island under sky
The weather on the Manitoulin has been good to us. I've been working hard. On my tan.
This year the local wildlife has been making itself known to us. Shortly after Cathy and I arrived, we watched the sillouettes of a garden snake (or maybe a water snake – I wasn't that up for getting too close to investigate the fella's identity) and a frog. We all cheered as the frog hopped its getaway toward the pond.
But then, not ten minutes later, another little snake caught a frog right where the garden walk meets the deck stairs. My family (not me) watched in various combinations of fascination, horror and disgust as the frog was slowly consumed by the slithery scoundrel.
Later that night, as my dad opened the back porch door, a frog hopped in. Maybe it was appealing for safety from its mortal enemies outside.
Next day, a hummingbird flew into the back porch. We watched, trying to act calm so as not to give the poor little creature a heart attack while it made its way out. It eventually did with my dad's help.
This morning as we had our coffee, we watched (my favourite bird of all) a Great Blue Heron hunting in the pond. When I tried to go outside to get a closer shot, he flew away. I could hear his powerful wings reverberating in the air.
This morning after seeing brother Jeff off on the ferry, Cathy and I went for a long walk. Today, all humidity is gone, and we talked about how the cool air and warm sun felt so delicious on our skin. Best thing about the walk was the sky. It's not a sky you see in Toronto.
published in the beautiful Bella Grace!
Brilliant pictures; those skies are fabulous!
I just love these brilliant blue skies, as you may have noticed in my last post 🙂
I’m looking forward to more frog drama and life in the food chain.
Love the humming birds
Years ago, I took my kid on an airboat trip in the swamps outside of New Orleans. A bird that was something like a great blue heron took off among cypress trees dripping with moss. It was like a pterodactyl.
Wow, those skies are a glorious colour!
I loved the words “the slithery scoundrel” – it made me smile! 🙂
“I’ve been working hard. On my tan” – it’s a tough life, uh… but someone has to do it or else it’d never get done….
Beautiful photos. Thanks for them.
Re The Croaked Croaker: The cruelty of nature always astounds and disappoints me. I doubt that I’ll ever come to terms with it.
Have a nice day, Boonsong
Wonderful post Jennifer, your blue, blue skies are something we haven’t had here for a while, ours have been filled with great white clouds. We don’t have any snakes in NZ and I have a great horror of them …plus I love frogs so i wouldn’t have liked to see such a sight. Sometimes nature can be just too much!
Fabulous photos. The little hummingbird is adorable. Glad he got out OK. I’m sorry the snake got the frog. Nature is indeed a harsh mistress. Poor little thing.
Wish I got to see that this year.
Thanks – I didn’t even think I managed to capture the clarity of them, but you get the idea!
Well I’ve been on holidays for almost two weeks and not been able to make my regular “blog reading” rounds! Will get back into the swing of it this week!
No more frog drama Tricia! Poor little guys – my dad suspected the Great Blue Heron was hunting them too. 🙁
One of the reasons I love the Heron is its ancient looking face – they are so prehistoric looking aren’t they?
Funny how we can dislike snakes so, and take the side of the frog! But it was brutal (from what I could tell on the faces of my family who were watching!)
I have a hard time coming to terms with it too Boonsong!
Lucky you, no snakes! Later, Carly and I were walking on one of the local trails and a small snake slithered away in front of me, and it gave me the “heebeejeebies” for the entire walk – every tree root looked like a snake! Really, those little ones are harmless.
Yes, we were worried for the hummingbird – they’re so delicate! Frogs not so delicate, but just as vulnerable, apparently.
Wish you could have too Joyce! xo