Happy Halloween

I hope you enjoy my video of Halloween fun

Duck on Reflective Waters: for Watery Wednesday

I thought these photos of the lone duck on the dark waters of the pond fit in well for the theme of Watery Wednesday. My appreciative thanks to 2sweetnsaxy at her Eyes Mind Heart blog for hosting this theme.

Recent Feeder Arrivals

I have been able to add three new species to my October Yard Bird list within the past couple of days. This one above, a Yellow-rumped Warbler, arrived yesterday and I did a post on it for Ruby Tuesday which can be found below this post.
This little Red- breasted Nuthatch was a very welcome sight a couple of days ago but it is proving to be very elusive! I have only this one photo although I did see it again yesterday, but the sighting was only for a second before it darted away again from sight.
I wonder how many can figure out what species this bird is if I don't tell you? Why I ask is that the first time I had seen one, about eight or so years ago, I didn't have a clue and had a difficult time figuring it out. I've been waiting for this species to show up so I could put it on my October Yard List count for they often stop by each fall en route to more southerly locations. Its a female Red-winged Blackbird and it really doesn't carry many look-a-like clues to its male counterpart does it?
And then what yard report would be complete with another mention of my four footed friend, the White-tailed Deer. I noticed it visiting again yesterday as I glanced out the windows looking over our back garden area.

It was back and it had spied the berries of the Mountain Ash tree.

See the red berries in its mouth!

Yellow-rumped Warbler: for Ruby Tuesday

Its really quite late to see a little warbler but I wasn't really surprised to see this one; a Yellow-rumped Warbler flitting about among our High Bush Cranberry tree. Its often at this time of year when one has appeared almost every fall for the past few years so I have been waiting for one to turn up. I just caught a glimpse of it this morning, outside my kitchen window, perching momentarily on our truck, just long enough for me to see it flash its signature marking, its yellow rump! Later in the day it cooperated with me for a photo shoot among the beautiful red cranberries; just perfect I thought for Ruby Tuesday!
Welcome little warbler!
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To check out other Ruby Tuesday postings, just click HERE, or click on the Ruby on the side bar. My appreciative thanks to Mary/the teach for hosting this site.

How to Start Your Day With Wonder

How to start your day with wonder

Get up and look out the window
Gasp!
Grab your brush and run it through your hair
Quickly throw on yesterday's clothes
Hurry downstairs
Grab your camera and car keys
Rush out the door
Jump into your car
Its a very mild +10 so no need to clear your window's of frost
Drive down the road and around the bend and turn at the corner
Rush out onto the observation deck overlooking the river
Absorb the beauty
Relax and enjoy
Wow!!

Then heed the old saying
"Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning"
And return home and wait for the storm forecast for later in the day

Crow and Shadow: for Shadow Shot Sunday

My appreciative thanks to Harriet, the host of Shadow Shot Sunday for this interesting idea; for more information on this shadow meme,please click on the icon in the side bar.

Deer Under the Apple Trees: for Camera Critters

The scene of this contented White-tailed Deer resting under the Apple Trees bordering our property is beautiful, however I think part of its contentment has something to do with my empty bird feeders! And I think I know who emptied them!
I was just ready to step out onto our back deck to refill our feeders when glancing out the window, I saw this deer laying on our property under the apple trees. The frost on the grass and leaves really lightens the pictures but that's understandable as it's a really cool morning. My thermometer outside our windows was reading -6 below 0 degrees C. And that's cold!

The deer was not too concerned with my presence standing on the back deck but after a while it stood, looked about taking in its surroundings, then wandered off in an unhurried manner. My major concern in this sort of encounter is that the deer might become alarmed and run towards the road rather than head back to the woods, but this morning it headed in the right direction and wandered off towards the fringe of trees beyond.


My appreciative thanks to Misty for hosting this site. To see other participant's photo contributions just click HERE or on the Camera Critters logo on the side panel.

White-throated Sparrows

I always think this is a handsome little bird, a White-throated Sparrow. The sparrow count has shifted in Bird Alley and rather than there being a dominance of Chipping Sparrows the numbers have changed and we now have more White-throated Sparrows feeding here each day. Still making a daily appearance are a few Song Sparrows and some day soon Tree Sparrows will arrive from their northern breeding grounds and a few will remain, taking up residence around our feeder areas for the winter.

