12-Nov-2020
New england aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
Although it is mid-November, traditionally a grey time of year, there were splashes of colour to be found, including several of these asters.
12-Nov-2020
Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
This is the non-native, invasive bittersweet which at first glance looks very much like the native bittersweet (C. scandens). However, you can see that here the flowering parts/fruit grow from leaf axils along the branches, a sure sign of the non-native plant. The native one has flowers/fruit only at the tip (terminal clusters).
12-Nov-2020
Grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
All the squirrels are busy getting ready for the winter, hoarding food, readying winter nests, but some are also digging up some food and eating it now. This squirrel has a dirty nose from rooting around in the leaf litter and then digging into the soil underneath to come up with whatever delicacy it is eating.
12-Nov-2020
White-throated sparrow
I saw only three of these sparrows today, though there might have been more. They were making good use of the brushpiles in the ravine, making it hard to photograph them. While most of these guys have gone south, some are still present in various locales across the region.
12-Nov-2020
Juniper fruit.... and robin
Although difficult to see, there is an American robin behind this branch, feeding on some of the abundant juniper berries. Waxwings are also big fans of this fruit.
12-Nov-2020
Sedum spectabile
Growing in the backyard garden, this garden plant is highly attractive to bees and other insects in late summer through autumn.
12-Nov-2020
Black-capped chickadee
Feeding on seeds of goldenrods as well as gleaning various insects from the stems and leaves, either eggs or pupae, too small to be seen by me.
12-Nov-2020
On the edge of the old woods
Looking south from the edge of the old woods. The insect hotel is on the right, and the FWG boundary is the trail in front.
12-Nov-2020
Red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
I have a suspicion this squirrel is used to getting handouts from people because as soon as I stopped in the Backyard Garden, it came rushing over.
12-Nov-2020
Red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
Gnawing on a walnut produces a distinctive sound, and throughout the garden at this time of year you can hear squirrels eating these abundant nuts.
12-Nov-2020
Wild raspberry (Rubus)
The next image shows the golden colour of the leaves, while here, they have turned red.
12-Nov-2020
Wild raspberry (Rubus)
I didn't notice many berries this year, so perhaps the raspberries were having an off-year. Most native plants do not produce abundant fruit and seeds every year. However, the raspberry leaves, those still clinging to the shrubs, are appealing with their golden and, as in the previous shot, red colours.
12-Nov-2020
Crabapples (Malus)
This tree, on the edge of the ravine, retains its fruit for a long, long time, and then, usually in winter, birds and squirrels descend on it.
12-Nov-2020
Crabapples (Malus)
While many of the crabapples have already been eaten, there are still trees with abundant fruit, such as this one and the previous.
12-Nov-2020
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
A very small shrub that has been planted in an area that once held a lot of the invasive dog-strangling vine. Hopefully this will, in time, if it is happy in the site, spread.
12-Nov-2020
Canada geese
There were constant flights of Canada geese overhead, possibly 1000+ birds.
12-Nov-2020
Grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
While the cardinal (next photo) and chickadees fed on one side of the feeder, the grey was on the other. I don't quite know how it got up there as the feeder is high off the ground and has a good baffle around the post. I looked at the surrounding trees and reckoned it was a pretty good leap from them to the feeder, but maybe this particular squirrel was just lucky.
12-Nov-2020
Northern cardinal, male
At the feeder on the south side of the old woods.
12-Nov-2020
Old woods
Looking north through the old woods.
12-Nov-2020
Cedars in the ravine
This not very good photo is to show the size of the cedars in the ravine as seen from the Backyard Garden. I remember when these cedars were planted as small trees to replace buckthorn that had been removed. I think at the time we weren't sure how well they would do, but they thrived, forming a nice thicket for wildlife.
12-Nov-2020
Backyard Garden of the Fletcher Wildlife Garden
On a mid-November day, under sunny skies with a temperature of about +6. Lots of birds coming to the feeder and hundreds of Canada geese passing overhead.
12-Nov-2020
House finch, female
In the Backyard Garden. This was the only house finch I saw today, but I didn't spend more than about 15 minutes checking out the feeder.
12-Nov-2020
Dark-eyed junco
A lone junco feeding under some dried up sneezeweed in the Backyard Garden.
12-Nov-2020
Old field
A big stand of goldenrod providing lots of seeds for finches, sparrows and chickadees.
12-Nov-2020
Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)
The feathery seedheads are quite attractive when lit by the sun, but more importantly, chickadees and other birds eat the seeds.
12-Nov-2020
Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)
One single goldenrod still in bloom.
12-Nov-2020
Mallards
A pair of mallards having a good feed in the large amphibian pond.
12-Nov-2020
Mallards
Enjoying the relative warmth under sunny skies while taking a brief break from feeding.
12-Nov-2020
Amphibian pond
The pond in November, with an algal growth. A pair of mallards finding enough to eat, however.
03-Nov-2020
Red Squirrel and female Cardinal
SG: I can't help thinking these two are gossiping over their morning snack. Or more likely discussing the early snow and what that means for the winter.
03-Nov-2020
Resinous Polypore (Ischnoderma resinosum)
SG: Dark brown velvet on top and creamy porous surface below. I love the shapes these polypores can take.
03-Nov-2020
Wasp gall
SG: One of our Bur Oak trees was covered with these leaf galls, which are the product of a wasp in the genus Acraspis. The oak leaves with galls had failed to lose their green colour, in contrast with the brown leaf at the left of the photo, which had no galls.
