Barry Beaver Builds

 We've been following our newest resident! I wouldn't have thought a beaver could survive in the wetland. It was bone dry in summer, and only recently has it filled with November rains. I've set two trailcams on it. I've heard rumours that they've been in Jebbs Creek nearby. A landowner busted its dam back in the day. 

It's left several trees unfinished. There are about 20 down, so far. We've 16 acres, and this is the deepest water on our property, but it isn't a pond. And it isn't deep. 

Not only the coyote, but the deer use this path. This is my birdcam, which isn't too bad. I placed it on a felled tree. There aren't many flat spots.

 

↙Can you see the trailcam on the post? I can't attach it to a tree. They might chop it down!

Realizing there must be a dam, I circled the wetland. 

The wetland has these little baby islands, with trees here and there. You can see the open water in the middle ground where Barry goes back and forth. 

It is an awesome critter!

It kept swimming back and forth, checking to see if I was dangerous. The zoom lens was great, but awkward. I didn't think I could manage a monopod or tripod. 

Not so bad!

I made myself  a map to remind me where the one dam sets. There is another, I think. I was hobbling carefully on my twisted ankle.  

I think it has dug into the mud under the lodge. I hope it gets done. Today, Nov. 27, it's snowing. And windy.

I caught it on land, where it is terribly vulnerable. We anticipate a polar vortex this weekend. It's going to freeze up. We'll see what happens. 

Crumbles on Crumbly Acres!

We'd had snow on Sunday. I slipped and twisted my ankle. It's good now, but I'm being careful. It was a shock, but there were leaves and snow involved. I fell off the paver in the garden, right under the camera. CUE LAUGHTER: 😝 🤪 !

I was quite proud of my dance, caught on video. 😣

It's flu season. We're trying to stay healthy. I'm glad ice seemed to work for my ankle. The hospitals are slammed, as usual. On Nov. 18th this came out:

On walkies (I trod carefully), I spotted a leaf sticking out of the nest box. Something must be in there! Maybe the other black squirrel.

The close up is out of focus, but I wanted to remind myself what it looked like.

It's still rutting season for the deer. We expect rain, then a polar vortex this weekend. Get out your woolies! 

This tractor was headed to do something! It pulled over to let cars and trucks pass, methinks.

We headed down to the meadow, then to the frog pond. This is looking up the path to the highway. 

The coyote had been along this path. Why run through the forest when you can run along the driveway and human paths?! 

The pond is filling nicely for winter protection for all the sleeping critters: frogs, salamander, bullfrog tadpoles, and all the insects who need winter protection.  Cinnamon roared towards, and up a tree. Happy boy! He's glad to get out and about with me.

 

It's melted some in the pond, in a strange pattern.

Down by the trailcam, this is the frog pond in its torpor.

From there I went up to the backyard to check on Barry Beaver. It is working beyond the shed in the wetland. Heading down the path, I noticed the coyote tracks. Barry best be careful!

Its been after another tree, which is hanging on. I've set up a couple of trailcams here. We'll see what I get, but I'm not hopeful.

It's down there, in maybe 2' deep water. I don't know how that will work over winter.

Guess who visited to check things out? My trailcams aren't great (aren't we all wearing out?), here is an older screen capture from a video of a coyote.

 

🏫 🏫 🏫 🏫 🏫 🏫

Jordan is having a grand time at Queen's University, studying astrophysics. He doesn't have any classes Fridays, but he writes: 

"Every Friday there are physics colloquiums (talk from professors from everywhere about cool stuff), and today there’s one about exoplanets! 🪐 "

A Christmas Surprise for Joe!

 Sunday, November 24

We had a seamless, propane-powered generator in Bala, as power went out much more regularly. We were subject to hurricanes on a regular basis. It was huge, and costly.

Muskoka, 2008

We now have a back up battery! This was a Christmas surprise for Joseph Brian. After our power was out for 8 hours during Joe's birthday party...  Caitlin did some research for me while they were here. I talked to her. Grampa talked to Jean-Luc, and Joe and I discussed it. We were going back and forth about it. Joe brought the discussion up at bed time, but I shut down the discussion, said we could talk later. I'd ordered it! 

It came on Friday, while he was in town shopping. Our UPS man, Kevin, brought it to the door. 

It was hidden in the bedroom until I could get it installed. I was figuring out what to do about that. JL was confident he could install it for us. Saturday morning, Caitlin texted and asked if we were busy Sunday. JL wanted to install it then. Wow! The sign said KEE POUT! It worked.

Sunday morning saw about 4 cm snow. Thankfully, JL has snow tires.

 

We can plus the well pump in, and any electronics. It charges as needed, and when a power outage occurs, we just plug the well pump into it.

There is a solar powered side piece they sent for free. Its only 45 W, so may or may not be helpful.

This will store power for us. In the event of an outage, our worst problem is having well water and flulshing. The septic system works through gravity, that isn't an issue. We usually keep the freezer shut, and things stay frozen. We won't have hot water, but in a pinch we could heat some water in the kettle for a wash up. We can take the coffee dripolator downstairs and plug that in. 

I wisely cleaned the closet out. There was a dead mouse, mouse poop, and insulation to clean up. It must have gotten stuck in there. 

JL borrowed slippers as the cement floor is cold in the well pump closet.

Success! JL gave us a tutorial. 

JL put in a new outlet, the well pump was plugged in directly. He was really pleased to find a cord that lights up when power is going through it. Easy peasy to figure out if it is working.

JL showed us the breaker, as well. 

JL drove home safely in the slushy, melting snow. A job well done. We can't thank him enough!

I actually spotted the beaver I wrote about yesterday. More on that later!

Busy as a beaver

 I could believe it! I had to go to the shed, and spotted some more chopped down trees. This is why my chores take so long. I get distracted! 

I saw some signs in September, but action had stopped. The wetland was dry, and not suitable habitat. I thought it had moved on. You can see only frogbit in the bottom of the deepest part of the wetland.

The wetland has come back. Well, it has refilled! It was down there, slapped its tail and scared me. You could see where it had opened up the ice. Well, I could. The photo isn't great. 

I used to see them in Bala when we lived there from 2005 - 2010, but in much deeper water.

It is fascinating how hard they work. I'm going to have to move the trailcam from watching rutting bucks. I'd like another one, but can't seem to find one I like.

These are reminders for me, and show and tell for Joseph Brian! 

Perseverance:

This is a 'widow maker!' It didn't persevere.

I hope it survives, but it has to be in the wrong place. We've not much water, the wetland is only ever a couple feet deep. 

 

🪵 🪵 🪵 🪵 🪵 🪵 🪵 🪵 🪵 🪵

 We visited the Bala cramberry bog in 2010 or so, and found some beavers messing with the irrigation system! There were several beavers in this lodge. They were smashing their tails in a warning. Normally they go under the water and swim away. I was threatening their dam and two left, swimming away, these stayed put swimming back and forth.