Saturday 5 October 2019

The first frost...

Here we are, first frost. Things are hopping. Slowly. Yes, I awaited the delivery of my new aquarium pump and filter. It arrived at 4 p.m. and I installed it Friday. No leaks. This afternoon it is supposed to be a balmy 13 ˚ C. and I will spend the day trying to capture the goldfish and bring them into the house.


I've been hearing the barred owl in the night. Yesterday, out for my forest walk, I found two barred owl feathers on my walking path. I'll use them in my Thanksgiving table centre.

The turkeys, frequent flyers, well, amblers... left me several tail feathers. I found one turkey whose loss of tail feathers is obvious on a trailcam video. This is a screen capture. She looks decidedly lopsided as her new feathers grow in. They mostly walk, the young uns are not full-sized yet. It takes a lot of energy to fly, as well.

This is from a couple of years ago. This is the "who-cooks-for-you" call. Several people say they've been hearing them in the night.


Everything is shutting down, leaves are falling, birds who eat insects, fish, or nectar are migrating.
cedar waxwing
female hummingbird
yellow warbler
osprey
fawns have lost their spots

 The reptiles and amphibians will be hunkering down in the mud, to sleep through the winter.

Vultures migrate, as well.

Our thanksgiving is coming up Oct. 14th. I hope the leaves last for the tourists. 
  

The critters continue to wander along the trail.

 I broke down and put the furnace on. This means I have to close the cat door. Hooper is up to his old tricks, out all night. His little house is plugged in and set to stay warm from dusk to dawn on a timer.

 I've had to bring in the orchid cactus. The problem with Hooper being out all night is that he doesn't walk with me in the daytime. I miss my cat walkies.

In good news, the bird bath is looking lovely after we replaced the bowl Hooper cracked, knocking it over. I'll have to plug the heater in today. The blue jays, mourning doves and chickadees are visiting the feeders. There is no sign of bear, so that's a good thing!


This swainson's thrush will have migrated, as well. Also on the To Do List is to shut down the water fountain.

For more critters:

Saturday's Critters #303


12 comments:

KarenW said...

The owls are active around my place. There seem to be two of them who chat away.

KarenW said...

The owls are active around my place. There seem to be two of them who chat away.

carol l mckenna said...

Wow! You are surrounded by nature and her sweet gifts ~ Wonderful post and photos ~ love the kitty photo ^_^

Happy Day to You,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Lorac said...

We just missed the frost but I pulled in my plants to be safe. Really lovely pics Jen!

Nancy J said...

You will be ready when winter really arrives, this is just an entrée!! Hooper, you are so spoilt to have a heated home out there, please say thank you every night.

RedPat said...

I'm seeing very few birds other than sparrows! The cactus orchid looks lovely!

William Kendall said...

Hooper seems comfy.

Red said...

We've had a number of frosts and a couple of minus 5'c. We have a forecast of minus 8 for tues.

eileeninmd said...

Hello, Love the Barred Owl. So many wonderful photos and videos. Your kitty has a nice house. Pretty fall colors and trees. Great captures of the Waxwing, hummer, warbler and osprey. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead. PS, I appreciate the visit and comment on my blog.

Kay said...

I still think it's so awesome that you get to see wild turkeys and all that wildlife right outside your house.

Linda said...

Frost and furnace on for us too pn Saturday morning. Rain this morning, nuthatches have returned.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

i love your header shot. i am not sure i have seen that, don't recall my last visit. but thank you so much for all the comment, been camping, and got home to needing to do all sorts of stuff. life is busy. hope u have a great upcoming week. have a ball. enjoy your fall. ( ;