Saturday's Critters

 The back deck has been the safest place to be for me! The bugs don't like the overhang. It's the coolest, in the shade. That said, I do have to garden and visit trailcams.

Meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe said on CBC's The National ticks are  'crawling bags of pathogens.' 

There was one turkey just sitting there in the grass! It didn't want its picture taken and took off. I'd be happier with a flock. They eat ticks! 

In the pine tree, the vireo nest is popping. This is one I found in winter, just to show you the size.

Red-eyed Vireo watches from a nearby tree.

Cinnamon loves this spot. It has been so hot, the air conditioner was on, but 'if I fits, I sits!'

 

After I reported the June 26th encounter with the fox (on yesterday's post), Fred and one Fredlet popped out of the woods after two days. Either the third miniFred has found a new burrow, or fox got him. She had 4 kits, and this one seems inclined to cling to Momma. 

I had fun bear watching!

   

 I think there are two! A young one and a mature one.

 

Saturday's Critters # 602 <= visit Eileen's collection here.

Crumbly Acres is full of song!

 Big news about the Phoebe brood, all are gone as of Saturday afternoon. 

Non-mental note: a Veery was singing at the top of his lungs, and some birds are laying another brood.

I happened upon a Red-eyed vireo nest!

They weave in strips of birch bark. I scared the little thing, but she flew up in surprise as well!

I often encounter them around here.

There is more fun. The House Wren is back! They like the Bluebird nest box. 

The songs are wonderful.

 

Camera Critters

I arrived home Thursday from Ottawa. Mini-Freds have been digging and I have to deal with that. 

It is finally Spring, the 8 fishies are out in the pond. The pond lilies aren't growing yet, but they'll hid under the leaves. I think there is a hole in the goldfish pond. Plus we've not had much rain, it's not filling itself up from the rain barrel. 

Anyway, critters... I've been focusing on Fred and mini-Freds 1 & 2. I've neglected the other critters. The spring peeper tadpoles!

   

 The red-eyed vireos are seemingly in full nesting mode. Singing away! 

   

 The coyotes have been very active in May. They took two groundhog kits, which is why groundhogs have 2 - 9 kits!

 

They like the driveway as a travel path! This one crossed the yard.

   

 The porcupine has appeared twice on the trailcams lately.

 

More chores today. We'll see what trouble the groundhogs get into. I've 3 blackfly bites from yard work. I should have put on bug spray and sunscreen. sigh. 

Time for critters

Walkies have been a bit sketchy lately. The bugs are horrid. Mosquitoes, blackflies, deerflies, and horseflies. Our Jesse is coming from Vancouver next week with his family. I think we'll have to stick to the back deck. I'll fill the kiddie pool, as well. 

Enough worrying about the world. Here are some critters. 

Even Cinnamon doesn't want walkies much. Mind you, he spotted his dratted red squirrel and was distracted. That's OK. There were sparrows, red-eyed vireo, and robins. 

 2 bucks from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo:

Of course he has a pee! coyote from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo:

butch with fur from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo. She needs a good brushing!

Robin frenzy from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo. There must be a nest nearby or fledglings hanging about that they are guarding! Robins can do up to 3 broods a year. 

Red-eyed vireo, frogs, house wrens

Snuggle Bears presented JB with a new t-shirt for Father's Day. I bought it from the Legion's Poppy Store.

Jesse and Cluny phoned and left Grampa Joe a Happy Father's Day message! That was sweet.

We had a lovely Facetime with the Ottawa kids. Josephine has 7 days of school left. Five next week, and Monday/Tuesday the following week. I'm not sure how much they will get done. Isabelle has to go for two more days than her sister. I reminded them of the times Caitlin would finish high school before her brothers, and spend a week with my parents in Bala. They went strawberry picking after Jos finished some homework. 

What a surprise! I was coming in the house, heard them singing, and a pair of red-eyed vireos were having fun in the dead Catalpa tree. 

The red-eyed vireo photo was from my archives, for reference.

