Last Full Day of Summer

Wow...how is it possible that summer is drawing to a close for another year? Every year it just seems to fly by, this one even more so! Summer started off rather slow but it has been great to enjoy warmer temperatures for most of September! While the fall season is one of the prettiest, we will certainly miss the many migrating birds that are or will be flying to warmer climates. We've captured lots of great photos of our favourites, including this one from just a few days ago. Enjoy your last full day of summer everyone!!

Adorable Ruby-throated Hummingbird ~ Thanks for posing!!

Milkweed Seeds!!

Monarch Butterflies have been in decline for the past several years due to the lack of Milkweed Plants but many are striving to help change this! We are delighted to once again have locally-harvested Milkweed Seeds available this afternoon. These seeds will be available thanks to local rehab for Species at Risk ~ Swift Care Ontario. With any donation to their rehab, you will receive a package of Milkweed Seeds!! You'll be helping many Species at Risk - Monarchs & birds....amazing!!  Thank you!

Colour of the Season

When we think of the upcoming fall season, certain colours often come to mind. For us, it is probably orange! There's the leaves that turn to this brilliant hue; the favourite birds that move on while others often stay; the fruits & vegetables that have ripened and the stunning Monarchs that emerge & migrate to Mexico! Our current selection of Art Cards 'captured' by local photographer Paul Roedding include this uplifting colour....they are the perfect greeting when you include your personal words and/or would be an excellent gift if you were to add a frame!!

Colourful Art Cards from Paul Roedding Photography featuring our favourite colour of the season!!

Celebrating Hawks & Monarchs - Migration!!

This is the first weekend of two for events not too far away ~ Hawk Cliff's Hawk Watch is happening near Port Stanley in Elgin County while HawkFest 2015 takes place at Holiday Beach Conservation Area in the Essex Region. There will be plenty of activities & happenings for all to enjoy!! Look for daily live-bird demos, nature hikes, guided tours, hawk counting & banding, Monarchs and more! Be sure to check the links for times & happenings at each site!! More info available from a feature by Paul Nicholson along with additional details via Thames Talbot Land Trust.

Red-tailed Hawk

Back to School!

It's a day of new beginnings, a week of new beginnings, a year of new beginnings for many!! Like the birds leaving the nest for the first time,  there's plenty to learn, new things to know, new faces to meet! We wish all involved the best of the best today, this week, this year!! And to this adorable, wee Cedar Waxwing, we hope you found your way!

Cedar Waxwing 'captured' just over a week ago!!

Beautiful Eastern Bluebirds

We love when folks share their bird sightings, happenings in their garden and photos! Many drop by the store and are excited to share photos that they have captured on their phones & cameras. Recently we were delighted to hear Barb's story & see her fabulous pics. She shared how an Eastern Bluebird pair had nested in a house right next to their deck. The nest was successful & they enjoyed capturing many fabulous shots of the adults looking after their young. We can't even imagine having these beautiful birds up so close...How lucky for Barb & her family! Many thanks Barb for sharing your pics...hoping they return to your garden next year!!

Feeding time in the Eastern Bluebird house!!

Eastern Bluebird house

So cute!!

Every Day is Special

Why, you ask, do we think that Every Day is Special? Well, it is very simple. Every day that you can take a moment, spare a moment, slow down for a moment....and listen to the birds, seems reason enough for every day to be special.

Take this morning, for example.  Our garden has been abuzz with the sounds of the Cedar Waxwings. Their high-pitched whistles have been coming from several areas of our garden...and we know their young are around as well. Yes, they have been nesting at this time of the year so be aware as you do your late summer yard work.

Warmer temperatures with a return to summer conditions are in the forecast for the upcoming week! Keep those nectar feeders filled & maintained. Fill your seed feeders as fall migration is happening ~ You never know who might pay a visit to your garden!!

Have a fabulous week!!

One of the gorgeous Cedar Waxwings observed this morning!

Two Cedar Waxwings in the top of the White Pine

National Dog Day!

Happy National Dog Day!! Pets are an important & special part in the lives of many...they are most-importantly a member of the family. Celebrate your pooch today & every day for all the joy they bring; for all the laughter they provide; for all the warmth & companionship! Their unconditional love is special indeed and never forgotten.

Border Collie lovin' the splashing water!!

Keep your nectar feeders filled!

