More March photos, mostly birds (sorry)

A flurry of Amazon shopping resulted in some changes to the sunroom decor:

From this

 

to this

From this

to this and

from this

to this.

Three of the old cushions will be donated and I was able to use the insides in the new cushions (with some additions which meant some epic cushion wrestling). I still want to spray paint the furniture but that will have to wait for warmer weather.

I found pussy willows on one of my walks. Some are now in a vase and I hope they will grow roots.

I enjoy taking pictures of birds on the feeders

but much prefer to get them

"in the wild"

Although the Peregrine Falcons that we saw at Hamilton Beach were "in the wild"

it felt a little strange taking their pictures as they perched

up on the lift bridge over the Burlington canal at the entrance to Burlington Bay.

There were also some rather pretty Long tailed ducks in the canal

so I experimented with the "burst" feature on the camera.

It takes a burst of photos that then play like a video but you can retrieve them one frame at a time. Good for fast moving situations.

Patterns in cut wood,

reflections in a stream and

sap collection

on another walk.

All of these walks mean that I completed my Hadrian's Wall Challenge (a day after I took this photo). I walked 90 miles in 2 months.

A quick rush outside with the camera resulted in some very poor Bald Eagle fishing shots.

So much easier

when they are sitting still

or even showing off for the ladies.

Miscellaneous March walks and a baby announcement

 We are being teased by spring. The warmer weather comes and goes but it helps the bulbs sprout in the garden (and I planted tons of them last year), the buds ready to burst open on the trees and a beautiful selection of wildlife to capture as I play with the new camera (both amazed and frustrated by its capabilities and all the buttons, menus and dials to get the hang of)

 

A racoon heading for its hole.

Observed while I was walking along New Lakeshore.

Rick and I had a muddy walk in the Turkey Point park

and another at EcoAdventures

before stopping for a beverage. The Marshside Patio has reopened!

Then another short walk at the Long Point Causeway.

Muskrat.

There were still Sandhill Cranes and lots of waterfowl but I am not good at catching birds on the wing yet. The camera is capable but I am not.

The Redwings kindly stayed still.

I continue to have daily video visits with Cigi

Her eyelashes are growing

But the big surprise was the receipt of this photo:

Mike and Aimee are expecting a third. Baby brother or sister for Avery and Maya, new cousin for Cigi, new grandchild for me!

Wildlife

 I try to have my camera with me all the time as I want to get used to it and so far I am very happy with it as I can get shots with the zoom that I couldn't on the other one and they are clearer.

Immature Bald Eagle scanning the lake.

Possum in the back yard.

Merganser ? (with a bad hair day)

Male and female Merganser and White winged Scoter (? maybe)

Bluff hunting

hard to tell, from this angle, what he is. Just after I took this shot he folded his wings and dove.

The black hoards have descended again - red winged Blackbirds, Starlings and Grackles  empty the feeders in a day.

And there is tons of activity there, House Finches

in large numbers.

The Red breasted Woodpecker

is so beautiful that

that I can't get enough of him.

OK, the Downy is cute too.

I have put up some new

avian accommodation

but they tend to like them a bit weathered

so I don't know if I will get any residents this year.

 Finally, guest photographer:

Peregrine Falcon in Hamilton

Photos by Rick.