Sit Spot, Butter & Eggs, plus an Ootheca

February 16, 2020 8:48 a.m.

Sit 486: Brush Pile W : Cloudy 

-1° (-6°) 15-23 kph  85% humidity 

Crows,

(Jet , traffic noise)

(JetSuite Air flight 307...)

Extras:

Coyote tracks,

Many Squirrel tracks,

One set of Rabbit tracks,

Bird tracks on snowy ice 

Two Cardinals singing Spring songs 

Blue Jays calling 

Chickadees,

Mourning Doves,

Goldfinches,

Black Squirrels,

Grey Squirrels.

Photo Site #1 - East Pond

During the late afternoon the sun was shining at just the right angle to show me the remains of one plant that I had  been wanting to photograph. It was a stem and seed pod of a Butter and Eggs or linaire vulgaire in French (Linaria vulgaris).

I added the July photo for those who do not remember the look of the flower.

Also, I saw an ootheca [oh-uh-THEE-kuh], which I had always just called a Praying Mantis egg case but I learned the new term today and thought I would pass it along.

Given that it was on the edge of a path that I walk almost once or sometimes twice a day, I am sure I have passed within 30 cm of it over 100 times without seeing it. Today the sunshine was just right and I was looking down at just the right time. I wonder if I will be able to  find it again in the spring with the young mantises come out.

Sunlight & Shadow Plus Sit Spot - February 15, 2020

As I was sitting by the fireplace resting from the morning run, sunlight came streaming through the window and caught the staircase banister in an interesting pattern. 

February  15, 2030 5:17 p.m.

Sit 485 : Brush Pile W Cloudy 

-3° (-9°) s 20-30 kph  58% humidity 

(Jet, traffic noise),

(JetSuite Air flight 307...),

One silent, small bird flew by,

Wind whistling in trees,

Tree limbs creaking,

Donkey braying in the distance, 

Extras:

Crows calling in a.m.

Blue Jays,

Cardinals,

Chickadees,

Mourning Doves,

Goldfinches,

Juncos,

White-breasted Nuthatch,

Black Squirrels,

Grey Squirrels.

Photo Site #4 - North Ridge Trail

Screech Owl and Sit Spot - February 14, 2020

I got a text this morning from our neighbour saying that an owl had banged into their window. She said that the owl soon recovered and flew away. I suspected right away that it was the little Screech Owl that sometimes stays in our "Wood Duck Birdhouse".  The photo that followed the text confirmed my suspicions.

Another photo followed later showing the owl in the birdhouse. When I got home, I checked and saw that it was still there so I got out our camera and took another photo from further away.

That Screech Owl, or another just like it, spent a couple of months in that same bird house last winter. It often played "peek-a-boo" with me as I went out and attempted to take its photo. It would be in the hole, as you see above, until I got out the camera and then it would be gone and there was only the empty hole.

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February 14, 2020 4:49 p.m.

Sit 484 : Brush Pile W  Cloudy 

-8° (-12°) SW 8-11 kph  53% humidity 

(Jet, traffic noise),

(Caribbean Airlines flight 525...)

Prop Plane

No animal nor bird sounds

Extras:

Screech Owl in pond birdhouse 

Blue Jays,

Cardinals,

Chickadees,

Crow,

Mourning Doves,

Goldfinches,

Juncos,

White-breasted Nuthatch,

Downy Woodpecker,

Red-bellied Woodpecker,

Black Squirrel,

Grey Squirrel.

Photo Site #3 - West Meadow Viewpoint

Snow Walk - Sit Spot - Flower - February 13, 2020

Fleur-Ange and I joined the Beckett Walkers, as usual  on a Thursday morning, for a walk. We were on the rail trail near Paris and next to the Grand River this morning. Fleur-Ange and I walked the longest distance at just over 7 km in 90 minutes. 

The group walks away from the cars for 45 minutes then turns and walks back. Here we are on the way back.

February 13, 2020 5:18 p.m.

Sit 483 ; Brush Pile W ; Cloudy with Snow falling

-7° (-15°) W 26-39 kph 90% humidity

(Jet, Traffic noise)

(Air  Canada Jazz flight 7931…)

Not a sound of animal nor bird.

Extras:

Crows calling in the early morning,

Blue Jays also competing with the Crows,

Cardinals,

Chickadees,

Mourning Doves,

Goldfinches,

Juncos,

White-breasted Nuthatch,

Downy Woodpecker,

One black Squirrel.

Photo Site #2 - East Willow

Shortly after Christmas, last December, I picked up a bulb of an amaryllis. It was on sale at a local hardware store and did not look too healthy to me but the price was right i.e. about 70% off the pre-Christmas price so I took a chance. I forgot to get it in soil for a week or so but finally got it planted. As of today it has 6 huge blossoms and one more bud that will probably be open by tomorrow.

Sunrise & Sit Spot - February 12, 2020

There were beautiful sunrise sky colours this morning but they only lasted a very few minutes. I just managed to get the photo before the colours disappeared. I took this from our upstairs library window.

February 12, 2020 8:39 a.m.

Sit 482 : Brush Pile E : Mostly cloudy 

-5° (-8°) sw 7-11 kph 78% humidity 

Crows, 

Blue Jays,

(Jet, traffic noise, Train )

(American Airlines flight 1509...)

Extras:

Screech Owl in the west pond birdhouse 

Black Squirrel behind barn 

Cardinals,

Chickadees,

Mourning Doves,

Goldfinches,

White-breasted Nuthatch,

Downy Woodpecker,

Red-bellied Woodpecker.

Photo Site #1 - East Pond