HFBF HAPPENINGS – PART TWO – BIRDS AND OTHER THINGS.

Bill O’Keefe explains why the apples at the O’Keefe Grange are so special. After years of collecting and growing over 200 varieties of apples and pears trees, he has a lot to talk about. And the blossoms behind him testify to another great year.

This was Todd Pepper’s first experience as a HFBF Leader and he was happy with what he found on his Friday hike…an Acadian Flycatcher at Isaac Lake. (Correction…A mistake was made on the photo of the bird and it was determined by some that it was a Least Flycatcher. The Acadian was heard according to the hike leader but that is not the picture of the Acadian Flycatcher that was heard. )

This little tidbit (as it were) from Fred Jazvac:

We opened our day at with Alfred Raab at Sauble where the Piping Plovers are. A Merlin flew within feet of us, made an abrupt turn and picked up a brown small bird right off the ground and began eating it on a near by post in full view.  He ate the bird in minutes. The agility and speed of this bird was amazing as it plucked the bird from the ground.  The bird didn’t have a chance.  The Merlin was not intimidated by our presence. This is worrying news as the brown bird was taken about 100 feet from the Piping Plover cage.  Thanks for the great day, Alfred.  We saw 81 species of birds on an all day hike with Alfred starting at 6:00 AM.  We started at Sauble and finished at Sky Lake.

 The Bruce Re-Beckons with Willy Waterton and Audrey Armstrong.

Willy took us on a tour rediscovering the Peninsula based on the 1952 book The Bruce Beckons by Sherwood Fox. While we covered many sites of historical interest, this gem stood out.  

Heading up the 40 Hills Road we stopped at St. Margaret’s Chapel.

It’s a beautiful little church, “built of the stones of its own hills and valleys,” in true turn of the century Anglican tradition.The dolomite limestone blocks are cut large and thick giving the small building a stance that says it will stand for ages.

 The interior is finished in dark timber with oak pews.

 The stain class windows, some with a local wildflower motif, glimmer in the dim interior as the light seeps through. A guest book revealed pages and pages of visitors from all parts of the globe.

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THERE WILL ME MORE HFBF HAPPENINGS AS THEY HAPPEN AS THE SECOND HURON FRINGE LONG WEEKEND IS ABOUT TO BEGIN. KEEP US LOGGED IN.

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