April?

We were a little spoiled in March with "some" days of warmer temperatures & pretty decent weather.  However, with April's arrival, we we've been greeted with colder than normal temperatures along with snow, ice pellets, the return of the Polar Vortex, icy roads and the words "April may see more snow than December". Wow...

While snow isn't uncommon well in to April or even May, the cold temperatures are somewhat alarming.  As we dreamabout the return of migrating birds, tree blossoms, spring flowers & April showers, these might have to wait a bit. Some of the first birds have returned - various Blackbirds, Tundra Swans, Turkey Vultures, Tree Swallows & more with many favourites still to arrive....and arrive they will!

We all know spring weather will eventually arrive, the blooms & blossoms will open to reveal their glorious colours, the birds will sing more than they are now....we may just have to be a little patient!! We shall see what the rest of April brings!

The pretty birds came out to play following one of the recent April snow "events"!

Carolinian Canada's "Go Wild Grow Wild" Expo

It's April....Have a wonderful "Earth Month"!

The Go Wild Grow Wild Expo presented by Carolinian Canada happens tomorrow in London, Ontario!! So much happening & something for everyone at this great show - Adventurers, Nature Lovers, Families, and Gardeners will all find something interesting. Join the fun at the Western Fair Agriplex from 10am to 4pm!! http://gowildgrowwild.ca/expo

Plunkett Estate Adoptathon

Looking to add a pooch to your family & provide a "furever" home to one that needs it? You might want to check out the "Plunkett Estate Adoptathon" this Saturday, April 2nd!!

Flocks for Swift Care Ontario

Local Rehab for Species at Risk, Swift Care Ontario, once again has beautiful glass pieces offered here, with all dollars used to continue their work in our community!! Each one is very special, available with a suction hook so you can attach to a window. The light would allow you to admire their beauty even more! These would be a very special gift, especially knowing they were handmade by the folks at Swift Care & every dollar goes to their rehab!! Mother's Day & Father's Day are just around the corner!! Drop by our location at 1830 Gainsborough Road, London, Ontario to pick up your favourite!

Glass Baltimore Oriole ~ All $$ to local rehab for Species at Risk - Swift Care Ontario

More of the flock available....and there's more to come (Cardinals, Chickadees, and more)!!

Happy Easter!

Wishing you & yours a Happy Easter weekend!! And if the Easter Bunny is visiting your home, may the smiles & laughs be plentiful!!

It's spring...and we have snow!

Happy Spring!! The first day of spring/the Spring Equinox arrived on Sunday, March 20th....On Monday, March 21st we're having a little snow!! Not surprising...it is still March & it often happens following the first official day of spring, that we receive some snow! We've probably been more than a little spoiled in our neck of the woods for most of the winter with less snow & warmer temperatures.

At any rate, the cooler temperatures have resulted in busy feeders! The Goldfinches are putting on a show, becoming a little more yellow as time goes by. The Red-winged Blackbirds arrive in numbers many days while the Cardinals are singing up a storm with the males sporting brighter red jackets! Adorable Juncos are still around, Chickadees & American Tree Sparrows are as cute as ever and Woodpeckers always provide lots of fun & entertainment! American Robins are more frequent around the yard, providing an early morning wake up call.

We hope that you're enjoying the sights & sounds of the garden....a reminder that it won't be long until flowers are blooming!!

Hairy Woodpecker in the afternoon sun!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Whether you're a wee bit Irish, Irish through & through or Irish for today, Happy St. Patrick's Day one & all! It's a day when so many folks celebrate with green being the colour of the day. A great colour....the perfect backdrop for all the beautiful birds that surround us each & every day; the colour that reminds us of all things to do with nature; the colour that we use in reference to keeping things natural. It's a colour that makes everything look quite spectacular! We hope you enjoy your St. Patrick's Day no matter where you are!

Lovely blue of the Indigo Bunting against the beautiful green!

Wings of Spring at Rondeau & Sweet Bird Tunes

It's that time of the year....there's more and more sweet bird tunes each & every day! Have you ever noticed that early in the morning, one will begin to sing (usually a Robin), then others will chime in? It's almost like a competition to see what species will sing the loudest! We certainly enjoy all the lovely sounds....so peaceful and so wonderful knowing that spring is definitely in the air! Wishing everyone a fabulous March Break week!! Looking for activities? Check out what's happening at the beautiful parks including the Wings of Spring at Rondeau!!