It was a difficult viewpoint, the video captures their songs, at least. It was quite entertaining.

red-eyed vireos from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Friends... well, cohabitants. I am surprised that Percy doesn't nibble the Leopard frog's toes. BTW: I dug the goldfish pond in 2011, River, and it was a process!

I cleaned out some foliage on the middle deck, pruning the tree I found a little friend.

The House Wrens nesting in the Bluebird box on the flagpole are doing pretty well. I think there is another pair, and they were scarce when they were replacing the eavestrough. 

I so love their little song. This predates the eavestrough installation. They were choosing which nest box!

House Wren from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Phoebe, chipping sparrows, vireos and a toad!

 Things are pretty busy out there. The chipping sparrows  are so cute. They are eating bugs like mad!

A phoebe visited us on the back deck railing. It was going after an LDD moth. Bless its little heart. I think it was one of the babies, as the adults never did that. (archive photo)

Everyone loves the lilac tree. I've noticed red-eyed vireos in it, as well. I figured out why. Saturday, I could hear a noise from the catalpa tree beside the house, just around the corner. 

I poked around a bit, and found a red-eyed vireo  nest. I could see a bird hopping around it. Sure enough, a little fledgling!

 

More critters... I was fiddling with the kiddie pool on the middle deck, it got wet and I'm trying to dry it and put it away. We'll be at the beach this week. I moved it, and found a toad. We moved here in September, 2010, and have not seen a toad here. What a lovely surprise!

On the front deck, the monarch has broken out of its chrysalis and flown away! One more still waiting. 

I hope the chrysalis ecloses when the girls are here, later today. We've a hostage exchange at noon. The driveway should be cured, and we can park in the garage. I took out the garbage in the sturdy green wheelbarrow at 7 a.m., and hope they stay off the end of the driveway.

Summer is creeping towards us

I am amazed with plants like the hops vine. It has reached the roof. I continue to pick about 50 LDD caterpillars off of it each day to preserve it. The reptile tongs are terrific, now that the caterpillars have spiny things that can give one a rash.

I put out the kiddie pool, but I have a leak. I'll see if I can find a repair kit. I fill it a little each day, so as not to drain the well. It gives it a chance to warm up, as the well water is about 4 C.

🌩We had lightning last night, moderate temperatures, but no rain. I keep hoping.

Sitting on the back deck, I was watching a pair of red-eyed vireo have been playing in the lilac tree. In and out, chases back and forth from the shrubs to the trees. It is delightful!

red-eyed vireo from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I like their nests. They weave birch through it.

I managed the baby crow noises on tape!

 

In the frontyard, a sparrow pair on the spruce tree. I had a bit if trouble finding it! 

 

sparrow

I'll leave with a laugh. I realized my mistake in putting the trailcam in front of the flags. I was hoping to catch the doe, but I moved it as it'd waste batteries!

flagging from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Robins, phoebe, porcupine, red-eyed vireo!

 I spotted the woodpecker in the dead elm tree. They began in Mid-April woodpecker 📹, and it seems to be a success. 

woodpecker  

 The robins have hatched. Three little babies. Rather than bother them, I'll just show you my video: Baby robins (2017):

I was trying to use my BirdNET app, and I couldn't figure out this bird sound, until I saw it peeping. I was so surprised. robin 

Porcupine  came along and did some marking! I'm always happy to see them.

 

It's a lousy night video, so here is the real thing, in the daytime in 2012. 

 The Buck  stopped by. He's still growing, and a young 'un. It's a good sign of a healthy population.

 

We've many red-eyed vireo. 

There are some down beside the frogpond.  

The crows seem to be doing well. I've heard them, the odd time, as the adult tends to their food requirements and they scream for MORE!!!! I've yet to catch any sight of the nest as the crow flies. It's well-hidden.

 

The phoebes are doing well with their brood of 6, as well. They are madly catching bugs, bless 'em.

 

They are on day 6, and looking pretty much like this. This is from 2013. 

For more critters: Saturday's Critters # 390