Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

Well, we had a good five years ... but as with many relationships, the good times come to an end.  I have to say though that the break-up note blindsided me!

I didn't know that I had done anything wrong.  There was no indication of trouble at all ... but I guess it had been building up and then – bam! – no warning, and all communication was over.

Why was I being blocked this way?  A terse email was a pretty demeaning way to tell me it was over (and after two whole weeks of wondering what was going on).

Here is what I found in my in-box yesterday.  (I've added a "translation" in red).

Hello,

We're writing to let you know that your account has been suspended due to multiple or repeat violations of our rules.  You know what you did!

Please do not reply to this email, or send us new appeals for this account as we won't monitor them.  I will NOT return your calls and never want to speak to you again!

Thanks,  (sarcasm)

Twitter

So, my tweeting days are over.  I wonder if Donald Trump has any advice ...

The Ruby-crowned Kinglet

 

This tiny bird was a great delight for me this spring.  I saw them everyday for at least three weeks and although they are very fast and flighty, I was able to capture them better than any other time in the past.

Here is some information from Cornell University: 

"A tiny bird seemingly overflowing with energy, the Ruby-crowned Kinglet forages almost frantically through lower branches of shrubs and trees. Its habit of constantly flicking its wings is a key identification clue. Smaller than a warbler or chickadee, this plain green-gray bird has a white eye-ring and a white bar on the wing. Alas, the male’s brilliant ruby crown patch usually stays hidden—your best chance to see it is to find an excited male singing in spring or summer."

Here are some of the photos I managed to get between the end of April and the end of May:

More Interesting And Funny Sights

Last October I posted a few photos of funny sights around the neighbourhood and, if you like, you can see it again here.  

In the months following that post, I have found a few more things to show you. :-)

After a surprise snowfall following warm, beautiful weather, someone decided to write "love" and not a more likely four-letter word!

I often see these fellows in their windows (that is one house) but I much prefer to see them out enjoying a walk.

I passed by a construction site one day and a large metal container had this design on the side.  I found it compelling for some reason.

This wall mural appeared one day and although I can't condone graffiti, I thought it was beautiful (not sure about those fangs though) and it reminded me of primitive canyon wall art that I've seen in the American South-West.

This appeared on top of a large boulder just next to a playground behind a day-care center.  I believe it is meant to be a dragon due to the pointed foil spines (triangles) on the head.

This is a friend of the dragon and sits beside him.  I love his expression.

What a perfect use for the field posts on an unused football field!  Social distancing creativity at its best!

On the subject of hammocks, this seems ideal for a bird tired out after all that migrating!

Important note:  regarding the photo above, all masks should have their ear loops removed (two quick tugs work fine) and then all parts should be placed in a closed garbage bin. (The ear loops have been known to entangle wildlife.)

Various Birds In The Area

Aside from the Cardinal and the Warblers (see previous posts), various other birds have graced the area where I bird-watch.  Here are many that I was happy to see during these last two months.

Chipping Sparrow, spizella passerina

Hermit Thrush, catharus guttatus

Brown Creeper, certhia americana

Eastern Phoebe, sayornis phoebe 

Brown Thrasher, toxostoma rufum 

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, sphyrapicus varius

White-throated Sparrow, zonotrichia albicollis

White-crowned Sparrow, zonotrichia leucophrys

Canada Goose, Branta canadensis

Downy Woodpecker, dryobates pubescens

Least Flycatcher, empidonax minimus

Blue-headed Vireo, vireo solitarius

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, pheucticus ludovicianus

Red-eyed Vireo, vireo olivaceus

Baltimore Oriole, icterus galbula

Spring Warblers

I feel very lucky to have seen a number of warblers this spring but, at the same time, I am disappointed with my photo opportunities.  It seems that due to a hot and dry April, the flowering trees blossomed about 10 days early which meant that by the time the warblers arrived, the apple blossoms had already finished blooming and the petals had floated down like confetti.  This gave me no opportunity to get those coveted shots of a colourful bird framed by soft, pink or white flowers.

That said, here are several of the lovely, little birds (with or without flowers)!

Palm Warbler, setophaga palmarum 

Yellow Warbler, setophaga petechia 

Black and White Warbler, mniotilta varia 

Black-throated Blue Warbler, setophaga caerulescens

Northern Parula Warbler,  setophaga americana

American Redstart, setophaga ruticilla 

Magnolia Warbler, setophaga magnolia

Cardinal Collection

Having stalked Cardinals for years and only getting rather mediocre images, I was thrilled when this beautiful male cooperated for two and one-half hours with me on a morning in April! 

He was singing and strutting and putting on a captivating show.  In honour of his performance I thought I would dedicate an entire post to showing his beauty.

(Reminder:  to enlarge a photo, just click on it.)

More Photographs Of Cooper's Hawks

The Cooper's Hawks seem to be keeping a low profile these days.  Until a couple of weeks ago, I would see and/or hear one calling while the other was almost always on the nest.  Perhaps the serious business of incubating and hatching eggs has both their attention now.

I'm not sure whether I'll be able to get any good shots of the nest since it is quite obscured by foliage now so, unlike last year, I may only get shots of the young once they are fledged and flying about.

In the meantime, I thought I would post several photos taken earlier this year while the pair was nest building.  Also, I believe one of the young from last year decided to come back to the area.  I thought I was photographing an adult and then realized it was an immature.  The adult male drove it away, so I guess that's tough love in action!

Here is the immature hawk:

And below are shots of an adult in flight (with a twig for the nest in the last one):

To be continued ...