My latest videos

I have so much fun with the videocam. It's entertaining watch the critters.

Dorah hunting from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
I love how she pounces.


Wood duck bathing from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
This is as close as the Wood ducks will let me get to them! They are shy about being photographed.


Goldfish swim from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
They love the overflow pipe. Dancing in the water. Finally, outside in the big pond!


Grosbeak male from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
This video is about Rose-breasted Grosbeak male, ever vigilant for predators. I haven't seen the Sharp-shinned hawk in awhile. There is much more food available elsewhere, rather than around the feeders!



Grosbeak drink from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
Mr. & Mrs. Rose-breasted Grosbeak are nesting nearby. She came for a drink. I love my birdbath.


Blue-spotted salamander from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
I have many helpers out in the garden, weeding! Even Daisy came over to help.

Bird feeders are bustin' with fun!

I continue to feed them beside the house. It is wonderful to see the pairs, I can't find the nests, but I know they are raising babies. Somewhere!

This red-winged has some issues. We had one like this last year.

Purple finch pair

Mr. Rose-breasted grosbeak

Grackle

Oh, Canada!

Of course, there is Dratted Red Squirrel!

More birds: Rose-breasted Grosbeak!

It's wonderful seeing the birds return. I always forget the chronology. That's why I post my reports!

I was expecting the Rose-breasted grosbeaks and hadn't seen them. Sure enough, last year it was May 5th.

I spotted the Mrs. today, May 2nd! She's tricky, as her colours are more subdued! She fooled me before, I had to ask for help two years ago, but I have her now! The first photo is through the window.

Here is Mr. for reference, as well as a couple of other better photos of Mrs.!

Rose-breasted juvenile (male)
transitioning to male colours

Wood duck from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
I snuck up on the Wood duck down at the frog pond. He's so shy! I hope he likes the new nesting box.

This is the best photo I've gotten of MY Wood duck!
This was last Spring, on the pond

My Vancouver, Stanley Park, Wood duck photo

S.C. #72

It's a feeding frenzy! "Feed me I'm yours!"

Hummers!!! First one at the feeder, May 9, 5 p.m. and I was so happy to see her!

Our neighbour had them arrive on Wed., May 7th!

Here are some other birds at his feeder: goldfinch, one demanding to be fed; as well as the rose-breasted grosbeak and a shy sparrow.

All of us are recovering after a long winter

Look who is back: The rose-breasted grosbeaks. This is a good sign. Phoebe is building a nest, too. 

I'm not sure they've done anything over a few days.
Maybe s/he doesn't like the location after all?

Then, I was examining our winter damage.
I was comforted by the words of a master gardener:

Be patient as garden recuperates from winter

I have two of the issues Mark Cullen wrote about: sunburned Yew, and rabbits eating the tree bark. He says be patient and likely the former will recover as new growth replaces the old needles. The latter issue, chewed off bark, may or may not hurt the tree, depending upon how much of the bark is gone, and it it encircles the tree. I hope this Horse Chestnut tree recovers!


The snakes have emerged from their Hibernacula, deep underground amongst the rocks, below the frost, where they hibernate. I spotted this one, with its head down a mouse hole! I grabbed the camera and snapped it with a piece of dirt on its head!

Dorah was following me, on my way to work down by the frog pond, but she never did notice the snake right under her nose!


I had some damage at my shed. The Red squirrel has been wicked, eating a hole into the garbage can, then eating a hole through my repaired hole in the doorframe!
 

I fixed this once!

Finally, screwed in some metal to cover it

Finally, my goldfish pond has been leaking, due to mice eating through the liner. I installed a water barrel to gather extra water for the pond. This way, I do not have to use pristine well water to refill the pond for the goldfish.