Spring is in the Air

The temperatures have warmed....the critters are appearing...the birds are in great tune! Over the last few days, we've seen a raccoon, skunk and this morning, our first chipmunk! Folks have reported the return of Turkey Vultures, Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds while Tundra Swans in larger numbers are making their annual layover in the Grand Bend area & the Aylmer Wildlife Management area. If you've never made the trek to one of these spots, it's worth the trip! Look for Maple Syrup Festivals with pancakes & fresh maple syrup....perhaps while on your way to see the Swans!!  It's a fabulous time of the year and this March has been pretty spectacular so far with some sunshine & warmer days!

Skunk checking things out!

Chipmunk spotted today!

Tundra Swans

Lovin' the Safflower

Many folks often ask for seed that the "Blackbirds" and/or the Squirrels don't like, but one that will still bring favourite backyard birds to the feeders. The answer - Safflower Seed!!  While the seed may somewhat limit the variety of birds, it is one that Blackbirds & Squirrels "generally" don't care for. (There's been some exceptions....) One thing is for certain, Cardinals, House Finches & others do!! They've been steady visitors to the feeder pictured below. We've seen Chickadees, Nuthatches, Woodpeckers check it out too. You'll want to make sure you have Safflower in your feeders to welcome the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks - They love it! They'll be here in about two months.

Male Cardinal lovin' the Safflower Seed!

Female Cardinal sharing the Safflower Seed with the Finches!

Beeswax Candles ~ A Golden Glow!

Their flame is warm, their light is soft and the ambiance oh so wonderful! Beeswax Candles...Enjoy a long burn, a gorgeous glow, a wonderful honey fragrance....Perfect way to welcome March as it has "come in Like a Lion"!! It's believed that burning a beeswax candle can help to clean the air in our homes, while also creating negative ions. These negative ions neutralize positive ions (eg. allergens, dust, etc.) thereby improving the air quality in the home. So many benefits, you'll want to give beeswax candles a try! Be sure to look for 100% pure beeswax ~ Drop by to see for yourself the selection we offer...We've just received new shipments from our suppliers!! Happy March!

Just a small portion of the Beeswax Candles that we currently offer!!

A lovely warm glow from a Beeswax Candle

When the wax pool nears the edges and the wax near the candle wall is softened, carefully push the wax toward the wick, thus raising the wax pool. You can burn the whole candle & not be left with a large chunk of wax!!

Happy Leap Year Day!!

February 29th should be a day to celebrate...don't you think!! If today is your birthday, anniversary, etc., we wish you an extra-special celebration!

The Goldfinches have been super-busy at the Nyjer Seed Feeders as of late! You may also be finding the same. Seeds that they & many others have been finding in the wild are more & more depleted at this time of the year, so it is important to continue feeding/filling feeders. You'll want to do so as nesting season is just around the corner ~ the birds need to build up their energy to get through the remainder of the winter & prepare. You'll love it if the birds decide to make their future nests in your garden ~ They'll not only be busy at the feeders keeping up their strength for successful nests, they'll eventually bring the young to the feeders!! It's always a very special time of the year!

Have a wonderful Leap Year Day & A fabulous week ~ Happy Monday, Feb. 29th!

"Red-bellied Woodpecker Fun"...in the Garden

One just never knows with the birds what the next entertainment will be! From squabbles at the feeders to preening of their beautiful feathers to singing their glorious tunes to 'landings' and 'takeoffs' and so very much more, the fun never ends! A few days ago, we enjoyed the antics of a Red-bellied Woodpecker. These guys are most often viewed flying through the garden to the peanut feeders or scooting up various trees. On this day, a male Red-bellied Woodpecker was checking out things on the ground then flying over to a nearby tree. He did this several times so the 'show' was quite excellent! If one takes a little time to watch, the entertainment value can make the day!! Keep your feeders filled on this Wednesday....storm warnings & a variety of weather in the area ~ Take Care!!

