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.

Recent Activity in the Backyard - Mostly Hummingbirds

     We like to think of our backyard as a little urban oasis, and we feel that our claim has been validated of late.

     The excessive heat of summer is unkind to man and beast alike and Eastern Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) find ways to stay cool.

     A fur coat is perhaps a disadvantage at times!

     Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) are fixtures in our yard, and their numbers build up into the winter when it is not unusual to see twenty or more, attracted by the food we provide, of course.

     They seek shade in the foliage and drink regularly from the bird bath.

     It would be wise for this Common Carpet Moth (Epirrhoe alternata) to seek a little more cover, lest it become a quick snack for an opportunistic bird.

     Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) are deep into their moult cycle, and some can look pretty ragged at this time of year.

     For most of the year Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilocus colubris) has been an irregular visitor at best, but that has all changed recently.

     Whenever we sit out on the patio it is mere minutes before a hummingbird appears and recently there have been two individuals that arrive together, with a minimum of squabbling, rare for a species that seems to have pugnacity and aggression built into its DNA.

     We have been wondering whether these are two fledglings from the same nest who are still learning to face the world together and have not yet parted ways.

There is no way we can prove this, and the literature seems to contain nothing to corroborate our supposition, but for whatever reason they seem to get along.

     I am guessing that the bird above, with distinct streaking on the neck with a hint of suffuse red, is a young male.

     The bird below may well be his sister.

     These young birds are probably already entering a hyperphagic state and are laying down extra fat to fuel their imminent migration.

     The perils that these tiny birds, weighing barely more than the dime in your pocket, will face on this peril-laded hegira, defy comprehension. They will need all the skills that are hard-wired in their brain and more than a little luck to make it to their wintering quarters in Mexico and Central America.

     The adult female shown below is resting after drinking her fill from our sugar water feeder.

     If you too have hummingbird feeders in your garden to attract these little gems, please be sure to keep them clean and regularly replace the syrup so that it does not become rancid or get filled with ants seeking the sugary prize and drowning for their efforts.

     There is something about a hummingbird that appeals to everyone. Perhaps it is their size that conveys vulnerability, but gram for gram they are amongst the toughest competitors in the world.

     I could not begin to put a price on the pleasure they have given us and we wish them well on their journey.

     May they return to see us next spring and stay to raise their own young. 

     And let us do all we can to help them. We owe them no less.

Deer Mouse (Souris sylvestre) in my backyard

23 June 2016

     The Deer Mouse Peromyscus maniculatus derives its name from its bi-coloured coat, rufous above and white below, which resembles the coat of a deer.

     It is a very common species, although seldom seen due to its nocturnal habits. I was surprised, therefore, when sitting on the patio in the early evening, to see this little creature emerge from under a low evergreen shrub.

     Deer Mice show considerable differences in size and body mass and the long-tailed variant seen here is an arboreal species, the tail being prehensile, making the animal well-adapted to life in the trees.

     The Deer Mouse is a sociable animal and will take readily to living with humans, becoming an engaging little pet. This individual and I will get along well together as long as it doesn't come into my house, however! 

     Many a lonely trapper living for months alone while working a trapline in the north has enjoyed the company of a Deer Mouse or two in his cabin; no doubt the mouse derived reciprocal pleasure too.

     The birds on the feeders knock down quite a bit of seed as they feed which is no doubt what attracted the mouse.

American Goldfinch Spinus tristis

     It was a hot, humid day and this American Robin Turdus migratorius seemed to take great pleasure in a vigorous soaking in the bird bath.

      A Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula surveyed the scene from on high before coming down to take its turn at the feeder.

     Grey Squirrels Sciurus carolinensis are ubiquitous in suburban habitats and this adult was still accompanied by a youngster.

     A couple of Song Sparrows Melospiza melodia have been regular visitors to our yard this year and they make sure that they receive their share of the bounty.

     This Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata visited the bird bath but only to drink and not to bathe. No doubt this species does bathe, but I can't remember ever having seen it do so.

     A pair of Black-capped Chickadees Poecile atricapillus raised a brood in our yard this year and the family still visits from time to time. The feeders provide an easy source of food for parents still occupied with feeding young birds as they transition to full independence.

     I have not seen the Deer Mouse since but I hope that it is still around. It is an engaging little creature and very welcome to share our yard.

LaSalle Park and Marina

LaSalle Park and Marina

Burlington, ON

3 December 2013

    In addition to the Trumpeter Swans Cygnus buccinator covered in the previous post, LaSalle Park always has a great variety of interesting species to see, with much seasonal variation. Today was no exception.

    Red-breasted Mergansers Mergus serrator were quite common, albeit mostly far out on the lake.

    Greater Scaup Aytha marila were present in  abundance.

Male

Two females

    Ring-billed Gulls Larus delawarensis are often in the minority by this time of year, having been largely replaced by American Herring Gulls Larus smithsonianus, but today they were still overwhelmingly the most common larid.

    Bufflehead Bucephala albeola is a common winter visitor to Lake Ontario.

Male

Males and females

    Black-capped Chickadees Poecile atricapillus are known for their confiding nature, and are the delight of parents with young children as they readily take food from the hand. This individual seemed to like my pencil as a perch.

    Numerous American Black Ducks Anas rubripes were interspersed among the Mallards Anas platyrynchos and Canada Geese Branta canadensis.

    In previous years this location has been a winter haven for American Coot Fulica americana but today we saw relatively few of them. Perhaps they were just one bay away from us.

    

    A pair of Northern Cardinals Cardinalis cardinalis were feeding on the ground, but before we could get a picture of both the male flew into the bushes.

Female

    Canvasback Aytha valisineria is one of the diving ducks that seems to be much scarcer than it was in times past so it was very agreeable to see sixteen of them today.

Male

Female

        In addition to large numbers on the ground and on the water, Trumpeter Swans would take to the air from time to time, putting on a masterful display of flight for us, as they moved their heavy bodies through the air.

    It's always exciting to see these large birds make their feet forward landing on the water.

    

    Grey Squirrels Sciurus carolinensis (and their black variants) were well distributed along the trail and in the woodland, and seemed to follow every human, looking for a handout. 

    

    As daylight began to wane we bade farewell to LaSalle Park, already looking forward to our next visit.