17-DEC-2010
Female Northern cardinal
Jeewa reports that "There were number of Cardinals, A pair of White breasted Nuthatches,Juncos, Chickadees, Crows and a Downy woodpecker."
15-DEC-2010
Amphibian pond
For once we had a sunny day and fresh snow, so everything was sparkling and beautiful! You can see that the water near the shore where the beaver is active is still open. But the opening is not as big as previously. As we get more days of cold weather, this opening will likely freeze over.
15-DEC-2010
Snow crystals
This clump of snow was clustered on a cattail stem.
15-DEC-2010
Common milkweed pod with snow
Fresh snow transforms even ordinary things, and makes them objects of beauty.
15-DEC-2010
Crabapples with snow
The crabapples, those that are left, were snow covered and very seasonal looking. Not all the crabapples are attractive to wildlife, and some will never be eaten. Others will be consumed once the fruit has frozen. Still others are eaten as soon as they ripen.
15-DEC-2010
Fox tracks
These fresh tracks were nice and crisp in the new snow on top of the pond. Fox tracks form a distinctive straight line and can be discerned from a distance. Close up, the individual paw print looks like that of a small dog. But dogs never make these very determined, straight lined, purposeful tracks.
10-DEC-2010
Beaver
David was at the pond when he noticed some activity and sure enough, there was the winter resident beaver at work. Although beaver are largely nocturnal animals, their habits change according to season. With winter fast coming on, these animals know they have little time to finish preparations, and it becomes a period of intense activity where they lose some of their natural inhibitions as they hurrriedly prepare for the long dark winter when they will, in general,not emerge from beneath the ice until spring melt.
For more information about beavers in general and the beaver who spent last winter at our pond, please see: Beavers at the FWG
10-DEC-2010
Beaver
David noticed the beaver at work, in this shot gnawing away at a felled sumca. Although beaver are largely nocturnal animals, their habits change according to season. With winter fast coming on, these animals know they have little time to finish preparations, and it becomes a period of intense activity where they lose some of their natural inhibitions as they hurrriedly prepare for the long dark winter when they will, in general,not emerge from beneath the ice until spring melt.
For more information about beavers in general and the beaver who spent last winter at our pond, please see: Beavers at the FWG
09-DEC-2010
Mourning doves
These mourning doves were in the Arboretum, below the Fletcher garden. The are beautifully lit by the morning sun in this photo by Jeewa.
09-DEC-2010
Fox tracks on the pond
A lovely sunny, but cold, day at the pond and fox tracks can be seen purposefully crossing the snowy surface.
09-DEC-2010
Rabbit tracks across the pond
It was a very cold but sunny morning, with temperatures down to -10 (and a wind chill of -22). However, The sun and a dusting of fresh snow, created a beautiful scene on the pond which Jeewa captured. The turtle raft is seen as a silhouette and a couple sets of rabbit tracks are criss-crossing the pond.
08-DEC-2010
Grey squirrel underneath the feeder
Hoping that the birds will scatter some seeds and send them down his way, this grey, along with a couple of others and two reds, was hanging out at the bottom of the feeder in the BYG.