21-NOV-2014
Quiet time
This black phase grey squirrel was sitting quietly in the old woods, catching the same sun's rays as the grey squirrel in the next photo. They look quite different, but are in fact the same species. The further south one goes, the less these black squirrels are found, until they just stop appearing at all. Thus, they appear to be a mainly northerly colour phase. Speculation is that the darker colour absorbs and retains heat better in the winter. Whether this is so or not, there are definitely more black phase greys than grey greys here.
21-NOV-2014
Catching the sun while having a snack
This grey squirrel had the right idea. He found a snug perch in the sun's rays on a cold day, where he could enjoy a snack!
14-NOV-2014
Asian ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis) and wooly alder aphids
OK, this is not in the Fletcher Wildlife Garden, but it is in the Arboretum not far from the garden. The cluster of wooly alder aphids (Prociphilus tessellatus) are attracting the hungry attention of the ladybeetles ... one in this photo, but there were at least three more on the branch. I've seen this same scenario repeated in many locations around Ottawa, alders + aphids + lots of asian ladybeetles.
13-NOV-2014
Backyard Garden pond
A reflective moment in the BYG pond before the snow. Over the years the pond has seen many green frog and even, once, a tiny painted turtle, which sadly did not survive.
14-NOV-2014
Looking across to the old woodlot
We call it the old woodlot to distinguish it from the new woodlot! The latter was planted by volunteers over 20 years ago, but this one in the photo, was already well established when we began the Fletcher Wildlife Garden here.
14-NOV-2014
Fletcher Wildlife Garden Interpretation Centre
Photographed in mid-afternoon sun on a cold but sunny (and snowy) day.
14-NOV-2014
Cocoon
This looks like a moth cocoon made probably by one of the tussock moth caterpillars, who make these very hairy cocoons using the hair from their body. Of course, there are others who make similar ones, so it is difficult to say for sure who might have made this. It was underneath a broken off branch. It looks like it has been prodded, perhaps by a chickadee or some other bird.
14-NOV-2014
Black-capped chickadee with cocoon
I was standing in the Backyard Garden, when a chickadee landed in the phlox and began rattling the dry stems and plucking things from them. Then another chickadee landed on these cut stems, reached in and pulled out a tiny insect cocoon.
It was a cold,blustery day with both snow flurries and sun. Birds were not abundant, except for chickadees, but I did see a small flock of juncos, a couple of cardinals, a mourning dove, crows, house finches, american goldfinches, a white-breasted nuthatch, and best of all, a beautiful big fox sparrow.
14-NOV-2014
The Backyard Garden
The phlox in the foreground was definitely attracting the attention of chickadees who were finding various things to eat along the stems. Just because we can't see eggs, larvae and cocoons, doesn't mean these things are not there. Chickadees can frequently be found plucking almost minuscule (to our eyes) things from all sorts of vegetation. This is what helps them survive the winter and even thrive.
14-NOV-2014
American beech leaves
The sun shining through the bronzed beech leaves always seems particularly attractive to me. These are beautiful trees, and this one, planted not all that long ago at the garden, north of the old woods, is doing well.
13-NOV-2014
Geranium
A few flowers on this cranesbill geranium were still blooming before the snow came.
14-NOV-2014
Blue-green stropharia (Stropharia aeruginosa)
Ice crystals formed on this fading mushroom just above the pond. When fresh, it is a beautiful blueish-green (as the common name suggests).
03-NOV-2014
Female house finch at feeder
The Fletcher Wildlife Garden maintains two bird feeders during the winter, one in the Backyard Garden, the other by the old woodlot. Birds are grateful!!
03-NOV-2014
Earthball (Scleroderma citrinum)
These fungi are often oddly shaped as this one here is. They are often known as the pigskin poison puffball, and they are indeed poisonous. They are called both puffball and earthball, but they are not really puffballs. When cut open they are a lovely violet colour when young, and a deep blackish-purple when mature. You can, if you look closely just about discern the purple colouration where the fungus has broken open.
03-NOV-2014
Red squirrel in squirrel roosting box
Some local scouts made us 6 of these very fine squirrel roosting boxes, and did a fantastic job on them! Squirrels are always quick to investigate any sort of potential nesting or roosting box, including bird nest boxes. This one looks right at home here.
03-NOV-2014
Bald-faced hornet nest
Not much left of this paper wasp nest now. I always think it is amazing that small insects can created this intricate nest with all its cells, covered by a fine papery substance that resembles the expensive handmade paper in specialty shops! Bald-faced hornets are not true hornets, but are in reality, paper wasps, like the polistes species.
03-NOV-2014
Crabapples (Malus)
Food for birds and squirrels... or is it? Not all the crabapple trees produce fruit appealing to wildlife. Some trees retain their bright red berries throughout the winter. There are many, many types of crabapples as can be seen if one walks around the garden and the adjacent arboretum, with fruit ranging in colour from purple, to pale red, deep scarlet, and a yellowy orange. Much of this will be eaten in time by wildlife, but some crabapple trees have been developed with unpalatable fruit so that it will stay on the trees and provide colour all winter.
03-NOV-2014
Birch (Betula)
While most of the leaves have fallen, the birches at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden still retain enough leaves to cast a golden glow.
03-NOV-2014
Red eating walnut
The little red is tearing the husk off a black walnut to get at the nut inside. It is amazing just how fast they can get down to the nut. By this time, the husk has been softened considerably, after being stashed in a pile beneath the tree.
03-NOV-2014
Woolly bear caterpillar
These hardy caterpillars are, like the Ctenucha moth caterpillars,often seen well into November, even when temperatures are not far above freezing.
Apart from a few flies and a winter moth (maybe Bruce's spanworm, though I didn't get a good look) the only other insect seen was a mourning cloak butterfly! It was fluttering weakly across the open area north of the old woods.
03-NOV-2014
Dog-strangling vine (Vincetoxicum rossicum)
Also known as pale swallowwort, this vine grows abundantly and drapes over everything in its path, including shrubs and trees as here. It is next to impossible to eradicate but some measure of control can be achieved with much hard work.
03-NOV-2014
Amphibian pond
This is the first thing a visitor to the Fletcher Wildlife Garden sees when heading down to take the trail around the site. Today, a few mallards were present.
03-NOV-2014
Downy woodpecker, male
This small woodpecker was hammering away on one of the birch ladders, part of an art installation in the garden. Just above, and out of the photo, is a perfectly circular hole, a chickadee nest hole which may or may not have been used at some time prior to the art installation being created.
03-NOV-2014
Rudbeckia blooming against the rock wall
THere are a surprising number of flowers still blooming at the Fletcher garden, including these rudbeckia here in the Backyard Garden, and others near the Amphibian Pond.
