Killbear, May 16-19 2014

This was our first trip to Killbear Park and we will be adding this to our list of great parks to return to. The weather was cool when we arrived but the sun shone almost all weekend. Each day was warmer and a weekend of fun and firsts was enjoyed. After setting up camp we headed out for firewood and a tour of the park. We hiked the Lighthouse Point Trail, had supper and enjoyed a campfire.

Lighthouse Point Trail

View of the shoreline

Lighthouse at the point

Columbine plant growing on the rocks

Male American Redstart

Fall colours in spring

Saturday was a busy day as we wanted to go to the Visitor Center, hike the Lookout Point Trail, drive to Snug Harbour and spend the evening relaxing at the fire. We were able to accomplish all this and I was able to take a walk on the beach before supper while Duncan put his feet up at our campsite.

 Saturdays Adventures

We saw a MOOSE at the Visitors Center.....lol

Looking out from the Visitors Center

Down by the waters edge

Green Bracket Fungi

Sunlit new growth on a tree

Ant on the new flowers on the forest floor

Lookout Point view

Great-crested Flycatcher, a first for me

1 of 20 thousand Beech Trees that have been cut down in Killbear Park due to disease 

which leads the trees to snap from decay before it looks like they are even sick.

Eastern Phoebe

Looking out on Kilcoursie Bay from the beach

A woman painting at the beach

Sunday was another beautiful day and we drove into Parry Sound to check out the sights there. We stopped at the main harbour and drove up to the tower that looks over the area. On our way back to camp we stopped at the general store to check it out. We then hiked the Twin Points Trail before heading back for a rest. Before supper we took one last tour through the park to see what we could see. The rest of the evening was spent relaxing in front of a roaring fire.

Sundays Tour & Hike

Duncan  at the dock in Parry Sound

It amazes me how things can grow on this rock

Just have to scratch this itch

One of many piles of wood from all the cut trees  :(

Male Common Merganser out fishing

It's amazing how mesmerizing a camp

fire can be

Life was busy at the campsite also. We had a few chipmunks that visited but the exciting thing was a pair of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers that were working on a new home. I was able to get many photos as the male worked away on the nest in the tree. There was another male that wanted her attention but her mate kept him at bay.

Campsite Activity

Chipmunk has his hole at our campsite

I'll close my eyes and she won't see me.......

Trying to work the ipad

I found the peanut bag but how do I get in

I know I can make this peanut fit

Male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Working to clear out the new home for the Mrs.

Removing a mouthful of wood chips

Another male trying to entice his woman

I can fit in now so it is almost finished

Looking for the wife for final inspection

 

The vegetables are starting to grow at the Holland Marsh area

Wheatley, May 9-11 2014

We are out on the road starting another year of enjoying the great sights and sounds in our wonderful parks. It was an amazing week-end for our first adventure in nature for 2014. We enjoyed a brief thunderstorm of Friday evening and sunny and very warm weather for the rest of our trip. Saturday we spent the day at Point Pelee National Park enjoying the migration of all the birds that are passing through on there travels to there summer homes. We did lots of hiking and enjoyed all of the spring flowers that are blooming throughout the parks. Things are a little slower at blooming this year after the late cold winter we had. The birds are a little later arriving this year and are coming in smaller groups compared to the previous year. I was able to get a few new pictures of bird that I had not seen before so that was exciting. We enjoyed a short campfire on Saturday evening because we were so late getting back to our site.
Sunday we had a quiet morning enjoying all our feathered friends flying in and out before having a yummy breakfast. We packed up early and headed to Rondeau Park for the afternoon. We hiked the Tulip Trail on a very sunny afternoon and enjoyed some quiet time on a bench in the woods with the sounds of spring all through the air. We watched the migrating birds as they enjoyed some of the treats that the visitors center has out for the travelers. It was a busy but exciting first weekend away. I can hardly wait for Friday to arrive as we are heading to Killbear Park for the first time.

Palm Warbler at Point Pelee. A first for me.

The tiniest flowers I have seen

 Eastern Kingbird showing its orange spot on it head

Male Common Yellowthroat Warbler

Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus at Pelee (endangered)

Gray Catbird, another first

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Female Red-winged Blackbird in the reeds at the marsh

Male Red-winged Blackbird standing guard by the female

Mrs. Wood Duck. They nest six metres high in a tree cavity

Mr. Wood Duck in all his colours

New lily pads at the marsh

Another first and so exciting to see.

A Male Scarlet Tanager in his breeding colours

You can't miss this bird if it is flying around near you

Male Baltimore Oriole enjoying some orange

Check out the tongue on this Red-bellied Woodpecker

The Toad Lilies were all over the forest floor

Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Sap icicles on a pine tree log

Western Skink on a tree at Rondeau Park

Tiny flowers in the evening sun

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird resting on a branch

Emma Time

Fruncle Drewcifer spent some play time with Emma on Monday while we were looking after her for a few hours. We were given the orders to keep her awake so we enjoyed lots of awake and smiley time. She is changing so much and is much more aware of people and the activity around her.

Fruncle Drewcifer and Emma lying on the couch

She is holding his hand while they play

Emma got to play with Drewcifer's hippo

The Week in Review

It has been a week of many adventures in between all of the rain and cold weather we have had. On Monday I had the honour of babysitting wee Emma for a few hours. She was as good as gold and we enjoyed some play time. I must have done a good job as I will be looking after her again today for a while. Nothing like spending special time with our precious granddaughter.

Emma having a bit of a nap. 

She always seem to have her arms up when napping

Smiling during our play time

Hiking In The Woods

On Thursday Nancy and I went for a 4 1/2 hour hike at the Hydrocut Trails in Waterloo. Neither of us had been there before but we will definitely be going back. We only did half of the trails and it was a great place for hiking. The trails wind all around and there are some boardwalk as well. There were high spot with good views as well as ponds. The sun came out for part of our hike and that was a welcome addition to all of the other wonderful sites we saw along the way.

A red trillium ready to open

Early spring flowers in full bloom

I think these are a few feathers from a Northern Flicker

Garter snake basking in the suns rays

A Robins nest built in the crotch of a broken tree

Four eggs will bring new life to the woods

There were different types of flowers all over the forest floor

Black and white warbler in the wind

Even the fallen trees are leafing out

Backyard Visitors

Bird migration is in full swing and I have had some of them stop by to enjoy my offerings at the feeders. It is so nice to see the cardinals as they are pairing up to mate. The robins are busy working on their nests as well. Some will just be passing through but it has been enjoyable to watch them as they travel to there summer homes.

One of a flock of Cedar Waxwings

I really enjoyed listening to this Song Sparrow

Mr. Cardinal feeding the Mrs.

Mr. Mallard was here to inspect the neighbours pools for a nesting spot

I don't think the Mrs. was impressed so they flew off

A Hermit Thrush was here for a few days

Nest building time for the robins

A Chipping Sparrow

A Common Grackle trying to hang on at the feeder

He is showing his dominance to the other Grackles

This is our latest arrival. A White Throated Sparrow