Deer in My Backyard

A few years ago we fenced in our backyard.  The main reason for doing that was that we had too many deer visiting our yard and eating plants from our garden, both veggie and flowers.  I have missed seeing their beautiful presence out and about as there was a certain beauty to look out and see these graceful creatures wandering around our yard.

Since the fencing in my husband has devoted much of his gardening time to growing and developing his beautiful Hosta plants.  One area of our yard is on a hillside which we have named Hosta Hill.
Yesterday morning I looked out and saw movement in Bird Alley. A quick glance out told me that it was no bird I was seeing as I had seen a glimpse of a sturdy brown leg! A Deer in our yard!  I quickly grabbed my camera and hurriedly put on a pair of shoes and I went out to investigate!  Yes!  there was a deer in our garden and it didn't seem to remember how to get out. I found it at our veggie garden section near our Tory Gate. 

We both stared at each other and then the deer started to run checking out any exit possibilities it could find.( There were none!) David had built a fine fence and it has served us well!

 

And I took as many pictures as I could to show the evidence to David when he got up. I think my best photo is of when the deer went sailing through the air in front of Hosta Hill ( You can see many Hostas in the background as the deer is leaping by.)

In the photo below you can see a portion of our fencing and also a garden sign on the fence and our garden globe ( thankfully the deer did not knock that over.)

So all was well that ended well.  I did not see the deer leave as there are several ares in our backyard and I had though it was still in Bird Alley but there was no deer there anymore when I checked that area out. But I did find the gate that had been left open in error.  It was our welcome gate with the words "Welcome" on it.  No, not really meant to be a welcome to deer.

Have a wonderful day everyone.  It seems like it will be a good day here to look for snapping turtles laying their eggs as it is now the season for that. Tomorrow's post will be about Snapping Turtles that I have found in our community this month.

An Eagle Along the River

At this time of year I go to the river daily to observe happenings there from the observation deck.  Yesterday I saw two Eagles and it is not unusual to see Eagles there! I saw one perched in a tree across the river from me.  this distance was quite a stretch for my 300 mm lens and my photo editing did not create the sharpest or the best photos but I have shared here some of my photos I captured as I panned the Eagle as it flew away from its perch!

 Have a great day everyone!

Swallowtail Butterflies

Each year in June I anticipate the blossoming of our Lilac trees, and then I wait for the Swallowtail Butterflies to arrive. this year, I waited and waited and then one day I saw a Swallowtail on a Lilac blossom!!!!  Just the one time this occured!!  I hurried for my camera and adjusted the camera setting to  " vivid colour" and included below are a few of the beautiful colours I was able to capture!

Well I guess that must be enough pictures of the Lilacs and Swallowtail butterflies and now the Lilac blooms have faded and vanished so that is it for Lilacs and Swallowtails for this June; but now there are Swallowtails everywhere  and yesterday morning I took pictures of one feeding on clover!

 And that's it for my Swallowtail butterfly posting.  Have a grand day everyone.!!!!!!

A Mama Fox nearby for Saturday Critters

Yesterday morning I had decided to check out the walking trails in a nearby woods.  However I changed my mind when I heard loud barking and an adult fox appear from close by and she ended up on the pathway leading into the woods and the walking trails.  I now know where she probably has her babies from seeing the location she came bounding from.  She has been through our dooryard on two different occasions that we have seen her crossing through it.  Our cat is very mystified why we won't let him outdoors recently.  We are wary that he might experience a hungry fox encounter. Below are some photos from my fox sighting yesterday morning.

I am linking this morning with Eileen 's viewing nature for Saturday Critters found at:
http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.ca/
Have a great day everyone!

A visit from a Baltimore Oriole

What a lovely surprise yesterday afternoon to come home to see a handsome male Baltimore Oriole feeding at our oriel feeder.   I only had a back view initially but then put out orange slices for it to feed on

                                              Then I put out some orange pieces and in only a moment the Oriole had returned!

    eating oranges!  yum, yum!!

A Fox Story

 On Friday morning I was following warbler sounds from tree to tree. I kept hearing warbler songs but I didn't see any warblers.  Then I turned suddenly to my right and I saw the movement of an animal diving into the ground.  My first thought was" groundhog" as I had often seen groundhogs in the area where I was standing.  but, no, that didn't seem right as the body of the creature did not appear to be as solid and hairy as a groundhog would be.  What I saw was softer looking and supple looking. So I trained my camera on the hole where the unknown creature had disappeared into.  I could detect slight movement and I  then realized that something was looking at me.  It was as curious as I was. If you look carefully around the center of  the picture below you might be able to see two little ears on a rounded head as I did, and I then concluded, a baby fox!.  There had been a den in this area before.  And the ears triggered a flashback of something furry diving into the hole  just a few moments ago,there in the ground before me!

