Saturday's Critters

 Autumn approaches, and the seasonal changes as our critters get ready for winter. Hibernation, migration, or just more winter dozing, like Butch raccoon.

I saw three baby snakes Aug. 15th, which bodes well for the species. The first was a garter snake (yellow/green), the next two ribbon snakes (chocolate brown). They are distant cousins, and often confused. Soon they'll be heading for their winter hibernaculum or mice holes, or under rocks and such. This is an Eastern garter and an Eastern ribbon snake (Thamnophis saurita). So wee! 

I was delighted to see them, as you can hear on the video. They are adorable, and eat up the bugs on the ground. Lots of reptiles and amphibians are at risk in our province. We have a billion crickets out front beside the sidewalk! They have a lot of predators! Add in habitat loss, human predation, and the like. 

hatchling ribbon snake from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

eastern ribbon snake from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The hummingbird moths are out and about! Soon they will disappear. The men who replaced our eavestrough trampled a lot of the phlox down one year. It hasn't really come back. 😔😢

UPDATE: Fred groundhog! 

Fred disappeared for a couple of weeks, although he's been around since March 30th. I thought he'd gone to his winter home. Apparently, he came back to visit the shed. He's done quite a bit of renovating here over a couple of years. An entrance and exit, and a tunnel under the cement shed floor. 

One post I wrote should have been titled, Burrows By Fred! (He had 5 of them!) Groundhog burrows can be 8 to 66' long, so says National Geographic. Other critters use them. I've had bumble bees, and a skunk use them. But foxes, opossums, weasels and rabbits can take over abandoned burrows, as well. Speaking of skunks, I saw one in the yard as I was heading to bed.

skunk Aug 12 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

This was Aug. 15th, and it appears more dirt has been moved. I was thinking of filling it in, but I'm afraid I'd start coughing. Besides, how do you get it back in there?! 

Joe and I were relaxing on the deck in the sunshine (Aug. 14th), and there he was! Long lost Fred!

 

Fred from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Saturday's Critters # 557 <= visit more critters!

Dropsies, snakes, sunrise

 I wrote about our visit to the dump. When we arrived home, I got out of the car and dropped the phone. A fitting end to a bad day! Joseph Brian did his research, where we bought it they don't do repairs. We still owe money on buying this phone, which we pay monthly. He took it into our local computer store and they ordered a new cover for us, which could be a quick process. The phone still works, but we shall have to buy a cover. 

I had a hospice client Tuesday, went for a visit, but I wasn't needed. I came home and decided to clean the water fountain in preparation for setting it up for the season. I ended up not finishing, covered in bits of algae. The elbow grease was in short supply, it'll wait a few days as we've rain on the way. It gets grungy by end of season as you can see from a summer photo. The birds love it.

I'd left poor Cinnamon in the garage overnight Monday. Whoopsie. He likes to go out there and check for mice friends. I took him outside to work in the sunshine. He found 4 snakes: one garter snake and 3 ribbon snakes. It is my belief that there is a winter hibernaculum where they overwinter. In these upsy downsy temperatures they aren't wandering far from it. 

Cinnamon began on the top of the septic bed. It was like watching a toddler. I couldn't leave him alone for a minute. He would see a tail twitching and couldn't resist. 

This is a pretty ribbon snake.

And the garter snake.

Cinnamon wandered down the hill to Fred Groundhog's cette. The pile of sand in getting higher. You'll picture his head in the hole, sniffing. I was a bit worried, but he didn't go in any farther! 

Cinnamon headed to the hill where he found another snake. King of the castle! See the tree buds? They are getting ready to burst into leaves. 

The daffodils are up and blooming! 

Wednesday brought us a lovely sunrise. I played around with it, the iPhone images were better than my camera.

I managed another panoramic photo with the broken phone. Not so shabby.

Cats, snakes, garden, new curtains!

 We had an emergency Friday morning. We were out of canned cat food. Nutmeg was not amused. She lobbied hard, threatening to call the SPCA. JB visited the vet, and bought some more. WHEW!

