On the deck and down under

You'll recall we visited the Stewart Park Music Festival July 14 - 16th this month. It was sad to read that there have been some reports of COVID breakouts amongst musicians, volunteers and attendees. Maybe a couple dozen cases, but who knows? Our health unit isn't testing anymore, nor tracking cases other than in long-term care. It really is disappointing. We are fine, having just walked around briefly. 

It has been glorious in the safety of the back deck. The foliage is amazing. We were graced by the presence of a Question Mark butterfly. They, and the Eastern Comma, like to lay eggs in the vine, on the yummy leaves.

Look at the size of the leaves! 

It really is wonderful to see who exists in this habitat. These two hung out there all day.

This is, I think, a Tiger Moth caterpillar. They have various colours, so it is tricky to identify them.

This one has morphed. I am way too tired and stressed with all that is going on to do any research. We will be happy to see whomever visits us. There are lots of them on the hops vine.

caterpillar from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

It is Tiger Lily season! I have mercilessly picked off the lily bugs, and the plants have survived. They make me so happy.

Then there is Fred. They have dug another entrance hole under the deck. That makes 3 entrances. There is a well-trod path to the lilac tree which provides safety.

Fred July 21 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

P.S. We're back in the smoke.

🛬 🛬 🛬 🛬 🛬 🛬 🛬 🛬 🛬 🛬 🛬 🛬 🛬 🛬

The Fearsome Foursome Flyers are in Australia. Meanwhile, at home, their kitchen renos are coming along. The other gramma is there, taking photos and monitoring progress for them. They have walls and a new half wall, plumbing and electrical are done!

They headed off to Bondi Beach, but first visited Vinnie's, AKA St. Vincent de Paul. This was their plan, to buy some warmer clothes for the trip, and leave them behind. It makes packing much easier! 

bondi beach from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

It makes me happy seeing them enjoy the beach!

Critter time

We range from small to large!

I know AC does some lovely photography, and I thought of him as I realized the difference between these photos. Mind you, it wasn't on purpose. My cataracts worsen as I await surgery. I'm happy with the autofocus most days. Which do you prefer?


The Question Mark chrysalis under the stove vent eclosed today, too! It's a bit dark, as we are having rain.

I'm so sad, this monarch isn't viable. I found it on the ground. Placing it on a food source, the phlox, I left it be.

Hooper has had a bit of an incident! He has a scratch on his nose...

These are screen captures from videos. We still have monarchs pushing through, several to emerge. This one was flying around the yard.


The turkeys grazed the back yard for us. They are all about a lot of the time.


And now, the videos!
I'd watched trailcam videos of the turkeys, and they were quite quiet. Suddenly, there was a capture of them clucking at the forest. I wondered what was giving them grief!

We've watched these turkey chicks go from small to nearly adult-sized. I love how the females watch over their combined broods, and the males waltz around without worries!


I'm loving how the trailcams capture different moments in the secret life of our forest dwellers. The fox thought it got away – just a blur on trailcam #1, but it appeared on trailcam 2!


I was out in the backyard, filling the fountain, and spotted a doe, followed by two fawns. I was disappointed, as I couldn't figure out where they had gone. I rushed over to the top of the hill, above the meadow, and they seemed to run on the other side. Then, recovering the trailcam footage, there they were!


The butterflies are grabbing the last of the pollen.


Feeder action: this is the silly mourning dove that perched here for a long time. It ignored the blue jays.

Our big buck was curious about the trailcam.

For more critters...

Saturday's Critters # 300

Where did June go?

Here we are, settled back in after our trip to Muskoka. June flew by with 101mm rain.  It was a beautiful drive. Along the way I could hear the birds in the forest. It was spectacular, as they trilled away.
Once home, I fetched the trailcam photos and promptly set the trailcams to video, now that I could monitor them again.

We have frequent cast members: two bucks, a doe, coyotes, raccoons.



The goldfish are looking good. They have a friend.

Our hops vine has been growing majestically. The question mark and comma butterflies like it and lay eggs here.

Once home, back to routines. Usually, I work out at 10 a.m., but with the heat, I took it easy. July 2nd, I went out at 11:00 to get the SD cards. Look who was there about an hour before me!

On the trailcam,  a fine male bear. (You can see dangling evidence of his gender!) He's a good bear. I haven't seen any signs of him around the house. I did see some bear poop June 10th, so he's not a frequent visitor.

bear Jul 2 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Donning my hoodie, and bug spray, I ventured forth.
Next, I think it is a grouse and her two (at least) chicks. I've run into them twice in the grasses. I thought it was a hawk family, but it is not. (The hawk that got away)
mystery bird from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Just a lovely spot of colour!
 
Scarlet Tanager from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
young buck from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

You're not supposed to have the trailcam face east, but that's where the trail lies.
Hooper from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The tadpoles are busy in the pond, as well.
tadpoles from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

For more critters...

Saturday's Critters #290

I'm a mummy again!

Not really, but it feels like it. I've been watching the chrysalis, the caterpillar had unusual colours. Just to be sure, my expert waited for an ID until it emerged from the chrysalis. I wanted to do a workout, and I put the toilet paper roll in a container, and asked hubby to babysit!
My workout done, back outside. Setting up the camera was tricky.

 I had some technical issues, at first. S/he chose a toilet paper roll in which to form the chrysalis. This was tricky for photography. I set up the videocam to run. I supplemented the light source with a flashlight. It really helped, but it was too much, so I put a bit of leftover screening across the glass. It was perfect. Then, I sat and read the newspaper.




I had stuff to do in the house, and went back to check on it.

If you watch the video you'll notice, at the end,  it was gone! PANIC! I rewound the video, and found it had emerged and crawled away. I knew that they took about an hour to stretch and dry their wings. Sure enough. There it was, hanging off of the screen I use as a cover to the aquarium.

You can tell its species, by the little white question mark on the underside of its wing. The foreside is a bright orange, with black dots. There is much variation in their wing colours.

Drying its wings

Getting ready to go!

Aren't they pretty?
They have a variety of shades.
This one is from 2014.