Sunday, November 21, 2021

Highlights From Here and There

      This post represents a few highlights from recent walks, and events at home, with no theme other than nature is on display!
     The Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) which provided such a stunning burst of colour when in bloom, has gone to seed, but is no less spectacular.


     Mother Nature weaves her magic tapestry in many different ways.


    I recently purchased a new bird feeder, which is not entirely effective, and I bought with it a cylinder of safflower seed, a first for me. I was assured that squirrels do not care for safflower seed; nobody told the squirrels in my yard, however.


     They are very adept at knocking off the cap and sitting on top of the seed munching away. The moral of this story is that you should not let anyone convince you to buy safflower seed. The squirrels are dining well, but the birds seem not to enjoy it all. I have seen only one American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) trying it, and quickly returning to the feeder containing sunflower hearts.
     American Beavers (Castor canadensis) have been industriously preparing for winter.


     What would a walk along the Mill Race Trail be without the company of a White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)?


     Fungi are always interesting in all their diverse forms and colours, none more appealing perhaps than this beautiful polypore.


     American Crows (Corvus brachyrynchos) are ubiquitous but not always easy to photograph.


     You may see a Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) and be as enchanted as the first time you ever saw one.


     For me, a Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) engenders a similar reaction.


     House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) have not been slow to learn that friendly humans bring bird seed to Riverside Park and this female was patiently waiting her turn at the table.


     An Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) muscles its way into the feast.


     An Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) is no less persistent.


     When most people recall a Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) it is the bold, handsome male that springs to mind. Give a thought to the elegant female too.


     At Humber Bay Park in Toronto we came across the most cooperative Merlin (Falco columbarius) ever!


     It flew to a bare tree directly in front of us - and nearby.


     We watched it for close to fifteen minutes and it remained there when we left.


     It was a remarkable encounter with a bird that can be frustratingly difficult to keep company with.


     A pair of Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus) takes your breath away every time.


     Unconscionable pet owners continue to release alien species into the environment where they have the potential to spread disease and outcompete native organisms for scarce resources.
     Red-eared Sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) have been able to withstand our cold winters and are now successfully breeding in southern Ontario.


     DeKay's Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi) is not uncommon, but is so secretive it is seldom seen.


     We were very happy to see this harmless little snake.
     Let me leave you with a picture of one of my favourite birds, Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis), under-appreciated and often maligned. 


     On your best day you never looked this good!
     There seems to be one issue or another with Blogger these days. The latest glitch is that when I scroll down my Reading List and get to the point where the "Load more" option shows, nothing happens when I click on it. I am unable to proceed to older posts. So, if I have neglected to comment on any of your posts it indicates no lack of interest. If I don't get to them before Blogger consigns them to the ether somewhere, and prevents me from going back to them, I have no way of knowing that I missed one.
     Remember the days when it all worked so well?
David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

61 comments:

  1. Hari OM
    Same issue here with Blogger read list... I have reached the conclusion that it will only scroll if there are unread posts below it. So am taking some (strained) comfort that all have been covered. There have been lots if weird ether things going on... but I shall refrain from further on that and instead say how much enjoyed this 'here and there' post today!!! YAM xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi David you really found a great variety, as always! My faves are the milkweed seeds and the green fungi, I have never seen that before. Have a wonderful Sunday! Hugs, Valerie

    ReplyDelete
  3. Querido David a sido un maravilloso recorrido por tan hermosa naturaleza, todo me gusta y todo es espectacular al igual que las fotos. Muchas gracias por compartir tanta belleza. Un enorme abrazo para ti y para Miriam. Feliz semana.

    ReplyDelete
  4. A nice variety, David. Those squirrels are always persistent in getting what they want.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi David, what a lot of wonderful species in this blog. Above all, I love the squirrels and the chipmunk. It was very funny to read that nobody told the squirrel in your garden that he doesn't like the safflower seeds, hahaha. And these animals are very smart, so he'll eat one way or another.
    The fungi are gorgeous with these wonderful colors, nice one. The female cardinal is nice too, with the subtle hints of read and the warm brown undertone.
    I hope the weather remains good so that you can still go outsde.

