21-Nov-2021
Checking it out
The chipmunk was either hiding under the squirrel baffle (which has been "tagged") or thought there was a way to the feeder through it.
21-Nov-2021
Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus)
Deciding there was more chance of seed under the feeder...
21-Nov-2021
Mallard
looking rather contented.
16-Nov-2021
American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
16-Nov-2021
Last of the autumn leaves
The day was cold but the sun came out on and off and was lovely, backlighting these brilliant yellow leaves, some of the few still clinging to trees.
16-Nov-2021
Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
The bittersweet vines are very pretty, especially in autumn with their bright red and orange seeds. However, this one, the non-native species can hybridize with the American bittersweet and in time cause the latter to become scarce. You can tell this is not the native variety because the seeds are arranged all along the stem, rather than clustered at the end as in American bittersweet.
16-Nov-2021
Black-capped chickadee and female house finch
The feeder at the Backyard Garden was a very busy place this morning,with small flocks of house finches, a few white-breasted nuthatches, chickadees, white-throated sparrows and downy woodpeckers. Nearby flocks of juncos and a few robins, and in the ravine, American goldfinches, while overhead an immature northern harrier circled, and flock after flock of Canada geese fly by.
16-Nov-2021
Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus)
Three or four of these little ground squirrels were very much in evidence and as I spoke to a couple of people, one darted past and within a foot of us, dove into its not very well-placed burrow entrance.
16-Nov-2021
The Old Woods
This is the southern edge of the Old woods, the open field under the purview of AAFC. At one time it was full of goldenrods, asters, grasses, dogwood shrubs, common milkweed, etc. and attracted all types of insects including monarch butterflies, as well as birds. But it also had thickets of the highly invasive pale swallowwort/dog-strangling vine and this is probably why it is now kept mowed.
16-Nov-2021
The Old Woods
From the previous photo, imagine the trail that leads into the Old woods... this is the main path, a world away from the city, and yet in the heart of it.
16-Nov-2021
Crabapples (Malus)
The fruit is eaten much later, in winter, and over the years has attracted all sorts of birds to its fruit, as well as squirrels.
16-Nov-2021
The Old Field
Looking east to the Old woods and south across the Old field habitats. The service road runs through the garden and used by AAFC vehicles occasionally.
12-Nov-2021
Northern cardinal, male
The bright red cardinals are always eye-catching and pleasing, but the more subdued colouring of the females is equally pleasing I think, as shown in the next photo.
12-Nov-2021
Northern cardinal,female
Just as pretty as the male, but overshadowed by his show-stopping colour!
12-Nov-2021
The sun going down over the Amphibian Pond
12-Nov-2021
Eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
The black phase of the grey squirrel, which is often more common than those with a grey coat.
12-Nov-2021
Autumn leaves
there is nothing quite like the sound of fallen leaves crunching beneath one's feet. Here, Koby is walking down one of the leafy paths at the garden.
12-Nov-2021
Autumn at the garden
A chipmunk's view of the leaf covered trail! Or at least, one assumes this is how a chipmunk might see this.
12-Nov-2021
White-throated sparrow
The really big flocks of these sparrows are dwindling, but still lots to be found as they pause on their way south.
12-Nov-2021
Mourning dove
A mourning dove taking its turn feeding on the spilled seed by the feeder.
12-Nov-2021
Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus)
Although mid-November, the chipmunks are still active. In a more "normal" November with cold weather, frost and probably snow, they'd be hiding away in their underground burrows, semi-hibernating.
12-Nov-2021
Canada geese
Big flocks of Canada Geese are common in the skies and on the fields at present, but one day, when the weather turns permanently cold, they'll be gone.
12-Nov-2021
Black-capped chickadee
Taking full advantage of the peanut feeder in the Backyard Garden!
