Saturday's Critters

The coyotes are beautiful. In all our years here (14), I've seen them in the yard twice. Once was when he was sneaking up on Daisy, the other time was this week at 7:30a.m.:📹 backyard coyote. 

Our turkey, Archie, whom he chased up the tree this week, wouldn't agree. I think that is who Chad coyote was after. He flew up into the big pine tree.

All of my images come from screen captures on the trailcams as they are wary of humans here and elusive. They are quite aware that our local farmers and hunters have weapons, and they aren't aggressive when humans are around. 

 

coyote from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The poor critters in the snow!

coyote feb 18 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I love how they mark their territory in front of the camera!

coyote cedar corridor from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The deer don't mark!!!

 

deer cedar corridor Feb 18 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

They do wash ups where ever they need to!

 

deer in the sun from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Have a great weekend! Visit more critters here: Saturday's Critters # 532

Saturday's Critters

My grandies name the critters these days. I post a photo, and ask for suggestions. 

Our weather has been variable, this morning it is -9 C., and things are sparkly. We've had snow, then rain, melting the snow. The trailcams show me when it snows, sometimes triggering the cameras. The critters tend not to go out in the rain, though.

 Chad coyote is first up. This is a nice, healthy one. 

This Chad coyote is afraid of the trailcam light.

The pumpkins haven't been as yummy as they were. I have my suspicions. Gerald, our slightly older buck. He could be three years old. Their antlers grow new tines with time.

Carl is the younger one. He could be two years old.

We had three coyotes at once. The triplets are back. The one pooped, scraped up debris and scared off his buddy. His other buddy had a possessive pee. Ah, nature in the raw!

 

 We had 4 coyotes 4 months ago, they are back! I had a surprise. There were four coyotes again this time. The 4th seems an outsider, not part of the tribe. Maybe he is the one, above, that is afraid of the trailcam light. They sure were inspecting the coyote poop!

 

Thanks to Eileen for hosting! Saturday's Critters # 416

Saturday's Critters

 Chad Coyote (the girls named them!), was in the backyard. It is obvious that he is wary of the house, and glances at the windows checking for humans. That is a good sign. That and the fact that they don't come around in the daytime.

Chad in the forest is another story. There was something up at the house to set off the motion sensor spotlight at the house. As he leaves, he went up the hill and pooped on the path! 

We have a bigger buck than Carl. He's not all that big, Tigger lived longer and had a bigger set of antlers. [Tigger: More deer tails and Whitetail Savvy]

But Gerald has a respectable set. He is maybe 3 years old. I texted and asked for a name; Josephine suggested we name him Gerald! I've not seen any deer scrapes, where they mark their territory during rutting season.

Having the trailcams at either end of the path captures them coming and going. Carl saw me coming, and hoofed it.

Next, Gerald appeared in front of the window. He was trimming my peony plant, which is dead for now, of course!

For more critters: Saturday's Critters # 415, thanks to Eileen for hosting!

Saturday's Critters # 415

Saturday's Critters

It's fun watching the deer on the trailcams. It takes my mind off arguing with Canada Revenue Agency in my head at 4 a.m. (They aren't listening anyway!) We now await snail mail for the evidence of the money we must pay. 

The pumpkins are being gobbled up.

   

 I've set out the pumpkins in front of the trailcam. The doe really gets into it. The juveniles are a hoot, bounding around after momma. 

   

 The buck, Carl, is still following the doe around waiting for her to go into heat. It only happens for 24 hours, they tell me, se he as to be ready. It is rutting season, as they call it. 

   

 In the meantime, this juvenile thinks it'd like a quick drink, but momma isn't having any of that. She's been weaned! Carl soon enters the picture, too. He manages to take several bites out of the large pumpkin, and twists the pumpkin just as the footage ends. He saunters off into the forest. 

 

For the first time (I think, but I turn 65 next month, so I could be wrong), we've 3 Chad coyotes on the trailcam at once. The temperatures are below freezing, so they are getting hungrier out there. We've snow on the way, as well. They aren't like city coyotes, which can be bold as brass. We've seldom seen them in the daytime or in person in the ten years we have been here, they tend to avoid our back and front yards.

For more critters, visit Eileen's fabulous Saturday's Critters # 414!

Fall chores

I kept track last year, too [Fall chores, 2020]. Here we go!

• Shut down fountain
• Goldfish inside into the fish tank (Oct. 14th)
• Frogs down to the frog pond (Oct. 14/15)
• Drain hoses
• Cover fountain
• Bird feeder tree up
• Prepare Christmas lights
• Clean up the back deck (Oct. 23)
• Heater in bird bath(Oct. 23)
• Ditch diving before the snow falls. (Oct. 24)
• Shut down the pond pump <= this is difficult as I've drained the hoses. sigh. (Oct. 29)
• Check the eavestrough for leaves (Oct. 31)
• Straighten the chimney cover (Nov. 2)
• Empty water barrels (1 of 2 are done; #2 done Nov. 3)
• Remove vines on deck, wash rails, glass (Nov. 7)
• Haul wood from the shed
• Bring battery in from lawn tractor 
• Put the snow blower in the garage
• Burlap on rhododendrons
• Rake/sweep middle deck
• Clean up gardens, put away fragile decor
• Mulch leaves, again!