    Hugs from your friend in The Netherlands,
    Marianne

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am quite convinced that squirrels are geniuses - on a level with Albert Einstein! They outsmart me every time.

      Delete
  6. Jolies photos, en voilà de beaux oiseaux et autres animaux. Je ne mets que des graines de tournesols car les autres graines sont gaspillées et finissent par terre et attire plein de mulots. Bonne soirée

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love that little nuthatch and the colorful fungi. I gave up on safflower long ago. Like you, someone who I thought knew what they were talking about recommended it. I don't know what birds they had that ate it. The ones in my yard never touched it and I ended up feeding it to the squirrels. The birds here dote on black-oil sunflower seeds and a fruit and nut mix I get from Duncraft. And when the finches arrive we add niger seed.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have noticed that blogger glitch too. While my commenting has been (mostly) fixed swapping to a different browser, that problem remains. Hiss and spit.
    Thank you for sharing these beauties and wonders which are the perfect antidote to aggravations. Sunflower seed is by far the favourite fare at our feeders and some birds flatly refuse to eat anything else that is offered.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Haha, David, the squirrels are so clever and smart. Of course they love the seeds of safflower! The eat any kind of seed. I love to watch the Blue Jay. Can you please send me some of them to Norway? ;)
    I did not like the snake, but the Ring-billed-Gull was very beautiful. I do not have problems with blogger at the moment, but there have been a lot of it earlier.
    Hugs from your friend in Norway, Marit

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wiewiórki widocznie nie słyszały o tym,że nie lubią tych ziaren;)) Piękny spacer bardzo dziękuję. Udanego tygodnia:)

    ReplyDelete
  11. This was an enjoyable "here and there" collection of sightings. The colorful fungi was quite different than any I've seen, which are usually shades of muted browns. And, I liked the black squirrel compared to the solely grey ones in our area, although I have seen red ones. I can't provide any insight on the Blogger reading list issue. The way I read/follow posts is by listing them on a sidebar and just going down the list at least once weekly as daily reading is not possible for me.

    ReplyDelete
  12. The squirrels are cuties.

    I've had the same issue. Generally two or three check ins a day will cover the day post, as will entering a post title in its own window.

    The workaround that worked for me on the first day it happened was to manually go blog by blog and read them that way. I hadn't read most of the posts that day, so effectively anything beyond ten hours old had seemed out of reach. It reminded me that many bloggers have vanished.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Often it's not possible for me to check two or three times a day. I generally do my commenting first thing in the morning.

      Delete
  13. The squirrels are definitely happy.

    ReplyDelete
  14. El reportaje como siempre es precioso. Querido amigo, a mí me está pasando lo mismo, no puedo cargar mas entradas, no me deja. Abrazos y espero que se solucione pronto.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wonderful photos David. What kind of squirrel is sitting on the new feeder? He looks dark and fat. Perhaps he's eaten lots of seed? We went to a monarch butterfly wintering grove while in California. They estimated there were 22,000 of them in the trees. It was pretty amazing, and thank goodness for milkweed to keep them going.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a black morph of the common Eastern Grey Squirrel, Erika, quite common here, but not found farther south.

      Delete
  16. That first squirrel has such dark fur. All of your photos are beautiful.

    Love,
    Janie

    ReplyDelete
  17. Naughty squirrel eating the seed.
    The birds are wonderful as usual.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi David.

    This is beautiful.

    Greetings from Patricia.

    ReplyDelete
  19. A variety of beautiful creatures. The squirrels look very hungry.
    I like the photo of the snake. I don't know why many people kill them even if they are harmless.

    ReplyDelete
  20. A variety of beautiful creatures. The squirrels look very hungry.
    I like the photo of the snake. I don't know why many people kill them even if they are harmless.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi David - a lovely selection of nature's wonders for us to look at via the screen - the milkweed is so pretty in its silken seed form - a valuable source of nectar.

    Invasive species are an enormous challenge to society today ... perhaps people's responsibilities and complete lack of understanding are distinctly worse. Thanks for your 'from here to there' - that Merlin will make you so happy to remember it for years ahead. Enjoy the week ahead ... cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hello,
    Beautiful series of nature images. I love the Chickadee and the Merlin. Neat sighting of the snake and cute turtles. The squirrels seem to eat everything in sight. Happy Birding, enjoy your day and week ahead.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Those turtles are cute in their native habitat, not here in southern Ontario, where they have the potential to seriously disrupt ecosystems.

