As spring imposes itself on the landscape, there is more to observe each day, and this post represents just a little of what we have seen of late.
17 April, 2022
Benjamin Park Trail, Waterloo, ON
The floor of the woodland is coming alive with spring ephemerals and other plants, making their way from subterranean winter dormancy to an exuberant appearance above ground.
Early Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum giganteum) is always one of the first plants to emerge, its purplish-blue leaves nodding fitfully in the breeze.
Siberian Squill (Scilla siberica) blooms right alongside it.
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) seems to be everywhere, thriving even in degraded areas, adding colour almost as soon as the snow has melted.
Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis) is sublimely attractive with its spotted leaves and blue and pink flowers.
Variegated Yellow Archangel (Lamium galeobdolon argentatum) is invasive, and not viewed kindly by all, but later on will produce tall yellow flowers, beautiful to behold.
19 April, 2022
RIM Park, Waterloo, ON
A late spring snow storm was the dominant feature of a walk at RIM Park, at times making it difficult to see, and keeping binoculars dry was a challenge.
A Raccoon (Procyon lotor) seemed to be having a difficult time stuffing itself into a hole in a tree to shelter from the weather.
Meanwhile American Beavers (Castor canadensis) were no doubt snug and warm in their lodge, oblivious to the misery endured by the rest of us.
A Caspian Tern (Hyrdoprogne caspia) was cruising through the snow looking for a meal.
A male Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) viewed us with equanimity.
And a Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) recently returned from the south perhaps wondered why.
22 April, 2022
Kitchener, ON
We went to make our weekly check on the Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) and found to our chagrin that the nest now contains only one owlet. I have no way of knowing what misfortune befell its sibling, but I have mentioned before that the nest seems unusually small, and it may have fallen over the edge.
22 April, 2022
Our house, Waterloo, ON
Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) seem to enjoy our backyard, and seldom are they absent. Often, they seem to favour sitting on the lip of the bird bath.
23 April, 2022
Our house, Waterloo, On
American Goldfinches (Spinus tristis) have regained their breeding plumage and are looking very handsome.
Here they are joined by a stunning male House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus).
It won't be long before orioles and grosbeaks arrive. Let's hope we have a camera at the ready when they do.
...early spring is a magical time, I'm glad to see that you are enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteWhat an absolutely delightful post, David; loved all those wildflowers - and oh the timing to catch that back foot flailing!!! The joys of spring abound. YAM xx
Y=Yamini
The right place at the right time. A few minutes later the raccoon would probably have been in the hole and out of sight.
DeleteThe flowers in your area are very similar to plants here. I have a lot of Tussilago farfara, Lamium and Pulmonaria here too David.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photo of the Western Osprey. I like this big birds, but they do not live around here.
Hugs and kisses, Marit
I love the spring blooms too. The coltsfoot is so pretty. And of course the birds…
ReplyDeleteWe are in the middle of a long stretch of rain and temperatures just above zero. The poor animals!
See you next week?
The annual renewal of the land brings with it an uplifting of spirits.
ReplyDeleteSplashes of bright colors and increased activity by nature's residents is a balm for the soul.
Thank you, David, for sharing some of your seasonal beauty!
Hi David.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed all your beauty.
Nice raccoon.
Beautiful that False Woodpecker
Funny that Owl with those eyes above the rim.
Greetings from Patricia.
Great to see your wildflowers and wildlife of the early spring. Very nice that you could give names to everything. My brain somehow will learn maybe one new name each season.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful and colourful spring with all the flowers and birds...simply stunning! Not even sure if I have ever seen a caspian tern before.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this post, David, I will be walking in the large city park near the mill apartments this weekend. While I will have a camera with me, unfortunately it does not have the capability to capture wildlife.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the walk anyway, Beatrice. There is more to be enjoyed and the best picture is always the one in your mind.
DeleteWow -- splendid images here and fun ones -- the owl peeking out, the raccoon acrobatics and that glorious tern! I'm trying to talk Rick into a border crossing soon, now that he has his renewed passport. You never know...
ReplyDeleteWhat a pleasure it would be to meet you both in person.
DeleteI always enjoy scrolling down your photos. I love those Goldfinches.
ReplyDeleteThe flora and fauna are happy with the warm weather.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post, David! I appreciate the species names. The world is beautiful in earliest springtime. Have a good weekend!
ReplyDeleteMy feeling is that winter is reluctant to leave us...
ReplyDeleteLove the header.
