AstroGypsies

I have to admit the one male Ruby Throated hummingbird has not been as cooperative as I would like! I’m used to professional ones, yes, that flower, perfect, hover, wonderful! Go to the pink flower! yes! It’s a take! Well, only in my dreams:) As I waited for this novice hummingbird to come back this fabulous creature flew up to the hanging basket. At first I thought it was a giant bee of sorts but no, a hummingbird clearwing moth! Apparently, according to my insects and arachnids page on Facebook it is VERY VERY early to see these guys! It burrows into the soil to overwinter as a brown, hard-shelled pupa. In the late spring, it emerges as an adult moth. H. thysbe lays green eggs on the underside of plant leaves, which hatch in about a week. As a caterpillar, it feeds on honeysuckle, dogbane, and several types of fruit trees. I’ll be watching the honeysuckle bush!

…and those dragonflies, one morning we had a few, by the afternoon there were hundreds as I walked down the road! Just two species so far, the Beaverpond Baskettail, yes, close to the beaver pond, go figure;) and the American Emerald, shouldn’t that be North American Emerald? Ha! They as far as I know are NOT edible, unlike our American Bullfrogs! As I walked down the road a small brown leaping thing caught my eye…I was looking for wildflowers but this beauty was a treat! A Wood Frog, I’ve only seen one once before here! The amazing copper colour is so shiny! The wood frog has garnered attention from biologists because of its freeze tolerance, relatively great degree of terrestrialism (for a ranid), interesting habitat associations (peat bogs, vernal pools, uplands), and relatively long-range movements. Maybe they go South for the Winter as well! He was headed into the boggy area beside the road. Looking for love no doubt!

Upon return to the house I heard a familiar croaking…the Gray Tree Frog was back as well. Looking quite svelte. I had to relocate him/her as I was moving the deck furniture to clean.  You know you have cats when even the tree frogs have managed to get cat hair on themselves;)..sigh…the next day, he was very very plump! After a good feed on bugs all night no doubt! What a difference. He was sleeping off his bug feast in our cushion bench on the deck, his normal home most of the time:)

That novice hummingbird model finally came through! I’d bought a fuchsia hanging plant, I couldn’t resist, never had one here…and he said, yes ma’am…this is the plant! Training has begun! I’m not sure if the sticking the tongue out was defiance or not;) Ha!

Our daily routine still consists of clearing the debris away from the large culvert each morning. The beavers have a go at it every now and then but the mesh is small enough it catches most everything, clogs, but easily cleaned with a brush and rake. I’ve been watching a pair of Canada Geese. We have a conversation each morning on how they are doing? Anything exciting last night? They honk a fair bit at me but tolerate my conversations. They neglected to tell me they were about to become parents. Last trip to clean the culvert in the rain, of course I didn’t bring the camera, there they were swimming with three very small goslings! I was so excited! Still no photo but I have enjoyed the parents! I sat and watched them one afternoon.

I flushed a pair of Wood Ducks out of the smaller beaver pond one morning as I walked down the road, I pleaded they return but no luck yet, such colourful birds!

I’ll have to settle for the Red Bellied Woodpeckers! The male has taken to feeding in the morning now, maybe less wary of me, and that green background now! Glorious! Add the Rose Breasted Grosbeak and Orioles and we have quite the colour palette now!

and of course, the Baltimore Orioles. So far just a few boys, no ladies, but they will arrive soon as well!

I did promise donkeys and daffodils! We had a lucky sunny Sunday and off we went to help with stalls and play with critters. They are just too cute for words, and so kind. You might get a gentle nudge for a treat but not run over like the larger equines for snacks, and this field of flowers…gorgeous!

Each Sunday, Ringo the old barn cat that lives in Jennifer’s shed in his heated house gets a cut up fillet of fish he shares with Alice and Sophie, two wonderful lady cats. He is a mess of an old cat that you couldn’t touch 9 months ago, as feral as they get but he transformed almost overnight it seems to a happy and friendly boy. He hasn’t been the healthiest, but was waiting in the middle of Jennifer’s driveway for us Saturday for his fissch! I had to lure him away from the truck with his treat to eat by the steps. Sadly he passed a few days ago, I really had a long heart rending sob, but at the same time I marveled at the turn about he did, and how delightful it was to watch him eat his fish each visit…Fly high old man and give Beezil and the rest of our long departed feline souls big head butts and under chin scratches for me when you arrive. He will be missed by all…thankfully, there is Alice and the lady house cats to warm our hearts…

I wished they all lived as long as we did…

I will bid so long, farewell, auf weidersehen goodbye, I leave and heave, a sigh and say goodbye…

Goodbye…