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.
12-JAN-2010
Red squirrel eating crabapples
This little guy was eating crabapples in a tree near the Ravine. He was one of 5 red squirrels seen at the garden today. One of the others was feeding on the last few Manitoba maple seeds left on a small tree not far away.
Several grey squirrels were eating Manitoba maple seeds on other trees in the garden. The maple keys are fast vanishing, as are the crabapples and sumac seeds. It has been a poor year for conifer cones and the red squirrels haven't been able to store as many as they sometimes do. Times could be tough for these guys, and other birds and animals. Fortunately we have two feeders at the garden which are kept filled all winter long. This helps a lot.
03-JAN-2010
Ice crystals: Interpretive Centre window
Happy New Year to all our friends from the FWG! Thank you for visiting our blog and galleries.
Another ice crystal shot. These were on a different window than the ones I took in December, and are somewhat different.
03-JAN-2010
Grey squirrel eating manitoba maple seeds
It was snowing quite hard when I arrived at FWG this afternoon. Very few birds and squirrels were visible. A couple of greys eating manitoba maple seeds, two red squirrels at the BYG feeder and one over by the ash woods.
At the Ash woods feeder, there were a few each of house finches, chickadees, and juncos. A red-tailed hawk was circling the garden for most of the hour that I was there. Initially I saw him flying from the FWG to the Arboretum, but a little while later he was back circling around and around over the pond and the conifers SE of the pond.
03-JAN-2010
Black-capped chickadee
Taken at the feeder in the Backyard Garden. This chickadee appears to be tossing a sunflower seed in the air.
There were five cardinals around this feeder, three females and two males, a female downy woodpecker, six chickadees, one white-breasted nuthatch and two red squirrels. Not much else.
03-JAN-2010
Downy woodpecker, female
At the Backyard Garden feeder.
