MacGregor Point, May 31- June 2, 2013

Life is wonderful at MacGregor Point. We were able to see lots of wildlife and even some I didn't want to see. We had a bit of rain just after we arrived but nothing to stop us from adventuring through the park. We spotted a porcupine in the woods but it was not going to have it's picture taken. They just don't like the camera pointed at them! The deer were a little more co-operative. We had a nice campfire but the moths were being a little to friendly as far as I was concerned.
Saturday we did some exploring in the park and went up to Southampton to visit with John & Joanne. There house is to say the least torn apart inside but the rebuilding is getting underway. It will be quite nice and a real change when it is finished. We went out to Duffy's for a fish supper and visited with them for the evening.
Sunday I spent time exploring around our campground area and getting some nature photos. I was lucky enough to spend time with a Flycatcher that was very busy building her nest. What an amazing and large undertaking it is for such a small bird. She seemed oblivious to my presence as I watched her work away at collecting material and adding it to the nest. After leaving the park we headed to Inverhuron to visit with Duncan's brother Rod who has rented a cottage there. The weather did a real change late Sunday morning. It had been hot and humid and by the time we headed out it was only nine degrees. Will the warm weather ever come to stay? We had a relaxing week-end and I look forward to our next trip up there.

I helped this fella across the road so it wouldn't get run over

The Lady Slippers are in bloom all over the park

Filling his cheeks with treats he's finding

We listened to this flicker sing all weekend but this was the best I could get

Pitcher Plants are in bloom

Hiding on the woods but keeping an eye on us

This one is molting its winter coat

Crossing the road to get away as I was following 

it at the edge of the woods

I love the new park store sign. 

All parks should use nice signs like this

Saturday evening sunset over Lake Huron

SIGHTS DOWN AT THE MARSH

Yellow Warbler

A dragonfly at the bird blind

Lovely little flowers after a rain shower

Water Lilies at the edge of the marsh

 

 A male Common Bluetail Damselfly

 

An Eastern Kingbird posing.....

 

A family outing of Canada Geese

 

A WALK AROUND OUR CAMPGROUND

Massive growth on a mostly dead tree

I've got an itch, female Purple Finch

I love the variegated leaves and it just about to bloom

Do you like my hairdo??

One of the caterpillars from the many tents on the trees

A tree's natural caterpillar.............

New life on an old stump. Almost looks like fall

Red-eyed Vireo singing its song

 

MRS. FLYCATCHER BUILDING HER NEST

YOUNG LOVE

Out on there Sunday evening courting night.

We passed them on our drive home near Inverhuron

A Day In The Backyard

Everything is growing like crazy and I didn't want to miss the opportunity to capture 

some of it's beauty to enjoy when the cold and white Canadian winter sets in.

Bleeding heart in full bloom

Asian Swallowtail enjoying the lilac's

The poppy pod after the rain

The flox is bursting into colour

This fledgling robin landed in the garden after its first flight

The ants are working on the peonies

Solomon's Seal after the thunder storm

The lilac's smell so wonderful

Bunny enjoying some of my flower's....naughty, naughty!!

I love his fir standing up on the top of his head

Bumble bee pollinating the solomon's seal

Our Newest Graduate

Drew, we are so proud of you and wanted to let the world know 

that you have finished your upgrading with amazing marks. 

Drew has been accepted at Conestoga College to take computer programming 

starting in September. Congratulations and we wish you all the best as you 

fulfill your next dream.  Love Mom & Dad xo

Pinery, May 24-26 2013

Another wonderful week-end of adventures. It is always nice to get back to the Pinery and we were able to have our favourite site which made it even better. After setting up we had to do our usual drive into Grand Bend to see the sites and for Duncan to check out the motor homes that are for sale just outside of town. It was very windy at the beach so we didn't stay long. On our way back we drove the loop in the park and took in the sites along the way. Everything is so green at this time of year and the view was much different from our last trip down in late fall. We enjoyed a roaring campfire and a relaxing evening.
Saturday we headed up to Goderich to see how the town is progressing with all the rebuilding after the tornado in 2011 and of coarse to make a stop at the bakery for some donuts!!! On our return trip back we stopped at Neftel's Creek Conservation Area.  Just after parking the car a Yellow-rumped Warbler decided our mirror was another bird and proceeded to flirt with it. It was quite funny to watch and I was able to get a few photos. We hiked one of the trails and continued on our journey back to the Pinery. We enjoyed a great supper that had been cooking all day in the crock pot. We headed out for a hike in the woods and sunset on the beach before relaxing at the campfire with a cup of tiramisu hot chocolate. Yummy!
Sunday we had a lazy morning before going for a walk on the beach. The step on the motor home started to act up and would not fold up. It would work some of the time and not other times. So when we were able to get it to close we shut it off. We stopped at the Visitors Center and I went for a hike on the Cedar Trail while Duncan had a snooze. When I got back and opened the door the step came out even though it was shut off. Well, that was the start of a long process of trying to get it to close again. We tried many things and in the end we drove home with it down. After getting home I opened the door and the stair closed. We have decided there has to be a short somewhere and will have to get it fixed. For now it has been disconnected and we will have to climb a little bit to get in. No more traveling with the step down. It was a nice week-end and we enjoyed our time at the Pinery as we always do.

Dwight the raccoon greets us on our arrival

A Male Eastern Towhee

A little windy even for Mrs. Cardinal

Nothing tastes better than a donut from Culbert's

The square in Goderich with all the new trees planted

There are new planters that can be used for seating

Neftel's Creek

Male Yellow-rumped Warbler

I see something in this mirror.......

What a good looking bird!

This bird is hard. Why can't I touch this other bird?

Follow the winding path through the trees

Pine trees tilting but not falling

Look way up to the tips of the trees

Back at the Pinery

 Saturday evening hike through the flowers

Evening sun on the flowers

So many flowers to enjoy at this time of year

Late day reflections on the Ausable Channel

Waiting patiently for the wind to blow

Beach grasses at sunset

Sunset over Lake Huron

Chickadee came to visit

Do the nuts taste better than what is in your mouth?

Writing in the sand...........

Male Ruby Throated Hummingbird at the feeder

Female having her turn at the sweet treat

Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak reaching for a snack

Strawberry Wild Columbine

Flowers along the Cedar Trail