Bull frog, Yellow Warbler, Black-and-white (20150529) Walk in the park.

Len and I decided, due to the nice weather, to take a stroll in the park today with hopes of finding more of the great warblers he had been spotting. He's not really into the "frog scene", but hey, whenever I can add to blog it is a good day. It wasn't until I was reviewing the images that I found the mosquitoe on this fellas's hind leg. Looks like it is ready to burst.

While didn't find any of our targetted warblers this lovely Black-and-white put in an appearance.

I am finding these birds to actually be a pleasure to shoot and can tell that they will become a mainstay here on the blog. I caught this one showing the Tamarack just beginning to leaf.

I spent a little more time searching around the pond, thinking of Kerri knowing she would love to have spot like this with bullfrogs.

On the walk home we were able to track down the local pair of Yellow Warblers.

Even the Missus was up to putting in an appearance. We see these birds all the time as we drive off of the pennisula near Len's place.

A final shot of the male to close out this post. I am finding that even here in Nova Scotia wildlife is just a short walk away. Make the effort and put a little"wild" in your life!
Turbo

Porcupine, woodcock, Black-and-White (2015o524) first fishing trip of the year.

A couple of years ago while we in Nova Scotia for a Wedding, I think it may have been Len's youngest daughter, we gathered up brother Bill and headed in search of a mysterious trout lake. After many hours of searching and driving back roads we had to admit defeat and pack it in and go home. Well in the meantime Len has located the lake, and that is where we were off to today. On the drive things started to pick up about 45 minutes in when we found this Porcupine feeding in the tree tops.

While we were anxious to get to the lake, we did stop and spend a little time with critter.

These are pretty slow moing animals while they are in the trees. They are not supposed to be killed, as they are the only animal that a person lost in the woods is able to run down and kill should they need to. Not a subject that I had a lot of encounters with during my time in Alberta.

A little further along we had a nice round black bear jump out into the road and run infront of us for a bit. It was headed somewhere and didn't want anything to do with us so we wer unable to get any images.  Just as we came up to the lake we also spotted a Spruce Grouse, it flushed and we couldn't find it. So we got to the fishing part of the day and enjoyed some success. I will need to remember to bring along a shorter lens for shot opportunities in the boat.
While we on the shore stretching our legs for a bit we did notice a few warblers in the area and took note. Upon our return to the truck we thought we sould do a little warbler investigation prior to heading home. This nice Black-and-white was cooperative enough to show.

These are "flitty" little birds that are as bad a Chickadees for always being on the move, so I am pretty happy with my images today.

On the road home we were treated to another maritime treasure. This is Len's first ever Woodcock.

H couldn't stop chuckling over the way the bird walked. Here is a little video that I found on YouTube that demonstrates their "shuffle". I'd like to thank Susan Remmie for posting this video!
These are very difficult birds typically to find because they are so well camouflaged.

As this is a "first ever" on the blog, I don't mind sharing a few more images of this bird in its natural habitat with you.

There is just no telling when, if ever I will be able to post this specie again.

So whenever you get a chance, be certain to put a little "wild" in your day!
Turbo

Redstart, Yellow Rumped Warbler, Pheasant (20150523) A quick trip to town and the local park

Well it was a wet miserable night that put a very dreary look to the day. Len and I headed over to "town" to pick up a few things to get ready for a fishing trip tomorrow. On the way over Len spotted this rooster as we drove passed it. We had to spin around and go back passed the bird, then re-approach with cameras ready. I was sitting in the passenger seat, and we shot these while still in the truck right on the highway :)

He explained to me that they didn't like getting their feet wet, so in really wet weather he would often find them in trees. From this angle you can reall see his "horn".

On the way home we thought we would stop in the local provincial park. While I had been visiting Mom, he had found some warblers, so we thought we would give it a try. We did manage to spot this Yellow-rump.

While I was in position to grab this fellow, Len got a Black-throated Green warbler. Here is a little better shot of the Yellow-rump.

Next thing I new there was a new flash of a a different colour. We spent about 10 minutes hunting and looking throuhg the thick tangled masses and came up with a brand new bird for for me, and the blog, an American Redstart.

While it is my custome to post two images of a new subject, sorry to say that this was the ony "usuable" image that I was able to get of this little beauty. That was it for the day, so I will end off here. This week be certain to put some "wild" in your life!  Turbo

Cardinal, Ruby throated Hummer, Black-and-white(20150517and18) A visit to mom's.

One of our primary reasons to move to the east coast was to be closer to family. That means pretty regular visits to Mom's house. SO we decided to pop over for an over nighter and have a visit. We were sitting around have a cuppa when I spied this little gem outside on one of her oak trees. This is the first time mom has seen a Black-and-white warbler in her yard.

It is not a very good image, but evidence material. I had to shoot through the sun room windows :)
Another popular pasttime is trying to capture the Humming birds that flit around her azalea bush.

It was a very poor day and it was actually raining when I took these images, so light was at a premium.