      Delete
  23. A very enjoyable collection of an inspiring array of Nature's delights, David. I was particularly surprised by the colours in that fungus. I am also somewhat jealous of your Merlin interlude - a species that I have only had fleeting glipses of on just two occasions.

    The black morphs of Sciurus carolinensis are, it seems, gaining ground in the south-east of UK, particularly in the London area, and I would love to see one!

    My very best wishes to you and Miriam - stay safe - - - Richard

    ReplyDelete
  24. Your photos are beautiful! I've enjoyed all the fungi along my trail hikes and runs this year. Nature always provides just what we need.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I loved taking this walk with you. We have no Black-Capped Chickadees here; instead we have their cousins, the Carolina Chickadees. I'm amazed to see Red-eared Sliders that far north.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I have never seen milkweed but I know now where there is a patch to see next summer.

    Birds have been few and far between here this autumn. You have such a wonderful selection here. I envy your finds. Snakes and turtles are a wonderful bonus.

    ReplyDelete
  27. That is the most fabulous fungi I have ever seen! Loving all the wonderful birds and that cute squirrel, too!

    ReplyDelete
  28. The first thing that struck me was the color of the squirrel in the first photo - don't see brown ones around here. The milkweed is gorgeous - another treat, as I don't see that here, either. I learned about red-eared sliders on a visit to Central Park this summer. It was surprising to hear how many people released their pet turtles into the pond. After this summer's bird disease, I was happy to see a blue jay at my feeder again. They used to be there by the dozens. I'm still waiting for regular visits from the cardinals. They, too, made daily appearances, but not since summer.

    ReplyDelete
  29. That beautiful fungi got to me. So beautiful. Just love it. Many people have complained about Blogger. Thank God I use WordPress. No hassles at all.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I loved seeing the milkweed. It has been ages since I saw any. I can't remember where we lived.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Buenas tardes estimado David, un nuevo y precioso reportaje que empieza de maravilla con esa explosión del algodoncillo mariposa en todo su esplendor (que sabia y admirable es la naturaleza). El bello Falco columbarius me ha parecido que esté anillado, igual está algo acostumbrado con los humanos.
    Las ardillas no tienen nada de tontas.
    Ha sido un precioso recorrido acompañado de tu buen hacer que los he disfrutado maravillosamente bien.
    Un gran abrazo queridos amigos y compadres.
    Hoy ya parece que funcione la lista de lectura, estos de Blogger cuando tocan algo es para peor no para mejor.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I have never seen green fungi before. Sorry to hear about the new bird feeder saga.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Wow the fungi is just amazing.

    I enjoyed seeing all of your photographs.

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete
  34. Great photos of the critters. They are all beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Wonderful collection of photographs!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Lovely photos. The milkweed in seed is beautiful. I've noticed a few problems with the Blogger list as well. Sometimes a blog will disappear entirely but I noticed this morning one I hadn't been able to find yesterday was back today. Maybe they've fixed it. One can but hope.

    ReplyDelete
  37. What an amazing series of nature's wonders for us to enjoy!

    Happy Wednesday, David.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Hello David,:=) What a fabulous array of nature images. Your pictures of the Milkweed are really beautiful, also the fungi, which are both new to me. Your Merlin captures are splendid, how fortunate for you that he was so obliging. Beautiful images of the White Breasted Nuthatch, Chickadee, and Blue Jay. It's disappointing when we buy bird food that the birds won't touch. Unbeknown to me I was once sold Canary seeds, instead of wild bird seed that even the Squirrels would not eat. Your nature post was so enjoyable David, I loved your here and there captures of wildlife.
    Hugs from Portugal.:=)

    ReplyDelete
  39. Love the variation in this post from the fungi to the snake. My particular favourite though it the Merlin. I love the falcons, such graceful birds. Hope all is well.
    Best wishes to you both. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  40. As always you are able to focus on both small and big nature experiences. Thank you.
    Unfortunately, animals and birds do not always read their own instructions. My blackbirds do not eat apples. Have you ever heard anything so crazy?
    Lisbeth

    ReplyDelete
  41. Hi David,
    I don't think you go out to buy safflower seed once more? Though it is a very nice squirrel sitting on top of your feeder.
    Furthermore I enjoyed your your highlights from here and there.

