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! 

The storm & Saturday's Critters!

 POWER OUTAGE UPDATE: We made it to Friday! Tacos for dinner Thursday, we watched a movie: Uncharted. It was a fun one for all. Everyone is helping out, and we are all making it work. To go from 2 to 6 people is quite the excitement! The kids still didn't have power in Ottawa, although Friday night a neighbour had power come up. We think it'll be back today. That is 7 days without power for them.

This is Merivale Rd./Viewmount Dr.
We lived near here, in Pine Glen.

We went down on Saturday and came back on Sunday last week. There was a lot of damage.

Caitlin worked in the Muskoka room, or the office. Josephine had homework to do. I puttered. Grampa went into town for dinner supplies. We're just taking one day at a time.

JL had to go into the city for work. He ended up at his house, cleared out the freezer (such a waste) and put it in recycle for Saturday pick-up. He drove back here and we feasted on spaghetti and meatballs. Another movie, Moonfall, and I konked out at 9 p.m.! 

There are still 26,800 without power across the province, about the same number are out with Ottawa Hydro. Here are the original power outages map May 22nd, and the map from yesterday, May 27th.

Saturday's Critters!

The critters have been busy. Robins have hatched, House Wrens are singing lustily, housed, as they are, in the Bluebird Nesting box. 

Phoebe babies have hatched. The kids have enjoyed watching them swoop in and out under the deck as they worked in the Muskoka Room. Singing at the top of their lungs. 

Off to the forest...

The coyote was caught on the trailcam, but it didn't like it!

 

coyote May 21 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

In the backyard, the doe ambles, whilst bats fly about.

 

doe & bat from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I had three eggs that I knew I should throw out after our 23 hour power outage last weekend. I thought Butch raccoon would get them. 

 

crow & ducks from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Our three Musketeers are still hanging about.

 

3 crows from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Blonde Butch raccoon is definitely lactating!

 

Lactating Butch from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I haven't seen Baby Bear since May 19.

And, finally, Big Bear. What a surprise! I have two more videos of him. He was here at 7 p.m., and later in the night twice. He's nowhere near the house, and we've been running around doing outside chores, so he is a good bear! Hunting season begins today, we wish him well. 

 

Bear May 25 7 p.m. from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Thanks to Eileen for hosting Saturday's Critters. Join us at: 

Saturday's Critters # 441