Sharing Life With a Creative Person

      There is an inherent joy in interacting every day with a creative person. It is nothing less than exciting.

     Fortunately this is my reality, and it never becomes routine. Each new project is special and rekindles the pleasure of it all.

      Miriam is an accomplished quilter and sews with delicacy and precision, but before the needle and thread touches the fabric, the project has to be conceived, designed and patterns made. Herein lies a process that is mysterious to most of us, inaccessible even, but it is exhilarating to watch it all come together.

     Our lives revolve around Nature so it will come as no surprise that much of her work features environmental- or nature-themed motifs.

     In the piece above, stylized shorebirds are depicted walking on a sandy beach.

     Birds are the most widely loved of all Nature's organisms, with a broad following from casual observer to obsessive twitcher.

     Their beauty, toughness and dedication to their young never ceases to be a source of inspiration. From time to time many of us wish we could fly away with them and leave our troubles behind!

     Birds have been a part of my life for as long as I have memory and I am looking forward to warblers and other neotropical migrants returning here to breed. The miracle of migration is about to take place, an annual event that never ceases to bring untold excitement, and emotions verging on ecstasy.

     Not so long ago I reread Margaret Attwood's The Handmaid's Tale and could not help but make the connection to segments of society today who would impose such conditions on women - and in some jurisdictions are well on the way to doing it. This is barbarism at its worse. There is a pleasure in being married to a strong-willed woman, one with her own values, interests, friends and opinions, a woman not reluctant to challenge you. Why would I want anything less? How much less interesting would be my life? Constant sycophantic approval is what some seem to seek, but I can't imagine anything more boring.

     Thank you, Miriam for a life lived well. After all these years each day still gets better.

Some Local Beauties

      I thought I would share with you a few of the local beauties in my life, all seen around here recently. I beg to assure you that the list is not exhaustive!

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

     This common bird, is uncommonly beautiful.

     Rarely a day goes by without a Blue Jay, but they are never less welcome for their familiarity.

Goodbye 2020 (maybe even Good Riddance)

     The year that will end in just a few hours has not been the kindest we have experienced and I suspect that most people will be glad to close the door on "The Year of COVID".

     For naturalists, however, life has been far more tolerable than for urban dwellers, especially those confined to small apartments, and in truth it has not been terrible for Miriam and me. We have certainly regretted the ability to get together with good friends, and we miss the opportunity to travel. But nature writ large, in all its ever-changing glory, is at our doorstep and we enjoy it to the fullest. We could gripe about the inconveniences that are now a part of our daily routine, or we can rejoice in the immutability of what pleases us most, and that is what we choose to do.

     If you were feeling a little constrained, a tad down in the dumps, what could perk up your spirits more than sharing precious moments with friendly Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus)? 

    And sometimes two or three are clamouring to make your day special.

     I feel a warm glow just from the memory.

     And if a Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) should happen along to join the party, more to the good.

     On the day that the above pictures were taken a glorious sunset accompanied us on our way home.

     It's pretty hard to feel down about anything with that kind of goodnight kiss.

     Right up until Christmas Eve we had rain, but overnight the temperature dipped and it changed to snow.

     Hillside Park looked quite glorious.

     A little snow does wonders for a winter landscape.

     A Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) high above us would no doubt have agreed.

     It seemed out of camera range, but Miriam's shots show it well I think.

     A Black Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) has lived through winters past and was determined to guard his post.

     Miriam is a dedicated sewer (I think the term "sewist" is now used more frequently), and she was delighted to see this sign in the park, no doubt placed there with people like her in mind!

     Those sewers can be ornery at times!

     Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) are possessed of an infinite charm, and nothing is quite so appealing as this little bird going about its business, winter be damned.

     As long as we have open water Mallards (Anas platyrynchos) are equally at home in Ontario in December.

     A Barred Owl (Strix varia) has taken up residence in the park, but knowing it is there and seeing it is a different matter entirely. Our luck held out, however, and find it we did, quietly roosting, waiting for the cover of night to begin its hunt.

     Miriam's sister, Karen, was walking in the park too, unknown to us, so we were able to show her the owl.

     I suspect this was her first sighting of a Barred Owl and she was suitably impressed.

     This was our final species of the day and pretty special if you ask me!

     Snow, delightful though it is, and an integral part of the fertile land that is all around us, means that I have to shovel my driveway and the sidewalk.

     It is not a chore I really mind, but I have to confess that sometimes when it snows for days on end, and it needs to be done daily, it can get to be a little much!

     Here is a view looking down the street.

     This is the time of year for special treats and we made chicken empanadas with a yogurt/cilantro sauce - and they were delicious. New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs are just the wine to pair with such delights. Okay, with just about anything if you insist!

     The end of a year is a time for reflection, perhaps, and as I cast my mind over many experiences, I am truly grateful for the wonderful opportunities a love of birds has laid before me. My travels to many foreign lands have been a significant part of my enjoyment of life to the fullest, not only in the quest to see new and exciting birds, but to participate in the cultures and food of other nations. I have seen magnificent landscapes, spectacular mountains, wide rivers and tranquil streams, beasts large and small, jungles, forests, woods, and grasslands, and endured every climate this Earth can throw at you. I have met and enjoyed the company of many people from world-renowned ornithologists to the humblest of peasants. Each encounter has enriched me. We are all fellow travellers on this one planet that we share and differences of colour, religion, caste or economic circumstance should never be allowed to divide us. You are all my brothers and sisters.

