2 not so short stories

lessons

I did not even realize until well into my visit at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, that I was recognizing activities and sounds that I recently learned about in the first dozens of pages in my new book "What the Robin Knows!" I arrived once again to an autumn-like look but this time around, a thin layer of ice is beginning to form on the water.  The open water offered up crystal clear reflections while the reflections were muted through the thin ice.  I took note of the beauty and imagine the next time I am here, the ice should be prevalent.   

I had hoped to see the Great Horned Owl with her youngster but had no luck with that.  Watching the activity of the Belted Kingfisher and the Red-breasted Nuthatch, I recognized what I learned already in my book and that motivates me to make time to read which I am not good at doing.   While I am in a learning stage, I put in an effort to learn about the lonely rabbit that hangs out at The Sanctuary.  It is a Mountain Cottontail, also know as a Nuttall's Cottontail.  It does not turn white in the winter.  The information in  "What the Robin Knows" carries over into other wildlife behaviour and I recognized that with the Cottontail. 

There were two Red-breasted Nuthatches hanging around on this morning during my visit. The above collage shows one of them.  I often capture good photos of the White-breasted Nuthatches but not so much with the Red-breasted.  I had good luck this time and ended up making it my muse for a watercolour painting.  While I am in a learning stage, I invested a little time to find out more about this sweet little bird.   

During these days and going forward, the sightings are limited at The Sanctuary.  I do look forward to when the area is dressed in winter white offering up a whole different vibe.  

eye on the sky

I had my eye on the sky the past few days, watching the Beaver Moon become full.  Our weather has not been the greatest, we are experiencing lots of cloudy nights and foggy mornings.  When I am at home, I have better luck witnessing the moon in the mornings due to its location.  I captured this shot on the morning of November 14th. The way it moved through the sky, it did not appear about the tree line from my vantage point.  

Just after 4:00am on the 15th, the clouds parted ways and the moon was fully visible above the trees.  The view lasted only a few minutes before it was covered by clouds again.  By the time the clouds cleared, the moon was too low to see from my back deck.   

I was out on my deck at 5:00am this morning (November 16) and captured the full Beaver Moon in all its glory. It appeared closer and it took on a different hue. I declare this to be my official photo of the Beaver Moon for 2024.  

By the time I was "out & about" yesterday morning, the moon was below the horizon.  The fog was thick and while hiking up on Nose Hill, I could see nothing in the distance and what was visible up close was not so interesting.  Just like for the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, I am ready to see Nose Hill Environmental Park dressed in a new collection of winter white which will add a whole new vibe.  

I named this not so short story "Eye on the Sky", "Eyes in the Sky" would have been fitting too!  With not much to capture my attention on this morning and wanting to be drawn in by at least something, I kept my "eye on the sky" when I saw the sun try to force its way through the clouds. That captured my attention and became my focus.  I took numerous photos a few minutes apart.  When I got home and downloaded my photos and saw these four together, it caught my eye that it looked like there were "eyes in the sky", in fact it look like a face in the sky.  

a close up of the sun peeking through with unusual cloud formations

What is your take away from these two stories? 

This is mine: 

#1: it is healthy both mentally and physically to always be learning

#2:  don't forget to look up, there is lots going on up there