04-FEB-2014
Cardinal in juniper tree
This female cardinal is munching on juniper berries. There isn't a whole lot left of all the other wild fruit and seeds at the garden, now.
04-FEB-2014
Red squirrel
Not the same red squirrel as in the next photo. This one was in the New Woods area and seemed to be just hanging out, not much perturbed when I walked by. Nearby, on the ground, a couple of snow tunnels, and the remains of some sumac seeds.
04-FEB-2014
Red squirrel nibbling bark
A common behaviour, especially in winter, this supplements their diet of seeds. It is most often seen on sumacs and maples.
04-FEB-2014
Black-capped chickadee
This was a first for me at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden. No, not the chickadee, of which there are many year-round, but the fact that this one came flying straight at me and then buzzed me before landing on the branch. It was clearly looking for seeds. You see this behaviour all the time at those locations where chickadees are regularly hand fed, but it was the first time I'd seen it at the garden where, as far as I know, hand feeding is not typically done. Today's incident indicates that some visitors may be trying it though!
04-FEB-2014
Grey squirrel (black phase) in crabapple
The fruit on this tree was left alone until recently, and now perhaps as a last resort food, is being slowly eaten.
04-FEB-2014
White-throated sparrow
At least one white-throated sparrow is still around the garden. Before Christmas there were two or three. Although a plentiful migrant in spring and fall, and a common nesting species in the region, though not at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden, this species doesn't typically overwinter. Having said that, a few can be found scattered around the district each winter.
04-FEB-2014
Fletcher Wildlife Garden
Looking west up the slope, across the mallow bank, to the garden, from the Arboretum. Under that fresh blanket of snow, the garden looks sparkly and clean.
04-FEB-2014
Waiting for spring
The bench by the butterfly meadow. What else can I say? It is waiting for the snow to melt and the milder air to appear!
04-FEB-2014
Split-rail fence
This lovely old fence is on the southern boundary of the Fletcher Wildlife Garden. If you squint a bit, and screen out the road and locks, you can imagine you are way out in the Ottawa Valley countryside.
04-FEB-2014
Dried crabapples
While some crabapples still appear rather plump and juicy, many more are dessicated now. This was on a tree that is still being avoided by wildlife, while next to it, another crabapple in which a grey squirrel was feeding hungrily.
04-FEB-2014
Cardinal in juniper
This female cardinal was energetically munching on the juniper fruit. Not just one here and there, but one after the other as fast as she could. You can see that she has the remnants of pulp in her bill, which she'll drop to the ground. Yet another food source at the FWG for wildlife.
04-FEB-2014
Goldenrod galls
Two different galls close together, both on goldenrods. The top shaggy one is called a bunch gall, caused by Cecidomyiid midges. The round, ball-shaped one below is made by the goldenrod gall fly, a large attractively patterned fly in the Tephritidae family, the fruit flies. Larvae of the latter fly, provide food for birds and animals through the fall and winter, and you'll often find the galls either chewed in half or with large holes in them.
04-FEB-2014
The amphibian pond under a blue sky
Blue skies have been relatively rare this winter, which has been cold and very snowy. Here the pond sits under another 15 cm or so of fresh snow.
04-FEB-2014
Manitoba maple seeds (Acer negundo)
These are amongst a mere handful of seeds left on the manitoba maples at the garden. It has been a cold and snowy winter, very difficult for wildlife who must keep up their energy by eating a lot. The manitoba's were full of seeds, dripping with seeds, not more than 5 weeks ago, but now there is just the odd one here and there. The animals have moved on to some of the crabapples that they had previously shunned, when the more palatable, and probably more nutritious, fruits were available.
04-FEB-2014
Red oak leaf (Quercus rubra)
Many trees retain some or all of their leaves throughout the winter. I have heard some folk say they don't like this, but I do. It adds interest and colour to the winter landscape which can fairly monotone at times!