She was the cutest little kitten

When I washed floors prior to the kids visit last week, I did something just for fun. I know in some better Zoos and rehab centres they provide games for the animals to entertain and challenge them. I switched the cat food dishes. Normally, Nutmeg eats on the right from the white bowl, and Cinnamon eats from the dish on the left. The certainly visit the other dish if the other cat isn't around and their bowl is empty. The dry crunchies I only put in one bowl. 

What I have found is that the dishes do not matter, the right side is Nutmeg's. She is the boss. She'll nudge him out of the way. He had his fill and she worked at his side for him.

 

Poor Cinnamon hasn't been going outdoors for his morning run. Now, it has been up to 34˚ C. outdoors, and that might have explained it. The other explanation is that Pepper, our visitor cat has been, or he had an encounter with something (skunk, Fred, coyote, etc.). The cats don't like the dew on the plants, either. They spend a lot of time grooming after their dewy walkabout.

Whilst at the vet getting food, I asked JB to pick up some deworming meds for them. That could explain why he has been housebound. Normally they go out for a run, come in for breakfast and stay in. 

The had their meds Friday, and Saturday morning he bounded outdoors with his sister. Good news.

The silly cats love quilting. JB set this out, a lovely gift from Jean, via the kids' visit in New Zealand. 

I knew I best get my act in gear. Even indoors, with the air conditioner on, I have been somewhat lethargic. I finally got it together. Isn't it lovely?! She is so talented. I am so grateful to have met her online!

The kids have renovated and redecorated their home, and I was gifted their former living room curtains. I was so happy with them. Caitlin made them, and then hung across their large picture windows. You can see them at their house back behind their orchid. I just love them.

The other bonus is that they are very heavy and keep the light out. I am sleeping better, not being wakened by the moon or dawn. The second photo was from Caitlin's living room. She works from home some days, still.

Also, another project. Poor old Frosty, his hat had fallen apart. We commissioned Jiny's husband, Kim, to replace his hat. Jiny sells Korean food at the Saturday Market. I am pleased. This was my late mother's Frosty, and there is an emotional attachment. Frosty dates back to (at least) 2010. I shall get a ribbon, and some white chalk paint, to dress him up. This is Josephine with him in 2010.

 

I was out front working on the garden, are my glutes ever sore bending over. There are still flowers, thanks to the hibiscus. My roses are hanging in, as well. 

Looking down, I spotted a wee ribbon snake going after the crickets. Heaven knows we've millions of crickets. See it peeking out at me?!

I'd pulled a bunch of spent phlox to toss on our empty lot, and a 60 cm garter snake whipped by. They are so fast. It's getting cooler, and they will be coming closer to their hibernaculum for winter. Once I spotted it, it totally disappeared! I giggled.

I hope life is treating you well.

The hops vine, nature, our flyers

 Summer is full on now. Tree frog has been sleeping on the deck railing, under the hops vine. 

The leaves are habitat for many critters. It is a massive display this year. 

The catbird is a frequent flyer. She likes the lilac tree. They hide in there, and swoop down to eat the bugs.

The cats are often helpful to warn of danger. Cinnamon had his morning run, then sat on the deck. I looked, but didn't see anything!

I was out at 5:30 yesterday morning. The moths have been visiting the flowers.

Xylophanes tersa Tersa Sphinx

We've a bee nest in the roof atop the garage.

bee nest from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We've an eastern kingbird:

eastern kingbird from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I went out back and spotted a buck. He did not appear on the video, even though he was right in front of the camera. We haven't seen any deer in weeks. The deerflies are too bad.    

fred has a new exit from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The cats thought they'd inspect it.

 

cats from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Nearby, the gun demonstration pissed off a whole bunch of neighbours. BBQ, free t-shirts, guns, little kids crying covering their ears. Maybe 25 people, we heard. They let people shoot. I taped it. No licence to have a gun range. The Chief Firearms Officer claims she has no control over it, as it is unlicenced. Complaints have been filed with the OPP. 

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The Fiercesome Foursome Flyers are in Australia now. Their B & B had a pool!

They visited the Taronga Zoo. 

Josephine adores reptiles! She was in heaven. 

This was really fun! Watch until the end! 

 

pelican from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.