Variety

What you see today, is what I saw When Chester and I walked today and that was variety!   It was 10C when we walked!  Wow – what a relief and it didn’t feel any cooler than yesterday’s 16C.  I know my friends in Africa would have coats on along with hot water bottles and blankets for their game drives – but I had on my regular t-shirt and bluejeans for the walk.

It is only supposed to go up to 22C today, so I’ll get my grass cut this morning for the first time in 3 weeks.  Most of it really doesn’t need cutting, since it hasn’t had water in ages now and hasn’t grown, but some blades are high and some trees are growing.  Tomorrow there is a possibility of rain and we really need it.

Chester was back to normal on our walk today 

We will start with the beaver lodge.

Beaver Lodge July 22

Then I zoomed in for a closeup of the beaver bite marks where they pealed the bark.

Beaver Bite Marks July 22

Then a Mallard Duck swam by.

Mallard Duck July 22

And a FedEx Plane flew overhead.

Plane

A crow sat on a light pole above us.

Crow July 22

And a hot air balloon drifted over our heads.

Hot Air Balloon July 22

On Africam today, we have seen Rhino African Harrier Hawk, African Fish Eagle, Zebras, Kudu, Side Striped Jackal and more.  Click here to see today’s pictures.

Chester and the Kestrel

Not that  Chester and the Kestrel ever got together, but I have something to tell you about Chester and I saw the bird that may be a Kestrel again.

Chester woke me up this morning at 5:45 when he had a seizure.  It only lasted a minute or 2, but it has been several years since I have had a dog who had fits and it was very upsetting.  I knew what to do and just kept him from injuring himself and talked to him during it as well as when he was finished.  It was obvious that he had no idea what went on and he seemed surprised to find me petting him when he came out of it.  Luckily he was not on the bed when it started, because he would have fallen off, so it was a simple matter of just staying with him once he ended up against the wall.

He had an incident last week (on Friday) that I now realize (or at least I assume) was a minor mini fit.  He staggered for about the same length of time.  It just reminded of a someone drunk – a step or 2 to the right and then back to the left.  That time I took him outside, helped him down the stairs and just watched him.  After a couple of minutes he was fine.  It wasn’t until he had this fit today that I thought more about it.

Afterward, he wanted to go for our walk right away – so we went out and took our walk along the Red River as usual.  It was a beautiful 16C and the coolness felt wonderful.  Although he was looking for rabbits as usual, he did walk differently than he usually does.  Instead of the usual back and forth walking, he walked straight ahead and kept the leash tight the whole walk.  Pulling him back did not stop that at all and I was not going to use this particular walk to try to enforce any training, so I let him.  Normally when I stop for pictures, he gives a couple of pulls after I stop and then he stops and looks at me and waits for me to move on before moving, but today, he just kept pulling.  He never did stop pulling when I was taking pictures of the Kestrel.

After the walk, he ate his breakfast and is now sleeping beside me.

I phoned the vet, but the one we have been seeing lately is in surgery all day and decided to wait and watch what happens.  I wrote down the details of both incidents and will keep track of any further ones.

I took just one picture along the river.  The beavers have been working on their lodge over night and have cleared the bark off a fallen tree that is on top of it.  Since we were there earlier than normal, I thought I might see them – but no such luck.

Beaver Lodge July 21

The first couple of pictures of the Kestrel were taken somewhat towards the sun, so I had to lighten the bird enough to see more than just a dark shadow.  Then I took one from the other side, which is much clearer.

Kestrel July 21

Kestrel July 21

Kestrel July 21

Its amazing what a change of direction makes in a picture.  I saw 4 of them flying around a couple of minutes earlier and then saw this one as I was almost home.

On Africam today, we have seen Rhino, Elephants, Waterbuck, Zebras, Kudus, Nyala, Warthogs and more including some great pics of the Black Eagle Chick.  Click here to see today’s pictures.

Thunderstorm?

With luck, we will have a thunderstorm this morning or afternoon and the temperature will drop some.  The temperature only dropped to 24C last night and with the high humidity it feels like 34C (93F) at 7am.  Right now, they are only predicting 30C (feels like around 40C, which is 104F),because of the expected rain.

Not much to see out on the river this morning – still lots of ducks, but I only took one picture of a young Mallard and a trio of rowers on the other side of the river.  I did get a better look (but no picture) of the Kestrel from the other day.  There are a few of them several blocks away from home, so I’m assuming that a pair nested and have some young ones out on their own.  I saw one dive towards a squirrel that Chester was actually stalking.  Since the squirrel is about the same size as the bird, that would have been an interesting encounter.

