Cooper's Hawk

Spotted a Cooper's hawk taking a shower this morning.

Subsequent to the shower, Cooper jumped right in to a puddle to take a bath.

Afterward Cooper dried out by sitting on a branch of a tree.  Hawk's tail visible here.

Cooper's Hawk

Morning run.  Ran into a baby Cooper's hawk.  Well,  this guy is not really a baby any longer!

Great Blue Heron

Spotted this Great Blue Heron at the Brick Works tonight.  This bird was shy, shrinking to less than a quarter of its' actual height.  I love to see the wing span of these birds when they take flight.

Scarborough Bluffs

This is a picture of Lake Ontario from the top of the Scarborough bluffs behind the Guild Inn which is located in Guildwood Village.  When I see the signs in the picture below it brings a smile to my face because I can remember a time when there were no signs.  My high school friends and I definitely "entered" and "climbed" the bluffs.  One might think we did it because we liked being outdoors and wanted the physical challenge but one would be wrong.  Most of the entering and climbing occurred on a Friday or Saturday night.  There was always a big bonfire with lots of liquid and laughter!  Going down the bluffs was easy.  Getting back up was the hard part.  I do recall sliding backward on the sandy slope and grasping at, oh I don't know, weeds growing out of the sand.  The liquid part ensured lots of flexibility and courage!  Fun memories!

The picture below is of the bluffs behind the Guild Inn.  It was taken by Dr Robert Baggs and given to me, by him, as a gift.  So, the bluffs are with me wherever I go.

Coyote

Spotted a coyote by the Eaton grave in Mount Pleasant cemetery this morning.  The same area where the rabbit was yesterday.  The coyote seemed to be chasing something and then vanished over an edge leading into a ravine.

Coopers Hawk

A baby Cooper's hawk sighted this morning in Mount Pleasant cemetery.

Rabbit

Early morning rabbit seen in Mount Pleasant cemetery, by the Eaton grave.  No wonder there have been coyote sightings in this area.

Red-tailed Hawk

Spotted these two baby red-tailed hawks this morning.  This time of year they are learning to hunt.  Part of their training seems to include standing on gravestones.  From here they fly to the grass to see if there is anything to catch to eat.  I have seen them fly to a stick on the ground and play with the stick like it is a mammal.  I have seen them fly to the ground in front of a squirrel.  That time the hawk had no clue how to catch the squirrel and just stared at it.

J.P.

On Joy and Sorrow

Then a woman said, Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow.  And he answered:


   
Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. 

And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears. 

And how else can it be? 

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain. 

Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter’s oven?
   
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
   
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.
   
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.




Some of you say, “Joy is greater than sorrow,” and others say, “Nay, sorrow is the greater.”
   
But I say unto you, they are inseparable.
   
Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.

Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.

Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.
   
When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.

                                                                                                                        by Kahlil Gibran

Coyote

Coyote scat found this morning in Mount Pleasant cemetery.  Located by Plot M, close to the Massey family grave.  The large amount of scat indicates there is plenty to eat.  Clearly eating seeds.

More coyote scat found at the same time.  This scat was found at the intersection of Plots M, X, and V.  It looks like something ran over this scat, exposing mammal hair along with seeds.  Again, this scat is large suggesting that the energy intake of these coyotes is adequate.

If these coyotes are marking their territory with scat, it seems that Pot M is considered theirs.