So I felt determination set in and I just had to see a fox or foxes, and so yesterday as my husband and I set out for a walk through a  nearby wooded trail looking for warblers, I suggested to my husband that we walk by the hole ( den) in the ground.  Our timing was perfect as we saw an adult fox ( presumably Mama Fox) leaving the den area. We were all very curious   and very quietly watched each other.  Mama soon left after checking us

out.  I was surprised she left as perhaps her babies could possibly be in danger from us.

 But don't worry Mama Fox, you haven't seen the last of me.  I just have to see your babies and you are in a location that I walk by daily, so I will be hopefully checking out you and your babies again!
I will only be carrying my camera and my  walking cane as I stroll by your home, for after all you are located very close to my home, only less than a distance of a half of a city block away.,  May you and your family fare well over the next few weeks.  And Mama, please do not decide to visit us or our cat that loves to roam around outdoors.  Shakey, our cat will not be allowed to stay outdoors overnight  during the next while because you are probably a very good hunter and you and your kin have a reputation of being foxy, sly and dangerous!  I enjoyed taking pictures of you Mama. Take care and tend your babies well.  I do not pose a threat to you and your family!

Warblers are back!

I was starting to despair of not seeing any warblers since we had heard news of various sightings elsewhere in the province until Thursday morning that is. I was standing at our dining room table when suddenly

I saw  a Chestnut-sided warbler looking in the window at me!  What a sweet moment and what a sweet bird. My husband came into the room and I said "Look our first warbler and he immediately identified it! This little bird stayed for quite a while!

From several of the pictures you can see where it gets its name Chestnut sided warbler. Its quite a distinctive looking bird and I love its yellow head!  
Yesterday morning I decided to go to the edge of a close-by old stand of Pines looking for a warbler.  I immediately saw movement high up in a tree and so I directed my camera in that area.  I was pleased with my photos when downloading them when I was back home.  I hads found a Black and White warbler which was quite easy to identify.  Its markings were quite  stand out distinctive and I loved its white eye ring!  Warblers have such delightful colours and patterning.  I am anxious to find more warblers over the weekend!

 

The white eye ring was very evident!

              Its beautiful wing spread showed its distinctive markings very well.

  This photo shoot opportunity  offered many different poses!
I am linking this morning to Eileen's Saturday Critters which can bew found at:http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.ca/

Eagles seen along the Oromocto River.

I am usually lucky each morning to sight an Eagle or two along our river.  It is at this time of year when activity picks up at this location,  At this location in the river are some rapids or falls which have become known as the Gaspereau Falls.  Gaspereau are fish ( sometimes called Alewives)that return upstream in this river to spawn.  These spawning fish have been spending their time in the ocean.  During their upstream journey the Gaspereau encounter the rapids or falls in the river here.  They struggle, swim or jump  out of the river to overcome these falls.  Also at this location are waiting gulls  looking for a feast of Gaspereau.  Also gathered at this location are Osprey, Cormorants and Common Mergansers.  and Eagles.  When the Gaspereau run begins there is often a lot of activity to be seen in the river at this

location.  Almost every day I can find an Eagle perched in the trees along the river.

 

Today when I went to the river early in the morning I found an eagle perched in a tree as I was expecting.  However the eagle did not stay there long as a Crow soon came along and started chasing the eagle.  Midway during the chase the Eagle did a slight turnabout in mid air and it looked like he was yelling at the crow.  we can imagine what the Eagle might be saying.. Like  " Get the H... out of here and LEAVE me alone!"  However the chase continued until the eagle found another safe haven in the branches of another tree.

More adventures along the river will continue tomorrow!

Savannah Sparrows

I haven't seen a savannah Sparrow for a few years until yesterday!  What a welcome sighting this was!!

 I have watched for those beautiful yellow lores every spring!  and yesterday was reward day.

Ring-necked ducks for Saturday Critters

I am still fortunate in seeing ducks almost every day!  Earlier this week I found a small group of ring- Necked ducks in a small roadside pond. They took off almost immediately and I was lucky enough to capture their pictures as they rose upward in flight.

 

I am linking this morning to Eileen's Saturday's Critters at:

http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.ca/ 

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Another Wonderful Spring Day!

I would recommend that everyone plant Crocus bulbs in the fall, as it is so exhilarating to see their beautiful blooms at this time of year.  Presently we have three beautiful blossoms

and there is more to come as the snow continues to melt!

The first surprising sighting to see yesterday morning was an Osprey on top of an old nest high on a power line as we left the village.  Its timing is perfect as the river is now open.

 Our next stop was at Oromocto and we saw Cormorants in

 the river there as well as Canada Geese and Mallards ducks.

another surprise awaited us as we returned home!  Three or four Red-winged blackbirds in a birch tree in our yard!

Also at our feeders was

a male Brown-headed Cowbird and White-throated Sparrows

A beautiful Junco perched on a branch in the full late afternoon sun with a shed roof of our neighbours as a colourful; backdrop.

Later in the evening this nuisance Raccoon showed up to feed on dropped seeds under a feeder.