14-NOV-2018
Pine grosbeak
I was hoping to see pine grosbeaks today at the FWG, as they seem to be around the area now and I had a flock of 20+ in the east end yesterday. But after some time I heard only one bird calling, and despite looking for others, no luck. But I am quite sure there are more in the immediate area, possibly in the Arboretum. This one was first in the crabapple trees and then flew to the Norway spruce.
14-NOV-2018
Pine grosbeak
After feeding briefly on the crabapples, this grosbeak flew off to a nearby norway spruce to continue feeding.
14-NOV-2018
Downy woodpecker, male
A downy woodpecker on the peanut feeder in the BYG. Later, a hairy woodpecker flew in and had a feed.
14-NOV-2018
Cardinal and chickadee
The feeder in the Backyard Garden (BYG) was a busy place, with a couple of male cardinals, 5 or 6 chickadees, a white-breasted nuthatch, a downy and a hairy woodpecker, and a fox sparrow rooting around on the ground. I noted another sparrow sized bird out of the corner of my eye and it might have been a second fox sparrow. Over in the rest of a garden there was a single pine grosbeak, several goldfinches and four more cardinals, as well as another nuthatch, and 6 chickadees. A few crows and canada geese flew over.
14-NOV-2018
Mallard, male
The pond is lightly frozen, but at the south end a very small area is open and this mallard was sitting there. Someone had scattered seeds on the ice around the hole. Nearby were many mallard tracks in the snow on top of the ice. He seemed unperturbed by my presence, and I did wonder if he was OK, though he seemed healthy, as far as I could tell.
14-NOV-2018
Mallard tracks
Tracks leading to and from a small spot of open water in the pond, where a mallard was sitting (previous photo).
14-NOV-2018
Pond with first snow
Although the pond is frozen, the ice is still thin and as can be seen, there is open water around the edges.
14-NOV-2018
Bakcyard garden
Looking like winter now. The bird feeder, just to the left of the photo, was very busy.
14-NOV-2018
Sedum
The sedum, in the Backyard Garden, not yet covered with snow, made a pretty spot of colour. In autumn, bees, flies and other insects love this plant.
14-NOV-2018
Crabapples (Malus)
Golden in the sunlight, these ones seem to be not much favoured by birds.
14-NOV-2018
Apple (Malus)
Some nice red apples still on the trees, and a number on the ground, partly chewed by squirrels.