Cats to the vet & deer friends

 It was a busy day! They both did very well. It was just an annual check up, as well as their annual shots. Cinnamon is on the heavy side, but he is a happy lad. He's put on a bit more weight. We won't hold that against him. (Who am I to throw stones?!) We've been rather lazy in the wet and the cold and I have been restricting their outdoor time. We have to decide if we should put them on 'senior cat' food. It is weird, since Nutmeg will push, or nudge him out of his own bowl. She is the boss, for sure!

There was wailing and gnashing of teeth! Both were pulling at the carrier doors. Once there, Cinnamon made himself at home.

He seemed pretty laid back. They lived here for a month or so until we adopted them. They'd been found at the side of the highway, likely dumped. People do that around here.

Bell is still working on the phone lines. It was a great morning for that. The blue sky didn't last, however.

On the other side of the highway, there was pruning being done by HydroOne. I love work. I could watch it for hours!

We've had winds, but they are still working on Lanark Lifestyles part 2, or is it 3?!

The icicles are hanging. 

It's not a great photo, but it reminds me of the sighting. A happy doggy with a 3' stick walking along the sidewalk quite proudly with its prize.

In the afternoon, I went back out to fetch trailcam cards. I accidentally dumped ones with the coyote. Oh, well. I have quite a few of them. I know. As I was puttering around, don't tell JB, but a sweet doe came over to me. She was quite curious as to whether I would put some food out for her. Who could resist?

Thank you for your kind words about the deer photos. We are blessed, seeing them around us.

Dec., 2015, three bucks
–very unusual to see the males

Then there is the herd of doe-a-deer!

2016

Tuesday afternoon was a bit of a mess. We had rain, snow, sleet and graupel! I had a nice hot shower after snowshoeing in the forest. JB got the groceries done just as it began.

Sunny day, finally!

We had a lovely, cool day. Today should be a nice one. I noticed more work they'd done on the telephone wires.

They left something there. It looks like a thing that connects the two wires. I wonder if it will disappear today?! 

With Valentine's Day coming up, I'm noticing interesting ads. At least it isn't Mother's Day, where they offer the most bizarre things to gift my mother, who has long since passed. Reolink is the company that makes my security camera. Apparently, love means getting your loved one security. You just have to shake your head!

I did finish off a sketch while we were watching a new-to-us show. We tried Seekers (1993) which was pretty dated with obvious gender bias and it was jarring. Our new choice was Traces (BBC, 2020) and it is a cold case mystery that intrigued us. It was scientific, involves women as scientists, and very different from Hollywood murder mysteries. Cinnamon enjoyed it on my lap!

My latest masterpiece! I was inspired by a colouring page offered by the Turtle Foundation. Funny thing was, I was madly looking for one of my kiddy sketch books upon which I rely. As I tried to find it I ended up clearing out some old picture books the grandies won't read again. I cleared out and rearranged a shelf. 

 Today is the day. Annual checkups and booster shots for cats. Yes, Cinnamon is on the chubby side, but he is a happy lad, and leaves the birds alone. We'll see you on the other side! 

⛄ Winter carries on...

I did enjoy bird watching from the front window, again, but the thermometer told me I should get out. I managed to avoid the urge until the afternoon. Cold in the morning, it warmed up. I thought about making a snowman, it was that kind of snow, but I have photos of the old snowpeople!

This morning it is -4 C., and it is hovering there. I have to put the garbage out by 8 a.m., I shall bundle up.

I was curious about Richard Deer's wound. It seems pretty good. I used the zoom and the tripod to get a better photo.

You can see where the antlers used to be attached. I haven't a hope of finding them. I am sure they are not on our property. They shelter deep in the wetland.

Look at the doe on the right (below), those legs are so strong. She is clearing out snow to uncover the small amount of food beneath.

The colour of their coats is so pretty. 

I tried to convince Cinnamon to come walkies, but he was reluctant. No wonder. I began without snowshoes, and fell twice. You sink in the snow, at temperatures above zero. I went back for them. I noticed, after my walk, that the dead leaves, oak and maple – finally flying in the wind. They land in the footsteps from the deer who follow my snowshoe path.

