Happy New Year

Egypt Falls
Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

It has been my pleasure to visit blogs of every color,

from birds and nature,

to quilts and crafts,

to poetry and photography.

I've made some special friends along this journey.

I have been inspired and motivated by each and every one.

Perhaps that's why I've been too distracted to post on my own blog!

Happy New Year to you all,

and a great big heartfelt thanks

for being a part of my life.



The Magic of Nature

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone can look forward

to a happy, healthy New Year.

~karen

Book: The Atlas of Birds

I migrate, like the birds, and am sometimes difficult to keep track of.  This book was waiting for me at my Maine location when I arrived today, having missed me in the spring by just a few days.  Since it was published in July,  I have taken the liberty of copying and pasting the review directly from the Princeton University Press, so as not to waste any more time!!  Someone you know might just enjoy this book as a Christmas gift.  So, without further adieu, may I introduce you to:

The Atlas of Birds, which captures the breathtaking diversity of birds, and illuminates their conservation status around the world. Full-color maps show where birds are found, both by country and terrain, and reveal how an astounding variety of behavioral adaptations--from flight and feeding to nest building and song--have enabled them to thrive in virtually every habitat on Earth. Maps of individual journeys and global flyways chart the amazing phenomenon of bird migration, while bird classification is explained using maps for each order and many key families.

Conservation provides a strong focus throughout, with maps illustrating where and why birds are most under threat, and what is being done to protect them. Separate sections examine key factors influencing their distribution and endangering their survival, from deforestation and climate change to invasive species and the cage-bird trade. Bird groups most affected, such as island endemics, are highlighted, while a fascinating chapter explores the complex historical relationship between birds and humans, with maps and data for everything from poultry farming to birdwatching.

The maps are supported by an authoritative text that uses the very latest data and case studies from BirdLife International. Packed with sumptuous photos, original diagrams, and imaginative graphics that bring the numbers to life, this book is a stunning and timely insight into perhaps the most colorful and intriguing group of organisms on our planet.

• The premier illustrated atlas of bird diversity, behavior, and conservation
• Features full-color maps, photos, and diagrams
• Covers bird evolution, classification, and behavior
• Describes the complex relationship between birds and their habitats
• Explores the impact of human activities on species survival
• Illustrates where and why birds are most under threat--and how to protect them

Mike Unwin is a nature writer and illustrator whose work has appeared in leading publications such as Birds, Bird Watching, and Birdwatch. His many books include the RSPB Guide to Birdwatching and Southern African Wildlife: A Visitor's Guide.

Source:  Princeton University Press

Late Visitor

Baltimore Oriole

    (Icterus galbula)   

This species is not a common visitor to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia,

but more and more are reported every year.

I had a surprise when I looked out the window

Monday morning.

A juvenile male.

Isn't he sweet?

It's pretty late in the season to be hosting orioles.

When I contacted Blake Maybank,

one of Nova Scotia's leading birders,

he sadly informed me that this little fellow is

LOST!

And, will probably try to survive the winter here.

So, out went the oranges, the grapes, the jelly...

and if he continues to visit,

as he has the last three mornings in a row,

we'll have to get some mealworms!

                     



And the Winner is....

A huge thank you to everyone who participated

in this give-away,

and especially to those of you who took the extra time

to visit Kim's on-line store

to have a peek at her other wonderful patterns.

Having give-aways is lots of fun because

it gives me an opportunity to become acquainted

with other very talented people I've not yet discovered.

I've enjoyed visiting each and every new-to-me blog!

And now...

Drum roll please..............

The winner is:   Mageezroom

Congratulations!!

And again, thank you everyone!

*



Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs

Well, maybe not cocoa puffs,

but big, fuzzy caterpillars would be a nice tasty treat!!

The elusive Yellow-billed Cuckoo

(Coccyzus americanus)

made several rare appearances

in the Northeast and Atlantic Maritimes this fall,

delighting many birders

in my neck of the woods.

Negotiating a seldom used, overgrown dirt road

to access a beautiful stretch of beach and bogland,

we came across this little guy foraging along the edge.

He managed to stay one step ahead of us,

and having never seen one before,

we were stymied!

He wasn't exactly cooperative

when it came to documenting his visit,

always hopping or flying just out of range

at the exact moment it was time to 'click'

for a picture.

The Yellow-bellied Cuckoo is a fairly good sized bird,

10 - 12" in length, with a down-curved bill

that hosts a black upper mandible

and a yellow lower mandible.

It has the prettiest rufous coloring to its primaries,

most obvious when it flies away. 

Which I observed ALOT in my futile attempts

to snap a good picture.

In addition to consuming massive quantities of hairy caterpillars,

the Yellow-billed Cuckoo also considers berries, small fruits,

and even small amphibians to be fine dining.

My best guess is that nasty weather

blew them off course

and they ended up wandering far beyond

the northern fringes of their territory.

However, I'm no authority.

For a better view of this lovely bird, check out this post by TexWis

at The Run*A*Round Ranch Report.

She has some nice clear, beautiful close-ups!!

The Harbour Quilt Company Give-away

Great Blue Herons and Kingfishers are common
summer residents in the Atlantic Maritimes,
and as you saw in a previous post
Kim, from The Harbour Quilt Company

in Antigonish, Nova Scotia
has captured their beauty and elegance
in one of her quilted wallhangings.

Kim has graciously offered to sponsor a give-away

of this very pattern!

You guessed it!! 

It's my personal favorite,

one of Kim's very own designs,

Captain's Pond,

in which she has embraced

her deep appreciation for nature

and combined it with her talent and skills!

There will be three opportunities for you

to enter this give-away.

1.  Simply leave a comment at the end of this post.

2.  Visit Kim's on-line store,

then return here and tell me

which is your favorite

pattern/kit!

 3.  Mention this give-away on your own blog,

and come back to let me know.

As an extra bonus, the winner will also receive

a craft-size package of

Fusi-Boo,

a fusible batting made from a unique blend

of rayon fiber from bamboo and natural cotton.

This bonus prize is being generously donated

by Trish at the  Fairfield Corp.

I will select the lucky winner

one week from today, Sat. 11/12.

using the random number generator.

Good Luck!!

A special thank you to Kim and Trish

for making this give-away possible!!

*This give-away is now closed!!