Saturday's Critters

 🐸 My latest 🍁Autumn chore has been to move frogs in the shallow goldfish pond down to the wetland frogpond. It is good exercise, but it is getting colder. The frogs are getting ready to hibernate. It is great the wee pond gives them a suitable habitat, but once Winter arrives, and the freeze-thaw happens, it isn't good for them.

I managed to lift 32 this week: 

Oct. 11  a.m. –  7 frogs moved

Oct. 11 p.m.  –  7 frogs

Oct. 12 p.m.  – 13 frogs

Oct. 13 p.m. –    5     =   32 total.

The trailcams have been busy. Critters are on the move, looking for food. Some are choosing a winter hibernation spot. 

The doe seems to travel by on a regular basis. They are so pretty.

Doe a deer from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Butch raccoon is happily putting on their winter fat stores.

Butch raccoon from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

As usual, the coyote had to poop on camera!

coyote 0ct 9 poopies from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We had a cottontail zip on by. Don't blink! I don't remember getting one recently. It was raining.

bunny Oct 9 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Next, a skunk, tail erect!

skunk Oct 10 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Last, but not least, we had a single bear amble through.

bear Oct. 4 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Thanks fo Eileen for hosting our meeting! Saturday's Critters # 513

Windflower, Lenten Rose, Tulip

🐣PHOEBE

 First phoebe egg May 7th. The cats are intrigued, as they can see and hear them flying under the deck. Fortunately, it's only 0 C. and they went out and came back in for breakfast rather quickly. I may put a baffle up for the robin's nest, as Cinnamon climbed the post last year. Happily, he's a bit heavier this year, and may not be able to do it! 

Phoebe loves the daffodil garden. They'll perch on the fairy lights, keeping an eye out for bugs.

This photo is from May, 2016! I try not to bother the phoebe too much. We had a contractor in to give us an estimate for new eavestrough. The birds are phased by the action, but come back. Phoebe is reusing a nest from 2016 on top of the green shelf.

Cinnamon and I went walkies. He'll meow to get out in the afternoon, then wait on the front deck for me. Off we went. His first stop is a roll around on the pile of dirt. 

Waiting for my walking pal, I took a photo of the flowers. My Lenten Rose is magnificent this year. Tons of blooms, maybe 8 or 9! 

Grecian windflower

And I'm up to 3 tulips, including this pretty pink one. Take that, deer!

Off we went to the frogpond. This was trip #2 for me. The batteries on the farthest trailcam were needing some more juice. 

We passed the robin's nest in the big old white pine tree. They are all around this area. I didn't notice the brown creeper, even though I took my zoom lens. Perhaps it was too cold for her. I think I could use a monopod stand, as the lens is very heavy to lug around without the tripod. That will be my plan when it warms up this week – before the mosquitoes are bad!

Batteries reinserted, we headed back to the forest. Cinnamon wanted to sit on the tree stump. He watched a red-wing blackbird intently, but he knew it was too far away. 

The wetland is greening up. So good to see. Off in the middle ground, something grabbed Cinn's attention. 

I had my rubber boots on and I found the frog. Cinnamon wasn't too interested. He anticipated something more exciting than a cold frog, I think. 

It was Isabelle's 12th birthday Saturday. Izzy and Caitlin did a Facetime with me. Grampa was out fetching groceries. We'd sent her a card. Caitlin's MIL is there, so there is no end of celebrants at their house! I grabbed a screenshot to show grampa.

Happy Mother's Day – to all who mother one another. The cats were up early to prepare a sumptuous display for me! Wasn't that sweet?! 

Chores, Snuggle Bears, fencing

Sunday was a wonderful day in terms of weather. The sun shone, I didn't need a jacket! I did a lot of yard work. The thermometer made it to 26 C. This morning it is only 10 C., with clouds. The furnace is off, but I may just have to turn it back on.

Last night, just before bed, I peeked out into the Muskoka Room and two cats were happily snuggled in the cat bed. 

First frog of the season in the goldfish pond. It disappeared later. They don't usually show up in the pond until the wetland dries up. 

🍃seeds grow

The veggies were happy in the sunshine. I remembered to bring them in that night.

Chores

 Repairing the bird bath was a bit of a mess. We'll see how it holds up. Otherwise, it's a trip to Kemptville and another $50 to replace it. 

The deer are beginning to eat my garden, so the chicken wire fence is up. We've only a few deer left hanging around, as far as I can tell.

In the lower right of the second photo is the hosta they trimmed for me. Next, I have to take the bird feeder down, I've just a potful of seed to use up. The first photo is from last year, just before a couple were lopped off. This is why I need to put up chicken wire! The deer love the flowers...

Dratted red squirrel thought the arrangement quite lovely!

The daffodils in the front yard are lovely. I bought 100 a couple of years ago. They promised they would 'naturalize' and spread. Not so much. 

Don't tell the deer, but you can see that I hid a clump of tulips in front of the daffodils on the left. Deer don't like daffies, but they adore tulips. They've grazed on the leaves just outside the front door. I offer proof that there are tulips there, for now! I'll keep you posted.

Cinnamon and I took a walk around the wetland shoreline. You can hear the birds, and the moss are such a beautiful green colour. It warms the heart.

Cinnamon in the swamp from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

🐻SNUGGLE Bears

They were dancing around the May Pole for May 1st! The bears had to dance in the guest room. I was washing our sheets!

🐣ROBINS

This is an archived photo, but there are two robin eggs, so far! It's been a bit chilly since they laid them, as well as cloudy. We'll see what happens. The phoebe are still working on the nest on the shelf. Yay, SPRING!

Saturday Critters!

Things are slowly turning. I've 16 froggies in the goldfish pond. Happily, it is raining and I may be able to find a spot to put them before freeze up. The pond is too shallow for them to hunker down in over the winter.

I went shopping for pumpkins! 

First up, briefly, the coyote. S/he left its mark in the backyard, too! coyote 

Then, there is Butch. I counted 7!

   

 I haven't seen porcupine in ages!

 

The doe ran from our furthest lot towards the trailcam, with a giant leap! It is impressive. doe aleaping  

  

A doe and young 'un were nibbling in the front yard in the pouring rain. singing in the rain! 

  

For more critters, visit Eileen #407.

Critters caught on camera

There is more action on the trailcams, now that the bugs have lessened, and it's not so hot in the sun. The raccoons have appeared more often. Suddenly, 6 raccoons, although we lost kit one up the highway.

 When I went down to the meadow, I spotted a leopard frog and a wood frog. meadow frogs 

 

Butch hopping after the frogs in the meadow! This makes me laugh so much! Butch raccoon hopping  

The birdbath has been a hit with all. 

The birdbath in the dark is lovely to see in the night. This video took two tries! birdbath  

There was a bird at the pond  who showed that not all the bugs have gone. 

Doe and fawn  "Wait for me!"  

Cats, birds, and others

The cats have been quite busy. Early in the week, it was really cold. They hunkered down on the front deck, not moving.




Potential craft.



We're watching the birds!

On our way home from the hostage exchange, I noticed a building was gone!

The girls have been bird watching. I've been feeding the birds, again. I'm bringing them in at night. It seems to be working.

Down on the trailcam



Butch 1 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.