Song Sparrow

It is so nice to be serenaded by the Song Sparrows as Chester and I walk along the Red River.  Now that there are leaves on the trees, I can’t always find them, but this one decided that the top of the tree was the best place to be.  The river behind him makes a nice background to the pictures.

Since he was so co-operative by staying in his spot, I was able to try 3 different zoom levels to get these pictures.  He was a good distance away – but I don’t judge distances well, so I’m not even going to try to guess how far away he was.  I’ll show the pictures re-sized but not cropped and then cropped and re-sized.  I’m just looking at the quality issues when using the zoom to where it stops and then by pushing it a bit more until the full 2nd zoom is reached.

May 26 Song Sparrow 1R

The first picture is exactly how it came out other than being re-sized to fit here.  Just below it has been cropped and re-sized to fit here.  The R at the end of the picture name indicates re-sized and the CR indicates cropped and re-sized.

May 26 Song Sparrow 1CR

On the first picture only, I also decided to crop it to match the size of the fully zoomed in one to see if the picture would be clearer than the others.  I may have to re-do this entire study using a tripod for the fully zoomed in pictures.  Even using the post to hold the camera steady I found some movement.

May 26 Song Sparrow 1CC

May 26 Song Sparrow 2R

Zoomed in a little more.

May 26 Song Sparrow 2CR

May 26 Song Sparrow 3R

Zoomed as far as it would go.

May 26 Song Sparrow 3CR

May 26 Song Sparrow 4R

May 26 Song Sparrow 4CR

I was using my Nikon Coolpix with 36x zoom for all these pictures.  I think the first picture is using the 36x and the others are using digital zoom.  I do have a tripod, which should help with getting better pictures using the digital zoom, but I don’t normally take that with me when walking Chester.

So far on Africam today, we have seen Lion, Leopard, Giraffe, Elephant, Waterbuck, Nyala, African Harrier Hawk, Woolly-necked Stork, Zebra, Black Eagle, Impala, Spotted Hyaena and Side-striped Jackal.  It won’t be long now until we get to watch the Cheetah cubs again too.  I’m excited to be able to see them again soon.  Click here to see all the pictures from May 28th.

Western Grebe

I managed to get my best pictures yet of the large black and white grebes that I have seen a few times and now I can say for sure that they are Western Grebes and not Clark’s Grebes.  The birds are very similar, but the one way that I now know how to tell them apart is that the Western Grebe has black around the eye and the Clark’s Grebes have white in that area. The black is a little higher on the top of the head on the Clark’s Grebes.  The Clark’s Grebe also has a bright yellow beak, where the Western Grebe has a yellow beak with a green tinge.  Until recently they were considered one species with a colour variation.  According to the range maps, the Clark’s Grebe does not come to this area though.

Click here for information on the Clark’s Grebe and click here for more information on the Western Grebe if interested.

Western Grebe May 17

Western Grebe May 17

Western Grebe May 17

So far on Africam today, we have seen Elephant, Zebra, Osprey, Black Eagle, Impala, Waterbuck, Oxpecker, Cape Turtle Dove, Nyala, Swainson Spurfowl, and Wildebeest.  Our Cheetah Salome has moved her cubs to another location, so we have lost sight of them for now.  Click here to see all of today’s pictures.

First Grass Cut of the Year

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

If you were here with me last year for the lawnmower series you will remember that I got one of the battery powered lawnmowers.  Last fall, I left it fully charged as the instructions said to do, but I couldn’t remember if it would need another charge before its first use of the year.  I decided that it probably would – so Friday morning, I plugged it in so it would be all ready for a Saturday morning cut.

Well silly me!!  I forgot that there are 2 ends to a cord, so I plugged it in all right, but didn’t plug it in to a power source!!!

When I was ready to get it started yesterday I noticed this oversight but decided to try it anyway.  It started beautifully.  I headed for the front yard first, since it needed cutting the most and that is what people see.  If it finished the front, I would work on the spots in the back that needed it.

A couple of times, it seemed to be slowing down while doing the front – but it finished it as well as the spots in the back where the grass had actually grown.  There was less than 1/2 the back yard that needed any cutting.  So, I finished it up and put it away – with both ends of the cord plugged in to charge it for the next cutting. 

I tried to get some pictures of some Blue Jays yesterday, but they did not cooperate at all.  There were about 8-10 of them having discussions about territory (I presume – since I don’t understand Jay talk).  They all flew into one of my trees – squawking loudly and then over to trees in other yards.  They also had some musical sounds that I don’t remember ever hearing before from these beautiful birds.

