Golden Crowned Kinglet Rescue

This morning I had the surprising honour of rescuing a golden crowned kinglet from a spider web.  Who would have guessed that would happen?!  

I had put out a couple of handfuls of seed for my usual chickadee and nuthatch friends, and enjoyed watching them have their breakfast seeds.  I went back to the kitchen and heard a small thud, which sounded like a window bump from a bird.  I have yet to put up the bird-repelling dots on 3 of my windows.  I went back out to see if I could help a bird, and was shocked to see not a bird on the ground, but instead a tiny bird hanging in front of the window, dangling from a thick spiderweb strand.  I did not take a picture of that.  I immediately reached up and gently took the bird out of the web.

It was very clear that the bird was a golden crowned kinglet. It was so very tiny in my hand.  I could see the spider web stretching across it, so at that point I went inside with it, grabbed a box, a towel, and the camera, and went back into the porch. You can see the web strands in the image above - they look minor, but they were so sticky! 

I very carefully detached the thick web strands from the bird's feathers.  It was amazing to me how thick the webbing was, and how delicate the wings were.  The web was really impacting the poor bird's ability to use its wings.  It was also gaping, which they tend to do when stressed, so I wanted to handle it as little as possible and just get the web off so it could sit and recover.

Fortunately, once I removed the web material, the kinglet began to perk up, and I ended up not needing the towel and the box.  My little friend took off fairly quickly and I hope it had a much better day after this morning's adventure.  I thought it was quite fitting that the day after the queen's funeral, I would have a visit from a "crowned" bird.  

So glad I heard the bump and was able to help this tiny friend.

Friday's Hunt v. 2.22

Friday rolls around every week, and here's my post for Eden Hills' Friday's Hunt.

This week's prompts are:  Starts with V, Week's Favourite, and Thankful.

Starts with V
Last week, you might remember that I shared a picture of a shrew that was gathering seed under my bird feeder.  This week, as if it knew that I needed a letter V picture, a vole showed up in the same place (at least, I'm fairly sure it's a vole, since it definitely isn't a shrew or a mouse).  I was so excited to actually see the vole and be able to photograph it through the window.  The pictures aren't great because they are through window glass, and also because the vole is very fast.  I tried to do some research on vole species that live here in New Brunswick and I think the only one it can be is the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus).

I think he (or she) is just the cutest little critter!  I love that golden brown fur and those sweet little ears.

Voles do look somewhat similar to mice, but they have a more rounded nose.

You can also see that the tail is relatively short, at least compared to a mouse tail.

If anyone thinks it's not a vole - please let me know!  I'm not a vole expert - its just my best, semi-educated guess.

Week's Favourite
My favourite shot this week was something I haven't seen before - at least not quite like this.  We had our first snow on Thursday morning, and when I went outside to fill the bird feeders and look for picture opportunities, I saw this unusual sight.

It's a strand of spider web hanging from the gutter all the way down to the steps, and snowflakes had adhered along the entire length of the strand, making a glittering string of snowflakes in front of the door.

I have seen snowflakes on spider webs before, but never on a single long strand like this.

Thankful
It was Thanksgiving in the USA this week.  In Canada, we have Thanksgiving in October.  This year, it was on October 10th.  Even though it isn't Thanksgiving time here, I often count my blessings, and think about the many things I have to be thankful for.  Among the many things I am thankful for every day (in no particular order) are:

• my wonderful husband, Marc
• my dear parents, who have always been there for me through thick and thin
• my spinning and knitting friends, with whom I spend happy hours pursuing my hobbies and sharing their good company
• friends in many parts of the world - some in places I have lived, some that I have never actually met, but all of whom are special to me and whose friendships I value dearly
• the ability to work for myself doing something that I enjoy
• the opportunities I have had in life for a good education, a multi-faceted career, and broad experience in travel, arts, culture and history
• my furry and fleecy friends who make me smile every day

I'm especially thankful for the home where I now live and its beautiful surroundings.  I feel very lucky to have found this home and to be able to share it with Marc, and to have a yard where I can walk around and see the magic of nature each and every day.  Here are a few photos of the surroundings for which I am always thankful.