I'm glad to see you are enjoying the outdoors and those beautiful creatures...
Your walks are forever fruitful ... I love the wildflowers and some you have I have not seen here in our forest preserves. We are starting to see a green cast to our trees and some plants pushing their way up in our gardens. It is a welcome sight. There is beauty and wonder in the winter, but there are also long cold gray days which I don't miss once the sun starts shining again. Love your Little GHO ... I understand you missing the sibling, but it is not unusual that a bigger stronger sibling forces the weakest out. Survival of the fittest is the rule in the forest. Love your birds and yes we do seem to have many of the same birds with their beautiful songs in our area. We have had to move away from our beautiful lake and all of it's surrounding nature, so I do so enjoy reliving some of those wonderful times through your posts ... I thank you for that, David.
ReplyDeleteAndrea @ From the Sol
You are quite right, Andrea, that often the smallest chick does not survive, but in Great Horned Owls two or three successful fledgings is not unusual. In any event the remaining youngster looks strong, healthy and well fed.
DeleteSpring displays its beauty and we all get to enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteYour posts are always full of beauty and I love seeing your nature pictures. And you always know the names of the plants and birds. But I'm not completely ignorant, I can tell the difference between a bird and a flower! Hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteSpring is such an exciting and vibrant time. Thank you for sharing some of the joy - though I mourn the missing owlet.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your Spring walks. The racoon was a great moment to capture.
ReplyDeleteI was very sorry to hear of the apparent loss of the Great Horned Owl chick, David.
ReplyDeleteWe have had Lungwort growing in our garden for many years, but you have just reminded me that I don't remember seeing it this year - I shall be looking for it in the morning!
I guess I was not surprised to hear of your recent snowfall. I'm hoping that we'll not see any more snow this side of next winter, but I well remember having snow in June one year, though I couldn't tell you what year that was.
Best wishes to you and Miriam - - - Richard
Elles sont jolies toutes ces petites fleurs, la neige n'est jamais bien loin!
ReplyDeleteLes oiseaux colorés sont beaux, le raton laveur semble en difficulté :D
Bon weekend
The doves always capture my heart when I see them. Funny how I always assumed the word was “morning” rather than the correct “mourning” dove. Their sound and wing movements, though perhaps melancholy, make me think more of morning.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy your photos and commentaries. That raccoon photo was a bit funny...poor thing.
ReplyDeleteSpring has such beautiful magic. Wonderful photos. We once - years ago - had the joy of "following" a Great Horned Owl family, and one of the two owlets had fallen out of the nest. The people from the local bird rescue center took it in and released it back to the parents a few weeks later, and thankfully the owlet was welcomed back in its family.
ReplyDeleteThe shot of the raccoon made me laugh.
ReplyDeleteIt gave us a chuckle at the time.
DeleteSuch a lovely post, all photographs were a joy to see, I especially liked the Goldfinches.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy these last days of April.
All the best Jan
Great selection of photos as always!
ReplyDeleteA lot of beautiful flowers and a determined raccoon.
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely birds you have shown along with the bush flowers, all good.
ReplyDeleteAs an Englishman I don't think I'll ever get used to the Canadian habit of getting excited about spring while there's still snow on the ground. I'd be with the racoons and beavers - keeping my head down and waiting for some sunshine.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely post! Spring flowers and lots of birds. What more could one want! :)
ReplyDeleteI was musing on how you experience spring so much more intensely than we do, with different birds arriving and different flora appearing. With our temperate climate not having much variation, we don't get such demarcation with our seasons. Enjoy your spring! :)
ReplyDeleteEverything spring to life in spring. Beautiful flowers and critters.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post ! Lovely pictures of flowers and birds !
ReplyDeleteSpring comes earlier here in Portugal, we already have 22ºc...
Have a shinny weekend !
Anna
I love it as Mother Nature slowly wakes up following the winter months - there is a different treat instore everyday to observe and appreciate.
ReplyDeleteHello David,
ReplyDeleteLovely walk, the wildflowers are gorgeous. That Raccoon might need to lose some weight. Love the finches, a colorful group. The owlet is adorable, sad to think it's sibling might not have survived. Maybe it is just hidden in the nest. Great captures of all the birds. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
Muy solo se ha quedado el búho, pero saldrá adelante. Me gusta el mechón rojo que tiene el Downy Woodpecker en la cabeza.
ReplyDeleteAsí como las aves las descubro viniendo a verte. Las flores si las vemos por aquí.
