18-NOV-2015
Mushrooms
I think these are oyster mushrooms, photographed by Barry at the garden.
30-NOV-2015
American robin
Several flocks of robins around today in both the Fletcher Wildlife Garden and the adjacent Arboretum. Right now they are making a feast of the many crabapples in both locations. Other birds at the garden include cardinals, chickadees, juncos, downy woodpecker, crows and white-breasted nuthatches.
30-NOV-2015
American robin in crabapple tree
This particular robin sat in that same spot for quite awhile, stripping the fruit from the tree.
18-JUNE-2015
Polypores (Ischnoderma resinosum)
A beautiful russet coloured bracket fungus, or polypore. They can grow quite large and are often used by squirrels as perches to sit on while they feed.
18-NOV-2015
Red squirrel
The nest in the next photo is made by red squirrels such as this one. Here, the little red seems to be eyeing the apple with some determination.
20-NOV-2015
Red squirrel nest
Red squirrels makes these round grassy balls, often using strips of plastic, bits of rope and string, and sometimes dog hair. I recall seeing a red squirrel nest that was about 50% dog hair. (CH)
20-NOV-2015
Fletcher Wildlife Garden
Another section of the garden showing how much it looks like a rural setting rather than smack in the middle of the city.
Lichen
This foliose lichen shows an abundance of apothecia (the spore producers), looking like flat buttons on the tree branch, in this image by Barry.
16-NOV-2015
Downy woodpecker
A common visitor to the garden, this is a year-round resident (meaning it doesn't migrate).
18-NOV-2015
Crow at sumac
Sumac provides food for many birds as well as squirrels, and here a crow is feeding on some of the abundant seeds.
20-NOV-2015
Canada geese
Large flocks of geese continue to fly over the garden, and everywhere else around Ottawa, but once things get cold and water freezes, they'll move further south. Here, they stand out against the bright blue sky, as photographed by Barry.
18-NOV-2015
Mushroom
One of the pleasures of autumn is finding fungi poking up amongst the leaves or on logs and stumps.