Checking in!

 We've warmed up! It's -8 ℃. and I survived putting out the garbage at 6:30. It's Family Day here in Ontario. Provincial stores are closed, or have limited hours. Amazingly, we were at 5 ℃. on Valentine's Day. The sun feels warmer. 

Jordan is home from Uni, and they cooked for themselves while the parental unit went out on date night.

On Sunday they made taffy on the snow! 

Aster made herself a guitar from a kit! She's quite the skilled young person.

   

 Out west, atop a mountain, Cluny had a race. This was Jan. 25th. Hollyburn Cross Country Ski Club

 

A new week begins, we approach spring. The worst is nearly over. I content myself with feeding the birds.

Crumbly Acres in snow

Thank you for your kind comments on our trip to Ottawa and Caitlin's concert. It was nostalgic. Life changes so much over the years. It sure brought me back.

 That was a fast weekend. It's good to be busy and out of the house! It's good to be home, as well. 

I threw out peanuts for #75, our rehabbed release squirrel. We released him in May. I am not sure he is using his nest box.

He is a hoot. He grabbed one peanut where I tossed them, and ran back to the horse chestnut tree. Then he buried it in the snow at the base of the trees. He repeated that. Then went up the tree, across to the evergreen, and buried it in the snow under that tree. Again, rinse and repeat! 

Along came his buddy. Honestly, the only the way I can tell them apart is where they go when they are done feeding. This one goes towards the driveway. 

75 went back to the chestnut tree and took out a couple of peanuts he'd buried and ate them. He dropped one whilst eating, and then joined buddy under the bird feeder.

The cardinals are a bright spot of colour.

I don't know if I like the photo of him eating better than his thoughtful pose!

We still have a starling hanging about. 

Their colours are lovely, changing with breeding season.

In May, 2012, I spotted a juvenile European Starling on the gravel near the mailbox. I had help identifying it, as juvenile birds can be such a challenge to ID.

The deer have returned. I love the snow on its face. They've a thick coat that insulates them. 

The one in the foreground has hurt her back left leg. We'll see how she does. 

I've noticed #75 going up and down the trees, finding the bird seed the blue jays have cached in the tree.

   

 Prior to our big snowfall, the fisher and coyote were doing inspections of Barry Beaver's lodge. There was no sign of them after the snow.

 

Snowy Crumbly Acres

 It's been a busy weekend, but the garbage is out. I filled the feeders and it didn't seem too cold. Joe has taken the car to get our snow tires on. In the meantime, more snow! It's not worth shoveling at this point. We'll see.

The 15 cm had melted, partially. This is the view from across the street. I saw a robin there, singing. We've had them overwinter some years. It seems as if they are managing on the sumac fruit.

These are from January and February, 2016.

February, 2022:

The birds manage. It is lovely watch them. Junco:

Mourning doves:

Cardinal:

#75, who thinks he is a bird:

I like this arrangement, obviously. It captures a lot of the seeds they throw around. Plus I put cracked corn in the, which the mourning doves like. They are mostly ground feeders, but they like this arrangement.

It is great having a clean up crew!

More about the surprise birthday party tomorrow! (And the 8-hour power outage!) 

Crumbly Acres Critters

The bird feeder is going full tilt. I change it up over the winter. Here it is for now. I'm hoping the bears are close to denning up. 

The Blue Jays concentrate on the one at the left. They half emptied it during the day. 

Downy woodpecker:

The globe feeder is for the smaller birds. The big ones can't get in. 

Goldfinch: 

The mourning doves like to line up on the branch. 

The cardinal is peckish, as well. No sign of the female.

I don't know if this is #75. We have two Gray Squirrels, black morph. This one was under the feeder.

 I am quite behind on my videos. It's hit or miss. Feast or famine. Drought or flood. 

If you watch the video, you can see the bunny beside the tree, the deer staring at it. Then Labbit hopped up the driveway. It's two clips from two trailcams.

 

We've had a pair of coyotes hanging about. On the driveway and in the forest.

   

 The fisher was back. Two days in a row.

 

Saturday's Critters

It's that time, again: Saturday's Critters # 585!

We had a bit of a melt. I could hear the male cardinal singing, which means Spring. 

The big squirrels came out to play. Eastern Gray and black.

Labbit has been a winter guest. She's sticking to safety under the middle deck.

   

Deer friends:

   

 We were up to 14!

  

 We've two flocks of two turkeys and 4 turkeys!

 

We had 7 cm snow overnight. I'd best have coffee and breakfast and get onto that. The kids are coming for a sleep over!