Saturday's Critters

We are teeming with the promise of spring. We've two phoebe nests, a robin's nest, as well as the House Wrens who are filling two boxes!

Aside from last week's bucks, I haven't seen many deer except this one on the trailcam. They are off to their summer habitats.

forest deer from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The frogpond is teeming with life.

May 8th, tadpoles and fairy shrimp in the frogpond.

tadpoles from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I was enjoying the back deck, and a bumble bee got stuck on my side of the glass!

bumble bee from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

A regular visitor, Butch came by the frogpond trailcam.

butch raccoon from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We don't have any wood ducks nesting in any of our three nest boxes. They are around, however. They go from the frogpond on the right, to the wetland on the left.

ducks from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

May 7th, we had a coyote go by. It has unusual markings that will make it easy to spot. I posted it to the FB trailcam page, wondering if it might be a fox. I was duly corrected! It appeared again.

 

coyote from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

For more critters, visit Eileen! Saturday's Critters # 491

 

Crumbly Acres Critters

Yesterday was a lovely day, except for the haze from the Alberta wildfires. It is so hard to believe, but it is true. The smoke is wafting across the continent, a mere 3000+ km.  

The noise of the arborists haven't seemed to phase the wildlife. The 🐣PHOEBEs  under the deck have had a cowbird add an egg. This happened once before, but the phoebe abandoned the nest, and left one phoebe egg and the cowbird egg. 

The 🐣ROBIN hunkered down most of the day, with the eggs I found in the shed added to her nest.  

Percy is doing well. He's happier in the warmth of the day, our nights have been chilly and near 0 C. I've been feeding him, as there isn't a lot of action.

Walking to 'the back 40' to check out the wood duck nest box (no takers), I found the trillium blooming.

In the garden, my mysterious tulip bulb has bloomed. it's been here 6 years, as far as I can recall. I think they are the special Canada's 150th birthday tulips. These are the ones that didn't hold their red and white colours, but come up with a yellow tinge. The rabbit quite likes the tulips, she got them last year!

The horse chestnut leaves...

The 🐣HOUSE WRENs are back!

😼OREGANO Pepper cat 

Pepper May 5 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We've a red fox, a frequent flyer! I'm pretty sure it is a fox. It has interesting markings.

 

red fox from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Then there are ducks on the pond:

ducks 2 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Saturday's Critters

A whirlwind week on  Crumbly Acres! (<= story is there)!   The critters are returning, or becoming more active. I heard gunshots yesterday, it sounded like a single gun doing target practice with 6 shots, a pause and 6 shots. Perfectly legal on your own property, but distressing to the wildlife. Not on the gun range. And shortly thereafter there was a barred owl in our forest. That was lovely to hear. 

Percy goldfish seems quiet, but it is chilly in the goldfish pond. 

We've still a leaking, broken outdoor tap, but they are slammed, like all the trades, and won't get a plumber until next Friday. 

Our arborists were to come today, but we've heavy rains. We'll see what happens. 

The gray tree frogs are awake! They call for females to breed, then hop down to the wetland to lay eggs.

When we were cleaning out the garage, I could hear it. I was worried it was in the garage, but it is inside the wheel of the garden hose!

froggie from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I could hear the gray tree frog, it took a couple of days to figure out where it was! He was there last year, too.

tree frog in the water barrel! from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I've since removed this handy little bird bath, thank you AC, but before I did it had a visitor! Every time we are in the garage, it keeps trying to get in at the bird seed. There is only a little left, soon I'll wind all that down. Our bear hasn't come back, good thing.

 

Dratted Red Squirrel from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The cardinal is still banging away on the windows, fighting his shadow. No bugs there, just a possible rival for his mate's attention! He does this on our picture window, as well. The cats rush to the window!

   

 In and on Golden Pond:

 

Saturday's Critters # 489  <= visit more critters here! Thanks to Eileen for hosting. 

Critter tails

Butch raccoon – we haven't seen them too much.

Butch from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I'm having trouble with this trailcam. I'm still working on it for duck season. Two of our nesting boxes have been tested, but no feathers in there yet. That is the sign that they are preparing the nest. 

 

ducks on pond from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I don't know what prompted him to go into full feather mode. No other turkeys around!

Tom Turkey from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I like grackles. They have the most beautiful colours. The first was from Bala, the second, from a Westport restaurant where we used to sit on their patio.

We've a half dozen grackles. I don't know if they are going to stay. They really are quite funny.

 

grackles from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Cinnamon and I went walkies. When we returned to the house, there was Dratted Red Squirrel! DRS got away, and chittered at him from up in the tree.

 

Cinnamon & DRS from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The feeders are coming down soon, as it will be bear season. Next, I shall have to put up the fence around my garden. That worked really well last year. The deer have already lopped off a few tulips. 

A drive on a sunny day!

After our rains over the beginning of the week, JB suggested a drive in the sunshine, just to get out of the house. Off we went to Old Kingston Rd.

This is my favourite drive-by shooting. Topiary! This is a gift. 

I spontaneously suggested we hang a right on #38, and we ended up at Mill Pond Conservation Area. We've been before: Mill Pond Conservation Area, Oct. 26th, 2020, coincidentally. We were there Wed., Oct. 27th. It's a tough hike, the full one. We just did a short one down to the canoe launch. 

We met a lot of dog walkers. Some were on a leash, some not. One barrelled up to us on at the water's edge, no owner in sight. Its owner had dropped its leash, and was yapping away at us. I yelled at it in frustration, and the owner yelled, reassured me it wouldn't hurt me. Jeez Louise. I must admit, it's been a tough few weeks for several reasons, and I just needed peace and quiet. 

We met four people with dogs, and I understand it is a great place for them. I just didn't need the stress.

We hopped back in the car. Well, we rehydrated first, some smart man had brought water, and huffing and puffing were happy to sit! We hung a right onto another boat launch, Portland Class 1 Viewing Trail.

There were lots of waterfowl! I didn't bring the tripod, and you'll just have to trust me, but there were geese, buffleheads, mergansers, and the sights and sounds were lovely.

There are still patches of colour!

Next place was Narrows Lock. They are busy shutting the locks down for winter. There were only a couple of birds, the water being a bit rough here.

On Wildlife Road I spotted two neighbours both out doing their lawns at the same time. One was on a green John Deere, the other on a red lawn tractor. We giggled.

Then, two cyclists, the first in green, the second in red! What a hoot!

It was a lovely drive. I did a bit of stretching, as the hill at the Mill Pond Area is somewhat steep. It was good to get out in the sunshine. Autumn chores are coming along. I've a long list, like last year! I have to pace myself. 

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