The next day we had some better light. ALong with the light came some different visitors, like apair of cardinals. I shot this female between the deck railings while she was in the sun.

I missed the close up shot of the male head on, but managed to capture the colour and crest from the back.

Here he is in all his glory in a nicer setting.

I also snapped this bee, I don't know which variety, it could be a wasp. I just really liked the striking black and yellow stripes.

I wasn't able to get any hummer shots in this beautiful light, some other time. Here is a portrait of one of mom's crows. She feeds them almost every day.

This just shows that you don't have to go too far in order to put a little wild in your day!
Turbo

Blackbacked woodpecker, American Robin, Blue Jay(20150511 and 15) A nice surprise out at Len's

Well now that I am settling in at Len's place for a bit the first job is to build a boat rack so we can go fishing! We picked up some lumber in the morning. The day was cool and damp with little waves of heavy mist moving through from time to time. We were working in the garage having a few beverages as this construction does not require exacting measurements and cuts. After a bit I was off to the back of the lot to utilize the facilities when a dark popped up into a dead tree. I hunted around a little and found this beautiful female.

This is the first Black backed woodpecker I had been able to find in Nova Scotia so far, not that I had really been looking. So I yelled to Len to get the cameras. We spent a few minutes with her while she worked the tree.

 It was the first time Len had ever seen one anywhere let alone his yard. I have a nice little video of a male working a log in Bebo Grove in Calgary, it is found here.
This female was looking for, and finding grubs in the tree.

With the dampness of the day, making for very poor conditions we headed back to work in the damp conditions. My Nova Scotia move was starting to bear fruit, so to speak-- a Black backed Woodpecker!

A couple of days later, my birthday actually, we had much nicer weather and I spent a little time in the back yard. Of course the Blue Jays were  present.

I also spent some time with this beautiful American Robin, a much over looked bird here in Canada.

I couldn't help posting a second image of such a beautiful bird.

Still catching up on the back log--Still in May so I have a little ground to cover. Today, do me a favour and put a little wild in your life.
Turbo

Blue Jay, Grackle, Purple finch (20150508) resting in Len's back yard.

After our 5800 kilometer journey from Calgary to Halifax it was pretty nice to put our feet up for a couple of days. Of course that never really happens, especially in spring. You can only "do nothing" for so long when the birds are visiting. This first group of shots are images of various birds that I shot in Len's back yard while getting our land legs back. First up is a Dark-eyed Junco.

Next up a rather drab, for the spring, American Goldfinch.

Another visitor was this Common Grackle. Oddly enough he seemed to be the only one around. I am more accustomed to finding these birds in flocks of up to 100.

Of course Len's back yard is always well stocked with cooperative Blue Jays coming in to say hello and grabbing a bite to eat.

There are always a contingent of Mourning doves in the area as well, today was not an exception. I am looking forward to being able to settle in to our own place and establish our own set of regular visitors.

This little Song sparrow didn't want to miss out either. This fella kept us company in the yard pretty well all the time.

The next day many of the regulars showed up. Mr Grackle had this "do you wanna mess with this" kind of attitude going on.

Of course the Jays put in an appearance. I just find these birds a ton of fun to shoot. They are a real challenge with the colour variations. I find it very tough to capture them just right, so I keep trying.

We had a new visitor today, a Purple Finch decided to join the proceedings. This is another tough bird due to its colouring.

The prize of the day though was this gorgeous rooster Ring-necked. He stode in and took over the place, even if it was just briefly.

I'll wrap up this post here. I am way behind and will be trying to get back up to date and on track here quickly. If you are a subscriber don't be surprised it you get a few notifications over the upcoming weeks.
Remember to put some wild in your week!
Turbo

Pheasants (20151008) The trees are not the only things turning colour in the fall

As autumn contines to move forward here in Nova Scotia the decidious trees are turning colour. The young ring-necks are getting the colours too.

I was actually surprised to find the mature male was chasing momma around the woods on Thursday. Here he is showing off his facial wattle. Its unbelievable how easily the hen's can hide in full sight.

Quite often the pheasants are joined by  number of other birds. This feeding buddy is a slightly leucistic crow. It has a few pale feathers on its neck and head, and one vey pale tail feather. I have yet to capture that tail feather successfully.

Here is a shot of the only female juvenile in this family group. She is a beautiful looking bird.

On the Saturday morning I was given the privileged of spending a little time with youngster. He will be breeding in the spring if he survives the winter, and can attract a hen or two:)

I wasn't the only company that this fellow was allowing in his presence. Here he is with a Blue Jay buddy.

Here the two of them are doing a little posing for the camera, a terrific morning!

Then "Reddy" the squirrel put in an appearance. This little rooster just seemed to want to share his breakfast with anyone that wanted to show up.

 I has been a gereat couple of mornings in the back yard. I also took a short video of this youngster where he does a little preening and a wing flap that is supposed to accompany a spring time "crow", you can see it here. This week, put a little wild in your life!
Turbo