home again

We're just back from several days at the cottage/cabin/fishing shack/home away from home/our piece of heaven on earth .... goes by many names!  There was quite a mixed bag of weather from cool to hot with some rain thrown in and WIND - oh my, the wind was relentless at times and that seems to be happening right across the prairie provinces.  Interestingly, on our way there  there was just a green tinge on the trees and everything was in full leaf when we headed home!

I didn't spot any goslings but my hubby did and we saw no ducklings so we're expecting to see plenty of them next trip down.  Hum (Ruby Throated Hummingbird) arrived on the evening of May 12 and we were ready for him - they always amaze me that they come looking for nectar at the same spot every year!  Mrs. Robin made a nest in the big spruce tree by the deck .... she was a very busy lady for an entire day but then disappeared for about 24 hours - perhaps she and her fella were off on their honeymoon!  We had visits by the Myrtle Warblers and Yellow Warblers and a family of Evening Grosbeaks hung around for a few days.  The day before we left a Goldfinch arrived to dine at our feeders.  One afternoon whilst  loafing on the deck a pair of Common Mergansers swam back and forth before the female climbed up on the dock to preen herself; her partner just swam around keeping an eye on her and for any danger that might lurk and finally decided to join her on the dock but little dog spotted him and sent them on their way (yes, we scolded her) .... and wouldn't you know it that the camera was inside and I just knew that opening the door would frighten them off - luckily, I had managed to get a photo of them swimming around a few days earlier.  Nigel, the squirrel, loves to torment little dog and eats all the bird seed!

 It was overcast for the Super Moon but the next night we managed to get this brief glimpse.

 Such splendour to arise to!

 Our resident Common Mergansers - she is just as pretty as he is.

 Mrs. Robin built her nest here ... I like how the reflection of the sun was framed.

Leaving on a jet plane .......