An assortment of gulls can often easily be found along the river where we go shopping for groceries.
We have had a very dry summer and our riverbed has been showing more riverbed than water and it was with welcome relief that a rainfall warning was forecast in our weather forecasts. On the morning of the predicted rain the sky told us of a change and that was of the approaching rainfall. A red sky in the morning gave us a warning and the soft looking dark rainclouds gave us hope of the possibility of a rise in our water levels in the river.
above, the river before the rain and shown below, the river after the rain!
Pigeons on a roof! Sure not an inspiring title you say. But, look closely at the group below and you can see two almost all white pigeons.
Although ts late in the year I am still finding Wood Ducks, though not many. On Saturday last I found four ; 3 males and two females.
Last Monday I had taken an early drive to the river and I could see a slightly pinkish sky suggesting to me that the sunrise was soon to be expected. At first all I could see of any action was that of fog rising slowly from the river.
I used to see a White Pigeon almost daily a couple or so years ago, But then I didn't see that pigeon anymore...until this morning that is. I saw two almost all totally white pigeons feeding on the sidewalk with a few of their grey cousins and I managed to take a few pictures. When they flew away I think there were three of the white variety. I don't know what had happened to the white ones I used to see but the genes were strong and their uniqueness has been continued. I am thankful for that on this Thanksgiving Monday here in Canada.
Welcome to October , Folks.. This is the month when our world abounds with colour.. most outstanding of all is orange and leading the parade are large orange pumpkins on display at the local supermarket. Here is Canada we have two seasonal celebrations where pumpkins are often front and center on a certain special day. Thanksgiving or Hallowe'en. A Thanksgiving dinner would be lacking without a traditional pumpkin pie being the highlight of the dinner... and of course what Hallowe'en celebration does not include that creative work of art? a Jack O' Lantern carved from a huge big pumpkin. So make your choice early friends and neighbour as there are hundreds of those beautiful orange jacks or potential pies on display right now for your creative choice and sampling. You can chose a suitable one which will yield a seasonal "yum, Yum" or a scary end of the month "EEk! Your choice, folks!
We have a tall Chokecherry tree which attracts many feeding birds. Recently , American Robins have been breakfasting on the berries there.
The delight the Robins are finding in the berries is another reminder to me that I did not get around to making Chokecherry jelly again this year. Hmmmm... Maybe next year?!
I am always hoping at this time of year that I see a Ruffed Grouse or Birch Partridge while driving along an old country dirt road and that is the sort of circumstance I was in when I spied this Ruffed Grouse crossing a dirt road in front of my car one day last week. Usually to my dismay as soon as the grouse is alerted to my car's presence it takes off, but not so on this occasion. this grouse just continued its walk to the roadside, then ambled off into the roadside vegetation as I got a couple of photos of this lovely bird.
The flash of yellow on the rump of the small bird excited me. I have been watching for this little warbler all summer but had not seen one until this September morning. We have lots if little birds fliting around this morning but they are so small and fast that I have to take a picture and then study the foliage in the photo to try to find the bird. In this case I studied the picture looking to find a dash of yellow and I found it twice in my pictures!
The yellow rump on the warbler above and below is easily detected. 
Thats all for today folks
I remember as a child never seeing a Bluebird and being told that Bluebirds were not around anymore. I know now that Bluebirds are around occasionally but they are not frequent visitors in our yard. I usually see one on our back fence at least one time every summer. This year it was on May the 28th when I saw an Eastern Bluebird on our fence! What a wlcome, very lovely sighting it was! And so I was totally surprised earlier this week when downloading my photos from the day to discover a Bluebird with white spots upon its back! There had been many small birds feeding on a tall Choke Cherry Tree at the edge of our property and a few birds were stopping to rest on the overhead power lines. I didn't know what species they were but took a few pictures from our upper deck. Shown below is what I saw when I downloaded my pictures of a bird on the power line!
Ducks are becoming more difficult to find these days but there is one small pond where I can often catch a glimpse of a duck for as soon as my car approaches they scatter. However one day this week I was able to capture a photo of one in flight as it was fleeing away and from the picture below I was able to id the duck as a Black Duck. Its beautiful 'blue patch' was very recognizable!
Since I had last posted hummingbird photos we have seen many at our feeders daily, and they are delightful to get photos of. Here are a few of my most recent ones:
I was so very pleased to find a small flock of Wood Ducks last Tuesday ( August 22) in a small pond nearby. There were 4 or 5 or perhaps more. I believe they were all males. I was able to crop and edit one individual from the group. this was an exciting find as I have not seen any Wood Ducks in this setting all summer, which was unusual.
Yesterday afternoon my husband and I had been commenting on our lack of sightings of Great Blue Herons this summer. Later that afternoon I had decided to check out a favourite pond for Wood Ducks as I had seen three there earlier this week. As I was studying the pond for signs of movement which might suggest a duck or two among the water foliage I saw a huge bird rise from the pond area and fly away. Quickly aiming my camera randomly I was able to capture a few glimpses of a departing Great Blue Heron.
I used to go out early in the morning looking for birds and geese. Now I know when I go out I will see the sunrise around seven and most likely I will see a deer or two! This morning I was very pleased to see a sighting that I seldom see, a Young Buck.
I have not seen many butterflies in our yard this summer. Usually I can rely upon our fair sized Purple Cone Flower patch to host a few butterflies on sunny summer days, but for some reason this summer I have not as yet seen any butterflies there!
The hero flower patch today has been a few purple Gayfeather blooms ( aka Liatris).
Early this afternoon while scanning our flower beds I spied movement among the purple bristles of our Liatris spikes.
