tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5367247494845020082024-03-15T13:51:06.615-04:00Rob and the AnimalsJust tales of me and the furry, the feathered, the slimey and the scaly... whatever! Fun stories. Sad stories. Stories that directly involve me or stories that have touched me.Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.comBlogger574125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-91701094174953396062024-03-15T08:44:00.004-04:002024-03-15T08:44:46.187-04:00S**T! Distemper<p>The other week I got home pretty late one night after doing a bit of shopping after work. It was about 11 PM when I pulled into the driveway. I saw a raccoon out on the sidewalk and thought "oh cool!" A raccoon in Toronto at night is pretty common. Next thing I know he is between my car and the one next door.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-sh4JYLKARNxRtJ3O4GqwOXnosL9V3zkT1tFfgd8ttF5unID7x7suA7ajTVdSn4DCzMieyO7t6p58ecHMxk8pGwT4f2FvKrkqp0YLO31NVBEjmEejvj4SRc83ndDy9-uY6e7f7gXssBw8XWXpBzsVP-njdE0exin8vq_ZpoNI6eM-W8kp6egm5UmmhUD/s2048/dis-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-sh4JYLKARNxRtJ3O4GqwOXnosL9V3zkT1tFfgd8ttF5unID7x7suA7ajTVdSn4DCzMieyO7t6p58ecHMxk8pGwT4f2FvKrkqp0YLO31NVBEjmEejvj4SRc83ndDy9-uY6e7f7gXssBw8XWXpBzsVP-njdE0exin8vq_ZpoNI6eM-W8kp6egm5UmmhUD/s320/dis-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Interesting and really not that odd around these parts. Most will scurry off to safety but some linger around, being used to people and I'm sure some do expect a hand out as many feed these animals. As I unloaded the couple bags from the car, he moved in closer. Don't mind the below image and its shape, unintentional artistry. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIUSxs03A9DnxHq0WvbGFZR5WaM_Avywu7VsRaYZ3_LNxIzGzrPKm6KpCDaqjifVwDakOvRZgtrUU7NIXkgelpWEQnOFNLIokIG7KJDpoR5wuc6A2_ASCVokQKLX_56UZHzNYUrHOEJmSuDG4ejddC8QG9k9zM5oDsTsMYwKP4fm8bS7zzi2cX65lL9qF/s3000/MixCollage-08-Mar-2024-09-46-AM-2044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIUSxs03A9DnxHq0WvbGFZR5WaM_Avywu7VsRaYZ3_LNxIzGzrPKm6KpCDaqjifVwDakOvRZgtrUU7NIXkgelpWEQnOFNLIokIG7KJDpoR5wuc6A2_ASCVokQKLX_56UZHzNYUrHOEJmSuDG4ejddC8QG9k9zM5oDsTsMYwKP4fm8bS7zzi2cX65lL9qF/s320/MixCollage-08-Mar-2024-09-46-AM-2044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Next thing for me and this raccoon is it following me up the steps to our porch/front door. Okay, now this is getting weird and concerning. I was fearing something was wrong with him like distemper but held out hope he was just overly tamed by someone around here. It was too dark to really get a good look at him, and our Christmas lights are still up, emitting a light blue light to everything.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAP6iG1OxJMd-CFVRWLzGg38u7EXQ6FfOAPoAjay_nGRGxbNTFr99YvEM6eSwmGLTBIyx6r3KR94FrWa81T5opPBt2kvizKYkZ06o6JyrZp2LEFlI-OoHY0DXqR6S41wuRIYL2jJzEcoCJwqBKipnRSEqhTjvWW41k4hGLd9Wbvf3Jfpj5K1R_FpJq1ace/s2048/dis-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAP6iG1OxJMd-CFVRWLzGg38u7EXQ6FfOAPoAjay_nGRGxbNTFr99YvEM6eSwmGLTBIyx6r3KR94FrWa81T5opPBt2kvizKYkZ06o6JyrZp2LEFlI-OoHY0DXqR6S41wuRIYL2jJzEcoCJwqBKipnRSEqhTjvWW41k4hGLd9Wbvf3Jfpj5K1R_FpJq1ace/s320/dis-3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>And as I went back to the car, he would follow me there.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6fqVNE3K0AmUvg4KHV5BZyWzrAyHAcQe_DyDSARgFki3b-4cP5CjfvXqyceTkdiRQQZAdS61MM2K3HOXC3IFTU4WWg2w3OfTjpE4EGGhGKIQpGhlyg3ODLpmQ9RYzC8tPcaQFFRHyGNlsrkqIpp50vCF7rB0MByZYnzaaQFaBqpIOs75GH0AAIFH4EhW/s2048/dis-4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6fqVNE3K0AmUvg4KHV5BZyWzrAyHAcQe_DyDSARgFki3b-4cP5CjfvXqyceTkdiRQQZAdS61MM2K3HOXC3IFTU4WWg2w3OfTjpE4EGGhGKIQpGhlyg3ODLpmQ9RYzC8tPcaQFFRHyGNlsrkqIpp50vCF7rB0MByZYnzaaQFaBqpIOs75GH0AAIFH4EhW/s320/dis-4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Whenever I stopped, he would start to grab my shoes and pant legs. A red flag that I didn't want to see.</p><p>With it being so late now and I was so tired, I had to shut out the situation and would look out for him in the morning. I still had this silly hope that he was not sick. As I was about to go inside, he came to me one more time. Photo edit to B&W and I could see his eyes were maybe not quite clear.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC145UWQPhbf3PDAmaVDXW5LXFUXj7d-PSz8Kl85t96flSKUbF0KUQi-STed00ppdw0HBVGiHUJlJrphP5RzAEPQr9WZB3bzeoSyuovsSpi7cNpySsJSV993NPCHEe9mSqTrTf9zE7JWyCeuHML6RlV2omOX22A_h2V0zvIslcsA-j3K0oIQ4NBJepfniP/s2048/dis-5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC145UWQPhbf3PDAmaVDXW5LXFUXj7d-PSz8Kl85t96flSKUbF0KUQi-STed00ppdw0HBVGiHUJlJrphP5RzAEPQr9WZB3bzeoSyuovsSpi7cNpySsJSV993NPCHEe9mSqTrTf9zE7JWyCeuHML6RlV2omOX22A_h2V0zvIslcsA-j3K0oIQ4NBJepfniP/s320/dis-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I was out of bed around 7:20 AM and went to look out to the backyard. I do this every day. Will I see a screech owl at the box? Will I see our feral cat friend Dusty down by the shed waiting for breakfast? And on this morning, will I see the raccoon? My answer to that last question is "yes". He was wandering down at the back seemingly without a purpose, just going back and forth. S**T!</p><p>I was barely dressed and didn't have the coffee on yet. I threw on my coat, yes I had pants on, and went down to investigate. As I neared the raccoon, he quickly came to me. Again, like the night before, started grabbing my shoes and pant legs. Why do they do this?</p><p>I had a better look at him and sadly his eyes were crusty and runny. I take pictures for potential blogs and social media posts but also in times like this, it's great for when I need to report something to the wildlife centre or animal services. Look how bad his eyes are!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_zqP76TAiBNSC_kvkI4p6wX15sKI1TVrC0r83Pr9WiFBErqgBEK69x6l9MbrzfqYUy838nnhz4U9_yv0wVVV6VrWfqF2tsFRsN-O-xF91X3MvKBsrVc3R0N8WbWyj688WbkYWfBEe296QZTKbM-NMGCxAK9ApKjOTDBNGeRapGgv_ikptKXBg9of5I1H/s2048/dis-6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_zqP76TAiBNSC_kvkI4p6wX15sKI1TVrC0r83Pr9WiFBErqgBEK69x6l9MbrzfqYUy838nnhz4U9_yv0wVVV6VrWfqF2tsFRsN-O-xF91X3MvKBsrVc3R0N8WbWyj688WbkYWfBEe296QZTKbM-NMGCxAK9ApKjOTDBNGeRapGgv_ikptKXBg9of5I1H/s320/dis-6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>In the past, before I knew anything about distemper, I would have taken a hundred pictures of the animal and left him, knowing he wasn't well, but having no idea what was wrong. Then even just a few years back I would have hummed and hawed at this, not sure if I should call it in as I knew it would be euthanized. That's a tough pill to swallow. You catch the sick animal who then will be "destroyed". No, please, not the cute little raccoon! And to now in the present, knowing it is the best thing for him and the other animals. He will not suffer any longer, getting worse. He will not spread it to the other animals. While we don't have minks who can get it, and there's few coyotes wandering around, there are a lot of raccoons and skunks (who can also get it). Oh, then there's the dogs who are vulnerable if they aren't up to date on their shots. There's a lot of people who will argue this, stating we have not given the animal a chance to get better. I just had it out with someone yesterday online about this. They told me to not jump to such a conclusion which I did not, I only suggested it could be and to look for other signs regarding a raccoon in someone's yard during the day grabbing the person's shoes and pant legs. Every day this week I have seen post after post about people seeing raccoons out during the day, just wandering aimlessly. </p><p>Okay, back to the story...</p><p>I knew he had to be contained. I got a large carrier from the shed. I found a plastic lid and put some peanut butter as well as some stinky wet cat food on it. I put the carrier on the ground with the door open and the bait inside. The raccoon caught the scent of the food and a few times only stuck part of its head inside and then quickly backed out. He would then go for my shoes again. I kept turning in circles with him, trying to keep the carrier door facing him. A few more times his head went in and then he'd back out again. I tried tapping on the back of the carrier which got his attention and even had him go a little further in, only to quickly back out. So close! I saw one of the plastic snow shovels leaning against the fence. A light went on in my head. I grabbed the shovel, held it with one hand and then knelt down, tapping on the back of the carrier. The raccoon went to the carrier, put his head in, right up to his shoulders. In a flash I used the shovel, gently but firmly, I pushed his back end into the carrier. I tilted the carrier up, so the door was facing the sky, and shut and locked the door. The plastic floor, with the help of gravity, made the raccoon slide to the other end, allowing me to do this. I should add that he had a moment of clarity during this and he tried to get out but he couldn't get a grip. I threw a towel over the carrier and that was that.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbeGX-FppR6hx9XmI6JkZmKbS8n3XFbVdebPKoC7ucUwgmJQMlKWJJXFo1G_kd4uv-cXZMFUt7Jgn93E2q9Gi8U1T7gfIDZxsYvJ33iXoFhwLcqD-Szohsar9szWmdqk5lnMKlvMBUYgaxEvtr1NlDQ_LTyYXAv7249qPQgyGuwsunmPB8WA06b6v_YCZ/s2048/dis-7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbeGX-FppR6hx9XmI6JkZmKbS8n3XFbVdebPKoC7ucUwgmJQMlKWJJXFo1G_kd4uv-cXZMFUt7Jgn93E2q9Gi8U1T7gfIDZxsYvJ33iXoFhwLcqD-Szohsar9szWmdqk5lnMKlvMBUYgaxEvtr1NlDQ_LTyYXAv7249qPQgyGuwsunmPB8WA06b6v_YCZ/s320/dis-7.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>I called 3-1-1 and filed a report. Soon after someone from Toronto Animal Services called me and asked me a handful of questions, mostly regarding my observations of the raccoon. He then wanted confirmation that it was contained. They are quicker to come out knowing the animal is contained than follow a report of one looking sick and freely wandering around. They have limited resources and cannot "waste" time coming out for an animal who may not even be there when they arrive. You don't have to get it into a carrier if that isn't possible, but even a box over it and someone staying with it until they get there is very helpful. The man thanked me for all my help and making their job all that much easier. Then within the hour someone came for him. The person was very nice, gentle and had the patience and care for the raccoon. Instead of forcing it out of the carrier, she held up a net to the door and waited until the raccoon came out on it's own. It only took about 10 minutes and we had a low tone conversation while waiting. The chat was eye opening and educational for me. We talked about a past awful outbreak of distemper where they were collecting between 100 and 150 sick animals per day for over 2 weeks. They were concerned about this spring and another outbreak since we didn't have much of a winter to slow the virus down. I've since heard it has really hit the skunk population just north of us.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFypGcS6G6keIum3UBPFx8r3BFNxlUsSA-fKRBJiPeQ7cPGe5CsRYfoGtCQW1INRAuK7UmmjwWyX8V4gxGjogSGZV-ru0q08Lw8ZdV8CL50Y70i-51wXDj8dyKyI9eyb8meJtaJMNvWqgYIOz2fkea6gT_lWPcVlSWe-NQyl4J0NZx4Z7F5UulSwKmlATi/s2048/dis-8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFypGcS6G6keIum3UBPFx8r3BFNxlUsSA-fKRBJiPeQ7cPGe5CsRYfoGtCQW1INRAuK7UmmjwWyX8V4gxGjogSGZV-ru0q08Lw8ZdV8CL50Y70i-51wXDj8dyKyI9eyb8meJtaJMNvWqgYIOz2fkea6gT_lWPcVlSWe-NQyl4J0NZx4Z7F5UulSwKmlATi/s320/dis-8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>So, yeah, this happened about 2 weeks ago, and thankfully with all the raccoons that I have encountered since, none appear to be sick. Let's hope it stays this way. </p><p>Thanks for stopping in. Have a great weekend if you are catching this blog on the day I posted it as it is Friday!!!!! Cheers!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-27437139958102701802024-02-28T11:25:00.001-05:002024-02-28T11:25:17.716-05:00Changes<p>With Ripper and all the pigeons gone, the yard has a very empty feel about it. Sure there are other squirrels out there, some are regulars which may get names once we are outside more often. Maybe the pigeons will return one day in the spring. But for now, it kinda makes me feel sad. The owls are hit and miss to the box, more miss with this ridiculously mild winter lacking snow. So, yeah, just blah...</p><p>In the fall I packed the dog house with fresh clean straw and the leftovers that I had got rammed under the shed. You know, providing shelter for the wild ones if they need it. Past winters raccoons, skunks and opossums have used these spots to hide out during the day or even spend a few days in when temperatures really dropped. Again, with these mild temperatures, there's been few "guests".</p><p>Then, suddenly, a few weeks back, this feral cat started using the dog house and under the shed. We'd seen this cat roaming the neighbourhood for at least 3 years now. I can probably count on both hands how many times he has come through our yard over the years. He was mostly seen out on the street and sidewalk. He's a muscular tom cat and has seen some s**t in his life. The scars on his face and one noticeable shoulder wound are testimony to that. He walks with a bit of a limp too. If only he could talk and tell of what he has been through. He's very skittish and has little trust of humans. I get that. I don't trust a lot of them myself.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpW5Sn7tu7E-_ApubWw4Vi5d6LxzHgqUWOorMoEPzoRTfs7ayLISoXQSIN4imy0Y5OzyNFvFwnpjU7_TVCu37YQ_woQLZBQkIf7noNf-zAmZMD8TrdoxFFjXF2nbcUtjcpinYcKUq_kT4D2ik5ssMGf0hBHxzBVh9s0_rQiLnVuq0d65b7bkW5l0NJfE6b/s4146/dusty-morning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4146" data-original-width="2764" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpW5Sn7tu7E-_ApubWw4Vi5d6LxzHgqUWOorMoEPzoRTfs7ayLISoXQSIN4imy0Y5OzyNFvFwnpjU7_TVCu37YQ_woQLZBQkIf7noNf-zAmZMD8TrdoxFFjXF2nbcUtjcpinYcKUq_kT4D2ik5ssMGf0hBHxzBVh9s0_rQiLnVuq0d65b7bkW5l0NJfE6b/s320/dusty-morning.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p>One morning on social media, there was a post about a fund raiser for some cat rescue. I chimed in about this and that, and ended up sharing a picture of the feral cat here. Next thing I know, I was being contacted by someone from the rescue and there was a discussion about doing a TNR with him. What is TNR? Trap, neuter, and release. A great idea to help stop the spread of more feral cats. The rescue has had some luck with homing some of these kittys but there's no promise to that. I'd love to see him off the street and some place safe where he may be loved by some caring person who has the patience and understanding to work with him. I'm sure he wouldn't be all "open arms" to suddenly being indoors after so many years of living on the street.</p><p>Since I am willing to work with this cat, I have to get him on a routine of coming here, a feeding schedule, and next will be to slowly lure him with food in a live trap. Now here we are with a "yard cat". </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFfmo7OZEStou1HolVEby5wRvP1KBcadOJAz8QPAnwNjBTjifkbZH_ABJHbq6jvNUZMcc6A2ZzkPKZvP5miO1SzixMPZ9SmN5evYoLjcznMBfq3OHXu4VA4rWhNdDmVqO5edL-vkEiA8N4-FLuJvFzz5P6VqtTmdAV1CApyNxwINuJ3ZFLtF27GGo0WbV/s3318/dusty1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2212" data-original-width="3318" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFfmo7OZEStou1HolVEby5wRvP1KBcadOJAz8QPAnwNjBTjifkbZH_ABJHbq6jvNUZMcc6A2ZzkPKZvP5miO1SzixMPZ9SmN5evYoLjcznMBfq3OHXu4VA4rWhNdDmVqO5edL-vkEiA8N4-FLuJvFzz5P6VqtTmdAV1CApyNxwINuJ3ZFLtF27GGo0WbV/s320/dusty1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>On the colder nights, I find him in our dog house. Not that I go looking but when he hears me down back, he will run out of the house and go to the next yard over. I always say "sorry" and step back. I'm glad he is using the house. I've since put a heavy towel across the entrance to give him more privacy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDd7K_VDO2bNfEK9Li810lOE7v6SZjW9VkdXtM0jcF5VLb6HWV-bToWkJeG1s5myAkHgOE2-gfSaGN_sV3FrwcnfsSOQkdKilIjXJuQxLIWMbRrxQcveDp-OoxKJO7wOJbenaorYhPA2Iq7Gz2DPO8S556pTlKAaQALeiqNZKw-M1a7a_863boZVZYusa/s5184/_MG_6289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDd7K_VDO2bNfEK9Li810lOE7v6SZjW9VkdXtM0jcF5VLb6HWV-bToWkJeG1s5myAkHgOE2-gfSaGN_sV3FrwcnfsSOQkdKilIjXJuQxLIWMbRrxQcveDp-OoxKJO7wOJbenaorYhPA2Iq7Gz2DPO8S556pTlKAaQALeiqNZKw-M1a7a_863boZVZYusa/s320/_MG_6289.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>He doesn't spend all day and night here but he is here more often than he has ever been. It has been interesting watching him in the yard. On cold sunny days he can be found snoozing on these 2x4's next to the shed. The wood warms up in the sun and must feel good on his feet. I took this picture from the kitchen window. I didn't want to go out there and spook him away from this nice spot.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJiaIOXfm61Sd0_qUW_Aj1gFTYTzlVO8mmB8Vu1kH_HOdBD2Juh7OrssI3Ti7-LEXIp2SdO7nhi_QOlTG4Fq6BuUapOQlGbUtMvhrGYX5EWG9kPvunx0zZ8MybS8rKgYpBx8fmax7h2yTziwzxo7rO-EohliJTrIZkDG3rMFNoY0ZegyfdUfXR5P72Ic9/s5184/dusty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJiaIOXfm61Sd0_qUW_Aj1gFTYTzlVO8mmB8Vu1kH_HOdBD2Juh7OrssI3Ti7-LEXIp2SdO7nhi_QOlTG4Fq6BuUapOQlGbUtMvhrGYX5EWG9kPvunx0zZ8MybS8rKgYpBx8fmax7h2yTziwzxo7rO-EohliJTrIZkDG3rMFNoY0ZegyfdUfXR5P72Ic9/s320/dusty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I am thankful that he doesn't chase birds or wildlife. That would be a big problem here in our wildlife friendly backyard. He walks past the juncos, cardinals and other birds, maybe gives them a glance and then keeps on moving. He can run when he wants to despite that limp.</p><p>If I am not out there in good time with food for him, he comes out from under the shed and sits there looking up towards the house. Haha! Who is training who here?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40wt70QW_Tbd4XpPK1pkZG_V82xVqeVc_duTr28nBhLYjYjcRHQ_sVRjCkLzVLak6P4AMnVMHxUe8tgKZR6XIZfq_L0XwNDGm9ClQ476Wh-irwnp-XORlZKrJLLV5We2lnVj2XAx6JDyNuVSPxPn-aBG03zd5N4Pqujpx69AXwARADHeF5RsegheXyCl4/s5184/waiting-dusty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40wt70QW_Tbd4XpPK1pkZG_V82xVqeVc_duTr28nBhLYjYjcRHQ_sVRjCkLzVLak6P4AMnVMHxUe8tgKZR6XIZfq_L0XwNDGm9ClQ476Wh-irwnp-XORlZKrJLLV5We2lnVj2XAx6JDyNuVSPxPn-aBG03zd5N4Pqujpx69AXwARADHeF5RsegheXyCl4/s320/waiting-dusty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Last week we were at the point of where he would sit safely on the other side of the fence from the shed but still only be about 15 ft from me and he would watch me. Unfortunately something has happened to him in recent days. Maybe someone was mean to him? He's taken a couple steps back in the progress that we made. He's back to being very skittish and really keeps his distance, or hides further back under the shed, sometimes out of my sight line but I am sure he can still see me. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIDgkPjpgTCpvA7MWLWmFNduELs2nbwCG808K1wf_KZPPzuohhoFDR1dJh3xOWQ_xqTdxmDF4z3_lRsDfDfi8uyXOqqpl5xNxfkRQa9BXL_-fssyP9Xva6yKrUOUYxyxJ1fbqJUrg5upOCYmZvfkOnRsKUiwg65y6q1gQl3Yv9Yg3WjEvewWAmGNHALw4/s5184/_MG_5919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIDgkPjpgTCpvA7MWLWmFNduELs2nbwCG808K1wf_KZPPzuohhoFDR1dJh3xOWQ_xqTdxmDF4z3_lRsDfDfi8uyXOqqpl5xNxfkRQa9BXL_-fssyP9Xva6yKrUOUYxyxJ1fbqJUrg5upOCYmZvfkOnRsKUiwg65y6q1gQl3Yv9Yg3WjEvewWAmGNHALw4/s320/_MG_5919.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>I'm disappointed about that but happy that he is still coming here everyday. Hopefully in the not too far off future he will be caught, tended to, and maybe if we're lucky, be homed. If not, he will be brought back out to "the street" here and at least won't help make kittens.</p><p>Angie has named him Dusty. We watched a WWE documentary on Dusty Rhodes the other weekend. Dusty had a hard life. This cat has had a hard life. There you go, his name is Dusty.</p><p>As people should realize, when you leave food out for an animal, you will most likely attract other animals. Depending on where you are, mice, rats, raccoons, skunks, opossums, foxes, coyotes, other feral cats and who knows what else may come in to clean up the dish. So far we've had a few visits from this guy. We're okay with that. He can use the help during the winter. He's harmless and can be beneficial to have around. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieo5Id_wFj1OFjps6N_JCvfjXu59NY61qZTF8Pa87SVFnchC83h792zrT0hYMWyCDC2b23Ie1fjsuaQYsEvFYjoPkehF-hMPwGyvTYqJ9bHl0axgkp-4t0ErIUXg2kbqShEgmyIG4_f7PcyUH0Pm5Ls1tr9OAYoWky8M8WHmUG0qdAVlv9wQ7BNxbvS9Nx/s5184/_MG_6205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieo5Id_wFj1OFjps6N_JCvfjXu59NY61qZTF8Pa87SVFnchC83h792zrT0hYMWyCDC2b23Ie1fjsuaQYsEvFYjoPkehF-hMPwGyvTYqJ9bHl0axgkp-4t0ErIUXg2kbqShEgmyIG4_f7PcyUH0Pm5Ls1tr9OAYoWky8M8WHmUG0qdAVlv9wQ7BNxbvS9Nx/s320/_MG_6205.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>I know this is the same opossum that was around quite a bit back in the fall because of his scarred nose. He hasn't been much of a regular the last 2 months but has shown up a few times in the last week.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJmrs0Of8QxxYoaGCGJTbHWoQYYcDF3AaHmPPQnHhi3Nco-Y-npV7Kb4OrBBLFZwPld690y6TFSMMo1tZ-OIY9Xviu9hs1-tpUSkpEqz-MJZBJF_YZgEgpH-0LghM45SDqP_i7UmnvR4XqCkieL2Ni7XIftRUY0T-tB3HeS7v3odjv-IJjOPlZBHUEi4e/s5184/viop-2024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJmrs0Of8QxxYoaGCGJTbHWoQYYcDF3AaHmPPQnHhi3Nco-Y-npV7Kb4OrBBLFZwPld690y6TFSMMo1tZ-OIY9Xviu9hs1-tpUSkpEqz-MJZBJF_YZgEgpH-0LghM45SDqP_i7UmnvR4XqCkieL2Ni7XIftRUY0T-tB3HeS7v3odjv-IJjOPlZBHUEi4e/s320/viop-2024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>You can see a very <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6hZU9gftuk" target="_blank">short video here</a> of him enjoying his score of Dusty's leftovers.</p><p>Wish us luck in helping this cat. And if you might have any suggestions on who or another organization that may help get him off the street and into a good home, please comment. I don't think Toronto Animal Services would be a good choice as they have told me that good cats go into the adoption system whereas bad cats get euthanized. They have too many cats coming in all the time and don't have the time or resources to work with cats with behavioral issues.</p><p>We have helped a few other cats over the years.</p><p>First there was Skittles who was living in our old shed for some time one winter. It didn't take long to train her and get her accustomed being fed. Then we worked on finding her a home, which Angie lucked out with someone through her work. Skittles became Sabrina with her new family and has been living the life of a spoiled rotten princess ever since. We had a reunion with her about 11 years after she was caught and homed. It warmed my heart to see her even though I'm sure she didn't remember me. So many mornings I was almost late for work, making sure she got fed before I went. I was working days back then and having to leave home by 5:15 AM.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQp8YDyX8qHyodz4h21yj7DtN8cxRRhz-nFaCsdwff5FS7qEswJP0QuORaxQ0P-Qt1AK_mQ9nF9UPwb14Q1jGNXVVlDn3nC0oQ8I2mzzPNo6m8WgsqjMj68srOofBgocI1qNQx-_OvNPdqsNXq-n-oKbxPGv5hCMNCMcP1LhC-Mf1DKLoSKkfb0ktxSe6e/s2048/skittlescat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQp8YDyX8qHyodz4h21yj7DtN8cxRRhz-nFaCsdwff5FS7qEswJP0QuORaxQ0P-Qt1AK_mQ9nF9UPwb14Q1jGNXVVlDn3nC0oQ8I2mzzPNo6m8WgsqjMj68srOofBgocI1qNQx-_OvNPdqsNXq-n-oKbxPGv5hCMNCMcP1LhC-Mf1DKLoSKkfb0ktxSe6e/s320/skittlescat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Then there was Smudge. A lovey big boy. We tried to home him but weren't so lucky. I ended up taking him to Toronto Animal Services because having him in our yard wasn't Meadow approved. She loved being outside, on leash and harness of course, and couldn't stand any cat coming to her domain.