25-JAN-2010
Old field in mist
Looking south toward Carleton University on a day more spring like than winter like.
21-JAN-2010
Red with sumac cone
And here is the little guy, guarding his sumac cone.
21-JAN-2010
Red squirrel nest in spruce
This is near the Amphibian Pond and is one of two nests constructed close together. Red squirrels will do that, as will greys, and use one or both or neither. There is also a nest box nearby that has long been used by squirrels. The nests are near a large walnut tree overlooking the pond and several generations of squirrels have been occupying this territory. Of course, it may not be generations of the same family! Just as likely that one squirrel dies and another moves in to what would be, in squirrel terms, prime real estate!
21-JAN-2010
Grey squirrel in birch grove
This squirrel was sitting in a birch tree, looking quite thoughtful!
14-JAN-2010
Hoar frost at the garden
The morning of hoar frost turned everything into a winter wonderland. This blue spruce and the Manitoba maple in front, look silvery under the frost
14-JAN-2010
Grey squirrel
This fat little guy was sitting above the Ravine eating the remaining few seeds on that particular Manitoba maple.
14-JAN-2010
Cardinal, male
These beautiful birds are always such a pleasure to see in winter time, adding their own splash of colour to the mostly monochromatic landscape. In addition to this species, there were only the usual birds around, including house finches, chickadees, a few juncos, downy woodpecker, white-breasted nuthatch, crows, mourning doves, and so on.
14-JAN-2010
New woods and pond
There was a layer of hoarfrost over everything this morning and it was quite beautiful! Difficult to capture that lacy white look, though!
14-JAN-2010
Red osier dogwood
This was photgraphed in the Ash Woods. The remains of the seedheads were coated in ice, as were the red stems.
14-JAN-2010
Dog-strangling vine (Pale swallowwort)
Even our favourite invasive plant looks quite lovely coated in frost. These seedpods are rather elegant when iced over! These dry vines clearly harbour either insect larvae or eggs because chickadees very frequently spend time poking in amongst them and flying off with something minute in their bills.
Barred Owl
Sandy photographed this barred owl on the same day it was seen by several other people. Along with great horned owls, this species is relatively common and often seen, especially in winter. It is largely diurnal, unlike many owls, and often sits in the open in deciduous trees, rather than hiding away in conifers (though it will certainly spend time in those too). We've had a barred owl at the FWG every year for some years, and prior to that there were reports of this species in the Arboretum and on the farm.
12-JAN-2010
European starling with crabapples
This was taken in the Arboretum, but it could easily have been taken at that Fletcher Wildlife Garden, where the starlings were also eating this fruit.
A cooper's hawk was sitting in the Ravine, beneath the Interpretive Centre, this morning. Later it flew to the row of Scotch pines and from there across Prince of Wales Dr. to the farm. Other birds were the usual assortment: chickadees, cardinals, a few juncos, mourning doves, house finches, downy woodpecker, etc.