    Best regards, Corrie

    ReplyDelete
  42. Your wildlife photos are really enjoyable. I think every bird feeder has a squirrel somewhere that can defeat it.

    best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. hello David
    the blue jay is a beautiful bird but the Merlin is of course top .. so trusting and a perfect model
    Greetings Frank

    ReplyDelete
  44. The Butterfly Milkweed looks wonderful!
    Awww, the squirrel! Those fungi are arty. And more squirrels/Chipmunk (I see not many birds here, but squirrels stole my heart).
    The Cardinal looks kinda... "serious".

    Blogger... oh, blogger. I often wonder... why?

    ReplyDelete
  45. The Butterfly Milkweed is so pretty, never seen it before!
    Love the squirrels and obviously they seem to eat anything they can get, lol.
    Yes blogger and their changes, just seems to get worse...I have the same problem with the reading list :(

    ReplyDelete
  46. My gosh there are some stunning photos here. The first 2 are magic. The snake is one of my favorites too. Have a great day.

    ReplyDelete
  47. The butterfly milkweed is like a tapestry in white. Looks like it ll just blow away and drift in the wind. You have a keen eye to spot the Brownsnake, I ll most likely have stepped on it in fright. The fungi is very colourful, I have never seen one with colours over here as ours are just a dull brown or at most with some orange.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Hi David,
    You are presenting us here a interesting en beautiful series of pictures. It is is amazing to notice how many different kinds of squirrels can be found all over the world. The merlin must have given a you a a lucky moment, because merlins and other falcons don't stay so relaxed in a tree very often. The hooded mergansers are absolute beauty's.
    Greetings, Kees

    ReplyDelete
  49. Hi David,
    Great post.
    Stunning image! Lovely to see so many kinds of squirrels. They have something in common:
    The are cute!
    Stay save both of you
    Big hug,
    Maria

    ReplyDelete
  50. Hello David, stunning encounters on your walks. Great birds, and even a snake. The photos are most wonderful. Your header is a joy for the eye.
    Warm regards from Belgium,
    Roos

    ReplyDelete
  51. I'm a little late getting here because of our Thanksgiving holiday, but what a feast you've set out for us! Like others, I was assured in the past that safflower would be gobbled up by 'nice' birds and left alone by the 'undesirables' (and squirrels!) but in fact, no one touched it over the course of several months -- not even the squirrels. In any event: no safflower is on offer here.

    I've seen similar green fungi in the east Texas woods, but only a bit that was worn and far less colorful. You found a glorious example. The Red-eared sliders are native here; it surprised me that they've gotten so far north. Perhaps the pet trade is the answer.

    My Chickadees are active again, and with our strong cold front a couple of days ago the Goldfinches started showing up. I'm thrilled, because they're a bit earlier than usual, and some still have their brilliant gold, which I almost never get to see.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Very good photos of a plant related to another of these latitudes (Asclepias mellodora), host species of the southern monarch butterfly (Danaus erippus). The rest of the fauna is beautiful , several birds I like, especially hawks ... and those wood mushrooms with green tones are really a sensation, the most rare and beautiful thing in your post.

    ReplyDelete
  53. How beautiful Mother Nature is...she is always filled with surprises.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Hi David, the squirrel made me giggle...I've had them hanging upside down trying to get at the "squirrel-proof" feeders...they are certainly industrious! I love the colours of the polypore fungi! So pretty! The Red-eared Sliders are gorgeous, so happy to hear they can handle our winters. Oh Blogger...always something!!!

    ReplyDelete

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that the land on which we are situated are the lands traditionally used by the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Neutral People. We also acknowledge the enduring presence and deep traditional knowledge, laws, and philosophies of the Indigenous Peoples with whom we share this land today. We are all treaty people with a responsibility to honour all our relations.

Followers