Crumbly Acres in snow

Thank you for your kind comments on our trip to Ottawa and Caitlin's concert. It was nostalgic. Life changes so much over the years. It sure brought me back.

 That was a fast weekend. It's good to be busy and out of the house! It's good to be home, as well. 

I threw out peanuts for #75, our rehabbed release squirrel. We released him in May. I am not sure he is using his nest box.

He is a hoot. He grabbed one peanut where I tossed them, and ran back to the horse chestnut tree. Then he buried it in the snow at the base of the trees. He repeated that. Then went up the tree, across to the evergreen, and buried it in the snow under that tree. Again, rinse and repeat! 

Along came his buddy. Honestly, the only the way I can tell them apart is where they go when they are done feeding. This one goes towards the driveway. 

75 went back to the chestnut tree and took out a couple of peanuts he'd buried and ate them. He dropped one whilst eating, and then joined buddy under the bird feeder.

The cardinals are a bright spot of colour.

I don't know if I like the photo of him eating better than his thoughtful pose!

We still have a starling hanging about. 

Their colours are lovely, changing with breeding season.

In May, 2012, I spotted a juvenile European Starling on the gravel near the mailbox. I had help identifying it, as juvenile birds can be such a challenge to ID.

The deer have returned. I love the snow on its face. They've a thick coat that insulates them. 

The one in the foreground has hurt her back left leg. We'll see how she does. 

I've noticed #75 going up and down the trees, finding the bird seed the blue jays have cached in the tree.

   

 Prior to our big snowfall, the fisher and coyote were doing inspections of Barry Beaver's lodge. There was no sign of them after the snow.

 

Saturday's Critters

 Let's catch up on the critters, shall we? Saturday's Critters # 475 <= thanks to Eileen for hosting!

Do you remember the poor fawn with the wrecked up foot? This was Dec., 2023.

She is still hanging in.

  

hurt fawn from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I found an in image of one with a similar injury a few years back, just like the injury back in December. Their legs seem so fragile. This was from another year, I'm having trouble dating it. 

Down by the frogpond...

  

forest deer from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Caitlin calls him a snow noodle! Jan 13th.

fisher from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The first image I inserted in the video dates from prior to the snowfall – to give you an idea of the snowfall! Richard Deer, doe.

deer friends from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

These are hungry times! This was a Jeopardy clue the other day: "women come and go / talking of _______ !" 

Chad Coyote comes and goes from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We have young bucks, who look like triplets. We've a doe who had another set this past year. The males leave their mother, while the does hang out together. One buck has lost one antler, I'm still looking to see if his buddies have lost theirs. It is interesting the other two have not. Same environment, habitat, weather and climate, different hormone strengths.

Young buck from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Richard was sitting under the tree at 7:30 in the morning, chewing his cud, for a long time. Taken through the kitchen window, he sat in shelter under the tree in the snow. Jan. 20/23

Bucks from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Caitlin came up with the title:

Two males, Richard and another (young) buck. They are playful with one another.

"You're in my spot!" from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.