</p><p>He was such a handsome boy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsDpeHnL7C43x2szRXW36rOjeK7OozbmVgdjXx4UIiYnDWg9zHDdLMVvVnUvHwcMZNkt0G0NTg8XRfLb7lFprqCyEiup4rkht9C9GOUfu86jdRhHf-EtP_0ykLB5FMjZT7PqfFyg_UA3WjT3Dxb0V96LwQ5Ec1QbiOJJwL5Et3Y7Bkt_E8Ne-2ahw6fE5/s1600/smudge-blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsDpeHnL7C43x2szRXW36rOjeK7OozbmVgdjXx4UIiYnDWg9zHDdLMVvVnUvHwcMZNkt0G0NTg8XRfLb7lFprqCyEiup4rkht9C9GOUfu86jdRhHf-EtP_0ykLB5FMjZT7PqfFyg_UA3WjT3Dxb0V96LwQ5Ec1QbiOJJwL5Et3Y7Bkt_E8Ne-2ahw6fE5/s320/smudge-blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Meadow didn't care how good looking he was. She hated him and really did want to hurt him.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUEI7QRHqwNCt2UQvBpNYgktsfA-iTCf8-ezZEK20YCu2xvrmGQWEygow2SUHIo8EC_UR0XAFSIFZ4ItsfpFbjtCDvOycl188Fb5nW5yub45Bp5g3IOLcxkqRe3Oq_Sd8rw6oV-pl9Iep7uVoMUlLP04Y8kP6xBJ8tQDBc399GSdxWpLsFUwaIHjJ9oql/s1600/meany.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUEI7QRHqwNCt2UQvBpNYgktsfA-iTCf8-ezZEK20YCu2xvrmGQWEygow2SUHIo8EC_UR0XAFSIFZ4ItsfpFbjtCDvOycl188Fb5nW5yub45Bp5g3IOLcxkqRe3Oq_Sd8rw6oV-pl9Iep7uVoMUlLP04Y8kP6xBJ8tQDBc399GSdxWpLsFUwaIHjJ9oql/s320/meany.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I visited Smudge a few times at the shelter. It pained me seeing him a cage. I was told that he got adopted out after a few weeks. I hope that was true.</p><p>Then, last but not least, there was Sinatra. A tiny black kitten that found his way to our backyard and realized that under the shed was a great place to hide from anything that freaked him out. I worked quickly on this cat as I know helping a little kitten, or getting a little kitten help is much easier than helping an adult. I'm forever thankful that the Toronto Cat Rescue immediately put their hand up to take him in if I caught him. Three days after he appeared here, he was caught and some weeks later the mother of someone from the couple that were fostering him adopted him. </p><p>Sinatra was adorable. What kitten isn't? We played with a ball out back a handful of times before he went away. I still have that ball in the shed all these years later. I am immediately taken back to that time with him.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPBBbpM3fQXW4_klt6idPDTCViwohKDkNSkO2PEti7vlWc5L1YxS2m6G8_NRoGahgnjnCjN1QjQhZv9-eym0ys1LuZsNr5tEkVA9R3bcJOg4wOLi2sdzcI5TbdIUnTnBsFPWqP_l1jtBmepEEKx8uAZ2bETRWCpzOsgbIvvwpj4mKwzoZ3wPFC4ACTNyt/s1991/sinatrathekitten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1327" data-original-width="1991" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPBBbpM3fQXW4_klt6idPDTCViwohKDkNSkO2PEti7vlWc5L1YxS2m6G8_NRoGahgnjnCjN1QjQhZv9-eym0ys1LuZsNr5tEkVA9R3bcJOg4wOLi2sdzcI5TbdIUnTnBsFPWqP_l1jtBmepEEKx8uAZ2bETRWCpzOsgbIvvwpj4mKwzoZ3wPFC4ACTNyt/s320/sinatrathekitten.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Him and his ball. Did you just go "awwwwwwwww!"?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwu6lhZe2HKYMw9-5dOPaByq8NzD7dfaH99r4KuyFvKcKVXreK372G0FZp7NTVprsEDn-AlkO6izcVqcH5VfHXd40D6b8F0jqE359KGV05YeC5HTiTOwP14bJYGUUevlndw0AQugtN7AD1JZiqYrcZXtJsKBfHLOBmCCxvkcF6hnPPp15uwQKKRMcaG93/s3318/day3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2212" data-original-width="3318" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwu6lhZe2HKYMw9-5dOPaByq8NzD7dfaH99r4KuyFvKcKVXreK372G0FZp7NTVprsEDn-AlkO6izcVqcH5VfHXd40D6b8F0jqE359KGV05YeC5HTiTOwP14bJYGUUevlndw0AQugtN7AD1JZiqYrcZXtJsKBfHLOBmCCxvkcF6hnPPp15uwQKKRMcaG93/s320/day3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>So maybe "Changes" is not the perfect title to this blog but the whole yard vibe certainly has changed this winter. If you told me even just months ago that I'd be trying to help a cat, welcoming it to hang out in our backyard, I would have said "you're high!"</p><p>I'll be back soon with some wildlife photos and bits. Cheers!</p><p><br /></p>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-90724355179911146812024-01-25T11:04:00.000-05:002024-01-25T11:04:26.985-05:00*sigh*<p>I'm feeling a little down lately. The dark dreary days that we have been experiencing this January are a big factor. Obviously there's something else, something animal related, otherwise I wouldn't be blogging about it... I'm missing my animal friends.</p><p>For starts, Ripper disappeared in June of 2023 when all the new young squirrels started emerging from nests around us. He's done this before in his elder years (5 months the previous year). My take is that he just didn't want to be bothered with these young'uns and perhaps the competition. He always came back. I am aware, as much as I hate to admit it, that one day he wouldn't return. I'm guessing that is the case this time.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzApWcHeyG5YNPFm5M-LlHuqR5xKzHmrNarpmnBmPKxK7YXFUwtT72KV8CL8lh3yFFPe6q8-kViYXdOoh97zVXBUba8lFViQDlr_pcvMvS4KvHUKcuQDRhmQg81VIhuHj83NEWeb_hpmwB_NIxbHGl-_HhFzINN0SpEVFYIvLCv4yPD-9AhoU-EGxbrc2n/s3264/Ripper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzApWcHeyG5YNPFm5M-LlHuqR5xKzHmrNarpmnBmPKxK7YXFUwtT72KV8CL8lh3yFFPe6q8-kViYXdOoh97zVXBUba8lFViQDlr_pcvMvS4KvHUKcuQDRhmQg81VIhuHj83NEWeb_hpmwB_NIxbHGl-_HhFzINN0SpEVFYIvLCv4yPD-9AhoU-EGxbrc2n/s320/Ripper.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />I won't lambaste yas with a ton of photos of Ripper. I think everyone who knows me or of me through my blogs and social media pages knows about this squirrel. He was awesome and a highlight to the day anytime he came around over the 6 years.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijt4lAT4aSvYL9aMp9Ees3pfqkMi1n8RF77bJaZSRQu_6Y_O5YLOIIMcCbziKVZQSWWflGNG1A6J0YLQ-us8BZ8Pg1YlXy9mNSnnk4lvqdCOmAT5D7LfklJFACk76CNQkMmVwlxUZlrC6zK74sq1DwKBECnpSrqHd_fg6Wk1-sOKO3XTHHN8-zZlYjlV2G/s2048/ripper-2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1503" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijt4lAT4aSvYL9aMp9Ees3pfqkMi1n8RF77bJaZSRQu_6Y_O5YLOIIMcCbziKVZQSWWflGNG1A6J0YLQ-us8BZ8Pg1YlXy9mNSnnk4lvqdCOmAT5D7LfklJFACk76CNQkMmVwlxUZlrC6zK74sq1DwKBECnpSrqHd_fg6Wk1-sOKO3XTHHN8-zZlYjlV2G/s320/ripper-2023.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><p>Then we befriended a chipmunk in 2022 that Angie named Boop. She was a real character and quickly took to being friends with us. Boop made quite a tunnel system in our yard and overwintered with us. I remember the day in late February 2023 when she emerged. We never had something like that before with a chipmunk. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6jSIobNg3KFa4RsYAW0yhM4lm1hysAPgEU_1e9in5Wm5Ji9EGF_WZRZs5jt1HiPuCS0ZdyUJXLErRFAg9sEoPsnn9YlB_ausl4EARiOsN-agkpJ8sLy4pORzhYI7oC4FRglSuIbkxzTeFX7QoxiM8dxHW4Qqhm_nGddVQAr4I13IjAQJCzvkaLXxxse7/s2048/boop-hole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6jSIobNg3KFa4RsYAW0yhM4lm1hysAPgEU_1e9in5Wm5Ji9EGF_WZRZs5jt1HiPuCS0ZdyUJXLErRFAg9sEoPsnn9YlB_ausl4EARiOsN-agkpJ8sLy4pORzhYI7oC4FRglSuIbkxzTeFX7QoxiM8dxHW4Qqhm_nGddVQAr4I13IjAQJCzvkaLXxxse7/s320/boop-hole.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Knowing she lived in our yard and slept underground down there through that winter was a sweet feeling. One day I should blog about all the creatures that sleep in our yard, that we know of.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQC-1utfcQoXv-NrC1b2q90W8yaGlLDneZUQ4LgcjhwYh1GuIip9u9sZ14TQcF84aub0XhkUmmFt9BrFwO8twsGFB2uW50UxQn9uWxfdjv_jzvAvC9Q3LXkZ1aM3dl2vsd4vjg8m9NiU2vV4GE695r3ySi8hPPVo-ksE1PNNjPnJKPR-HfBHZ4Hg4L6ENF/s1617/boop-another.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1617" data-original-width="1213" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQC-1utfcQoXv-NrC1b2q90W8yaGlLDneZUQ4LgcjhwYh1GuIip9u9sZ14TQcF84aub0XhkUmmFt9BrFwO8twsGFB2uW50UxQn9uWxfdjv_jzvAvC9Q3LXkZ1aM3dl2vsd4vjg8m9NiU2vV4GE695r3ySi8hPPVo-ksE1PNNjPnJKPR-HfBHZ4Hg4L6ENF/s320/boop-another.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>We do get chipmunks from time to time around the neighbourhood but none are ever long lasting. Too many free roaming cats is one of the main reasons they don't last. I also suspect there's a few around us with rodent traps. Traps do not discriminate. Boop disappeared last July. I'd rather not think about what happened to her. Just know that this tiny little girl touched our hearts and was a pleasure to get to know over the one year she was with us. Morning coffee on the back deck in the summer was highly entertaining with her.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIiQRdmUKf17BD0KDjp_qw9HPeIsFU8In6hLtsuGi8fG7JfNd2nqFCn68Cqq8qoClvNrefki2OvMn4uNYcemwcmRvlVsmK9X3drD-viCu-Vj_ZA8LCrx-mRr6hhJBcKkcg4g8DgIc-zVOMtE5Uo4aDpfmyRbbL9uMoYld4_Q8PKHv6PPSqRIKyWGFDtbI/s2048/boop-rob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIiQRdmUKf17BD0KDjp_qw9HPeIsFU8In6hLtsuGi8fG7JfNd2nqFCn68Cqq8qoClvNrefki2OvMn4uNYcemwcmRvlVsmK9X3drD-viCu-Vj_ZA8LCrx-mRr6hhJBcKkcg4g8DgIc-zVOMtE5Uo4aDpfmyRbbL9uMoYld4_Q8PKHv6PPSqRIKyWGFDtbI/s320/boop-rob.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><p>Then late summer, over the Labour Day long weekend, Gulliver too went MIA. I blogged about her a few months ago. She was an awesome pigeon friend; well they all are but some stand out more than others. I always looked out for her and babied her. I don't know what happened to her and I still hope that maybe one day she will return. As time passes, that hope fades. I remind myself of Pierre's long absences, and Charlie's too which broke Pierre's record for days away by a long shot. Fond memories come to me as I look at all the pictures that I took of Gulliver over our time together.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDO3LGKBzAMfwlW-Nn12HPayqWQ24RFu4aWFag1wNuT1R2ftHXMCWEWo8w2xaZr8kfAmnNVQcPy-2yG-B3jg1CVWPPPMGigITlBOxOx0q4afALMlVbZnfOx4sQM1KLQyEPOQE8qecplmFqw1zWuCUaGAnlEg1id3e3CpTpyvco4YgLElGKfLM4M4cTmeM7/s1965/gulliver-2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1965" data-original-width="1474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDO3LGKBzAMfwlW-Nn12HPayqWQ24RFu4aWFag1wNuT1R2ftHXMCWEWo8w2xaZr8kfAmnNVQcPy-2yG-B3jg1CVWPPPMGigITlBOxOx0q4afALMlVbZnfOx4sQM1KLQyEPOQE8qecplmFqw1zWuCUaGAnlEg1id3e3CpTpyvco4YgLElGKfLM4M4cTmeM7/s320/gulliver-2023.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYn5R3mQPyum90yfO1r06zw49ELEudAqNUJcd5wObxUP1Ngllmyu9IO-bFdNMm9hfVNfRwVfaWNEx3ILyssSmsHpJ8arl1jvEWLFPM2jYPsVWPbpVjkp8TK-SZ8pV_wDQVKrswmMu2wVEuELcC1AuUrf3ilr4725Q2AlL6pNa-BVjhehPU44-a6tY0_M7o/s2048/gulliver-sweet1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1532" data-original-width="2048" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYn5R3mQPyum90yfO1r06zw49ELEudAqNUJcd5wObxUP1Ngllmyu9IO-bFdNMm9hfVNfRwVfaWNEx3ILyssSmsHpJ8arl1jvEWLFPM2jYPsVWPbpVjkp8TK-SZ8pV_wDQVKrswmMu2wVEuELcC1AuUrf3ilr4725Q2AlL6pNa-BVjhehPU44-a6tY0_M7o/s320/gulliver-sweet1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHKp6s0iGDCsBB-CkcPw5k3dCGzFSoy6R3PaSZhLsfnrCi_eHypRnpjfI9qcDX_awKwsk4shCS_abEepGxzu-JYr0oDbJmF7oAj8Hn8RJvuc5Zlu4rF3_moME86ccJIiJgOz-sbceoJfmZIACHdhZtENoqIEd1Ku-r3rRM-gFIj3XFJDZKd8I_aEOYj_o/s2048/gulliver-sweet4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1327" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHKp6s0iGDCsBB-CkcPw5k3dCGzFSoy6R3PaSZhLsfnrCi_eHypRnpjfI9qcDX_awKwsk4shCS_abEepGxzu-JYr0oDbJmF7oAj8Hn8RJvuc5Zlu4rF3_moME86ccJIiJgOz-sbceoJfmZIACHdhZtENoqIEd1Ku-r3rRM-gFIj3XFJDZKd8I_aEOYj_o/s320/gulliver-sweet4.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaKvyP97XhCogt-aP-ZCX7nqfr9W21M3-qtU0ryARdtHOYfnyklh7nC95ClX2kNs6NWz-nkzz4bS0okZRN5m_2l-Ed1pqR2rfTgRiUTluEu1glXytxvFhY4fhUd_iOnMe1IVxN2iOC8uBYoPm4Q8Z_swHpeBVGTnZOHYWxY87ZRgpWFQU0eTag6nfMk8V/s2048/gulliver-sweet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1616" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaKvyP97XhCogt-aP-ZCX7nqfr9W21M3-qtU0ryARdtHOYfnyklh7nC95ClX2kNs6NWz-nkzz4bS0okZRN5m_2l-Ed1pqR2rfTgRiUTluEu1glXytxvFhY4fhUd_iOnMe1IVxN2iOC8uBYoPm4Q8Z_swHpeBVGTnZOHYWxY87ZRgpWFQU0eTag6nfMk8V/s320/gulliver-sweet.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><p>A lot of the pigeons disappeared that weekend, or soon after. The air show scared the heck out of them. Then the fall migration brought in the cooper's hawks. A few pigeons hung on to the 'hood as a feeding spot despite the dangers that lurked. A couple birds, that I know of, lost their lives to the hawks. One pigeon was unwell and became an easy target. Then just last weekend, one lone bird came in early Sunday morning and *BOOM*. That last pigeon was the only pigeon I had seen anywhere around here in over a week. Since then, zero pigeons anywhere around here, not even on the wires along the main road. I've been blessed with "pigeon friends" since the summer of 2012 when Pierre first flew into our lives. Who ever thought that could have happened, befriending so many pigeons? Who ever thought that there would be an end to all of this? Maybe I am being over dramatic? Maybe some of them will return? Or, eventually, as the weather turns to spring, the hawks move along to nesting territories away from here, new pigeons will discover our yard, and maybe see me as their friend? Time will tell. In the past, there has been some dry spells but things feel different this time. I've always said that I'd rather them be elsewhere, hopefully safer, than here and becoming prey. I still mean that but man I do miss them. It's only a few minutes out of my day, but it's been every day, well almost, for over 10 years. Surely you can understand my sadness here.</p><p>If anyone would like to get the scoop on the whole pigeon thing, I ask that you check out the blog link I am adding. I did it for Bird Canada a few years ago. It is called <a href="https://birdcanada.com/t-o-backyard-pierre-and-the-flock/" target="_blank">Pierre and the Flock</a> </p><p>Happier blogs coming soon. I promise. I will get myself out of this.</p><p>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p><b>As for those who have asked me about how to follow my blog since Blogger took away the notification thing, at least that is what it seems to me with what happened. I don't know what to tell you. Angie, not my wife Angie, but the other Angie who commented in the last blog about this and what Blogger told you to do. I will look into this on my end; but believe me when I say that I am not much of a "tech geek" so having me figure it out may not be an option. HAHA! I will try though. Thank you for your kind words and wanting to follow me on these "adventures"!</b></p>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-35015318165421399842024-01-05T10:36:00.000-05:002024-01-05T10:36:04.699-05:00Happy New Year!<p>Happy New Year to anyone who may be out there. I hope you had a wonderful holiday season however you chose to spend it.</p><p>For us, we went for a walk at last night on new year's eve to a nearby green space. We know where some long-eared owls have been roosting and I suggested that we visit the area just before dark in hopes to see the owls fly out from the large conifer that they hide in. It's something to see any owl flying about at their own will, a natural thing, and not being flushed by a human encroaching on their space and scaring them to fly away.</p><p>It was a dark and cloudy day, and by the time we arrived at the location, the snow had started to fall. Nothing major but enough to make things darker, and wet. We saw a pair of coyotes under the grove of trees which was nice. They were big healthy animals who took notice to us, watching us from a distance for a moment before moving along. One animal went east and the other went west. I managed to get one relatively clear photo before they left.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfK0EXDxNwsJyLvtiZoB5RrQ7V9Od967Y5M_YuPwaomT6_cdIVu76JVWoSrhvYv428xdOX90x8fvV_-80Ca504YCgJV7RzmGwkePOOv3wYIlLE2I9E1J6pYAMgbghGNaslsDYXx4Wt_fLGhb3p2GpAZpQQZKOf713wX3lajpnPciXqK_q6vYPpo7-X0hAm/s5184/coyote-cent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfK0EXDxNwsJyLvtiZoB5RrQ7V9Od967Y5M_YuPwaomT6_cdIVu76JVWoSrhvYv428xdOX90x8fvV_-80Ca504YCgJV7RzmGwkePOOv3wYIlLE2I9E1J6pYAMgbghGNaslsDYXx4Wt_fLGhb3p2GpAZpQQZKOf713wX3lajpnPciXqK_q6vYPpo7-X0hAm/s320/coyote-cent.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Then moments later out came one of the long-eared owls. It landed on a branch just above where that coyote just was. I like this capture of the owl's silhouette.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggAH3nIQQbWYhpQ8DfCxIhJJeoq_yhM7JRsMj5cw3LikGqBAvzpw-S3_gZzRAkCiRmeKYlVaFEHyJJfy1OQQNdAHPu53N16IbiXQbZtQPBGmDIZb-PmryocQudnBubCWl9tBb3hcBF0odJxoujszdr51DZ7CE4do4uBwxXflt0h8jPL_q1hbC_1FNyckc/s5184/leow-silhouetter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggAH3nIQQbWYhpQ8DfCxIhJJeoq_yhM7JRsMj5cw3LikGqBAvzpw-S3_gZzRAkCiRmeKYlVaFEHyJJfy1OQQNdAHPu53N16IbiXQbZtQPBGmDIZb-PmryocQudnBubCWl9tBb3hcBF0odJxoujszdr51DZ7CE4do4uBwxXflt0h8jPL_q1hbC_1FNyckc/s320/leow-silhouetter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The owl flew around a bit, landing back at that branch. I wandered around the grove of trees. I spotted it again in the now almost total darkness. I forgot to bring my glasses so I couldn't see my camera screen well enough to adjust my manual settings. I fumbled with the buttons, remembering what does what, adjusting things and then pointed the camera at the owl, hoping to get something. This is what I got. I think I will share it to that Facebook group "Crap Wildlife Photography". HAHA!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1S_UaQCxqlllFwmacaEbva4wvqQ6UE-X9TtBieqDFjNq2dR9Dd2zVYghU5Ke5Nze3cxZX5g5xRgpY8oTHahhQR2wd20SQ1qXZ8nyteIi_LGDlxqPN0V39ld8qh0IY8rQVhK4n2WLzLg7DocUC4BLEA8dUStx5PZwwd8qlLYp5kM-a060NqDqj6yZa3Fe/s5184/_MG_5127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1S_UaQCxqlllFwmacaEbva4wvqQ6UE-X9TtBieqDFjNq2dR9Dd2zVYghU5Ke5Nze3cxZX5g5xRgpY8oTHahhQR2wd20SQ1qXZ8nyteIi_LGDlxqPN0V39ld8qh0IY8rQVhK4n2WLzLg7DocUC4BLEA8dUStx5PZwwd8qlLYp5kM-a060NqDqj6yZa3Fe/s320/_MG_5127.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>I made my way back around to where Angie was standing and just watching the trees for any movement. Soon another owl flew out, and then another, and then another, and then another. In the end, we were quite certain that we saw 8 long-eared owls fly out from these trees. All soared across the field to another cluster of trees to the west. It was neat to see despite not being that long lasting. I guess that was for the better since the snow was getting heavier, it was new year's eve and we had other plans at home for the evening. A nice nature outing to end 2023.</p><p>Now with the precipitation, I had hoped it would bring Little Al the eastern screech owl to our box in the backyard for the next day, New Year's Day. It would be unique to say that the first bird of 2024 was an owl as most years it was a cardinal (nothing against cardinals, I love them too). I told Angie that no matter how late we stayed up that I wanted to be out of bed by 7 AM so I could watch the "owl box". We were in bed around 12:40 AM and next thing I know is Angie is poking me in the side and informing me that it was 7:18. I was disappointed that it was 18 minutes later than the time I wanted to be up. Why? In past views of Little Al in the morning, he's in the box by 7:10-ish. I debated for a moment as I lay in bed. The thought of getting a little more sleep was very appealing. In the end, I got up at 7:21. </p><p>I found my clothes on the floor in the dark bedroom and walked out to the kitchen. I opened the shutters and struggled to see the face of the box from the window as it was still quite dark outside. I could make out that there was an owl at the entry hole. Yay, Little Al was the first bird for 2024! Now that I'm awake, I decided to step out to the deck for a better look and take a picture of the first bird. A couple photos, then I put my bins on him for a nice memorable view of him with my own eyes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2rKaaLFYkCEOFPAhVVwvIvuryV2Z8LFTmk5X0qe9pveFjOHGWxOFWxMDn43jTcXB7Iwt_7AStqDRfFSerFHHkg1Ft4oPGPiuuXgimB9SGmdqQ9cmYCtxv4M_nQJxBJ__awFHw21aTAhjiNXJmGxAg6BOuYYYX9Xy1F1ZAswfhy4oEY7CHiUtNK5SezrI/s4148/owl-one.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2rKaaLFYkCEOFPAhVVwvIvuryV2Z8LFTmk5X0qe9pveFjOHGWxOFWxMDn43jTcXB7Iwt_7AStqDRfFSerFHHkg1Ft4oPGPiuuXgimB9SGmdqQ9cmYCtxv4M_nQJxBJ__awFHw21aTAhjiNXJmGxAg6BOuYYYX9Xy1F1ZAswfhy4oEY7CHiUtNK5SezrI/s320/owl-one.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I'm content and about to go back inside when suddenly I see from the corner of my eye an owl flying to the tree along the fence line! It landed on a broken branch stump. OMG, there are two screech owls in the yard!!!!! I point my camera at this bird and take a few photos. Thankfully it sat still for 15 seconds before it flew to the box.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-V1uO6dtLjLDM1x9brtz6go9YgvRCD8JIuI2tMaYzb9itgo2MyYRUVCa9zCrQVtXxN_8NeJM3T8Dc_P10OkjchTSENsF4ObAOir1zvGvHRgRIRmG9SIAciv80XiYRPYhir8FNWqsCyZc_vnDYp5rQIMPHDvjkD7K16-06vVDPDMXgUBcI2jaGkN-Tm_aT/s5184/owl-two.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-V1uO6dtLjLDM1x9brtz6go9YgvRCD8JIuI2tMaYzb9itgo2MyYRUVCa9zCrQVtXxN_8NeJM3T8Dc_P10OkjchTSENsF4ObAOir1zvGvHRgRIRmG9SIAciv80XiYRPYhir8FNWqsCyZc_vnDYp5rQIMPHDvjkD7K16-06vVDPDMXgUBcI2jaGkN-Tm_aT/s320/owl-two.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I like this photo even if it is grainy since the natural lighting in the early morning was lacking. I put it on my AI app and made it a little better, at least I think so.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KyTC7ISA7wsee81ovUGUSGeuwoET3GeRUD3K45qa8NC4AhzNgYmr-3ItbREKlqHJsfI1PLRb9x6qRlOH8sTSp1NbHXdtGAUzsju5ziWthKHPXy_9T6cC1LtUiccTvPNYs2mvBRMiuJX7KNbc9ELt6B8dFOkqQd6AH67Bvl2229HCz4UzF_fkt1QCOTCl/s1822/AI-owl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1822" data-original-width="1045" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KyTC7ISA7wsee81ovUGUSGeuwoET3GeRUD3K45qa8NC4AhzNgYmr-3ItbREKlqHJsfI1PLRb9x6qRlOH8sTSp1NbHXdtGAUzsju5ziWthKHPXy_9T6cC1LtUiccTvPNYs2mvBRMiuJX7KNbc9ELt6B8dFOkqQd6AH67Bvl2229HCz4UzF_fkt1QCOTCl/s320/AI-owl.jpg" width="184" /></a></div><p>I went back inside, going to the bedroom to inform Angie that there were two screech owls in the yard. She told me that was her thought just as she had gone back to sleep, there will be two owls today. She decided to get up, figuring she wouldn't get back to sleep again now, and headed to the kitchen for a look out the window. One of the owls had its head sticking out the hole so her first bird of 2024 also was a screech owl.</p><p>I have to admit that in the last few weeks I suspected that there may have been two owls. I had no proof though. Why did I think this? Behaviour. Little Al is a very chill bird. I can be outside and he pays almost no attention to me. I don't abuse this privilege but if we do encounter each other out there, he ignores me for the most part, and just zones. Then a couple times I have found that the owl at the box has been glaring at me. One morning it spooked and flew out of the box, going to some cedars a few yards over. Then as I went back inside, the owl returned to the box. Little Al has never done that. Now with two birds, both looking the same, I am extra cautious and treat both as the skittish new bird.</p><p>The evening of new year's day had us watching the box, to see if we could see both owls leave. We saw an owl head. Then it went back in the box. Then an owl head again. Another retreat inside. Then a head again. It was 5:18 PM, totally dark out, but we saw an owl leave the box. Seconds later it was followed by the second owl. Awesome!</p><p>Interesting is with the second owl, now they're both being quite elusive. We've been monitoring the box the best we can from the kitchen. Me in the morning and Angie at dusk because of our different work hours. We aren't heavily monitoring but are making some effort to look out for them a little more. No owls have been seen but that doesn't mean they aren't in there. As I key this, I can see the kitchen window from the living room and the box as well. Blue jays have attacked the box a few times so that's a pretty good sign someone, or both, are in there today. My thoughts have been swimming with if they chose to nest here this coming spring. Oh man! The excitement. The stress and worry over baby owls. It will be something.</p><p>Here's a newly fledged screech owl that I saw a few Mays ago. Adorable, eh.