 I redid the driveway with the lawn tractor. The leaves are falling like mad. They are nearly done.

More chores... I spray painted the flowers and drained the water fountain. It is wrapped up in a tarp now. The freeze/thaw could damage it.

Faery lights put away for winter.

First frost Oct. 23  and I put the heater in. By the time I returned from the forest, it was melting.

I usually pop the white outdoor Christmas tree on the top of the overturned barrel. The bottom has rotted out of it. I think I figured out a stand for it. Now, all I need is my helpers to put it together! They are happily back at school, though.

Of course, I'll be mulching leaves awhile longer!

Ditch diving resulted in a half bag of beer cans, face masks, plastic bottles...

The chimney cover is a bit tilted. I'll do that when I do the eavestrough.

The deck is cleared, ready for snow!

A dirty bird pooped on the window. I went outside with a spray bottle of water, but it did nothing. I ended up removing the screen, and opening the window as wide as possible, and slid my arm behind to clean off the spot.

I decided to go put my feet up and watch a movie, but sadly they are starting Christmas movies! NNNnnnnoooooo!

At midnight, Chad Coyote had a treat, prosciutto which JB didn't like. Chad left his mark, as well. 

   

 Chad begins up at the house, crossing the property at trailcam #1, travelling 250m past trailcams #2 and #3.

  

 

Saturday's Critters

 My faithful readers will recall that I am working on eradicating a yellow jacket nest. I'd left a couple of holes, and was waiting each day for sunshine to see if they come out or if they are gone.  One morning, I peeked out into the nest and spotted a blue-spotted salamander. It was a good size, and I hauled it out. It was pretty cold overnight and they are cold-blooded, needing external heat. I put it in the garden, under some leaves. It was gone when I checked later.

It was even cool enough that the cats elected to go back to bed.

There is lots of action outside. Everything is pairing up! cowbirds 

 

Chad coyote  is on his own, mind you. At least he didn't pee on camera this time!

 

 

The woodpecker is creating a home.

woodpecker from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I continue to be less than pleased with this trailcam. I didn't spend enough money on it! The thing is meant for larger animals, I suspect. I've spent a week tweaking it. ducks on pond  

 

As always, I've selected the best still for each thumbnail, but the action is what I find fun!

JB spotted a pair of muskrats last week. I found a lone one in the frogpond. It'd be great if they moved in. Last time they did, they had 6 kits, and cleared out all of the phragmites! muskrat Apr 16  

 

Finally, to make you smile, the bunny bounced by. "Quick and sprightly," to quote Isabelle!

 

We are now in a new lockdown. If you are stopped by police you must give your home address (which is on our driver's licence), can get a $750 ticket for breaching rules, and refusal to comply can result in charges. The police in several cities are saying they aren't going to randomly stop people.

We must stay home, but to go to work, get childcare, exercise, get groceries, go to school, walk the dog, get medical treatment, is all OK. Sigh. I'll keep you posted.

For more critters: 

Saturday's Critters # 383

Monday's critters

We are hanging in here. It's going to be a busy week with appointments. We schedule them when we are not caregiving grandies. We took it easy on the weekend, except Saturday our food order was scheduled. I made a few mistakes. It's rather funny. I ordered both a single avocado and a bag of them. Also, instead of small bottles of spices, I got the biggies. Finally, I ordered a full pot pie, for Jos for next week instead of a single serving size, and mistakenly ordered the family-sized lasagna. That's too much for us. JB cannot have either. That fine print! 

Everything has been waking up, two-legged friends are flying back from their winter homes, four-legged friends are more active. I've set up a camera at the frog pond. The ducks are back.

Cinnamon frogging was happy to accompany me down to the pond. There were wood frogs mating. He was fascinated. I watched him, as I walked up the hill he remained on the dock just wishing he could reach them.

 

 The mallard ducks  were on the pond Sunday morning. 

They weren't on the trailcam. I'll have to reposition it. You can hear them squawking in the video. They flew around above the tree canopy, complaining to me.

 

The deer are busy. They've been mulching my iris in the back yard (below). Happily, they are leaving my daffodils alone. Our little bunny has been nibbling my tulips. Ah, nature!

The Running deer  are going in circles around the big pine tree in the back. The yearlings are quite ready for spring.

 

Zola is hoofing it a bit more. Our other broken-legged deer, Maggie, hung in for 10 years!

 

There was a brief sighting of Chad📹. 

 Butch continues to make me giggle. They are looking for grubs. They do it on the back lawn, as well. Butch comes and goes  

This silly 1-second video is a result of a low battery. Still Butch makes me happy.

 

First phoebe of the season, April 4th. It would have been my mom's birthday, in 1925.

You can laugh at the excitement in my voice. We need all the excitement we can get. 1st phoebe 

 

The hawk  did a flyby.

Looking out the bathroom, I thought I saw something on top of this bird nest. I roared outside. I think it was the red squirrel. You can't see anything, but the cardinal has been declaring his territory. He's dabbled in it, singing now and then, but this is now serious. Cardinal song  

 

Yesterday, we began our first Western Chorus Frog survey. It's a challenge.