Spring means rain!

First, to answer Barb's question: " Will they nest in a tree, or do they need a box?"

They do nest in trees, but I have two nest boxes on the property. People on the lake have installed nest boxes, and taken some of my customers! That's okay, I've lots of photos and we want them to survive.

 Friday was an amazing day. I got so much done outside after days of cool, cold, and intermittent or heavy rains!

#75 was soaked!

The coyotes took down a fawn. The crows are gathering its fur from time-to-time. They don't like me watching them. Clever birds.

I'm keeping an eye on Barry Beaver's work. The water is high, which bodes well for his lodges and wetland protection.

Our heavy rains means Barry Beaver has a safe place to hide, in the wetland.

Aren't they precious?!

I managed to get the water fountain going. It's a miracle. It may be too early, with an overnight low of -4 ℃, but if it keep moving that'll keep it going. When I unwrapped it, it was full of snow water. I shall have to remember to cover it a little better next winter. (Non-mental note!)

I was ready for a shower and jammies after!

Saturday's Critters

 I'm so happy to see the sparrows come back!

chipping sparrow from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

They are interesting critters, wild turkeys!

 

wild turkeys from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Brown Creeper – March 29, 2015

This is what they do:

 

Have you ever heard one? I had to look it up on BirdNET, despite seeing it a minute before climbing up a tree looking for lunch. This was this week in mating season.

 

brown creeper from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The crows like the cracked corn. I put some out for the ducks, hoping for tenants for my wood duck nesting boxes.

 

frogpond from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

They like selfies!

 

doe selfie from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Thanks to Eileen for hosting. Saturday's Critters # 488

Spring means ducks

Phoebe's nest still awaits its owners, well, builders, to move in. It is very pretty. It's been a tad chilly, again.

We should get our trees cleaned up next week. 

The forsythia is in bloom. I don't know if it will get better than this. I thought it prudent to take photos now. This could be it, or it could have more blooms, or I might forget all about it, since it hides behind a tree in our front yard!

I'm still watching Pepper. Here is a photo of Nutmeg to compare his size. He's not as big as Cinnamon, but Cinn sure is afraid of him.

Pepper from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We went for a drive to Narrows Lock in the sunshine. I saw a pair of mergansers and hooded mergansers. I wasn't feeling well, so we headed back home. I have archive photos from Bala, Muskoka!

The frog pond has mallards and wood ducks. These were taken in Muskoka, and Vancouver Park. 

 

I find it impossible to get any photos of our ducks on the frog pond. They spook too easily, seeing me coming down the hill they flee. 

I cannot get photos, but I have set up the trailcam traps. Somebody likes the cracked corn I put out for the ducks!

 

dock tails from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Saturday's Critters

 The birds are coming back! Starlings, red-winged blackbirds, grackles, robins, vultures, and someone on Facebook has heard a timberdoodle, too! 

 

Sometimes the robins hang around for the winter, but not this year. 

The male cardinal has been singing his spring song, as well. We had two pair, but I think we are down to one. The male keeps coming to the window, attacking his own reflection. The cats love it!

I shall start with the hopes of spring. Friday morning, I stood on the back deck and heard the robin singing for love! They've been around a few weeks, but the songs... 💕

robin on the driveway from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

It's tough navigating on the slushy snow.

doe from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Butch raccoon is hot to trot!

butch raccoon from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The crows hang out with the deer. The crows have been quite active and vocal, it is their mating season.

  

crows & deer from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Down in the forest, a fisher.

 

fisher from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We are looking to ice pellets or snow, rain after midnight. I set up the rain barrel, hoping to fill the goldfish pond. I may regret that! We shall see.

Thanks to Eileen for hosting faithfully. Saturday's Critters # 484

Lots of critters out and about!

 Christmas is approaching. We've been having fun digging out stuff from the basement. These photos are from last year, just for reference. I had trouble remembering what I put under the train track to make it stable. We made the train go, but it was wobbly, I had to start again from the beginning. This year I've used a yellow tablecloth, as the red one is on the dining room table. 

The action continues outside. Any noise and the climb. It's safer that way!

 

treed Butch raccoon from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

This young 'un fancied a selfie.

 

deer selfie from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We have our winter herd! You can see their eyes! There seemed to be six of them. Nov. 29

 

deer herd from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I woke at 4:30, but managed to sleep in until 6:00! I was so happy with that.  It is garbage day, I must bundle up and get it out. We cannot put it out the night before, since we've critters about! The crows are bad in the daytime, but the other critters get into it if you put it out overnight.

More bugs and blooms!

The wildflowers on Lot #3 are amazing. The ground is very shallow here.

The Hops vines are growing like mad. Our growing season is so short! You can see the sparrow near the middle of the photo!

This is lot 2, and this area was covered in sumac, only some remain in the background. Previous owners, maybe the first one, mowed it all down. I transplanted the cedar on the right. It's coming along.

I spotted a monarch this morning. Our milkweed isn't as prolific as it was. We have some, though.

Can you see it? On the coleus! 

I think this is a cicada, but I'm not sure! I have to do more research.

UPDATE: I submitted it to iNaturalist, and it is Black Horse Fly, Tabanus atratus.

I was watering the garden, and accidentally watered one. It had to dry off some, and I apologised.

Cicada from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo. Black Horse Fly, Tabanus atratus

Horseflies: one flew up under my dress and bit my leg!

Blonde Butch comes by, often around 4 p.m., and I love seeing her in the grasses. I'm letting the wild flowers have their day, and I'll use the lawn tractor.  Blonde Butch from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Out in the forest, the crows are just a hoot. 

4 crows from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.