Canadian Geese

Canadian Geese
January 2, 2008

The new year has started peacefully surrounded by family, friends and nature. It hold all the promise of a great year ready to unfold all of its wonderment. The Canadian geese have been visiting us lately. They make a lot of noise but it is rather interesting watching their interactions. It is a rather large flock with only about a quarter of it being shown in the photo. Yesterday they were visiting while it was snowing. Such a pretty picture!

Wordless Wednesday - Standing Guard

Standing Guard

May 18, 2011

Garden Gnome
©2006-2011

Winter Wonderland

Mute Swan Visit

February 21, 2011

The swans visit daily even during the winter months as long as there is a bit of open water.  I managed to get this photo the morning of our last large snowstorm so it was a winter wonderland!  Later that day the ice had filled in the open water so there was little more than enough for a few ducks.

Garden Gnome

Seagulls on the Water

Seagulls on the Water

November 15, 2010

The weather has remained mild although slowly getting cooler.  It's rather nice that we are getting a break on home heating costs especially with the HST now added onto home heating fuel.  A few days ago a flock of seagulls landed on the water.  They settled in just calmly riding the rippling waves.  A lot of people don't like seagulls but I do.  I think they are rather pretty birds and they can be quite comical as well!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Swan Visit

Swan Visit

August 18, 2010

The swans visit at least twice daily.  This is the same couple that has visited us since we moved here over three years ago.  I never tire of photographing these majestic birds!  The picture was taken from the kitchen patio doors just a few feet away from the water's edge.  It was early morning and the water was just a bare ripple, still quite grey from the cloud cover.  The water constantly changes colour or appears to depending on the time of day and sky conditions. 

These are Mute swans that winter here as well.  We get visits from the Trumpet and Whistler swans occasionally during their migration.  Mute swans mate for life and care for their signets for two years.  This year the couple have no signets which is unusual so they likely had them but something happened.  The swans can be quite territorial and despite their graceful, serene appearance when agitated one hit from their powerful wings is enough to break an adult's arm! 

The swans have become quite friendly with us.  They know they get fed!  Just the sound of the patio door opening is enough to bring them to the dock where they wait for the bread we toss them.  They are rather spoiled as this isn't the cheap store bought white bread but rather most times homemade multigrain bread or occasionally my husband's store bought Italiano splurge.  Everyone along here feeds them.  Our neighbours a few doors down have a seadoo.  Last year the swans were near their dock and would not let them into the dock.  It was quite the sight to see!  Each time they tried to dock the seadoo the drake went right after them.  The poor neighbours were stuck out on their seadoo for a good hour not being able to dock because of the swans.  Finally the swans mosied on and they were able to dock the seadoo.  It was very interesting to see a very different side of the swans.

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

A Visit From the Mallard Family

Mallard Family

August 1, 2010

If you recall we had two mallard nests this year, one towards the front of our property and one near the water's edge.  We have had a nest of Mallards each spring since we moved here.   We don't bother them so they reward us with several family visits throughout the summer.  Aren't the ducklings adorable?

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Wordless Wednesday - Morning Sun on Swans

Morning Sun on Swans

July 26, 2010

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Wordless Wednesday - Mallard Family

Mallard Family

 July 10, 2010

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Laughing Gull

Laughing Gull

May 23, 2010

While sitting in the shade of the cabana snack shop I let my mind wander a bit to take in all the sights, sounds, smells and just simply being there.  Then the Laughing Gulls caught my attention.  I personally like seagulls.  I think they are rather interesting and have even more interesting quirks.  This little guy landed on the picnic table right in front of me posing rather nicely for a picture.  I managed to get quite a few pictures of the gulls even though I refrained from feeding them.  Feeding gulls is a rather interesting story that perhaps I will share with you sometime :)


Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Wordless Wednesday - In Flight

In Flight
January 8, 2010

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Late Winter Days

Late Winter Days
March 16, 2010

The weather has been gradually getting nicer. March came in like a lamb and while there is still a chance of nasty weather the temperatures just keep climbing. The water has been changing daily taking on more of the characteristic blue tones rather than the winter, icy grey tones. As the ice moves along the waterfowl continue to visit. I've been watching for signs of the mallards that always lay a nest under the hedges. They will be arriving shortly. We've seen a lot of geese and ducks this year but only spotted the eagles twice. The wild rabbits have been out all winter. A few days ago I spotted clear signs of spring with the crocuses breaking through sending up sprouts. Spring is just around the corner as we enjoy these last few days of winter.

