The Spirit of December

Here we are in the last month of the year!

How did that creep up on us?

The days are so short now and night comes earlier and earlier.

The lighting is sometimes so grey and dull that photography becomes a challenge.

Candlelight sets the scene early mornings and early evenings!

There have been sunny days with blue skies and I always go outside to take in the beauty.

There have been many rainy days too and walks with my umbrella.

The park benches are collecting fallen leaves

The leaves in my basket of strawberry plants have turned beautiful colours.

At the beginning of the month, there were still tiny flowers and green strawberries

that will not longer ripen.

One day, I walked down to the big park Mon Repos

and did capture these beautiful beech leaves before they joined all the others on the ground.

Next year's buds have already formed as the last leaf on a young tree still holds on.

In November, I took a very interesting course called:

30 Days of Perception

with Kim Manley Ort.

One of my favourite exercises was to go out with our camera and take a photo every ten steps.

The above collage of four photos is part of one such outing.

It was raining and I was holding my umbrella.

The photos are as follows, going from the bottom left clockwise:

A wall at eye-level with ivy and fallen leaves

A Sequoia tree trunk which looked amazingly like a man's profile

The wet road as I crossed to go to the park with car lights shining on the wet surface

Drops of rain still clinging to the wire barrier as I left the park.

The exercise suggested stopping after every ten steps and observe

looking up and down and all around.

I was fascinated to see this lovely green moss and how it had even grown a little

green 'button' in the hole of a piece of metal on the paving stones.

I was preparing some Christmas decorations and noticed this out of focus golden glow

out of the corner of my eye.

I turned my head and took the photo with the soft focus as I had seen it.

The golden glow came from tiny golden bells put onto a little silver dish

so they wouldn't roll away.

One morning, I walked into my bedroom to see tiny and magical dots of light and shadows

playing on my bookcase and wall and on the miniature chest of drawers

a souvenir from my father.

I just love moments like this for they're so fleeting.

I have been busy making crocheted gifts.

These are envelopes made for paper napkins.

More candlelight to observe as I noticed the twin flames reflected in the glass front of

my chiming clock.

That little angel moves around, doesn't she?

But now she's permanently on the small round table next to my couch

next to the candle holder in the shape of a waterlily!

You can see them both in the very first photo.

Can you see the tiny little heart that formed on the candle wick when I blew out the candle?

When we take the time to look around us and notice tiny details

we bring joy into the moment.

Purple jellydisc

A bizarre fungus, the purple jellydisc, Ascocoryne sarcoides. The hairs are those of a small mammal, probably a white-footed mouse. The world of fungi is fascinating, bizarre, and impossibly diverse. I wish I had more time to delve into it. I made this image last Tuesday in Hocking County, Ohio.

Time has been tight of late, with book projects, other writing obligations, a move, and various speaking gigs. I've barely had time to trigger the shutter, but hopefully that'll all change soon.

Prothonotary Warbler

Prothonotary Warbler - A Rare Warbler Here 

Prothonotary Warbler [Internet Photo]

The Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) is listed as 'casual' here in New Brunswick by 'Birds of New Brunswick: An Annotated List'.  Sibley, however, indicates it is rare here and I would agree.  I have tried all my life to see this species with very limited success.  I have never seen it in New Brunswick and have only found it in Ontario.  The first New Brunswick specimen was collected at Milltown in 1862.  There have been over a dozen reports over the years with most from the Fundy coast and often Grand Manan.

Prothonotary Warbler [Jennifer Ryder Photo]

The photo above shows a Prothonotary Warbler on the left and an American Goldfinch on the right.  This bird was found on Grand Manan in 2013.

The Prothonotary Warbler is an unmistakable warbler.  The peachy yellow colour is so brilliant it is neon.  The wings are a blue-grey.  The dark gray bill is large and there is white on the tail and on the vent.  We have many small yellow birds but to the discerning eye this one is unmistakable.

The range of this species is the eastern US mainly towards the south.  It is common in wooded swamps or lowland deciduous forest with standing water and dead trees.  We once visited a breeding area for this species in northern South Carolina and the habitat is typical of what is shown in the photo below and as described above - very shaded hardwoods with standing water.  When we found the small breeding population at Point Pelee, ON, the habitat was identical to that in South Carolina.  We were not surprised that the warbler was there as opposed to different habitats in the area.  To us it looked like 'Prothonotary specific habitat'.

Typical Prothonotary Warbler Habitat

Prothonotary Warblers eat insects but also fruit and seeds.  They forage in trees but also on the ground.  In the South this species is known to eat sugar water and nut pieces.  This species is a cavity nester and prefers holes in trees and stumps.  It will also use bird houses and other man-made structures.  It lines the cavity with moss in which it forms a nest cup.  Four to six pink or cream eggs spotted with gray or brown are laid and incubated 12 to 14 days.