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyQRQxGlbj88OozOxoinz6BgvJFu3L2KgY6afV1jDXTX0WnEXqpFIvTBq_7r7oX5q8EoLK7ZV8aq8j6DMrw7oiikuu5lB3wNkPvTuoAOe8k3LgjsabiBM0TVevX9rDRZHDS5pZSDt47uduxtXJk-0ItUI3om-mVBcaQP2kcxOUaA-z-LaR4MW4QPqcnY-/s4752/imatreebetter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="4752" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyQRQxGlbj88OozOxoinz6BgvJFu3L2KgY6afV1jDXTX0WnEXqpFIvTBq_7r7oX5q8EoLK7ZV8aq8j6DMrw7oiikuu5lB3wNkPvTuoAOe8k3LgjsabiBM0TVevX9rDRZHDS5pZSDt47uduxtXJk-0ItUI3om-mVBcaQP2kcxOUaA-z-LaR4MW4QPqcnY-/s320/imatreebetter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />So, again, happy new year to you. How did you spend it? I look forward to reading about it in the comments. Cheers!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-88623997858264835022023-11-06T09:31:00.002-05:002023-11-06T09:31:47.752-05:00Coyote Encounter<p>Last week Angie and I were on vacation. I put my camera to use despite my 500 mm lens isn't always working properly as the image stabilizer konks out periodically making for some crappy photos. The lens is almost 12 years old now and probably needs to be retired. I've got some saving to do before I can get a replacement. Poor man problems, you know...</p><p>Anyway, we saw "nature" a fair amount last week while off and it has made for some good short blogs like the one I am about to key in here if I can stop rambling.</p><p>We went for a walk in an area down the Humber River from us one morning. There was quite a few dog walkers around which didn't make great for seeing birds and wildlife, especially when the dogs are off leash. A couple of woman with 2 off leash dogs came up from behind us on a path, we let them pass and get well ahead of us so we could hopefully stay on a peaceful path.</p><p>At some point we ended up catching up with them and they were back tracking. The one woman said to watch out as there was a coyote up around the bend, not moving and just watching them. They were backing away but this obviously got our curiosity. We don't see coyotes very often and here we are in the woods with a lot of colorful leaves on the ground. Maybe I could get a nice photo for our next year's calendar that we make for us, as well as family and friends. We get around the bend and the coyote is no where to be seen. We continue along this lovely forested path and hear angry blue jays and crying squirrels. The coyote probably came through here.</p><p>We got out of the wooded area and into a small field of tall grass. There was a man going through the field with his dog off leash. Then for a split second I saw the coyote come up from a spot near them and then quickly moved along and away from this human and dog duo. It disappeared as fast as it appeared. Angie and I stayed on the paths and headed out to the driveway before going to check out another area for wild ones. The coyote came out on the driveway just ahead of me, had a quick look in both directions, before continuing forward to the next field.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnOnNB052F7bP20TTjk4IJx7narzPVxa7ofX-UbQlUpBdxX6HBo-URInGJNa0G_vCE7UFLYZ0V6eoA-U1YKUvs92lgbMe6xc9mnNEz_QCDvItt_NPjbbiFDzFL9Nk3Zd8Enfatw1ZWqFt0M-flRn5svvHiClLLi-P5pQShjejig9gZX3qgxQnsQQKatur/s4148/coyote-oldmill1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnOnNB052F7bP20TTjk4IJx7narzPVxa7ofX-UbQlUpBdxX6HBo-URInGJNa0G_vCE7UFLYZ0V6eoA-U1YKUvs92lgbMe6xc9mnNEz_QCDvItt_NPjbbiFDzFL9Nk3Zd8Enfatw1ZWqFt0M-flRn5svvHiClLLi-P5pQShjejig9gZX3qgxQnsQQKatur/s320/coyote-oldmill1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />We didn't see the animal again and hoped it had found a good place to rest for the remainder of the day and not be disturbed by people and or dogs.<p></p><p>I don't think the woman in the background of the photo had any idea about the coyote racing by behind her. It wanted nothing to do with her little dog either. Thankfully she kept it on leash while visiting the park, unlike so many others.</p><p>Too often when I hear people in the parks telling others about the sighting of a coyote, it's seldom in a positive way. Like one of my friends said, it is like it is the big bad wolf. This coyote really wanted nothing to do with any body, human or dog, and was just trying to stay out of sight and rest. I'd hate to think what would have happened if someone's dog got in the coyote's face, in an aggressive manner, what could have come from that, and in the end it would be the coyote who got the blame for everything.</p><p>I always say that we live in our houses but the outdoors belongs to them. We need to understand, accept and respect that.</p><p><br /></p>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-36176866679752867942023-10-26T11:07:00.015-04:002023-10-26T12:16:40.211-04:00Happy Day!<p>I had a bad sleep last night with a few wake ups throughout the night not of my own doing. I found myself getting up around 6:40 AM which is much too early for a guy who only went to bed around 12:30 AM. I put the coffee on and inhaled it rather quickly. It was so early and now with the java in my system, going back to bed for some more sleep wasn't going to happen. I decided to grab my jacket and jeans and go for a walk in a park nearby since owls are on the move now and I'd like to see my first saw-whet or long-eared owl of the season. Just before I was about to leave, I heard a lot of ruckus coming from the backyard. House sparrows were screaming and the blue jays were going absolutely ballistic. I knew without a doubt that there was a predator in the yard; but what? Or should I say "hooooooooo?"</p><p>It took little time looking before I spotted a blue jay almost face to face with an eastern screech owl in the tree near our back gate. Immediately I asked in my head, "is that Little Al"?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwo1u8IW_1z68Lwe1KbboWlweXtdYumsrZXknHhncCnD-T8WdAbCm81XY3t6-cF3HDhkLFedpJ2Fd7aOdVHt6YxK90aZ60aNg1OgsJRCgMeNHE26ZvH3JAPR80WLDsMkH1qoREpB7bhMmK8Amovn5EPDdK3Y3JvxuFyU9GkdTusfk6VoaoBaOd1FihkeN9/s4148/al-2023-oct.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwo1u8IW_1z68Lwe1KbboWlweXtdYumsrZXknHhncCnD-T8WdAbCm81XY3t6-cF3HDhkLFedpJ2Fd7aOdVHt6YxK90aZ60aNg1OgsJRCgMeNHE26ZvH3JAPR80WLDsMkH1qoREpB7bhMmK8Amovn5EPDdK3Y3JvxuFyU9GkdTusfk6VoaoBaOd1FihkeN9/s320/al-2023-oct.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>A few blue jays strafed the owl as it sat in this tree. Occasionally the owl hissed at the attackers. As you can see, I went back for my camera and took some photos on this dark drizzly morning. I also tried for a video which isn't easy using a 500 mm lens and no tripod (too early, too lazy are my excuses for not having it out there).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/flVyePl0xps" width="320" youtube-src-id="flVyePl0xps"></iframe></div><p>This all lasted for a number of minutes before the owl took flight and went straight into the box. Seconds later it popped its head out and just stayed there at the edge, looking out and about the yard. It was Little Al, that I am certain of.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxc2P3kKn8CBDsMx7GwSs3B5b4gupIs3H4asDuYih_C2IAZv4WK4GhKPMG63mYUwVVxWWL8m4WN4FXu3clQLhi5ZPjt0h7rtP1s3PyTwTG6nOWjEB2kIFsEKdX96Qir05sd30QMukqRDcKcA4Zx4uqleatjDB2OagEHCIZbCFE_DJscmWj2OnsAeKUH89q/s4148/al-oct-2023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxc2P3kKn8CBDsMx7GwSs3B5b4gupIs3H4asDuYih_C2IAZv4WK4GhKPMG63mYUwVVxWWL8m4WN4FXu3clQLhi5ZPjt0h7rtP1s3PyTwTG6nOWjEB2kIFsEKdX96Qir05sd30QMukqRDcKcA4Zx4uqleatjDB2OagEHCIZbCFE_DJscmWj2OnsAeKUH89q/s320/al-oct-2023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>He stayed like this for at least 30 minutes and eventually the other birds backed off, leaving him be, and then Little Al started to relax. I took the pictures from the deck as I didn't want to add to his stress. I know he knew I was there but I think he also knows that I really don't pose a threat, especially from this distance. If you have read my past posts about Little Al, I can go about the yard when he is out there and he doesn't flush from the box or even retreat inside. He barely looks at me. Heck, last winter Angie made a snow angel not far from the tree while he sat up there, looking down at her. I should add that video to YouTube for better sharing. It was something to see. How many can say that they made a snow angel in the presence of an owl? Anyway...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIl4iQ23nWU52zFjVGFEiTe7uhsZOY7SszbxLbV3_h305ZggP_bf3kULbMkO9Y4QFBDqBOM9lw7U9XkCfsEEG-WwEPyfQTWaY1_BqBC6XiElsvlZNVTibPax5XO7Ntsg_LLIn3Sd0ezR4LAr-8DOPo_c7baw6FJcVHoN3Ef-1F2ynKm6F9gDCo4mJ5Q4Ca/s4148/al-2023-0ct1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIl4iQ23nWU52zFjVGFEiTe7uhsZOY7SszbxLbV3_h305ZggP_bf3kULbMkO9Y4QFBDqBOM9lw7U9XkCfsEEG-WwEPyfQTWaY1_BqBC6XiElsvlZNVTibPax5XO7Ntsg_LLIn3Sd0ezR4LAr-8DOPo_c7baw6FJcVHoN3Ef-1F2ynKm6F9gDCo4mJ5Q4Ca/s320/al-2023-0ct1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Soon after he disappeared inside. This is the view now from our kitchen window. No owl to be seen and no birds screaming at the box. One would never guess that there's one in there.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMf9_usDr92w-xl6bSkve_MecxQQwZbf7G_kWqBxEsZs4rgQfBpiRIkhzmCw_7PS-2U-lS6gzrHv4nvrgLVldjheWTKEuenhNVRMAfC9Y7auUF9Pd6ZV5kwv_zGBuywddXMhUXXBN8IBgyZxPQnyrKuepLguLzJXT94hGK-7g6wi8ZQaBSljUzg6eMEv3/s5184/IMG_3850.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMf9_usDr92w-xl6bSkve_MecxQQwZbf7G_kWqBxEsZs4rgQfBpiRIkhzmCw_7PS-2U-lS6gzrHv4nvrgLVldjheWTKEuenhNVRMAfC9Y7auUF9Pd6ZV5kwv_zGBuywddXMhUXXBN8IBgyZxPQnyrKuepLguLzJXT94hGK-7g6wi8ZQaBSljUzg6eMEv3/s320/IMG_3850.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Here's to the start of a third year with him visiting during the fall and winter season! </p><p>I should add that he shows up sometime in the fall and hangs out here throughout the winter and into March or April. He's not here everyday, and last year it seemed to be only on the coldest or crappiest of days. We could have him for two weeks solid and then he's gone for a week or so. Then he's back. He sure keeps us guessing. We were already talking about him a few weeks ago, hoping to see him again this season and he's granted that wish to us.</p><p>I know Angie cannot wait to get home from work and hopefully see him later in the day.</p>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-23767907261525875442023-10-24T08:48:00.000-04:002023-10-26T11:08:13.891-04:00Groundhog Hill<p>A while ago I discovered an online comic panel called Groundhog Hill on Instagram. I was searching for raccoon comics, or anything with opossums and skunks, since these are our three fairly regular nocturnal visitors that I admire.</p><p>I'm not sure which actual comic first caught my eye but from then I looked further into this and was delighted to find more containing these animals. They are great single panel comics with one sentence and often bring a smile to my face. Who wouldn't want that every now and then?</p><p>Here are a few samples from Groundhog Hill...</p><p>Look, all 3 of the mammal crew in one panel! LOVE!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7wVi3P1xMb-ZchgU9EHdjcKRnb6uZLLNRGAZnnfIU_sxQunz2j0m179oHmvUqrDSOEGFlIF8sIkWFzc5Mfw8j0pX5TtUABJLcKCT0rYH83s1OyAhuIS8YpUHl800il1s_MKBaMLfrsvbm1apOldILfjitHfaETjdfKovDJ_Sr29QNfFawu43c9n0RMOR/s720/groundhog-hill2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="720" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7wVi3P1xMb-ZchgU9EHdjcKRnb6uZLLNRGAZnnfIU_sxQunz2j0m179oHmvUqrDSOEGFlIF8sIkWFzc5Mfw8j0pX5TtUABJLcKCT0rYH83s1OyAhuIS8YpUHl800il1s_MKBaMLfrsvbm1apOldILfjitHfaETjdfKovDJ_Sr29QNfFawu43c9n0RMOR/s320/groundhog-hill2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>My heaven most certainly would have a cute little opossum hanging out with me.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mu8H0wMdWaryoU1kDqLfPz3dbjhT-Q6g2R95-8iPnUlRNIBAX_9u0Lr0UTrmd9gRe_e7Qp__ig7OMawasT4fTSUAU2q2EhfCLRZWZNnKgm2CNG0sA21VPoffiY5v2Zr8fGCFjGsezTHI6QODKq94Ai2Zlud_k6f9_SeA3ZAH4OUdTwGsn7AnXQ35oVnA/s695/groundhog-hill3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="695" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mu8H0wMdWaryoU1kDqLfPz3dbjhT-Q6g2R95-8iPnUlRNIBAX_9u0Lr0UTrmd9gRe_e7Qp__ig7OMawasT4fTSUAU2q2EhfCLRZWZNnKgm2CNG0sA21VPoffiY5v2Zr8fGCFjGsezTHI6QODKq94Ai2Zlud_k6f9_SeA3ZAH4OUdTwGsn7AnXQ35oVnA/s320/groundhog-hill3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Then there's this one. Unfortunately some don't see the humor in this as they despise raccoons so much. Sad.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAar2nqtMhhaJatTwowGDGYFmFxfS8LrCCrXQ_Za2c9hgQhOkthtSuKfP3sA3uJFx17z-8qxkgovD2e3_CRjb6oFW4uqhtnnFnvjsVrlQyOPuZSXjw5d7LvC4l0ji7ePIa9Re6-JMpFyRjMhC-ShyphenhyphenTww5xCg9nOId1LT4muEsTWyaTCh1zv5WayQdzYyyd/s720/groundhog-hill1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="720" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAar2nqtMhhaJatTwowGDGYFmFxfS8LrCCrXQ_Za2c9hgQhOkthtSuKfP3sA3uJFx17z-8qxkgovD2e3_CRjb6oFW4uqhtnnFnvjsVrlQyOPuZSXjw5d7LvC4l0ji7ePIa9Re6-JMpFyRjMhC-ShyphenhyphenTww5xCg9nOId1LT4muEsTWyaTCh1zv5WayQdzYyyd/s320/groundhog-hill1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>This one really tugged on my heart for a few reasons.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pg68JGqKRu626gLArT2yj_xCiNETfxMflZAuAR9UlUa_tS4F_-_bi3gbY6bzEWmVI3X-9i1i1xbZaaK0qzMsooO3ted2PM3_RTbXxQnM91u8q6YaB8sTMB0VQO1qtqmqr5sp-K4DMFiyPwrntuIOChtXMFcVPabtm1rdLQFz-K3i0DQBfPM0A39EEab8/s1083/groundhog-hill6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1063" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pg68JGqKRu626gLArT2yj_xCiNETfxMflZAuAR9UlUa_tS4F_-_bi3gbY6bzEWmVI3X-9i1i1xbZaaK0qzMsooO3ted2PM3_RTbXxQnM91u8q6YaB8sTMB0VQO1qtqmqr5sp-K4DMFiyPwrntuIOChtXMFcVPabtm1rdLQFz-K3i0DQBfPM0A39EEab8/s320/groundhog-hill6.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><p>I do my best to promote Groundhog Hill on Facebook as I have a comic album where I share such things every now and then.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFxc4AXfZXH8KT_OLeEFML-YA6-dEX7NbdffXsLR2hTT2-wef4I2Ckgl8WUnNmUG1k12A6V8ii3w9cE-xsXHoD2p8nJEhhRQykasOIW63mxMGBy7G4QNA_Jfwl4oqmYEE8CiQA8N0Zdg4-NVXN9ZoQl5Nq4SR47T762gkE1RpkSpsvw3RJwEHujl0kQ6M/s1258/groundhog-hill5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1258" data-original-width="1077" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFxc4AXfZXH8KT_OLeEFML-YA6-dEX7NbdffXsLR2hTT2-wef4I2Ckgl8WUnNmUG1k12A6V8ii3w9cE-xsXHoD2p8nJEhhRQykasOIW63mxMGBy7G4QNA_Jfwl4oqmYEE8CiQA8N0Zdg4-NVXN9ZoQl5Nq4SR47T762gkE1RpkSpsvw3RJwEHujl0kQ6M/s320/groundhog-hill5.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><p>Not all the comics are animal related.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVGhcw7djseaX1jyx6n58KPi_OqzXQvqga-bOHlEcdI67ha39PxahtiGqQ2vFlaDRe9GmC2XcyUBT1nujL7Xf1zUR1o2-KW892LsUBKbX0JXnbeOUvJVeOp1PrTwh4l4e9LpF9Eh6fK3FpeRBxW1FyENOffd_QbthUeLGUXlboOim2POcjuAA_U-uoXGD/s1318/gh.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1318" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVGhcw7djseaX1jyx6n58KPi_OqzXQvqga-bOHlEcdI67ha39PxahtiGqQ2vFlaDRe9GmC2XcyUBT1nujL7Xf1zUR1o2-KW892LsUBKbX0JXnbeOUvJVeOp1PrTwh4l4e9LpF9Eh6fK3FpeRBxW1FyENOffd_QbthUeLGUXlboOim2POcjuAA_U-uoXGD/s320/gh.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><p>Sometimes you have to look for the animal. Somehow I missed the raccoon the first time I saw the panel.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmoqZOJG3I6zXvmyXw9KgQoVSiYRXRf_c81oVJRR5QhxEgljHq7y6gZxYytCTR7MlAUYtrgkE4IFzPH3YjvvrxPODZGsylHAblk6W9jn-Grwr0UpCP0KhmXb3DvzVR9KBz4kCipW7CkCb6AIFFgtlkCOPnYcOGqc0z4sH2Higd1R-uvsjlhR2OXhSuaZA/s1266/gh2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1266" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmoqZOJG3I6zXvmyXw9KgQoVSiYRXRf_c81oVJRR5QhxEgljHq7y6gZxYytCTR7MlAUYtrgkE4IFzPH3YjvvrxPODZGsylHAblk6W9jn-Grwr0UpCP0KhmXb3DvzVR9KBz4kCipW7CkCb6AIFFgtlkCOPnYcOGqc0z4sH2Higd1R-uvsjlhR2OXhSuaZA/s320/gh2.jpg" width="273" /></a></div><p>And sometimes the animals aren't wildlife. Fur family members make for great topics. Our cats do this once the chill sets in the air. We recently turned on the furnace and both Merry and Molly found vents to lay themselves on. HAHA! My mom's cat often laid out like the one shown here.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtXdbOXM1-nzcL6YAn701AzKqFURuHFnmh6wUi7ybJoadc5isdMoFxiXfXOOwgSfr8r9M5L5GZo2KLN9KiNwSyYPkBrvqZsLiTy0Z2u4mZU3OK6cunkn1f7gli8WoPvwa6zYOHCH4xkGWbczU9-pKvzoJfMZWjstH0vjVpEPMjMVLq5rT0_BsJMxaopfN/s1080/gh1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1080" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtXdbOXM1-nzcL6YAn701AzKqFURuHFnmh6wUi7ybJoadc5isdMoFxiXfXOOwgSfr8r9M5L5GZo2KLN9KiNwSyYPkBrvqZsLiTy0Z2u4mZU3OK6cunkn1f7gli8WoPvwa6zYOHCH4xkGWbczU9-pKvzoJfMZWjstH0vjVpEPMjMVLq5rT0_BsJMxaopfN/s320/gh1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">I highly recommend checking out </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/groundhog_hill/" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Groundhog Hill on Instagram</a><span style="text-align: left;">. They are on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groundhoghill" target="_blank">Facebook</a> as well. </span><span style="text-align: left;">As an added story, if you are still reading this...</span></div><div><br /></div><div>The artist of Groundhog Hill had an exhibit in Dundas, Ontario early in the fall. They live in the area and Groundhog Hill is actually a place nearby. It is part of their inspiration. Making a long story short, Angie and I talked about the exhibit and checking it out while we were on vacation during my "birthday week". Not that I celebrate my birthday all week but we normally take a week off around it as the weather is nice, finally breaking out of the hot humid summer.</div><div><br /></div><div>Leading up to our vacation, Angie contacted Rose (the artist) and they got talking about us coming to the show. Rose was delighted to hear this and made sure to be present on the day we were going. She wanted to meet us as much as we to her. She's been grateful of my support of her work. So when we did meet that afternoon, it was wonderful to be face to face, and not "chatting" through social media.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqT2TE24Za3OoER3p72wioJfYoT6VHWj2eyTUvt18JIzOVZ2kKmhtI6NvMQHyV2NDjgEvBVjNQbrrJ_TxpfZfR3FuRpVzpZG4sASo6iJ_XjeAyYUJUrtipwetKuDhyIQSPk53dcX8v0H0DPsydKJDNCC0CFKkJ-ZyF_86pFFPQ8J6LCT07YqJW6XZPPXy/s1600/gh0.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqT2TE24Za3OoER3p72wioJfYoT6VHWj2eyTUvt18JIzOVZ2kKmhtI6NvMQHyV2NDjgEvBVjNQbrrJ_TxpfZfR3FuRpVzpZG4sASo6iJ_XjeAyYUJUrtipwetKuDhyIQSPk53dcX8v0H0DPsydKJDNCC0CFKkJ-ZyF_86pFFPQ8J6LCT07YqJW6XZPPXy/s320/gh0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Here we are, and me holding Rose's book that she gave to me as a token of appreciation/birthday gift. Yay! I can "visit" Groundhog Hill through the pages whenever I want instead of looking at my phone. </div><div><br /></div><div>Rose had an amazing run with her exhibit and it was almost a complete sell out. We picked up this original, that apparently came to be through some inspiration because of my pigeon posts. It says "I could do that!". Hilarious!!!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWCG180gXo2GmmuXJA2VFY2AfF_8sqYX4BKMhFYt19R-f82E5vEtwb4RDJjGCD9Gva4aQM9IwG2WLMYplXZniSpp1DOwkMwqxYJ5Z-cnWsvLGxg6J716uupxja_i0Ow4aI-lQubHrW2kR2k46F3NSikfVHwFOay9ipP-A8crdSJFR3bC2gewWlE6RwsqG/s2048/gh-pigeons.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWCG180gXo2GmmuXJA2VFY2AfF_8sqYX4BKMhFYt19R-f82E5vEtwb4RDJjGCD9Gva4aQM9IwG2WLMYplXZniSpp1DOwkMwqxYJ5Z-cnWsvLGxg6J716uupxja_i0Ow4aI-lQubHrW2kR2k46F3NSikfVHwFOay9ipP-A8crdSJFR3bC2gewWlE6RwsqG/s320/gh-pigeons.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Angie was wondering if Rose did commissions. A quick browse of her website and we learned that she does. Angie had an idea for one and funny as so did I. Mine was a bench with a raccoon, skunk and an opossum sitting on it. There was a sign nearby that said "Mueller Sanctuary". I haven't come up with any one liners and maybe I don't need to. Angie thought that was a cute idea but liked her's better which is a back view of me and some of our backyard critters. You know, a pigeon in my hand, a raccoon near my feet and a few other species scattered about. It would say "Rob and the Animals" at the bottom. Wow! I really like that idea. </div><div><br /></div><div>Skipping ahead... the commission is complete. Angie has seen pics of it and teased me over the Thanksgiving weekend by flashing her phone screen past me rather quickly. I could see well enough that it was the commission but couldn't take in any of what actually was there. OH MAN!!! We are planning to meet Rose at the end of the month when we are on vacation again. So as I key this, we are still a few weeks away from the moment where I get to see it with my own eyes and not just this visual that I have drawn up in my head. I'm sure I will love it </div><div><br /></div><div>Skipping ahead a little more... okay, here we are after the meeting which actually happened a week before vacation due to busy schedules, the commission is at home with us and I LOVE IT!!!!! What do you think? Raccoon, skunk, opossum family which I dream of seeing instead individuals (although we did have a mom here the summer of 2022 and the cam caught her with one baby), pigeon in my hand, squirrel in the tree and there's a little owl further up. Then there's me with my TWC volunteer hoodie and my backyard crocs. Perfect!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4rrg0O9e6lG0qtKUGz280pG9f80gd3g2bCCP4y45JLf8AuMvl751RlAI9gPk0pdaSOr-EadPdZAZv5jZw1v9eftYj6ht4g0UotmfF8AjAFM1eYLwu6BgYcXYaw43fzK13EjaRoAjrAO_ZAQ3ezOSM6-_7KLhQeGKi_BY2HDnK90PzknoSj6yJsFu7U3g/s948/robandtheanimals-groundhoghill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="948" data-original-width="742" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4rrg0O9e6lG0qtKUGz280pG9f80gd3g2bCCP4y45JLf8AuMvl751RlAI9gPk0pdaSOr-EadPdZAZv5jZw1v9eftYj6ht4g0UotmfF8AjAFM1eYLwu6BgYcXYaw43fzK13EjaRoAjrAO_ZAQ3ezOSM6-_7KLhQeGKi_BY2HDnK90PzknoSj6yJsFu7U3g/s320/robandtheanimals-groundhoghill.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br /><div>The world can be pretty dark and grim at times; escaping to Groundhog Hill sure is nice when possible. I think we are going to visit the real place one of these days.</div><div><p><br /></p></div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-57886771738585955402023-10-16T11:07:00.000-04:002023-10-16T11:07:03.464-04:00Invasion<p>As we move through autumn and enjoy what fall migration can bring to our yard, something that is standing out this year is the invasion of common grackles. We do experience this every year but only a day here, another day there; not like this year where it has been over a week of daily visitors by the hundreds. Hundreds? Yes, easily 200 plus I have counted every morning.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh543Pmzl8ZpDHJUSc36eOtOKOkNiS7yBqybugC5nEHgtT0t-RjwDITjJo4yEEx2mFnssF4PvE2NKHmC37hbQTy0iAZQgOTQO5Le2_b6sjiiONjxAmBgVnlQNKjUwA9LTjmM4Zck6zzWp1MWpg0jvYCGWhAZVi7zX-u_jGnm6GxHAzOLgDMFtT594rYW-Q-/s5184/com-grack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh543Pmzl8ZpDHJUSc36eOtOKOkNiS7yBqybugC5nEHgtT0t-RjwDITjJo4yEEx2mFnssF4PvE2NKHmC37hbQTy0iAZQgOTQO5Le2_b6sjiiONjxAmBgVnlQNKjUwA9LTjmM4Zck6zzWp1MWpg0jvYCGWhAZVi7zX-u_jGnm6GxHAzOLgDMFtT594rYW-Q-/s320/com-grack.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>It's been loud, crazy and fun. The only thing is how quickly they decimate my peanut feeders and the food isn't cheap. What hasn't gone up by ridiculous amounts, eh?</p><p>We don't keep many feeders out these days. I can think back to some years ago where there was at least 7 different feeders scattered throughout our yard. Right now, there's a peanut ring for whole peanuts, a small metal feeder for shelled peanuts, a small feeder for black oil sunflower and there's a pure suet cake hanging in our lilac for the woodpeckers.</p><p>With the mass amounts of grackles, I'm only putting out a couple handfuls of peanuts. I know they're loading up for their trip south soon, and I don't mind helping to some degree. There's three other nearby backyards with bird feeders so this also helps them out, and I don't feel so bad about my decision to cut back on the food.