Crumbly Acres Critters

The bird feeder is going full tilt. I change it up over the winter. Here it is for now. I'm hoping the bears are close to denning up. 

The Blue Jays concentrate on the one at the left. They half emptied it during the day. 

Downy woodpecker:

The globe feeder is for the smaller birds. The big ones can't get in. 

Goldfinch: 

The mourning doves like to line up on the branch. 

The cardinal is peckish, as well. No sign of the female.

I don't know if this is #75. We have two Gray Squirrels, black morph. This one was under the feeder.

 I am quite behind on my videos. It's hit or miss. Feast or famine. Drought or flood. 

If you watch the video, you can see the bunny beside the tree, the deer staring at it. Then Labbit hopped up the driveway. It's two clips from two trailcams.

 

We've had a pair of coyotes hanging about. On the driveway and in the forest.

   

 The fisher was back. Two days in a row.

 

Bird feeders

 I have been enjoying the birdies. This was Sunday. A downy woodpecker.

The Dratted Red Squirrel (a fave of the cats) has been chomping down.

The morning dove likes the arrangement.

The tripod really helps. The afternoon sun makes photos tricky. Not to mention the wind blowing the wind sock. (It does seem to help prevent bird strikes.) 

Much better shots with the camera on a tripod.

The squirrel managed to get up there. I think it flings itself from the tree, or from the bird bath. 

I put out the Wingscape camera. The trick is you have to preset the focus on it. I set it for 4'. 

I reset the camera, and managed some close shots.

 

Mourning dove

 

After our walk, Cinnamon helped himself to a drink. I realized the winter bird bath needed cleaning. 

 

Bird watching

 I guess seeing red squirrel is just a bonus! These are from the front window. With the recent cold snap, it is just lovely watching from inside. Of course, we were nowhere near as cold as the prairies. Right, Red?! You were at - 30 C., while we were only -10 c.!

American tree sparrow:

White breasted nuthatch:

Tappy cardinal:

Junco:

Mourning doves:

Downy woodpecker:

They sure like the bird bath, although they aren't bathing in -10 C. temperatures!

I moved the Wingscapes camera, you can see the lights on it.

It captures cats, as well as birds. 

It is tricky, as you have to set the focus prior to setting it out. It's hit and miss the critters.

 

cinnamon from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

cardinal from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

This cardinal is a nut! Can you see him in the tree outside the window?

He was tapping on the bathroom window, seeing his reflection and an enemy. My blue heron statues watches, but so do the cats. 

Saturday's Critters

It is Saturday, again! 

We are preparing for another storm, as I write this Friday. We'll see you on the other side!

 

I somehow missed this video. Jan. 2nd, Labbit was here. I haven't seen her since!

Labbit from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

It is fun comparing the older and younger bucks. Soon they will shed their antlers, since food is scarce, rutting season is over, and we all begin anew.

King and Prince from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

My frog pond trailcam froze in the last storm, I think. I'll have to work on that.

The young fisher has been about! 

 

fisher Jan. 5 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Isn't he a handsome one?!

handsome coyote from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

My new Wingscapes camera has been fun. I've been taping the birds, which has been fun. 

 

cardinal on deck from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

American tree sparrow:

 

tree sparrows from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

After I managed these images ↑, I thought I would branch out. 😏  JB found me some window hooks in town, and I set up the Wingscapes camera on the window, in front of the feeder under the overhang. It did not go well! Back to another plan, Plan C!

 

We've had a bit of snow. After coffee and a hearty breakfast, out I go!

Saturday's Critters # 526 <= For more critters, hosted by Eileen.

Saturday's Critters

 Here we are again! What a strange week for temperatures. The tree frogs have begun singing from the trees, again. Soon they will nestle into the leaves. Friday it was 21 C. but tonight it is going down to 2 C. 

We haven't seen many deer in ages. This one thought she'd emulate the coyotes at the other camera!

 

doe from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Can you see it? It was tricky. I think it is the yellow-bellied.

yellow bellied sapsucker from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

They were around a lot in spring, when you could hear them banging on the metal tower.

I have a ton of photos of them: Dratted Red Squirrels (DRS)!

Last week I had about 50 trailcam clips of DRS. They are busy preparing for winter. It was just bad camera placement, except it is on a path the critter use frequently. I put together some clips of it burying food for winter. Cleverly, I turned the camera around to see if I could find some other critters. 

It found the camera!

 

DRS from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

They whip through the forest!

quick coyote from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

We have to celebrate Butch, too!

Butch from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Finally, the wee fisher came by!

 

fisher from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Visit more critters here: Saturday's Critters # 515. Thanks to Eileen for hosting!

Gramma Camp Long Weekend

 Sunday, May 21

Papa was hosting a party of coworkers Saturday afternoon, but Izzy texted him to get the recipe for the yummy breakfast buns. First, we put them in the oven overnight to rise. Then 375' for 10 minutes or so. She baked them Sunday morning, and they were yummy. 

Caitlin is visiting Jess out west, and we did a Facetime with them. The three-hour time difference is tricky. Momma was awake, on Ottawa time, and had a visitor in her guest room! Later on, she babysat for her brother and SIL, while they went out on an anniversary date. 

Both girls worked on homework on Sunday. Josephine helped me work on the deer fences. Then, she went back to homework! It's not too bad, the fence. Grampa and Izzy had bought the stakes for me. I'd sent them for 8' bamboo stakes, but these will work! 

The netting is from Lee Valley, and is really invisible. 

While I was out back, I'd noticed a tree frog on the swing bench. Josephine brought it to the front yard, and put him on the lip of the bird bath.

After we were done, Isabelle came outside to see the frog.

She used her phone to take a video!

tree frog from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I think I fixed Fred, by putting Emily up on a stand. Yesterday I posted a video showing Fred eating the pansy blossoms. Take that!

I took advantage of the sunny day, and fixed the pond pump for the umpteenth time! It's good to keep the old girl busy and off the streets! Percy is still hanging in, all alone.

Maggie Magnolia has not yet blossomed. It's fun see people in warmer climes with magnolia that have bloomed and are done. It is highly anticipatory! I just have to remember to fend off the bugs and go see it.

I even checked my old garden, which I have neglected.

I did a walkabout on the frontyard. The lilacs are lovely. Those are small catalpa trees I transplanted are leafing up in the foreground.

Checked on the 🐣ROBINS. I don't see any eggs, but I didn't disturb them too much. We'll see how many they have hatched.

I checked the shed 🐣PHOEBE eggs, and one of the remaining two had hatched. Only the cowbird hatched in the nest under the deck. There are four phoebe eggs there, still.

Under the eaves off the middle deck, I found a wasp nest. I decided to get it down. I showed the girls.

We were watching TV and spotted a woodpecker on the hummingbird feeder! It was the rose-breasted grosbeak last week! 

Oh, I wish I could have my feeders up. This is why I cannot. Bear visited the trailcam, again. BIG itchies! 5 p.m., Sunday, May 21.

Bear from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

It was a great weekend. I am so proud of our grandies near and far. Four granddaughters! 

Caitlin arrived home safely on Monday afternoon. The week begins again.