Prothonotary Warbler [Jennifer Ryder Photo]

There are only two similar species you might confuse this bird with, the Yellow Warbler and the Blue-winged Warbler.  The Yellow Warbler has yellow wings and undertail coverts.  The Blue-winged Warbler is also a very brilliant yellow, but a medium yellow as opposed to a peachy yellow.  It has a black eyeline and pale wing bars.  Whether it is a Blue-winged Warbler or a Prothonotary Warbler you are looking at, you have a very rare bird for New Brunswick!

The Prothonotary Warbler breeding population at Point Pelee, ON, may be the only one in Canada.  There are only a few pairs but as I watched them I was aware that this remnant of the Carolinian forest had brought its fauna with it.  I enjoyed their brilliant yellow colour and their high-pitched ascending song which some birders interpret as 'sweet sweet sweet'.  These birds appear to be very specific to habitat and I doubt if we will ever get a breeding pair in New Brunswick since we have no true Carolinian habitat.

Hawks Visit Our Yard

A Three-Hawk Week

Merlin

The week of November 18 was a three-hawk week for us.  We live along the river and our trees and open area often draw raptors during migration.  So what we saw that week was not particularly unusual but never-the-less, interesting and enjoyable.  

The week started with a Sharp-shinned Hawk flying rapidly through our yard checking out the bird feeders.  That scattered the doves and woodpeckers which spend most of their time around our trellis/feeder area and rock garden.  It wasn't long before the hawk returned to perch in a high ash tree overlooking the active bird area.  Needless to say, the area was very quiet. Before long the hawk  moved on to better things.

Sharp-shinned Hawk

On the 21st another fast hawk flew across the yard and landed on another ash tree slightly down river.  From that vantage point it surveyed the area.  After a 15-minute visit, it went on its way.  I wondered if it was moving down river on its migration and decided our place might provide a quick meal.  See the photo at the top of the post for a view of the Merlin.

November 21 brought our third hawk of the week.  It was late in the day and getting dark when a buteo flew across the back yard and landed in a tall oak.  I grabbed binoculars and there was not enough light to tell what it was.  The hawk moved 3 more times and at that point I had the scope set up and caught a quick glimpse as it moved yet again.  The scope captured enough light so I could see the identifying dark band across the breast.  See the photo below.  That hawk (or another Red-tailed Hawk) returned again on November 27.  

Red-tailed Hawk

Fall migration is a wonderful time to be a bird-watcher in New Brunswick.  We just never know what we are going to see.  Sightings might be really rare birds which are not normally here or they might be our regular species.  This year has been a phenomenal year for unusual species, species from very distant places.  The hurricane Dorian brought many rare species to the Maritime provinces.  

Our regular migrants are also very enjoyable to see.  I am so happy we still have sufficient good habitat for these birds to feed and occupy.  Our wildlife is a wonderful heritage and it is our responsibility to protect it by preserving their habitat, their feeding areas and stop-over areas on migration.  Some of these hawks will spend the winter here but most of them will move south.  We will miss them and look forward to their return in the spring.

Glaucous Gull, a sure harbinger of winter

A mammoth glaucous gull yelps its commanding presence to the masses. It's headed into a fray of hundreds of ring-billed gulls and some herring gulls following our boat. Only the great black-backed gull is larger, at least among gulls that appear in Ohio. This glaucous gull will immediately establish primacy among its lesser brethren by sheer force of size and personality.

Last Saturday I boarded the Holiday near downtown Cleveland along with several dozen other birders. It was the first "pelagic" Lake Erie trip of the season sponsored by the Black Swamp Bird Observatory. I believe the December trip is full, but there may be spaces on the January 1 voyage.

We motored slowly down the Cuyahoga River from our launch point at Collision Bend, stopping once to await the passage of the 615-foot lake freighter American Courage. The river seems impossibly narrow to accommodate these giant ships, but it does although lesser craft may have to duck out of the way until they squeak past.

The same glaucous gull from a different angle, showing its pure frosty-white wing tips. This individual is a first-cycle bird. It will go through four cycles of distinct plumage before reaching adulthood at four to five years of age.

Before long we hit Lake Erie. Chum-master Tim Jasinski created a steady effluvia of bird-friendly chum (no popcorn or bread here!) off the stern, and before long we had a blizzard of ring-billed gulls in tow. As the weather has been relatively mild thus far, the ring-billeds were far and away the dominant gull, although a number of herring gulls peppered the flock. Bonaparte's gulls were almost non-existent, and every lake birder loves to encounter swirling masses of that species. Such swarms can attract rarer species such as black-headed or little gulls, or perhaps even a jaeger.

We did see a few great black-backed gulls - another species that will greatly increase in numbers as winter sets in - but this glaucous gull was the highlight. They breed in the high Arctic, and Lake Erie is a Floridian vacation for these feathered toughs. Most of them winter in colder waters, although some make it all the way to the Gulf Coast.

A few other avian highlights were peregrine falcon, which rocketed by offering a few fairly close passes. A rough-legged hawk passed high overhead; my first of the season. And the day's best rarity was a purple sandpiper, which obliging foraged on mossy rocks of a nearby breakwall.

