19-DEC-2012
Northern cardinal, male
One of three vividly red male cardinals that I saw around the Backyard Garden today. They certainly appreciate the effort taken by volunteers to fill the feeders.
19-DEC-2012
Northern cardinal, male
This pretty male cardinal was one of three I saw today. Also noted were mourning doves, goldfinches, chickadees, house finches, crows, starlings, robins, and juncos.
19-DEC-2012
Coneflower
Although it looks as if there is sunlight on this plant, there isn't. This was taken in the Butterfly Meadow, and even the dry seedhead has beauty I think.
19-DEC-2012
Black squirrel with manitoba maple seeds
This is the black form of the gray squirrel, and is by far the more dominant colour form around here. One manitoba maple tree had 6 squirrels in it, all busily chomping away on these seeds.
19-DEC-2012
Old field
Not so long ago, this was a blaze of bright yellow. Now the goldenrods are brown and the only life on them is within the galls, where goldenrod fly larvae sit in their enclosed chambers, waiting for spring. That is, of course, if they aren't eaten first by hungry birds and squirrels.
19-DEC-2012
Little red
A contemplative looking red squirrel, one of about 6 I saw today at the garden.
19-DEC-2012
Amphibian pond
A thin layer of mushy snow and ice covers the pond. If we get the snow and colder weather predicted for the next few days, the water will freeze and snow will insulate the pond.
19-DEC-2012
European starlings
A flock of about 20 starlings was taking turns to feed on this nearby crabapple. Many fruit-bearing trees have been stripped, those that are left are either unpalatable to wildlife, or are palatable as a last resort.
19-DEC-2012
Rabbit signs
We don't see rabbits as much as we used some years ago, so the only way we know they are present is when we come across signs of them. Here, some scat and urine marks a spot where a rabbit has been chewing on plants.
19-DEC-2012
Waiting for spring
A wheelbarrow, covered in snow, waits for spring to come again. Right now, the Backyard Garden is quiet and plants are dormant... but once the weather warms up, they will grow quickly.
04-DEC-2012
Birch tree
The old standing dead birch trees are a valuable source of food and nesting sites for cavity nesting birds. here, it looks like a chickadee made a couple of attempts at excavating a nest site.
04-DEC-2012
Stashed walnut
You'll often come across walnuts stashed in trees, like this one. It is the work of red squirrels, busily gathering and storing food for winter.