A Kestral is the smallest of the Falcons.  This bird still looks to be bigger than what I remember of them from many years ago.  I used to see them at Grand Marais when my parents had a cottage there, but I was smaller way back then.

young Mallard Duck July 20

Rowers July 20

On Africam today, we have seen Elephants, Warthogs, Zebras, Baboons and more.  Click here to see today’s pictures.

Bathing Ducks

I did not even check the temperature this morning when Chester and I went on our walk.  I didn’t even check it when we got home and now around noon it is 27C with a predicted high of 33C and possible thunderstorms to follow.  It was very pleasant for our morning walk, so I am guessing it was about 20C under a sunny sky with just a slight breeze.  We saw a Mallard Duck family having their morning bath and a sparrow that I think is a Savannah Sparrow – but these little guys are so hard to know for sure.

I didn’t get any more done on my livingroom yesterday and I’ve heard that the Assiniboine Park Zoo now has a butterfly garden, so I expect one of my next weekend days will be spent there.  They also have a new bird flight show that I will have to take in.  I’ll make sure I have my camera batteries all charged up for those 2 new features. 

Mallards Bathing July 16

Mallards Bathing July 16

Mallards Bathing July 16

The ducks seems to be enjoying themselves and paid no attention to Chester and I standing there watching them.

Savannah Sparros July 16

I’m not 100% sure of any of my sparrow IDs, but I think that might be what this guy is.

After my exercise class today, followed by the big breakfast at The Red Top, I came home to water my flowers.  I felt like a bad flower mom when I saw how wilted the poor little things were.  I seldom come or go from the front door and hadn’t realized how dry everything was.  My impatience are what I see when I go out to get the mail and for some reason they were looking very good.  But everything is watered now and hopefully they will recover from my neglect.

Today on Africam, we have seen Rhinos, Elephants, Giraffes, Zebras, Nyala, Waterbuck and more.  Click here to see today’s pictures.

Heat Wave

We had a few cooler days so my air conditioner got a rest, but its back on now.  Last night it only dropped to 19C, and today it is going up to 28C with the next few days over 30C.

I dropped the car off for some servicing this morning.  Chester came along with me and we had our walk along the Red River to get back home again.  Today we saw the youngest Wood Duck family and a Goldfinch (who kept just far enough away all the time that I couldn’t get a completely in focus picture of him.  It was drizzling a little bit of rain when we walked, so that may have contributed to the picture quality too.

Wood Ducks July 15

Goldfinch July 15

Goldfinch July 15

Goldfinch July 15

I’m getting excited now.  After several weeks of moving and attempting to move furniture, I almost have my living room the way I want it.  Basically, there is one corner left to go – but that is the corner where stuff has accumulated over the years and over the last few weeks of moving things.  Now, its really time to decide what is going to freecycle and what is going in the garbage.  Once that stuff is moved, Jewel’s cage will move over a couple of feet and I can bring the bookcase (and all the books) back into the room.

Barry has ID’d the woodpecker from yesterday as a Downy Woodpecker and the bird in front as a Robin.

On Africam today, we have seen Elephants, Zebras, Warthogs, Kudu and more.  Click here to see today’s pictures.

I Found Ducks

It was 19C with the humidity at 83% and a bright sunny sky as Chester and I took our walk along the Red River this morning.  No sign of our beaver, but I did find a couple of Wood Duck families.  I’m guessing that the mother duck was mother to both the clutches – her original older clutch and the newer babies that she was sitting with.  The older ones were very close – just sitting on the next log.

Wood Ducks July 7

Those are the older babies above and just below here is the mom and her newest babies (who are growing quickly).

Wood Ducks July 7

Looking at the second picture, I can see an alligator coming up towards the ducks   right in the center.

I came home from work yesterday to find a Purolator missed delivery notice in my mailbox.  This was addressed to someone that I don’t know – have never even seen a name like hers before or to me, with my last name spelled incorrectly.  I suppose her name may be spelled incorrectly as well – LOL.   It says it is a box, so I am very curious as to what it might be.  I can pick it up this morning, so I will probably do that.  When I used to write for BellaOnline, I used to get books delivered here for review, but deliveries these days are pretty much non existent.  I’ll keep you posted on it 

On Africam today, we have seen Waterbuck, Nyala, Impala, Warthogs, Elephants, Giraffe, Zebra, Cape Buffalo, Bushbuck and much more.  Click here to see today’s pictures.

Goosey Day

It was 22C already this morning when Chester and I walked along the Red River.  They are still saying 33C – followed by thunder showers tonight.  It has gone for long enough without rain now (finally) for the ground to actually dry out, so some rain would be appreciated.

