Northbound ...

Well ... it would appear Honker 1 and Honker 2, in Spring-like fashion, have arrived home!  It seems early but I won't argue with them!  Yes, they took me by surprise this morning (scolding me, the dogs and the cows as they did their ritual low, pasture 'fly-by') BUT I still managed to get a quick snapshot of them before the settled up north in the pea stubble!  The Canada Geese have certainly been 'northbound' for the last few days ... hmm, it would appear spring migration has begun!

Southbound ...

Here I am!!!  I know ... it would appear I am missing a month's worth of images.  To say "life" this Fall has been hectic would be a bit of an understatement ... so, before I get even further behind, here are a couple of shots from today.  The Snow Geese were on the fly ... which they have been for awhile but today seemed so different ... their flight pattern so intent on a "non-stop, southbound" direction!   I reiterate ... I love migration except when you are saying "good-bye!"

** With any luck, I'll update that missing month before the snow flies!**   

September Hues ...

The beauty of a late summer evening ... and a prairie slough! 

Seven Days ...

Saturday, September 13, 2014:  Wispy Clouds Bid the Evening Farewell

Sunday, September 14, 2014:  Helping Dad Take Apart the Unload Auger

Monday, September 15, 2014:  Magpie ...

Tuesday, September 16, 2014:  Harvest Rolls On

Wednesday, September 17, 2014:  Heading Out to Help Dad

September 18, 2014:  Hunters & Gatherers 

Friday, September 19, 2014:  A New Day Dawns 

Dropping In

Spring migration is well on its way and the snow geese are flying over in larger and larger flocks each passing day!  There is something mesmerizing about seeing the large flocks of snow geese in the sky!  I love how they seem so invisible yet in a single moment, just as the light hits their wings, you realize there are thousands above you!   This flock was dropping in for a snack and a splash before carrying on to their final destination!  

The Weekend Is Here

We enjoyed a glorious, sunny day and as the sun set on this Friday evening ... it felt like "Spring!"  Have a great weekend everyone!  

Music to Our Ears!

Look who I stumbled upon!  Yes, Honker 1 and Honker 2 have arrived back home!  Aaaah ... there is nothing like the sound of the Canadian Geese returning to their breeding grounds to warm your heart!  Honker 1 & Honker 2 have been hanging out in our home pasture for many years (whether or not its the same pair ???) and it has become quite the Spring tradition to be scolded ... or should I say "honked" at when you head out to feed and check cows.  I think all of us are rather happy to have the silence of winter broke by a Spring scolding from Honker 1 and Honker 2!

Flight of the Honkers

I love migration, although I admit I prefer spring migration and the 'welcome back' in comparison to fall migration and the 'good bye!'  Either way, I find migration fascinating.    As each bird comes and goes, I would just love to know where they've been or where they are heading!  Aaaah ... the travel journals locked in their brains and the stories they could tell!  Although the big groups of birds from the 'great white north' are not yet heading south (at least not in big droves), the local birds are filling the air while moving from their feeding grounds to the safety of water.  There is something to be said about a sky filled with early morning 'honkers' ... it beats the large urban centre honking any day!

Our 'Honker's Are Home!

Yes, Honker 1 and Honker 2 made it home today!  Who are Honker 1 and Honker 2 you ask?  Well, they've made the blog before.  They are a pair of geese that have made our home pasture their summer home what seems like forever!  They are always entertaining and yes, always 'honking!'  Life in the spring and summer would just not be the same without them!  Somehow, I think our excitement to have them home was maybe over shadowed by the fact their 'slough' is still very frozen!  They seemed a bit displeased with the current situation!

Summer's Final Eve ...

As the geese head south and the sun sets, summer is put to sleep.  

Fall officially arrives at 8:50am today.  

Good-bye summer ... 

The Great 'Gather' Has Begun!

Although it is not officially 'autumn or fall' until the 22nd of September, the fall migration of migratory birds has definitely begun!  Everywhere, you can see and hear small and mid-sized flocks of geese gathering about the countryside!  It won't belong before the large flocks start arriving or passing over!  With our pea crop on our home-half off, we might have a 'few' geese flying overhead these days!  This lil' flock flew in from our big slough!  Perhaps it's 'Mama and Papa' goose along with their young?

Let the Countdown ...

... to Spring Begin!

Hmm ... there is the odd Canadian Goose or flock flying north these days and our gravel roads have definitely become a bit 'soupy' ... perhaps ... just perhaps, SPRING is on it's way!  

Autumn is Here ...

... And So Are the Geese!

I am truly a lucky gal ... living where I do!!  It would appear that we are smack dab in the middle of a very strong migration pattern or zone for many of our feathered friends and I love it!  Seeing thousands of geese, swans, etc. make their annual treks north and south is something I don't take for granted!  I will forever be in awe of the magnitude of these bird's migration patterns!  Well, the Greater White-Fronted Geese, a large handful of Snow Geese and of course, some of our Canada Geese are taking full advantage of our pea stubble and the large slough east of our house!!!  I'm enjoying the daily 'honking!'  Welcome to Autumn!  :)

Honker 1, Honker 2, and Family

The reality is ... we will be reaching 'mid-summer' soon, and those spring babies are growing up quickly!  My pair of Canadian Geese ... yes, I claim them, arrived back on April 5th (My 'Honkers' Are Home) and back on May 29th (Bird on the Run) I was happy to catch a glimpse of their very young goslings ... all 4 of them.  Well, Honker 1 and Honker 2, along with all four of their babies were in view this evening.  It was great to catch a glimpse of them once again and to see that those lil' gosling will likely be ready for the fall migration!  (In the first photo, Papa goose is at the very back of the pack and Mama goose is in the middle with 2 young on each side)

Papa on Patrol

Our pair of Canadian Geese have been home for a month now.  These days, you might catch a slight glimpse of the Mrs. up on our straw stack, but you have to know where to look.  She is busy tending her nest!  However, 'Papa Goose,' is always in and around the slough, just beside the straw stack, keeping tabs on all the 'comings and goings' in the pasture.  On this overcast spring day, while taking a paddle, he kept a careful eye on us while we were out checking cows.  

My 'Honkers' Are Home!

Yup!  It is officially Spring!  Meet my honkers ... 'Honker 1' and 'Honker 2.'  For as long as I can remember, this pair of Canadian Geese has arrived each spring and made our feed yard and calving pasture home.  They have become such a fixture during spring and calving season that we now await their arrival!  Morning coffee in the spring is just not the same without hearing them 'honk' as they travel to and from the dugout, sloughs and back to the feed yard.  The only question we have is 'where did they spend their winter?'  If only they had passports that could tell us their story!  We would love to hear about their travels!