Blonde Butch on Crumbly Acres

We had a nice afternoon sitting out on the weekend. Yesterday, there were two turkey hens, the robins, cedar waxwings, Fred, Blonde Butch! 

The robins are on their second brood. She's sitting on three lovely blue eggs, now. The phoebes have 4 eggs, again, no cowbird this time! They remind me of a dad, pacing the hospital halls waiting for the birth. They go in and out, back and forth, landing here and there, keeping track of action around the nest.

It was a crow argument of some sort! I've seen crows fly by with an egg in their beak, trailed by an angry red-winged blackbird. It's a busy yard.

Crows in flight from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I like bird watching from the deck!

 

robins at the serviceberry from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Nutmeg found herself a vole. There are a lot of them. They tend to bring their prey home. I know the crows and the vultures like to clean up roadkill and such.

 

Nutmeg Vole from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

🛩 On Friday, this plane↓ was doing circles over the area. It is a commercial plane, based at Toronto Island airport. It belongs to Cameron Air. I wonder what they were up to, up only 1000' high. Turns out, they were ferrying guests to the lake. Because the lake is so shallow, the pilot was worried about landing, and weeds, and sussed out the situation. Usually, they only circle twice, to be safe. 

I tracked C-FXWH on radar, it kept coming back. Round and round it went. 

plane from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

There are regs for that, which have suggested minimums, unless they are landing or taking off.

Anyway, I now have an explanation from the chief pilot who phoned me on Monday. Also, the offer of a flight around the Island Airport!

⛈ Monday was quite the storm. Lots of thunder and lightning, 10 mm rain. Two people are suffering 'serious life threatening injuries', golfing in Kanata. There were warnings online and on Ottawa phones.

Lots were without power across the province, with only about 4000 people out this morning.

 

Our Ottawa family has begun their kitchen renovations. It was delayed a couple of times, but on the weekend they loaded up their storage bin, cleaned out the kitchen, laid the appliances out in the living room area, and so it begins. 

Monday, the demolition took place and they are down to wall frames. It is going to be a journey!

They posted a panoramic photo! 

Up in the air, on the ground, and in the oven

We sat out back, me with a cover over my sunburned shins, having a chat and bird watching. After JB's fall in town, he was taking it easy. He skinned his knees, thankfully he was wearing his jeans. 

Back in the old days I'd put Noxema on sunburns. All I had was another cream, Nivea, which helped.

An Ornge emergency helicopter, went from Ottawa to Pembroke Hospital, and back to Ottawa. I guess we have to appreciate our minor issues!

This pilot was having a blast!

All of the critters are working their way through their cycle of life. Even the ticks have reproduced. I was bitten by another tick nymph. It is reacting like a blackfly bite, itchy and oozing. 

After Fred trimmed Emily, the pansies are doing well in her elevated position. I will have to watch, though (non-mental note), the planter doesn't have a drain hole, and the pansies were drenched and not liking it. 

I experimented with the camera and the phone camera! You can see the firefly on the one flower.

The ivy looks as if it wants to fly!  The buttercup, not so much.

I just had to capture it bubbling just before I took it out! These are the joys of spring in Ontario: rhubarb and strawberries.

strawberry-rhubarb crisp from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I really have to do something about this garden. The daffodils bloomed nicely. It gets so dry in summer, and we haven't had much rain. I'd love to put in some plants, but the soil needs amending.

Fred was trimming it. 

We have to be pretty quiet, as Fred spooks easily. June 22

Fred from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Babies are blind, pink and hairless, and are called pups, kits or cubs. They have 3 - 6 pups, but can have up to 10. That'll be fun. They are weaned after 44 days, however, and are solitary critters. They won't hang around. 

Onward Excalibur!

 🚁Air Traffic ✈

I could hear a plane going over and over. Running outdoors I found it and came back indoors to track it. This is trickier than it looks. I think I am getting better at it! Still not there, yet. Between my shakes (nerves), the sunshine, and my reading glasses!

airplane from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Look at that track on Flight Radar! My curiosity is killing me.

I went to the other flight tracker, Flight Aware.

I looked it up on the plane register. it belongs to Xcalibur Aviation. Maybe Caitlin knows more about this!

 

Look up in the skies!

Amateur Built!

It went around twice. I hoped it was well-built!

The Plane from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Wetland walkies, helicopter, nuthatch, plane

It was a cold morning, Saturday, but it warmed up to -5 C. and I went for a walk on the wetland. Is it ON or in?! It was frozen, and the snow is hard as a rock.

First, coyote poop! From the colour, I'd say they were eating cattails. I've noticed evidence of the deer doing this. The snow is too frozen to take any tracks.

The ice crystals are amazing with the thaw and refreeze. Aren't they lovely? I only had my long lens and my videocam, I need to travel lightly, but this give you an idea.



The wetland looks so different in the winter. In the shelter of the trees, there are plants and fungus grown, and now frozen.


Someone's been shooting barrels on the Coutts property. It runs right behind ours. I can hear them from time-to-time.

On the way back I nearly got a soaker! I sunk and the snow was up to my boot top, the water a few inches deep. Whoopsie! I was following our property line, and decided to head back.


Meanwhile, back at the quaint bungalow... an emergency helicopter flew overhead. I checked my Twitter sources, and they think it was going to the Kingston hospital. Ain't Social Media grand?
As a former Muskoka Victim Services volunteer, helicopters and sirens give me the heebee jeebies!

I spotted a red-breasted nuthatch. During the December bird count they were totally absent. Go figure!


Then, an airplane flew overhead, and a red squirrel perched for me.
I looked up the registration for the plane.

C-FJZP

Cessna

150L

15074708

The Ottawa Flying Club