Flying and critters

We are shocked by the tragic airport incident at LaGuardia. When the helicopter and jet plane collided (Jan., 2025), NTSB did an amazing presentation about who does what, the issues they will examine. If you are interested in the process. People, and media are jumping into the fray, with speculation. We have to wait. 900 flights a day...

The problem with investigating the incident is getting the experts there. The protocols include having many agencies with standing in the investigation. Canada is involved as they were a Canadian plane, Canadian crew, had Canadians on board, and it is a Canadian-built plane. It is a joint effort. With Newark having had an issue, and slow lines in airports, and the administration firing 400 FAA senior officials, the TSA head, and 3,000 air traffic controllers in Jan., 2025, policy choices have consequences.

Back to your regularly scheduled topic. Let the professionals do their jobs. 

Lots of critters out and about.

Butch was back. I finally cleaned up and brought it indoors! Twice bitten, once shy! They are hungry. They do like to explore! Butch on the deck📹, June, 2021. 

 

Yes, I still have my lights. They'll be Easter lights now!

This pair are a hoot. Momma has snow on her head. The fawn has antler nubs, it must be a male.

We've had 6 hanging around.

The birds have been back, out singing in the snow and cold. Complaining, methinks. I wrote a story about Eddie and Eva, geese who seemed to have flown north too early!

 

 I told many stories about Eddie and Eva (e.g., SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2009 "It's your fault", a story about a snowy day!) This was a pair who returned all 4 years we lived there year-round. (April 2006 - September 2010). They returned with offspring and had happy times. 

Some bird nabbed lunch, March 2025. I've been throwing peanuts out for #75. 

The frog pond was frozen. Now it is frozen again. March 20, 2025: 

Good Bunny Labbit is hopping about!

   

 Butch is on clean up duty! In a snowstorm...

 

Springy Acres

 What a beautiful day on Tuesday. I began the day with a moon photo! 

The birds have come back. Grackles (5 of them) and one robin.

The goldfinches are year-round, but they change to an olive colour in winter. I can see tinges of yellow, which is a good sign of Spring!

Merlin the app identified the songs for me. It is always exciting to see them return. 

It was about 15 ℃ on the back deck, but in the front, in the sunshine... facing south, the sun 

Here we were! I texted this photo to Caitlin who was hard at work while we played. She'll be able to return soon, the way things are going! 🕰 Time passing so quickly and all...

All hell broke loose on Wednesday with the ice storm. I watched the power outage map and felt we'd be okay. It was tense, though. Living amongst shallow lakes and snow, RVCA is warning of possible flash flooding. We are OK on a hill above the wetland. 

I went into town to return empties, bought my weekend wine, picked up kitty litter, return library books, and pick up my grocery order. All is well with our world.

I was wondering what was happening here. The taxi driver let an old man with a walker get out of the car.  I met him in the LCBO store buying my wine. She stood around and had a smoke. She didn't bother parking the car, and people had a tricky time getting around her. This is right at the cross walk. 

Happily the day before was wonderful. A bit of a teaser, since winter was back on Thursday (-3℃). Back into the freeze zone. Until the 13 cm snow fell on Saturday! 

The Arctic Winter Games are being held in Whitehorse! This will give you a taste of it:

 

The Waterfront Gastropub has a live webcam! 

Saturday's Critters

 The birds are coming back! Starlings, red-winged blackbirds, grackles, robins, vultures, and someone on Facebook has heard a timberdoodle, too! 

 

Sometimes the robins hang around for the winter, but not this year. 

The male cardinal has been singing his spring song, as well. We had two pair, but I think we are down to one. The male keeps coming to the window, attacking his own reflection. The cats love it!

I shall start with the hopes of spring. Friday morning, I stood on the back deck and heard the robin singing for love! They've been around a few weeks, but the songs... 💕

robin on the driveway from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

It's tough navigating on the slushy snow.

doe from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Butch raccoon is hot to trot!

butch raccoon from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The crows hang out with the deer. The crows have been quite active and vocal, it is their mating season.

  

crows & deer from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Down in the forest, a fisher.

 

fisher from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We are looking to ice pellets or snow, rain after midnight. I set up the rain barrel, hoping to fill the goldfish pond. I may regret that! We shall see.

Thanks to Eileen for hosting faithfully. Saturday's Critters # 484

Lots of critters out and about!

There are lots of critters out and about. It's going to be a warmer day. We've had a cold spell.

There are many critters that have come back for spring. The most exciting, I think, are the birds. This is because they are going to be nesting.

We've not had much on the trailcams. We've had wind, snow, and lousy weather. The trailcams have been pretty quiet. This clip is fun. I noticed our one turkey wandering about. If you look at the upper right, you'll see the brown creeper.

turkey creeper from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

They creep up the tree, head first, unlike the nuthatches, with a similar outline shape, who creep down head first!

Brown creeper; March 6th, 2016

April 3, 2014

Another bird, phoebe. He's been singing all around the property, looking for love. I was sitting in the bathroom this morning, and could see him sitting on the tree outside the window! 

Eastern Phoebe

The wood ducks are back, as well. We're not green yet, although the grass is coming around, you can tell it is an archival photo.

My Vancouver, Stanley Park, Wood duck photo

Grackles

red-winged blackbirds

Canada geese

osprey

blue heron

For more critters:

Saturday's Critters #331