27-MAR-2011
OFNC display at the Wildlife Festival
The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club had, as always, a marvelous display next door to the FWG display at BIllings Bridge mall, in celebration of National Wildlife Week. The OFNC display was very clever and clearly involved a lot of work.
26-MAR-2011
FWG display at the Wildlife Festival
The weekend of March 26 and 27th was the annual Wildlife Awareness Event at Billings Bridge mall, in celebration of National Wildlife Week. There was a lot of enthusiasm and lots of visitors to the FWG display, as well as to all the others. Much interest was expressed in the native plant sale coming up in June. Kudos to the volunteers who turned up, as Diane and Sharon here did, to staff the display over the weekend.
24-MAR-2011
American robin
Although robins overwinter in small numbers, I am certain these were migrants. They were there in a noisy flock, flying around and giving that 'chuckling' sound that they have. Also calling, a killdeer from the field by the red barn. Not a starling :-)
23-MAR-2011
Song sparrow
It was a beautiful, crisp, sunny morning at the FWG. Under the Backyard Garden feeder were three song sparrows. Red-winged blackbirds were scattered around the garden, particularly by the pond, cardinals seemed to be everywhere, pine siskins and common redpolls were calling from the New Woods, starlings were in the kestrel box, a red-tailed hawk was flying over the Old Field and more song sparrows were also in that habitat. Cardinals, chickadees, juncos, and both a hairy and a downy woodpecker were also around.
23-MAR-2011
Willow catkins
The big willow by the pond, which has had emerging catkins for weeks and weeks, but today the entire tree was full of big fat furry catkins. It won't be long before they are pollen covered and we see Andrenid bees and some of the early beeflies at the pollen.
23-MAR-2011
Starling in kestrel box
As I approached the barn, I could hear the happy musical gurgling of a couple of starlings. One was sitting on top of the barn, and this one was investigating the kestrel nest box. Whether starlings will nest there this year, who knows. Probably depends on whether a kestrel pair arrive and turf them out. But we have not had kestrels nesting at FWG for at least three years, maybe four, after a long run of annual nesting activity. We rarely see them around the garden anymore either.
23-MAR-2011
Melting snow
As you can see, here at the intersection of the service rd. with Green Heron Way, the snow is quickly vanishing. Over in the birch grove, a hairy woodpecker was working away on one of the many dying birches. The red-tailed hawk was circling over the old field, and a couple of male cardinals were chasing each other away from a sumac shrub.
23-MAR-2011
Chipmunk
The little chipmunk with half a tail, was out and about again. She was slightly less skittish than last time I saw her, but it was still difficult to get a good photo of her. Still, it was fun to see her racing past the song sparrows and big grey squirrels, back and forth behind the feeder, under the cedars, along the rock walls.
15-MAR-2011
Crow
In addition to gathering nest material, as I mentioned yesterday, crows are also out looking for new food sources now that the snow is melting. This and one other were in the ravine, wading through the narrow, shallow stream searching for things. A few minutes before this photo was taken, this crow had caught a frog which he took up to a nearby conifer to eat. Then back he came looking for more. When I first saw him with something in his mouth, I thought it was a beak full of wet brown vegetation. But putting my binos on him, saw it was a frog. Too far away to see details of colour or pattern, but possibly a green frog.
15-MAR-2011
Red-winged blackbird
Another shot of the singing blackbird. The light was soft and the bird looks happy to be "home". Of course, I am anthropomorphizing madly!
15-MAR-2011
Red-winged blackbird on sumac shrub
When I arrived at the FWG this morning I could hear red-wings calling from at least three locations. There were two in the BYG, one in the ravine, and 3 around the pond. This one was looking very happy to be "home" and I'm sure he was eyeing the cattails and wondering where to stake out his nest site for his lady-love when she arrives in a few more weeks. In between calling, he was pecking away at the sumac seeds.
14-MAR-2011
squirrel in feeder
This black phase grey squirrel was having a grand time snuggled into the feeder and eating the seeds. The feeder was the perfect size for him too!
