29 January 2009
Mourning dove
In addition to 5 mourning doves, and the usual cardinals, chickadees, crows, etc. a lone female white-winged crossbill was picking seeds out of various conifers around the Old Field, and in between times, calling insistently. It is unusual to see only one of these birds, particularly in winter when they tend to congregate in flocks. A small flock of bohemian waxwings flew back and forth across the garden, but didn't stop. Natural food sources are rapidly being depleted. The Manitoba maples are almost devoid of seeds, the Amur maples likewise, and all the mountain ash and crabapple fruit went long ago. Down in the Arboretum the only crabapples still with fruit are clearly a last resort for wildlife, although some are now being eaten by robins and red squirrels.
29 January 2009
White-throated sparrow
This sparrow is still around. A few days ago I thought he looked quite ill and I was about to go and find a box so that I could take him to the Wild Bird Care Centre, when he suddenly sat upright and flew away. Yesterday and today he seems more or less normal, except that he doesn't fly away too fast when anyone, human or animal, approaches.
29 January 2009
Chickadee taking a seed
There were about 8 chickadees in the BYG today, and they were extremely active, flying in, taking off, coming back in for another seed. This little one barely stopped but grabbed the sunflower seed while still flapping his wings.
26 January 2009
Cardinal, male
This beautiful male Cardinal was photographed by Diane Lepage.
26 January 2009
Cardinal, female
The female is just as beautiful as the bright red male.
23 January 2009
Red-tailed hawk
This big hawk is back hanging out around the Ash woods. When I saw it, it was mercifully undiscovered by crows, thus enjoying a respite from being harassed.
20 January 2009
American robin in crabapple tree
As I walked toward FWG from the Arboretum I could hear robins somewhere up near the Ravine. As I got closer, a flock of 12 suddenly flew from FWG toward a cluster of crabapples in the Arboretum. So I followed and took a few photos.
20 January 2009
American robin with crabapple
At FWG a small flock of white-winged crossbills was feeding on cones around the Ash woods, and a group of about 25 bohemian waxwings flew across to the Arboretum where, yesterday, I saw about 150. Both feeders were busy with the usual chickadees, mourning doves, downy woodpeckers, cardinals, white-breasted nuthatches, and house finches.
20 January 2009
American robin
As I was leaving FWG I bumped into Tony and Gretchen Denton. Tony was there to fill both feeders, and I'd like to say "kudos to Tony" for being so dedicated in making sure the feeders are always full. It is not easy to lug a big batch of seed all the way over to the Ash woods, but he does! Fortunately for the birds and for those of us who like to watch them. Thanks, TOny!
16 January 2009
Frosty manitoba maple key
It was about -24 when I set out with Tasha to walk around the FWG and the Arboretum. Taking some of these photos required standing still for a looooong time by the end of which I thought for sure I'd lost both fingers and toes, and probably my mind too! At one point, I was so frozen, I could hardly move. But I hoped that the photos would be worth it. I don't think they are , but some of them are not bad. This maple key caught my eye with the frost rimming the edges and the sun shining obliquely off it.
16 January 2009
Icy crabapples
I was entranced by the ice crystals covering much of the vegetation and trying to capture what I saw occupied a lot of my time.
16 January 2009
Ice lace
The ice on this frosty crabapple looked like lace to me.