No Mud Swallows!

What's Happened?

I recently rode my bike to Port Bruce and stopped along the way to observe cliff swallows - by the thousands - in the act of feeding their young in sandy cliff burrows next to Lake Erie. On the way home I revisited a spot under a bridge on Crossley-Hunter Line to see if mud swallows were as busy. I was greeted with absolute silence.

Where in years past I photographed scores of swallows feeding young in unusual mud dwellings (below), I saw not one nest or swallow. What gives?

2015 - nothing to behold under the bridge. Why?

Link to Busy Wee Skunk

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Busy Wee Skunk

The Next Generation

I left my backyard workshop at 4 PM yesterday and was quick to notice a skunk prowling about the lawn. I stopped dead in my tracks. When I realized the critter was a brand new 2015 model I reached - very quietly - for my camera.

"Where am I now in the pecking-order around here?"

I don't mind sharing my backyard with a new skunk. It will generally groom my lawn, dig a few holes for grubs and sleep most of the day - once it realizes a human bean rules the roost out back until 6 - 7 PM most days of the week.

Link to Busy Busy Chickadees

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Busy Busy Chickadees

Feeding Time on Cathcart St.

Ma and Pa Chickadee are a-buzzing around the neighbourhood in search of bugs and flying insects. Fast food, so to speak, for their young ones.

Years ago I opened the side-door of a birdhouse and counted seven wee chickadee eggs in a cozy nest. Seven inside my yellow birdhouse will make for a packed house, and space already looks like it is at a premium.

Link to Feeding Time for Robins and Chickadees

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Feeding Time for Robins and Chickadees

Cathcart Street Nests

 "I'm hungry Ma!"

My next door neighbours have hungry birds nesting at the front of their house, as do my wife and I. The neighbours are hosting a robin's nest with at least three chicks, we are home to a wee yellow birdhouse with an undetermined number of young inside. 

 "Open wide, Kiddies!"

 "The coast is clear"

"Bombs away, Kiddies"

Our birdhouse has a one-inch entry hole - a relatively tight squeeze - and has not had inhabitants since I put in in place 5 - 6 years ago. So, we have been pleasantly surprised, and when the birds vacate their nest I will enlarge the hole to be better prepared for next year's guests.

Link to Ottawa - National Art Gallery

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Ottawa - National Art Gallery

Creative Plastic Chairs

In September, 2010 my wife and I visited Ottawa, stayed at the Jail Hostel (top floor), ate at Chez Lucien, played trivia games at The Highlander, and were very impressed with tours of the National Gallery and War Museum.

I am currently writing a short story featuring ongoing 'lessons learned' about my father's World War 2 experiences (Faint Footsteps, WW2 by G. Harrison) and  the trip to Ottawa has to be mentioned.

The following are just a few of the photos that bring back vivid memories of that significant trip.

This skeleton is made entirely of bits from plastic chairs

Link to In the Workshop with Big Orange

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In the Workshop with Big Orange

Work in Progress

"Hinged back doors will be attached after a second coat of big orange"

I bought a new can of orange paint recently, just for the two front doors of this four-plex birdhouse, but once I saw how clean and bright it looked I went whole hog. Now everything but the front and back panels wills be big bright orange. Wait 'til you see the trim!

Readers can view further progress at The Workshop by G. Harrison

London Bike Ride

A Long Hour

Don's knee was sore yesterday so instead of an hour-long walk we decided to take a bike ride... for fun and fitness and lots of conversation. Though we arrived back home in one hour and ten minutes I swear it felt a lot longer.

Last year we went on many bike rides together and - this is how I remember things - we glided along like fifty-year-olds. Last night we felt older than that by a long shot. I think it was the last hill, the one coming up into Old South on Wortley Road from York and Stanley, that did us in.

Not all the little ones we met on our way to Ross Park (Richmond St. north) and back. Why, the little ones we ate up like hungry tiger cubs would a pork sandwich. Nope, it was that last one. So, don't be telling us we're getting older.