I really do hope that they do not choose one of the trees in my back yard for nesting.  They have nested there before and almost every time, the babies have come out of the nest way too soon.  It is always a dog (Chester now and Dakota before him) who finds them and they don’t last long, I’m afraid.  I’d be ok with them using one of the trees in the front yard though.

Chester May 12

I ended the day by selling my old Toro Lawnmower – so that is now out of my shed. 

So far on Africam today, we have seen Leopard, Elephant, Salomi and her adorable cubs, Warthogs, Wildebeest, Duiker, Cape Turtle Doves, Nyala, Waterbuck, Impala, Black Eagle, Kudu and Grey Go-away Bird.  Click here to see all of today’s pictures.

Red-Winged Blackbird

Yesterday was the first time I’ve seen a Red-Winged Blackbird along the Red River here.  I wasn’t fast enough to catch him flying, since he took me by surprise, but he was nice enough to perch and pose for me.

It was a beautiful day here yesterday after the thunderstorm during the night.  I heard a little bit of thunder and was then fast asleep before the rain even started.  I only knew it rained because of the mud puddles that Chester was able to find. 

Speaking of Chester, I am happy to say that it has now been 8 weeks since his last seizure.     He sends big sloppy kisses to everyone who wished him well and sent cyber hugs.  I know he can still have one at any time, but now that he is stabilized, it should be fairly easy to get him back on track again.

Red-Winged Blackbird May11

Red-Winged Blackbird May11

Red-Winged Blackbird May11

Red-Winged Blackbird May11

You can’t see much of the red on his wing patches here, but they sure showed up when he flew.

Ducks and Grebes and Cheetah Cam

On yesterday’s walking along the Red River, we found a pair of Mallard Ducks and a pair of Western Grebes.  I am assuming that the Grebes are just behind the ones who were here a few days ago and will also be gone before today’s walk.  It would be nice if they decided to hang around though.

We have a week of chilly weather with rain coming up, but by this time next week, we should have warmer temperatures again.  That is, if you can believe anything about the weather forecast.  If I have any say in it, I would like the warmer weather to start now. 

Western Grebes May 3

Western Grebes May 3

Mallards May 3

Mallard May 3

Of course I am still very excited about the Cheetah cubs on the Cheetah Cam at Africam    The cubs seems to be doing great and Salome, the mom is being an excellent mom.  We can watch them day and night with IR light during the night and natural light and colours during the day.  I quickly snapped a couple of pictures just as I started writing this.

Salome and 3 Cheetah Cubs May 4

Salome and 3 Cheetah Cubs May 4

Besides Salome and her cubs on Africam today, we have also seen Waterbuck, Nyala, Zebra, Wildebeest, Leopard and Lion so far.  Click here to see all of the pictures from May 4th.

I talked to Chester’s vet and his levels are ok – still a little low on one, but since he has not had a seizure in 7 weeks now, we are not making any changes at this time.

Merganser

A trio of ducks that Chester and I found on our walk yesterday had me stumped.  Of course, they were more than 1/2 way across the Red River and even zooming in the full 36x on my Nikon didn’t bring them in enough. With that distance, the pictures are not as clear as they would be otherwise.  There was one female and two males. Up until I was almost ready to post this – the title was Mystery Ducks.

After searching online to no avail, I finally turned to my Birds of North America book and looked through all the ducks until I found them.    Then, using the name, I was able to find them online.  They are Red-breasted Mergansers.  Here is a link to a page with info and better pictures of them.

Now here are my pictures. 

Red-breasted Merganser one of the males

Red-breasted Merganser - the female

Red-breasted Merganser - the 2 males

We didn’t see anything else on our walk, but after we got home, I took a few pictures of Chester in the yard.  I’ll show you those pictures tomorrow – when we’re 1 day closer to his 9th birthday on May 1st.  I’ll also tell you about our trip to the vet for his blood tests.  The staff made a couple of mistakes, but luckily I caught them and no harm was done.  I’m not used to having to catch mistakes there though.

House Sparrow

Chester and I only found 1 Canada Goose on our walk along the Red River yesterday morning.  But, when we returned to our yard, there was a House Sparrow chirping away in the plum tree in the back yard.  I’ve never really taken a picture of a House Sparrow, so I snapped a couple.  He was quite cooperative.

Chester has now reached 6 weeks from his last seizure.  His blood test will be later this morning and I am sure hoping the levels have stabilized.   He is a happy dog who loves his toys and his blanket.