A few folks have asked us recently if they should continue to offer food for the Hummingbirds & Orioles at this time of year, so we thought this would be a good subject for today's post. The answer is yes! Both of these beauties are still in our area and will continue to be. They will move on from here in the next while, but there will be others passing through - those that nested further north. For this reason, it is important to keep feeders filled. The birds know when to leave...keeping feeders out & filled will not encourage them to stay too long. You'll want to provide them with the energy they need for the long flight south to their wintering grounds...and enjoy the entertainment for as long as possible! For Hummingbirds, you can report your sightings and check their progress too!  (Orioles)

Recent shot of Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Captured just moments ago - Two Orioles on the jelly feeder...One waiting on the branch!

Amazing Folks ~ Swift Care Ontario!

There are so many amazing folks in this world....lots of them are right in our area! We are blessed to know and to have, Carolyn & Deb from rehab Swift Care Ontario, doing the wonderful things they do here in the London, Ontario area! If you are are wondering, Swift Care Ontario is a "unique wildlife rehabilitation centre specializing in some of Ontario's most vulnerable animals".  Last night, some of those most vulnerable ~ Chimney Swifts ~  were released at King's University College here in London. The Swifts joined hundreds of migrating others that have made their annual stop at a favourite chimney on campus, before heading to their wintering grounds in South America. A truly terrific story for sure....made even more so by these special folks at Swift Care Ontario!

Another species at risk is the Barn Swallow

Rain brings out the beauties!

We all love a summer full of warmth & plenty of sunshine, but rain is so necessary for the success of the beautiful crops of local fruits & vegetables we all enjoy! A lovely rainfall can also bring so many beautiful birds to the feeders....at the same time! Last week we received a nice warm rain allowing us to capture a few shots of these beauties. They just add that extra touch to the garden while bringing joy to all that observe them, including us!

Beautiful Baltimore Oriole & Northern Cardinal

Adorable White-breasted Nuthatch

F Northern Cardinal....a little soggy in the rain!

Cuties Welcome!

We welcome the birds to our garden with open arms! We also love that others share our garden, especially when they help to keep things in order!! Bunnies have to be some of the cutest, that's for certain. While they can prove to be a problem with newly-sprouted veggies & flowers or even well-established plants, if one lets their lawn and garden go a little wild, they'll find other things to satisfy their hunger...hopefully? ...maybe? Around here, they are often seen cleaning up the bird seed that has fallen to the ground or trimming the grass or weeds that have grown a little too long. Nothing better than letting someone else look after a few things....Happy Monday ~ Enjoy your week!

Little One doing some trimming!

Adult & Mourning Dove lending a hand

Hummingbirds

Really....who doesn't love a Hummingbird!? These tiny miracles of nature travel such long distances during migration, it is simply amazing!!  Needless to say, we are so very thankful that they grace us with their presence each & every summer. They are a real treat to watch & a joy to behold....perfect entertainment for every yard & garden!! Their tiny wings moving so quickly as they feed; their lightning fast movement through the garden; their "disagreements" with other Hummingbirds resulting in chases; their moments when they perch allowing us to capture a few cool poses with our camera lens....nothing much better than all of this & more on a hot summer day! They are busier now than ever, so keep your feeders filled and enjoy the show!! While capturing this first pic, noticed two others involved in a chase in our Bee Balm (variety "Monarda") patch!

"Posing" at a favourite feeder!

One of many visits during the day to our window nectar feeder!

A pic from a few years back with thanks to customer Carolyn!

Listen, then....Enjoy the View

While spending a little time in our garden yesterday, we once again were serenaded by the beautiful Cedar Waxwings. As well, the Orioles & Grosbeaks were continuing to put on a show at our grape jelly feeder. We listened to the Waxwings, then noticed that they were moving back & forth between an old pine tree and a maple. Over the course of a few minutes, we were able to capture several shots of the Waxwings, then noticed others including the Orioles, spending a few minutes on the branches of this same pine tree. It really is amazing that if one just takes a little time to watch, listen and enjoy the view, all the beauty that is out there....even in your own backyard!! Take a little time today & every day to Listen to the Birds....and "enjoy the view"! Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Cedar Waxwing posing just for us....in the old pine tree!

Baltimore Oriole in that same pine tree

A second shot of the Cedar Waxwing in the pine tree...they really are stunning birds!!

