picked up seed from below the feeders and entertained us in their glossy-iridescence.

The sculptures at the back of the property illustrate how materials can be reused. 

I love how nature continues to act on them. 

The old farm equipment is a reminder of how the land was farmed in the shadow of industrial farming today.

Her garden is a place of peace and beauty. It reflects the hours of devotion and hard work Lucy has given it. 

P.S.

Restrictions due to the Covid Pandemic eased again last Friday and we could see our daughter and grandkids for Mother’s Day. It was a great reunion and celebration!