The news around here

We had an awful week weather-wise and missed our walks in the great outdoors. Treadmill life doesn’t agree with me. The weather was mild though, including high winds and rain, taking the snow. Then, the temperatures dropped again and the snow came back.

Meanwhile, the ice in the harbour blew off-shore again, and when we could finally ventured forth, the bay was blue…for a day. 

Sunday morning, the on-shore wind overnight had blown ice back in the bay. It isn’t as thick now though so it may not survive temperatures above zero for very long.

Meanwhile, we have had our new vehicle for over two months now. In that time we have driven over 900 kilometres but haven’t used a tank of gas. The plug-in hybrid vehicle works well for us. 

This time of year, unless an emergency arises, we don’t venture far from home. We drive around town on errands, to the boardwalk or to our family in the neighbouring community. We can drive another 600 plus kilometres on the gas remaining in the tank. We started with a full tank when we brought the car home.

The vehicle is slow to charge due to the trickle charger we use at home, which can take 15 hours if the battery is fully discharged. However, we don’t see any difference to our electric bill. The electric battery is good for over 50 kilometres and when it is depleted while we are driving, it switches seamlessly to the gas engine. It charges without a sound as well. It is a different experience to drive a silent car. We know it is on by “Ready” on the screen. 

We have yet to try one of the charge-point stations on the island but a visit to Cavendish in the near future will give us an opportunity to try one. These high speed chargers won’t be in demand in the park this time of year.

This vehicle has far more features than I will ever use. I only use the radio and heater. When the weather is warm, I will open the windows rather than use air conditioning most of the time. I understand why cars today have all the “bells and whistles” but I suspect there would be a market for basic vehicles with reduced costs. Wouldn’t such vehicles be easier on the electric batteries too?

The infrastructure for charging vehicles on the island is limited. The same is true all over the country. In addition, the life of an electric rechargeable battery is limited and they are costly to replace. Charging takes time. If one could turn in a battery and drop in a new one at a charging station, it might be a solution. However, the batteries have their own environmental issues. Electric is not a perfect fix to the pollution of fossil fuels. Besides, could the electric grid supply enough electricity for a world of such vehicles?

While we are happy with our rechargeable hybrid, we can’t see a future with just electric vehicles. Is hydrogen the answer? I cannot imagine we will live to see the fix, whatever it is. Meanwhile, as with everything else in life, we endeavour to make the most of what is.

The dance

When the cares of the world feel overwhelming I retreat to nature. There, for a few minutes during a walk, all is forgotten as the elements and the wildlife present their best to all who care to notice. 

Such was the case one day last month, on what looked like a spring day, the salt marsh held the imprints of a small flock of American Black Ducks which appeared to have danced there. 

Their ducky prints are easy to identify among the other animal footprints in the marsh. 

In the stream that day, a Red-breasted Merganser, was veiled behind branches as it dived for food. Usually only dabbling ducks swim there, so this diver was a welcome visitor.

The Black Ducks, common to the area and a visiting Mallard argued a lot that day. If one came too close to the other species, flight occurred. It was a busy stream that day.

A mallard took up residence recently along the stream. He is a handsome stand-out among the more familiar Black Ducks. His companion, a Black Duck, stayed close by, 

relaxed in the setting until multiple Blue Jays sent out an alert.

One day recently, people watched the ducks as a Bald Eagle swooped in on them. All escaped thanks to the early warning system of the jays.

The little birds deserve credit too. Various feeders along the boardwalk attract sparrows, juncos 

                   Dark-eyed Junco, back; Song Sparrow, middle; Tree Sparrow, front

and finches. I especially like these sightings, as the tiny birds present a real challenge to photograph as they flit about more quickly than the ducks.

                                                                         Goldfinch

I always spend time looking out to sea with its changing face which is determined by temperature, wind speed/direction and tide. My husband and I always wonder what the bay will be like on any particular day.

A frozen bay one day, with an off-shore wind, can become an open bay, as in the first photo.

On-shore wind will blow the ice into the bay again, and land and sea are one.

Sometimes the ocean’s surface freezes anew and one could imagine ice skating there.

Then, there’s the slushy ice surface on those days when the temperatures are above zero and it feels like spring.

     

The Red Squirrels deserve mention too. They are always out and about, waiting for a hand-out from walkers who often have peanuts for them. You never know when a squirrel will pop up somewhere.

The wonder of nature is itself like a dance where nature sets the tempo of the music and we are free to engage her.

I hope you enjoy the dance too.

Now and when

It was an eventful week as I had the first major dental procedure in over forty years. Over those years I always had two dental check-ups a year and cleanings but I didn’t have fillings or any other work. I have had a sensitive area of my teeth for some time which is normal as gums recede with age. Finally the sensitivity became aching and required expert attention.

It took some time for the dentist to discover cracks in a molar which had been filled over 50 years ago. I was glad not to have that huge mouth contraption holding my jaws open as was the case all those years ago. Apparently dentists have them to use to this day but not that day.

Age often draws attention to our senses. Cataract surgery repaired my eyes. Spice combinations added to food, awaken worn out taste buds. My teeth, an important part of oral health, are next obviously while my husband swears my hearing needs help too. That may be selective on occasion! Such are the joys of old age!

