It's open

The park at Jericho Beach has been behind construction fences for many months, but it finally opened just a few days ago. The bunny above seems to be inspecting the new area.

For months this has been the view:

The park was closed while the old pier was removed then opened temporarily only to be closed again after a storm washed out the new beach.

Here are some views of the newly opened area of the park:

The established trees have been surrounded by native plantings and the beach has been restored.

These "perches" have been installed for the birds to view the park and the beach.

I saw an eagle in one of the trees too but I did not have my camera with me.

The wood sculpture looks good in its new surroundings. This is a sculpture dating from the Habitat Forum on this site in 1976:

Some of the blackberry bushes, which the rabbits retreat to for safety, have been removed but the rabbits still seem to be thriving.

and on the beach life goes on.

At the pond a short walk away, the redwing blackbirds are back and staking out their territories.

The ducks seem to be enjoying the milder weather and a bit of sunshine.

It was bath time as I walked past

even the crows were getting in on the act.

  Signs of fall and winter still dominate

But the geese and ducks are pairing up 

 and there are buds on many trees

the snowdrops are up too and crocuses not far behind

and with the viburnum flowers adding their delicate scent  

can spring be far away?

I am finally finishing a project that was started a long time ago too. I have finally framed a series of paintings featuring teddies (stuffed animals) and tigers (also stuffed).

Here are the first two in the series, first "Something in the Air":

A watercolour of teddies and tiger, imagine that the small stuffed toy in the centre has just farted and the other stuffed animals are reacting.

The second is "The Games' Afoot":

Here Sherlock Holmes and Watson (in the waistcoat at the back) are investigating ...............

All these paintings are watercolours,

the other two in this series next week ............

Thank you for dropping by, happy whimsy Wednesday, until next week ....................................

Meet Cinder or is that Cinderella?

I noticed this little fellow last week after I started putting some mealworms out on the back ledge. He (or she) was the first to find this new treat and has been coming daily since. He/she is a Song Sparrow.

Here he is taking a bow.

Why don't I let him tell his story?

Sometimes I check the back deck for bread crumbs, so last week there was this new dish. So I moseyed over.

I found a new and very tasty snack. The house lady calls them meal worms, I call them delicious.

So ever since I have been here every morning to check for more.

Well excuse me for a minute, I have some serious snacking to do.

 

Sorry, now where was I. 

Oh, this is really a great addition to the menu.

Sometimes I make a bit of a mess but I clean it up.

These are really good for me too, high in protein and with the seeds and suet make a well balanced diet.

I think the house lady has been checking the "Bird Food Guide".

Well, pardon me for talking with my mouth full, but it's hard to eat just one or two.

I just eat and eat until they are all gone.

Oh. I do share them too, occasionally.

Hey, this dish is empty, could you fill it up before tomorrow?

None over here either.

See you tomorrow, I've got places to go. Thank you ...............

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Sing, Little Birdie!

By Watie W. Swanzy

Sing, little birdie, sing

on topmost branches high!

and when thou spreadst thy airy wing,

let not the sweet notes die,

But longer, louder be,

until the echoes ring

that hide away where none may see,

but only hear them sing.

Methinks that I could stay

forever with thee here,

and list thy strain the livelong day,

forgetting sorrows tear.

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Here is an amazing Youtube video that my friend Judy brought to my attention; it is of a green heron fishing with a tool:

......... and a second video, I don't know if this is the same bird .........

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I have been busy in the studio too. Here are two paintings that I have finished recently, both are watercolours:

"Old An'necy"

"She's in her Garden"

These will replace two of the paintings that have sold at my art exhibit at Pane E Formaggio.  For more information on these two paintings please follow this link: GillianOlsonArt

Thank you so much for stopping by, Happy Whimsy Wednesday, until next week ...................