I'm trying...

I was just taking some pictures of my home office mess when I was interrupted by a huge bee or wasp buzzing around the living room. Wait! That's not a bee it's a bat! No! Not a bat. It's a...a...hummingbird! What the? It must've come in through the door which was wide open. There is a small flowering bush right outside and I often watch them feeding on it. Anyway, it buzzed around, hitting the ceiling, wall, and the window before it conked out under the coffee table. Where was Cleo during all this? Well, she was fast asleep on the couch but when that hummingbird flew in she went crazy and started jumping, leaping up after it. I quickly grabbed her and threw her in the other room while I set about rescuing the poor critter.

So tiny and weightless!
It's little heart was beating so fast as it just lay in my hand.

It rested for only a couple of minutes then turned its head to me and zoomed off. I remember one of my Chinese students telling me that it was considered very good luck to save a bird and set it free.

I have this quote on my fridge...

Legends say that hummingbirds float free of time carrying our hopes for love, joy and celebration. The hummingbird's delicate grace reminds us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere, every personal connection has meaning and that laughter is life's sweetest creation.

Look what the cat dragged in!




Ever tried taking a picture of a bird while you are holding it and trying to lock the cat in another room?

Happily, birdee was okay and flew away. Not sure what it was. Sparrow sized but longer tail. Juvenile.
I'm also happy that Cleo brought it back to me. Lola always did that, and as far as I know she never killed a bird. She had a soft mouth like a bird dog. She caught a hummingbird one day and brought it back to me. It fit neatly in between her teeth. It was smaller than my thumb. I held it in my hand for a couple of minutes as it looked up at me with one eye. Then, without a breath it flew away. I always gave Lola a treat when she brought me a bird alive. I think it prevented her from eating them

No otter today of course. But you know it's spring when the turtles come out to bask in the sun, and the birds pair up.

Mrs. and Mr. Widgeon.

American widgeon. So cute.

Female lesser scaup.

Greater scaup, male.

Mr. and Mrs. Bufflehead

It's a party! Mostly mallards but if you look closely there are some interesting species. Some are under the water as well, ducking (bad pun) and diving. I have to thank my parents for giving me a keen interest in birds. I've learned to identify song birds by their songs but have always had trouble with the water fowl. It's hard to get close to them, and my camera is not that great. At this pond there are usually many avid photographers with their huge lenses waiting for the perfect shot.



Greater Scaup. Love those blue bills.


American Widgeons. Such dainty little ducks.


Goldeneyes are in abundance, it's not easy to find one alone.


I'm excited about this one, a Bufflehead. There are plenty of these as well, but they're usually on the ocean in huge flocks. Buffleheads are one of my favorites. Many years ago I was teaching on call in a grade three class. They were working on handwriting that day. The teacher had a gorgeous handwriting book for them to work from, it was all about birds, illustrations and poems. And of course that day, they were learning the formation for 'b'. Well, my last name starts with that very letter, so, I told them , "What a coincidence, my name is Ms. Bufflehead!" For years after that, even out of school, these students would greet me with that monicker.