Friday 20 September 2024

Barred owl sighting!

 The sweet, last warm days continue. I usually spend some time reading on the back deck. I take a break between outside chores. 

The Aspen grove is growing nicely. The previous owners cut the grass here, but after 12 years, I've let it grow. We need trees. They survived Gypsy Spongy moth caterpillars, and are taller than I am. 

The blue jays were having a caucus meeting in the back yard behind the Aspen Grove. What can one do, but go check it out. Raucous Blue Jays usually means a Barred Owl. There was!!!! 


You'll forgive the lighting in the video↑. It's proof of life for our owl.  I've been hearing it in the night through open windows. Such a sweet sound: "Who-cooks-for-you?"

The deck has provided some viewing...

Look at the trees! They are turning and dropping leaves. They are rattling on the driveway. Actually, they aren't necessarily turning colour, just drying up and falling off. There is a big industry in many places, like Muskoka, where 



The Hydrangea, trimmed nicely by deer, has a caterpillar on it.

Another caterpillar: Cucullia convexipennis, the brown-hooded owlet, is a moth of the family Noctuidae.



One must report on this fabulous orchid. The one bloom branch is beginning to dry up, and the blossoms are falling, their lives spent. The good news is that there is a new branch, the dark green one, and I'll have new blossoms shortly. The old blossoms were done, the stem turning brown. I chopped them up. There are already buds on the new branch.
 


I was out doing a walkabout, in the early morning when it was chilly, and found a 🐍 garter snake stuck on some wild aster. It was cold, but alive. This same is true of the frogs, they get cold overnight, and warm up in the day. The reptiles and amphibians are ectothermic or cold-blooded, and cannot control body temperatures.

I wonder what triggers them to begin to hibernate? Nutmeg brought this green frog up onto the deck to get warm. It was cold and stunned. I took it out front and put it with Jeremiah bullfrog. It is too big for Jeremiah to eat! 

The goldfishies are doing well! No leaks! 

I was trying to do my workout, and the TV went weird. I thought it looked like a painting.

I should rent a power washer and clean up the flag stones before it gets cold. And we should stain the decks before it gets too cold. We shall see. 
Have a great weekend, it is Friday. 

12 comments:

Tom said...

...neat, I've never seen an owl.

Barbara Rogers said...

Beautiful barred owl! He seemed quite interested in you. I didn't know that blue jays making a ruckus would indicate one was near. Now I've learned one new thing today already. Since both of you were sickies just a while back, take it easy doing those big tasks, (says your elder friend with loving intentions.)

Karen said...

The frogs are very noisy here! Especially at night.

eileeninmd said...

Great owl sightings. I heard the loud jays and thought they were outside my window. Take care, have a wonderful day and a happy weekend!

Anvilcloud said...

There is much going on for a few more weeks anyway.

RedPat said...

Busy time at your place.

Cloudia said...

I think it's so beautiful that we share orchids between us! It is such a warm visit everyday to walk the land with you and to walk on the porch. I love hearing about all of nature and the creatures. Thank you so much Jenn. You had a whole dimension to my life and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Aloha dear!

Nancy J said...

The owl, what a delight and surprise!!! Rent a washer, we have what we call a water blaster, petrol start, you have to pull the cord!!! Electric ones are easier.Here we have had SO much rain the lawn is soggy, I sink, even in gumboots.And who would think you needed gumboots in a city property.

Elephant's Child said...

How I would LOVE to see an owl.

Kay said...

Yay! I'm so glad your fish tank is totally fixed. Gosh... it's fall already!

tz_garden said...

Wonderful owl, I love their hoot hoot.

Divers and Sundry said...

We see blue jays but not barred owls. I know we have garter snakes and frogs/toads in the neighborhood, but the urban patio isn't attractive to them. What a wonderful space you have!