Birds and Bloomers...

 May 10, 2024

A Bluebird pair has shown up in the clearing, and the Tree Swallows are not impressed. The female swallow is diligently collecting nesting materials, and flying them into the nest box...the male guards the territory. He took a swoop at the Bluebird who was sitting up on the clothesline pole..and the language..! 

Meanwhile, the male Purple Finch is trying to impress the ladies with his dancing prowess. He pops up a feathered crest on his head, spreads his wings and flutters them while dancing in place.

A meander around the bush trails this morning with Merlin, tells me that lots of warblers have made it north. It is pure magic to be able to put a name to the calls I'm hearing. Another thrill was to be up very early one morning, and actually get a flashlight beam on a pair of Whip-poor-wills who were sounding off right by the lilac bush. They have become a morning fixture. We are lucky to have that 'threatened' species here.

Off in the bush, large white blooms seem to float in mid-air...Hobble Bushes are blooming.

Trilliums, here and there and everywhere. There are mostly red ones around here,

and some large colour morphed red guys. Some have rounded petals,

and some have pointed petals.

We had to travel a little further afield to find some white trilliums. Here they are, drenched, on a rainy day earlier in the week.

The good inch of rain that fell has put my potato planting on hold for a bit, as the soil is just a little too wet to be walked on. Meanwhile, down in the Lady Slipper patch...

Buds are poking up above their sheathing leaves.

A lot of wild cherry and plum trees are blooming, their blossom laden branches seem to miraculously float unsupported here and there in the bush and along field edges, as other trees are not fully leafed out yet.

Temperatures have been very comfortable for outdoor endeavours, and the black flies don't become noticeable until the mornings warm up. It is so nice to actually have spring, and not go directly into hot, hot summer.