14-MAR-2011
Red-winged Blackbird
It was a joyous sound, the song of the red-winged blackbird that greeted me early this morning at the FWG. It is the first I have heard this year. Spring really has arrived with these cheery and hardy birds. Even if it snows, even if the temperature drops again, it won't be long before spring comes to stay!
14-MAR-2011
Still lapping up sap
You can see that this squirrel was really getting into the sap! The contortions he underwent to reach this first tasty spring treat were comical in the extreme!
14-MAR-2011
Red squirrel lapping up sap
This little guy was very busy running all over a large Manitoba maple nipping off bits of bark and lapping up the sap which was flowing freely. He was completely oblivious to me, concentrating on the sweet treats.
14-MAR-2011
Crow with twig
It was a glorious morning at FWG today. The sun was shining, it was mild, with just a nice nip in the air. There were signs of spring all over, including this crow, one of several, gathering twigs for nest-building. Like us, the animals have no doubt been waiting for more signs of spring: lengthening days, warmer weather, sap-running!
07-MAR-2011
Amphibian pond
The pond is certainly snow-covered now. We are making up in March for the snow we didn't get earlier in winter! The beaver seems to be keeping under the ice as we've seen no sign of him since the last big snow dump. Hope he is OK. The beaver from last winter stayed under the ice as soon as the pond froze over, but this one has been chewing holes in the ice and going about the business of finding food, until recently that is.
04-MAR-2011
Northern cardinal, female
Jeewa took this beautifully crisp shot of the female cardinal. The females are often overlooked when near the males who certainly catch the eye with their vivid red plumage. But I think the females are equally beautiful!
04-MAR-2011
Northern cardinal, male
And here is the male, resplendent in his red feathers. They are singing more and more, and the other day I noticed three or four males together, all chasing each other. No surprise that there was a female nearby.
04-MAR-2011
House finch, male
On this beautiful sunny but cool day, Jeewa visited the FWG and commented that she saw a number of cardinals, a pair of juncos,a small flock of house finches hanging around the garden, along with some crows and four mourning doves.
03-MAR-2011
Red-tailed hawk
This hawk was sitting on one of his favourite perches, the top of the red barn. Of course, this makes him a very visible target for any passing crow. And sure enough, a few found him and began dive-bombing. It was funny, however, to watch how cautious they were. They'd dive at him, but if he shifted slightly in their direction, they veered wildly and scrambled frantically to get out of reach. You could almost hear them muttering "oh sheesh, that was close!".
01-MAR-2011
Crabapples (Malus)
As this blue sky shows, it was a clear, sunny day today. Yesterday, February went out with a roar as a big snowfall dumped much snow on the region. In contrast, today was sunny, mild and perfect. Some crabapples still have fruit on them, an indication that they hold no interest for wildlife.
01-MAR-2011
Three Mourning doves
There were 6 mourning doves sitting in their favourite crabapple tree this morning. It is a bit like one of those puzzles where you have to really search to find the hidden objects. Looking at the tree you see first one, then two, then three and sometimes as many as 7 or 8 of these doves, who blend in well with the gray bark and branches. These three, however, had come for a feeder visit.
01-MAR-2011
Pond
The Amphibian pond lies under a perfect blanket of pristine snow, unmarked by any tracks at all. Which is a bit sad, because usually a fresh snow fall the day before provides a clean canvas on which the nocturnal visitors can leave evidence of their journeying. Here, this would normally mean rabbits and foxes. Even our resident beaver has been conspicuous by his absence in the last 8 or 9 days. Up until we had the big thaw and re-freeze, he'd been chewing open holes in the ice. But alas, he has either had an accident or has decided to remain below the ice for the duration, meaning (we hope), that he now has enough food to see him through.
01-MAR-2011
Grey squirrel
This is one of two greys that were conducting a frantic chase of each other around and around this oak tree in the Ash woods. At one point, this one stopped and peered around, looking for the other. Just after I snapped this shot, this grey took a flying leap and landed way up the trunk with the second in hot pursuit.