Saturday's Critters

 My faithful readers will recall that I am working on eradicating a yellow jacket nest. I'd left a couple of holes, and was waiting each day for sunshine to see if they come out or if they are gone.  One morning, I peeked out into the nest and spotted a blue-spotted salamander. It was a good size, and I hauled it out. It was pretty cold overnight and they are cold-blooded, needing external heat. I put it in the garden, under some leaves. It was gone when I checked later.

It was even cool enough that the cats elected to go back to bed.

There is lots of action outside. Everything is pairing up! cowbirds 

 

Chad coyote  is on his own, mind you. At least he didn't pee on camera this time!

 

 

The woodpecker is creating a home.

woodpecker from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I continue to be less than pleased with this trailcam. I didn't spend enough money on it! The thing is meant for larger animals, I suspect. I've spent a week tweaking it. ducks on pond  

 

As always, I've selected the best still for each thumbnail, but the action is what I find fun!

JB spotted a pair of muskrats last week. I found a lone one in the frogpond. It'd be great if they moved in. Last time they did, they had 6 kits, and cleared out all of the phragmites! muskrat Apr 16  

 

Finally, to make you smile, the bunny bounced by. "Quick and sprightly," to quote Isabelle!

 

We are now in a new lockdown. If you are stopped by police you must give your home address (which is on our driver's licence), can get a $750 ticket for breaching rules, and refusal to comply can result in charges. The police in several cities are saying they aren't going to randomly stop people.

We must stay home, but to go to work, get childcare, exercise, get groceries, go to school, walk the dog, get medical treatment, is all OK. Sigh. I'll keep you posted.

For more critters: 

Saturday's Critters # 383

May tales: backyard trailcam

May are firsts. First one back from migration, first one seen from hibernation.
May 3, first male rose-breasted grosbeak was spotted. Soon, they'll be nesting. I put a female beside for comparison, but I haven't seen her yet!


Every year, I dig out the pathway stones, lovingly laid be previous owners. This year, a blue-spotted salamander. Now the condition of my hand tells you this. I tugged one bit of moss, thought I should go get gardening gloves, then tugged another, and it led to this. What was the point, then?!


The phoebe has settled in the shed for their nest. They had trouble making up their minds. First two attempts were on the deck beams.


This is so funny! The same backyard...
A skunk, Hooper, raccoon, two raccoons, chipmunk, bunny, Hooper!

Frog pond studies 201

I've been thrilled to bits with my recycled dock. Lots of visitors. The macro photos have been fun.

fairy shrimp

The wood frog eggs have hatched, the tadpoles grown and transformed into frogs.

The bullfrogs were off in the shade, the sun just too hot for them. One was under the dock, in the shade. The cats were happy with it, though.

I took a chair down, and while the morning's peace and beauty is tainted by a kazillion mosquitoes, in the heat of the afternoon sitting under an overhanging branch in the shade, there are no bugs. I couldn't believe it! I haven't grabbed a photo of the chair, but it is there!

salamander larvae

There are a few bullfrog tadpoles in the pond.

What I thought was a pond puppy or water dog, was a salamander larvae. I learned this from Ontario reptiles and amphibians. (I was sort of disappointed!) Both have external gills.
 I'll have to do some more searching. I have neglected my macro lens for awhile.

The pond critters are amazing and varied.

water slaters or water-lice

cyclops, subclass copepoda

There are many blue-striped salamanders in our forest.

I'm TRYING to take it easy!

I'm not feeling sorry for myself. I love hard, physical work.  Trying to keep my foot elevated, and pacing myself, is all. Sigh. Hubby's been great, fetching dinners and being supportive.

I love working outside:  cleaning up the workbench, stacking the wood, throwing the rocks around the goldfish pond. However, I overdid it. I gave my left foot some tenosynovitis. I did it in 2011 to my right foot, where the sheath around the tendon swells and becomes painful. I have to learn my lesson, and slow down when the pain comes. Then: foot up, ice it, and take it easy.

DRS was in the pile
(Dratted Red Squirrel!)

I'm sure you know how hard this is! I have several piles of wood to stack, brush to move, and other chores.

Today, I figured out I could weed the garden sitting on my butt. I had a buddy, Daisy, and I met a blue-spotted salamander! That was fun.

It's important to stop and smell the roses! This tiny little creature, with delicate little toes, is such an important part of the environment.

The colourful flowers in the front garden are wonderful. I laud the previous gardeners at this house. I've added bulbs! Dorah had to give a big hug to the day lily, wrapping her arms around it, with joy and love of the season.  The dratted red lily bugs are out...

I ambled down to the pond with Annabelle. We spotted a bullfrog catching brunch. We sat on the upturned logs, and smelled the beautiful spring smells, inhaling the beauty with all of our senses.

I sat on the front porch, foot elevated, and watched the birds. (I'll post those photos tomorrow!) I could see the Trillium blooming. A sure sign of the turning of the seasons.

Goldfish are happy in the pond. Where the overflow comes in, they dance under the waterfall. One zoomed by, like an orange shark, fins out of the water. We're all happy with the changing scenery.We have 10 goldfish now.