22-OCT-2013
Polypores
Many old fence posts and dead trees, stumps, and logs, sport clusters of polypores all year round. After rain, they are rejuvenated and dry out again later. These look like one of the Trichaptum) species. Photographed by Robert.
22-OCT-2013
Polypores
Robert also photographed these polypores on a dead tree near the butterfly meadow.
22-OCT-2013
Whatzit... in the tree
Robert photographed this contraption and was puzzled by it. So are we. Several of us first noticed it last year, and wondered what it was. We asked a few people if they had perhaps put it up for nesting purposes, but they were as surprised as we were. From this photo, it appears that something has made us of it, and more than likely a red squirrel.
22-OCT-2013
Tree cavities
A series of small holes or cavities made by a pileated woodpecker, exploring the tree trunk for insect food.
21-OCT-2013
Poppy
The last poppy still blooming in the rockery in the Backyard Garden, head hanging low from the weight of the raindrops.
21-OCT-2013
Black-capped chickadee
No matter how cold, wet, snowy or dismal, the weather, the chickadees are a constant. Their cheery calls can warm up any winter day. When I took this, it was not wintry, but it was cold and grey. This was in the Backyard Garden.
13-OCT-2013
Praying mantis with wooly bear caterpillar
A striking image by Robert of a large praying mantis (Mantis religiosa), with a wooly bear caterpillar (Pyrrhaectia isabella), the larval stage of the isabella tiger moth.
17-OCT-2013
Chipmunk
This little chimpmunk with the stuffed face, was taken by Robert. This is a busy time of year for chipmunks as they must provision their burrows for the winter to come. Chipmunks don't hibernate in the true sense of the word, but rather go into a state of dormancy from which they awake periodically through the winter, to have a snack, or even, if the temperature has warmed unusually, come outside for awhile.
17-OCT-2013
Polypores on elm
These very attractive polypores, or bracket fungi, were photographed by Robert, on the old dead elm tree, north of the ash woods. Notice the colours of the lichens too, which really add to the overall attractiveness of this image. Nature's paintbox!
18-OCT-2013
Amphibian Pond
Robert sent us this photo of the pond in all its autumn glory.
17-OCT-2013
Chicory
As well as new england asters, there are still a few other flowers blooming around the garden. This late chicory flower is the result of cutting earlier. The plant has re-grown and blossomed.
17-OCT-2013
Monarda fistulosa seedhead
The seedheads of many flowers can be quite intriguing and attractive as here, with the monarda.
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!
10-OCT-2013
Mallard, male
THere were about 15 mallards on the pond, most of them on and around the turtle raft, where it is more protected and quiet. This one was out in the open section, however, and feeding quickly, swinging his beak from side to side filtering out aquatic seeds and other items to feed on.
When I arrived at FWG in late morning, it was alive with birds. Big flocks of golden-crowned and ruby-crowned kinglets, robins, goldfinches, starlings, cedar waxwings (mostly juvenile birds), and yellow-rumped warblers were moving quickly around the garden. They were joined by lesser numbers of northern flickers, chipping sparrows, white-throated, white-crowned and song sparrows. Also seen were cardinals, catbirds, chickadees, white-breasted nuthatch, hairy woodpecker, blue jays, and crows. When I returned for a short time about 3 p.m., the garden was almost silent.
10-OCT-2013
Magnolia seedpod
These large seedpods are exceptionally colourful, and when you see a tree full of them, they make quite a sight. This one is bursting out of its covering. Squirrels eat these seeds, though how big a part of their diet at FWG they are, I don't know. At any rate, the seedpods vanish fairly fast.
10-OCT-2013
Western conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis)
These large bugs are usually most noticeable in autumn when they can be found on the sides of buildings, as here. They are seeking shelter for the winter, just as the asian lady beetles, and some other bugs, do, inside buildings, or under eaves. Despite being called a western conifer seed bug, these insects actually belong to the leaf-footed bug family (Coreidae). They are entirely harmless creatures.
10-OCT-2013
Stinkbug (Brochymena)
Another of the diminishing number of insects to be found now that autumn is moving on. This large stinkbug flew to the side of the wooden shed where it sat in the warm sun.
10-OCT-2013
Bumble bee on sunflower
Along with asters these sunflowers are amongst the remaining flowers in bloom. Bumble bees, their numbers noticeably decreased, were busy feeding on these ones.
10-OCT-2013
Black maple (Acer nigrum)
This is our single black maple tree at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden. It stands alongside the Bill Holland Trail on the north side of the Ash Woods. Each autumn its leaves turn a lovely soft gold. Black maples look superficially like sugar and norway maples, but if you rub the underside of the leaves, there will be a soft, velvety feel.
10-OCT-2013
Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris)
This plant typically blooms in spring, and can be seen in huge swathes in some wetland areas. This late blossom was in the pond in the Backyard Garden.
10-OCT-2013
New england aster
As autumn progresses, there are fewer and fewer flowering plants: some late sunflowers, a few goldenrod, and so on, but the new england asters are still blooming away attracting the remaining insects to feed.
10-OCT-2013
Amphibian pond in October
There is only a hint of autumn in this scene, with the red sumac and yellow walnut leaves.
02-OCT-2013
Eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
Barry took this and the following shots, the first photos of a garter snake at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden! These snakes are very, very common in the region, but for whatever reason have not been seen at the FWG. However, Diane recently reported that she saw one in July. Sandy saw one on September 29, and today Barry and Isabelle saw one (or possibly 2?)and Barry got these photos.
As for why they have not been seen at the FWG before, well, who really knows? We have ample sites for shelter, resting, and hibernating (they will use chipmunk burrows, go under logs, in stumps, under buildings, etc.). There is a good supply of food as they eat frogs and toads, mice and voles, and eggs and young of ground-nesting birds, worms,and probably grasshoppers and other insects.
This species of snake is often encountered in gardens and urban parks, which is another reason why we are mystified it has not been found at the garden until this year. Perhaps it just took them some time to get here!
02-OCT-2013
Eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
Another photo by Barry of the garter snake at the FWG.
02-OCT-2013
Eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
These are nice rocks for snakes wanting to soak up the warmth of today's sun. A good photo by Barry of this garter snake.