The Birds and Bees

Hi everyone. I wasn't planning a post today, but for some reason I am very lazy this morning . I slept late and downloaded a bunch of photos I took yesterday. I played around with some photo editing, had my breakfast, and I really need to go do a bit of gardening. If I can get motivated that is.

Procrastination is not always a bad thing.

So yesterday I had a lot of natural encounters. It started when it was time to open up the beehive and see what is actually going on inside. The bees have been here for just over 2 weeks, and something should be going on. I hadn't opened the hive in  a week so it was time to do a check.

I really need to meet up with an experience beekeeper to tell me if all is going as it should right now. I could see comb being built (and you can see it in these photos), but being a newbie, I am having a hard time telling if it is for honey or brood. I did do some more research using my photos, which is one reason why I took them. I want to know better what I need to look for next trip in. 

 However, when I was holding the frames I removed, I could not also snap a photo, and since I was home alone, I could only take photos once I put the frames back into the hive. Next time I check them (in probably around a week) I will have to look if I see signs of covered combs or any eggs. And maybe see if I can get the hubby to come take photos.

With all these bees I failed to find the queen. I really messed up. I should have marked her with a pebeo paint pen (they actually recommend this pen, which I happen to have a few) when she was in her box.

Then yesterday afternoon I met the hubby, and we went out for a boat ride. He gets out early on Fridays between Memorial Day (late May) and Labor Day (early September), and since there are fewer boats out on Friday afternoon than on the weekends, it makes boating much nicer.

Later in the afternoon we anchored in between some islands. It just so happened there were lots of fascinating birds this time.

Starting with the Canada Geese that swam in.

(Google flipped my photos around.)

Pete found them very interesting.

There was also some terns (these are a favorite of mine), a common eider, and a heron.

I am guessing this poor Eider doesn't have a mate as I also saw him on our first trip out (or I think it was him) alone.

But the star of the bird show was this guy or girl.

These bald eagles nest in these islands, so we see them around now and again. This one was just posing for so many people who boated, paddle boarded or kayaked by. It's hard to get clear photos from a boat that slightly rocks, so I am happy to have gotten these.

I guess it is time to get myself moving. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!