Easter Dinner

We celebrated our Easter dinner today and enjoyed a delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings. The only meal that means it is a holiday to my family is turkey. I have to admit I really enjoy it as well because it allows me to have an easy week of cooking afterwards because we all really enjoy the leftovers. We had the pleasure of the Easter Bunny stopping by early and leaving some treats for all of us. I hope you have as many laughs looking at the photos as we did enjoying what he left for us!!!

Look who came to visit

Trying to hide from my lens behind his foot

I've got my paws crossed for good weather to deliver my 

Easter treats......

The pictures speak for themselves

 

 

 Uncle Rod enjoying his treat......

Modified so she can see........

Things got silly and we had lots of laughs!!!

I wish you all as many laughs as we had 

when the bunny stops by your house.

The Easter Bunny's Coming

Which part of the bunny do you eat first?

Spring......When?

The calendar says spring but the weather is still saying winter. I hope it gives in soon as I am wanting to enjoy a good campfire before to long.
This week I was out for two long hikes. On Tuesday it was a 2 1/2 hr trip over to the woods, through the woods and a hike back home. It was quite windy & snowy at times but we were well protected for most of the time in the forest. We came across two blue herons along the stream at one point but they flew away before I could get any photos. Seeing them gave me hope that spring mustn't be far off. Wednesday we did a two hour hike along the Iron Horse Trail through Kitchener. The sun was out some of the time so that helped to brighten the walk. A train passed by us so I had to get a few shots of it traveling down the tracks. The conductor was even kind enough to give a blow of his whistle as he past us. Some of the birds I have seen this past week confirm for me that spring weather is on it way or else there are a lot of wishful birds out there.

The beaver lodge is still covered in snow

Fresh snow on the leaves

Quiet moment by the stream

What big foot prints. Can you guess who they belong to?

On the hike back from the woods I passed a couple of trees that had at least 20 robins enjoying the berries left from last years crop. They won't be getting any worms from around this area for a while so hopefully they will survive on last years leftovers.

All puffed out to try and stay warm

Stretching as far as I can to get the best berries

Doing an acrobatic move to get a snack

 

 Lets walk the Iron Horse Trail and see what we can find

This Red Winged Blackbird was singing to us

The Canada Geese flew by and honked

I don't see anything coming down the tracks

The tracks cross the water

Choo choo, here comes the train

Schneider Creek icicle art

Nap time for the ducks

 

After arriving home I found a number of European Starlings devouring the suet in the suet feeder. I guess they are in search of a good meal also. I never realized how colorful and spotted they are. I always looked at them as a real nuisance bird.

Female European Starling on the suet feeder

This ground is still to hard to find anything good to eat

Male European Starling in the tree

March 14th Visitors

I was able to enjoy the presence of the White Winged Crossbill for a few days again. He has such an amazing amount of colours on him. He's a rather skittish bird so I had to be quick with the camera button to get any pictures of him. He did co-operate and I have a few memories of my time with him.

He has a seed on the end of his tongue

I was able to get a shot of him in the tree

A nice view of his back and his wing pattern

That bill looks like it could hurt......

 Leucistic House Finch

This fella is missing some of his colour on his head. 

This is due to a genetic disorder that affects his 
ability to colour his feathers.

This House Finch is showing off his intense mating reds

Dark Eyed Junco enjoying a few rays of sun

My little Red Poll is posing for me!!

Happy St. Paddy's Day

May the luck of the Irish be 

with you all year long!!!

Spring Is In The Air

The sun is making a few more appearances and the mercury is rising on the thermometer. It may be just a brief sneak of things to come but I will enjoy every minute I can get. I have had a few visits from a flock of cedar waxwings and that is a sure sign spring is on its way. I have also had the pleasure of a male downy woodpecker visiting recently. The warmer temperatures have been wonderful for taking walks in the woods and enjoying the sights and sounds of spring. The creeks are running a little faster and the birds are singing and fluttering about with a bit of excitement in there voices. I have noticed the squirrels are pulling out some of there fir so they must be getting ready to nest. Just what I need, more squirrels vying for my bird food. I do have to admit it is fun watching them try to figure out how to try and get food from the squirrel proof feeders. Below is a selection of some of my recent photos.

Morning beauty after a night of wet snow

The snow on the trees looks like cotton balls

Looking up through the snowy lilac tree

Keeping an eye on me as he scales the neighbour's wall

Some of the visiting Cedar Waxwings

Front view of the Cedar Waxwing

Back view of the Cedar Waxwing

A fuzzy Red Poll napping at the feeder

Winter serenity

Pussy willows coming to life

Fungus on a log in the woods

A friend with gorgeous blue eyes that we met on our walk

Fence along the edge of the creek

Someone has been building a shelter

A fly sighting on our walk March 6th

Mourning doves are singing and soaking up the rays

Mrs Cardinal with a few snow flakes falling

Downy enjoying a little suet

The sun glistening in his eye