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Wordless Wednesday - White on White

White on White
February 22, 2010

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Canadian Geese In Flight

Canadian Geese in Flight
March 4, 2010

Canadian geese are beautiful waterfowl but make no never mind they can be vicious if provoked or threatened much the same as any other animal. One hit from their powerful wings is enough to break a grown man's arm. One of the things I love watching is them taking off into flight. It is very rare that I manage to get a decent enough picture to share. This picture was taken just as the geese left the water and were about 2 - feet above the water so not the actual take-off but a fairly decent picture of them in flight close to the water. What is missing from the still shot is the actual sounds from the rippling water as they lift off to the flapping wings to gain momentum and their distinctive honking. What also is missing is the very distinctive movements made going from water to take-off to flight. I so need to capture this on video!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

A Visit From the Canadian Geese

Canadian Geese
March 4, 2010

With most of the ice gone from the water the Canadian geese have taken to visiting the shoreline. While they stay fairly close to the water's edge it is not uncommon to see them wandering from yard to yard and even occasionally down the driveways. They are impressive birds to say the least. I love taking pictures of them. What a great photo opportunity!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Hooded Merganser

Hooded Merganser Duck
February 8, 2010

Here's a still photo of the Hooded Merganser duck that visited. I just love his plummage!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Ducks on the Water

Ducks on the Water
February 8, 2010

We have had a lot of waterfowl visiting us lately. I love their visits! Not only are they wonderful to watch in the water and as the take-off or land but they present great photo opportunities. The picture was taken from our dock. The two larger ducks with the reddish heads are Canvass Back ducks. The smaller white and black duck to the right is a Bufflehead duck. I'm not sure what the small duck near the top of the picture is. I'm still working my way through the Duck's Unlimited photo gallery to help me identify the various ducks that visit. What I find interesting is quite often there is a variety of ducks visiting at the same time. Aren't they gorgeous?

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

A Bit More on the Canadian Geese Visits

Canadian Geese
(Branta canadensis)
January 16, 2010

Canadian geese are graceful in the water as well. I love watching them glide gracefully over the water. Occasionally one will assert his authority by posturing. This involves a semi-flight position half out of the water with wings almost fully extended. It is impressive to watch but harder to catch for photographing. Their visits have become less frequent the last couple of days as it has turned milder. They can still be heard overhead occasionally :)

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Oldest Grandbaby & the Waterfowl

Mute Swans
January 16, 2010

The two oldest grandbabies are always so excited to watch the waterfowl and boats at our house. The youngest grandbaby just likes decorating the patio door with little baby prints and slobber. Last year we taught the oldest how to feed the ducks and swans from our dock. So this weekend when they visited it wasn't long into the morning that the ducks were spotted. This wasn't just a family of duck but more like a huge flock of well over a hundred ducks. We had a leisurely breakfast while chatting and watching the water while all the while oldest grandbaby eyed up those duck. As we were cleaning up Grandma's stool was getting dragged all over the kitchen looking for the bread. Then without batting an eye told Papa "come on let's feed the ducks" except he came back with "ducks don't eat bread in the winter". That didn't stop the determined little one who turned around and said "Grandma and me will be right back, bye." Mommy asked where the little one and Grandma was going to which the instant reply was "Grandma and me are feeding ducks". Hmm, I already have a little helper if I get the chickens I want this spring!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Canadian Geese

Canadian Geese
(Branta canadensis)
January 16, 2010

A flock of Canadian geese (Branta canadensis) visited today enjoying a bit of down time on a sheet of floating ice. They are common visitors year round where we live. These beautiful waterfowl are usually seen in large flocks either flying overhead in their characteristic V-formation or gathering around sources of water. Canadian geese are large waterfowl that much like domestic geese can be quite aggressive. Did you know a domestic goose could be considerably more effective at protecting your home than a guard dog is? If they hit you with their wing there is enough strength to break an adult's arm! Canadian geese are the same way especially if they feel threatened which is perfectly understandable so don't get too close to a flock of them. Canadian geese present problems along some waterways and on golf courses due to their aggressive nature and droppings that can make walking where they have been a rather slippery adventure. They also present problems for the airlines with the most notable being the cause of a recent plane crash into the Hudson River in New York. Despite these problems these majestic birds capture my attention every time I see them!

The beauty of Canadian geese fascinates me. Their intelligence and behaviour intrigues me. They really have little fear of humans despite the fact they are considerably smaller than humans. I love watching them gracefully lift off from the water to start their flight then marvel at how quickly with seamless effort they form their V-formation with one arm of the V always shorter than the other. Hearing their honking overhead will have me grabbing the camera then running for just that perfect shot. So I was elated being able to get this great picture of them this morning.

Garden Gnome
©2006-2009

Hitching a Ride - Tundra Swans

Tundra Swan
(Cygnus columbianus)
January 7, 2010

I have often posted about the Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) that visit us almost daily. Yesterday I looked out to discover a small flock of Tundra Swans (Cygnus columbianus) aka Whistling Swan enjoy a bit of a break from their migration. Tundra Swans like sitting on floating sheets of ice so this is a common sight during the winter months.

Tundra Swans look quite similar to the larger Trumpeter Swan but have a small yellow mark at the base of the black bill close to the eye whereas the Trumpeter Swan doesn't have this mark. Mute Swans on the other hand have an orange bill. Tundra Swans migrate twice a year between the Canadian Artic or Alaska breeding grounds and a non-breeding ground in the US. Tundra Swans have a soft wow-wow-wow inflight honk while Trumpeter Swans have a high pitched French horn honk and Mute Swans have practically no honk. We also see Bewick's Swan, (C. c. bewickii) than has a soft ringing bark bow-wow call and Whooper Swan, (C. cygnus) that has a deep hooting call. When seen in flight all of these swans all look the same distinguishable only by their calls. All are migratory birds with the exception of Mute Swans. Tundra Swans migrate south beginning in October arriving at their wintering grounds in November to December. They begin their return journey to their breeding grounds in mid-March arriving by May.

Garden Gnome
©2006-2009