Os deseo un buen fin de semana David.
Un abrazo.
Spring is exciting, isn't it? The spring peepers have been lulling me to sleep at night. And now I know what the yellow flowers I see on my walks are. Thanks for the coltsfoot name. And that raccoon made me smile. I had an adventure with one camping one night years ago. It tried to get into my friends and my tent, even though we had no food out at all. It pushed its nose right into the tent wall and you could see its outline. It scared us at first until we heard their chatter and knew what it was. That's sad about the other owl, but I must say that photo of the one remaining, peering over the side of the nest like that, sure looks like he's been up to something evil. Smile. Have a great weekend David. Hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures of early spring. I do especially love that Mourning Dove picture, but then they are one of my favorite birds.
ReplyDeleteHello David,
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful photos.
The raccoon does acrobatics, i like the owl just above the branches.
My favorite is the male downy woodpecker.
Greetings Irma
Enjoyed seeing the flowers emerging, the squill, coltsfoot, and lungwort. We used to have so many mourning doves around back when we lived in the city and even when we moved out here but the white wing doves have moved in and chased off the mourning doves. Oddly enough the little inca doves are still here. The house finches and goldfinches spent about 3 or 4 weeks here on their migration north.
ReplyDeleteDavid thank you for stopping by my blog today. Oh my goodness your header is beautiful and all the brilliantly colorful flowers. Lots of backyard birding here...in Dixie.
ReplyDeleteThe gold finch sings from dawn to dusk such a pretty little melody. Male hummers are doing aerial dance and finally the pollen is about over.
Hugs Cecilia
Hello. Wonderful nature sightings and photos. Hopefully the Great horned owl's nesting will succeed. Have a nice weekend.
ReplyDeleteSpring - and a bit of late winter... I hope this was your last snow and that the plants can grow now. I have never seen Caulophyllum giganteum, but I have asked mrs. Google and the flower looks very pretty. In addition, the Tussilago farfara is one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteThe racoon is fun whereas the update on the owls was sad to hear, but hopefully that's just a reflection of nature.
The photo of the Caspian Tern is absolutely great: Black and white with the screaming red beak... Give my regards to the photographer - Miriam?
Best regards Lisbeth
I will pass on your regards to Miriam. She was indeed the photographer and is sitting right next to me.
DeleteGran surtido de belleza en esta entrada amigo David. Él, despertad primaveral con toda su magia,plantas, aves... clima. Apena lo de ese nido del Búho cornudo. Lástima que quede un solo ejemplar con lo que cuesta criarlos y sacar adelante. La naturaleza también se ceba con los pobres animales, pero son sus leyes.
ReplyDeleteHe disfrutado con esta entrada, amigo mío. Siempre gracias por tu compromiso con el medio natural y cuanto le rodea.
Un fuerte abrazo y os deseo un maravilloso fin de semana de vuestro amigo Juan.
The Goldfinches sure look pretty in their bright yellow plumage. We haven't started seeing them here yet. And the owlet...oh my! How precious! Hope this one survives!
ReplyDeleteThose spring wildflowers are so welcome, I’m sure! Thanks for the ramble through a burgeoning northern spring.
ReplyDeleteIn spring, all nature is reborn, blooms and offers us a world of beauty and color. American Goldfinches have a beautiful plumage, the contrast of yellow and black is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteInteresting stories and great pictures.
ReplyDeleteHello David.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post. I love everything! The raccoon is addictive, the Owl is growing up nicely, the turtle doves are beautiful, and the photos are getting better and better!
Good Sunday to you both.
Gros bisous
Hi David and Miriam - wonderful to see your photos and descriptions how Spring is coming along ... it's chilly here too, but without any rain. But yes Spring is definitely springing - I've been surprised this year by the Horse Chestnut tree leafing up very early, now the candelabra are on their way ... the 'conkers' will be very small, I think. While the other trees here ... can't remember their name ... are in 'microscopic' leaf ... Tis May Day and our traditions are happening once more - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteSpring is in the air!! David, I enjoyed your entire post from wildflower shoots to your beautiful birds...too bad about the 2nd owlet.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up this weekend! Always appreciate your input.
Just wanted to say thanks for that fun comment and a Sunday morning smile you left on my blog this morning! Happy May!
ReplyDeleteYour vignettes of spring are delightful! We arrived home from Florida in time to witness most of early spring's gifts. I have my orange halves ready for the orioles, which last year arrived the second week of May, along with the grosbeaks. That is so sad about the baby owl eggs.
