26-NOV-2009
All the shades of autumn in the wild strawberry patch (Fragaria virginiana)
The wild strawberry leaves in the BYG are all shades and even in the grey of a November day, look beautiful and vivid. However, when I took this shot early in the morning, there was a hint of sun which helped bring out the colours. You can see what a great groundcover this is.
23-NOV-2009
Red squirrel and nest
The squirrels are fun to watch. They are either stashing food in tree branches or piling up cones (not many of those this year) (red squirrels), or industriously and determinedly burying all sorts of things all over the place (grey squirrels). No matter how often I see this sort of thing, and I have seen it countless hundreds of times, it still makes me smile and feel privileged to have a glimpse into the lives of another species. As well, the squirrels are making sure their winter nests are snug and secure. Every so often you can see a grey with a mouthful of leaves, or twigs, or even bits of plastic, heading up to add to their nests. Or, sometimes carrying material into tree cavities.
This red squirrel was bringing grass to a tree cavity in the Arboretum (but I decided to include it here anyway). In this photo, he looks like he is resting from his labours, before carrying on. Judging from the grass still hanging out of the cavity, he has a way to go yet.
21-NOV-2009
Pond with beaver food raft
The beaver is stockpiling branches for his winter food supply. All beaver do this in the fall, getting ready for freeze-up. This guy is a youngster and it is probably his first winter on his own. He is doing pretty well for someone who has just left home. We hope he will survive the winter well.
21-NOV-2009
Beaver tales
I installed this sign by the pond today. We want to let people know that we feel privileged to have a beaver spending the winter at FWG. Yes, they take down the trees, but the trees removed by "our" beaver are the ones we wanted removed but never managed to accomplish. The sumac he is removing will grow back faster than ever. He has helped deepen the water level in the pond, something else we've wanted done. We've heard people say they will set their dogs on the beaver to chase him away. One has to wonder where these people are coming from! We welcome this little guy here and are happy to have the chance to tell people about the good things beaver do for biodiversity.
19-NOV-2009
American goldfinch
After a short spell of not seeing or hearing any goldfinches at FWG, small numbers can be found around the feeders and any trees bearing seeds.
19-NOV-2009
Sharp-shinned hawk
I was watching a flock of about 50 starlings and 5 robins around a crabapple tree when all of a sudden there was a great crashing of wings as they all took off in a panic, some nearly knocking themselves out on trees in their haste to get away. Right behind them came this adult sharp-shinned hawk. I think it was a female judging from the size, which was roughly that of a rock pigeon. Anyway, I'll call it she. She then flew into this ash tree and sat for quite awhile, as nearby chickadees were giving their long, "dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee..." call indicating their agitation. Later I saw her sitting above the Ash woods feeder, which was, not surprsingly, devoid of birds.
In addition to the above, there were several juncos, a couple of downy woodpeckers, some goldfinches, cardinals, nuthatches, house finches and one house sparrow.
19-NOV-2009
American goldfinch nest in sumac
It is at this time of year that many nests are revealed. Sometimes, like this one, they are surprisingly close to a path where people frequently walk and yet the existence of the nest is unknown. Probably just as well for the birds!
18-OCT-2009
Camperdown elm (Ulmus glabra camperdownii)
The sunlight filtering through these leaves formed an attractive image. This elm is a non-native species. You can see that it has been grafted onto another elm, for if you look at the trunk there are two distinctive bark patterns!
17-NOV-2009
Swamp milkweed seed pods (Asclepias incarnata)
It struck me how very similar the pods and seeds of this milkweed species are to the invasive Dog-strangling vine.
16-NOV-2009
Potentilla
Most of the flowers on this shrub have long died, but this one was fresh and perfect. In October, on warm days, many syrphids, sweat bees, and small moths can be found around this shrub.
16-NOV-2009
Grey with crabapple
This is a favourite tree with squirrels. In addition to this grey, there was another grey (black phase), and a red squirrel, all feeding on the apples. Some crabapples are ignored all winter long, others are eaten only in extremis, when there is little else around.
13-NOV-2009
Wasp (Polistes fuscatus)
It was a fairly mild day and this paper wasp was moving slowly up the wall of the Interpretive Centre. I doubt he lived much after today, but you never know. There were still Asian lady beetles around on the walls, seeking a way into warmth and shelter for the winter, and quite a few flies, many Lucilia it looked like, some Muscids, perhaps others. Woolly bears and Ctenucha caterpillars are still around too.
13-NOV-2009
Downy woodpecker, female
Once the colder weather comes, and the feeders are full, especially if there is suet on offer, we find that downy woodpeckers are a regular at the garden. They are around most of the year, but are most often seen and easily observed in winter.
13-NOV-2009
Red squirrel giving a scolding
Occasionally I post photos taken in the adjacent Arboretum. This little guy was giving vent to his annoyance with my presence and I thought it was an appropriate photo for FWG too. After all, these guys are always scolding us at the garden! They thump their legs, shake their tails, throw their heads back, and let loose with a long scold!
09-NOV-2009
Red with walnut
How can anyone resist these little guys? They are so adorably cute, or at least I think they are! They are also great tree-planters, having helped populate the FWG with numerous walnut trees.
