17-OCT-2013
A mouthful
It is amazing that squirrels can carry, in their mouth, something almost half their body size! This little red has a black walnut.
17-OCT-2013
Red squirrel with walnut
There are many walnut trees around the FWG, most planted by squirrels. These animals are now reaping the benefits of this work.
17-OCT-2013
Red oak acorn
Judging from the way this acorn has been opened, it looks like a mouse opened this one, one of the Peromyscus species.
17-OCT-2013
New plantings near the Butterfly Meadow
Volunteers cleared, weeded and planted this site which was full of dog-strangling vine and some snags overhanging the trail.
17-OCT-2013
Squirrel box
This is one of 6 beautiful squirrel boxes made for us by the Scouts last year. It took us awhile to figure out where to locate them and get them up, but here they are... or rather, here is one of them. All of them sturdily erected by Barry and Ted (thank you!!).
17-OCT-2013
Squirrel box
Another view of the squirrel box.
17-OCT-2013
Squirrel box
This shows another of the 6 squirrel boxes made for us by the Scouts and erected by Barry and Ted.
17-OCT-2013
Autumn meadowhawk
While the number of insects dwindles daily, there are some diehards who will carry on. Autumn meadowhawks are known to fly into early November if the weather is mild. Bumble bees, polistes wasps, some stinkbugs, and yellowjackets, as well as various Diptera species, are still out and about.
17-OCT-2013
The way through the woods
This is the Bill Holland trail heading north through the Ash Woods.There is still a surprising amount of green (non-buckthorn!) in the woods, but the autumn colours are much in evidence too.
10-OCT-2013
Wild banquet
This collage shows some of the wild foods used by birds and mammals at the garden. On the left are the seeds of manitoba maple (Acer negundo). These feed a wide variety of creatures, particularly in deepest winter when not much else is left. Top right are crabapples (Malus). Not all crabapples are eaten by wildlife, and not all are eaten at this time. Many are left until after first frost, with some fruit remaining into the first part of the winter and providing food for squirrels, finches, waxwings, robins (those that overwinter), etc. Bottom right is a cluster of mountain ash berries (Sorbus)which get consumed pretty quickly by robins, waxwings, starlings and others.
10-OCT-2013
Red squirrel
Keeping a close eye on intruders who might be after his walnuts.
10-OCT-2013
Black walnuts (Juglans nigra)
A red squirrel (previous photo), was guarding this walnut tree which was dripping with bounty: walnuts!