I remember a recent shopping trip and a couple we saw in the last supermarket we visited. We were at the check-out where my husband always empties the cart while I begin packing the groceries which he completes as I pay. I didn’t see the couple at the next check-out initially, busy with the regular routine as we were. I smiled at her then at him, as he maneuvered the wheelchair and his purchases. He was focussed on the task at hand.

She was fragile, wearing a mask over the years time had etched on her face. He spoke to her kindly, asking if she was alright as he laid the groceries on the conveyor belt. As he pushed the wheelchair ahead of him, one could see his hands were full.

Was it a stroke, cancer or any of a myriad of conditions which can disable us as we age? I imagined her in better times, when she was vibrant and busy, days not long enough to accomplish everything she planned. Her partner at her side, they may have raised a family together and would have worked hard to provide for them. All was in the past as he packed up the groceries and put the bags over the handles of the wheelchair and in a pouch on the back. He maneuvered all as he pushed the chair away from the check-out. 

While I live in the reality of an aging body, every day I am capable of participating in life is a gift. Despite the sensory issues and whatever else lies ahead, I will enjoy what is as long as possible!

Picture perfect

It was a picture perfect day, with the blue-grey overcast winter sky and calm winds which made it possible to hold the zoom lens without shaking. We were past due for a visit to the head of the bay this winter. We’d spent hours there last winter watching a convocation of Bald Eagles make lunch of geese who were unfortunate enough to fall prey to the gathered raptors. 

Along the bay, we paused at a couple of areas where I’ve been meaning to stop all winter. One wharf has a fishing boat tied up for the winter, encased by the ice which has frozen it in place. 

Owners of the Iron Horse are not concerned about her being crushed by the ice. This time next month, she will probably be free of the icy grip on her hull. A fishing vessel left in the winter ice is a rare sight here.

We also stopped at the new swing the city installed last summer which is popular with tourists and residents alike. No one was swinging that day as I aimed for the lighthouse through the swings. 

The expanse of ice which stretches atop the bay looks vast and barren, dwarfing the lighthouse at the entrance to the bay.

A smelt shack sits on the ice near the shoreline, offering shelter and a heat source by the look of the propane tank at the back. Fishers will sit in comfort as they catch smelts in the bay.

It is the only shack in this part of the bay this year, probably due to the unpredictable nature of the weather, going from mild to freezing so quickly. The little shack should be secure for the next week.

Island birding sites are abuzz with news of Bald Eagles nesting already this year. At the head of the bay, we can see that area’s nest across the bay on the opposite shore. 

Sure enough, a pair of mature eagles are in residence atop the nest, scanning the area.

I missed the shot of one taking off but later discovered it having a rest in a nearby tree. 

It didn’t stray far from its mate.

At the mouth of the Wilmot River nearby, a pair of Barrow’s Goldeneyes dived for fish as they enjoyed their island holiday. They are fun to watch among the geese and black ducks as they quickly dive into the depths.

We will return to the area soon!

A rare day

We had a three day storm last weekend and it took another day to dig out. Here is western Prince Edward Island, the wind was the worst part of the storm. While we didn’t have as much snow as the remainder of the island, the high wind caused drifting and white-outs. 

It was Wednesday before we walked the boardwalk again, and we weren’t surprised to see that the wind, which had been out of the northeast during the storm, had blown off-shore much of the ice, except that at the head of the bay.

By Friday, slushy ice was forming over the bay again. 

Before long all of the bay would be frozen again.

However, Sunday was a sunny day with 3 degrees C and it provided the look and feel of spring.

A pair of Mallards floated by the bridge 

and a small flock of American Black Ducks lined the banks of the stream, enjoying the rare February day. 

The weather is turning cold again this week but the taste of spring this past weekend was lovely.

Blue on blue

February arrived calmly, without the howling wind, so we had two pleasant days walking the boardwalk. Saturday the high winds arrived and with just a few centimeters of snow, it made our walk impossible. Since then, exercise has been relegated to indoors . This is the third day of the storm and while the western part of the island didn’t have as much snow, the drifting from the high winds with what we did have, resulted in white-out conditions which continue today.

On one of the calm days this past week, the Blue Jays put on quite a show along the boardwalk. Two of the regular walkers brought a supply of peanuts they left for the birds and squirrels at the birdhouse overlooking the salt marsh. The Jays wait nearby for them every morning.

That morning, walkers stopped to take in the scene as Jays hurried to the rail of the bridge. 

The birds lined up for their chance at the raw peanuts and those in shells. 

After each acquired peanuts, raw or shelled, they flew off to stash or consume them.

Black-capped Chickadees waited in the trees for any peanuts the Jays might leave. No chance of that! The Jays took all the peanuts but a Red Squirrel came by to check for himself anyway. He ate some of the birdseed from the feeder.

Meanwhile further down the stream, two American Black Ducks were mere silhouettes in the bright sunlight. 

On the other calm day this month, the view from the bench was peaceful with the Confederation Bridge visible at sea level on the left. The winter sky was barely distinguishable from the frozen sea. 

We wonder about the animals through all of this bad weather. We will take peanuts with us when we can return to the boardwalk.