From the Earth to the Sky

 We are fully into spring and the awakening of the earth.  The birds feel the pull northward to their breeding grounds and the earth is warming up enough for ephemeral shoots to emerge.  I have been enjoying it so much, even amid the cold damp weather that I forgot to write a post for my blog's 1st anniversary.  It has come and gone, but no matter, I tend to write when I feel like it and that is fine by me.   Today I was thinking about the way that the migrating birds come in waves.  The vanguards of this push are the American Robins and Red Winged Blackbirds, for me they indicate that winter is waning and spring is on its way.  Turkey Vultures are next as they gracefully soar above us in numbers.                                                Northern Flicker American Coot                 ...

Ebird trip report   I have recently taken a road trip to the eastern part of Ontario.  I looked at my options and the 401 just scared me, so I went through Google Maps and I talked to my boss who routinely travels all over Ontario and her and her husband always take the backroads.  Google maps said it would only add 2 hours to my trip so I thought I'd give it a go.  The trip was an important one but also may have some stress, so I thought that I might as well do what relieves my stress, bird!  It was a good decision.  Though some of my relatives thought I was crazy for doing so, I would do it again in a heartbeat. Google maps suggested I head N and W towards Grand Bend but I thought I would go straight up the 402 to Strathroy towards Ailsa Craig.  The weather was cold, damp and overcast, but it was interesting going through these smaller communities.  Starting with Lambton, then Middlesex and on to Perth county, then Wellington, (where I was surpr...