Link to Memorial in Downtown London

GH

Memorial in Downtown London

HMCS Prevost Naval Base

I walked past HMCS Prevost last night and snapped a few shots of an impressive memorial to the Naval and Merchant Services who served during the Battle of the Atlantic. 

I once thought my father participated in the Merchant Navy but discovered in 2011-2012, while reading his hand-written notes, he volunteered for RCNVR and the Combined Operations organization. 

I wondered last night if a few Londoners signed up for RCNVR and Navy service (including Comb Ops.) at HMCS Prevost and if records exist for them? Lloyd Campbell, a Londoner and member of Combined Ops, died from wounds suffered at Dieppe in Aug. 1942 and may have volunteered at his local base over 70 years ago.

re Lloyd Campbell - Link to Passages: From Combined Operations for more information.

Link to more Downtown London

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Motorcycle Miles - Port Bruce 4

The Long View

This is a view from beside the channel toward Port Burwell, about 10 kilometers away... hidden in the haze.

Link to Port Bruce 3

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Motorcycle Miles - Port Bruce 3

From the Photo Log

 Coffee and a few notes

 Heading back to the marina: Too many poles, not enough bait

Steps from the beach, easy to park

Link to Port Bruce 2

Photos GH

The Lure of the Motorcycle 1

Coffee on the Beach

In less than an hour I can be sitting beside Lake Erie with a thermos of coffee. 

Fun Fact: The light on Pt. Bruce's pier is smaller than my thermos

Link to Motorcycle Miles - Port Bruce 2

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Purple Martins and Swallows

Community Building

In Port Bruce recently I spotted Purple Martins sharing a condo with swallows and sparrows. Jam packed. And under the Kensington Bridge in downtown London I saw swallows crammed into a unique nest made from mud and spit. No room to spare!

Interesting communities pop up all over, don't they?

Link to B & W Downtown London

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B & W Downtown London

Under Kensington Bridge

Link to Downtown London

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Downtown London

Under the Bridge

Link to Canada Day Game

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Nestful of Swallows

Under Kensington Bridge

Last night I pocketed a crummy camera, went for an evening walk to downtown London and spotted five swallows perched on the edge of a skilfully-crafted nest under a bridge.

 "One kid is already full, or else watching TV"

"Is that the shadow of their mother or

does my camera have X-ray vision?"

I will try to find the same spot this PM with a better camera. Based on their size, I don't think the wee guys will be badgering their Mum for food by the end of the week.

Link to Bird Watching

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Canada Day Game at Labatt Park

Everybody Wins!!

Great game. Great hot dogs. Great green atmosphere. And the osprey provides great entertainment between innings.

Link to Bird Watching

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Bird Watching

Not So Lucky

On Monday evening five small heads peered over the edge of one of these these nests, found under Kensington Bridge, downtown London. When I returned last night, on my way to Labatt Park, not one nose could be seen. Have the wee swallows flown the coop?

I shall return.

Link to Birdhouse Hunting

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Vigorous Vines 1

Hops are Hungry for Sunlight

When we have a very warm day the hops are happy... and hungry. I can almost hear them as they reach for the sun.

Link - Wee Side Job

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Motorcycle Miles - Port Bruce 2

Birds on a Wire

I biked along Rush Creek Road for about three minutes, until I came to Gary Cahill's property, home to Purple Martin mansions that appeared to be out of service. Martins and other birds could be seen at the back of his large river-side lot but their presence was over-shadowed by the scores of swallows that darted over my head. The telephone wires seemed at first to be littered with clothes pegs.

Link to Port Bruce 1

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Motorcycle Miles - Port Bruce

More Fishermen

Yesterday afternoon turned hot so I warmed up the bike and headed to Port Bruce to enjoy cooler breezes off Lake Erie, a cup of hot coffee and scenes of the channel. Again, many people were out with fishing poles - on the pier, along the channel, on the lake, with a few on the beach (their numbers down from last Friday).

"I walked north, and kept my pace under 6 km/h"

Once I had coffee I walked past my bike to the pier. Then I turned north for the walk toward an active Purple Martin house. How active? Stay tuned.

Link to more Motorcycle Miles

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