24-MAR-2013
American robin
A gorgeous photo by Diane of a very red-breasted robin. This is a male, identified by the vivid red breast (females have a duller colour), sitting on a sumac, making for a striking image. We seem to have had few robins around this winter, unlike last year (a much milder winter) when we had quite a few around the region, including at the FWG/Arboretum.
Diane said that there were a number of birds around the FWG, including this robin, a red-winged blackbird, cardinals, downy woodpeckers, house finches, dark-eyed juncos, white-throated sparrows (3), common redpolls (5), black-capped chickadees, white-breasted nuthatch,and overhead, ring-billed gulls.
24-MAR-2013
Red-winged Blackbird
Our true harbinger of spring! Whereas robins, in small numbers, may overwinter most years, it is rare for a red-winged blackbird to do so, and so in the eyes of many of us, they really signal spring! Diane photographed this male as she walked one of the trails through the garden.
24-MAR-2013
Mourning Dove
Diane photographed this dove drinking from a snow puddle in the road to the Backyard Garden.
24-MAR-2013
House finch, female
These little brown jobs frequently confuse beginning birders, as they look very sparrow like. With the male, there is no doubt about what they are, but the poor females...
24-MAR-2013
Northern cardinal, female
A gorgeous shot by Diane, of a pretty female cardinal in warm light, sitting on the feeder in the Backyard Garden. These birds have been singing for some weeks now, so they knew spring was coming, despite the snow still piled up.
24-MAR-2013
Dark-eyed junco
These juncos are so common now, moving around in flocks. This was in the Backyard Garden.
24-MAR-2013
Common Redpoll
One of our winter visitors, soon to be heading northwards. Diane saw five of these pretty birds at the BYG feeder.
24-MAR-2013
White-throated sparrow
Diane said that she saw 3 of these guys feeding on the ground beneath the feeder by the Ash Woods.
07-MAR-2013
Red squirrel
These little guys are too cute for words!!! Barry caught this one in a very inquisitive pose. These squirrels are common around the garden, in a much higher density than they would be in the wilds, thanks to a good food supply.
07-MAR-2013
Red squirrels
Two reds awaiting a chance to visit the feeder!
07-MAR-2013
Bark from Hairy Woodpecker work
The bark scattered beneath this tree is a sure sign that a Hairy Woodpecker has been working away.
07-MAR-2013
Hungry rabbits
A good view of the work of hungry rabbits in this photo by Barry.
07-MAR-2013
Baltimore Oriole nest
This rounded mass is the tightly woven nest of a Baltimore Oriole. their nests are usually suspended high up in a tree - quite often a willow or cottonwood around the Arboretum and FWG.
07-MAR-2013
Mourning Dove
A few days ago, Barry photographed the front view of a dove, and now here is a back view. I think these birds are exceptionally pretty, and their soft cooing is such a delight to hear.
04-MAR-2013
Mourning Dove
A very soft-looking dove in the mellow light, in this fine photo by Barry.
04-MAR-2013
FWG in the snow
We've had a lot of snow this winter and it has given rise to scenes of beauty, such as this one, but if you look more closely, you'll see that what looks so pretty is also a shot of a tree bowed down by the heavy wet snow. Our last big snowfall caused a lot of damage to trees and shrubs, the sheer weight breaking off large branches or even bringing down trees.
04-MAR-2013
Damaged tree
Another tree that suffered from the heavy weight of snow.
04-MAR-2013
Tracks across pond
Barry took several photos of tracks: these are crossing the pond and another photos shows them going into the ravine. I am not entirely sure what they are, although definitely not fox tracks. From the pattern, they look almost like giant vole tracks :-).
Chris suggests they could be ermine tracks, and that is a good possibility, as we certainly have these guys at the garden. Without seeing the tracks in situ, it is a bit hard to say, but ermine sounds good.
04-MAR-2013
Tracks in ravine
Here is a shot of tracks heading into the ravine. I thought they were the same as the previous set on the pond, but now I'm unsure. Not having seen them, I don't know their size. But, I'm grateful to Barry for taking this shot.
04-MAR-2013
Polypores (Trichaptum abietinum)
These polypores are common in the region, but not always noticed. Barry took this fine shot.
03-MAR-2013
Snow in trees around the Butterfly Meadow
Diane caught this pretty winter scene while exploring the garden.
02-MAR-2013
House Finch with conjunctivitis
Several people have noticed this poor male House Finch that is suffering from conjunctivitis. This problem is common in House Finches and sometimes other finches. It's a result of Mycoplasma gallisepticum, a bacteria that causes a respiratory disease. Conjunctivitis is one of the side effects. Sometimes the poor birds go completely blind, but other times they recover. The infection can, and often does, spread to other finches in the flock. The good news is that it appears to be far less common now than 10 to 20 years ago.
03-MAR-2013
Downy Woodpecker
These small woodpeckers are non-migratory. They can be found year round, very active and visible, particularly in winter.
