Another snowy day!

 The cats were to go in for their annual exams and shots. We deferred it to a day without 7 cm snow. 

It was quite a snowy day. 

I noticed a rock I that wasn't very snow covered. Turns out it was Labbit chewing dead weeds and plants.

 

I posted photos of little Nutmeg the other day. This is her quiet spot. She didn't get the memo that I was washing sheets!

This is their daytime spot, in the sunshine. 

The cats get pretty tired squirrel and bird watching! I had 4 house finches, amongst others. 

chickadee

There are two pairs of cardinals!

The two males at the same time!

We finished off 🎥 Darby and Joan (AU) this week. The new one is a 6-show series: Protection (UK 2024 - miniseries) 6 episodes. I was quite happy to have a hot shower and put my feet up having done the driveway and refilled bird feeders.

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. 

 

Bird watching

 Bird watching from the window is grand. This old fart is happy bird watching from the warmth. I did snowshoe yesterday, more on that later!

The seed catcher has been working well. I enlarged the holes in the bottom as the small seeds were getting caught in the holes. It has been fun seeing the Mourning Doves feeding there. They do poop, though. I inverted the old, split plastic piece in it, which will make it easier to clean. I have to clean out the bird bath daily, as the doves poop in that, too!

I did a bird count for FeederWatch.org and reported THREE male cardinals, all chasing one another. The female went after a male, as well?!  Feeder Watch encourages citizen naturalists to report mammals around the feeder. The Dratted Red Squirrel have dug their winter tunnels. The tunnels run from the base of the feeder, under the snow, opening out under the Horse Chestnut tree. We do have an owl and hawk.

I can never tell Purple Finches apart from House Finches. We had three of them. 

Some birds tolerate others more readily.

This was funny, with the mourning dove coming in for a landing, and the male finch taking off:

I asked the Cardinal to move a little aside, you can see the Finch behind him. 

We've three Goldfinches, as well.

This camera on the deck has been tricky.

cardinals Jan 18 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Happy birding birders! 

Bird watching

 I guess seeing red squirrel is just a bonus! These are from the front window. With the recent cold snap, it is just lovely watching from inside. Of course, we were nowhere near as cold as the prairies. Right, Red?! You were at - 30 C., while we were only -10 c.!

American tree sparrow:

White breasted nuthatch:

Tappy cardinal:

Junco:

Mourning doves:

Downy woodpecker:

They sure like the bird bath, although they aren't bathing in -10 C. temperatures!

I moved the Wingscapes camera, you can see the lights on it.

It captures cats, as well as birds. 

It is tricky, as you have to set the focus prior to setting it out. It's hit and miss the critters.

 

cinnamon from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

cardinal from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

This cardinal is a nut! Can you see him in the tree outside the window?

He was tapping on the bathroom window, seeing his reflection and an enemy. My blue heron statues watches, but so do the cats.