</p><p>Here's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DolcKLFEDnM" target="_blank">a video</a> from this morning after they all arrived. I'm trying something new below so you don't need to click on that link. Hopefully this worked. I'm not tech savvy.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DolcKLFEDnM" width="320" youtube-src-id="DolcKLFEDnM"></iframe></div><p></p><p>Yesterday afternoon the grackles showed up again after I put some peanuts out for the blue jays. I noticed one unique looking grackle in the flock.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxzI6TUlkLAEfiXSr-uYWHqSiAOtfP0ykQVC_CGImhM8GDEKZorKLEsjUgejOvoHw-fvdgZ4NLENqfZgmddQ3qTDdXKRkG4YWqv2VebgW-NQuVAMH7EEoaV93vlESV-TqT5Ml83VfSK2NbFKwIXFbFnmr8Q-6_f1Sp-zmWMM7fGs81vlpwT72ew8OHAxW/s4148/funky-grackle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxzI6TUlkLAEfiXSr-uYWHqSiAOtfP0ykQVC_CGImhM8GDEKZorKLEsjUgejOvoHw-fvdgZ4NLENqfZgmddQ3qTDdXKRkG4YWqv2VebgW-NQuVAMH7EEoaV93vlESV-TqT5Ml83VfSK2NbFKwIXFbFnmr8Q-6_f1Sp-zmWMM7fGs81vlpwT72ew8OHAxW/s320/funky-grackle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>It was hard to stay on this bird since there was so many grackles out there and they all flushed in a flash fairly regularly for whatever reason. It would be many minutes before they all started coming back one by one and eventually this bird would appear. I've been keeping watch this morning for him to reappear but so far he hasn't. He's cool and funky looking! I thought about that quote... </p><p><b>"They laugh at me because I look different. I laugh at them because they all look the same."</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMiNRWb_g2wlN8s0T28cu6_aQ_3Ny0ndcQaceOySQtIkL8zQiQkVDvsNapH4HXHKcFqjxUGq8N18zHiLB34l2nHMaxxihw9O9ynVzG7JK6SMkeUabz44LS-fibpfYvyh4Ll9SbtbtgRKbuuv-aR6ufDg9KIrZC8JnmbVKAB02U_DW2T71qsOqlHbM2CYT/s4148/funky-bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMiNRWb_g2wlN8s0T28cu6_aQ_3Ny0ndcQaceOySQtIkL8zQiQkVDvsNapH4HXHKcFqjxUGq8N18zHiLB34l2nHMaxxihw9O9ynVzG7JK6SMkeUabz44LS-fibpfYvyh4Ll9SbtbtgRKbuuv-aR6ufDg9KIrZC8JnmbVKAB02U_DW2T71qsOqlHbM2CYT/s320/funky-bird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />His appearance made me enjoy the invasion a little more.<p></p><p>I know with the mass numbers of these birds here, that they've pushed other species away. I've seen white-throated sparrows who normally stick around in the fall for a few days if not months but all have left soon after being seen. Dark-eyed juncos are usually here in small numbers by now and staying. Again, just one offs for a very brief bit and then gone. Both ruby-crowned and golden-crowned kinglets made shorter than usual appearances. I was happy when a white-breasted nuthatch showed up the other morning but he too didn't stick around once these guys showed up.</p><p>I don't hate these birds by any means but after over a week of steady appearances in such numbers, I won't be sad to see them move along on their journey south soon. Unless I win the lottery this week. HAHA!</p>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-73845341648018276862023-10-06T09:22:00.000-04:002023-10-06T09:22:28.644-04:00Missing GulliverI haven't seen my pigeon friend Gulliver since the Labor Day long weekend. I miss her. I have made a lot of pigeon friends in the last 11 years but some really touch me more than others, where we have a unique bond, and our encounters aren't all about just me being the guy with the food in his hand. Gulliver was one of them.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeE0T4fzwQRgJkaW_wts6raXRl5qOCd284TXgIb1WIXimJ2fCSRmcn3O-R5lF6IkN4AFMcxS2vY01kjwyydsU8qhPwnKoEg6b-LhCqFFgBIPEd0rkxcj83auE6UmqSctBhGbY6w5efzcVvoLfQWcgIJDpFwmYPzK9eci-sskW4c2coT0-ZIZxFZdrfRAj/s2048/gulliver2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1790" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeE0T4fzwQRgJkaW_wts6raXRl5qOCd284TXgIb1WIXimJ2fCSRmcn3O-R5lF6IkN4AFMcxS2vY01kjwyydsU8qhPwnKoEg6b-LhCqFFgBIPEd0rkxcj83auE6UmqSctBhGbY6w5efzcVvoLfQWcgIJDpFwmYPzK9eci-sskW4c2coT0-ZIZxFZdrfRAj/s320/gulliver2.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><br /><div>She tolerated me and all my selfies over the last 2 years.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLqsnzWIDOW3B_23oyAu6FhtT3gocMJ-Ym-c4OJE2yaWJTuw5kczRu-NjcsEHHTRFuGbanVmo5pr2jC9A6VlPyBYXVQB7Pg7UZeG9aZidsrob5kUSo0MFqRbeRj16W21gyOsx30R5rx5s5DpKkI3gd5GIa36duXouSk0h76yWAgCe9l9t65VO6nJtZfxv/s1965/gulliver-2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1965" data-original-width="1474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLqsnzWIDOW3B_23oyAu6FhtT3gocMJ-Ym-c4OJE2yaWJTuw5kczRu-NjcsEHHTRFuGbanVmo5pr2jC9A6VlPyBYXVQB7Pg7UZeG9aZidsrob5kUSo0MFqRbeRj16W21gyOsx30R5rx5s5DpKkI3gd5GIa36duXouSk0h76yWAgCe9l9t65VO6nJtZfxv/s320/gulliver-2023.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>All I ever had to do with her most days is hold out my hand and she would come right to me.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtuLdeXfVUN2n360hWJ3cj0wWVngEdUnEfsLPcgO2iAnohWvabKUGgr73x5Ld53xxYYkguDsAvcOXYvnP7IVT2otaBtQ9zbidW99seNOf8YIExvTM_y4mxJMeMr7wQoZmgEkPL5f4MdiUL7FQDeGCmac-4Ib_YbdemRzxY388bxHkeqb5hsQNK2CZgpo3/s2048/gulliver1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1550" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtuLdeXfVUN2n360hWJ3cj0wWVngEdUnEfsLPcgO2iAnohWvabKUGgr73x5Ld53xxYYkguDsAvcOXYvnP7IVT2otaBtQ9zbidW99seNOf8YIExvTM_y4mxJMeMr7wQoZmgEkPL5f4MdiUL7FQDeGCmac-4Ib_YbdemRzxY388bxHkeqb5hsQNK2CZgpo3/s320/gulliver1.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The last number of months I always looked out for her. More so than usual. I didn't really think as to why but I am now aware that she effected me emotionally. They all do, but she did more so. Seeing her and having those moments every day made me a little happier. I didn't realize that until her disappearance. If that makes sense. And add that every time she showed up in the yard on a weekend and I wasn't near the window to spot her, Angie would let me know that Gulliver was outside. Quite often my breakfast or dinner got a little cold as I went out to see her before I ate.</div><div><br /></div><div>The first days of her disappearance, I held out hope every morning that she would return. After 10 days or so, I silently mourned the loss of my friend. She's still in my thoughts quite often while I am outside.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have reminded myself how Pierre disappeared for 60+ days a few times during the winter months. Charlie goes away for even longer spells, up to 5 months. She's been away all summer but has recently started showing up again. Maybe this is Gulliver's turn to pull a disappearing act? It just wouldn't be like her to do so after over two years of visiting; but then again it wasn't the other birds thing to do until they did it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have learned to take in the good moments with our wild friends because you never really know when may be the last time that you see them. So many pigeons before her have left one day and didn't return.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thinking back to the last day with Gulliver, the air show at the CNE was ramping up for the long weekend. The Blue Angels were flying very low over our neighbourhood every afternoon. They were so loud too! Their fly overs would spook the birds. I took this photo from the park right by our home. I had full zoom on the 500 mm lens but the image is not cropped.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpn8F4nKJyEEGOZqMn_8FtO8xVL22RnfkyJL-d-8pe6jABD162GAzbydGc5tXM2m5Xmmi0O-bVrNqcvZEzTHBiPb8EtANILV6d8-JBI6FELBPbY8r53PTiPGM1feTpSxtjDfcecTACOY74PR2uPJhK7Nz2m3iRS_oF24zzsCrMI5knEDd5geZG0YpHhyr/s4148/air-show.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpn8F4nKJyEEGOZqMn_8FtO8xVL22RnfkyJL-d-8pe6jABD162GAzbydGc5tXM2m5Xmmi0O-bVrNqcvZEzTHBiPb8EtANILV6d8-JBI6FELBPbY8r53PTiPGM1feTpSxtjDfcecTACOY74PR2uPJhK7Nz2m3iRS_oF24zzsCrMI5knEDd5geZG0YpHhyr/s320/air-show.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>On top of the loud scary jets, there was one or two cooper's hawks in the neighbourhood because it is their migration time, and they were chasing all the birds here. I found a few piles of pigeon feathers in the yard. Thankfully none matched Gulliver's. Of course I feel sorry for the ones that ended up becoming lunch to a hawk but I also accept that this is their wild way of life.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigT5m0xMgBzQQb8Oy4PxftNj03QsMEivUlisz_DgnFQWNMhqcs3J8W7Mue92UaE5WN1YvBSTedb0j12G1OOLSibYVO4EkJwb5CyNQcSi58eosFeHUrYRe5eLv3cHAmYFjAwDm7jViLmt5sSFa6AP0beXmmNKzA7WveUafPrdXVzcBLw-m02YYvfD6Mc4zz/s3042/coohak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2028" data-original-width="3042" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigT5m0xMgBzQQb8Oy4PxftNj03QsMEivUlisz_DgnFQWNMhqcs3J8W7Mue92UaE5WN1YvBSTedb0j12G1OOLSibYVO4EkJwb5CyNQcSi58eosFeHUrYRe5eLv3cHAmYFjAwDm7jViLmt5sSFa6AP0beXmmNKzA7WveUafPrdXVzcBLw-m02YYvfD6Mc4zz/s320/coohak.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Do I think that a hawk got her? I'd like to think that was not the case. Gulliver's mate is missing as well along with some of the others in that flock. A couple of the others that we have named, are also missing now. After that "scary" long weekend for them, a bird we call Gandalf went from daily appearances to one or two visits a week and is now MIA for a few weeks. Another named Buzz, similar to Gandalf.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyone remember the pair that I called the Jerseys? Them, along with Mrs Pierre, and a bunch of others all flew away one fall day and never came back. I believe that they had enough of the cooper's hawk attacks and went to a safer feeding place. The last week they were here, they were on edge, and their visits were no more than 2 or 3 minutes before being spooked away. Pigeons are much smarter than what many people believe.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxa_5eRHVEz0XnkAPuQlnHox3mm9uH40TfZdmiK3og0ers0t5wjGvTucb2CEm9MQF55wrC1aJ-19FO6pYnCMGoMsa4QOxTfwUKZ9qRF0uHgZ54lrX6T8GkcdC2Q_K0VlTp3ss8J4AXQEyo7TgV2TjhGeoXb2hwJAhZ1yqYbwQWzz-3WX_4mFtfCr5yxtRI/s960/menjerseysbtr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxa_5eRHVEz0XnkAPuQlnHox3mm9uH40TfZdmiK3og0ers0t5wjGvTucb2CEm9MQF55wrC1aJ-19FO6pYnCMGoMsa4QOxTfwUKZ9qRF0uHgZ54lrX6T8GkcdC2Q_K0VlTp3ss8J4AXQEyo7TgV2TjhGeoXb2hwJAhZ1yqYbwQWzz-3WX_4mFtfCr5yxtRI/s320/menjerseysbtr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Fingers crossed that she surprises me one day with her return. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a handful of pictures of her if you care to see a little more of her and our times together.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fun at Halloween. I know I have some Santa hat Christmas shots somewhere that I could also share.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdWTwM1b_8RoqLiw9kn7uVJDc-GPsAbg11kBHKB-3l1zOnR8dlCe36dL1KRDQRg58k73yYvVfljwwTFTZ-ip4VEg7bb36J98t8XEYSLykzavWWxLPvpBDnyhDhrLsyweFPN1DD_PLViqJ4WticcMlEYECsWDt-m_lC0snCFrD53fbjvSmOG9ZRPOS_XZ1/s2048/gulliver-sweet8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdWTwM1b_8RoqLiw9kn7uVJDc-GPsAbg11kBHKB-3l1zOnR8dlCe36dL1KRDQRg58k73yYvVfljwwTFTZ-ip4VEg7bb36J98t8XEYSLykzavWWxLPvpBDnyhDhrLsyweFPN1DD_PLViqJ4WticcMlEYECsWDt-m_lC0snCFrD53fbjvSmOG9ZRPOS_XZ1/s320/gulliver-sweet8.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>Playing in the fall colours.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwhuzKRtiAlXaNhbrAguPmyThwUhaE_gdt1oSBu4i80unFizQnR68ZeWpOhfPqTa-jORR5o22VrQe1XJdJ5vNNT0u6FNDMEZLc3QlpHU9gxANUUGfJuQFQrweL7Ioe4xwRz79FaBSzokAK1syRBTHNVfK2_tU-al-9nqOEGa-I8yjOcHyoXJXR4Q7ZCVu/s2048/gulliver-sweet6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1883" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwhuzKRtiAlXaNhbrAguPmyThwUhaE_gdt1oSBu4i80unFizQnR68ZeWpOhfPqTa-jORR5o22VrQe1XJdJ5vNNT0u6FNDMEZLc3QlpHU9gxANUUGfJuQFQrweL7Ioe4xwRz79FaBSzokAK1syRBTHNVfK2_tU-al-9nqOEGa-I8yjOcHyoXJXR4Q7ZCVu/s320/gulliver-sweet6.jpg" width="294" /></a></div><br /><div>Enjoying one of the first really nice days of spring.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMLQnuK44AuJazaX5M4K5RHUM4kUfmkftyvWZcI5_6Be5FxIkhbVE8heI1W1JQ1iHW7I9nWsKY6JqCEEDdv_xa9FEv2igT3ZdcseR_lEXW27x5RNpwcRDR_qTXiUva8YgeIHJKRsmUxgzYankxu3F9zLwD_BXkDR6IvfFHB-wCj719au7Uj4xnybru9KF/s2048/gulliver-sweet1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1532" data-original-width="2048" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMLQnuK44AuJazaX5M4K5RHUM4kUfmkftyvWZcI5_6Be5FxIkhbVE8heI1W1JQ1iHW7I9nWsKY6JqCEEDdv_xa9FEv2igT3ZdcseR_lEXW27x5RNpwcRDR_qTXiUva8YgeIHJKRsmUxgzYankxu3F9zLwD_BXkDR6IvfFHB-wCj719au7Uj4xnybru9KF/s320/gulliver-sweet1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Cold winter days with some snow made for fun photo opps.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjzuHx9QoDUlfgUx7eyid4LZYPpZcN2BzFun0J-B-KiSaqhr6KyC1j1KSS9qEQJms9o8X5rk6VKvBhAe9atjKVLs9MTvtcTEU1DyR_p-KWFRpetOQFa2-3muEFFKGYUdB-Wqv-bigeeZoNLbG-8VHPEbyWiCb8kp2HZ1ZEn6K9UQ87ibHKHUtFnRRr2Ij/s2048/gulliver-sweet4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1327" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjzuHx9QoDUlfgUx7eyid4LZYPpZcN2BzFun0J-B-KiSaqhr6KyC1j1KSS9qEQJms9o8X5rk6VKvBhAe9atjKVLs9MTvtcTEU1DyR_p-KWFRpetOQFa2-3muEFFKGYUdB-Wqv-bigeeZoNLbG-8VHPEbyWiCb8kp2HZ1ZEn6K9UQ87ibHKHUtFnRRr2Ij/s320/gulliver-sweet4.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br /><div>I swear she got jealous when I wasn't "focusing" on her. HA HA!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvoEiMbq1Q0N70PYJgfJFea5ABcdih5hwgwTazUINLNMMPpGpc-yje_QfUWdHHwcj6GEcl6k62fDO96STeg-j4Ff8vp_qKv3vPvrzeHacb2k5SxIbrk3KXBKr7tP5Il4yF32Zl76ZMtsQQHZ-YPLzVCo8Couh7Y00CqXs7WjWi9eiofHvIyo3BWIHN-nD/s2048/gulliver-sweet5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvoEiMbq1Q0N70PYJgfJFea5ABcdih5hwgwTazUINLNMMPpGpc-yje_QfUWdHHwcj6GEcl6k62fDO96STeg-j4Ff8vp_qKv3vPvrzeHacb2k5SxIbrk3KXBKr7tP5Il4yF32Zl76ZMtsQQHZ-YPLzVCo8Couh7Y00CqXs7WjWi9eiofHvIyo3BWIHN-nD/s320/gulliver-sweet5.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>She really is a beautiful bird to behold and obviously stood out from the flock.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TckNsB3hrkDChBBJVwUzlE96AfhwP9RnfaQoH97yO-z-UozcTWdV1rAcp50TKI6i-5wJNeUcxemnjLoopramErsA2M7nxc32RFkIuBYHVmbNX7j0yVqQjhEl_nGwVoOPMQ8-ZNU8y48ioLj8bzBFYvaMxud00Y-P1KYNJCmR9M4PN4ddtC2VzAgcfJ3u/s1276/gulliver-sweet3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1276" data-original-width="957" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TckNsB3hrkDChBBJVwUzlE96AfhwP9RnfaQoH97yO-z-UozcTWdV1rAcp50TKI6i-5wJNeUcxemnjLoopramErsA2M7nxc32RFkIuBYHVmbNX7j0yVqQjhEl_nGwVoOPMQ8-ZNU8y48ioLj8bzBFYvaMxud00Y-P1KYNJCmR9M4PN4ddtC2VzAgcfJ3u/s320/gulliver-sweet3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8mXNnysA_v0k9ibbB7W18v_83RppiMRuAS5iBa9KShp0vbHoh2RT8fpCfbTvhgYoDa3R04Ijz3NwKY2p-WTxzSqsLZlXwF9UC9aT-9ZqEf6kLJPIP4QZ9-HzxjcReiGoi4T4x9YjQZjMVvo50pE2Pc9W5XwQDa6XAYlkIF6BgnRnAGoyxorIgiHKySms/s2048/gulliver-sweet7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8mXNnysA_v0k9ibbB7W18v_83RppiMRuAS5iBa9KShp0vbHoh2RT8fpCfbTvhgYoDa3R04Ijz3NwKY2p-WTxzSqsLZlXwF9UC9aT-9ZqEf6kLJPIP4QZ9-HzxjcReiGoi4T4x9YjQZjMVvo50pE2Pc9W5XwQDa6XAYlkIF6BgnRnAGoyxorIgiHKySms/s320/gulliver-sweet7.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULOKnNO3pSbC9JUstMtfQwDTvLFrXdNdictOoYLlSsE-ZZOiq5oqG1gsAzmpt3iPVqc5dmD8S1bOQwJwjhCv5zT-rXqrJplX29Z-1kDdX8X9qZ27VYlgIywFQePuytqW4gxOtmFWGVEeClfIoibcLvjy0NvgpD7wQzAJThe4wHs5mDgHU_8GzjUojXImf/s2048/gulliver-sweet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1616" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULOKnNO3pSbC9JUstMtfQwDTvLFrXdNdictOoYLlSsE-ZZOiq5oqG1gsAzmpt3iPVqc5dmD8S1bOQwJwjhCv5zT-rXqrJplX29Z-1kDdX8X9qZ27VYlgIywFQePuytqW4gxOtmFWGVEeClfIoibcLvjy0NvgpD7wQzAJThe4wHs5mDgHU_8GzjUojXImf/s320/gulliver-sweet.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><br /><div>Our message to the pigeon haters of the world...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHmGC9sVy4khA27HpBHhoC95BF4yUYFZp5SiPPlgiKBmr2mv589PVvs2fLbu5-rO4OYeLpVB0OyzgxkX_ox3uA4VuxzBisi7RqpXXtjLp4RHT0zmeYnx5haVAYI5sblOGkQN1gCeXiDn6vxAchvinOKrLU2E2Fryp0gCHzC4dPzFPTaECkzb9SmLmA6GF/s960/gulliver-sweet2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHmGC9sVy4khA27HpBHhoC95BF4yUYFZp5SiPPlgiKBmr2mv589PVvs2fLbu5-rO4OYeLpVB0OyzgxkX_ox3uA4VuxzBisi7RqpXXtjLp4RHT0zmeYnx5haVAYI5sblOGkQN1gCeXiDn6vxAchvinOKrLU2E2Fryp0gCHzC4dPzFPTaECkzb9SmLmA6GF/s320/gulliver-sweet2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Have you ever befriended one of your backyard visitors? Please share in the comments if yes. I'd love to read about them.<br /><div><br /></div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-76622395835198188492023-09-05T09:37:00.003-04:002023-09-05T09:44:56.527-04:00My 750th Bird Release<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1r6_ez8Ib94cKkeE-C5QZc_4kqsiRFxP51fTPhejq7pJXvBIWjBkdZmIGIButCEUZXM6RN6N9_Fpj5I9YO_tC5-MpfaZ2BIs7LEPHf1aJtUCSSDxOZZuxz17ADjm74qBIdU97ISKiBHt0iRm0-anAVM1J9ryz3md_GrgHXCQ27B5bDAGJe9S_czGMsLU/s1266/750th-bird.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="1266" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1r6_ez8Ib94cKkeE-C5QZc_4kqsiRFxP51fTPhejq7pJXvBIWjBkdZmIGIButCEUZXM6RN6N9_Fpj5I9YO_tC5-MpfaZ2BIs7LEPHf1aJtUCSSDxOZZuxz17ADjm74qBIdU97ISKiBHt0iRm0-anAVM1J9ryz3md_GrgHXCQ27B5bDAGJe9S_czGMsLU/s320/750th-bird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Friday September 01, 2023 was a very special day for me as I released my 750th bird for the Toronto Wildlife Centre. The majority of these birds were FLAP rescues during spring and fall migration while others came from "unique situtations" like cat attacks, string-toed pigeons, oil spills and the list goes on.</p><p>I'm glad that I decided to keep track of all my drives in and out of TWC ever since I officially became a volunteer driver back in 2014. Occasionally I will skim through the pages after entering something because some of the short notes take me back to one of these drives. A stand out moment with a bird and sometimes a stand out moment with a person who found the animal.</p><p>I had booked the day off to go see W.A.S.P. with Angie along with some of my long time pals from high school days. The lead singer Blackie Lawless has been struggling with some back issues and tried to finish this 40th anniversary tour but the pain and discomfort finally got the best of him. He hopes to get back on the road sometime in 2024. With this cancellation, I had the day to myself. Angie and my concert buds were all working. I decided to let some people at the wildlife centre know that I was available to help them with anything if need be. They thanked me and said that they would get back to me by the end of Thursday if they knew of anything by then. Great plan as if there's nothing, it gave me time to think of something else to do with my Friday off. Then as you can guess, come later Thursday they asked if I could drive a couple birds down to the lake west of Toronto for release. You know what my answer was.</p><p>I was pretty excited about this upcoming release opportunity as I knew one of these little birds was going to be my 750th release. I asked what the species were, which normally I don't because it doesn't matter what they are, I will drive them (no picking and choosing, all birds matter); but I wanted to know for this milestone. It is still summer and there's lots of leaves on the trees. More often than not, during this time of year, the birds fly out of the paper bag and quickly disappear into the trees. It's all over in a flash and I don't see much of them, let alone identify them especially fall warblers which are already a challenge as some really change their plumage between breeding season (spring) and autumn. Then if it is a female or juvenile, that can make it even more difficult. I was told there was a bay-breasted warbler and a Nashville warbler. Here are the two species as immature or possibly females, there would be slight differences if they were males but nothing significant like if it was a cardinal and a blue jay. I borrowed these images from the All About Birds website. Bay-breasted is the top bird and Nashville is the bottom. Looking at the images, you can see some differences; but if you have a split second while the tiny bird is in flight before it disappears into the foliage, you probably wouldn't pick up wing bars on the bay-breasted as one example.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHwOBKaM3149DlPqmwGzCTRd464JHC-3z6vcF5_XvHA4D8Xn84Q1UylGG6Wfm5rVKkOlp90VIGUwv58De4Blnun2UESi-EexHIqxemeKwdfT3e5KekDf-Pa3U7gYXSEjUg9ml2Q_2sIHuRb3fysNiu7B8tr1JQGL1tFn0gZ6s5BcoKqbUHBQyXQOspfwm/s3000/Collage%20Maker-05-Sep-2023-08-11-AM-9760.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHwOBKaM3149DlPqmwGzCTRd464JHC-3z6vcF5_XvHA4D8Xn84Q1UylGG6Wfm5rVKkOlp90VIGUwv58De4Blnun2UESi-EexHIqxemeKwdfT3e5KekDf-Pa3U7gYXSEjUg9ml2Q_2sIHuRb3fysNiu7B8tr1JQGL1tFn0gZ6s5BcoKqbUHBQyXQOspfwm/s320/Collage%20Maker-05-Sep-2023-08-11-AM-9760.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I was doing this release solo (Angie joins me when possible) and wanted to somehow document it. I always hope for a photo to share but with the challenges I expected, what else could I do? Video? Yes. But how? I had lots of time to think about this before the release moment. </p><p>When the time came, I set up my phone close to where I was releasing the birds, propping it up against something and I hit record. Here is the release and you can see how quickly it happens, how tiny that bird is, and that it disappears in the trees in mere seconds. Knowing the bird was either of the two mentioned species made it much easier to look for the field marks in those seconds especially if I did lose it in the trees afterwards.</p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/1kkRghTwCmE?si=i2V3yZIMuFY_0ZJ4">https://youtu.be/1kkRghTwCmE?si=i2V3yZIMuFY_0ZJ4</a><br /></p><p>Luck was on my side and I was able to get two record shots of the bird as well.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiQVpWw-JXj3N377JW_k2HPsjmgADsWGlpaCwSqkJB5zTouIqYfwvmMazwzm3hA7ztTJe8NY8a9WLON9HWl7oa53fvrYI-btgo9mM9Jf7vQdAdpWxCCZgobnjIlNukoa2XhR2KiFdCE2NYl0GC2sfdzYFRExatThRNUYSsS2crhJoBQA7pxTfw32LcfOj/s3318/750-twc.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2212" data-original-width="3318" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiQVpWw-JXj3N377JW_k2HPsjmgADsWGlpaCwSqkJB5zTouIqYfwvmMazwzm3hA7ztTJe8NY8a9WLON9HWl7oa53fvrYI-btgo9mM9Jf7vQdAdpWxCCZgobnjIlNukoa2XhR2KiFdCE2NYl0GC2sfdzYFRExatThRNUYSsS2crhJoBQA7pxTfw32LcfOj/s320/750-twc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwwW4_8aQp7G9uIDLzQm7i2NnFoeEdZXZS1cpii_c3LlGoUoIGokVTpESThZCy-5a2ihTyFv6iX_YZ2S5lOoMxtCRmGYPye2761dU5ZZw_03K3ux2tdiOoKOKJEUyKerJV9t4yJrARFHtjormu-Bd1hc58q2yLm8wAm0n2loPgAAl_lCQ9L91B9x6D3Yq/s3318/750-twcflap1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2212" data-original-width="3318" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwwW4_8aQp7G9uIDLzQm7i2NnFoeEdZXZS1cpii_c3LlGoUoIGokVTpESThZCy-5a2ihTyFv6iX_YZ2S5lOoMxtCRmGYPye2761dU5ZZw_03K3ux2tdiOoKOKJEUyKerJV9t4yJrARFHtjormu-Bd1hc58q2yLm8wAm0n2loPgAAl_lCQ9L91B9x6D3Yq/s320/750-twcflap1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The Nashville flew higher up in the same tree and I did not see it again.</p><p>It's funny thinking about the time building up to the release moment. Then the actual release and how quickly that ended. After the fact, I hung on to this throughout the weekend, having my own little toasts here and there. Maybe some think this is silly but man that's a lot of birds! I'm never bragging. This is something I help with in my spare time, often before work. The majority of the fall releases happen in the same area. It is a 12 km drive from home to the centre, and usually takes me 30 minutes to get there because of city traffic. Thirty minutes is good time nowadays. Then from the centre to the release area is 29 km. Again, another 30 minutes (it's mostly highway). So I've got at least one hour of driving and just over 40 km of distance to release a bird, sometimes, two, maybe four or five the odd day. Who knows until the day of pick up. The actual time spent releasing can be mere seconds to maybe five minutes. The birds don't go to our backyard or one of my favourite local birding spots like someone once suggested. Weird how some people think and the drama they try to create. </p><p>I've been asked how many animals have I brought in to the centre, followed by how many got back out to the wild again. I know the intake is near 100 but I have no idea how many got back out. It's a very busy place with thousands of animals coming in over the year and difficult to follow up on them individually. I do try at times with some of the more unique situations, especially if they've come from our neighbourhood. The people at the centre do their best for all of the creatures.