Crumbly Acres Critters

 It's a big day. We were originally having our Aussie Tree Care people here Aug. 6th to clean up our trees topped by the big July 1st wind storms. Since we've had rain for a few days, they elected to switch job dates. They don't need to climb any trees at our places. The debris is all over the place. 

They are to arrive between 7:30 and 7:45 today, July 29th. I shall have to get to it. I have to show them the damage in several spots on our 16 acres. We'll see you on the other side. 

The Monarchs like the Bugloss!

 

Phoebe has raised two broods., 8 chicks They are still hanging around. This was during Brood #2. 

 

Cinnamon and Nutmeg alerted to a pair of deer! I took a video of the deer cautiously moving around the edge of the forest.

   

 I was standing looking out and heard a Loon calling on a flyby! I couldn't see it, but I could hear it. 

   

 Loons are so beautiful! Aug. 9, 2013, these are my best shots, I think.

Do you know they change colour in winter?! We once delivered one to a rehab facility for someone to Lake Ontario. 

 Loon on the frozen field – missed the 'go south' memo

Here it was in the crate.  

I'll leave you with a fan favourite, Fred, and her new burrow, #6A. 

 

Frogbit vs. Duckweed, Barry beaver, Doe, Butch, #75!

 Things have been hopping in the news! Here is the Gordie Howe Bridge. A wonderful testament to progress, technology, and engineering. This is Howe's grandson, Gord and wife. They are the first ones to drive across the bridge. A grand gesture. They aren't public figures, but appreciated the opportunity. There was much lobbying, $ millions spent in petitions, by the private owners of the nearby Ambassador Bridge. They donated millions to the orange felon. This bridge is a much better, faster, smoother highway to highway drive. 

The bridge is beautiful! CBC.ca

🦫Barry's wetland is filling up. We had 12 mm Tuesday. Barry has lots of water. It is pouring even as I write!

This from the other side of his inlet.

Nov., 2009 Long Lake, in Bala, Muskoka

Our Barry Beaver has vastly different conditions than beavers in lakes and rivers↑.

Point of clarification! Frogbit vs. Duckweed We have both in the wetland! 

It's a busy yard. Cinnamon got himself breakfast. A fat, juicy vole.

Nutmeg took off.

Cinn back at it.

I won't bore you with the whole video, but here is a screenshot of Phoebe who is still in the yard and doing bug clean up!

Butch has been happy eating Serviceberries!

 

 The Cardinals have been busy foraging, as well. 

   

 The doe is foraging in the dawn. 

 

#75 seems to still be around.

Summer unfolds

Things are lively here, despite the heat. We've had our fair share of rain, which is a good thing. July has various levels of rain over the years.

First Monarch caterpillar I have spotted! 

I'd neglected to take a photo! Souvenirs from Caitlin's trip to the Baltics. A lovely amber butterfly and chocolate biscuits from Zurich! 

 The Freds have settled in with Auntie Fred at the shed, and MiniFred elsewhere! 

Fred likes the deck burrow.

 

Look who is visiting at night. Red fox.

Turns out MiniFred has been working on Burrow #6A! In the corner of the house. 

 

I tipped the camera down to capture the action. Joe was sitting on the deck, and Fred kept working!

Barry Beaver

 Down I went. The latest tree to fall in the July 1st storm is dying. Barry has been whittling away at it. 🦫 

You should see me climbing over the tree trunks to get to the camera! This was me leaving. I suppose it is good exercise.

 

I looked down at the wetland, and could see the invasive European frog bit growing over the open water. I couldn't see any evidence of Barry. 

Frogbit vs. Duckweed We have both in the wetland! 

And then I realized why! He has been here, but the frog bit fills back in around him.

Barry Beaver's Videos

The day before this visit, Barry was in the water and slapped his tail on the water. This day, he was perfectly silent. A bit agitated with me there, but no tail slap. 

A family visit!

I was doing gardening and found a wee bird's nest on the ground. I imagine a hummingbird or red-eyed vireo. It's so small. 

 

My theory of the perpetrator, AKA the culprit who was knocking over my plants left evidence! 

They left paw prints. Butch Raccoon for sure!

 

They even did a number on Emily and her Lobelia. I replanted it. Sigh.

The kids came over for a sleepover Friday, July 24. Aster plugged in the car. Aster has just begun in-car driver's ed!  The in-class sessions are finis.

Dinner was fun. Sausages in a bun, corn from down the road, birthday cake! Caitlin had brought souvenirs from her trip. Grampa was given a Lithuanian cap.

We have jokes. The year Jordan turned 15, I made a mistake and thought he was 16. Since then we always add a year to the birthday.

She is actually turning 47!

 

I gave Caitlin her birthday present, even though her birthday isn't until Aug. 16th. You never know what they will be up to next month.

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Aster was given a few items to celebrate summer. Another joke, 'beer and chips' is what Grampa always says we used to give the grandies. 

It is tiger lily season. The hummingbirds adore it.

Aster did a photo reprise!

Saturday morning the kids went swimming! Back home, we were told it was a great time swimming. Aster drove there! 

Then it was time to go home. But first, the family made a visit to the candy store, and a visit to Stewart Park for old times sake. Grampa used to take the grandies there during Gramma Camp.

Jordan is doing well, working in a grocery store stocking shelves. He is in heaven. He's quite the organiser.