June 22, 2025
On Wednesday evening, I was sitting out on the verandah, enjoying the evening bird chorus, when a strange hollow thundering sound assailed my ears. Before I could figure out what it was, a pair of moose materialized on the east side of the verandah, and stopped. My efforts to get Hubby's attention caused them to walk further toward the two apple trees in the corner of the front yard, where he managed to get a pic of them. We figure they were spooked out of the bush behind the barn, and came at a run right up the yard, between the end of the garden beds and the field garden. It is not unusual at all to see moose here, but thrilling when they are so close and let us get a good look. Hubby figures they are siblings, a yearling cow and bull from last year. If you look close, you can see growing antlers on the head of the moose in the foreground.
Could it get any better??? YES, yes it could!
On Thursday evening, I was preparing dinner, and at a lull in the action, was looking out the west window. Just across the driveway, there were two little birds perched up on the decorative edging under the eaves on the Battery House. Odd. Was it baby Tree Swallows, back to visit?? Seems odd they would do that and perch there as Tree Swallows prefer poles. It just isn't in character, and they'd fledged and gone, a week or so ago. Then I noticed a bit of buffish colour on their throats, then I noticed longish forked tails..... Out came the binos, a pair of which are at almost every window in the house. Did you hear the WHOOP when I identified Barn Swallows!!!! Now that may not seem like much to most folk, but, long ago child hood and young adult memories hold pictures in my mind of country telephone wires laden with rows and rows of Barn Swallows. You'd be hard pressed to find that nowadays, and the Barn Swallow is on the list of Special Concern on the Species At Risk Act in Canada. I am absolutely ecstatic that a pair has chosen us. I lamented the fact when we moved here, that we had a barn, but no Barn Swallows. I contented myself, that we had Tree Swallows, such chittering, happy sounding aeralists. But now...just watching these guys, who swoop and fly much lower, and zip across the pond....Joy incarnate!
Under the eaves, along that board on which they were perching....Look...a line of mud on the board. A nest in the making???
A Blandings turtle was laying eggs. I temporarily marked the spot and will take serious protection measures today, and good thing I did, as it poured torrential buckets of rain last night, and the spot would now be indeterminable. Blandings turtles were added to the Ontario Species At Risk Act in 2008.
Its been an exciting week here. Lots of needed rain, the sun is shining and every growing thing, will be surging.
I looked up barn swallows. They been to come in different colours, but perhaps it depends on age and sex. Thanks for your answer on the previous post.
ReplyDeleteHappy to hear you survived the storm. We haven't seen our moose for awhile. The doe and single fawn are still hanging about my neighbours yard. I put the trail camera on his porch post hoping to get a photo. He has barn swallows in his machine shed!
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