At the Mountain Ash U-Pick

Chipping Sparrow


Business as usual today at the Mountain Ash U-pick.

Starling

inviting red orbs
u-pick mountain ash harvest
back yard welcome sign

Autumn on the Marsh: for Watery Wednesday

I thought these photos of the marsh in autumn fit in well for the theme of Watery Wednesday. My appreciative thanks to 2sweetnsaxy at her Eyes Mind Heart blog for hosting this theme.

Seasonal Changes and Decorations: for Ruby Tuesday

This didn't look like a happy scene outside my window early this morning. A heavy overnight frost has finally taken its toll on my small, optimistic, Sunflower in the RED, earthenware pot, and the forlorn look on the face of my frosty, black, ceramic cat told me a story of a definite downswing in temperatures and chilly exteriors. The pumpkin purchased for a Thanksgiving decoration, has now become a marker for the rapid approach of Hallowe'en.
The beautiful, colourful leaves of the changing foliage is a constant reminder to us that this is a season of change, and also a season of movement for many birds. To acknow -ledge the large migration of birds to more southerly regions we created three, large, wooden Snow Geese several years ago to use as part of a seasonal outdoor decoration. This year we added some new coloured leaves to the ribbon around their necks before attaching them to the front of our garage.
This is a wonderful season to celebrate no matter what event you may choose to focus upon.
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To check out other Ruby Tuesday postings, just click HERE, or click on the Ruby on the side bar. My appreciative thanks to Mary/the teach for hosting this site.

Black Bear

I have seen Black Bear twice this fall, within the past few weeks, but they were too quick for me both times and I didn't get any pictures. I have only been able to take pictures of a Black Bear once, and that was a couple of years ago, in October 2006. The pictures taken at that time (Oct, 2006) are included below.

While out driving I had looked into a yard as I was passing by, alongside the highway, and thought I saw a black dog standing in it - but at the same time I was thinking, 'That dog looks like a bear'. Then realizing it really was a bear I shouted out loud to my two traveling companions; "That's a BEAR!!!"
What a great sighting! As I pulled off onto the shoulder of the road and quickly grabbed for my camera the bear started to run across the field adjacent to the yard it had been in. I was able to get only a few pictures as it quickly ran away.That was my first time, an only time, photo capture of a bear. What a wonderful photo experience it was!


This Black Bear has since ended up on the inside of a trunk lid that we refinished and painted for a little grandson.

A Cloud of Red-winged Blackbirds: for Camera Critters

I have always enjoyed collective nouns and was quite delighted when I discovered that one naming option for a group of Red-winged Blackbirds was 'cloud', for that's what it appeared to be when I saw a 'cloud' of Red-wings lift from the field and fly a short distance before landing again. Some other collective choices are cluster, grind, flock and merl.
We have been waiting for the past while to see some Red-winged Blackbirds show up at our feeder area and we were beginning to wonder if there were any left in the area. So we were really very pleased to find the answer to our question in the Maugerville Sheffield area today and we're hoping that a few will maybe fly over our way within the next few days so I can include them on my October Yard List.
The flock was quite large and they were very beautiful against the fall foliage. This appeared to be a flock of mainly females but the red epaulets on one told us there was a male among them.



My appreciative thanks to Misty for hosting this site. To see other participant's photo contributions just click HERE or on the Camera Critters logo on the side panel.

A Robin's Feast: for Ruby Tuesday

I saw an American Robin in our feeder area and going to our garden room to tell of its appearance, the Robin turned the corner of the house and landed in the Mountain Ash tree right in front of us; and I immed- iately thought of Ruby Tuesday as I watched it start to eat the red berries! WOW ... wonderful , oh wonderful!
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To check out other Ruby Tuesday postings, just click HERE, or click on the Ruby on the side bar. My appreciative thanks to Mary/the teach for hosting this site.

Chipmunk Capers

Wishing all a Happy Canadian Thanksgiving !

Having left a bag of finch food outside on my deck a week or so ago, I woke to find this Chipmunk having an early Thanksgiving feast. This little one, and perhaps a few of its siblings or cousins, often frequent our feeder area helping themselves to food left for the birds. They provide much entertain -ment with their quick movements and acrobatics in and around our feeder area.