Red-bellied Woodpecker....on the ground & on a tree!

Heard their glorious tunes yet?

Their colours will become much brighter....
Their feathers will be looking quite 'sharp'...
'He' will be looking more handsome than ever...
'She' will be as beautiful as always...

While one facebook follower has reported that she heard that familiar Cardinal sound this past Saturday when the temperatures were soaring, we are still waiting!! So far, we continually hear their familiar "chirp/chip" sound when they are around the feeders....we always know the sound is coming from the Cardinals so we take a look! They're much too beautiful to not! Very soon though, they will be singing from the treetops, singing from the rooftops, in the forests, in the gardens & all around. Wherever they may be, you'll recognize that sound!! We encourage you to take a moment, take a moment to enjoy the beauty that is the birds, their stunning colours, their glorious tunes!

Singing from our rooftop a couple of years ago!

Sunny Day in February

What could be better than a day where sparkles of frost greet the morn....add to that some glorious sunshine, blue sky and a few bird tunes ~ so special! This is just what we've been blessed with on this Thursday! While it started out pretty cool, it hasn't taken long for that beautiful sun to bring some much-needed warmth. We ventured out early this morning for a few shots around the garden...frost on the branches and that beautiful rising sun....perfect! Take a few moments every single day to take in all that nature has to offer, all that is beautiful on this earth, all that we have been given...you'll be really glad you did!!

Frosty weeds on a February morn

Nature London presents: "Warbler Woods ~ much more than Warblers"

Tonight's presentation with Nature London:

Warbler Woods: Much more than warblers
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
7:00 – 8:30 pm
Wolf Performance Hall, Central Library, London, Ontario, Canada

From the Nature London website ~ "Scale the hills of Warbler Woods Environmentally Significant Area without even sweating. This area’s special features have been enjoyed by Londoners for more than a century. Nature London’s Winifred Wake leads us on a virtual hike, shedding light on the flora and fauna that keep those warblers company."

Happy Valentine's Day!!

A favourite pair in our garden - Beautiful Northern Cardinals!!

Snowy, snowy February

It's been a very snowy few days and now, along with the snow, very cold temperatures. During conditions such as this, it is extremely important to give the birds a hand so that they can use all their energy to protect themselves from these temperatures. This morning, we found many of our feeders to be covered with snow while others had the seed ports filled with snow. It takes only a few minutes to clear the snow away making it much easier for the birds to get the seeds that they desire. As well, clear or pack the snow below the feeders...ground-feeding birds will be able to easily find the seeds that are knocked to the ground or offered on the ground. The Great Backyard Bird Count continues....enjoy your weekend!

Juncos & American Tree Sparrow on the ground beside our Christmas tree

Blue Jay on this snowy Saturday....certainly enjoying the protection of the Squirrel Buster "Weather Guard".!!

Great Backyard Bird Count starts today!!

It's the first day of the Great Backyard Bird Count and counting continues right through the weekend til Family Day Monday!! What a great way to have some fun with your family & help science at the same time!! It's educational too...for all ages! This is a holiday weekend for us ~ We're open today til 5:30, 9 to 5 on Saturday, closed as usual on Sunday and closed on Monday for the holiday. We wish you & yours a wonderful Family Day Holiday Weekend!!

Hoping we see lots of Northern Cardinals this weekend!

Also hoping our feeders are busier than this!! With the snow & cold temperatures, keep your feeders filled!! The birds will be looking for easily accessible food!

Tundra Swans this week!

This first week of February has provided for lots of great viewing opportunities. We've gone from winter to late spring and back to winter all in one week...but what else would one expect in S.W. Ontario! The weather changes have brought many great birds to the feeders ~ Cardinals, Chickadees, Juncos, Blue Jays, Woodpeckers, Nuthatches & more. The balmy, windy Wednesday earlier this week provided us with a fabulous surprise ~ Tundra Swans resting in a field! We wondered if it was a little early for them to be in the area but are hoping this means spring is right around the corner! If you've never experienced much larger numbers of them, be sure to check out reports from Aylmer Wildlife Management Area & the Grand Bend area - a sight & sound to behold indeed!!

Beautiful Tundra Swans earlier this week!