… heading home to roost …

… as the sun goes down …

Happy Monday.
… heading home to roost …

… as the sun goes down …

Happy Monday.
I think the Canada geese are getting ready to nest.

The physical differences between females and males is quite subtle, but so are the behaviours. The males are slightly larger and have slightly larger necks, but I wouldn’t put money on being able to pick a male from a female.

Canada geese mate for life and are very much equal partners, taking turns guarding, sitting on the nest and feeding the little ones. In the case of the pair above, one was guarding while the other was eating, but I couldn’t tell which was which. One thing I could tell though was that the guarding goose was giving me the stinkeye!

I’m sure that nesting is starting soon because instead of maintaining their tight flock as they usually do, the couples have somewhat separated themselves from each other. Nevertheless they still tend not to stray too far. There were two other couples nearby and all three were clearly checking in with one another.

The best part is that soon there will be little ones around and it’s always so much fun to watch them grow.
I’ve been ill with flu but am on the mend now and was finally able to get out for a walk; I was rewarded with these geese sightings. Although it’s not official yet, Happy Spring.
Over the last few days I’ve noticed that the ducks and geese are beginning to prepare for new little ones.

The geese mate for life but something about their recent behaviour tells me that they’re becoming expectant; perhaps they’re waiting for the double-digit warm weather so that they can build nests and raise their young.


At this point, the coots just seem to be eating; of course, many of them will soon be migrating to their nesting grounds.
And then we have the mallard duck crew. They’re pairing up too. Here’s a short video showing how quickly they come running and flying toward us for a quinoa snack.
Happy Thursday.
The geese are definitely marshalling themselves and seem to be nearing their departure for warmer climes.

This group was occupying some docks at an empty marina. Quietly murmuring among themselves, they nevertheless seemed to be expectant and focussed.

How do they know when it’s the right time to wing south? My understanding is that they have an internal clock that measures daylight hours and signals to them when those hours become too short for comfort.
I hope they have a safe journey.
We have entered a period of beautiful weather: warm, sunny and windless. The lake has been like a millpond.

But there’s something undefinably autumnal about the tone and atmosphere, as if the earth is releasing a long held breath and settling into a comfortable chair before heading into winter. The geese are eating and flocking; the leaves are starting to turn and the very air seems to be drowsing.

It’s time to enjoy this lovely pause.
Happy Friday.
A huge flock of snow geese passed through …

… on their way from the southern U.S. states and Mexico to their breeding grounds in the Arctic. I don’t know how many individuals were in this gigantic flock, but there were a lot of them. When congregating to breed, they sometimes number in the millions!
Happy Thursday.

Canada geese enjoy a summer swim on Lake Okanagan.
Happy Tuesday.
Seeing these early morning Canada geese while we were out for a heat-avoiding early morning walk reminded me of Supertramp’s Good-bye Stranger. I developed a bit of an earworm and wasn’t sure why until I thought of some of the lyrics.

It was an early morning yesterday
I was up before the dawn
And I really have enjoyed my stay
But I must be moving on …
If you like Supertramp, here’s Good- bye Stranger from their album Breakfast in America.
Happy Saturday.

This Canada goose followed me for a bit, I think quite hopeful of a handout.