</p><p>I tried to make a bird list of what I have driven. Here it is although I may be missing a couple still. The animal list is easier to keep track of and I can run it without much thought... squirrel, skunk, raccoon, opossum and a couple bats.</p><p>White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, House Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Indigo Bunting</p><div><br />Downy Woodpecker<div>Yellow-bellied Sapsucker<br />Northern Flicker<br /><br />Cedar Waxwing<br /><br />Brown Creeper<br /><br />Barn Swallow</div><div>Cliff Swallow<br /><br />Least Flycatcher<div>Yellow-bellied Flycatcher<br /><br />Yellow Warbler<br />Ovenbird<br />Blackburnian<br />Common Yellowthroat<br />Black-throated Green<br />Black-throated Blue<br />Tennesse<br />Orange-crowned<br />Northern Parula<br />Blackpoll<br />Nashville<br />Wilson's<br />Black & White<br />Bay-breasted<br />Mourning<br />Magnolia<br />Pine<br />Canada<br />Redstart<br />Northern Waterthrush<br />Chestnut-sided</div><div>Yellow-rumped Warbler<br /><div><br />Gray Catbird<br /><br />Red-eyed Vireo<br />Blue-headed Vireo<br /><br />Ruby-throated Hummingbird<br /><br />Golden-crowned Kinglet<br />Ruby-crowned Kinglet<br /><br />Red-breasted Nuthatch<br />White-breasted Nuthatch<br /><br />Red-tailed Hawk<br />Cooper's Hawk<br /><br />Peregrine Falcon<br /><br />Great Horned Owl<br />Eastern Screech Owl<br /><br />Mallard Duck<br />Wood Duck</div><div>Long-tailed Duck<br /><br />Ring-billed Gull<br /><br />Canada Goose<br /><br />Hermit Thrush<br />Wood Thrush<br />Gray-cheeked Thrush<br />Swainson's<br />Veery<br /><br />Robin<br /><br />Brown Headed Cowbird<br /><br />Woodcock<br /><br />Common Nighthawk<br /><br />Goldfinch<br />House Finch<br /><br />Black-capped Chickadee<br /><br />Northern Cardinal<br />Rose-breasted Grosbeak<br />Brown Thrasher<br />Scarlet Tanager<br /><br />Rock Pigeon<br />Mourning Dove<br /><br />European Starling<br /><br />Black-billed Cuckoo<br />Yellow-billed Cuckoo<br /><br />Yellow Rail<br />Virginia Rail</div><div>Sora</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>There are roughly 300 bird species that nest in Ontario. Just over 80 species here is a good chunk of them; and I am not aiming to get through them all. It's just been fun to keep track of the species as I go along. Odd to think that I have only released one white-crowned sparrow yet I have released at least five scarlet tanagers. I see dozens of these sparrows throughout a calendar year whereas I am lucky if I see more than one or two tanagers. That's just my Virgo brain overthinking things. HA!</div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, time to start my day. The extra long "long weekend" is over.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for stopping in and giving this a read.</div><div><br /></div><div>Have a great week!</div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-19946138034070747032023-08-29T12:34:00.000-04:002023-08-29T12:34:18.093-04:00Peregrine Post 2023<p>Like past years, I once again volunteered at the peregrine falcon fledge watch just down the road from us in Etobicoke at the Islington and Bloor nest site. If memory serves me correct, I've been helping out since 2011.</p><p>It was an interesting year as we had a new set of parents. I'm not sure if I mentioned about D'Arcy earlier in the year or not; but she was found on the ground a few kms away from the site and died on route to the wildlife centre. Then the male, Lucky, was pushed out by a younger male named Romeo who was born just up in Rexdale at William Osler hospital, or Etobicoke General as I still refer to it as. Oh, also, in between these two events, a new female arrived on scene. She is not banded so we don't know where she came from and obviously she was never given a name. One of the guys down at the site who has been amazing with getting photographs of the birds and helping us track them named her Ann (after his wife).</p><p>Romeo and Ann had a late start to the whole nesting thing and fledge watch started about a month later than usual. They had 3 young. Andre, Casey and Angel. Two boys and one girl.</p><p>Andre was first to fly and did amazing from day one off the ledge. He has stayed high off the streets, not needing any help from us at all. Casey was next and he too was much like his brother, not needing any assistance. Then there was Angel, which is what this blog is about. </p><p>Angel's first flight was great. She made it over to the next office tower rooftop. Angie was with me at the watch this particular morning and we both saw her go. What an exciting moment, especially seeing her have a successful first flight. When you see birds take their first flights and bounce off windows, come to ground soon after, or worse, take that first flight and hit a window hard, and die on impact; that sticks with you forever after, with every other bird and their first flight from the ledge. It's not something you get over, and for Angie, she hasn't helped at the watch in 10 years, ever since she saw a bird named Regatta slam into the reflective glass, and she had to retrieve the body from an upper mezzanine. Heart breaking stuff!</p><p>The afternoon and evening watchers said Angel didn't fly too much until later in the day. It was near close time (dark) when she did take a flight and they lost sight of her. They said it looked like she lost some altitude and they could not relocate her. With that last report, I made the effort to get down to the site even earlier than usual because past experiences have had me find these missing birds in peculiar places the next morning. The fledge watch makes for a long day because of my work hours. Being on site by 6 AM for 4 hours, and then at work from 2 to 10 PM, I don't make it to bed until at least midnight. But since it's only for a few days, I deal with the lack of sleep, because it is worth it to me to try and help monitor these young birds. Anyway, back to the story...</p><p>I get down to the site around 5:45 AM. I spot two juveniles on the rooftops almost immediately. I cannot tell who they are from ground level, so it's all about doing a head check. I need to find the third bird. I start my spot check route that I have in my head, looking in all the tight spots, crevices, etc where I have found young peregrines past years. I am not spotting a bird along the stretch of Bloor St. Then, as I near the corner at Islington, I see a young peregrine sitting on a bench out front of the Sobey's. I can see the tape color on the leg and can confirm it is Angel.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLB-_NO8wphvvFZveJhudSZyzJAJkr92fefZ95lT36ABjG837wbzVrfRUcHm1IjcuYmqzQcBn-7rb-YfjMzqdkWFFMtth6KIX-qb2JzBESiO17h094_bZk_p5ak3v_T6YVnLBPvvrAsAZTLhLETisy3GaH4wEfUu7WrgnKkITBormzU0x1UCQck85KT--3/s2048/angel1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1832" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLB-_NO8wphvvFZveJhudSZyzJAJkr92fefZ95lT36ABjG837wbzVrfRUcHm1IjcuYmqzQcBn-7rb-YfjMzqdkWFFMtth6KIX-qb2JzBESiO17h094_bZk_p5ak3v_T6YVnLBPvvrAsAZTLhLETisy3GaH4wEfUu7WrgnKkITBormzU0x1UCQck85KT--3/s320/angel1.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><p>There was a woman sitting on the steps further over. She sees me looking at the bird and says "I'm terrified of birds so I let it keep the bench". Thank goodness for that because if she shoo'd Angel away from here, who knows where she could have run off to. She's right at the corner of a busy intersection, you can see the stop light in the reflection behind her.</p><p>As I approach Angel, she's getting into defensive mode. Is it going to be fight or flight with her? As I near her with my towel in hand, she decides it is better to try and get away from me. First she tries to get around me but then quickly backs off, then trying to run away. There is this glass partition behind her so her escape route is blocked. She tries to jump over it and that is futile. I have her wrapped up in my towel without too much of a struggle. Wings pressed to the body and her head is covered, so she pretty much submits. I'm relieved with this fairly easy "rescue" but my adrenaline is still pumping. I don't know how these things are going to play out. I try to handle them as quickly as possible. In the moment though, it is still a rush.</p><p>I was told that there were 2 animal carriers at the security desk. My carrier was misplaced last year, as in someone borrowed it from the site and never returned it. I usually have a smaller carrier with me, which is fine for the male falcons who are smaller, but not always so for the larger females... only this time it was with a neighbour who had borrowed it to help a little kitten the day before. I'm jumping around a bit here, sorry. You'll understand why in a moment. As I get to security, I see no carriers. It turned out that someone had moved them elsewhere and no one knew where. Argh! So no carriers with security and no carrier in my car. What do I do with this falcon under my arm at 6:15 in the morning? There's no businesses open where I could hopefully get a cardboard box big enough to contain Angel. My brain says "go home, you have carriers at home!" </p><p>I'm making that long walk, like 3 blocks to my car. Angel is fussing under my arm. This is going to be "fun". I get to the car, now to get my keys out of my pocket and still have a safe hold of this bird. Okay, done. Now to get in the car, start it, get my seat belt on and still have a safe hold of this bird. Not easy but done. Okay, now to drive home, still having the safe hold on this bird, and to also call Angie. I have hands free Bluetooth but it isn't voice activated. I somehow managed that and Angie answers the phone. I bet she wasn't expecting me to say "I need you to unlock the front door, then get one of the cat carriers and put it in the bathroom. I've got Angel with me." There wasn't much else said because we both know that talking adds to the bird's stress level. The drive from the nest site to the house is 5 minutes but it sure felt a lot longer. I get home, and in no time I am in the house, in the bathroom with the door closed and now containing Angel in a cat carrier. She was like the Tazmanian devil in a crate in those old Looney Tunes cartoons, thrashing around, until I got her back out in the car and stable. The carrier was toweled the whole time, but the movement was freaking her out. I got back to the nest site, parked illegally as close to the security desk as possible and got her into the storage room ASAP. Now we both can relax.</p><p>What a big day out for Angel, eh? Too bad that wasn't it for her...</p><p>She was later released (I was at work) and apparently after some time she took a flight which did not go so well, the watchers saw her lose altitude and then all sight of her. They searched high and low for her but she was no where to be found. Long story short, she came down right on Bloor St and sat there in the left turn lane to a nearby side street, amidst the afternoon rush hour traffic. A vehicle stopped in front of her, the driver honked the horn at her and she stayed put. The man got out of his vehicle and quickly scooped her up. He was not aware of the watch going on and took Angel up to the Toronto Wildlife Centre. Nobody knew anything of this until much later when I am at home and an acquaintance of mine from the centre contacts me and told me how she was observing Angel at the centre late that day. I was like "whaaaaaaaaaaaaat?" I was in disbelief until she confirmed Angel's band number. OMG!!! A whirl of emotions came over me but I had to remind myself that Angel was safe and she was in the next best place to be other than with her family high above the streets. Angel was looked over that evening, ensuring nothing was broken, fractured, bleeding, etc. She was hydrated, fed and had a rest for the night, or time out as I call it. She was reassessed again the next morning. I believe at some point x-rays were done, possibly the day before. Everything looked good and they okay'd her to go home. At this point in time, it is crucial to get these young birds back to their families ASAP, so they don't miss vital time, learning to fly, bonding with their siblings at this young stage, and any training from the parents.</p><p>I got the news that she was good to go home and also that I was asked if I would like to release her. Hells to yes on that! This would be my first peregrine falcon release at our nest site that I have been helping monitor for over ten years... and my first peregrine release ever. The release happened much later in the day. Another watcher met me there and basically showed me the way to the roof and I opened up the carrier, and out came Angel after a few moments. Doing the release at dark normally ensures the bird stays put for the night, gets its bearings and tries the whole flying thing again the next morning.</p><p>Everything has gone well for Angel since that release. She's stayed high above the streets. playing with her brothers and learning how to fend for herself from her parents. A friend of mine caught this image on the cam of all three young together again at the nest ledge where they were born. How awesome!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSYq0lT-oKKn7V87KzpbPQuTCVi9lUkqY9JULxY-nz-JPx3mOHnVG09eyZcyDEFRG_Ge-BfTE6ZZqI4zblJgM_6Gjum3BW7xitaUV2K1Bgg6hze5QNmiuHXs3g-RWlPb0lx32mI9hg5BHiKNGd9v7remVUk3VFV9sqW26QHhLOoigVulEZr26vaA_-d7w/s432/2023-falconkids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="432" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSYq0lT-oKKn7V87KzpbPQuTCVi9lUkqY9JULxY-nz-JPx3mOHnVG09eyZcyDEFRG_Ge-BfTE6ZZqI4zblJgM_6Gjum3BW7xitaUV2K1Bgg6hze5QNmiuHXs3g-RWlPb0lx32mI9hg5BHiKNGd9v7remVUk3VFV9sqW26QHhLOoigVulEZr26vaA_-d7w/s320/2023-falconkids.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Please wish Angel and her brothers well as they'll soon be leaving the site, if they haven't already, and going out on their own.</p><p>It is unfortunate that some people don't see the good in helping these birds during those first days of flight. I got bashed by someone saying I've interfered with the natural order of things and stole a meal away from a coyote or some other predator by helping Angel. It's one thing if you take a catch away from a predator like some people do, trying to save smaller birds and animals from the clutches of a coyote, fox, hawk, whatever; but picking one up off the street that fell from a nest or bounced off a glass window is entirely different. I try to respect the opinions of others but not when they come at me so harshly, finger pointing and saying "you did a bad thing!"</p><p>If anyone is wondering why I do these falcon watches, here is a blog I did for Bird Canada a few years ago that should explain things and has way more photos that this blog that I just did.</p><p>See you all again soon. Enjoy the last days of summer!</p>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-27819582019255017492023-07-15T22:03:00.002-04:002023-07-15T22:03:47.858-04:00Longer Than I Thought...<p>Hello. Is anyone still out there? Thanks to Eva for the "poke" of sorts in way of a comment on an older blog, checking in. Seeing when I last blogged, I have been gone long than I thought.</p><p>Life got pretty busy. We went through a kitchen reno that took almost a month; and we still don't have a kitchen table to finish the room off. I found myself being unwell a lot through the first half of the year as well. I got pretty sick over Christmas and it went on for over 3 weeks. Then in March I got sick again. Then in May. I thought I was finally better but then BOOM, sick again in June. Knocking on wood that things are better for me health wise. Plus, just not blogging for a while, I fell out of the want or need to blog. One other reason, my 500 mm lens is acting up. I had it in for the auto-focus and then not long after I got it back, the image stabilizer started acting up. It's temper mental and frustrates me. I've debated on sending it back in for service. Angie is pushing me to get a new lens. But, the thought of dropping over $3,000 for a new lens weirds me out. That's a lot of money!</p><p>Okay, enough rambling... let's catch up a little bit here.</p><p>I recall blogging about finding a dead screech owl on the main road by us. I was sad, thinking it may have been our backyard visitor Little Al as he went MIA. Did I ever blog that he came back sometime after me finding that dead one? He spent less time this past winter with us as it was fairly mild and we didn't get much precipitation. Little Al seems to visit us when it is bitter cold and especially if the weather is crappy. I was sooooooooooooooooooo happy to see him back at the box; and yes, I was still sad about finding that other one. Here's Little Al late this winter. The Master of Camouflage! He disappeared sometime in March and we hope returns again later in the fall.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltvh7YNHPOxyjWumN598IrFvTK_b9brrGslqemppbI1j_W5BfqQ4tWpjpmckgbRGZOCN2xioCx4kurUovUDIKYp4GYyv3iPbiCbcVEGSrm7K74f45X1pugu194oCoBEw5lg3HoBmJzQAqGVXhin_0a3UiY-Wxy2925AQSJ8FbTv-U7lqneTqI9BPZo9bn/s3318/after-snow1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2212" data-original-width="3318" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltvh7YNHPOxyjWumN598IrFvTK_b9brrGslqemppbI1j_W5BfqQ4tWpjpmckgbRGZOCN2xioCx4kurUovUDIKYp4GYyv3iPbiCbcVEGSrm7K74f45X1pugu194oCoBEw5lg3HoBmJzQAqGVXhin_0a3UiY-Wxy2925AQSJ8FbTv-U7lqneTqI9BPZo9bn/s320/after-snow1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>More recently, we just got back from a trip to see Angie's brother and family in Okotoks, Alberta. It was a mix of seeing family and taking in some of what Alberta has to offer in way of nature. Angie hired us a guide for one of the days, taking us out to various spots and trying to see birds that we do not get to see in Ontario. I ended up with over 15 life birds! I haven't stayed on top of my life list so while we were out there, I had a feeling I was nearing my 300th bird, but not sure how close I was to it. I ended up surpassing the 300 mark and figured things out after we got home and reviewed my list. It turns out my 300th bird was a Swainson's hawk. If only I knew it was my 300th when seeing it, I would have been more excited to see this bird species and I would have tried for a better photo than this one from down the road, shooting out of the car window.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TrjmgymymRrJoHrIMvFRIfHanDt1SuaHFbwJCJ_etQI0OB7E07sPKauxS44KKOaUSWx9fuLO3TJApWO4AQB4iUIkyibDaOkAqIu7ZRkvBn3MgusBCLoUWsJXSzMcUm11XHuqaan2B4MFPQTgngaMSBjK23l1lqWrTDIVBLpPELgM4A86wnziat4rBaeV/s3318/swain-hawk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2212" data-original-width="3318" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TrjmgymymRrJoHrIMvFRIfHanDt1SuaHFbwJCJ_etQI0OB7E07sPKauxS44KKOaUSWx9fuLO3TJApWO4AQB4iUIkyibDaOkAqIu7ZRkvBn3MgusBCLoUWsJXSzMcUm11XHuqaan2B4MFPQTgngaMSBjK23l1lqWrTDIVBLpPELgM4A86wnziat4rBaeV/s320/swain-hawk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>One of the bigger thrills for me on that trip was seeing male mountain bluebirds. I had seen a female here in Ontario a few years ago. It was a terribly cold and windy day when we went to see that bird; but seeing the stunning males on a pleasant summer morning sure was better.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5orAzrozvZ5M99fbnz3Mu6dbEmQKdFVr8X07lmT_7Dy-GDToRvZn8bMLqLq4Cq_sMFG4H4ViEmSCWP-P3c42pyz19OM-BOOQdIrJGHLgerVxCkg096THnl_X4E3EUerRsxWqImxR7xNWkI6DNbVxVl7HJTi6XrDwKzxOwcVuCryRNPILTxS5bREQ3pZD/s3318/mtn-blu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2212" data-original-width="3318" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5orAzrozvZ5M99fbnz3Mu6dbEmQKdFVr8X07lmT_7Dy-GDToRvZn8bMLqLq4Cq_sMFG4H4ViEmSCWP-P3c42pyz19OM-BOOQdIrJGHLgerVxCkg096THnl_X4E3EUerRsxWqImxR7xNWkI6DNbVxVl7HJTi6XrDwKzxOwcVuCryRNPILTxS5bREQ3pZD/s320/mtn-blu.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Another lifer was the American white pelican. I saw these birds as a teenager down in Clearwater Beach, Florida; but didn't add it to my list until I saw one as now being a "bird nerd". We saw about 16 at Frank Lake and another half dozen at a park called Douglasbank in Calgary.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfhcihM_KdYYyYuBM5KbecmFCsJ8aO1Wq35o4V0M9j-cAyJ7GBX4pH7q3AO2DqjSM5J53UDopHXXhJ6A3tXmSaWP7rimG-oS2_iiI-hWuop3xUOOQu2MLaylkJtnaAekOBmpPLVIbPRwdRLsSzmRxbJCNNwEM06nFBctqlB1qEAyBKoBdCp7MDdlUvSiK/s4148/am-pelican.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfhcihM_KdYYyYuBM5KbecmFCsJ8aO1Wq35o4V0M9j-cAyJ7GBX4pH7q3AO2DqjSM5J53UDopHXXhJ6A3tXmSaWP7rimG-oS2_iiI-hWuop3xUOOQu2MLaylkJtnaAekOBmpPLVIbPRwdRLsSzmRxbJCNNwEM06nFBctqlB1qEAyBKoBdCp7MDdlUvSiK/s320/am-pelican.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Golden eagle was another life bird. We saw adults flying and this juvenile still in the nest up and in a cliff. The views were okay but not great for photos.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGh99Afpwm_F_iRPZOPP836SDTSCu0cLkjln0j2f4tEwo1TgLEtX32PPBxE0HlE5JxjJUOLDeVz-7xXYFtBwasmXENyaR2seiWz8wyavzgU50Fxxe0f_krklP2DKKia4P_iurESDszT70RZcsXRX4-cy_aAQp1K99FFvByeKjxlsweqEz-DwTn8hWRPAII/s4148/geagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGh99Afpwm_F_iRPZOPP836SDTSCu0cLkjln0j2f4tEwo1TgLEtX32PPBxE0HlE5JxjJUOLDeVz-7xXYFtBwasmXENyaR2seiWz8wyavzgU50Fxxe0f_krklP2DKKia4P_iurESDszT70RZcsXRX4-cy_aAQp1K99FFvByeKjxlsweqEz-DwTn8hWRPAII/s320/geagle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A few hundred feet over there was a prairie falcon. The bird sat on top of the cliff and occasionally took flight, screeching as it circled above us.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLce7S1jspK6b7WQtUZvWekn0jI5PUDj8jiCGkLATBz38SEXOHILJK-xfeYZw1lZ__FLgJBEwht34Ntxes2yPFt4aHM--3GVBImoQhj4oTfBrzfhqRGIgbuC8gtilAGGf-OapJxVwG5-co6IjpU-jih2MqGyNvDPN7n-hzoA-nelS0jUrEhWG3kIZiV0v/s4148/prairiefalcon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLce7S1jspK6b7WQtUZvWekn0jI5PUDj8jiCGkLATBz38SEXOHILJK-xfeYZw1lZ__FLgJBEwht34Ntxes2yPFt4aHM--3GVBImoQhj4oTfBrzfhqRGIgbuC8gtilAGGf-OapJxVwG5-co6IjpU-jih2MqGyNvDPN7n-hzoA-nelS0jUrEhWG3kIZiV0v/s320/prairiefalcon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMdyo3gu6HTVzE2TAM2Nib9V376iATEpmsl8tQJEFsJc55gq4w_gb6OdFICdSed0Pzvpv88g2CVXOz2f6d5HAbGV13l_5AyWXpfA0az4QU79P9fqqogDtedMu-y1o-zJEisui4fC0jdDgSTdC7IPYE5Hi5kW6Ss4lIrDx1ndxvNgHQgujLFYgl4BWn3gO4/s2654/prairiefal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1769" data-original-width="2654" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMdyo3gu6HTVzE2TAM2Nib9V376iATEpmsl8tQJEFsJc55gq4w_gb6OdFICdSed0Pzvpv88g2CVXOz2f6d5HAbGV13l_5AyWXpfA0az4QU79P9fqqogDtedMu-y1o-zJEisui4fC0jdDgSTdC7IPYE5Hi5kW6Ss4lIrDx1ndxvNgHQgujLFYgl4BWn3gO4/s320/prairiefal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I will spare you more crappy life bird shots. How about one, not a lifer, but prior to this trip, I had only ever seen these birds down in Nevada. Yellow-headed blackbirds. A dime a dozen in Alberta but only a few small pockets here in Ontario that I know about. Stunning birds!