09-NOV-2009
South side fence
This is the latest structure to be built at the FWG. It defines part of our southern boundary. I think it is a wonderfully built split-rail fence, very much in keeping with the rustic feel of the garden. Kudos to the volunteers who built this.
09-NOV-2009
The pond in November
Looking north across the pond. You can see that a lot of cattails have been cleared out as part of an effort in late summer to open up more of the pond. Good work by our volunteers!
Red-tailed Hawk
This hawk had just caught a meadow vole and Bryan Shane just happened to be there when it occurred, camera in hand.
Red-tailed Hawk
Here the hawk has just caught the poor vole. This is a good view of those strong feathered legs that birds of prey have.
Red-tailed Hawk
The hawk flies off with its food.
Red-tailed Hawk and crow
Once the hawk had eaten the vole, it soared across the garden where a crow took great exception to it and did what crows have done for eons when confronted by hawks... it gave chase.
Red-tailed Hawk and crow
It looks as if the hawk is flying off, fed up with the harassment. Bryan notes that it looks like the crow is smiling here, and it does! Probably at a job well done!
03-NOV-2009
House wren nest
I continued cleaning out nest boxes today. Two of the nest boxes around the old field were used by house wrens, the first time this species has nested at the garden, at least as far as we know. And I suspect we would have known, because they certainly let you know when they are present. The first brood hatched and fledged quite quickly, and not long after the young were flying on their own, a second nest was made in another nest box. This nest, pictured in the photo, was much better constructed than the first one, with a deep cosy area thickly lined with feathers. There was one unhatched egg in there. The other nest was built on top of a mouse nest which was built on top of a squirrel nest! That one had several red cardinal feathers lining the nest.
02-NOV-2009
Red-breasted merganser, male
Rideau Canal. This handsome merganser was hanging out in the Canal for a short while. Luckily he was sitting on a rock, preening, and you can see his big red feet!
02-NOV-2009
Amphibian pond
On this sunny and mild second day of November, I took a walk at FWG. The beaver has removed the second willow tree, which is good news. We have wanted to take down some trees from the south side of the pond for a long time, but have never been able to bring ourselves to do this! The reason for the desired tree removal, is to provide a clear space for tree swallows to access their nest boxes. The beaver is helping us to do this and at the same time, making use of the trees for food. I do wonder, however, how the muskrats are faring. If they are even still there. I haven't seen one since mid-summer. Perhaps now the beaver has moved in, they have moved on.
02-NOV-2009
Walnut in a spruce tree, placed by a red squirrel
Near the pond I noticed that a red squirrel had placed walnuts on various branches of this spruce tree. It looked quite decorative as if the walnuts were green Christmas decorations. While looking at these, the owner of these walnuts came bustling along with another one ready to place in the tree.
02-NOV-2009
Ninebark (Physocarpus)
An attractive seedpod of the ninebark tree on the edge of the Old Field.
02-NOV-2009
Mouse in nestbox
After walking around FWG, I began to do my annual cleaning and checking of nest boxes at the site. So far I have cleaned out 21. Of those, only five contained swallow nests. I'd kept track of the boxes I'd seen swallows going in and out of during the breeding season, and knew that they had all produced some young, but was curious to see if there were any eggs or dead young in the boxes. There weren't, so I consider those successful nestings. However, it is the lowest number yet for the boxes around the pond. Later on I'll clean out the Old Field boxes and see what the story is there.
This particular nest box is in a situation that swallows would not find attractive, but I've left it up for other species such as chickadees, or house wrens and house sparrows. Last year chickadees did nest in this box, but in the spring a mouse had created a small nest made entirely of dog-strangling vine (DSV)and I left it alone because there were many other boxes for chickadees to choose from. Now, this box is full of a very warm and cosy nest, still made entirely from DSV and containing five very cute mice!
02-NOV-2009
Mouse in nest box
This little guy decided to hang out at the top of the box above the nest material. He was joined by another and when they decided I was too intrusive, they both leaped out of the back and ran down a nearby tree and vanished. The rest of the mice huddled together and I left them alone. The others will be back.
02-NOV-2009
Dog-strangling vine mouse nest
Here you can clearly see the DSV fluff and seedpods used by these enterprising mice to build their nest.
Of the 21 nest boxes I have checked so far, three contained squirrel nests, two were complete and one was partially completed. Also in the box with the partial squirrel nest, was a nest made by Polistes dominula with one dead wasp attached. Two of these nests I know were made in the spring, the other one looks well established so may also have been made then. None of the boxes contained house sparrow nests, for the 2nd year in a row. Although I have more boxes to check, the ones in the Old Field have never been used by house sparrows in all the years I've been maintaining them, so I don't expect to find any of their nests when I clean them later.
01-NOV-2009
Common merganser, female
This beautiful bird was photographed by Diane Lepage on the Rideau Canal, just off the Arboretum below Fletcher.
01-NOV-2009
Red squirrel/écureuil roux eating crabapples
Diane found this fat little red squirrel eating crabapples, a favourite not only of squirrels but of birds too.