Today, we saw 2 Canada Goose families and I also took a closer picture of the pile of sticks that may (or may not) be the beaver’s lodge.

Beaver Lodge?

Canada Geese

Canada Geese

On Africam today we have seen Elephant, Duiker, Vervet Monkey, Impala, Squirrel, Zebra and much more.  Click here to see today’s pictures.

Return of the Beaver

It was partly cloudy and 17C when Chester and I took our walk along the Red River this morning.  They say it will get up to 28C this afternoon and 33C tomorrow.  I may have to turn on the air conditioner. 

At first it seemed like Chester and I were the only critters around this morning.  I was almost at the bush area when I saw our beaver swimming past and he turned in towards the same area where his disastrous lodge had been.  Then I took a closer look around and although I couldn’t find him in there, I did find another pile of sticks.  I can’t be sure if that pile had been there earlier or if he has maybe been building right on land all along.  Maybe this pile has nothing to do with him, but he was definitely swimming directly into this area again.  When I get a chance, I will go over some of my older pictures of the area to check them in case this spot is shown in them.

Beaver June 29

Beaver June 29

Beaver Lodge Jun 29

In the Beaver Lodge picture, you can see the remains of the original lodge on the right and the pile of branches on the left that may be his new lodge.   Those branches may have been put there by the river when it was higher, so I really don’t know.

Just as we were about to leave the river to head back, I saw a Mallard Duck with her very young family.  There appear to be 11 babies in this family.

Mallard Ducks Jun 29

Checking out my yard, I see my lilies are starting to open their flowers and my mock orange is also now flowering.

Lily Jun29

Lily Jun29

Mock Orange June 29

On Africam today, we have seen Cape Buffalo, Elephants, Nyalas, Impalas, Zebras, Hippo, Hyaena and much more.  Click here to see today’s pictures.

Geese and Stuff

Chester and I had our walk much later than usual today because I had an early start to work – only not actually AT work.  I had a training session at the Workplace Safety and Health office, which started 2 hours before I normally start work – and it was about the same distance from home as my normal workplace.  I had originally decided I would walk there because parking downtown is very expensive and the bus that would take me closest just wasn’t timed right for me  – but it was pouring rain in the morning.    I thought about it and finally decided that I probably wouldn’t melt in the rain and I walked there anyway.

The session was called “Investigating Workplace Incidents” .  I found out that injuries at work are called incidents instead of accidents, because incidents are preventable whereas accidents are not and almost all injuries in workplaces are preventable.   It was a very interesting course and I now have to make a report to the rest of the Workplace Safety and Health committee at our next meeting.

So, I walked all the way there in the rain and then walked all the way home after the rain finally ended and then took Chester for a walk along the Red River.  Again, I found 2 different birds with several of one and only one of the other, but different birds from yesterday.

We have a couple of Canada Goose families lounging on the river bank and they weren’t concerned about us at all, which really surprised me.  They knew we were there, but chose to ignore us.  I don’t know if the babies are still called goslings when they get this big or not.

Canada Geese

Canada Geese

Canada Geese

Canada Geese

Canada Geese

Our sparrow for the day is the Song Sparrow – again, the name is made possible by my bird book that has been recently discovered. 

Song Sparrow

Then he very conveniently gave me a slightly different view to help in identification. 

Song Sparrow

On Africam today, we have seen Elephants, Nyala, Wildebeest, Zebra, Duiker, Rhinos and a great selection of different birds.  Click here to see today’s pictures.

River Walk June 21

It was 17C under a party sunny sky with a bit of a wind today when Chester and I took our walk.   It seems to have been a birding day – but only 2 different types of birds – and quite a few of one of them. 

First we have one of the little sparrows that makes a buzzing sound – I assume he thinks he’s singing, but it took me awhile to figure out that it was a bird and not a bug making the sound.  I finally found my Manitoba bird books while moving furniture around in my living room – so I now know he is a Clay-Colored Sparrow. 

Clay-Colored Sparrow

Wood Ducks Jun 21

The other birds spotted were Wood Ducks and there were 2 families to watch.

Wood Ducks Jun 21

After I passed the first family, I saw the one all by herself, close to shore.

Wood Duck Jun 21

I think she then called her family to let them know the photographer was there for the family photo, because seconds later, this is what I saw.

Wood Ducks Jun 21

Last picture for today is my first peony to open.

Peony June 21

On Africam today, some of what we have seen are Elephants, Waterbucks, Zebras, Nyalas, Baboons, Jackals, a Civet and we got a good look at the Black Eagle chick as well.  Click here to take a look at these pictures and more.