San

Posts tagged with "birds"

Good luck

Saturday, 5. September 2009, 00:00:27

Today I hiked down to Cosens Bay again to go for a swim. I set up my camp and was about to sit down for

a rest when I saw something splashing in the water. No, not a bear this time. Much smaller. I went closer and found a mourning dove floundering in the shallows. I picked it up and examined it. It seemed to have no injuries but was very weak and couldn't fly or walk. So I just put it in a shady spot and watched it for awhile. After half an hour I went to check on it. It still couldn't fly but it did hop further into the bush. I was really worried, more for me than her. What if she was really ill? Should I help put her out of her misery?

Anyway, I went for a long swim and then came back to check on her. She was still huddled under a scrubby bush. I reached out to touch her and voila! She flew away!

I kept thinking that if I hadn't been there, if I hadn't come to the beach today that little bird would've died. Well, I know I can't save everything and everything has its time, but still, it made me feel good, useful.

When I was in Thailand a few years ago I set a bird free because it's supposed to bring good luck. I'm hoping this is true because I'm going to the casino with my mom tonight! It's her birthday, and she is the luckiest person I know! Happy 29th birthday mom!

6 comments

Well!

Sunday, 12. July 2009, 02:30:45

birds, cats

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

5 comments

Eagle News

Tuesday, 28. April 2009, 17:05:33

good news, eagle cam, birds

If you haven't already, you really must check out the growth of the eaglets. There are three now, one was hatched much later and so is smaller. But how they have all grown! I just finished watching them being fed for 1/2 hour. Now they are resting. It warms my heart! Some good news for this mixed up crazy world.

Sidney Eagle Cam

11 comments

Spring at the pond

Sunday, 5. April 2009, 01:24:18

birds, spring

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

6 comments

...is worth two in the bush.

Sunday, 22. February 2009, 01:19:04

birds

Great blue herons in a willow

6 comments

My good side

Saturday, 21. February 2009, 03:23:01

spring, birds

5 comments

A sure sign of spring

Monday, 16. February 2009, 00:44:42

birds, spring

6 comments

If you go down to the pond today..

Sunday, 18. January 2009, 16:39:38

birds

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.