Critters!

There are so many critters about! First, the photos.
Finally, they've settled on a location. Four more little phoebe eggs.

I thought I'd love a photo of the eggs. It's tricky. She wasn't there when I was filling the fountain. 

I secured a sun visor mirror to a long-handled paint roller. With my left hand I snagged a photo with the videocamera!

The allium are in bloom. I took a photo of the bumble bee. Can you see who photobombed it?

The tent caterpillars have arisen. It was a bad year with huge numbers last year. We'll see how it goes this year. There is usually a cycle.


Gardening, I had someone roll on through while I was working. Can you see her?

Then, reading on the back deck, a notable sawyer visited. They seem so prehistoric!

My rain gauge has a bouncer. If it doesn't like you, you're dinner! I've left it, as there are a few bugs getting into it!


We haven't seen Fred gopher in a long time. He likes milkweed, apparently.
Fred from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

After we arrived home from our trip, we found a doe filling her face.
Deer June 16 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Trailcam tails 

This is a composite video. First, I spotted another quick mink, I copied and put it on slow motion, as it was so quick. Next the porcupine, and then the two turkeys we've been seeing daily.




trailcam from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Butch, searching for bugs. I love seeing the little thing dig, with those little opposable thumbs.

Butch from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

In the backyard...


Now, this is from a Twitter post. I know our deer have given birth, but haven't seen any. I shall keep watching. Do you know what a fawn sounds like??!! I've never heard one. I can imagine, it would ensure the bond between mother and offspring.

This is what a wee fawn sounds like❤️
Toronto, ON 🇨🇦
📹 toanimalservicespic.twitter.com/zM0C0XxbtW

— Kelly Canuck🍁 (@KellyCanuckTO) June 20, 2019

For more critters:

Saturday's Critters #288

We have a new critter, named Fred!

I spotted her near the rocks

Me an' Felix last December, her cave is to the right.

Freddie, the groundhog! She is pretty. But pretty silly to hang out here! These are the rocks where Buster & Felix like to check for prey...

She might have as many as a half-dozen babies in her cave.

Groundhogs hibernate, and wake in spring, gorging themselves on grasses, plants, fruits, tree bark. 

Herbivores, they are rodents, and the largest members of the squirrel family.

She lives in a cave

They get to be up to 60 cm, or 24", not including their tails, and weigh up to 6 kg, or 13 lbs.

I can see you! She eyes me from the dark...

I love this pose! So typical.

These rodents like woodlands, where field meets forest. You can see from the video how perfect this is for her.
Her cave is on the far side of the lawn.

I imagine I won't attempt much of a veggie garden, which is nearby. She might have been the one, last year, who uprooted my squash and cucumber plants! Between her, and Butch, the raccoon, plus white-tailed Labbit, I haven't a hope!

I hid behind the tree, sneaking up to peek around it and snap this shot. I'm getting better at this!

Silly critter lives on the edge of our yard.

Groundhog Day!

I'd nearly forgotten. We don't have many around here. Too much swamp. Otty Lake nearby is only 80' deep! 

This one didn't make it across our busy highway.

This one did!

'Otty Lake', must be something to do with otters. This is what their tracks look like, this from a walk in the woods.

flora and fauna

bowing to the wind and rain--
Robespierre muskrat chops off her head

and then there is the gopher!