16-JAN-2014
Red barn
It was a rare sunny day, with blue skies and mild temperatures, just below 0c. The red barn is on the western perimeter of the Fletcher Wildlife Garden, and not part of the garden. The open space across which I am looking, is a crop field, usually planted in corn, when the snow vanishes in spring.
16-JAN-2014
Barry filling the Backyard Garden feeder
Barry is one of the volunteers at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden who keeps the bird feeders stocked all winter long. We have this one in the Backyard Garden (BYG), and another on the south side of the ash woods. To get to the latter, volunteers have to haul a supply of seed by sled across the garden, past the pond, by the butterfly meadow and old field, to the woods. The birds are very happy for all this work. While Barry was filling the feeder, a chickadee landed and grabbed a seed, while nearby more chickadees, a white-breasted nuthatch and a downy woodpecker awaited the 'all-clear'!
16-JAN-2014
Chickadee in blue spruce
While Barry filled the feeder I watched the birds coming in. This chickadee was sitting in the blue spruce next to the feeder. This spruce is very well used by birds and squirrels because its thick branches and height provide excellent cover from which they can dart out, grab a seed and retreat to safety.
16-JAN-2014
Chickadee at feeder
Another chickadee no doubt grateful for Barry's attention to the feeder.
16-JAN-2014
Downy woodpecker, female
Another bird waiting for Barry to fill the feeder was this little female downy woodpecker. Before Barry came along, I'd been watching her at the end of the BYG, probing tree trunks for insects.
16-JAN-2014
Mourning dove
Meanwhile, over at the ash woods, the feeders were mostly busy with chickadees. This lone mourning dove was sitting in an apple tree by the old field, seemingly soaking up the sun and mild temperatures.
16-JAN-2014
Icy!
This site is by the red barn and is a sheer, slick, ice-glazed surface. After the freezing rain of a week ago, the entire city looked like this! At least now the trails are walkable.
16-JAN-2014
DSV seedpod
DSV or dog-strangling vine, aka pale swallowwort (Cynanchum rossicum), is a perfidious invasive. However, I find that the bleached seedpods, especially when backlit, can be very delicately beautiful. Probably not everyone would agree!
16-JAN-2014
Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis)
The dried seedpods of evening primrose flowers have an almost sculptural look to them. Inside each pod is a cluster of tiny black seeds, which when spilled on the snow look like someone has sprinkled black pepper. Sparrows, finches and chickadees have all been observed eating these seeds.
16-JAN-2014
Curly dock (Rumex crispus)
This non-native plant is more attractive, to my eye, when the seeds appear. Looked at closely, they are quite pretty and detailed.
Red Squirrel
This is one squirrel in three poses. After burying a sumac seedhead (cone), this little one ran up onto a sumac branch and gave himself a good grooming.
09-JAN-2014
Red squirrel
Another view of the same red squirrel in the next couple of photos. I can't help think of Squirrel Nutkin when I see them sitting like this. These clever little animals are pretty well adapted to survive the cold and snow, and are active on all but the very coldest of days. They create snow tunnels all along their regular routes into which they can dive at a hint of danger, emerging some distance away, often at the base of a tree.
09-JAN-2014
Red squirrel with sumac seedhead
Red squirrels are always more easily seen and photographed in winter than during the warmer months when they are busy with young. They are entertaining to watch as they go about the business of gathering and eating food. This one cut off a sumac seedhead and buried it in the snow. It then ran off a short distance and dug up this other sumac seedhead and commenced eating it.
09-JAN-2014
Viburnum trilobum
This viburnum shrub is dripping with luscious looking red fruit but so far, it remains uneaten. With the deep snow and severe cold of this harsh winter, animals are finding it very difficult to get food. Squirrels have it better than most as they can climb trees and reach the highest seeds. The manitoba maples will soon be depleted of seeds, and many of the crabapples, ignored earlier in the season, are now being consumed. In the Arboretum I counted 11 squirrels in one large crabapple tree which will soon be stripped of fruit. The nearby large old amur maple also held a half dozen squirrels, feeding on the last of the maple keys.
09-JAN-2014
Wild plums stashed in tree
These were stashed above a nest box in which a red squirrel has a cosy nest. Walnuts, secreted away earlier in autumn, are mostly gone now, and the squirrel is dragging back sumac and plums and storing them nearby.
09-JAN-2014
Northern cardinal at feeder
The Ash woods feeder was being visited by three cardinals, including this female, a mourning dove, several chickadees and a white-breasted nuthatch. Not a lot of activity on this milder (-9c) day.
09-JAN-2014
Amphibian pond
The pond is well and truly frozen in now, and with the hard crust it is difficult to see tracks of fox or other animal. However, Saturday's predicted peculiar weather (rain and +8) if it materializes may see these conditions change.
09-JAN-2014
New Woods
Looking west toward the red barn and Prince of Wales Drive, hidden behind the distant conifers. Plenty of ski tracks and snowshoe tracks around the garden. The Bill Holland Trail is also well-trod and walkable. Standing near the benches (butterfly meadow and ash woods) I realized how deep the snow is for the seats are almost level with the top of the snow.
09-JAN-2014
Butterfly meadow in winter
You may find it hard to believe, but under this snowcover lies a garden of flowers! In another 4 1/2 to 5 months, there will be a plethora of plants.
04-JAN-2014
White-breasted Nuthatch
Diane photographed this nuthatch enjoying the suet in the Backyard Garden. Here, you can see the characteristic pose of this species, typically seen as it forages downward on tree trunks. You can also see the rusty colouring underneath.
04-JAN-2014
Mourning Dove
This mourning dove, photographed by Diane, is taking advantage of the spilled seed. Some winters we have seen large flocks of mourning doves remaining around the garden, but in recent years have found only 2 or 3 at a time.
04-JAN-2014
White -thoated sparrow
Several white-throated sparrows have been found at the FWG this winter, with reports of up to three. I've seen two, and Diane saw and photographed one on Jan. 4th. These birds typically head south in autumn, passing through our region in large numbers. But, occasionally, some try to overwinter. The winter of 2012/2013 also saw a white-throated sparrow hanging around at the garden. There are reports of a few others in the Ottawa region.
10-MAR-2008
Winter 2008
We've had a lot of snow thus far this winter (2013/2014), but look at the snow piled up in front of the centre in 2008! That was another year of massive snowfalls, about which I'd forgotten until I looked at this photo! I am posting it here for comparison to this year's winter...