09-FEB-2010
Double trouble!
These two red squirrels were too busy feeding to worry about me. A third one was sitting on the rock wall nearby, posing in that pensive mood that squirrels excel at! This made up to some degree for the anger I felt at the flagrant vandalism in this spot, caused by the ATVs.
09-FEB-2010
Mourning dove
Sitting in an apple tree by the Old Field area, this handsome dove is one of only a few this winter. It has been awhile since we had up to 30 at a time during the winter around the Ash Woods, in the Ravine and sitting here, by the Old Field. It was quite the sight to see so many doves lined up along branches or sitting on top of the vine covered snag near the feeder, catching the sun's rays. On cloudy days, they would hide in the vine tangle, or huddle deep within one of the large spruce nearby.
Once again, birds were few. The most interesting sighting was of a raven in the arboretum collecting nesting material. It was scraping soft bark off a dead tree branch until it had a great mouthful, and then flew off. All the while it was working it was besieged by crows who raise the same ruckus over ravens that they do over raptors.
07-FEB-2010
House Finches/ Roselin familier, male
Diane was at the FWG on Sunday and photographed the house finches hanging out near the feeder. She also reported that it has been pretty quiet for birds at the garden (and elsewhere). This photo shows the beautiful red colouration of the male. Sometimes exceptionally red males can be taken for purple finches, but male house finches have a brownish cap (not always that visible), which the purple finch males do not. As well, the purple finches are much deeper red.
07-FEB-2010
House Finches/ Roselin familier, female
And here is the female house finch. The females are often mistaken for sparrows by beginning birders, and no wonder! They certainly look like many of our "little brown job" sparrows at first glance.
05-FEB-2010
Shelter
Although it is a bit difficult to make out from this photo, this is a shelter made by someone in, I would say, the last week or so. It is on the south side of the New Woods, but north of the red barn. At first I thought the branches were some that had broken off during the freezing rain we had a month or so ago. But looking more closely I could see that the branches had been cut with a saw. As far as I can tell, the person who did must have stood on the lower branches of the tree and cut off some from high up, and then cut off those lower down, to make this shelter. Good thing I didn't catch the culprit!!! The poor pine is a bit butchered now.
05-FEB-2010
Black-capped chickadee with insect cocoon
There were several chickadees exploring and excavating these Scotch pines for insects. Many insects overwinter as larva or pupa under bark, underneath leaf litter, in twigs, vines, etc., and here you can see that the chickadee has found an insect cocoon. Chickadees, much as they like the seeds at our feeders, also like, and need, the protein that comes from eating insects. You can see them expertly probing all manner of vegetation, looking for insects. I've particularly noticed them working away at the dried DSV vines. Sometimes there will be 3 or 4 of them together diligently poking around in the vines and pulling out something so minute I can't see what it is they have. At any rate, we know that insects do use the DSV, but they appear not to be at all injurious to it. However... I suspect, from what I have heard, that we'll see a possible biocontrol agent in another 4 or 5 years.
05-FEB-2010
Black-capped chickadee excavating Scotch pine bark
And here is one of the chickadees probing away for insects.
05-FEB-2010
Tracks on pond
The human tracks dominate here! You can see where skiers have crossed the pond, where dogs and owners have cris-crossed it. At the far end of the pond, you can also see where crows, rabbits, and fox have also crossed the pond.
05-FEB-2010
Wing pattern made by a crow
This is a lovely fresh wing pattern made by a crow who took off just as I came along at the west end of the pond. Such wing patterns are abundantly common, but this was one of the freshest, and I thought I'd include it here because it is quite attractive.
03-FEB-2010
Red squirrel
This little guy was sitting on the edge of the Ravine, by the Backyard Garden. He looked very pensive, and even when I slowly approached, he did nothing but turn and glance at me before resuming this stance. Eventually he gave himself a little shake and jumped down into the Ravine.
03-FEB-2010
Northern Cardinal, female
Over at the Ash Woods feeder there was no more activity than at the BYG feeder. However, this pretty female cardinal sat quite still for several minutes allowing a fairly close shot. In addition to her, there were a few house finches, chickadees, a couple of mourning doves, a few grey squirrels and a couple of crows nearby.
01-FEB-2010
Northern Cardinal, male
A nice way to start the month is with a splash of bright colour in the form of this male cardinal. At the Backyard Garden feeder, located behind the Interpretive Centre, there was little bird activity. A few house finches, about 6 chickadees, a female downy woodpecker, and a dark-eyed junco. Three red squirrels were also hanging around beneath the feeder.