     For the past eighteen years it has been a joy of immense magnitude to share my life with Miriam. She has been (and continues to be) the finest companion one could envisage and shares my love of nature, music, books and wine! Who could ask for more? 

     

 

   

All the News That's Fit to Print

     In no particular sequence, here are some of the highlights of the past week for Miriam and me.

At the house

     A few years ago we planted Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) at the side of the driveway at the front of our house. It was nibbled right to the ground by pesky rabbits the first year, but since then it has bloomed spectacularly and we have enjoyed it very much.

     Oddly, despite having seen a multitude of pollinators using it, neither of us had ever seen a Monarch (Danaus plexippus), a butterfly dependent on milkweed, on the plant,  In early summer this year, however, we did see Monarchs frequenting it, and they displayed all the behaviours of a female seeking to lay eggs. It was unusual enough of an observation that before leaving in the car to run errands, I went back into the house to fetch Miriam so that she could see what I had discovered.

     We were never able to locate eggs, but here is proof positive of the outcome, a Monarch caterpillar in a late instar feeding on the leaves.

   

       Hooray, we said!

     And to add to the elation of the moment this striking Large Milkweed Bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus) was spotted too.

     I have no doubt we said Hooray again!

     A male Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) seldom seems to land and we had been unable to get a picture. One morning, to our surprise on opening the front door, one was perched on the brick of the porch and we were finally able to fill in the gap in our photographic record for this species.

           A couple of days ago while sitting on the patio having our morning coffee and some of Brian Smith's delicious banana bread we noticed an American Crow (Corvus brachyrynchos) perched on the fence. Usually this species is wary, having little reason to be trustworthy of humans, but this individual seemed quite content to rest for a while. Any thought we might have had that the bird was injured was dispelled as it moved around and walked along the rail. It was very handsome indeed.

          It was a pleasure to share our morning with this intelligent bird.

 

     Miriam has again raised butterflies indoors this year, and much as we have enjoyed the experience, we may rethink how we do it next year, since there is some evidence that it may not be entirely beneficial.

     Nonetheless having already released all our swallowtails, we looked forward with great eagerness to the Monarchs emerging. Many eggs are laid the same day, so it is hardly surprising that butterflies hatch out in the same manner.

      At the left in the picture above you can see a lone chrysalis still a few days away from hatching.

     We are thrilled when these splendid creatures first fly and are never anything less than awed by the process we are privileged to observe.

     One individual landed on Miriam's blouse, and then on her finger before flying off.

     It was a fitting farewell.

Ottawa

     We spent a couple of days visiting Caroline and Andrew in Ottawa, spending most of our time on their patio, admiring all the work they have done in their backyard, but Miriam, Caroline and I did take a walk through a local woodland.

     A pond covered in Duckweed (Lemnoideae) deep in the forest was very attractive, and I was surprised that neither Mallards (Anas platyrynchos) nor Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) have yet discovered it.

     There were many fungi throughout, especially in moist areas as you might expect, and I am reasonably sure this is a species of Amanita.

     Mushrooms are not my strong point, so if anyone can confirm the ID feel free to do so.

     In the meantime, I will do a little research into the species below to see if I can come up with a name for them.

   Identified by two members of iNaturalist as Lobster Mushroom (Hypomyces lactifluorum) on 28 August 2020

   So many species of Yew (Taxaceae) found in Eastern North America are hybrids of species imported by settlers from Europe that they beggar identification.

RIM Park, Waterloo, ON

     Of late, when Friday morning comes around, we look forward to meeting Heather and Lily, to take a walk together. To tell you how thrilled we are to be able to share in Lily's life in this manner would require a chapter to itself!

     Having parked our car we noticed a sculpture across the road that we have never seen before, although it is somewhat weathered and obviously not new.

     Clearly it represents ears of corn and it would be interesting to know why and by whom it was installed here.

     A flock of Common Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) was perched in a tree nearby.

     Not long into our walk Heather spotted a large Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) basking on the road, and obligingly it stayed for a while before slithering off into the grass. 

     Lily will not remember when she encountered her first snake!

     Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is a widespread invasive plant, whose flower is very attractive both to the human eye and to pollinators - especially bumblebees (Bombus spp.) it seems. The colour of the inflorescence on this plant seemed even more beautiful than usual.

     For the first time on our walks, Lily was a little fussy this morning, so mom carried her for a while.

     That feels better!

     RIM Park meanders alongside the Grand River and in places is characterized by classically tranquil scenes of bucolic perfection. We had never before seen artists painting it, and wondered why.

     Here is a view that begs for the interpretive skill of an artist's brush. Imagine for a moment what a French impressionist could have done with that!

     Following comforting moments with Heather, Lily fell asleep, hair askance and blowing bubbles.

     How cheerful and smiley she was when she woke up.

     It is fascinating to watch this precious little girl develop each week and clearly she is now moving her eyes to follow things or people she sees.

      I wonder what changes we might notice by next Friday.

Three Bridges Road, St. Jacobs, ON

     There is a small pond on Three Bridges Road where on one occasion, just before freeze-up, it was filled with Common Mergansers (Mergus merganser). Since then we have seen very little there although we always check as we go by.

     Imagine our delight, therefore, when we spotted both a Great Egret (Ardea alba) and a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), the two species feeding alongside each other.

     All in all, it has been a pretty good week I would say!