My Garden – Mon Jardin – Mi Jardin – Mein Garten – Daily Adventures & Thoughts

No matter the language, my garden is my paradise. To watch the lovely birds that nest in the trees and bushes. The bees, butterflies are such a joy to see.

Tag Archives: Fox Sparrow


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Walking in the rain .. under a sky blue lined umbrella .. enjoying the peace and quiet .. how very lovely yesterday was!

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Yesterday, the rains poured down from the heavens .. and this was a perfect day for a walk .. so I set out.  However .. firstly .. here is a little photo of the little Fox Sparrow, who had a serious problem with his left eye.  Today I noticed that the problem is much worse and, sadly, I saw another with the same problem with his right eye.

I’ve read, from some birding blogs, that these issues are more readily viewed when there are bird feeders closer to the house.  Otherwise, they wouldn’t be noticed.  Nevertheless, I brought most of the birdfeeders & suet holders inside for a good scrub, a light bleach rinse and lots of clear water rinsing.  Amazing the amount of seeds were tucked away tightly.  Washed, rinsed, dried and fresh seed & suet.  The world was a little happier place.

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Next, at the front of the house, I’m just about ready to leave when I notice a neighbour’s cat .. very friendly … came up the front stairs … apparently quite ready to come inside for a visit.  However, a branch from our Christmas tree appeared to capture his attention.

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Sorry, sweetie .. another time … love that face!  02

I began my trek … along local pathways … no one else out at this particular time .. so only me and the rain and my umbrella .. quite  tranquil time .. loving this.

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I love walking in the rain  … especially with this very cheerful umbrella … the top side is solid black and the inside is blue… with fluffy cumulous clouds .. very happy indeed.  So in contrast, the sleet ridden roads all of a sudden don’t seem to be so gloomy.

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This pathway is new … it allows runners/bikers/walkers to enter Rainbow Park more easily and it opens right off of McKenzie Avenue.  This is the first time I’ve walked this way .. kind of curious to see how it works out .. previously, this was all a grassy hillside.

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Just before this , though, along McKenzie Avenue .. is a lovely little green area with magnificent trees …

09 And further along .. a massive amount of ferns growing along  .. very lush and beautiful …  07

And more berried bushes .. food for the deer?  Lovely to look at ..06

What a cheerful sight .. lots of flowers …

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And  .. just a few minutes from starting my walk I arrive at Rainbow Park .. a lovely place, well named.

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And what do we have here … another route to my favourite place!  There are quite a variety of routes to Swan Lake Sanctuary and it’s fun to try a different one for each visit.

13At the little observatory (once I reached it!) I could see a little Mallard out in the middle of Swan Lake .. and I think he saw me ..but, alas, I hadn’t brought any flatted oats with me .. so I left before I could draw him over in false hope for food ..

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Farther along .. you can see the fence posts, still here, from the dairy farm that once flourished here.  My pal D remembers this quite clearly .. she and her family used to purchase their milk from the store that once existed.   Kind of nice to see these posts, though, a salute to previous times.  19

I love everything about Swan Lake .. and there are some areas that are just so much more awesome than others.  This is one .. and see the nest up in the tree to the right?  Cool.

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Rain .. rain .. rain .. everywhere.  But I’m not worried .. my waterproof walking shoes are about the only dry apparel that I have .. it’s taken me awhile to walk these shoes into a comfortable state of being .. and I can quite enjoy them now.17

Some Mallards enjoy the peace and quiet.16

Moi mes souliers ont beaucoup voyagé (grace a les mots de Felix Leclerc) 15

And this signage just never gets tired!!  See the last line .. so true.14

Sigh …


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Thursday was a gift of a day .. sunny skies .. spent more time working in the garden ..

Friday, January 4, 2013

The sun was shining brightly yesterday and I spent some timeless time in the garden .. really got a lot done.

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Moved more of the Miracle Mulch, placing some as mulch in the side perennial gardens and some around the potted trees.   Almost done.  Plus there are more containers full at the side of the house.  Whew …I’d ordered a lot a few months ago .. moved it all from the driveway to the back … and then just left it all for a while.  The earthworms have already moved in, working away to turn the mulch into beautiful soil.

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More time spent gazing upwards at the changing beauty up there ….would ephemeral describe these wispy clouds?  I think so.

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Some temporary garden art!  I removed the ice from the top of a container of water and placed it in front of one of my garden signs.20

The birds, all of them, from the European starlings to the Chickadees .. have feasted from this apple and still there are lots left for them to nibble on.19

More of that lovely eye candy ..18

Containers of strawberries .. I need to plant them in the ground soon before the frost!  Even then, though, I’m not worried.17I’d been standing in the kitchen earlier, looking out the window at the birds visiting the little feeder.  Notice that one little Fox Sparrow had problems with his left eye.  Don’t know whether he’d been attacked or was ill, but his vision was gone in that eye and there was a raised section of pink around the bottom and side of that eye.  Poor little guy.

Once outside, I’d noticed the same little Sparrow still in the feeder.  Guarding the space for himself.  I was glad he found some refuge for awhile.

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He ate steadily .. keeping his good right eye alert for any intruders.  DH & I watched him for a while.   His feathers were fluffed out and he seemed to be breathing quite heavily, his little chest would puff in and out, like an accordion.  I was sure he was ill and glad he had a place to rest.  Although .. he was back today, glad to see!

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After awhile .. he left the feeder and flew up to the roof … perched there for a while.  Looking around.11

A few times he would look straight down at me .. I wondered what he was thinking … was he aware that I was supplying the food?  10 Back in the feeder .. and I don’t think he really noticed this intruder, pecking away at the seed .. he didn’t seem to mind him being there.

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As usual . there was a waiting line outside the feeder.

15Once again  .. another bird waited, closer ….but when he finally flew towards the feeder .. the little Fox Sparrow quickly spread his left wing out straight to ward him away!  This happened so quickly.  It was definitely a fighting stance.

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And it worked … the other bird was deflected and flew away.   I stood for a while and watched as the Sparrow continued this defensive activity.  At times he would fling out both wings, straight out!  The body language was unmistakable.

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There is still a flat of sage plants (and roses also!) to plant … where does the time go!

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Brrr …. ice still on the surface of the bird’s watering hole (one of those upturned tomato cages with a shallow bowl!)

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Time for a tea break.  I love this … being outside, rain or sun … mug of tea, music … 03

Soaked up all the beautiful skies that I could yesterday .. as the weather reports indicate rain for a few days.   Enjoy.

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At the base of the cherry tree, Calendula plants growing everywhere, fresh mulch applied.   Found one of those lovely glass globes that we used to be able to buy at Capital Iron.  I have a few more scattered somewhere .. green .. gold .. amber

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Another lovely day .. time spent in the yard … and all that is beautiful around it!

🙂