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-SbDp3RzFzHQciQ9De7sLRQTFJxMaU2kSiVrlIcZ67ZVtbwYlvRcO77AwGz9uy2WaQu9UAZ9HDxbFazJBT1Skc5Zg8qAEkMvpFNmc2NGY7VZKGyRv0oZ3VLYDLvUA-GcqhKFdr8t_9Npcci4YQqph-DLY4CE-X-XbCWuN15pSdr--_hy1DPCMyF9iCcV/s4148/yellow-bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-SbDp3RzFzHQciQ9De7sLRQTFJxMaU2kSiVrlIcZ67ZVtbwYlvRcO77AwGz9uy2WaQu9UAZ9HDxbFazJBT1Skc5Zg8qAEkMvpFNmc2NGY7VZKGyRv0oZ3VLYDLvUA-GcqhKFdr8t_9Npcci4YQqph-DLY4CE-X-XbCWuN15pSdr--_hy1DPCMyF9iCcV/s320/yellow-bb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>A real highlight from the trip was seeing some bears. I haven't seen a wild bear since I was 6 or 7 years old when we would be up north and stop in at a dump after dinner. The bears were all black bears even though a few weren't black; they were cinnamon colored black bears. Who knew?!?! Not me, that's for sure. We saw a "cinnamon" mother with two cubs, one of which was also cinnamon colored.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbWfVvM-jTg7vjqxjCPGzZWqhiMkLxuzI9MoUnWWslynh5qMnbXc6R0bVAXX8VDQT45YHZXvcMkZUtzkSDParfGfIISaKjPtwTFKk7A-9QBk8XzLFarepz0GKLLHb2W95sYJN_mXs2TuWQvVfUSFWBuexOf2UeTWE8_o4i8vRd_tG6C3QAYx8PnDPU7gQ/s3318/binn-bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2212" data-original-width="3318" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbWfVvM-jTg7vjqxjCPGzZWqhiMkLxuzI9MoUnWWslynh5qMnbXc6R0bVAXX8VDQT45YHZXvcMkZUtzkSDParfGfIISaKjPtwTFKk7A-9QBk8XzLFarepz0GKLLHb2W95sYJN_mXs2TuWQvVfUSFWBuexOf2UeTWE8_o4i8vRd_tG6C3QAYx8PnDPU7gQ/s320/binn-bear.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67kC99Hh_DidEjFQix9qMEJGi5Or9UFrrshId5PlpVld_xLAhTGu4_CHF6roq-UWDlvSbuCzq7xvkcaeRofZF64dFKKV3Q_OCVPcB2qDr2DK8xQB9ewDjw5jssgx3-5ecBYR-zSi6hcSP-n4kY0_c4mydFMuWOrxdCbVUywhw_tZjVl6CsTY5EEd51DNw/s2654/cinn-bear1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1769" data-original-width="2654" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67kC99Hh_DidEjFQix9qMEJGi5Or9UFrrshId5PlpVld_xLAhTGu4_CHF6roq-UWDlvSbuCzq7xvkcaeRofZF64dFKKV3Q_OCVPcB2qDr2DK8xQB9ewDjw5jssgx3-5ecBYR-zSi6hcSP-n4kY0_c4mydFMuWOrxdCbVUywhw_tZjVl6CsTY5EEd51DNw/s320/cinn-bear1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nR4UoMF_9Ond05ykbqWq7UXEUzS5HHVOvPuck_cjjQ9YQbX8WliXdh03LzLziMOuBba-flKpLCBoeCxin9ffaGM6PLR_aafBxKBwhFj5GDC0zJsUvtxZY4oP0hVOwoIawI2fm_2sHp8IOSfWpn5aEcIAtRE0DM8sfZnYnOj2cXmuKZCDfu1NZ0LL6xLM/s2654/cinn-bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1769" data-original-width="2654" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nR4UoMF_9Ond05ykbqWq7UXEUzS5HHVOvPuck_cjjQ9YQbX8WliXdh03LzLziMOuBba-flKpLCBoeCxin9ffaGM6PLR_aafBxKBwhFj5GDC0zJsUvtxZY4oP0hVOwoIawI2fm_2sHp8IOSfWpn5aEcIAtRE0DM8sfZnYnOj2cXmuKZCDfu1NZ0LL6xLM/s320/cinn-bear.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>We also saw a large male black bear on our last full day in Alberta in the foothills. He was on the other side of the road from us. I spotted him as we were driving. I quickly pulled over and we got out. I slowly and quietly walked along the road, staying on the other side from him and kept going until I was pretty much directly across from the bear. I wanted a better photo than just "bum shots". Once I got that photo, knowing the bear was aware of my presence, I backed away, not making too much noise or fuss if you know what I mean. I have almost no experience around wild bears, and he probably had little concern about me, but I played it extra cautious.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepfhKPPuJsdYMKct1a8K4qIV3d7b4N6FD9UnkgmySiUKfEYWdsGLtFqYqxcfVAHYyvnXQ0Yhy6jrFPdNKhR-0xSpoB3frlHG-VSxcGcZnhdgQXNqYap9MQZdBb-C-9VRDY7d4FfNCq-PSjEgUPcEhhicQ-VkiMg_KMkHBn9GNQgRVZoKbFWaRamfsGacS/s4148/alberta-bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepfhKPPuJsdYMKct1a8K4qIV3d7b4N6FD9UnkgmySiUKfEYWdsGLtFqYqxcfVAHYyvnXQ0Yhy6jrFPdNKhR-0xSpoB3frlHG-VSxcGcZnhdgQXNqYap9MQZdBb-C-9VRDY7d4FfNCq-PSjEgUPcEhhicQ-VkiMg_KMkHBn9GNQgRVZoKbFWaRamfsGacS/s320/alberta-bear.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Here at home, Merry and Molly are doing great. It's hard to believe we just had our 8th anniversary with them. Where does the time go?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_JMPyDxlNqIQZcyDt7ULem9AKA9dYHourXZ29oJeqK_Yozz2w9cJPz9zM6P3q_hApgKC3XpHCLkMAWzbI-oQusaouK3yjHmZ47syHNCpfFc5SZuFUGEVWnkPlKG0rs2xWo5ezyJ5mt1vcYJ8o2rKfxZ_xx_beXwFLrrsMDKzZm2aygiRPzLOHAuQOHcR/s3802/play.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2535" data-original-width="3802" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_JMPyDxlNqIQZcyDt7ULem9AKA9dYHourXZ29oJeqK_Yozz2w9cJPz9zM6P3q_hApgKC3XpHCLkMAWzbI-oQusaouK3yjHmZ47syHNCpfFc5SZuFUGEVWnkPlKG0rs2xWo5ezyJ5mt1vcYJ8o2rKfxZ_xx_beXwFLrrsMDKzZm2aygiRPzLOHAuQOHcR/s320/play.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Frankie our rescue budgie is just fine. We are at 9 months with him here living with us.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmGsp9_3VMTILYDHkwh-J5Q-5-7qeCLMGZASvD65nH6EmaS6aEqygwWTz_4VQXxQf3gCISLMv5vNgKdoksAKAgIKgowN2nMMTeT19o4CaekjzIlfRHoEre7QUxvjKRlTxITpJ5W5wqmXZ7gVdCvEWibF1x5LOQeLn4bAAR4jLxgU9V6q5ZjWQ2_658Tra/s2048/frankie-budgie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1553" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmGsp9_3VMTILYDHkwh-J5Q-5-7qeCLMGZASvD65nH6EmaS6aEqygwWTz_4VQXxQf3gCISLMv5vNgKdoksAKAgIKgowN2nMMTeT19o4CaekjzIlfRHoEre7QUxvjKRlTxITpJ5W5wqmXZ7gVdCvEWibF1x5LOQeLn4bAAR4jLxgU9V6q5ZjWQ2_658Tra/s320/frankie-budgie.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><br /><div>Sadly, our rescue leopard gecko Norbert suddenly, and unexpectedly, passed away earlier this week. Even though he made no sound, the house seems quieter without him. We enjoyed his company in the living room for nearly 9 years; and we had no idea how old he was when we took him in.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirt4HIEA7GoA0oTstN2FN30iMSYMP2IkkQEV6BvitfABaAAjIfG6xJSG6vs9wUSe461JrAuojlU1CT78nKDf44T4o0eMRKIpnFaT1B2UM4kibvdlRpKxVe6WqY_pcgnvkZfi-XeRhmErX29m4Vhgd_Rvh9zdXQHr8htu6vF7YexAmnRlX0qVT6VCRfTeYI/s960/norbert-plants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirt4HIEA7GoA0oTstN2FN30iMSYMP2IkkQEV6BvitfABaAAjIfG6xJSG6vs9wUSe461JrAuojlU1CT78nKDf44T4o0eMRKIpnFaT1B2UM4kibvdlRpKxVe6WqY_pcgnvkZfi-XeRhmErX29m4Vhgd_Rvh9zdXQHr8htu6vF7YexAmnRlX0qVT6VCRfTeYI/s320/norbert-plants.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>There's more in my head to throw in this blog but I will stop it here. Hopefully this will entice me to get back on here soon and share something else, like our recent Etobicoke peregrine falcon fledge watch. I do have a unique story to tell about a rescue I did; but all the rescues are unique.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, if you happen to catch this blog, please say "hello" in the comments. It may also help me get back in the swing of blogging more regularly. </div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers!</div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-25461424412650829102023-02-28T12:25:00.003-05:002023-02-28T12:25:54.070-05:00Heart Strings<p>Man, this past Sunday sure was a difficult day! Around noon I noticed a small raccoon in the backyard. "Oh cool!" I said to myself. I don't see raccoons out during the day very often, but to me it isn't that unusual either because it does happen every now and then. He was a bit of a mess, sporting an injury to his left eye, his tail looked almost like it had been broken at some point, and overall his fur was quite a mess too. I felt bad for the little guy and assumed he was looking for food, so I threw his some shelled peanuts (no salt of course).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fIEzjbSwoeQMuntd-brOwhxqnVbkPeBvmlT-8Gh7JUehyAKdDomjSuGVImX80pyqN64848FYfTEL5VxJ3hOLZ1blEjTakJV6nrUEnbHf6QwHOIiYPld62FzO8ZMcytDclWOARk7Q3s2tkbg_Zd0zGkosjFcuz35b60h2ZLPjDkv_7IZxe7g3ySOEYw/s4148/first.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fIEzjbSwoeQMuntd-brOwhxqnVbkPeBvmlT-8Gh7JUehyAKdDomjSuGVImX80pyqN64848FYfTEL5VxJ3hOLZ1blEjTakJV6nrUEnbHf6QwHOIiYPld62FzO8ZMcytDclWOARk7Q3s2tkbg_Zd0zGkosjFcuz35b60h2ZLPjDkv_7IZxe7g3ySOEYw/s320/first.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>He took his time to eat them all up. I like watching them feel around everything as they eat. Their paws are extremely sensitive. It is said that they have four to five times more sensory cells compared to other animals.</p><p>I took a few photos and then went back in the house.</p><p>He'd disappear for a while, then come back, and this repeated over the next few hours. A couple times I went out to check on him and he was no where to be seen; but then suddenly he's behind me and tugging on my pant leg. It startled me each time. Then I'd turn and look down at him, looking into his eyes, well the one good eye and silently go "awwwwwww".</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UV3jYALd5rHwHZMMHO1EfVAYxiKlXcOlS6PiaPj_1WNeuGgejANMXg-w3OhN_SijZZBzUpWCqTmiN3YHQRW0dYPlX_2BKfYEvXa1fji-CX3iJacRFrwNdm3-ZIaPFG6Ijn6XMrqjXQOYMBert5_9fHXFSb3C_eZPAc3f-Fa4F322MAgx8dWAxCs2Ow/s5184/second.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UV3jYALd5rHwHZMMHO1EfVAYxiKlXcOlS6PiaPj_1WNeuGgejANMXg-w3OhN_SijZZBzUpWCqTmiN3YHQRW0dYPlX_2BKfYEvXa1fji-CX3iJacRFrwNdm3-ZIaPFG6Ijn6XMrqjXQOYMBert5_9fHXFSb3C_eZPAc3f-Fa4F322MAgx8dWAxCs2Ow/s320/second.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The pant leg tug, what's that all about? Was he tamed by someone in the area? Or was he unwell? Signs of distemper include a loss of fear of humans and wandering about aimlessly. He showed no fear of me and he was seemingly wandering about aimlessly. Other signs include a rough coat of fur and an emaciated appearance. Two more check marks. </p><p>While I was in the basement with Angie having lunch, as our kitchen is under renovation, we saw him going back and forth along the walkway up the side of the house as he passed the basement windows. Then he went up on the porch of the house next door.</p><p>After lunch I sought him out again. He wasn't in the backyard. I went out front and I found him like this at our front door.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrz9m3N1eirsxK0uhD1F7Pqstbkq4N1vN3o29aEX1Q2wWVGtaTP4oD0J_ix4dM412Ks3u7EAJUjsbJWWPcljR3x2S1HoMvmUuvQwssAikynF4lNLzRvc42bKYJqojDhNces-KjG6_97zs-D38-7Uji-WvWxYB_72TAmZ7YDIXLi-dDhVqdratpruvEBQ/s4148/sad-raccoon2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrz9m3N1eirsxK0uhD1F7Pqstbkq4N1vN3o29aEX1Q2wWVGtaTP4oD0J_ix4dM412Ks3u7EAJUjsbJWWPcljR3x2S1HoMvmUuvQwssAikynF4lNLzRvc42bKYJqojDhNces-KjG6_97zs-D38-7Uji-WvWxYB_72TAmZ7YDIXLi-dDhVqdratpruvEBQ/s320/sad-raccoon2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Oh, those runny eyes. Another sign of distemper. I'm glad that I went out the back door when I decided to go look for him as opening the front door may have had him accidentally enter our house.</p><p>I started contacting "wildlife friends" who work with the Toronto Wildlife Centre seeking their opinion on this raccoon. I suspected distemper, perhaps an early stage; but I wanted other opinions with more experience in this. I sent photos and videos of him. There was a lot of humming and hawing about it. Nobody wanted to say it was distemper without being very certain. So there was more monitoring of the animal and his behaviour.</p><p>Sadly as the day progressed he seemed to get worse; but with small moments of clarity in between. I'd have another interaction with him and he'd be killing me as I was pulled into him emotionally through these "unique moments".</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2uwjDAX22-u6cs-L1wbxao_eugVjDpnAHVtwU5iYO-vhnfIVLdCKg1_2vl1pADfxME1e0XQP_erqKbYXfpcxGKoR58ZoTDjzePH7o8KzDxbUA8ta1bYKiG0XR0ceM_qO572i70dH0dzMijHLE3Q63DijMavlpIcXF4R_cmQHOPSdSOxvNLOIYFjAGA/s5184/sad-raccoon1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2uwjDAX22-u6cs-L1wbxao_eugVjDpnAHVtwU5iYO-vhnfIVLdCKg1_2vl1pADfxME1e0XQP_erqKbYXfpcxGKoR58ZoTDjzePH7o8KzDxbUA8ta1bYKiG0XR0ceM_qO572i70dH0dzMijHLE3Q63DijMavlpIcXF4R_cmQHOPSdSOxvNLOIYFjAGA/s320/sad-raccoon1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>It was looking like I needed to trap him. <insert sad face> I have a live trap but it was at a friend's place who has been trying to catch a mange squirrel. The trap may have been too small for this raccoon anyway; even though it has caught raccoons when I was trying to catch a sickly squirrel. I ended up borrowing a larger live trap from TWC. The drive there and back, being only 22 km in total, still took me an hour to do. Gotta love traffic in Toronto! I was getting antsy as with the daylight soon to be disappearing, it would be more challenging to catch him when the other animals may awaken and start to roam in search of something to eat.</p><p>I set the trap with a chicken leg inside. The raccoon went for it. He was pushing the trap around, and he triggered the door to shut. I went out to reset the trap and the raccoon returned while I was doing this. He was at my side for a moment before going around to the other side of the trap. He put his front paws on the cage, like he was helping me move it. Here we are almost face to face. Yes, a good hard pull on my heart strings. I reset the trap as he was sniffing around it. He poked his head inside and I gave him a tap on his backside with my foot. He ran into the trap, triggering the door, and that didn't seem to bother him at all as he ate the chicken. I put a sheet over the cage and brought him out to the porch. Then I made some phone calls. I won't drag this last bit out but someone came for him within the hour. I'm glad his time in this trap was quite short.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAcV_rHUP9LsavRQPjgdaeWg-eW8Ms1z0KY0TlTuIqIau00zHaZ-Sx5jwuGfd9uIcugeDz964F0zYqaTbeLT7c2uBIEwQY_MTQNIwE0Rk34WPx5FvHwCoAo4nSWFq-V4fo3WTfpi0BWpJ8VsUtUmP1ztfnypep8ldx4k_PKbT0sko_GEKiZ1s6qaE3A/s4148/sad-raccoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2972" data-original-width="4148" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAcV_rHUP9LsavRQPjgdaeWg-eW8Ms1z0KY0TlTuIqIau00zHaZ-Sx5jwuGfd9uIcugeDz964F0zYqaTbeLT7c2uBIEwQY_MTQNIwE0Rk34WPx5FvHwCoAo4nSWFq-V4fo3WTfpi0BWpJ8VsUtUmP1ztfnypep8ldx4k_PKbT0sko_GEKiZ1s6qaE3A/s320/sad-raccoon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I'm no veterinarian; but this really did look like an early stage of distemper. The disease is not treatable and I have seen it in it's later stages with raccoons and skunks. It is horrible. Euthanasia may seem cruel but it is the humane thing to do for them. Canine distemper is highly transmissible to other animals including family pets like dogs and ferrets (not that I can see anyone letting their ferret outside).</p><p>I assume there will be some different emotions from people who read this tale. I wasn't out to make anyone feel sad. I just hope there's not too many saying "good, one less raccoon out there". They're living creatures and just trying to live out their lives like the rest of us. We can coexist with these very clever animals. I'm always willing to talk with someone seeking advice on how to share our backyards with raccoons and the rest of the local wildlife. My one line gets most... "I'd rather look out to our yard and see a raccoon wandering around than seeing some stranger (human)."</p><p>Enjoy a few of my backyard raccoon photos here from the last number of years.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExrQiqv_xFUiVZhFcba0JBxYTpOAB9cQO-V-wqeRykKPKcLo_Tw1P29uc7CrbW-9pdhwZO-cue6FKMbB3EcG7sRsyO3SRR96LUa62xuT3VqxPeRc2UbOinXu5gpTDfXjI_9ZhJZTUn3cHE1wLKbzjs1_0HJq_3m-zJCMKhyA_GvShsNmgs8rypdd_qg/s3802/memetime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2535" data-original-width="3802" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExrQiqv_xFUiVZhFcba0JBxYTpOAB9cQO-V-wqeRykKPKcLo_Tw1P29uc7CrbW-9pdhwZO-cue6FKMbB3EcG7sRsyO3SRR96LUa62xuT3VqxPeRc2UbOinXu5gpTDfXjI_9ZhJZTUn3cHE1wLKbzjs1_0HJq_3m-zJCMKhyA_GvShsNmgs8rypdd_qg/s320/memetime.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbPZTJk2hgSKH_jWmDUzhjw2jXAJQHfJZLfwvrvJFLaThIg-nBwo0cOFrQnCNQjytRS9XUZICXu-WGCIuj6039x7euBreSvWb6AxDeSVUvb3zkLD2fbTyMogQdAFC0lGxGv26gSOnMJzJ94SWQRZ0UmDrGCQKqkcnyoMionXNcCCt6A19foHhhm6XFQ/s3802/bigraccoonfamily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2535" data-original-width="3802" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbPZTJk2hgSKH_jWmDUzhjw2jXAJQHfJZLfwvrvJFLaThIg-nBwo0cOFrQnCNQjytRS9XUZICXu-WGCIuj6039x7euBreSvWb6AxDeSVUvb3zkLD2fbTyMogQdAFC0lGxGv26gSOnMJzJ94SWQRZ0UmDrGCQKqkcnyoMionXNcCCt6A19foHhhm6XFQ/s320/bigraccoonfamily.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoK5oo05cFuL4zT8eUs8HZWBUfhGRP2lRh6c8kmUkpMXR_cA76nEiPa5uGsZrRM2l9eTe8k3P7zjQ7nghvKV4vCDbZMqo4tYCbbWBBzp1A84EC66eCpOY9QxfrtetMSrSXmqQ2OkCzq9jr_kg-61Q1y7jMUvQjsa9vBh983tK9YPfYrhGC_1xBK9ZEg/s3264/IMG_4157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoK5oo05cFuL4zT8eUs8HZWBUfhGRP2lRh6c8kmUkpMXR_cA76nEiPa5uGsZrRM2l9eTe8k3P7zjQ7nghvKV4vCDbZMqo4tYCbbWBBzp1A84EC66eCpOY9QxfrtetMSrSXmqQ2OkCzq9jr_kg-61Q1y7jMUvQjsa9vBh983tK9YPfYrhGC_1xBK9ZEg/s320/IMG_4157.JPG" width="240" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This one below is one of my favourites. She was such an awesome mother and we were like baby sitters with her young one summer. She laid out on the grass for a nap and let her kids monkey around the yard. It was a memorable day.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBAPBMwF19dUYbuV8ZFeN2XT2-9ExYOLrmEIynPmM6xGHWFpfjeNI-xBgHTxbSFrXmqlqiaOjZbmmZTYk-eLlxstZJwlGNfkRjUvun9FfeQfZAfgJwr28nunXR5hjNThW_NNUu57gZl1Vn3zf9cEjA2Z8FO1xgKdnRZTG09ibuV6poUp7WaSpVPMCRA/s2381/cheers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1721" data-original-width="2381" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBAPBMwF19dUYbuV8ZFeN2XT2-9ExYOLrmEIynPmM6xGHWFpfjeNI-xBgHTxbSFrXmqlqiaOjZbmmZTYk-eLlxstZJwlGNfkRjUvun9FfeQfZAfgJwr28nunXR5hjNThW_NNUu57gZl1Vn3zf9cEjA2Z8FO1xgKdnRZTG09ibuV6poUp7WaSpVPMCRA/s320/cheers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I have fun adding words to some of my raccoon photos.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6f7BuaLUYD-nvAl2kYNhqVUwvTod5qap2SWVjFByR0ocjz2tGZZRKvqjyAy140qY6ai4XWdZt_QKRKWXa_H6wlCMZfSaZ-wjauv478IxBGP_pRMxEPKo2UizLfbIfc3NfJGoZ9kL_UDea2kJr4_IVmn_uzidMCxKCRp5O4YOWk63SJTZfbvtjWsYJg/s666/doodyhead.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="666" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6f7BuaLUYD-nvAl2kYNhqVUwvTod5qap2SWVjFByR0ocjz2tGZZRKvqjyAy140qY6ai4XWdZt_QKRKWXa_H6wlCMZfSaZ-wjauv478IxBGP_pRMxEPKo2UizLfbIfc3NfJGoZ9kL_UDea2kJr4_IVmn_uzidMCxKCRp5O4YOWk63SJTZfbvtjWsYJg/s320/doodyhead.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD40Rhgf9R41A5N86Icv_UhqOzC8dgFGQeWpEn_iufNTTrzrjwqvkzQPnexgpffFePEHXUC0PwacfvnvtDgzx3wllVLFebL_HtuTzHGBoyc07tTAgvjTbJwWu5WXELtf76HAalwWEvnqyJBSxdKDKXTm2y9misn7A2Ms1gK0PtJ3D5O9YWs1kbH7ZlPw/s1024/3509cc49-8214-47f4-9e72-03475f2e9a32_zps7grhqc0e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="933" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD40Rhgf9R41A5N86Icv_UhqOzC8dgFGQeWpEn_iufNTTrzrjwqvkzQPnexgpffFePEHXUC0PwacfvnvtDgzx3wllVLFebL_HtuTzHGBoyc07tTAgvjTbJwWu5WXELtf76HAalwWEvnqyJBSxdKDKXTm2y9misn7A2Ms1gK0PtJ3D5O9YWs1kbH7ZlPw/s320/3509cc49-8214-47f4-9e72-03475f2e9a32_zps7grhqc0e.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglfpyGKsA5IoP7bBVVA2XuYagaPQYgW6U8_SOk8QpjOEPE74CZRpzGR6wcuzP0KdzOnDUTn0M1a3WdSLtHWe3Kk8G4CuBcMwqZp-qxwgsHj3h3ZOfts21WmfdWCYU3M7rYI9h8gD0JRHZIbieAfan9M3MoIN5Ssa7a-Hfr94eB56rBGzZrfiDNzh7sw/s1035/meme-racc1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="1035" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglfpyGKsA5IoP7bBVVA2XuYagaPQYgW6U8_SOk8QpjOEPE74CZRpzGR6wcuzP0KdzOnDUTn0M1a3WdSLtHWe3Kk8G4CuBcMwqZp-qxwgsHj3h3ZOfts21WmfdWCYU3M7rYI9h8gD0JRHZIbieAfan9M3MoIN5Ssa7a-Hfr94eB56rBGzZrfiDNzh7sw/s320/meme-racc1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GEhZZW-PipAuwDgH3hQqY02z1zj_Xd2sGpdSbwH5Ffw1CgbNU4vr2MNgxUkjLFtw5O-01bdVwekNJYh__ZybmfvhA6Q33DXU0YxEo2u5HgWP-xbGSK0ljFEHIuvZq8ZXeZQ__GCO4yY1zo1ghFQ-2r9rYtnCgmUjt-p6TsQpDF_jAdKm2iPjDIr-EA/s980/meme-racc2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="980" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GEhZZW-PipAuwDgH3hQqY02z1zj_Xd2sGpdSbwH5Ffw1CgbNU4vr2MNgxUkjLFtw5O-01bdVwekNJYh__ZybmfvhA6Q33DXU0YxEo2u5HgWP-xbGSK0ljFEHIuvZq8ZXeZQ__GCO4yY1zo1ghFQ-2r9rYtnCgmUjt-p6TsQpDF_jAdKm2iPjDIr-EA/s320/meme-racc2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtElN2X2X0ArjgVkec_vAxdUKESmADVwU4DrE6GEB4sGxF6KSbc7XHBJrHSaBcAkoFejG9h78nHm1XuB5OVHHkt7IgflxcY9o6O7wv0QN13TdmOa3Dph3szdO1P0xXI_NnZQmXqCeVZDIX7Hnk-WrqFJi1CSVpmvwwkEfQxd27whnYte5Tgy7FbJi45w/s1024/meme-racc3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtElN2X2X0ArjgVkec_vAxdUKESmADVwU4DrE6GEB4sGxF6KSbc7XHBJrHSaBcAkoFejG9h78nHm1XuB5OVHHkt7IgflxcY9o6O7wv0QN13TdmOa3Dph3szdO1P0xXI_NnZQmXqCeVZDIX7Hnk-WrqFJi1CSVpmvwwkEfQxd27whnYte5Tgy7FbJi45w/s320/meme-racc3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskwMpICV4c5f3h3UBUijrWT2BaXxe7iwQU7al1v5syFL3v6fHoBwZBYttS0y72O8V-QBbJbeLo123huBP1kyBMGs8Otf-AluXpt74bQcmxjqwm7tcM1NvtSU1LxXNT6pm01yePKbQpNIiB18rfAuwzDc6txARni9SOiRt0XA8VMEQ2p32lkp_y3ewtg/s601/meme-racc4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="601" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskwMpICV4c5f3h3UBUijrWT2BaXxe7iwQU7al1v5syFL3v6fHoBwZBYttS0y72O8V-QBbJbeLo123huBP1kyBMGs8Otf-AluXpt74bQcmxjqwm7tcM1NvtSU1LxXNT6pm01yePKbQpNIiB18rfAuwzDc6txARni9SOiRt0XA8VMEQ2p32lkp_y3ewtg/s320/meme-racc4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytb6wF2U09uS1dveED8Fa7F-yajF1UkO7o64fXqvDVZBwRg5AiRGfYK7hlcVbU0MqJQMJlS3QKGj_Sh0p17rL4vFF11fdxgeaMjwnaIkMP0F8yL2jHVH8QTwTWekTSXhv6Ne-1ZjKYoFaitbEq_w1h2RynGdbhfXRVNZqXFI1XuR0n9A4OI7IFjJVtQ/s750/memeraccoon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytb6wF2U09uS1dveED8Fa7F-yajF1UkO7o64fXqvDVZBwRg5AiRGfYK7hlcVbU0MqJQMJlS3QKGj_Sh0p17rL4vFF11fdxgeaMjwnaIkMP0F8yL2jHVH8QTwTWekTSXhv6Ne-1ZjKYoFaitbEq_w1h2RynGdbhfXRVNZqXFI1XuR0n9A4OI7IFjJVtQ/s320/memeraccoon.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>Raccoons, what's not to love?</p>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-49011678728823479202023-02-22T11:26:00.004-05:002023-02-22T11:26:50.923-05:00F******************<p>Hey there. Just a warning that this isn't a nice happy blog. Something crappy happened recently. Well, actually two crappy things.</p><p>I was out running some errands one morning and driving along our main road just down a bit from us, I passed a feathery lump in the middle of the road. I instantly knew that it was a small owl. I pulled over and picked up the body, which was whole and complete... I wouldn't pick up a bloody mess is what I am trying to say. The owl was an eastern screech owl. >insert sad face<</p><p>We haven't seen a lot of our screech owl this winter and I've "blamed" the mild winter for that. I don't know if this owl that I found was our backyard visitor or not. Either way, it sucks! Poor thing. It must have been hunting roadside and was going for something, flying low across the road and got clipped by a car. It probably hit the windshield and then bounced off, falling to the middle of the road.</p><p>We've not seen our backyard owl since February 2nd. I found this dead owl on February 10th. As I write this blog, it is now February 22nd. We're supposed to be getting some really awful winter weather starting this afternoon and maybe we will see "our owl" again during it. We can hope.</p><p>It's weird that in the days after that sad find, I've felt grief. Grief over a little bird that surely didn't think much about me. Grief over a little bird that may still be alive out there somewhere in our neighbourhood. It's just that having an owl on one's property, and spending quite a few days here since December 2021, you can't help but get attached somehow. It's been fun wondering some days if he was here or not. There were days we didn't think he was here and then he would surprise us at the end of the day, suddenly popping his head out of the box. So many mornings while having my first coffee and sitting at the kitchen window, I spotted him flying into the box to roost the day away. Both Angie and I certainly felt blessed to have him here. He owned the yard for the most part when we knew he was home. We gave him all the space and I was able to occasionally take pictures of him from the deck because of my 500 mm lens.</p><p>I took this photo of Little Al on January 29th. He showed up at the box after we got some accumulative snow overnight. I remember how I was willing to bet anyone about his return that morning. No one took me on that bet.