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Here it is .... The last minutes of July 2015 .... And this evening I was at the end of Beacon Avenue in Sidney with my camera gear waiting for the Blue Moon to rise. Long weekend has begun and happy vacationers roamed the streets enjoying the cool breeze off the water ... Many folks were out as I was , camera in hand, clicking photos and video of the 2nd full moon this month. Happy Long Weekend to everyone... Terry .
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This afternoon I had hoped to pop over to my Magic Duck Pond, but a steady rain was falling and the skies were quite dark, so I stayed home.... However, I was rewarded by the Pileated family out back. All 4 were here, but the main players were Dad and the 2 kids.... (And I am thinking today that both offspring are males. ) The red colouration on the jaw line is beginning to form just faintly, but this indicates they are males. One of the young woodpeckers was actually getting some peanuts on his own ...but Dad was still stuffing both young ones with peanuts. Dad also made 2 trips to the ground below where there is a water dish (for the squirrels) That peanut feeder is worth its weight in GOLD! :)) Terry ... An interesting sunset this evening made me walk down to the corner and catch some colour before it disappeared! Today was the day to pick blueberries and ohhh my what a treat! 100% organic and raised with care by Rick and Wendy! Thank you so much for a wonderful visit and for these amazing blue treats! Finally some real rain today ...YEAH!!! Welcome relief for a very very dry Vancouver Island .... Of course today was the 1st in a week or so I decided to dedicate to photography , so the steady drizzle made for some tough shooting light. But later this afternoon I returned to my "secret duck pond" and found no adult wood ducks but several immatures and a host of mallards. Despite the heavy clouds, light rain and tree/leafcovered pond, there was some moments of nice light and I was happy with a few images. I do wish the wood ducks around here weren't so shy... but I'll take whatever I get.. Have a great weekend... Terry *** Update on the Wood Ducks .. I a told that these are actually adult males but in their non breeding (Winter) plumage... ***   Summer moult plumage "Drake" wood duck Morning rain on Pat Bay.........with Canada Geese flying over Moses Point!  This afternoon the Pileated woodpecker family came in to the back yard .. 2 adults and 2 kids! These guys are sure fun to watch! As promised today was a warm one ... Well its summer after all, and the people who love warm weather must be very pleased. I think 28C was our high today. I really never got out to take photos, but did manage the "back 40" for a few quick images. The chickadee's always entertain , forever dipping into the hummingbird nectar, having long cool drinks at the bird pool :)) and generally just flitting about. This little one was in some dark shadows so ISO 6400 to make this shot.  I often sprinkle some peanuts around an old stump out back. That way the squirrels who don't have access to the peanut feeder can get a snack if they look around. Today however before the red squirrels or chickadees found them .. this handsome fella swept in and loaded up!   Have a great Sunday, everyone.......... Terry
  Well ... as usual time is flying past like a space shuttle on re-entry , but this was my week tocatch up on a few jewellery projects. So... this morning after missing several days afield with my cameras, I set out and 1st stop was in Sidney @ Lillian Hoffar Park ... This is where I ran into these masked marauders. They scavenge whatever they can along the ocean and pay absolutely no heed whatsoever to signs, apparently :D  I overheard this one saying "The coast is clear, MOM!"  The next stop was Coles Bay (Ardmore) where I observed a dozen newly minted Canada Geese , one GB Heron, and several small songbirds (all hidden in the shadows, so no picures)  On my walk out..I watched an industrious Hairy Woodpecker going about some serious excavating way up in a tree.  Hopefully more to follow this coming weekend... Supposed to be +29 tomorrow, so I'll have to go out early!
Cheers and have a great weekend... Terry Today was the first day in ages that I barely picked up my camera.... The refreshing rain has quenched the dry air and surrounding Peninsula and I believe the moisture has been felt up and down the coast today. This site began today ... July 12th/2015 Picking blueberries tomorrow.. so expect some images from that event. Have a great week... Terry :)  |