It's fun watching the deer.

 

buck branch from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

After I took out the garbage, Jan. 30th, they were there to greet me. One was having a rest. I talk to them. 

morning deer from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Feed the birds...

 It has been a tad chilly. Yesterday morning it was -35˚ C., this morning we're up to a balmy -12˚ C., and it is expected to go to 2˚! Above zero!

JB took a drive into town to fetch our renewed prescriptions, and to give the car a bit of a run. We have a garage, but at these temperatures, you are wise to run it somewhere.

What did I do? I thought about going for a walk down to the trailcams, but avoided the urge once I refilled feeders. Instead, bird watching has been fun through the front window. We have the usual visitors, like the cardinals. They are buddies with the American tree sparrows.  

The mourning doves get along with the sparrows, as well. 

I looked out, at one point, and saw some dark, speckled birds. Zooming in, I realize they were starlings. It is a tad chilly for them. Some years we have robins over winter, but not this year. Apparently we have starlings over winter some years, as well.

They hung out with the mourning doves in the sun, on the tree branches. The doves didn't really care.

The blue jays are bullies, and won't share at all! This one was all puffed up for insulation.

Blue Jay from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

feeder sharing from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I have to watch this, again! This was from 2016. Have the girls ever grown! They are young ladies, now.

 

Hot water & steam from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Book Review: Camera Trapping Guide

 I follow a Facebook trailcam camera and video group. The author of the book, Janet Pesaturo, is one of the administrators. She posted information about her book, and I bought it for myself for my birthday, Dec. 26th. (That's how we roll here!)

There are a lot of books out about critters. It is often difficult to choose which is best for you. I have general guide books about eastern birds, moths, insects, and mammals. I've interesting books, like my latest on animal scat! Scat Finder I've books specific to deer, owls, and bears. 

Janet explains that when she began setting out camera traps, she would go out with her mammal field guide, a tracking guide, and a summary of the critter's behaviour. She took the initiative to write this book to help us understand how, when, and where to place cameras, and she provides good information on 35 mammals, 5 birds, and alligators. Now, I don't need to know about alligators, but it was fun to read.

Amazon provides a preview, and the table of contents lists the critters. Each chapter is devoted to one animal, and follows a consistent format: physical characteristics, tracks and trails, diet, scat and urine, habitat, breeding, then rounding it off with specific camera trapping tips.

Chapter two
Eastern Cottontail

If I have any constructive criticism, it is that the durn maps end at the Canada/US border. I've been researching woodland voles (meadow voles, as Janet calls them), for example, and learned a lot about them. I still don't know why they are going into the mouse hole in the house, and that remains a mystery. 

It helps to understand a species to know where to place a camera. It pays to track them, and understanding paths that they follow. My frogpond trailcam, for example, is a heavily trodden path between the wetland and the pond. Many critters prefer to stay on dry land whilst making their way through their habitat. What I notice is that in winter, when the frog pond is frozen, they avoid the camera. Little twerps!

Janet wrote a blog called, One Acre Farm, all about homesteading. She has a new blog, Winterberry Wildlife. There is so much information on them. 

I do recommend the book. It is full a lot of excellent information not found elsewhere. 

BTW  I learned how to refine my camera trapping skills from my photographer internet buddy (we've never met!) who has a video from last year with the buck losing its antler on film. He camera traps in a large forest and writes about wildlife photography. 

For me, camera trapping has been hit and miss. I've learned a lot by my mistakes. 

Today, we begin with - 30 C. temperatures. There won't be much on the cameras today. 

The birds, mourning doves and starlings nestle in the evergreen.

From large to small, we film them all!

backyard deer from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Richard Deer has lost his antlers, he'll regrow them in spring, but he still wears a figurative crown.

bossy Richard deer from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I've been experimenting on the front porch, where the birds scatter seeds from the feeder.

American Tree Sparrow from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

mice and cats from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

For more critters: Saturday's Critters # 477.