All in all, an interesting four-hour float.

Lucerne in October - Part 2

Now we are going to glimpse parts of the old town of Lucerne.

The water which separates two parts of the old town

is called the River Reusse which joins the lake.

Here is a close up of Chapel Bridge with colourful flowers arranged along the whole length.

The well-known tower attached to the bridge.

The building with the arcades underneath is the Town Hall

with the clock tower behind.

This is the view that I had from my hotel room.

It's a very old pharmacy with lovely stonework and an exciting turret.

The small fountain which can also be seen from my room.

Looking towards the other end of the River Reusse at the opposite end to the lake.

After crossing one of the bridges,

there are beautiful decorated house facades to be seen.

This is one of my favourites.

It's part of the Waage Hotel which is steeped in history

which dates back to 1199.

The famous facade murals are among the most photographed in Lucerne.

I love the coloured tiled roof as well.

Here is a close-up.

I've shown this particular red and white building several times,

but taken from different points of view.

It was particularly lovely on this sunny day with deep blue reflections in the water.

This is the Jesuit Church which can be seen on several different photos

on my visit to Lucerne last December 2018.

Part 1

and 

Part 2

This is the interior of the church in the Baroque style.

More architecture with turrets and an old lamp

Another interesting detail.

Maybe you can just read the words below the middle window:

"Festina Lente"

which means: 'Hasten slowly'!

The sky was so pretty here

The saying goes: "Mares' tails and mackerel scales."

In the days of large sailing ships, these kind of clouds in the sky meant

a storm would be approaching soon and the sails should be lowered to protect

from accompanying high winds.

A close up view of the reflected flowers.

On our last evening, I left the dinner table right after the first course

to catch the setting sun.

We can just see details of the fortified wall leading up to the tower.

Next time, I'm going to walk up there!

An old lamp against that sunset sky.

It was a lovely stay in a beautiful town on the lake.

American Coot

American Coot at Fredericton 

American Coot

On Friday, November 15,  2019, an American Coot (Fulica americana) was seen and photographed at Fredericton's Carleton Park.  It was gone by noon hour.  This was an unusual place and time for a coot, so, what was it doing here?  The St. John River is a migratory pathway for birds moving south from the northern part of the province and possibly from Quebec.  This coot, which usually prefers coastal ponds and inlets, is an unusual visitor to fresh water in New Brunswick.  This individual was clearly on its way south and put down at Carleton Park to spend the night with other waterfowl, to feed in the early morning and then wing southward for the rest of the day.

American Coot [Internet Photo]

The American Coot is a chicken-sized and shaped bird which prefers aquatic habitats and swims or wades most of the time.  It feeds on plants, aquatic invertebrates, amphibians, snails, worms and occasionally takes birds' eggs.  It forages by diving, tipping its head down from the surface or by walking along the shoreline.  It has a peculiar voice, making a variety of croaks, clucks, grunts and other loud strange noises.  It is definitely not a songster!

The American Coot is about 40 cm/ 15.5 in long with the males slightly larger than the females.  It is a member of the Rallidae family which it shares with rails and gallinules.  Generalizing, the coot looks like a black chicken with a white bill.  Males and females look alike.  It is an overall dark gray colour with a black head.  In flight they show a white trailing edge to their secondary wing feathers.  The undertail coverts are black with white patches on the outer edges.  The white bill sometimes shows a brownish-red partial ring.  This can also be on the white frontal shield above the bill.  The eye is red and the legs and feet are greenish coloured.  The toes have characteristic lobes between them much like webs (see photo below).  As shown above, the chicks are black with curly orange and yellow fluff on their heads.  

American Coot [Internet Photo]

In summer the American Coot breeds from British Columbia across southern Canada to the Great Lakes southward to the US and Mexico.  It winters through most of the central and southern US and Mexico.  It is a permanent resident over much of the southern US, Mexico and the Caribbean Islands.   In winter it is often seen in huge rafts swimming or resting in tight formation.  I have seen these rafts in North Carolina.  The coot is a rare summer visitor to New Brunswick.  There have been a few breeding records mostly along the St. John River and in the marshes along the NB-NS border.  The coot builds its nest out of leaves and stems over water attached to reeds.  Two to 12 eggs of variable colours are incubated for 21-25 days by both adults.  

The only other species one might mistake an American Coot for is the Common Gallinule but it has a bright red bill with a yellow tip and a white line along its side.  The Purple Gallinule is similar in size and shape but is so brightly coloured purple and green one would not mistake it.  

The American Coot is a unique bird.  Its voice is so strange it was used as one of the jungle calls in the Tarzan movies.  It is nicknamed 'marsh hen' or 'mud hen' because it walks (and swims) like a chicken with the characteristic head-bob.  A group of coots is sometimes called a 'commotion of coots'.  I doubt if we will ever see that in NB but we can often find one or two of this species in NB each summer.