28-MAR-2017
American robin on sumac
There were lots of robins around the Fletcher Wildlife Garden today, some feeding on the staghorn sumac. Fortunately, still a lot of seeds left on the shrubs. Most other natural food sources have been eaten.
16-MARCH-2017
Sharp-shinned hawk
Sitting still long enough for Barry to take a photo of this beauty.
16-MARCH-2017
Grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
Feeding on seed spilled by birds eating at the bird feeder, the squirrels have just about run out of wild food. Grey squirrels scatter-hoard their food in autumn, caching it here and there underground, which makes it tough to find when the land is snow-covered.
16-MARCH-2017
Grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), black phase
Eating the remaining few wild fruits, by this time of year, squirrels are getting desperate for food. It is also the time when they have or are about to have, youngsters. The previous photo shows the grey phase of the squirrel.
16-MARCH-2017
Red-winged blackbird, male
Over the years at FWG, the red-winged blackbirds have arrived on average around March 15. Some years we've seen them in the first week of March, others much later than mid-month, but generally speaking, we begin looking for them from about March 12 onwards. The males always arrive first of course, followed later by the females, at which point they begin the task of finding territory and nest-building.
16-MARCH-2017
More shadow play
A thicket of red-osier dogwoods casts an interesting shadow effect on the lovely fresh snow.
16-MARCH-2017
Shadow play
Bright sun created strong shadows on the fresh snow as shown here in one of Barry's photos.
16-MARCH-2017
Fresh snow
The region got about 20cm of fresh snow which created a perfect winter day under sun and blue skies.
14-MAR-2017
Red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
I think this squirrel looks a bit stunned... probably by the falling snow, just when hopes were up that spring was coming!
14-MAR-2017
Black-capped chickadee
Lots of chickadees around the Fletcher garden today, and several singing, despite the snow and cold.
14-MAR-2017
Black-capped chickadee
Despite the snow and the cold winds, chickadees were singing their spring song, as this one was doing. Nearby, cardinals were doing the same thing, though it felt more like early January than mid-March. The red-winged blackbirds are back (have been for some time, lured by the earlier milder weather) and calling from a few locations around the garden. As there are no cattails in the pond after the massive rehabilitation project in the autumn, there isn't anywhere for them to nest and so they probably won't stick around this spring. Perhaps next year there will be cattails again.
14-MAR-2017
AMerican robin
Another robin, this one in the Ravine area, sheltering from the snow on and in a brush pile.