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIY21yfVWcvxM_DHQBPqjtBzm_n9zr48q1wJA0i50fxwq9hqadSOB5_9lZ0Bfmyq_pT-pQa8oEKkBwgCO76TX8XcZizjn5W2P6swQHACKGfXgl1kgfox3-n_WEvvd1P4oxUn1VWRAmfs4cY9k4wNnF5P3ZSvYRWSx7Z0IlpQLvwhB0ZpWC5Or1NDN8Jw/s4148/cover-best.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2227" data-original-width="4148" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIY21yfVWcvxM_DHQBPqjtBzm_n9zr48q1wJA0i50fxwq9hqadSOB5_9lZ0Bfmyq_pT-pQa8oEKkBwgCO76TX8XcZizjn5W2P6swQHACKGfXgl1kgfox3-n_WEvvd1P4oxUn1VWRAmfs4cY9k4wNnF5P3ZSvYRWSx7Z0IlpQLvwhB0ZpWC5Or1NDN8Jw/s320/cover-best.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I'm debating as to whether or not share the photo I took of the owl's body on here. It understandably upset most but they got why I shared the picture. A few people really lashed out at me for sharing it. So perhaps it is best I don't post the photo here. If you look for me on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/robandtheanimals/">Instagram at robandtheanimals</a>, you can see it there (if you really want to see it).</p><p>Then the other sad thing is how we went from 3 backyard opossums in the fall to 1 opossum through the start of the new year. Sadly he too crossed the main road last Thursday and was hit by a car. I am sure it was him as my trail camera has not picked up an opossum since the night before. Why must they cross the road? He's been taking the gala apples that I have been leaving out for him along with some random piles of cat kibble. Sure he must compete with the skunks and raccoons in their waking moments but he was getting a feed, at least with the apples regularly. UGH! There was no trying to get his body off the road though as it was way too messy. I swear our main road here is like death valley for the wild ones. There's a park on one side and a golf course on the other and the creatures do go back and forth. It is heart breaking for any wildlife enthusiast to see this. Raccoons, skunks, opossums, a few deer over the years, coyotes, foxes, owls, geese and various birds. Blech!</p><p>I had an encounter with this opossum a few weeks ago. He was frozen on the back fence for quite a while one night. I got home from work and noticed the big lump. I passed him a few times while doing things out back and he never moved. After 20 minutes or so, being done my little chores, I walked right up to him. He was motionless. I put my hand on his back and gave him a few light strokes. He turned his head slightly to give me a look but did not move otherwise. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvNj6edMCCDiRgb6A80sdRCUEthf4q1UuOZv6ffFZbprSDZ0cyHFxdcmjuOv9D733cClv1uAh_KVDVr1N9_BM3Y9PkXPpEghpOEKQcrGnYqjaHY04ki-u6j818_mXpfu1B4ImORlNohNvnAWmPx8eNOvzhW5v8FKl8unLe-M-N3l87uolGFPZNzpPVQ/s2048/opossum-hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1617" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvNj6edMCCDiRgb6A80sdRCUEthf4q1UuOZv6ffFZbprSDZ0cyHFxdcmjuOv9D733cClv1uAh_KVDVr1N9_BM3Y9PkXPpEghpOEKQcrGnYqjaHY04ki-u6j818_mXpfu1B4ImORlNohNvnAWmPx8eNOvzhW5v8FKl8unLe-M-N3l87uolGFPZNzpPVQ/s320/opossum-hand.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><p>After I went back up to the house, I saw him climb down the fence and go under the shed. Why did I touch his back? Because I could! Opossums are generally slow moving animals and don't react like other creatures. Would I try to pat a raccoon? Hell no! Even my little backyard pal Ripper I wouldn't do something like that with. He's my little buddy and sits nicely on my hand; but I know how "squirrely" squirrels can be and he'd bite me in a heartbeat if I spooked him and not think twice about it. Oh Ripper, we all love you so!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0RtdNCjJq1zOabR_TzT24a96Be9pVdZzf2CzE6VeDqNPxp-DlFtbYHlSTbfTQjEcCwqd-r8xOaFQO0twIUu8exbdAbrgodisNvASPBpb2gRG_Wdq1uyi6OmRpde0Eb6ic-1TEXVtV75SoTKa8msi7YdtdX2kW0qfQ6-zwxajA6awDqp4iltFrFz7Jw/s2048/ripper-2023-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1951" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0RtdNCjJq1zOabR_TzT24a96Be9pVdZzf2CzE6VeDqNPxp-DlFtbYHlSTbfTQjEcCwqd-r8xOaFQO0twIUu8exbdAbrgodisNvASPBpb2gRG_Wdq1uyi6OmRpde0Eb6ic-1TEXVtV75SoTKa8msi7YdtdX2kW0qfQ6-zwxajA6awDqp4iltFrFz7Jw/s320/ripper-2023-1.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><p>Sorry for this rather negative blog but it's a bit of therapy for me. I know the wild ones have a world of their own and it's unfortunate how we live ours and provide far too many dangers for them. I embrace the time they spend here with us as they make my days (and life) better.</p><p>Lastly. a reminder that blogger made some changes and they took away the email notification option for whatever reason. So I guess it is up to anyone who wishes to follow my blog posts to stop in periodically and not expect a notice from blogger about me sharing a new blog.</p><p>Also, someone asked about how long it has taken me to get Ripper and these pigeons to come to my hand. Ripper showed up here over 5 years ago acting like this. Someone else in their neighbourhood conditioned him to come to people for food. Is that person still in the area? Only Ripper knows. As for the pigeons, it all started years ago with Pierre who also just appeared in the yard one day, totally cool with humans and he basically forced himself upon us that first weekend. As the years went by, other pigeons took notice of Pierre getting good grub from my hand and some braved up, also coming to my hand, and continued to do so. This is a continuing "thing" to this day.</p><p>Thanks for stopping in. See you all again in a few weeks.</p>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-90802313956074127112023-01-25T10:50:00.000-05:002023-01-25T10:50:00.722-05:00January Blahs<p>How's everyone doing (whoever may still be catching my random blogs)? </p><p>It's been pretty blah here this past month. Dark and dreary sums up January around our area. I think we've had 3 days with some sort of sunshine and not a full day of it either. Sure the spring like temperatures are nice in a way but the rain and cloudy skies just drain and depress me. Our backyard has suffered with this mild weather. Odd to hear male northern cardinals belt out their spring song just after Christmas, and the robins soon followed with theirs. These "bird tunes" are usually a treat for me in mid-February as we are two thirds of the way out of the winter season. They won't be nearly as special since I have heard a fair amount of them already.</p><p>Our visiting eastern screech owl has been MIA most of the month. Through the end of 2022, he was here 25 of the last 53 days. In the first 25 days of the new year, he has been here for 4 of them. It is clear to me that we are his cold crappy weather day roost. I've predicted his last 2 visits just by the weather. We are supposed to get about 20 cms of snow this afternoon and through the night; so I am betting he will be back tomorrow. Here he is late one afternoon watching the birds in the holly bush below.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWQIia5ocAKJHJSGo3RtcaGqEWVULb5gbFKAUXorUgwM_CcTpb84yWuNvVXAhavKyIv3en6WctfNCNYq7o5UsmjiZrVMHU84kk2sz4bkZvsSC6lYi8sft6mfqEraq1loBfOgJN7-20gRugtT-0B-NXHBTFH2zuNVDNo4EI9S74aBocMeFErgvpX1VUA/s4148/owl-watching-grackle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWQIia5ocAKJHJSGo3RtcaGqEWVULb5gbFKAUXorUgwM_CcTpb84yWuNvVXAhavKyIv3en6WctfNCNYq7o5UsmjiZrVMHU84kk2sz4bkZvsSC6lYi8sft6mfqEraq1loBfOgJN7-20gRugtT-0B-NXHBTFH2zuNVDNo4EI9S74aBocMeFErgvpX1VUA/s320/owl-watching-grackle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Early in the winter our doghouse behind the shed was getting some tenants. An opossum had been using the house and it would appear some days a skunk shared it with him. Then as winter took a break from us, the animals stopped using the house. I set the camera up down there some nights to keep up on the activity.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTGYacOR-iTeR2rmoB7kYefILEhmi5Vo-hrTVSpZcS708jZCCOw4RP6Orj8ExzfdkejHDUqhhRqEn8GXFLNgGPKOELjgruGUJgt-p6lOJXHRlaYbJfonKom1AI9JT0FJUmNo0GFp1ml2hVR3Pj1nw0Nlcf9YyamuLqKz1SEnriiR4LClViz-9dNEd1g/s3264/DSCF0146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTGYacOR-iTeR2rmoB7kYefILEhmi5Vo-hrTVSpZcS708jZCCOw4RP6Orj8ExzfdkejHDUqhhRqEn8GXFLNgGPKOELjgruGUJgt-p6lOJXHRlaYbJfonKom1AI9JT0FJUmNo0GFp1ml2hVR3Pj1nw0Nlcf9YyamuLqKz1SEnriiR4LClViz-9dNEd1g/s320/DSCF0146.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtLkQ-P7qTh-QaeYqkRT_E2hlb6q-sunUdijLJ48Ke1j2nNMBXa659L7rvNbvPuwcWmqCiM2Pv00P5Gtut4PByODLnHYxbaEg4QgB5TAwd1hFkEpWw7Jrfv2jdLLnmq9fQl-TCDN9J4voDwDKXdfBF8fXt81Zt5pVRW21lez76sSYOTJwTT7GI0A39A/s3264/DSCF0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtLkQ-P7qTh-QaeYqkRT_E2hlb6q-sunUdijLJ48Ke1j2nNMBXa659L7rvNbvPuwcWmqCiM2Pv00P5Gtut4PByODLnHYxbaEg4QgB5TAwd1hFkEpWw7Jrfv2jdLLnmq9fQl-TCDN9J4voDwDKXdfBF8fXt81Zt5pVRW21lez76sSYOTJwTT7GI0A39A/s320/DSCF0048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>I just deleted a lot of the trail cam photos, which had both of the animals in the house on the same early morning, so you will have to take my word for this.</p><p>We're delighted to be seeing an eastern cottontail rabbit around the backyard some days. It has been a couple years since we last saw one.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyp94yKw_R7Ko-TP9WtgU4dq74JxECVGiN0jViaxcPsoyaC5apCLJvZqHKSrC1NQ4waBSqbWGfZRR4ULUy_3DjN3OikSbSt6yqasN6S9IvUY3tpcy0KqO-14qXXiSIJnxfOccMIaOr7Uud-EFRuNLnsT8LVShxhdV89DJ5XL2jTezIJlQGSysNHoH9qA/s3264/bunny-cam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyp94yKw_R7Ko-TP9WtgU4dq74JxECVGiN0jViaxcPsoyaC5apCLJvZqHKSrC1NQ4waBSqbWGfZRR4ULUy_3DjN3OikSbSt6yqasN6S9IvUY3tpcy0KqO-14qXXiSIJnxfOccMIaOr7Uud-EFRuNLnsT8LVShxhdV89DJ5XL2jTezIJlQGSysNHoH9qA/s320/bunny-cam.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Here he is from this morning. Great camouflage! Maybe he has been around more and I've not been seeing him? Can you spot him?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguv2dNpOQddjo3vFi-YwuDSUdRLI7yfeIqy18LmrKHGpaSgvE8YXyIAFCyT2z2A2Xg5i94vu5gsw1CkNX3PHzSWpDlGFgCgTNkkmHhJN5auwPFu-9zLafgeh_oBx1e-4f_vfVCeCtphitf6af96Qj_FNiSZQtFJf4E6TiYJgMooM_Y34BdlUHTeFcafQ/s2048/rabbit-camo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguv2dNpOQddjo3vFi-YwuDSUdRLI7yfeIqy18LmrKHGpaSgvE8YXyIAFCyT2z2A2Xg5i94vu5gsw1CkNX3PHzSWpDlGFgCgTNkkmHhJN5auwPFu-9zLafgeh_oBx1e-4f_vfVCeCtphitf6af96Qj_FNiSZQtFJf4E6TiYJgMooM_Y34BdlUHTeFcafQ/s320/rabbit-camo.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><p>I haven't been out for many walks this past month. The few I have been on have been void of anything cool and unique to share. The owl sightings this winter have been nil. All my usually good for a random sighting every winter haven't had any owls. I recon I need to expand my searches elsewhere and probably will in February.</p><p>Snowy owl sightings on my way home from work really haven't been a thing either this winter. I had a few encounters before Christmas and then nothing except for one night last week where I had 2 snowys about 500 ft from each other. One was on a highway sign in between the east and west bound lanes; the other was on a service road off the highway and I made my way over to have a look at him since I hadn't seen one in over a month. I wished I had my camera with me as the owl was rather relaxed about my presence down on the street below him and he just sat up on the lamp post, mostly looking elsewhere, perhaps out to his friend on the highway or maybe the field across the highway. I watched him for many minutes before getting out of the car to try and take a picture of him with my phone and even putting it up to my binoculars for a closer view.</p><p>Here is my view of the owl from the street.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdQK3HUCDh2PI-54tbaLXFoe7noKER3fZ4279lXSD0bnWY9CEVL6SSfIGnNZtMgqNm-ASAt2ZzSWoUfiLwzXtWT8o4_yFJE3ZVEhzlNE6PG62DgIHq1yXs1A0mVFSgVEQ6Hm6sU2s6H9t3ezO4VOJ4orHiZen7zN_BCV53xdWAUyVjJuKr7yvbcfJQA/s1440/snowy1-2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdQK3HUCDh2PI-54tbaLXFoe7noKER3fZ4279lXSD0bnWY9CEVL6SSfIGnNZtMgqNm-ASAt2ZzSWoUfiLwzXtWT8o4_yFJE3ZVEhzlNE6PG62DgIHq1yXs1A0mVFSgVEQ6Hm6sU2s6H9t3ezO4VOJ4orHiZen7zN_BCV53xdWAUyVjJuKr7yvbcfJQA/s320/snowy1-2023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>And the owl with my phone up to my binoculars. A cool ghostly out of focus effect.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRoyTyFuCcLwUOJBM_csgqOIiWsD8FgEvnuEiQKt9uLoKO2zVZwpjLH-O9ZgD4vSJN5IXY5-02T-hjNHRiSbwN-dCSefHJwnwxICTaxoIq3ayoZbQK2h0Soz56polDsqdS42tlGuCyk5WyTy39YMxKiK4Qb08NOKsoStqGJ0-wiYJ37ZXiXIpvXsL2A/s2048/snowy-2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1788" data-original-width="2048" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRoyTyFuCcLwUOJBM_csgqOIiWsD8FgEvnuEiQKt9uLoKO2zVZwpjLH-O9ZgD4vSJN5IXY5-02T-hjNHRiSbwN-dCSefHJwnwxICTaxoIq3ayoZbQK2h0Soz56polDsqdS42tlGuCyk5WyTy39YMxKiK4Qb08NOKsoStqGJ0-wiYJ37ZXiXIpvXsL2A/s320/snowy-2023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Ripper still comes to visit. What can I say other than he is awesome!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc48CDtyKwR50uyyThE-J1BDtus-mo8fXufJAmlktDU4UJgpsD6TH6OKhPRCIhWyWcXBGfR8av3BvKeh9_PmGdXzW_NJXeDRFhJ9NffYzu29_tefXxPnG8kqz06zJB4XCUkdF2OBlyS270XPZpg2-Pz4a6jlPv2EuWvgvjeuzWLfhhH6ApiBKadQ0p1A/s2048/ripper-2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1503" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc48CDtyKwR50uyyThE-J1BDtus-mo8fXufJAmlktDU4UJgpsD6TH6OKhPRCIhWyWcXBGfR8av3BvKeh9_PmGdXzW_NJXeDRFhJ9NffYzu29_tefXxPnG8kqz06zJB4XCUkdF2OBlyS270XPZpg2-Pz4a6jlPv2EuWvgvjeuzWLfhhH6ApiBKadQ0p1A/s320/ripper-2023.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><p>Gulliver too although her visits are very brief because of the hawk activity.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4pmLs__gFcQ0bVXrcMWUdxEmob4svOmd6PU3DTAkhgisTwlG2fd85l0HLG6ELnXmPbTmd3PIqtg-8gUpmLnjGTWfJMri8YWbCybsGRd3KLIJaXqYGmDMnpBSCVhwQjChP0-K0ehzfInCRGFe8_zq1MCvnHiL56U6sOMUOEybyPL1G1TyGM6l-ctu3w/s1965/gulliver-2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1965" data-original-width="1474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4pmLs__gFcQ0bVXrcMWUdxEmob4svOmd6PU3DTAkhgisTwlG2fd85l0HLG6ELnXmPbTmd3PIqtg-8gUpmLnjGTWfJMri8YWbCybsGRd3KLIJaXqYGmDMnpBSCVhwQjChP0-K0ehzfInCRGFe8_zq1MCvnHiL56U6sOMUOEybyPL1G1TyGM6l-ctu3w/s320/gulliver-2023.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Maybe "January Blahs" isn't the best title for this blog? I have much to be grateful for with the animals, don't I?</p><p>How has your January been?</p>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-30214136530001289642022-12-15T09:46:00.001-05:002022-12-15T09:46:10.506-05:00One More for 2022<p>Hey there. Lately I've been pondering doing a blog but with the holiday season quickly approaching, time just keeps getting away from me. It's a very windy morning here in Toronto with some kind of storm rolling in that I will be glad to get through only because I am sooooooooooooooooooo tired of all the talk about it coming, be it on the television, the radio, people in my travels. Funny how a potential of 10 centimetres snow can be such a conversation piece. But enough about the weather though it may get one last mention in my first photo here that I took about 30 minutes ago, around 8 AM on December 15th...</p><p>I was just putting the coffee on when I spotted this Virginia opossum looking out from under our shed. I've been seeing opossums fairly regularly this fall in our backyard. Mostly through our trail cam but every few weeks I do seem to cross paths with one out there.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQ3BpVrkwNzNhGjH1j3lnxKYkKPz5zJC1AZK1ob269Sp3bFvSQVJirlw0Mnth2awi56lbAtVKsRBncPp7OGkZV3XwcwXTbz6G_cCM-7XEwDJNNZ-rRQkqZjY2vX16wCkq8LetlG6ZNIFMMP4og6xKAJlTTjvx7Jh-6oK41Z3iBZEtK9wfwKm9EGTT8w/s4148/viop-2022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQ3BpVrkwNzNhGjH1j3lnxKYkKPz5zJC1AZK1ob269Sp3bFvSQVJirlw0Mnth2awi56lbAtVKsRBncPp7OGkZV3XwcwXTbz6G_cCM-7XEwDJNNZ-rRQkqZjY2vX16wCkq8LetlG6ZNIFMMP4og6xKAJlTTjvx7Jh-6oK41Z3iBZEtK9wfwKm9EGTT8w/s320/viop-2022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Hopefully he stays under our shed today. It's rush hour as I key this and, *gasp*, there's a storm rolling in. It's just starting to rain now. His bare toes, tail and nose will surely feel the wrath of winter. Poor guy. The doghouse is packed with fresh straw if he chooses to use it. UPDATE - 8:42 AM and he is still down there. This blog may take me a little longer to do as I keep looking out the window, checking for him.</p><p>Little Al the eastern screech owl is also quite regular this fall. Last winter we would go a week or more at times without seeing him but so far this time around, it's a day or two without a sighting and then he is back. Since I don't see him weekdays because of my work hours, I find myself glued to the kitchen window on the weekends at dusk. Silly since he doesn't do anything for the most part, maybe watch the last birds of the day flutter around, or the cardinals chasing each other, and then as it is just about dark, he flies out of the box and heads to the nearby cedars. I guess it is still just so cool to have a little owl hanging out during the day in our backyard, and gives us a bit of bragging rights. LOL!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fG7hDPhk0tli9PSRVYSMws_RxjdBI0fxXAjjQxgXT-QJSC20ZyfHzxW1llLm2KMS_9knBC7xqc-Bo7RPboR49EeilG-r4ahb16HBckZrla2AKYg8OrSQvcfCRmYUu6mpskJItWKQA__8GZN0BUV_4zYumKm_0_UIXkQ5nbXmcIDjXls3YW4e1leYFw/s5184/IMG_6692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fG7hDPhk0tli9PSRVYSMws_RxjdBI0fxXAjjQxgXT-QJSC20ZyfHzxW1llLm2KMS_9knBC7xqc-Bo7RPboR49EeilG-r4ahb16HBckZrla2AKYg8OrSQvcfCRmYUu6mpskJItWKQA__8GZN0BUV_4zYumKm_0_UIXkQ5nbXmcIDjXls3YW4e1leYFw/s320/IMG_6692.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Thanks to Facebook memories, I learned the other week that Gulliver and I had just passed one year since she first came to my hand. It sure seems a lot longer than that but now I know. She's still a regular visitor although lately there's been some MIA spells most likely due to the hawk activity. I've seen a few cooper's hawks flying in and there's also a red-tailed hawk hanging out on a tower near us, which has also come through here on occasion looking for a meal. Here's Gulliver and I from a couple mornings ago, being all festive.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6ArPM4BghRrsJV6cFcNeMOVAdAlGVAMz6I3Tp_MjsozUigM98PIQdW4194v_8Wh5P21It8eMJC81jth3ElmgNeH39eCYDZy3IBCfHPNG9Xr-3ZjLI2_Z38rRZHFdRIW1u9OyUh9Xfl4i7h11pAMjLOazDgcVcj236IxAVvr0r63CkjlsDB-Cu9yH6Q/s2048/rob'n'gulliver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1502" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6ArPM4BghRrsJV6cFcNeMOVAdAlGVAMz6I3Tp_MjsozUigM98PIQdW4194v_8Wh5P21It8eMJC81jth3ElmgNeH39eCYDZy3IBCfHPNG9Xr-3ZjLI2_Z38rRZHFdRIW1u9OyUh9Xfl4i7h11pAMjLOazDgcVcj236IxAVvr0r63CkjlsDB-Cu9yH6Q/s320/rob'n'gulliver.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Ripper still comes around most days. I remember last year around this time I was missing him as he had been gone since the summer. What a gift it was when he suddenly reappeared over the Christmas break; or was it New Years? Doesn't matter, all I know is my jaw dropped when he ran up to me after being gone for 5 months. I spoil him every time I see him but we've not had many up close and personal moments. Not sure why really. I see him and set a big pile of food out for him. But he's always willing to come to hand if I put it out. The other week he scared the heck out of me as I was feeding Gulliver and he came up from behind, climbed part way up a nearby tree and then jumped from it onto my shoulder. Gawd, give this older guy a heart attack why don'cha? He's awesome. Here's us a month or so ago also being festive. I'm not sure what just happened with this paragraph after doing an edit here. Oops...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iZJgTvvPLcJCABG-dzvh_85Ye3juQll-vdy0kQm18kRt9bNw468fwj6PuJHagsL5jbYMQ1ZJDc3ezaq-AIHe9T10Z_Z0kukrzBudLKZ87KjMYmfbOlLuomN4aZUWhgMv5zBFYZTTvDKKSKwsGiJBVbICev52TKPsd_6LOmT1vZ_T1hDBw8pBYSu6Vw/s2048/rob'n'ripper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iZJgTvvPLcJCABG-dzvh_85Ye3juQll-vdy0kQm18kRt9bNw468fwj6PuJHagsL5jbYMQ1ZJDc3ezaq-AIHe9T10Z_Z0kukrzBudLKZ87KjMYmfbOlLuomN4aZUWhgMv5zBFYZTTvDKKSKwsGiJBVbICev52TKPsd_6LOmT1vZ_T1hDBw8pBYSu6Vw/s320/rob'n'ripper.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Our rescue budgie Frankie is doing well. He's adjusting to life with us and is slowly coming around to trusting me. I an put my hand in his cage now and tend to his seed and water dishes without him freaking out now. That's a big step forward. He tweets much of the day and smooches his friend in the mirror. He's seldom alone with me being home all morning and then Angie home later in the afternoon. He gets table time at the back window which he really enjoys. I've been leaving his cage door open at times but so far he has no desire to step out of it. Back in mid-November we had a really warm morning and I took him out on the deck with me. He got very quiet and seemed nervous about the whole thing. Maybe he thought I was going to let him go? Who knows how he ended up outside back in early October, what his former life with whoever was like? He is quite happy and really loves being put to bed at the end of the day. I still think he came from a breeder, like all those others that were flying around here this past summer. Maybe they all lived in someone's shed or garage? If only he could tell us all about it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpL_X4UPQjhrg4gekRzdtnUOpe_FtWcmqZNuBJ6Zi-v_vtx0wQscLFWG4ZC-lj2d8fwyk9TnJ-il1pXTKb86fYySQAiMSDuIYKaQuwucqB56miX3F3C6IZTPsSHibtt3_kBgR-PTt7Bawq3OpZNbglHNPK4h0VIB7-xec5VyOqFgn3xkIDndZoAcuP6Q/s2048/frankie-outside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpL_X4UPQjhrg4gekRzdtnUOpe_FtWcmqZNuBJ6Zi-v_vtx0wQscLFWG4ZC-lj2d8fwyk9TnJ-il1pXTKb86fYySQAiMSDuIYKaQuwucqB56miX3F3C6IZTPsSHibtt3_kBgR-PTt7Bawq3OpZNbglHNPK4h0VIB7-xec5VyOqFgn3xkIDndZoAcuP6Q/s320/frankie-outside.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>I'm starting to see snowy owls on my way home from work again. The first one was 3 weeks ago and I have seen two this week. They are a treat to spot even if I am just passing them doing 110 km/hr on the highway like many of my winter sightings but occasionally I will find a place to park where it is safe to do so and watch them, try for a picture. I'm going to try and track how many sightings I have this season since it would be too hard to track individuals.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIOaTosXXrRZt5O-tcAa5hoCdDY7OY2YDKK6vlSkCIK5SyCUNWXRieSzglLF7CPB74AGXkLmxCHZ3h_9JKL-wOCSP3V_8a9AO_2-imIn6SDfOpmxkdihCmUrZrEOUj4-O_FnDEOKy9HR-0aPrIYnK_HdwLNv8otPFS340yXdh1uqdAyTQqoUzAxsXoA/s2048/snowy'sighting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIOaTosXXrRZt5O-tcAa5hoCdDY7OY2YDKK6vlSkCIK5SyCUNWXRieSzglLF7CPB74AGXkLmxCHZ3h_9JKL-wOCSP3V_8a9AO_2-imIn6SDfOpmxkdihCmUrZrEOUj4-O_FnDEOKy9HR-0aPrIYnK_HdwLNv8otPFS340yXdh1uqdAyTQqoUzAxsXoA/s320/snowy'sighting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Well, I better stop this blog now and get my day started. The opossum is still here an hour later. I put some cat kibble out for him as he has been going to this spot which is under the bird feeder. I keep that sheet of ply wood out so during the winter it is a spot that I can easily shovel for the ground feeding birds. There's no grass in this spot anyway so it's all good. I took this picture from the window as he is a very skittish animal and I don't want to spook him out of the backyard. Not everyone in the neighbourhood would appreciate seeing an opossum wandering around. Odd, despite all the promotion from so many wildlife organizations about all the good these animals are for us, some people are still really freaked out at the sight of one.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2dy_o_7OQRekUEdHDGcqm71vdcTD6WXLXoDhp9f__WGFDP-OEcWHULWCiiylhjOVzWoaTdLH1-l9_ETFW8GJpHcYhA1TWuRyISdP7Zz-qtoLX9q5wyZeAiUy0-nro3NnxsCXctK4j0E_5YCqDhRKJ8CLjp8clj9Cq0zdWojOss3Oot3hqXFmv6Yejg/s4148/opi-kibb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2dy_o_7OQRekUEdHDGcqm71vdcTD6WXLXoDhp9f__WGFDP-OEcWHULWCiiylhjOVzWoaTdLH1-l9_ETFW8GJpHcYhA1TWuRyISdP7Zz-qtoLX9q5wyZeAiUy0-nro3NnxsCXctK4j0E_5YCqDhRKJ8CLjp8clj9Cq0zdWojOss3Oot3hqXFmv6Yejg/s320/opi-kibb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Okay, off I go. Wishing you all a very merry Christmas, however you spend the holiday season, and all the best in 2023! Cheers!