ReplyDeletehm, seems we have many spring plants in common, but not the birds.
ReplyDeleteDear David,
ReplyDeleteoh yes, spring has really taken off! I don't know all the plants you showed, but coltsfoot and lungwort grow here too - and coltsfoot really "everywhere". I had to LOL when I saw the raccoon photo, it reminded me of the picture of a fat cat stuck in the cat flap ;-DDD Beautiful bird photos again! I understand the Western Osprey's doubtful thoughts. As for the Great Horned Owls, I once saw on TV an older, stronger eaglet chick downright killing the younger sibling - first hacking at the poor thing, then throwing it out of the nest - maybe that's what happened here too when it got too tight.
Thank you for pointing out that the supposed great egret in my blog is a cattle egret. I corrected that on my blog and I'm full of respect because I couldn't tell the two apart (the photo was bad, the distance was great and I'm no bird connoisseur either). Was it the length of the neck?
Thanks also for your compliment on my last comment - I have to admit that I use google translate or LEO to help myself with missing vocabulary or formulations ;-)
All the best in May and a good start into the new week,
Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2022/05/wanderlust-blogparade-der-u30blogger.html
I would like to enjoy your marvelous paths!
ReplyDeleteHave a nice workers' day (1st of May)
Hello David, some wonderful spring flowers you show here. But then a spring snowstorm must have been a big surprise. The birds must have thought were did spring go. The loss of the young Owl is very sad indeed. Hope that the other one will grow up in good health and will fly safeley when the time is there.
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Regards from Belgium,
Roos
What a great week you had!...for sure you and your camera are wonderful partners!....I hope spring will arrive full of birds....so sad to hear about the bay owl, but it's nature....and nature knows the best........Abrazotes, Marcela
ReplyDeleteHi, David - This was an awesome post to read on our first discernible day of Spring (on Central Vancouver Island). Your wild flower photographs are very uplifting. Great picture of the baby owlet too - but I am sad to hear about the missing sibling. :(
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed seeing your wildflowers and wildlife of early spring.
ReplyDeleteFabulous vignettes, David.
What a pleasure to see these blooms and birds. Really marvelous captures!
ReplyDeleteReally beautiful photos. I washed out one of the birdfeeders and will fill and put it back out today. Hopefully, to attract some entertainment for the kitties.
ReplyDeleteThe amusements that nature provides (e.g., that raccoon!) certainly outdo any comedian on late-night television. What an absolute banquet of delights. I was quite taken with the Squill. That's a blue that I rarely see, but this year I was lucky enough to find another flower whose color is similar: our Prairie Larkspur. The photo of the pair of doves is enchanting. I love those 'common' birds. I have a pair that end every day by nuzzling up to one another in one of my platform feeders; maybe one day there will be babies with them.
ReplyDeleteTodo se ve tan precioso querido amigo David, por aquí está todo lleno de flores. Abrazos.
ReplyDeleteHi David! Oh that Siberian Squill is so pretty, I've never seen that before. Nature sure makes beautiful colours! That's a great photo of the racoon! Cute little feet lol! ☺☺ I love that finch conversation that's going on in that photo, lots of bird gossip! ☺ Well, the Evening Grosbeaks are gone! Once the Grackles and Red Winged Blackbirds arrive, they start to dwindle in numbers, haven't seen any in a week now. But soon it'll be hummingbird season!!! ☺
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pics, oh, the poor raccoon.
ReplyDeleteGreat shot of the owl.
Some great observations of spring emerging from the clutches of Jack Frost. I haven't been out walking in the forest this week because I have been suffering from a horrible cold, sneezing and coughing like crazy, so I'm staying at home. Negative Covid test so its not that! I love the coltsfoot, always one of the first splashes of colour. I'm stying to teach my grandies all the names of the wild flowers but not having much success so far.
ReplyDeleteDelightful spring where you are with a variety of blooms we don't see here in Southern California where I live -- droughtville, USA. My variety of California poppies in the walkway keep blooming in various colors, fortunately.
ReplyDeleteHello David
ReplyDeleteYour pictures make you want to look forward to summer, nature is changing with all its might and that happens super fast
Greetings Frank
Hi David, beautiful pictures of the birds and racoon. I like the Caspian tern, he is not very different from our tern , the owl and the western osprey.
ReplyDelete