Tag: wildlife

Visit and feed.

Throughout the day and every day for more than two weeks, two immature and/or female Ruby-throated Hummingbirds contested the right to visit and feed from our feeders. Here is one of them, photographed from about 2.5 meters away. Image appears a bit out of focus due to shooting through the kitchen window screen.

The contests and visits abruptly ended about a week ago. We have seen no activity since, so we believe they began the long journey south. We will keep the feeders out and filled for any migrants that come this way during the next little while

Three tenants.

We knew that two chipmunks lived on our property. It turns out there are three.

The rent we charge is that they must be cute. We are very pleased with the income.

Crossed paths

Wet snow fell for much of yesterday. This morning, I saw that a mouse and a fox had crossed paths during the night, seemingly not at the same time.

Surveyed.

On a gloomy day, a Dark-eyed Junco surveyed the scene below before dropping to the ground to glean bits of seed from below the bird feeder.

Regularly trods.

The low angle of morning sunlight at this time of year eases picking out details.

Some critter – am inclined to think either a fox or a raccoon – regularly trods this path. It winds into the middle background and near the top of the photo, veers left into brush.

It is, likely will remain, a mystery. And that is fine.

Paid a visit.

Several animals visit my workplace – raccoon, semi-feral cat, fox. Something likely much larger than any of these paid a visit the other night. The paw print may be a little difficult to discern; it is right in the middle of the image. Perhaps, probably, a coyote or a big dog. For scale, the coin, a Canadian toonie, is about 25mm (1″) in diameter.

Do not know.

I do not know, cannot know, whether this one of our (at least two) resident chipmunks was resting, remaining motionless in an attempt to blend into the scenery, (anthropomorphising here) waiting for me to finish photographing it from about four meters away, or for another reason. Once I finished I called the dogs and we went inside so it had some undisturbed, safe time.

Welcome residents.

At least two chipmunks live in or around the back yard. Their attention to gleaning seed spilled or otherwise discarded from the bird feeders, in addition to their amusing skittering around, makes them welcome residents.

Chipmunk.

As least two chipmunks live in and around our backyard. Faye captured this one the other day.

Toad.

This toad tolerated my getting up close to take its portrait.