Long Weekend Visitors

We hope everyone had a fabulous long weekend!! Not sure if the storms brought more birds to the feeders, but there certainly were lots around! It was great to welcome several Baltimore Orioles & Rose-breasted Grosbeaks along with the regulars - Downy & Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Cardinal pair, Chickadees, House Finches, Goldfinches, and others. We were serenaded for most of the weekend by the lovely sounds of the Cedar Waxwings while the Wrens also provided some sweet tunes. We love how the Orioles continue to announce their arrival at the nectar & jelly feeders....always know when they're around, that's for certain!! It was fun also to watch & listen to the Red-bellied Woodpeckers - "Dad" swooping through the garden to the feeders, with a newly-fledged cutie following, squawking & squeaking closely behind!

Baltimore Oriole - Lovin' that grape jelly!

Happy Food Day Canada!

Not only is this the very first day of August 2015, it is also Food Day Canada!! It is a day to shop for local food; eat local food; enjoy local food....a day to celebrate all the bounty that is available in this great country we call home! We are delighted to offer many local specialties that include Maple Syrup, Summer Blossom Honey, Gourmet Jams & Jellies, Salted & Unsalted Peanuts, Maple Mustard, Sauces, Salsas......and just arrived SWEET CORN!!

Sauces, Salsas, Sparkling Cider, Summer Blossom Honey, Maple Syrup....

SWEET CORN IS HERE....SWEET CORN IS HERE!! We tried some last night...........mmmmmm, so sweet & delicious....the best we've tasted!!

Cedar Waxwings!

The stunning Cedar Waxwings have been spending  plenty of time in the garden this week! We've certainly enjoyed their unique sound of high whistles along with their beauty....their feathers remind one of a lovely fabric...like velvet. They've been moving from tree to tree and have spent lots of time around the webs that have recently appeared....good reason to sometimes leave those webs be!! Cedar Waxwings love fruit....reason enough to add native fruit-bearing species to your yard!! Have a wonderful holiday weekend ~ We are closed Monday, August 3 to observe the Civic Holiday!!

House Sparrow Tunes & A Week of Hot Weather!

Saturday was a fun day around here as the annual MS Bike Tour passed by. While taking a few moments to watch, we noticed & heard this House Sparrow singing his happy tune. We suspect he also wanted to say thanks to all the dedicated cyclists!!

The forecast for the upcoming week is hot, hot, hot....some of the warmest temperatures we've had for a couple of years. Please make sure you & your pets have a cool spot with plenty of fresh, cool water. Check on your elderly neighbours, making sure they are okay. Look after the birds too....keep feeders clean & filled with fresh seed (a spot in the shade is good too). Try to also hang nectar feeders in the shade while keeping them cleaned & refreshed often - don't wait til the nectar is cloudy to change it. Offer some water for the birds & change it often. Mosquitoes  are already an issue in many areas this year....you don't want to create another favourite spot for them with "standing" water on your property. If we all take care of each other, the week will be much more enjoyable for all!

House Sparrow at the store front as cyclists passed by!

Add a water feature to your garden via a bird bath ~ Give the birdies a hand!!

Also available - glass bird baths with stands. Selection varies depending on current stock & what's available from distributor.

MS Bike Tour - Grand Bend to London

This weekend marks the return of the MS Bike Tour with cyclists biking from Grand Bend to London on Saturday, July 25 then they make the trip back to Grand Bend on Sunday the 26th! It's always a fun day watching the cyclists go by knowing what a great cause this is for! Cyclists range in age from very young & up and many travel on an array of unique bicycles. On Saturday, some cyclists will pass by here mid to late morning, while most can be seen from about noon til approx. 3 or 4pm. On Sunday, many start quite early & will all travel by here in the morning. Feel free to give some support by stopping by and cheering them on!! You can also show your support by sponsoring one of the many cyclists....thanks so very much for doing so!!

MS Bike Tour Cyclists from a previous event

Wrens have a Family!

It's always the most fun when you find another active nest in your garden!! This past Saturday, when we returned home from the shop, we noticed a Wren flying up to one of the houses that we had placed in our yard earlier this year. As we watched closely, there were indeed hungry mouths to feed!! We had captured photos of other houses that the Wrens had been checking out but this is a different one....and this one is home to a family!! Have a wonderful week!