Snowshoeing time

I decided to go walkies on Saturday. Snowshoes are required, although with the 5 cm of ice on top of knee-deep snow, it is hard slogging. The wetland is wet on the edges. I did cross it, as it is hard in the middle.

All I did was go to the back 40, at first. I had to come back to the house for water, but I didn't want to take off my snowshoes, as it is tricky bending over and all. I unzipped my boots! Using the railing, I managed to get up the steps without getting a soaker.

Filling up my water bottle I attached it to my fanny pack, and grabbed my phone. I popped on a pair of shoes to make it down the steps. Eureka! 

It is tough walking for all of us, including the coyote in the second half of this video.

walkies from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Indoors, Cinnamon snuggled on JB's blanket. 

Nutmeg was busy sniffing the antler!

Out on the front, the sparrows feed.

 

tree sparrows from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I must get dressed and take out the garbage. Then morning coffee! Have a good one...

Saturday's Critters

It is Saturday, again! 

We are preparing for another storm, as I write this Friday. We'll see you on the other side!

 

I somehow missed this video. Jan. 2nd, Labbit was here. I haven't seen her since!

Labbit from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

It is fun comparing the older and younger bucks. Soon they will shed their antlers, since food is scarce, rutting season is over, and we all begin anew.

King and Prince from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

My frog pond trailcam froze in the last storm, I think. I'll have to work on that.

The young fisher has been about! 

 

fisher Jan. 5 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Isn't he a handsome one?!

handsome coyote from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

My new Wingscapes camera has been fun. I've been taping the birds, which has been fun. 

 

cardinal on deck from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

American tree sparrow:

 

tree sparrows from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

After I managed these images ↑, I thought I would branch out. 😏  JB found me some window hooks in town, and I set up the Wingscapes camera on the window, in front of the feeder under the overhang. It did not go well! Back to another plan, Plan C!

 

We've had a bit of snow. After coffee and a hearty breakfast, out I go!

Saturday's Critters # 526 <= For more critters, hosted by Eileen.

More comfortable birding!

I'm having great fun photographing out through the bay window. The tripod makes all the difference.

King Henry is still the boss. He still has both antlers, as well. They should drop soon, he'll grow a new set come spring. I shall look forward to that! 

I love seeing the velvet on them.

I use a syphon to drain the birdbath of stale water, then fill it with snow. The heater melts it and I don't have to carry a container from inside the house. 

The birds are thirsty!

I tried to capture the chickadees close up. The other birds are quite fearful. Not the blessed chickadees!

We have 38cm snow cover. That's deep enough to stick the metre stick in!

I set up the trailcam to face the driveway. Of course, the coyote has chosen not to visit at this time. I did capture myself taking out the garbage, Monday morning!

Our regular visitors, our deer friends. 

 

In the back, the cottontail uses it as a pathway. This is where I haul in wood for the fireplace.

 

After the storm...

the sun came out to warm the cockles of your heart. It didn't work, as it is still in the deep freeze here.
I looked out into the back yard, and spotted some deer. They usually hunker down in the wetland, where it is warmer, with no breeze. Friday/Saturday's storm was quite something: THAT was a storm!


We cleared the snow, then I sat in the living room, writing my blog post and bird watching from my chair. I had to warm up after being outside in the cold. Then, I did laundry! Honest!
Hooper's birthday, at least the one they gave him, is Aug. 1st. He's growing like mad.



I tried to capture the ice, glistening on the globe feeder, sparkling in the sun.

Another snow day - it's getting deep!

I've been deer watching. We seldom see the deer in the summer. The larger wetland (+800 acres), of which our 16 acres is a part, is a winter yard for them. When summer comes they take off. All summer I only saw one deer, and no fawns. The year of the summer drought (2012), they were at my hostas, but not last year as there was plenty in the forest and wetland for them to chew on.

This winter, they've been nibbling on my lilacs, as well as the small sumacs in the backyard. I call them my grounds crew. What helps is the base of snow, and they can reach higher.

The day before yesterday, the sun was lovely. Daisy and I stacked some wood, bringing it from the shed to beside the house. Tromping through the snow is a challenge, but it was good exercise. Yesterday, we had about 10 cm (4") of snow.  More good exercise shovelling. Yes, that's it. Gotta put a positive bent on it! You can see how deep the deer are, up to their elbows!

By the end of a lovely sunny day, which felt like spring, Bambi was sitting beside my bench. Daisy was in the sun beside her tree. Daisy loves her backyard!

Yesterday, the snow kept falling. The deer spent most of the day in our yard. First in the front yard, then in the back, and back to the front, while the snow fell all day. They would hunker down, having dug out a nest in the deep snow with their hooves, they nestle down for a rest, chewing their cud, and keeping a watch out for predators. I went out the front door, to try to capture some photos, and they took off again. I am amazed with their height, grace and speed!

Then, there are the delightful birds. An American tree sparrow, in the falling snow.