Saturday's Critters

The trailcam tails have been a bit slow. Our regular coyotes.

 

Coyote Oct. 25 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I wrote, yesterday, about seeing the deer scrape, indicating it is rutting season. Time to make babies!

 

deer from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The fisher went by at full speed.

 

Fisher Oct. 30 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I captured just the head of the barred owl in the night. I suppose it is evidence of activity, but so disappointing.

barred owl from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Happily, Friday morning, Joseph Brian hustled back to the house from his morning walkabout. "Come!" he said. "Bring your camera!" I threw my coat on top of jammies and housecoat, grabbed the camera and the video camera.

He explained that he'd gone down the path, where I'd cut back fallen branches, and used the lawn tractor.

 It leads down to the wetland.

 This is the spot where he'd found the wee antler last week. This is from last January or February. In winter they shed their antlers, after rutting season is over. 

He scared the barred owl, who flew to another tree. He thought it'd gone. Not far, apparently.

barred owl Nov. 3 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

There is was. It looked at me and looked at him. It's head was turned right around, as it was actually facing the other way. 

Thanks to Eileen for hosting! Saturday's Critters # 516 

November is here!

 That was a great day for chores! I dressed Frosty for November. He has a little vest, a big poppy, and a cute tartan.

I fixed the flagpole. Again. And I put up my red ribbons for November. Remembrance Day is on Nov. 11th.

We have a flag from the Legion. That is on the right. JB gave an old WW II map to the Legion. In return, they gave him the lawn sigh on the left!

In the late afternoon, it clouded over.

Remember my 100 daffodil bulbs? Apparently, something dug up one clump. There were two bulbs left, and I threw them back in the hole, as well as the scattered dirt. 

I know who I suspect... 🦝!

🍁 Fall Chores

I finally remembered to bring the shovels up from the shed. I dragged the snowblower up from the shed and put it into the garage. We are ready.

Down at the frog pond, I noticed that the baffle is coming off of the one tree. It prevents raccoons from getting into the wood duck box. The second box I shifted to try and check it out. It fell off at the top, the top screw gave out. This is a job for another day. The wood ducks won't be back until spring to nest.

I still have to fix the third wood duck nest box. Maybe I should just replace it and move the one box. This is what it looked like in 2021. The other photo was this year, after the bears ripped it apart. [Momma Bear and Two Cubs] 

I got mail! Our Vancouver grandkids sent me some art and art puzzles. I managed to piece them together. I often send them a piece of my sketches and make them into a puzzle. Isn't that fun? 

We've a lot of juncos about. This one was released.

It was a good day to get outdoor chores done, if you dressed for it. 

We had a hard frost!

Yes, Autumn is truly here. We had our second snowfall Tuesday night. The poor Trick or Treaters! I've been doggedly doing Autumn chores, but forgot to bring the shovels up from the shed! Chore fail!

🕷I found myself a tick on Tuesday. Unknowingly, I brought it inside with me. I was sitting processing videos when I felt a tick crawling on my hand. It was quickly wrapped in a piece of tape and chucked in the garbage. Easy peasy. 

 JB had what we think was a tick bite. He went to the pharmacist who gave him a prescription for Doxycycline. We've learned so much about Lyme Disease, and how to prevent it. We've done pretty well fighting ticks. Unlike the year Daisy brought home 200. You can see one on her cheek.

 

With the cold they will nestle in under the leaves, ready for next year.

The amazing Datura plant is done for, after a hard frost. 

Hopefully, with all the flowers I had, the seeds will produce another plant or two next year. 

They sure were pretty over the summer.

The frost is so pretty, and I am done with gardening. 

The hanging planters were done, as well. During the cold day they just wilted. I've put them away. 

🦌 I keep looking for new signs of the season. This is a big one. It is rutting season. Each doe will only be fertile for 24 hours, so the bucks hang around. I did capture a video of a pair mating Dec. 20th, 2019. It is quite the sight. Raw nature.

It doesn't look like much, but it is a deer scrape. The bucks scrape out the leaves under a tree branch. They urinate over their tarsal glands to put their scent down and let other bucks know they are there. They also nudge the hanging branch above. I put the trailcam on this spot, but haven't gone down to fetch it yet.

Soon, I shall put lights around the water fountain.

These lawn ornaments have to be put away, as well. 

More chores, checked off the list!

 It was lady beetle season. I pulled out the BBQ to season it for the season, and found some lady beetle seeking winter shelter. What a surprise! 

🐸 Moving the Frogs

The goldfish pond is done. There could be 4 or 5 in there, but they are on their own. We'll cross our fingers. My grand total is 137. They are now down in the muck, snoring, I hope. 

Indoors, Percy is happily wagging his tail hoping for food. Also on Sunday, I cleaned out his tank. He seemed grateful!

There were two deer out front. They are well camouflaged. 

Cinnamon watched them.

🍂 Fall Chores

I had fun cleaning the eaves on the front of the house. The catalpa dropped its leaves on Tuesday after our hard frost. It was cold, and there was ice. I chucked it all overboard. 

 

Atop the ladder, I could see the deer on the hill.  

As I was up there, I noticed the Hydro meter coming away from the wall. I bet that isn't a good thing. I phoned, they promised to send someone. On the phone, he explained that the box is our responsibility, but maybe they could fix it. That would involve an electrician, he thought.

About an hour later, two Hydro dudes turned up, opened it up, and reattached it securely. I was relieved.