A Sparrow's Home

I arrived at Robyn and Kenny’s at 6:40AM  (thanks for inviting me to your house so early! It’s probably a good thing we’re all morning people 😉 )  Kenny had the bird watching site set up in front of a kitchen window with a clear view of the feeder. He covered most of the window with a towel since the cardinal had been skittish the day before. He left it open just wide enough to fit the camera. Robyn and I crouched down and waited, while Kenny kept watch from a window upstairs.

When Robyn and Kenny pointed out the dark spot in the bush behind the feeder, I was like a little kid at Christmas! 🙂 So exciting! It was 7:10 – the cardinal was right on schedule. The light wasn’t the best for a photo op – PEI November mornings are dark –  but I set my ISO to 3200, steadied my camera on the kitchen windowsill, and snapped away

Here’s what the Govt of PEI website says about Northern Cardinal sightings on PEI

Spring March 16 to May 31 (northerly migration)	Rare, 1 – 5 birds per season
Summer June 1 to August 15 (nesting season)	Rare, 1 – 5 birds per season
Autumn August 16 to December 14 (southerly migration)	Rare, 1 – 5 birds per season
Winter December 15 to March 15	Rare, 1 – 5 birds per season Uncommon, 1 – 12 birds per fortnight

He only stayed for about 10 minutes and then flew away. What a thrill! Now I’m looking forward to some photos of him in the snow – won’t that brilliant red be gorgeous against the white snow?

Lucky for me there’s a storm on the way tomorrow 😉