The amazing Beaufort mountain range just outside of Port Alberni …We were up there recently and I took a lot of photos and decided this one was the fluffiest for posting! So beautiful!
Back at home, wandering around the yard with some sunflower seeds and suet for the birdfeeders (I only put out a little at each feeder) .. I noticed that there appeared to be a little nest being constructed in the old hang glider bag. Some Bewick Wrens had built a nest there a few years ago, but abandoned it in favour of another location. So here they go again. I don’t know if these are the same pair or whether the young ones have found mates and are starting a little family.
I’d noticed two of them perching in the dwarf weeping willow a few days ago here is one and the other wasn’t far away.
They are so very tiny and they were intently looking at something. I found out today what had caught their attention!
Our cat, JaneE, insisted on going outside ..when all I wanted to do was practice my fiddle for today’s lesson! Guess who won out .. cause ya can’t argue with a cat. In particular, a deaf, 22 year old princess who rules our household. I noticed what looked like a straw bowl, resting bottom up on the lawn … curious .. I turned it over and see what I found! A Bewick Wren nest .. and notice the yellow flowers from the dwarf weeping willow!!!
All that very fine weaving in the construction of the nest! I noticed a small piece of plastic film at the bottom of the nest … funny .. there was also a thin piece of plastic in the nest that I found a few years ago. I wonder how long it took them to build this nest? I carefully replaced it into the hangglider bag, tucking it in firmly, unsure as to whether they will return to this next or perhaps build another one? This is so very precious, I feel honoured to hold something so fine, true nature.
And this is from a few days ago, perhaps the little Bewick was continuing to search for fine items to build the nest!
In another corner of the yard, the Downy Woodpecker is looking for food in the bark of the old apple tree. Hard to believe that the tree can be termed old, when it just seems a few years ago that I planted it .. but it was over 30 years ago.
Here is our little princess .. the ruler of our household! Little JaneE Kat!! 🙂
And little Squirrely came by.. searching for peanuts .. I threw a handfull of them around the yard. And I chased them out of 2 of the bird feeders!! The yin and the yang of it all. Glad to see that this one is eating the peanut and not hiding them!
A few days ago I went for a walk that lasted for at least two hours, it included a visit to Lifestyles Market where I filled two bags with healthy groceries .. they seemed to get a bit heavier as I walked along! Anyway, I’d never paid attention to this street sign before and it would have been perfect for March 17!!
It is now officially Spring! And typical weather in Victoria is: Sun, followed by rain, followed by sun … etc., Personally I adore the rainy days and find them to be comfy and relaxing.
There is a tremendous amount of tidying up to be done in the yard … I had the flue a few times and lost months of being able to do anything .. so now is the time to start at point A and work my way around the yard. Accompanied with JaneE Kat, a few mugs of strong Yorkshire Tea and my music! I love world music especially when in the yard .. and have lots of Nae Plans, with Hamish Napier and Adam Sutherland to listen to .. over and over and over .. and also some new (to me) music by Kiran Ahluwalia …..
I look forward to spending a lot of time outside and have decided that I need to get up early so I can practice my fiddle for an hour at a time and then outside and then inside and then outside! Whew, am getting tired already.
Well .. it’s Friday night and time to relax a little bit so that is what I will do!
🙂
The waves were a constant .. and slowly building to a crescendo … (what is a crescendo, anyway, 🙂 ) sounds veddy dramatic, dahling …
So in the spring I went to visit the Fickle Fig farm .. an organic farm full to bursting with lots of crops, and farm animals. Here are some of the goats. As I walked across the muddy fields, a small group of them started to follow me .. not being a really incredibly brave person, I called to my friend “help .. they are all following me” .. how impressive is that. To be unnerved by these little goats. Nonetheless, he swiftly sent them off in another direction. whew!! Still they do look very handsome (from a distance and on the other side of the fence, lol)
Some Canada Geese taking a rest in a nearby field.
Then I made my way to the Wood Willow farm .. where I am the #1 customer! Here are some of the cuttings that I brought home with me and planted.
Here is a handwoven willow basket .. how beautiful ..
Some local landscapers were creating a habitat for the French Lop-ear rabbits (rescue rabbits).
I forget the type of willow used in this project, it is supposed to be a type that the rabbits do not like to nibble on. However, this little guy chose to try it anyway. He chewed away a bit and then left .. guess it works!
A round opening is made so that the rabbits can enter at will.
The project progressed ..
Carefully allowing space for the trees to flourish ..
Proper coppicing of the willow ..
The cuttings are carefully tied together.
Inside Rosemary’s kitchen .. she kindly gives me a bouquet of the heritage daffodils, they are beautifully scented. And I choose which cuttings I would like as she displays a variety for me.
And I came away with some gigantic goose eggs .. have never had these before .. they were delicious and quite rich!
And also some Swedish Blue duck eggs!
Back home and time to admire my feathered visitors .. here are the darling little Bush-tits. I know they must be nesting somewhere in the yard and the location of their nest is a mystery. That’s ok with me. they need their privacy .. don’t we all.
The Juncos are frequent visitors in the fall/winter/spring and fly elsewhere for the summer. They love flax seed so I bought a huge bag of it for them!
And where there are birds, there are hawks .. this is in one of the fruit trees in the back yard.
Dear little Nuthatches .. nesting somewhere nearby .. I’ve been lucky to see some of the babies in the spring ..this is an adult.
Female Downy Woodpecker .. this is my favourite suet holder ..and the birds sure like it.
And the arc-en-ciel was a beautiful scene to see ..
There is a family of Downy Woodpeckers, this is the female, the male has a band of red at the back of his head. They always announce their presence with their cheerful little chirps “here I am”. The sound is similar to a Robin’s cheerful chirp, I think.
sigh ….. I’m torn between looking up at the sky, watching the birds or looking through my bean plants to see if any are ripe enough for picking. And there is also the work factor – this comes after my play time is done (it never is really done, though!)
My Lovely Garden … Mon Joli Jardin 