Flying Solo

SeaBrook, Lockeport, Nova Scotia. 10:30 AM,  9/10/18

I'm back following an interesting journey with Air Canada flights from Baltimore to Toronto, and thence to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

It's a beautiful morning back here deep in the country. Fall is in the air. The sky's crystal blue.  The wind-driven waves are gently rippling in the cove at my shore.  The sweet music of Ravel swirls in the background of my SunPorch "Observatory".

A small speck appears on the horizon.  Then, as I peer through my large tripod mounted binoculars, the "speck" morphs into a large fishing boat enduring heavy pounding from the sparkling blue Atlantic waves far out at sea.  It tosses and turns as it gamely pushes back to its home port in the nearby town of Lockeport.

Two hawks circle above my property.  One lands on his favorite spot high up at tree-top. He fluffs his feathers in the cool breeze then flies away.  But not before I capture him in this video.  Or perhaps I should say "her".  I'll ask my friend Joan, the Nova Scotia naturalist who will know and hopefully answer in the comment section below.

I slow down the video to get a better look at this bird in flight.  You can too. Click on the video.  Then with your mouse hover over the video and click on the square in the lower right-hand corner. Then click on the round toothy gear symbol just left of the word "YouTube". Next, click on the word "Speed" and. finally, click on "0.25".  Just do it.  Now.

The video slows down and you can review any part of it just by clicking the red line at the bottom.

When I do this, I see the "Hawk"  becomes, in fact,  an Eagle. Magnificent in flight!

Early last evening, when I arrived at SeaBrook,  I immediately refueled my Hummingbird feeder with pure sugar water.  The best instant fuel for these marvelous birds.  It gives them the quick energy needed to be able to flap their wings in rapid continuous motion enabling them to dart here and there. At speeds up to 49 miles per hour!

These days they are working extra hard eating all the bugs they can to fatten up for their long migration. First, they head down the Atlantic East Coast.  Then they fly non-stop across the long,  long 500 miles of the Gulf of Mexico to their final destination --Southern Mexico or Panama.

Amazingly, unlike most other birds, they fly solo.

I feel a kind of kinship with them as I fly or drive a similar migration path and schedule.  But, their's is far more ambitious both in time and distance.

When I left here 10 days ago I neglected to refuel their feeder.  This morning no Hummingbirds have appeared. At least so far.  Perhaps they grew tired of putting their long beaks into the bowl and coming up empty.  Hopefully, one will find it now replenished and tell the others and I can get a great video.

Or perhaps, they have already left for the winter.   I sure hope not.

So I listen for the"Humming" buzz that signals their approach.

I listen. I watch. And I wait.