Monday, February 10, 2020

Sit Spot - February 10, 2020



February 10, 2020 8:58 a.m.
Sit 480 : Brush Pile E : Cloudy 
+1° (-3°) W 13-20 kph 99% humidity 

Many Blue Jays calling!
Crows,
(Jet, traffic noise)
(SkyWest Airlines flight 4084...)
White-breasted Nuthatch,

Extras:
Lots of fresh coyote tracks in snow 
  in west meadow 
Cardinals,
Mourning Doves,
Goldfinches,
Many Juncos,
Downy Woodpecker,
Grey Squirrels.




Photo Site #3 West Meadow Viewpoint



Sunday, February 09, 2020

Sit Spot - February 9, 2020



February 9, 2020, 9:41a.m.
Sit 479 : Brush Pile W : Cloudy : 
-5° (-9°) E 7-11 kph 87% humidity 

Chickadees,
Blue Jays,
Crows,
(Jet, traffic noise)
(JetSuite Air flight 307...)
A few, very few, snowflakes falling 

Extras:
Mourning Doves,
Goldfinches,
Juncos,
White-breasted Nuthatch,
Downy Woodpecker,
Black Squirrels,
Grey Squirrels,
Red-tailed Hawk flew over west meadow in p.m.



Photo Site #2 - East Willow






It occurred to me today that I really should photograph and post a few photos of winter views of wild flower plants. Here is the first one.




Saturday, February 08, 2020

Sit Spot - February 8, 2020 & Running



February 8, 2020 3:10 p.m.
Sit 478 : Brush Pile W, Cloudy 
-7° (-11°)  E 7-11 kph 75 % humidity 

Dogs barking in distance 
(Jet, traffic noise)
(Republic Airlines Flight 3584...)

Extras:
Crows,
Blue Jays,
White-breasted Nuthatch,
Chickadees,
Mourning Doves,
Goldfinches,
Juncos,
Red-bellied Woodpecker,
Black Squirrels.

As usual, all the extras were at or close to our bird feeder except for the crows that were calling to the east as I went outside with the dog this morning. 

During the afternoon walk and sit spot time, there were no birds calling at all. I am always surprised to not hear any birds in the afternoon.

I have not heard the Great Horned Owl since the one time I reported. Other years, they have called morning and evening during January and February. I miss those calls.


Photo Site #1 - East Pond


Below is the map of the run I did today. It was the second weekend in a row that I ran 16 km. My half-marathon race is only 3 weeks away so there are only 2 more longer runs to do before then as well as the shorter distances that I am doing on the treadmill in the gym during the week.

I say "run" in spite of the fact that it has been years since I actually ran the whole distance. For several years I ran 10 minutes and then walked 1 minute. Then I ran 9, walked 1. Next I moved down to a 4 minute run and 1 minute walk. For the last couple of years I have dropped down to a 2 & 1, or 1 & 1. Today I ran 1 minute then walked 40 seconds. All that being said, my overall pace, including the walks, was just over 8 minutes per kilometre. My actual running pace is around 6 min/km. Today it took 2 hours and 9 minutes to do the 16 km (10 miles for those on the old measurement system). Not too, too fast but then there is not as much competition when one is 77 years of age and still moving....








Friday, February 07, 2020

Sit Spot - February 7, 202 & RBG Flower



February 7, 2020 5:20 p.m.
Sit 477 : Brush Pile W : Mostly cloudy 
-5° (-12°)  nw 20-39  63% humidity 

Distant Crows 
(Jet, traffic noise)
(SkyWest Airlines flight 4485...)
Unidentified bird chirps 

Extras:
Blue Jays,
Cardinals,
Chickadees,
Goldfinches,
Juncos,
White-breasted Nuthatch,
Red-bellied Woodpecker,
Black Squirrels.




Photo Site #3 - West Meadow Viewpoint Sunset




Blooms in the Royal Botanical Garden's 
Mediterranean Garden Room 





Thursday, February 06, 2020

Sit Spot - February 6 & Novel re Paris



February 6, 2020 1:34 p.m.
Sit 476 : Brush Pile W : Cloudy 
-4° (-10°) n 17-26 kph  88% humidity 
Woodpecker drumming,
(Jet, traffic noise)
(JetSuite Air flight 307...)
Unidentified chirps,
Chickadees,

Extras:
Heard Eastern Bluebirds south of west meadow 
Saw 6 White-tailed Deer south of barn
Rabbit also south of barn
Blue Jays,
Cardinals,
Mourning Doves,
Goldfinches,
Juncos,
White-breasted Nuthatch,
Downy Woodpecker,
Red-bellied Woodpecker,
Black Squirrels,
Grey Squirrels.



Photo Site #4 - North Ridge Trail

Freezing rain coming down this morning so our usual Thursday walk was cancelled. That gave me the chance do finish the Rutherfurd "Paris" novel that I have been reading for the last couple of weeks. It is just over 800 pages long so it was not a quick read but it was enjoyable. The enjoyment was enhanced by the fact that my French speaking partner, Fleur-Ange, and I made two trips to Paris a few of years ago so the scenes in the book were a bit more  real than they would have been if I had not had those visits. That being said, anyone who enjoys historical novels would probably enjoy this book as Rutherfurd is an excellent writer who does a lot of research for his books.