AMAZING Monarchs: A New generation!

We have two blossoming milkweed plants growing in cracks in our cement doorstep in front of our garage door. Today we have been watching a female Monarch feeding there on the blossoms since around 10 a.m. this morning. It is still feeding there now, around 2 p.m.
I am hoping that it will lay eggs on the plant and in a few days, maybe we will see a Monarch butterfly caterpillar emerge. Last summer we found such a caterpillar on one of the leaves. I had decided last summer not to disturb the caterpillar and thought to watch its natural development. However, much to my disappointment the caterpillar disappeared from the plant following a windy night. This year, if the occasion arises I plan on caging the caterpillar and feeding it fresh milkweed leaves daily. I have raised Monarch butterflies successfully by doing this and monitoring its progress for about three times now.

A Swallowtail butterfly for Saturday Critters.

A Swallowtail feeding on Purple Vetch.

A Canada Goose family for Saturday Critters

I spied this Canada’s family crossing a pond in group earlier this week. There were eight goslings in total. That is quite a large family! I have read that a female Canada will lay from four to nine eggs. If that is so, then this group has been quite a successful hatch so far with a survival number of eight. May all continue to go well for them.
I am posting this morning to Eileen’s Saturday Critters which can be found at: viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.ca. May this first summer weekend go well with you all.

Wood Turtle for Saturday Critters

Tthis is turtle season in my area. Daily I see Painted turtles and I am waiting to see the big Snapping turtles laying their eggs.  Yesterday I saw a turtle species that I seldom see, a Wood Turtle!  I think it had been in the  process of digging a location to lay its eggs as the soil was disturbed there as I came along.  the bright red on its legs and neck signified to me that it was a Wood Turtle

Also a slight sideways glimpse of its under shell showed me its yellow coloration which has black blotches on it.

 

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 I am linking today to Eileens Saturday Critters which can be found at viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.ca

Cedar Waxwings for Saturday Critters

This is an event that I wait and watch for every year: that being of finding Cedar Waxwings feeding among the apple blossoms!  The delicacy of the light

yellow of the bird's breast's mingles beautifully with the delicate pinks and whites of the blossoms.

I am linking this morning to Eileens Saturday Critters which can be found at viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.ca

Have a wonderful sunny weekend everyone!

An Interesting Mystery

Two Painted Turtles for Saturday Critters

It has been a slightly frustrating spring awaiting sunny warmer weather which would entice the Painted turtles out of their watery environments, encouraging them to sun themselves on the river or pond banks.  Yesterday I saw this pair on the banks of the pond where I had often seen them in the [past springs.  Warmer days are upon us now and hopefully that is good news for turtle sightings.

I am posting today on eileen's Saturday Critters which can be found at viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.ca

Baltimore Oriole

We were  delighted to receive a visit from a Baltimore Oriole several times in Bird Alley this past week.  At first the peanut feeder seemed to be its favouirite go to location.  However, it was very attracted to the hummingbird feeder and attempted to feed there.  I recalled having heard that grape jelly was a  favoured food for orioles so I had some and decided to place a few tablespoons of jelly on a saucer.  The jelly was well received and appreciated by the oriole. The next day the jelly was all gone, with a little help from a Chipmunk as we watched as one nibbled at the jelly.  For two days we put out grape jelly and both days the jelly was all gone.  We had a hummingbird feeder hanging on our clothesline and the Oriole was quite successful there getting some nectar as the feeder jiggled  when the Oriole nudged it and the nectar within was easily jiggled out within easy reach of  the oriole.  That feeder is now empty also..I think that orange guy had quite the sweet tooth!

The Oriole did not lack socialibility as within the times of its visit a little Indigo Bunting showed up to share a few feeder tidbits with the Oriole.

 I haven't seen the Oriole since Friday so I am assuming its visit is now over. However it was a lovely visit for us sitting inside viewing its beauty through our windows.

Northern Paraula for Saturday Critters

Its warbler season and today I am sharing this Northern Parula on Eileen's Saturday Critters.  Eileen's Saturday Critters can be found at viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.ca

A Muskrat for Saturday Critters

I love to find other critters other than birds out in the wild and yesterday I found a muskrat swimming in a large pond area. he first thing I did was look for the tail

to tell me if it was a beaver ( flat tail) or a muskrat ( skinny tail) and when I saw the tail I knew it wasn't a beaver! as you can see from the picture above it was a Muskrat. I was sitting in my car with my window rolled down nd thus could not get a variety of pictures but I did Iwill try to get a selection of poses to post here.

