5 May 2009
Black-capped chickadees
Chickadees have taken over another nest box. I watched them from behind a tree for awhile and it was quite amusing. At one point one went into the nest box, probably arranging the nest material to satisfaction. Meanwhile, the other one flew onto the roof of the box and stretched his (or her) head in all directions as if looking for his partner. Eventually, he alighted on the post behind the box and began peering into the box through the air gap at the back as if to say "are you in there?". Meanwhile, the other one was peering out of the entrance hole.
5 May 2009
Apple blossom time
More and more flowers are opening in the woods and elsewhere. Foamflower is just about ready to bloom, solomon's seal is pushing up from the ground in leaps and bounds, wild ginger is out and blooming (but you have to really look to find the flower), and now the crabapples are in bud, soon to be in flower. The crabapples, none of them native species, are wildly attractive to birds, squirrels and insects at different times of the year!
5 May 2009
Violet, dog (Viola conspersa)
Most violets are notoriously difficult to ID, and I have just about given up. Fortunately, there are a few (very few) which are relatively easy, and this is one.
5 May 2009
Painted turtle
This turtle was basking on a rock at the Arboretum, next door to the FWG. I haven't yet been able to photograph the one in our pond, so took this shot instead. This one is quite a bit smaller than the FWG one.
3 May 2009
Walk at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden
A well-attended walk at the FWG this morning, was co-sponsored by the Ottawa Wildlife Festival and the FWG.
3 May 2009
Walk at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden
France Rivet was kind enough to take these photos of the walk and of some of the things observed.
3 May 2009
Two male Red-winged blackbirds
You can just see the second one hidden by the cattails on the left of the photo. This was taken at the Amphibian pond.
3 May 2009
Red-winged blackbird, female
The blackbirds are busy nesting now that the females have returned.
3 May 2009
Hawthhorn (Crataegus sp.)
There are many species of hawthorns and we don't know which ones we have at FWG. They are very hard to identify down to species level. However, the fruit of these shrubs is eaten by squirrels and some birds.
3 May 2009
Walk at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden
3 May 2009
American goldfinch, male
Seen and heard on the walk, lots of goldfinches, including this beautiful male in fresh spring plumage.
3 May 2009
Heading through the Ash woods
