Saturday's Critters

The 4-legged critters have been more difficult to spot in the daytime. Which is a good thing! We don't want the coyote, bears, fox, fisher, etc., hanging out here. The squirrels are a different story.

The tray catches a lot of spilled seed. As Mr. Cardinal can attest.

'Deer' feeder!

 

Coyote in the dark

 

More deer, a doe

 

Butch is up to something!

   

 This video 'thumbnail' shows Joe in the day time. Most of our critters appear in the dark. I wanted to paint a picture! You can see the coyote on the back lawn in the dark.

 

Saturday's Critters # 572 <= visit more critters at Eileens meeting place.

Walkies in the forest

I am so happy to read about spring in distant climes. It reminds me that there are 4 seasons. I am happy with the changes. We shall see what the next season brings. 

Right now, it's increases in respiratory diseases in our health unit. Up 10%.

I wondered what we would get – on the edge of rain and snow. There was a short period of snow, then rain. Back to snow at 11 am.

We had a lot of rain last week. These are the back hoe tracks from moving our cut wood. Filled with water! Off to the right is the old veggie garden. I had to let it go as I didn't/couldn't turn it over. Plus the critters do like home grown veggies.

Our newish meadow where the dead trees were cut down. I must toddle out here for a sunset photo sometime.

Cinnamon was exploring one of Fred's burrows. Fred Groundhog is hibernating now. When Cinn put his head in the hole I cautioned him, just in case. I haven't seen bunny for a week or so. I know she uses his burrows.

It's like walking a dog, my Cinnamon. He always has to go.

The moss thrives in the cold temperatures. The green is amazing.

A teeny evergreen in the forest:

Cinnamon on the rock!

And, sunset clouds.

We had rain and a skiff of snow overnight. More to come!

Bird feeders

 I have been enjoying the birdies. This was Sunday. A downy woodpecker.

The Dratted Red Squirrel (a fave of the cats) has been chomping down.

The morning dove likes the arrangement.

The tripod really helps. The afternoon sun makes photos tricky. Not to mention the wind blowing the wind sock. (It does seem to help prevent bird strikes.) 

Much better shots with the camera on a tripod.

The squirrel managed to get up there. I think it flings itself from the tree, or from the bird bath. 

I put out the Wingscape camera. The trick is you have to preset the focus on it. I set it for 4'. 

I reset the camera, and managed some close shots.

 

Mourning dove

 

After our walk, Cinnamon helped himself to a drink. I realized the winter bird bath needed cleaning. 

 

Forest walkies

 Tuesday it poured rain. But no ice rain. Happy dance... some of our friends in Muskoka and northern Ontario have had snow. 

This was Monday morning↓! Pretty cold out west. We warmed up. You can smell the petrichor in the air.

It was a fun walk. 'X' marks the spot! We get lots of saplings falling over.

Down the hill he ran. 

The first stop was to The Point. Cinnamon went island hopping. This is typical wetland here. The critters tend to avoid walking through it. Cinnamon is anxious for it to freeze so we could go walkies out there. He told me so!

 

The next stop was the trailcam. The buck has made a scrape here. Peeing on its glands to mark its territory. Apparently, Cinnamon thought it a great spot to roll around??? We've had rain, and I don't think the buck has been back to this spot. We'll go with that!

 

The cats were grumpy in the rain. Well, not Cinnamon. He hunkers down on the front deck watching for the squirrel. Monday afternoon we needed to get out and about. We went walkies. He sat there on the dock.

We went down to the frog pond. There were bullfrog tadpoles everywhere. Although, I didn't know what they were at the time. Popping up for air. It looked like rain drops falling. 

Bullfrog tadpoles spend two years in this form. Our other frogs, leopard frog, green frogs, etc., are hatched, and morph by summer.

We brought in the garbage cans, and I spotted the Meadow Vole tunnels. They are ubiquitous these critters. And the cats' main prey. 

This is a meadow vole, AKA field mouse!

Walkies and sunset

Joe came back from his morning walk, "Down the trail to the back 40 there is an interesting poop. I think you might want to look at that!"

This is country life! It was raccoon poop right beside the trail.

Down in the meadow, I found more bones under the leaves, which had blown away. That deer carcass fed a few coyotes.

By the afternoon, the fire was on and the trio were watching football.

🌧 ☔ We've rain this morning. I am happy with that because they threatened it would be ice rain. That is dangerous. Rain rain is just fine!

I had some fun with the setting sun. I'm still working on the panoramic feature! This first one was a bit of a failure. 

I think I prefer the second one, with the trees darkened.

The sun just peeks between the trees.

This is getting better. 

Out back the tops of the trees were shining in a golden glow.

Book Review: Jean Paetkau

  Jean Paetkau

🇨🇦 Jean is a Canadian journalist. I found her on Twitter, where she was documenting the management of her cancer. She is on Blue Sky now, as are many of us. They are set in Vancouver, which brings back memories of our visits there. I really enjoyed them and I wanted to support her.

Blood on the Breakwater

I liked the plot twist. Both are murder mysteries. This one takes place in the author's home town, Victoria, where a body is found and links to the past.  

The Sinking of Souls

This incorporates an historical fact, the sinking of the S.S. Clallam steamship, which sunk in 1904. 

The second book begins in Craigdarroch Castle. You can take a virtual tour. 

Craigdarroch Castle

Her fans have been posting messages for her.

Clearly the perfect setting for a murder mystery novel to begin.
Took this photo just for @snufflewort.
Don't miss her book The Sinking Of Souls. It starts right here at Craigdarroch Castle. pic.twitter.com/Uwuwuqo1UG

— Karen Elspeth (@Terranen) November 7, 2024

I am also reading these! 

Garbage is out for the week. It's a chilly -5 ℃ and I bundled up. The new week begins.