11-NOV-2018
Northern cardinal, male
Diane was at the garden recently and reported that not only were there lots of birds, there were lots of photographers too. The feeders (there are two) are a magnetic for photographers.
11-NOV-2018
Northern cardinal, female
The female lacks the vivid, eye-catching red of the male, but is still, in my opinion, a very attractive bird. These birds are non-migratory and in winter tend to form small flocks.
11-NOV-2018
Downy woodpecker, male
The peanut feeder in the backyard garden is especially appealing to woodpeckers. Often, downy and hairy woodpeckers alternate feeding on it.
11-NOV-2018
White-breasted nuthatch
Of course, woodpeckers are not the only birds attracted to the peanut feeder....
11-NOV-2018
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14-NOV-2018
Red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
The cold and snow of course, does not stop the squirrels from seeking food as this one was doing.
14-NOV-2018
Pine grosbeak
Another shot of the pine grosbeak pecking away at the crabapples.
14-NOV-2018
Overlooking the ravine
One of several new benches erected this summer at the garden, this one overlooking the ravine which is a great spot for birding, especially in spring migration.
14-NOV-2018
Canada goose
The tail end of a flock of geese flying north over the garden; you'd think they'd be heading the opposite way!
14-NOV-2018
Black-capped chickadee
Endlessly cheerful (we think anyway, in our anthropomorphic way), it is always a pleasure to see these tiny fierceless birds.
14-NOV-2018
Fox sparrow
This is one of the larger sparrows and is easily identified by size and its rich rufous colouring. It is always seen in migration, but does not breed around here.
14-NOV-2018
Fox sparrow
Another view of the sparrows, showing more of the back and its lovely colouring.
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.
14-NOV-2018
Nest
This small cup-shaped nest about 2 metres above the ground is possibly (probably) that of an American goldfinch.