14-NOV-2012
Pine grosbeak, female
A lone pine grosbeak was feeding near the big flock of bohemian waxwings in the Arboretum.
14-NOV-2012
Bohemian waxwings
At the FWG this morning, Barry and I saw at least 100 bohemian waxwings. I later heard that at about 8 a.m., there were closer to 1000 waxwings around the garden. This photo and the one following, were taken in the adjacent Arboretum, where the birds flew off to feed on the crabapples.
14-NOV-2012
Bohemian waxwing
Against the deep blue sky of this lovely day, the waxwing's distinctive cinnamon coloured undertail coverts are noticeable.
14-NOV-2012
Bohemian waxwings
Another shot of the waxwings in the Ravine by the Backyard Garden. Just a few of the 100+ that were there.
07-NOV-2012
Coneflower
Another plant in the Butterfly Meadow that is fading as the frosty temperatures kill off the last of the blossoms for this year.
07-NOV-2012
Brown-eyed susan (Rudbeckia)
The frost has put paid to most blossoms, but even in decay many look quite beautiful.
07-NOV-2012
Downy woodpecker
In addition to the ubiquitous, but always welcome, chickadees, there were a couple of white-breasted nuthatches and downy woodpeckers around, as well as cardinals. But I saw few other birds, although I was not focused on looking for birds.
07-NOV-2012
Small milkweed bug (Lygaeus kalmii)
Despite the brisk icy wind, and the chilly temperatures (+3), this milkweed bug was slowly crawling across the south wall of the Interpretive Centre. The white walls hit by the bright sun, would have provided some warmth. These bugs overwinter as adults in leaf litter, so perhaps this one was on its way to a suitable site.
07-NOV-2012
Black-capped chickadee
You can always rely on lots of chickadees flocking to the feeders! And sometimes they perch long enough for a photo.
07-NOV-2012
Mouse (Peromyscus)
Another view of one of the anxious mice peering out the back of the nest box.
07-NOV-2012
Mouse (Peromyscus)
One of the nest boxes that Claudia and I cleaned out today, contained four little mice. Probably they are white-footed mice, but deer mice look almost identical. At one point three of them clung to the back of the nest box, peering out after I opened the box to check it. I left the four in their winter nest as no birds showed any interest in this nest box all spring and summer, and it remained empty until autumn when these guys took over.
07-NOV-2012
Goldflame honeysuckle
Surprisingly, there were at least 6 new flowers on the honeysuckle vine growing up the north side of the Interpretive Centre. I guess the long spell of warmth and sun earlier, promoted this flowering. I had noticed in other places, that various plants that typically flower in spring, such as tartarian honeysuckle, were flowering in late September.
