Bugs and birds!

Well, it is bug season. Blackflies, and mosquitoes. They are simply awful. As I walk through the forest, I see clouds of mosquitoes hovering on or near the ground, hiding from the wind. Blackflies need running water, and we've not got as many of those. Mosquitoes hatch in our frogpond.

Happily, this means returning birds. Phoebes have 5 eggs. 

Purple finch and vireo, and oven bird! 

I couldn't see the bird at all singing up in the trees, but played the videotape for BIRDnet: Ovenbird! Fortunately, I have a video of it from four years ago.

Ovenbird from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The house wren has been busy on the front deck! I was talking to Caitlin on the phone while filming, so I pasted a house wren song in the audio! 

House Wren from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

This is a bluebird nesting box, and it has been lonely for tenants. They seem to have made a decision.

 Setting the videocamera on the tripod, I spliced together the best video clips. They keep shoving sticks in. This prevent other bigger birds from getting in. 

house wren 2 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Remember my bird feeder pole disaster? I have proof. This camera defaults to 1/1/2020 and 12 p.m. every time I replace the batteries. I began to reset it, but the mosquitoes are simply awful. 

 

Bear May 14th from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Sunday tales

Mother's Day was a bit of a day for me.
Hubby asked if I wanted my traditional Sunday breakfast, "a kitchen sink!" (An omelette with the works.) Why not! I split it in half, to enjoy the next day, too. He is kind to make me feel special.

Hooper and I went walkies. The plants are starting to grow up!
Hooper walkies from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

First, down to the pond, then to harvest the SD Card from the trailcam. A mallard.

It looks like bear attacked the trailcam, again. He ripped it off the mounting peg last year. Yep. A bear.

Scarlett Tanager, yes, it looks orange, and fooled me. I'm not the only one seeing this, though.

An unusual ‘orange variant’ Scarlet Tanager - a young male with less red plumage - was a fun find yesterday @PointPeleeNP during a guided walk I was leading. #pointpelee @Avibase #FofBirds2018 pic.twitter.com/WO0b1EtrQQ

— Justin Peter (@Birder_Justin) May 13, 2018

Scarlett Tanager from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We skootched around the meadow, and through the forest.

We saw a couple of ovenbirds. The ovenbird is nest in the forest beside our house.

Ovenbird from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.


Hooper and I went to the back 400 to check for barred owl pellets, but I  haven't heard them courting, nor seen a pellet around his favourite tree. I don't think we'll have owls this year, although I've heard them.

In the back 400, I strained a weak left ankle. Then, I want back to use the reciprocal saw on a small fallen tree blocking the path. I pulled a muscle in my right calf.
Back to the house, Hooper took a rest. Daisy and I did some gardening, dratted twitch grass. I chucked a piece out, and hit my hand on a garden ornament. The blood was dripping down. Hubby bandaged me, and then fetched some ice. It's bruised. We sat and read on the lower deck.

Then he fetched wine and a pizza for my lunch, as it was 2:30. I had the rest for dinner. I had phone calls from two of my three children. That's what I expected, but not what I'd hoped for.

We did a pay-per-view and watched The Greatest Showman on TV. It was fun. I was happy to put my feet up.