For a few days, SPRING!

 Just for a few days. We're back into subzero temperatures today. Yesterday, as I was curating photos, I spotted a pair of red-winged blackbirds. This is a sure sign of spring!

Also, the first vulture, Mar. 12, 2021. They're back. Spring is coming!

I spotted a grackle, as well. They are so lovely!

Here is the river at the end of the driveway. Daisy used to like to play in it! It'll drain soon.

The spring-like weather has been amazing last week. 

There was a lot of snow on the roof. I knew it was going to warm up. 

The south-facing roof melts the fastest. I've checked all the downspouts. They are good to go!

I decided to hook up the eavestrough to the water barrel, just to put some fresh water into the goldfish pond. I don't know if you can see it, but there is a rock in the rear of the pond. On top of that, on top of the snow, was deer poop.

Overnight, the water filled up the pond. When we returned home from our trip to Ottawa, we let the cats out. Cinnamon remembered his froggie friends, and did a serious search for them. Can you spot the deer poop on the rock, now in the foreground?! 

Remember that rock? The snow has gone down this much and the deer poop is on the rock.

It's warm under the trees, I put up the bluebird nesting box on the flag pole. I don't know if it will work this year, or not. They didn't come by in 2020. I found it filled with wasps! [Staining the decks, bluebird nesting box]

I shall open the spigot on the water barrel, as we are headed into subzero weather overnight. I don't want the water to freeze and ruin my water barrel.

The raccoons woke up March 9th, Tuesday.  

 This is likely the last of the deep snow. It's been terrible walking. You can see how the doe stamps her foot down. I do that! Stepping in the mushy snow jars the back somewhat.

  The raccoons came up to the house. Hopefully, they'll clean up the bird seed for me!

For more critters: visit Eileen's 

Saturday Critters # 378

I had a mission!

 I had a mission. Well, two errands. First of all, I wanted to go to the Little Library at our municipal offices and find some books. I had 4 to drop off! I picked up 4, and I am good to go.

From there, I was taking our empty wine bottles and beer cans to our Lanark Animal Welfare Society, who is collecting empty bottle as a fundraiser. We don't drink beer, but JB always goes to the beer store to find some snappy cans of beer for our kids when they visit. 

Last time we visited, there were boxes were all over the lawn. Now, they've put them all in the shed. I think. The beer store isn't recycling, due to COVID. Well, some stores are back on track, if they have a drive-through, as far as I can tell. 

 

As I drove along, the clouds were stunning. 

The vultures are still around. They will leave with freeze up, moving farther south. In the meantime, they hover about, cleaning up roadkill. This was a poor little raccoon.

They are magnificent birds, serving a purpose. These are archived photos.

I stopped to photograph the hawk atop the dead tree. It was reluctant.

I love the contrast.

This is my favourite!

Back at home, most of our migratory birds have left, but there was one red-wing blackbird singing in the tree.

 

Red-wing Oct. 17 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The first frost...

Here we are, first frost. Things are hopping. Slowly. Yes, I awaited the delivery of my new aquarium pump and filter. It arrived at 4 p.m. and I installed it Friday. No leaks. This afternoon it is supposed to be a balmy 13 ˚ C. and I will spend the day trying to capture the goldfish and bring them into the house.

I've been hearing the barred owl in the night. Yesterday, out for my forest walk, I found two barred owl feathers on my walking path. I'll use them in my Thanksgiving table centre.

The turkeys, frequent flyers, well, amblers... left me several tail feathers. I found one turkey whose loss of tail feathers is obvious on a trailcam video. This is a screen capture. She looks decidedly lopsided as her new feathers grow in. They mostly walk, the young uns are not full-sized yet. It takes a lot of energy to fly, as well.

This is from a couple of years ago. This is the "who-cooks-for-you" call. Several people say they've been hearing them in the night.


Everything is shutting down, leaves are falling, birds who eat insects, fish, or nectar are migrating.

cedar waxwing

female hummingbird

yellow warbler

osprey

fawns have lost their spots

 The reptiles and amphibians will be hunkering down in the mud, to sleep through the winter.

Vultures migrate, as well.

Our thanksgiving is coming up Oct. 14th. I hope the leaves last for the tourists. 

  

The critters continue to wander along the trail.

 I broke down and put the furnace on. This means I have to close the cat door. Hooper is up to his old tricks, out all night. His little house is plugged in and set to stay warm from dusk to dawn on a timer.

 I've had to bring in the orchid cactus. The problem with Hooper being out all night is that he doesn't walk with me in the daytime. I miss my cat walkies.

In good news, the bird bath is looking lovely after we replaced the bowl Hooper cracked, knocking it over. I'll have to plug the heater in today. The blue jays, mourning doves and chickadees are visiting the feeders. There is no sign of bear, so that's a good thing!

This swainson's thrush will have migrated, as well. Also on the To Do List is to shut down the water fountain.

For more critters:

Saturday's Critters #303