I am posting today to Eileen's Saturday Critters which can be found at: viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.ca

Cowbirds

I hadn't seen a cowbird for quite a while, however yesterday afternoon I spied a grey bird in bird Alley that I was not familiar with and I finally concluded that it just might be a female cowbird!

 My id of a female cowbird was somewhat verified  shortly after when I saw a  male brown-headed Cowbird feeding in Bird Alley.

Barn Swallows

There is a pond area that I go to daily and at this time of year is is full of Tree Swallow activity, busily skimming near the water surface in search of insects. This year I have found Barn Swallows among the Tree Swallows. I have never seen Barn Swallows at this location before. It is a wonderful find for me!

the above picture  hows three  Barn swallows.the rust picture from the left and the middle one, both display the larg o wide fired TIL characteristic of Barn Swallows.

Our First Ruby-throated Hummingbird this Spring.

Hummingbirds ..
yesterday David bought a couple of new hummingbird feeders and

they are hanging in Bird Alley. I watched hopefully all afternoon yesterday but no sightings! However this morning I saw a Hummingbird in the small branches of Bird Alley, about two meters from a full, brightly coloured red feeder. I haven't seen any approach a feeder yet, but I'm quite sure it will happen sometime today. But will I be watching it at the time???? As you can see the red throat in the picture above, our first hummingbird visitor was a mle.  As the day wore on the little bird became more comfortable with our area and visited the feeder often.,  He is back visiting and feeding again this morning.

female Rose-breasted Grosbeak

I have been waiting for the arrival of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and yesterday one arrived! However it was not the handsome male with its beautiful rose coloured breast, but instead a rather plain, uninteresting female arrived yesterday afternoon and also again this morning just a few minutes ago. Hopefully its male counterpart is nearby and it will arrive soon!? 

When the male finally arrives I shall post its picture here as an update!

A RuiffedGrouse for Saturday Critters

I saw this Ruffed Grouse sauntering slowly across a country road in a treed area.  I slowed my car to very surely keep close to it taking pictures all the while. It never got scared away at any of the time. 

Locally this bird is known as a Birch Partridge, apparently this is a misnomer.
"

Ruffed grouse - New World Encyclopedia

https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Ruffed_grouse Dec 22, 2008 …" The ruffed grouse is frequently referred to as the "partridge" or as a "birch partridge." This is technically wrong, as partridges are unrelated …"

I am linking today to Eileen's viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.ca

chickadee in Window Feeder for Saturday Critters

A delightful way to view birds from my comfy chair inside my house is by using a transparent window feeder.  Th feeder attaches to the outside of the window by a large suction cup.  Only Chickadees have fed there so far this spring but it is an exciting moment when I hear one enter the feeder.  If I do not frighten it away by my movements of taking pictures it will stay there and feed a bit!

I am linking today to Eileen's Saturday Critters blog which can be found at viewingnaturewith Eileen.blogspot.ca

Have a wonderful weekend everyone

I shall be inside today on this rainy Saturday watching my window feeder.  Who knows who or what might show up!?

Mourning Cloak Butterfly for Saturday Critters

I don't know if my words can totally convey the wonderful nature experience that I had this afternoon with a Mourning Cloak butterfly.

After having seen Mourning Cloak butterflies early a few years ago, we learned that this species will fold itself within the bark of some trees and over winter there and emerge when the warmth of the spring season develops. We caught on quickly and noted the locations where we most often saw these butterflies during the early spring months. My favourite location to find them is at the  Homestead Corner at Three Tree Creek. I like to think that perhaps my great great grandparents,  who homesteaded a farm nearby there also experienced the same awe of seeing these beautiful early spring creatures. I saw a butterfly today along the road into their old wood lot. I drove into the road until I saw what I had been looking for:, a Mourning Cloak butterfly! I then backed up my car while maintaining sight of the butterfly. As I could not get a good picture of it taken from my car. I rolled down my car window while maintaining sight of the ever moving butterfly. and then I stopped my car and got out. I momentarily lost sight of the butterfly, but looking down I saw it swirling around my feet and legs. Then suddenly it flew into my car as the car door and window were open. Wow, what a golden photo opportunity! The butterfly stayed on the steering wheel

and I proceeded to take pictures, about 200 or so. The excitement of the opportunity gradually wore off a bit and so I decided to join the butterfly and sit in my car also. My presence behind the steering wheel did not appear to disturb the butterfly at all. We both sat there quietly for ten minutes or so

.After a bit, I decided I should perhaps return home and so I closed the car door. The butterfly noting the change happening flew out the car window. Bye, bye butterfly buddy. It was a great experience.

I am linking today with Eileen's viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.ca

Have a lovely rainy weekend folks.