summer is nearly here........yeh, right

Summer is nearly here, already deer are starting to wander into our back yard.

I received this email only yesterday and it certainly sparked a giggle.

Today in Niagara the temperature has risen to +1. As I step outside without wearing a toque (woolly hat/beanie) or gloves I feel naked, as though I have forgotten something really important. However today called for an outing without those very items.....FREEDOM!!
And in contrast, yesterday I was so bundled up in layers upon layers, wearing my warmest gear, so as I left the warmth and shelter of the house, I could not feel a difference in temperature. My layers were so thick, not an inch of skin was exposed therefore no cold was felt.
Dean and I were going 'Owling'. Yes we have become addicted in searching for Owls, particularly because we have discovered the very tree an Owl hangs out in, oops, I mean roost in. Just in case there are birders reading this I better use the correct terminology.

Funny thing is, we have been walking this snow burdened trail every day for nearly two weeks now, approaching The tree ever so quietly and slowly so not to disturb the Owl. Our hope is to be able to observe him through our binnoculars and admire him from afar. He, or she is clever. On a few occasions we have approached The tree, only to discover him not there. We always keep a close eye on the surrounding area incase he flies away. If we watch where he flies we gather more information. Three times now, when discovering him missing from The tree and we don't see him fly off, we drop our 'Owling guard', begin to casually chatter while amberling through the forest, only to see him fly out from another tree and fly off into yonder. Darn, if only we knew he was in That Other tree.

The funnier thing is, after two weeks of hiking this trail back and forth in knee deep snow, we have only recently discovered that there is another Great Horned Owl, roosting in a tree right in our back yard! Can you believe it. At night we have started to hear a pair hooting to each other, it is drawing near to the time when they get together, establish a nest, and lay a few eggs. Wouldn't that be something special if they courted and reproduced right here in our back yard. On a very tree that Deans dad planted 30 years ago. Fabulous.

These Owl outings offers a welcomed break from sitting at my computer, tapping away.
I've started to get excited about The book project as I begin to summarize chapter content.

Right then, back to work. Thanks for reading.