Spring

In the midst of cold rainy days, we had a brief respite, another warm sunny day. Hard to believe we're supposed to get snow and rain over the next couple of days.

On the way out to the cottage today, I checked a spot along the road where I always see my first Dutchman's Breeches. I wasn't disappointed, there in the rocks were leaves, and even a few blossoms coming out. Out by the cottage, in the sunny places on the rocks, the first leaves were just appearing.

There is a sunny hillside up from the lake where hepaticas grow, there were several coming out in bloom.

My favourite roadside pond had its usual show of turtles out on the logs.

One turtle closer to the road was reluctant to leave its warm perch. There were 3 other turtles basking alongside this one that plopped into the water when we pulled up, but this guy held his ground, posing and showing off pretty spring colours.

"Our" loon is back, I can't recall having seen one return to the lake so early. Many mourning cloak butterflies and a few tortoiseshells were out and about.

The ponds are screaming with spring peepers and chorus frogs, thought I heard a few woodfrog quacks in between, but can't be totally sure due to the cacaphony of sound.

At Glenburnie I'm finally hearing the woodcock peenting.

Painted turtles

It was a gorgeous sunny spring day today, so we headed out to the cottage to check on things. On the roadside north of Loughborough Lake coltsfoot was blooming in the roadside ditch.

In one of the roadside ponds turtles were out on the logs.







We saw 7 mourning cloak butterflies along the way, on the walk back out the lane I managed to catch one of them with the camera. It was stubbornly sitting there with wings folded, it would let me close enough for a good shot, but wouldn't open the wings. I finally thought to cast my shadow upon it, and then it opened the wings, and I stepped aside to take the shot of it in the sun. I also saw an anglewing, probably a tortoiseshell, flitting past me by the lake. There was one little orange jobbie along the lane but it took off before I could get a shot.



We picked up 4 large bagfuls of pine cones off the lawn, there was a bumper crop this year. Judging from the piles of chewed up cones the squirrels had plenty to eat over winter.

The phoebes are back, they serenaded us as we worked. One green frog jumped into the water when I walked along the shore. The ice is off the lake, except for the swamps along the shore.

During the drive back there were half a dozen wild turkey hens trotting on the road, tried to get a pick but they got into the brush too quickly.

Took a walk out to the lake, another lovely spring day. The ice is starting to melt back from the shoreline. I checked along the boat beach, and found a green frog sitting at the edge of the ice. Some chipmunks were scurrying about and a robin was singing. On the walk back out the laneway there were 3 flocks of midges flying about 4 feet above the snow.

The other springtime ritual witnessed along the way was the annual race-yer-snowmobile-over-the-open-water-at-Loughborough Lake. Flocks of people milling about on the bridge hoping to see one of the sleds stall out and sink, an assortment of vehicles lining both sides of the highway for almost a mile, cops aplenty, ride checks either side of the milling masses, and one enterprising person taking advantage of the whole gathering with his hotdog stand. I would have liked to have stopped and photographed these antics of Homo sapiens, but had my father and the dog with me, both of them tired and wanting to get home.

Amherst Island

Yesterday I tagged along with the Teen group of the Kingston Field Naturalists, they were headed over to the KFN property to check the purple martin nest boxes. It was a lovely sunny day, along the way we saw a killdeer, many robins and redwinged blackbirds, Canada geese, common mergansers, and flocks of other ducks. On the shoreline of the property there were 3 big piles of ice that had been shoved up by the wind, always an amazing sight to see.

There were 6 Teens and 4 adults on the outing. Martin houses were tipped down and inspected, some swallow boxes were also cleaned out, and we looked for other things of interest. One snowy owl was hunkered down in the rocks, hard to see from a distance, we didn't go near so as not to disturb it. A rough-legged hawk and a redtail hawk were flying about, as well as some crows and ravens. There were signs of an abundance of voles, we even saw some scampering through the grass. Some owl pellets were found and examined, one of the boys gave me "the look" when I referred to it as owl puke. Anne does an incredible job with the Juniors and Teens. I've never been good with kids, but I think that one of the most important things that the KFN does is education for young people.

On the ferry ride back we looked for birds, didn't see any unusual species, but we did get some entertainment from a gull chasing a crow. The crow had a piece of fish in its beak and the gull was bound and determined to steal it from him. The resulting aerial acrobatics demonstrated what skillful fliers both these species are.

When the weather is cold enough and conditions are right, I get some really interesting frost formations on my porch windows. These were taken March 1, 2009. It's one of the few joys of winter, I never get tired of photographing these.

Porcupine den

On Wednesday, March 4th, we headed out to our roadside pond to cut some firewood. The beavers had flooded the area a couple years ago and killed off a bunch of trees. I got the bright idea that while the snow was crusty, to have Dad cut some of the trees into lengths, and I could drag them to the road. To one side of the pond are some rock outcroppings, ever since I can remember

there's been a porcupine or two using the sheltered spaces for dens. While Dad got started cutting a fallen ash tree on the hillside, I clambered over the rocks to check to see if there was any sign of porky.

There were tracks, fresh droppings...and the tail of a live porcupine. You can see how it would be well protected from predators with only the backside and quills protruding. I didn't have time to investigate further, had to get back to the chores.

Here is my father, carrying a log over his shoulder, chainsaw in the other hand. The man is 84 years old. I hope I'm in half as good a shape at that age!

We made sure we left the larger "nesting trees" for the birds. There were a couple of fallen trees on the hillside that were a bit too rotton for firewood, I had Dad cut those into 6 foot lengths and hauled them onto the ice. I set them up in strategic positions with one end that would rest on something solid. Hopefully when the ice melts these pieces will settle into a position that provides sunning perches for turtles. This is one of my favourite ponds, there are plenty of wood frogs living here.

Pine grosbeaks, pine siskins

One of my delights this winter is having a small flock of pine grosbeaks and a flock of pine siskins hanging around. The novelty hasn't worn off yet, and it's great fun having birds to photograph who are fairly tolerant of humans and who have been very cooperative in posing.

I stood quietly under the crabapple tree, and this siskin came over to check me out. While I took a few shots, about 5 more of them came over to where I stood and hopped about the branches right above me, they seem to be curious little birds. (That, or their chattering translates to "put the camera down lady and re-fill the feeder!")

It's entertaining to see the antics of the grosbeaks as they reach for the crabapples. All photos taken Tuesday afternoon, February 24, 2009.