31 March 2009

gossip

went for a walk
today
got caught up on
all the
gossip

there’s a great horned owl
near the tennis courts
spotted last week
might have a nest

the Barred owl is about
this year’s eggs
might be hatching
any day

there’s a couple of
house finches
watching the walkers
along Marine Avenue
you might see them
when you go past

two kinds of chickadees
are up there
in the cedar tree
looks like they’re fighting over
a territory

--what was that noise?
oh – that’s a crazy bluejay
quite unusual
(I wonder if that’s
politically correct these days)

the chickadee stump
seems to have disappeared
maybe came down
in that last wind
big one, wasn’t it?

there’s a seagull nest
near Twin Islands
and a pigeon guillemont nest
further up the inlet
and there’s the goose nest
on Whiskey Cove Island
and others about
and don’t forget the eagles
looks like the juveniles
are building this year

yup –
lots going on
in the neighbourhood
these days

keep your eyes open
for that owl
won’t you?

23 March 2009

swans on the bay

there's a flock of swans

across the bay
sixteen of them
bright white
against the charcoal water

we stand at the window
watching
through binoculars

their long necks stretch
heads wave
as they float
clustered together
surrounded by seagulls

it's the first time we've seen
more than two swans
on the inlet
a whole flock 
-- do you think they're on 
their migration north?
-- they must be
a whole flock
sixteen
-- wow
--that's a lot

the flock lifts and turns north
- there they go
-- they're on their way
they lift
higher
silhouetted against the mountain
they turn
-- looks like they're making a V
-- there they go!
and the they sift
and head back 
towards the cove
mirrored against the still water
they land again

we watch for awhile
then get busy
making toast
pouring coffee
a dash of white
catches my eye as
the flock lifts again
and heads north























we watch
until they're out of sight
and then
they are gone.

23-03-2009




10 March 2009

cormorant


Align Right


cormorants dive deep
to catch fish
and need to 
dry their wings

Indian Arm, BC