Ok – I have one picture of a Canada Goose and 3 pictures of the sparrow. 

Canada Goose April 25

House Sparrow April 25

House Sparrow April 25

House Sparrow April 25

So far on Africam today, we have seen, Elephant, Waterbuck, Martial Eagle, Nyala, Blacksmith Lapwing, Impala, Wildebeest, Hadeda Ibis, Kudu, Cape Turtle Dove, Side-striped Jackal.  Click here to see all of the pictures from the 26th.

Flowers are Growing

No sign of any actual flowers yet, but we’re finally getting weather almost as warm as it was in March – so they are growing again.  It is cooling off today unfortunately, and we may get some rain – so April hasn’t been a nice month with the weather.

I’m hoping we aren’t going to pay for the warm winter by having a cold summer.

Yesterday the sun was shining and it was a beautiful day though.  Bear in mind that I take the pictures one day, write this the next day and post it the following day – so today, yesterday and tomorrow are different from what you are experiencing at the time. 

Chester and I had our usual walk along the Red River and all we found yesterday was a Mallard Duck – that is why I’ve added some current pictures of the flowers coming up in my flower bed.

Day Lilies

The day lilies flowered very nicely last year and I am hoping to get the same from this this year.  Amazing to think how many years they spent in complete shade and hardly ever put out a flower.  Now that they get sunshine they are doing wonderful.

Tulips & Iris

I did clean the leaves out of the flower bed after taking these pictures. 

Tulips & Elephant Ear

Snow On The Mountain

I haven’t taken the leaves out of this area, but this will grow to cover them anyway.

Mallard Duck Apr 24

So far on Africam today, we have seen Elephant, Waterbuck, Blacksmith Lapwing, Grey Heron, Impala, Oxpecker, Terrapin, Zebra, Wildebeest, Baboon, Nyala, Helmeted Guinea Fowl, Brown-headed Kingfisher, Common Duiker, White-tailed Mongoose and lion (with cubs).  Click here to see all of the pictures from April 25th.

Migration Time

On yesterday’s walk along the Red River with Chester, we must have caught a break in the migration of a lot of different ducks and grebes.  I can’t identify all of them, but did manage to figure out a couple.  Of course there were Canada Geese there too and we met a little bunny along the way who had a staring contest with Chester.

Bunny April 23

Canada Geese April 23

Selection of Ducks and Grebes (I think)

Selection of Ducks and Grebes (I think)

Selection of Ducks and Grebes (I think)

I believe the Canvasback from last week is in there plus I have ID’d (I think) the next two.

Red-necked Grebe Apr 23

Red-necked Grebe Apr 23

The Red-necked Grebes were swimming towards us – but still a long way away and then they turned back to the rest of the birds on the other side of the river.

Western Grebe April 23

This guy was fairly close to us, especially compared to the rest of the birds across the river.

So far on Africam today, we have seen Elephant, Giraffe, Waterbuck, Zebra, Impala, Black-backed Jackal, Blacksmith Lapwing, Three-banded Plover, Guinea Fowls and Wildebeest,  Click here to see all of today’s pictures.

Mallards and Woods

Ducks that is 

It was a beautiful bright sunny day when Chester and I had our walk yesterday.  I had an earlier shift so we had an earlier walk.  The sun was just at a nice level to make everything look wonderful.

I saw one pair of Mallard Ducks, but the female was in the long grasses so I couldn’t get a picture of her, but managed a couple of nice ones of him.  Then I saw something on the grass quite a bit in front of me and just wasn’t sure what it was – so I zoomed in to take a picture.  I knew when I snapped the pic that it was ducks, but without my glasses didn’t know how many or what kind.  Once I got home and looked at the pictures, it was a male Mallard and 2 pairs of Wood Ducks.  You have to look closely at the picture to see the 2nd pair.  I’ve enlarged the hidden pair in one picture to make it a bit easier to see them.  The male is the hardest one to see.

Mallard Duck April 22

Mallard Duck April 22

Mallard And Wood Ducks April 22

Just in front of the female Wood Duck, you can see the other female and in front of her is the other male.  Here is the enlargement of those 2.

Wood Ducks April 22

Then one last picture of the 5 Ducks again. 

Wood Ducks And Mallard Duck April 22

So far on Africam today we have seen Lion, Hippo, Elephant, Red Duiker, Nyala, Warthog, Giraffe, Waterbuck, Wildebeest, Impala, Black-backed Jackal, Baboons, and Helmeted Guinea Fowl.  Click here to see all of the pictures from April 23.