Hummingbird Swarm

While our Annas hummingbirds stay year round and feed at a feeder off the kitchen window, each and every year we look forward to the spring and the return of the Rufus hummers. Some years the swarms are amazing, but nothing like we are having this year. I have 2 feeders at the front of the house as well as the one out back by the kitchen window. I am going through the sugar water daily on all 3 feeders. Last night was particularly awesome. It was a gentle but steady rainfall and the swarm started. The sound of the chirping and zinging and whizzing was amazing. Eight to ten hummers at a time at each feeder, trying to get a spot... the males fighting, spreading their tail feathers like a fan. At one point I tried to go outside but it was too dangerous. It was like a star wars episode - zing, zing, zing - you had to duck and run for cover. I took my camera and tried to get some shots but it wasn't easy - I should have tried a video. It has been like this all week. Like nothing Chris or I have every seen or experienced. At the front of the house between the 2 feeders, at one point we counted over 23, and who knows how many at that point were at the feeder at the back of the house. I love hummers, and I love this "hummingbird" hollow we live in.

Buddies

Our good friend Kelli with our little Gypsy. Kelli graciously agreed to look after all the critters while we were in England. We are lucky to have her in our life, and the critters were lucky to get the attention she showered on them. As for Jake, well we now have to teach him he is NOT to go on the couch!!

Gosling Rescue

 

The other day when Kelli and I were down at the beach, we noticed a family of Canada geese with 3 little downy goslings. It was a very windy day and the surf was crashing and there were big white caps. All of a sudden an unleashed dog came tearing onto the beach and chased the adult geese into the breaking waves. Somehow 2 of the babies made it over the breakers but the smallest one just couldn't do it. Once the owner of the dog showed up to collect it, Kelli rushed to the shoreline where the little gosling was upside down almost drowning. The family of geese were quite a ways away by then. We kept the little guy warm, hoping his parents would return. After about 20 minutes they came closer so we let the baby down on the beach and he threw himself in the surf again, trying over and over to make it out to his family. He was relentless, but had no hope. Over and over again he was washed back into the sand with the waves crashing over him. Immediately a crow moved in, and unbelievably an eagle. The geese family swam off out of sight to a small rock island in the distance that we think the nest was. There was nothing to do but take the little guy home. He would be dead in minutes if we left him on the beach - either the birds would get him, or he would drown in the breaking waves. We walked home with him, I had him in my jacket he was quite calm. We searched the internet for info and later that night we went back to the beach and found 1 goose up on the grassy area. We thought for sure that mom had returned to look for him. We put the little guy down and he immediately started eating but following Kelli. We put him closer and he ran to the goose. The goose was clearly not his parent as it nipped at it and flew away. Back home with him we went. We fed the little guy lettuce and grass and he went to sleep in my kitty crate. In the morning we let him have a swim and a drink in the sink. What a lovely little house guest - no fear and willing to follow us. We took him back to the beach very early the next morning. The ocean was calm and there was his family, back in the same spot. The other 2 babies had made it and were feeding along the shoreline. We took our little guy out of the crate and he peeped and mamma goose honked. We put him down on one end of the beach and he took off like a race car to him mom.. who ran to him as well. A lovely reunion. We watched for a while and left with the hope that this little guy would get another chance for survival. Judging by what we found on the internet we figure he was only 2 to 3 weeks old at the most. While it isn't legal to keep Canada geese, this little guy would have made a great pet.

The Journey Home

I must say that the flight home was somewhat better than the flight to the UK. We left Eve's early in the morning to catch the 6:55am underground tube to Heathrow, and arrived at the terminal about 8:30am in time for check in. Fortunately we bought good sandwiches at the airport to take on the plane, as the food was disaster. We thought wine would be more appropriate. I managed to while away the 9 hours watching the flight path on the screen in front of me. Chris napped. As we flew over Greenland the hostesses came around again. So we each had a Heinecken. We did finally arrive in Vancouver,no worse for the wear, other than very tired. We stayed up for 28 hours before having our first sleep back home. All in all it was a great trip for such a short time.

River Lee at Turnford

 

What a beautiful spot this was to visit. Chris's parents met here on the bicycle path along the river so many years ago. Visiting this spot was one of the main reasons for our trip, and it was a beautiful day.

Will & Kate's Royal Wedding

 

Eve and I went to Katie's for the Royal Wedding. Katie put on quite a spread of food, complete with cucumber sandwiches and scones with cream. The Buck's Fizz was flowing, and after the wedding we all went down the road to a royal wedding street party. Click on the collage to view the events, and click on the title link above for to view all the wedding photos in my picasa album.

The Eve of the Royal Wedding

 

Click on the collage to enlarge and see the Buckingham festivities in the late afternoon on April 28th. Chris and I wandered through Trafalgar Square and on down to the Mall and walked to Buckingham Place. Everyone was already camping along the roadside claiming their space for the royal wedding in the morning. It was a fun thing to do, and really gave us a sense of being there for this occasion.

Old Hastings, Sussex

We spent 3 nights with our friends Gwen and Paul who live right in the heart of Hastings Old Town. The slideshow is available through the title link above. As you can tell by all the photos, we had a great time, and the weather was fantastic.

Hitchin Around

The next slide show, again in the title link, is of our adventures around Hitchin where Laurie and Anna live. We had a lovely tour of the countryside, a great walk and got to see the town itself.

Family BBQ in Hitchin

Easter Monday we all gathered at Laurie and Anna's for a BBQ feast. Here we have Chris with cousins Pat, Eve, and Pat's husband Don. One of the hottest days of the trip. Photo album is again available by clicking on the title link above.

In and Around London Areas

London was fun. Chris's cousin Eve lived on the outskirts of North London in Winchmore Hill. This was our home base. We did a few trips to South London and other areas to explore Chris's old childhood neighborhoods. View a short slide show of some of the London adventures by clicking on the above title link, and choosing slideshow.

April 17th - The Journey Began

The sun was shining the morning we left for the airport. Kelli was chauffeur and we caught the 12:30 ferry to town. Our Air Canada flight was on time at 6:15pm, and although we arrived earlier than necessary, we managed to do a bit of shopping and stop for a pre-flight glass of vino. A very long 9hr flight to London's Heathrow airport saw us both very tired due to lack of sleep during the flight. After almost 2 hours clearing customs, we managed to make our way straight away to the tube and catch the Picadilly Line to Cockfosters. It was then an hour and a half on the tube, and Chris's cousin Eve met us at Oakwood station where we were whisked away to her home in Winchmore Hill.