365 Project, Day 174
Here is my day 174 submission to my 365Project:
This afternoon I had my first sighting of a baby hummingbird in it's nest and, doing my best to be quiet and not touch or disturb the little one, I got this shot of the baby in it's nest :)
Today was a day to get out of Victoria and head to Cowichan just north of Victoria on Vancouver Island. I was looking forward to today because my good friend, Shantel, and I were going to visit her dad's 88 acres of farm and forest land in the Cowichan Valley area. I was in need of a good day out in the sun and forest and had been craving to leave the city for the calm of the countryside.
The first thing we did after the roughly 45 minute drive from Victoria was to stretch our (and Shantel's two lovely Border Collie's, Kenda and Bella's) legs with a wander around the property; we paid a visit to the sheep, wandered through the forest looking for signs of animal life and then visited the pond at the back of the property. At the pond the dogs had a great time running and swimming while we found a multitude of Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) nests, including their eggs, on the grass and tucked within the reeds surrounding the pond (it was a true, slightly late, Easter egg hunt!). We also watched Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) flying to their nests and chasing the geese and a Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) soaring overhead.
From the pond we continued on our saunter across the fields, through the forest and past another pond. At this second pond Shantel's dad showed us both a very special thing...a hummingbird nest, most likely an Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna), and it was just low enough on the boughs of a cedar tree that we could peek up over the nest and see the little chick in it! My first sighting of a baby hummingbird...what a delight!
finally back to Shantel's dad's house where we went in for a cup of hot chocolate and a snack and I admired all the antiques in the house. Shantel's dad is a hunter and avid antique collector so you can imagine the interesting mix of decor from a taxidermied cougar, beautiful old horse sleigh and old Gramophones (he used to have 26 of them!) at the front entrance to the old-fashioned radios, multiple old player pianos and other beautiful antiques scattered around the rest of the house!
It was a lovely day and so nice to spend it with my good friend and her sweet dad!
This afternoon I had my first sighting of a baby hummingbird in it's nest and, doing my best to be quiet and not touch or disturb the little one, I got this shot of the baby in it's nest :)
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| Hummingbird nest on a cedar bough...with a baby in it! |
Today was a day to get out of Victoria and head to Cowichan just north of Victoria on Vancouver Island. I was looking forward to today because my good friend, Shantel, and I were going to visit her dad's 88 acres of farm and forest land in the Cowichan Valley area. I was in need of a good day out in the sun and forest and had been craving to leave the city for the calm of the countryside.
The first thing we did after the roughly 45 minute drive from Victoria was to stretch our (and Shantel's two lovely Border Collie's, Kenda and Bella's) legs with a wander around the property; we paid a visit to the sheep, wandered through the forest looking for signs of animal life and then visited the pond at the back of the property. At the pond the dogs had a great time running and swimming while we found a multitude of Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) nests, including their eggs, on the grass and tucked within the reeds surrounding the pond (it was a true, slightly late, Easter egg hunt!). We also watched Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) flying to their nests and chasing the geese and a Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) soaring overhead.
From the pond we continued on our saunter across the fields, through the forest and past another pond. At this second pond Shantel's dad showed us both a very special thing...a hummingbird nest, most likely an Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna), and it was just low enough on the boughs of a cedar tree that we could peek up over the nest and see the little chick in it! My first sighting of a baby hummingbird...what a delight!
finally back to Shantel's dad's house where we went in for a cup of hot chocolate and a snack and I admired all the antiques in the house. Shantel's dad is a hunter and avid antique collector so you can imagine the interesting mix of decor from a taxidermied cougar, beautiful old horse sleigh and old Gramophones (he used to have 26 of them!) at the front entrance to the old-fashioned radios, multiple old player pianos and other beautiful antiques scattered around the rest of the house!
It was a lovely day and so nice to spend it with my good friend and her sweet dad!
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| Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menzeisii) in the forest surrounding Shantel's dad's property |
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| Kenda and Bella having a good romp |
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| Kenda stretching her legs |
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| And she's off again... |
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| Kenda does look like she's smiling here! |
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| Full speed! |
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| Eek! We came across a giant ant mound...here they are close up! |
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| Going to visit the sheep |
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| View in the valley |
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| Here they come for some attention :) |
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| These guys do like to be snuggled! |
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| Shantel's dad goofing around (he already has a moustache!) |
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| Canada goose (Branta canadensis) on her nest |
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| Kenda showing Bella who's boss |
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| Kenda showing Bella who's boss |
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| Kenda showing Bella who's boss |
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| Another Goose nest at the edge of the pond |
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| Bald Eagle coming in after the geese |
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| Western trillium (Trillium ovatum) |
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| Hummingbird nest on a cedar bough |
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| Hummingbird nest on a cedar bough |
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| The Wood Pile...all ready for the fire on those cozy, winter (or early spring!) nights! |
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