</p>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-55866637066238259522022-11-10T10:24:00.001-05:002022-11-10T10:24:34.062-05:00He's Back! Hoooo? Read On...<p>Yesterday morning I woke up to the sounds of angry birds in the backyard. It started with the blue jays screaming away and soon they were joined by some northern cardinals, house sparrows and lastly a couple of red-breasted nuthatches. My first thought was that there was a hawk in the yard. Then I thought maybe a cat as we're having some problems with a few free roaming in the neighbourhood. It was only when I saw the nuthatches going to the owl box, poking their head inside and still giving something proper s**t that I suspected an owl was within the box. If you have been following my blog for a while, you know that we had an owl all through last winter. Angie named him <a href="https://robandtheanimals.blogspot.com/2022/02/little-al-screech-owl.html" target="_blank">Little Al</a>.</p><p>I puttered about in the house like I do every morning with those few chores, finally getting the coffee on all throughout I kept some attention to the box outside both with my eyes and ears.</p><p>Finally, after X amount of time, the owl appeared at the entry hole and looking out to the backyards beyond. I knew without any doubt that this grey morph eastern screech owl was the same bird that hung out with us last winter. Man was I ever happy to see him! I texted Angie and she too was beyond thrilled that he came back.</p><p>I stepped out onto the deck and took a few record photos of the moment and then let him be. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilFyEDiMlQ2XUZau53KerdqUSwM1DovtgMskbHsdykzHWIs3iqwWKguIiB49y_cITYgRFAvNUihtDEIHXFnP94g_gSkPZSJBNA6OT0c0D9mmfvOhHiPS4B8gqtQ47yuff4Xb8NXQahSztafwiqVyPqeR50gAOEzTbfa7dMq5yEbrB9uvWnOxgA280BA/s3318/Al-is-back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2212" data-original-width="3318" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilFyEDiMlQ2XUZau53KerdqUSwM1DovtgMskbHsdykzHWIs3iqwWKguIiB49y_cITYgRFAvNUihtDEIHXFnP94g_gSkPZSJBNA6OT0c0D9mmfvOhHiPS4B8gqtQ47yuff4Xb8NXQahSztafwiqVyPqeR50gAOEzTbfa7dMq5yEbrB9uvWnOxgA280BA/s320/Al-is-back.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I've got some great shots of the owl back in April so I really don't need to try for any more other than distant "look hoo's here" stuff for random social media bits. One of my better photos back in the spring.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oDiN4XO-UuD8eYrcKpVNcN5S63GkiOj8aP--9Fx0gcqXXnFWnt681SNIEF-4LU2HE-O-JF0tWTv_FquTs1mP6bgsmao3Y-vvBe2PKCE7TyU5RKIDpYe4RhCIrtfScS2vwt_Pbusq2MJiz8IygHhSZjlJUAxvyYkcat-EpdcEQMKetHViRhDAa8KTAQ/s3318/al-wow2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2212" data-original-width="3318" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oDiN4XO-UuD8eYrcKpVNcN5S63GkiOj8aP--9Fx0gcqXXnFWnt681SNIEF-4LU2HE-O-JF0tWTv_FquTs1mP6bgsmao3Y-vvBe2PKCE7TyU5RKIDpYe4RhCIrtfScS2vwt_Pbusq2MJiz8IygHhSZjlJUAxvyYkcat-EpdcEQMKetHViRhDAa8KTAQ/s320/al-wow2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>He made a couple more very brief appearances before I left work. Then Angie saw him when she got home from work, just sitting there with the last light of the day. She witnessed him fly out of the box at 5:13 PM for his evening hunt. Lucky her to see him do things some evenings.</p><p>Project Feeder Watch just started up last week. I'll be happy to add him to my count days.</p><p>Welcome back Little Al!</p>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-50388228380713848972022-11-08T09:08:00.000-05:002022-11-08T09:08:27.419-05:00The Gate<p>This is a blog that I have been meaning to do for quite some time now. There's not much story telling but some may enjoy seeing the action at our gate. The gate is the entrance to our backyard. I've found this to be one of the best spots to set up the trail camera at night as many of the animals enter our yard from here instead of climbing the fence or going through some breaks in an older part of it down at the back. I tell you that even some nights I am surprised at how much action there is here, and the frequency too! Check this out!</p><p>I'll start with a short amount of time in one night. Less than half an hour and here is what happened.</p><p>In comes a raccoon.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Y5-DslRs9R5B2gsExeJ0W_2ApJAM-d_B5DDGQKuSjI3lAPVprKus6EWM7cwnGWevOiyOdzZv-hFy1xzr9JsCPFhrtozPMg0iuri12RI8zCRgZIkihU4wHBFGQVdP5e9K3Afr8VAqsK6nuPit99MsijndLI8eYBq8xX5tDPDebShnDlqHDTeqpW9OVw/s3264/DSCF0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Y5-DslRs9R5B2gsExeJ0W_2ApJAM-d_B5DDGQKuSjI3lAPVprKus6EWM7cwnGWevOiyOdzZv-hFy1xzr9JsCPFhrtozPMg0iuri12RI8zCRgZIkihU4wHBFGQVdP5e9K3Afr8VAqsK6nuPit99MsijndLI8eYBq8xX5tDPDebShnDlqHDTeqpW9OVw/s320/DSCF0056.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>The raccoon is soon joined by an opossum.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMX45XY5tkJ8Eig26Tut3-EEREkmuo6yVABdTb8lvpodHtIKMZnc9VFjJjbdEAFktoLWk2jsgk9g0eSm2J65NQzRQPbdavg9zBC4Jvq5G6yFaQJCmG7pRolpIIcrxxvDz_WsH8-Feta41eEyGbJjWjUa0I2vsX8jrAjjVO_trqdg2LgOCSfGL3a-JEg/s3264/DSCF0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMX45XY5tkJ8Eig26Tut3-EEREkmuo6yVABdTb8lvpodHtIKMZnc9VFjJjbdEAFktoLWk2jsgk9g0eSm2J65NQzRQPbdavg9zBC4Jvq5G6yFaQJCmG7pRolpIIcrxxvDz_WsH8-Feta41eEyGbJjWjUa0I2vsX8jrAjjVO_trqdg2LgOCSfGL3a-JEg/s320/DSCF0077.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Both disappear but now in comes this cat.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ScpaONCMGzYNoUrF36YlWx34SeENC1jv2HV4JPCWenFEq7OODnK27MmXrZC83jd18TIk_-Y3vWR9gtFZ9qQGITxhzPr9b-gVPc5ormQgk3KRx354t4jR90_RVrKIPQcUvuQknrMudFc9cEP6gRob9zPvZQbo16u7F99gKLcHCulo5M-UsuZYdo9UOA/s3264/DSCF0101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ScpaONCMGzYNoUrF36YlWx34SeENC1jv2HV4JPCWenFEq7OODnK27MmXrZC83jd18TIk_-Y3vWR9gtFZ9qQGITxhzPr9b-gVPc5ormQgk3KRx354t4jR90_RVrKIPQcUvuQknrMudFc9cEP6gRob9zPvZQbo16u7F99gKLcHCulo5M-UsuZYdo9UOA/s320/DSCF0101.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>This may be the same raccoon back at the water basin, now with a skunk.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWTBRvVEy0N5bBc4L42sjoUWQ74z58BsRJgzfHT6cf5xgSKqR4XuPsz76lDdxVPL-ZzLsUUSX-jRLGzu8d6MD0pQ9Bs5efReegAlg7ntfSuvFlmOv90a4b2D1U2O7RLVscogdMcxQ3gwWAMZBMSdSis-RDPtt8d8VUAkp_DMM1xtlM10FL8CJ4Xp_fA/s3264/DSCF0107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWTBRvVEy0N5bBc4L42sjoUWQ74z58BsRJgzfHT6cf5xgSKqR4XuPsz76lDdxVPL-ZzLsUUSX-jRLGzu8d6MD0pQ9Bs5efReegAlg7ntfSuvFlmOv90a4b2D1U2O7RLVscogdMcxQ3gwWAMZBMSdSis-RDPtt8d8VUAkp_DMM1xtlM10FL8CJ4Xp_fA/s320/DSCF0107.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>I assume he knows what a skunk can do so he gives it some space.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2iaU1iz7kXDOpEBStMduzHn2sni2KJYJbTCyMY74JRUWLoRHZV6o2Fi46dUS4MP5krzqs6d2IjIpLg3yX0EgonqHdbUwtrDXMb76fQLRF6enIBjjHbwTQdDaGiCTp9vu6Q4W6iWKddNPsW5aPgRX5MyHDCyH9SZ5qoKXm6eDM7VPXR0NRudl0zLA-DQ/s3264/DSCF0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2iaU1iz7kXDOpEBStMduzHn2sni2KJYJbTCyMY74JRUWLoRHZV6o2Fi46dUS4MP5krzqs6d2IjIpLg3yX0EgonqHdbUwtrDXMb76fQLRF6enIBjjHbwTQdDaGiCTp9vu6Q4W6iWKddNPsW5aPgRX5MyHDCyH9SZ5qoKXm6eDM7VPXR0NRudl0zLA-DQ/s320/DSCF0110.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Along comes an opossum again, probably the same one from earlier.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTmJUTn8rQSNazNzi3j2rEYwNEx5-zk2hxv57y2PDAhCPfl-UoUFOQY6CcwQsJUPrIGoDjou0uTw56aBlZpiVwnDrSpHAEaiLSq0MfzXVvfBx6leDdJxQzmZAihCAvc7cCm2PUxLuYpoNwJgdPazmtwwZTMy-2T5r_-4SvJmzrdOUunPum1RAJGDG9g/s3264/DSCF0137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTmJUTn8rQSNazNzi3j2rEYwNEx5-zk2hxv57y2PDAhCPfl-UoUFOQY6CcwQsJUPrIGoDjou0uTw56aBlZpiVwnDrSpHAEaiLSq0MfzXVvfBx6leDdJxQzmZAihCAvc7cCm2PUxLuYpoNwJgdPazmtwwZTMy-2T5r_-4SvJmzrdOUunPum1RAJGDG9g/s320/DSCF0137.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Okay, so it's only four animals in total; nonetheless, it is a busy spot. If you aren't convinced yet, how about this from a few nights earlier?</p><p>Two opossums! Neither are our female that we call mom who is missing her tail and now has a right eye injury; she still comes around.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmvEQ1cPjH7crpSZ8K0FoPGYk4ORnURBSF3qI1vSEtY4qvfsMFoMyNeMuJY7zPGnAfHNz9yXJoUmTsYoq-CBYPfZ7sXa2CYHI9qnpxVa6_72K8ASFnZ9MWAgUo-W-0OAwjKysfSgWdpwATUzjHy7tIT2wAYRCP5lpduw-y05i8ijAKzHb8S0jbbYsYA/s3264/DSCF0093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmvEQ1cPjH7crpSZ8K0FoPGYk4ORnURBSF3qI1vSEtY4qvfsMFoMyNeMuJY7zPGnAfHNz9yXJoUmTsYoq-CBYPfZ7sXa2CYHI9qnpxVa6_72K8ASFnZ9MWAgUo-W-0OAwjKysfSgWdpwATUzjHy7tIT2wAYRCP5lpduw-y05i8ijAKzHb8S0jbbYsYA/s320/DSCF0093.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Need another example? I know we have a number of skunks in the neighbourhood and the camera caught three at once. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOLhMgYOxVSuZs2S-0dzcuhZCoozOyF_nYRhdXhtWTr8f3MHX0Z6DtF3Nbgda7HJNyoYC5cyZ3hVisbtzN2v2gKOMIxTcwagD_hHdXXK66y9BdFAfJwoR2ha_BUyTekjn0VRjCV2iK9Z2wVmi_nQkB6HaX5QwKIqJEBD5iUFCAC81YJHqv-dqcUE7pQ/s3264/DSCF0290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOLhMgYOxVSuZs2S-0dzcuhZCoozOyF_nYRhdXhtWTr8f3MHX0Z6DtF3Nbgda7HJNyoYC5cyZ3hVisbtzN2v2gKOMIxTcwagD_hHdXXK66y9BdFAfJwoR2ha_BUyTekjn0VRjCV2iK9Z2wVmi_nQkB6HaX5QwKIqJEBD5iUFCAC81YJHqv-dqcUE7pQ/s320/DSCF0290.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>For me, I can see even with single skunk photos that there are different ones visiting because of the stripe patterns, and some don't have stripes at all and just a white cap. Some say I have too much time on my hands studying these captures but it's all very interesting to me. Look at these two, very different patterns.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmL38jTH28zUmXgY39AtsGS2LJOGvNOOIfPHM9U6sV2A5WEDVnk6VylnSR4cbwwqfwjB201XMg7IDPvBYwvo1wjj4hjPyVXYLxD2pxVaZQZCA5wEosY-OVhHjEESvhJvbOvvfXJ4XwyO_2SAE0_RpfUW4HNXzdyJBKq22HV18uWj0NHn58ki7YKjd_w/s3264/DSCF0135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmL38jTH28zUmXgY39AtsGS2LJOGvNOOIfPHM9U6sV2A5WEDVnk6VylnSR4cbwwqfwjB201XMg7IDPvBYwvo1wjj4hjPyVXYLxD2pxVaZQZCA5wEosY-OVhHjEESvhJvbOvvfXJ4XwyO_2SAE0_RpfUW4HNXzdyJBKq22HV18uWj0NHn58ki7YKjd_w/s320/DSCF0135.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>We've also got a rabbit coming around three or four nights a week. I've yet to see him with my own eyes but it is nice to know he is out there. I like this capture. The rabbit sat out there for many minutes and Angie is in the bathroom, having no idea that he is there. I could do a blog of early morning captures and title it "What Angie is Missing", showing all these creatures outside the bathroom window while she is in it during her waking moments or getting ready for work.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqOye-SFLVQ2aHOtifotV2Dv1yZhMl_CNobNK8ugWcWhdRN0VmcUqz1mBLFDYraiwMYxbIyA2DnNX9Q8GKnSlyRhdNjad0tx3K1SdRsZXq9ibva-1B6m1q5x4OuLDKOkEK6QtpKK5AOkJED05_LG6TFxR6Bgwot7xtM5FkHKqtBoaMuRD_lafJjtQ7Q/s3264/DSCF0251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqOye-SFLVQ2aHOtifotV2Dv1yZhMl_CNobNK8ugWcWhdRN0VmcUqz1mBLFDYraiwMYxbIyA2DnNX9Q8GKnSlyRhdNjad0tx3K1SdRsZXq9ibva-1B6m1q5x4OuLDKOkEK6QtpKK5AOkJED05_LG6TFxR6Bgwot7xtM5FkHKqtBoaMuRD_lafJjtQ7Q/s320/DSCF0251.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>A few mornings later. Angie is already gone for work and I am not awake yet. That could be another blog one day, "What Rob is Missing", showing cam captures from the 30 to 45 minutes before I am out of bed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGtHOKWZ5RTpYyq3gR0SHpZWSMQZSbWT3IjAUFctjZnDVZ89_bkAmZ0gFW5mbFOkhv4bJAqj_dS0kfQL1Smvxg-EaFpFPBHGgfkD1ql5rVO9LGFIUJbaRmTnX-r98s-A21T905tHG7OOaKS70oWt7jeQM2AKojy-uhlXoLwiz9RVgOciOlVbmk5yAoQ/s3264/DSCF0340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGtHOKWZ5RTpYyq3gR0SHpZWSMQZSbWT3IjAUFctjZnDVZ89_bkAmZ0gFW5mbFOkhv4bJAqj_dS0kfQL1Smvxg-EaFpFPBHGgfkD1ql5rVO9LGFIUJbaRmTnX-r98s-A21T905tHG7OOaKS70oWt7jeQM2AKojy-uhlXoLwiz9RVgOciOlVbmk5yAoQ/s320/DSCF0340.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>The rabbit is most often coming through around three in the morning. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirO7NoG5zBywov10Hustede9NmyfekSOKmfId9heXsqzkJRyPfzgQk1eyA1JHeVEpi3KGGzKAew7rnVJ2KRUsThEVJDWx8Yn94SgObrNJE7jOtrLJEvToZian0QHsA3uezmca8nNg8fYk8xjigT2ESHLalz3kGmfKvYaEja4C6V4XDYPkwRtbS63QXFQ/s3264/DSCF0193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirO7NoG5zBywov10Hustede9NmyfekSOKmfId9heXsqzkJRyPfzgQk1eyA1JHeVEpi3KGGzKAew7rnVJ2KRUsThEVJDWx8Yn94SgObrNJE7jOtrLJEvToZian0QHsA3uezmca8nNg8fYk8xjigT2ESHLalz3kGmfKvYaEja4C6V4XDYPkwRtbS63QXFQ/s320/DSCF0193.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>A rainy night and he's here.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-9SN6aAiK6fVJ5QFgNBJ5Qzl8RjYmlBv5Z8O8HKXVN06stqE5PpNMK-dTuyKnRIkF_Ug2LYQozPtzVztowCTvif9_kYVOYRIA_ErnSib26A6YSCImj3oHp3HhoC3I2GxPKV_A2WMAYXEhdmLqhKxq7JVkSdZhYeMKF6NHuLgMqg52xdde9k_3dHM3g/s3264/DSCF0294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-9SN6aAiK6fVJ5QFgNBJ5Qzl8RjYmlBv5Z8O8HKXVN06stqE5PpNMK-dTuyKnRIkF_Ug2LYQozPtzVztowCTvif9_kYVOYRIA_ErnSib26A6YSCImj3oHp3HhoC3I2GxPKV_A2WMAYXEhdmLqhKxq7JVkSdZhYeMKF6NHuLgMqg52xdde9k_3dHM3g/s320/DSCF0294.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>I'd like to know what it is eating. I grew kale for him and it is still out in the garden, not even a nibble on it. We put our carrot shavings out there some nights; sometimes lettuce, grapes, etc. Perhaps I will set the cam up in the garden some nights when these things are left out there?</p><p>Before I go, here's a couple more from last night.</p><p>It's hard to track how many raccoons are around nowadays. The young ones are quite big now and everyone has spread out.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfYgwI3e49_J4FICrvRmAhELEIhkvQmY8pGbSi5iJkW9MWLh7X2ds19EKP5uik4P5XWifcfzEmahWGFRELv9O7YN_2KomFTtNoaxrGMjBhyMqCYrnOQsuWdCd8E_aIPNKWu982L6lj8Zy1hnbzpBcb42t52g8kZ4lUGjF0qyiG_Pv9F3dZk0HbWP2Zw/s3264/DSCF0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfYgwI3e49_J4FICrvRmAhELEIhkvQmY8pGbSi5iJkW9MWLh7X2ds19EKP5uik4P5XWifcfzEmahWGFRELv9O7YN_2KomFTtNoaxrGMjBhyMqCYrnOQsuWdCd8E_aIPNKWu982L6lj8Zy1hnbzpBcb42t52g8kZ4lUGjF0qyiG_Pv9F3dZk0HbWP2Zw/s320/DSCF0169.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>I'd love to see something like this, a couple skunks waddling around together.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBtG4qq233JxQTT3g1qKbvfwA2OQr3Pz4VZC9cTENP0A1bHjLJzSCZ11kdsuDYmQWxED1fTmEkczg8XhrjKOVyzljdPnzukDLFjsUbbWvOHcPp1ACwRuYMsHTddOcSvk8dt5XEVI9SpzBjgNNKga07EMP8xNEhZdi7bFo-6TmDdIdHW9PNB7TCV_-Ig/s3264/DSCF0226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBtG4qq233JxQTT3g1qKbvfwA2OQr3Pz4VZC9cTENP0A1bHjLJzSCZ11kdsuDYmQWxED1fTmEkczg8XhrjKOVyzljdPnzukDLFjsUbbWvOHcPp1ACwRuYMsHTddOcSvk8dt5XEVI9SpzBjgNNKga07EMP8xNEhZdi7bFo-6TmDdIdHW9PNB7TCV_-Ig/s320/DSCF0226.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Ten minutes later they're still out there mingling.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTGeDnfPeMYGIc-A4UkypxHLAhGYQu1mAHK8jezMdCiiYHQh6-lvayT3HwVxtT-tcCWWj_skwI1kc5B3_7kHUTWlal3SyDGH3aoRjSObzeDTGr-aZElhmtFBILhFJsaianRo683Kw5zC6712En5Wm7V7kCdFA-2FzXViPRCz-Fy3I-zK5QoW3xeZMXw/s3264/DSCF0235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTGeDnfPeMYGIc-A4UkypxHLAhGYQu1mAHK8jezMdCiiYHQh6-lvayT3HwVxtT-tcCWWj_skwI1kc5B3_7kHUTWlal3SyDGH3aoRjSObzeDTGr-aZElhmtFBILhFJsaianRo683Kw5zC6712En5Wm7V7kCdFA-2FzXViPRCz-Fy3I-zK5QoW3xeZMXw/s320/DSCF0235.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>And lastly, an opossum. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikH0eTKZHR5yD-YLKM0WwukENor54wt6yN_18pwv3Eez-8g8R7qfkCVZ1vHFDki7GRhDtjlCSbgeTnFVOXPWOu2IWLHjys3sNyu2f1G1oM3st4Z4gxGsf0F7K6l6bSxU4Qq7fEnc5CMzb8DxffVVU89VNzUFF95wKhUJiV5PbVkgNasC937QF-uFe8kA/s3264/DSCF0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikH0eTKZHR5yD-YLKM0WwukENor54wt6yN_18pwv3Eez-8g8R7qfkCVZ1vHFDki7GRhDtjlCSbgeTnFVOXPWOu2IWLHjys3sNyu2f1G1oM3st4Z4gxGsf0F7K6l6bSxU4Qq7fEnc5CMzb8DxffVVU89VNzUFF95wKhUJiV5PbVkgNasC937QF-uFe8kA/s320/DSCF0045.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>I have a big soft spot for these animals especially as the weather gets colder and winter arrives. They suffer during this season with their bare tail, toes, ears and nose. We provide a couple straw filled shelters for them but it is up to them if they will use them or not. We try. If nothing else, they can usually find some apple pieces as they wander around the yard. Some of the raccoons have taken to the gala apples this year, and sometimes they get to them before the opossums. I like our raccoons but anytime I see the opossum getting the apple, I am a little happier.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYP9RqMiKyjxPw2vwLfrHeBC8rfWfED7m4BYNmU794FED3acIRVuaVDzz0UTlrysgkfEGgWogAUSau-GT_n_8-DDhS1bq6f8vwgF5z8nEF4yGBMOeeOcEG-raPxsAPGQMg-zecwcpjm-lsVrRRVG5VJIUCHtd0Ga6cbMNEMSgLkIC13MPiZQOFMI8Tfw/s3264/DSCF0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYP9RqMiKyjxPw2vwLfrHeBC8rfWfED7m4BYNmU794FED3acIRVuaVDzz0UTlrysgkfEGgWogAUSau-GT_n_8-DDhS1bq6f8vwgF5z8nEF4yGBMOeeOcEG-raPxsAPGQMg-zecwcpjm-lsVrRRVG5VJIUCHtd0Ga6cbMNEMSgLkIC13MPiZQOFMI8Tfw/s320/DSCF0074.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>I hope you enjoyed visiting the gate here with me. It's odd to me how many people don't believe there is another world out there after dark. Not everything goes to sleep for the night; for many, the dark is their time.</p><p><br /></p></div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-4924476540948089452022-10-28T09:12:00.000-04:002022-10-28T09:12:03.489-04:00Happy Halloween<p>Well here we are at the spookiest time of the year. While Angie and I aren't the big party people like we once were so many years ago, we still enjoy this festivity. It's bit of a hoopla on our little street with all the neighbours; the one time of the year that we see almost everyone outside at the same time.</p><p>One thing I enjoy is getting the pets involved even if it is only for a silly photo session for a few minutes. Speaking of which, did any of you happen to see Merry and Molly on CTV news last night? They had a few seconds of fame in their pet costumes spot at the end of the show.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgWFt3hC5BuvH3LpHz_2Da3hgmQsGzpjUr6jbq4RSY9tfddSwjegkitK0iUkVKTQ--r9xpWx0NrTI76PVuK8_zaOUDvHno7LDtRXg07spZEdc5ZELE9vgOjhIfTcanQKtajOMsXMIb2B8aq4WPxs_KH2enGVzAD_6lVnXz_iGOFKWSk_okmq3FrPMsw/s960/ctv-news-cats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="960" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgWFt3hC5BuvH3LpHz_2Da3hgmQsGzpjUr6jbq4RSY9tfddSwjegkitK0iUkVKTQ--r9xpWx0NrTI76PVuK8_zaOUDvHno7LDtRXg07spZEdc5ZELE9vgOjhIfTcanQKtajOMsXMIb2B8aq4WPxs_KH2enGVzAD_6lVnXz_iGOFKWSk_okmq3FrPMsw/s320/ctv-news-cats.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Merry is a lot better about the whole dress up thing than what Molly is. Merry purrs and loves to play along with her daddy. Molly, I'm lucky if I can keep anything on her for more than 3 seconds.</p><p>What a face! Believe me, she was purring here.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFF3G3lX9yqZXKehAutUAX0fcrKDrl6F4kNCt6cJ64munz4qHZOmerX_jgdoeagnuxy04zpKEIHlElMYrpFIgXNakJUMYMKWMxMISunzJjDfUBXQNunDkSUXTFQX15vGIgmartDg32fwuKvv6iK0oBNwHWDhbhes3L9gyF_IZHFoIySlQ4i7p7MjyNvw/s960/frankenmerry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="533" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFF3G3lX9yqZXKehAutUAX0fcrKDrl6F4kNCt6cJ64munz4qHZOmerX_jgdoeagnuxy04zpKEIHlElMYrpFIgXNakJUMYMKWMxMISunzJjDfUBXQNunDkSUXTFQX15vGIgmartDg32fwuKvv6iK0oBNwHWDhbhes3L9gyF_IZHFoIySlQ4i7p7MjyNvw/s320/frankenmerry.jpg" width="178" /></a></div><p>Silly girl... or is it "silly Rob"? You tell me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhRdW8yx4j9_KV4fo-xT2rxPQpZiHt6gh3eJcRb49tR22lu6vP4BpGo3LWglF8j1ziCWOJyWTabCeNBbRYwFSjcGaso1WO-oaRqRFhPBW5FgHKbcl0P30Ib5DWOAgViop-DqVzPr0zYClD5CZZz8E8xMiZ2OldNRHx13q5LLpNJg5QWJCVG3-3qo42w/s960/halloblog4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="688" data-original-width="960" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhRdW8yx4j9_KV4fo-xT2rxPQpZiHt6gh3eJcRb49tR22lu6vP4BpGo3LWglF8j1ziCWOJyWTabCeNBbRYwFSjcGaso1WO-oaRqRFhPBW5FgHKbcl0P30Ib5DWOAgViop-DqVzPr0zYClD5CZZz8E8xMiZ2OldNRHx13q5LLpNJg5QWJCVG3-3qo42w/s320/halloblog4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Good Molly for a second. I have to be fast with the camera.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcX8_KVeb3WDzAzLTHVZ0mcpIOJLbK6cTof_0N7aSuyjR9Zf7u9D7AHSUPht6pq6BTLmA5XhpXE2Jy_5oo2BUEicU1KseWPUwyTGZSbwSX-KaXqMgRFcyCS9TjGZdui3tMeVsxiBVXXWYDLoAYAbHRFkmJeLIBvh0JlM-GMgJgknCnFewFMWyKfLaBg/s960/halloblog6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcX8_KVeb3WDzAzLTHVZ0mcpIOJLbK6cTof_0N7aSuyjR9Zf7u9D7AHSUPht6pq6BTLmA5XhpXE2Jy_5oo2BUEicU1KseWPUwyTGZSbwSX-KaXqMgRFcyCS9TjGZdui3tMeVsxiBVXXWYDLoAYAbHRFkmJeLIBvh0JlM-GMgJgknCnFewFMWyKfLaBg/s320/halloblog6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Funny how Meadow would play along with me and these photo moments. She too would purr away and take it all in stride. Man we had a lot of fun over the years.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziRZPX5OwXmmRvYR7-MYxLTYCnKLaS3-OXNb-eaU7hb2lPDJTKC_XOzQafzsR0akyKY9znKh0KXndsvmtP4x3Id3mhmJBlmUloi8O1SORkgjn0Y1pwxDm9kVVbKDUw487l_hXjIxMGyjNPt5QakMREHLkOolVgnO_syF9eHrTd_vVUqmeYNTLUqUI4w/s960/halloblog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="960" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziRZPX5OwXmmRvYR7-MYxLTYCnKLaS3-OXNb-eaU7hb2lPDJTKC_XOzQafzsR0akyKY9znKh0KXndsvmtP4x3Id3mhmJBlmUloi8O1SORkgjn0Y1pwxDm9kVVbKDUw487l_hXjIxMGyjNPt5QakMREHLkOolVgnO_syF9eHrTd_vVUqmeYNTLUqUI4w/s320/halloblog2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BpTtpVOiLk6qu6HkbPz_6R0LzyopPW6JZu4E4qdYL8AghjVsEykIc79HhoKRaWMyYURqQCjdU1HjrJMD-mSWLXdz5aPE2zE228usKdnuN5J0FDjmiPRdG4up3F5GrrdDpe3TvYy4J2pb-8nAG6dFnE01mqwLT363nSRXCFuUIooJpA3uHteEM5noWQ/s960/halloblog1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="960" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BpTtpVOiLk6qu6HkbPz_6R0LzyopPW6JZu4E4qdYL8AghjVsEykIc79HhoKRaWMyYURqQCjdU1HjrJMD-mSWLXdz5aPE2zE228usKdnuN5J0FDjmiPRdG4up3F5GrrdDpe3TvYy4J2pb-8nAG6dFnE01mqwLT363nSRXCFuUIooJpA3uHteEM5noWQ/s320/halloblog1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Pets are family too. They should be a part of all the fun all throughout the year.</p><p>So, I want to wish you all a very happy and safe Halloween, no matter how you spend it.</p><p>Lastly, I recently discovered a great account on Instagram called Groundhog Hill. They do single panel comics and frequently include some of our favourite yard critters. Here's a couple examples from the other day just in time for Halloween. If you are on Instagram, please check them out.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifi7gU6ew1KjdnT_pd7jAh25X7jVa650WEeVFpoTcNG2Vq7uSbPehL7RP1dM2_Jg59anZF3Eu3w95WUutNMF6RvyygAxu0Oecg8S9Jqe8DIo0upVVk0BDhy725fH3grYOn27webM91kDSQGm-g8-wxBfIgrywnj-8NFr8ufa8I5vIEXd3BfZROfp2-RA/s825/groundhog-hill1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="825" data-original-width="716" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifi7gU6ew1KjdnT_pd7jAh25X7jVa650WEeVFpoTcNG2Vq7uSbPehL7RP1dM2_Jg59anZF3Eu3w95WUutNMF6RvyygAxu0Oecg8S9Jqe8DIo0upVVk0BDhy725fH3grYOn27webM91kDSQGm-g8-wxBfIgrywnj-8NFr8ufa8I5vIEXd3BfZROfp2-RA/s320/groundhog-hill1.jpg" width="278" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dXFJjMre3iS_9u4Z2JebdYWTiOELpFDu4toMNKreYF2z4aS7OOKMPW4jKx8BHUspatOzg8xE8T4UC8dMfgnBltAQgsAGfF-R1ZpF_3w_a36kofEY4V5ZgjwVm7HiOiIS4ErXNz6PzMx9nQ5V5gCseyB0SkrZ-hOSquln3u6pwd1b38yvPipvOQYLmA/s720/groundhog-hill2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="720" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dXFJjMre3iS_9u4Z2JebdYWTiOELpFDu4toMNKreYF2z4aS7OOKMPW4jKx8BHUspatOzg8xE8T4UC8dMfgnBltAQgsAGfF-R1ZpF_3w_a36kofEY4V5ZgjwVm7HiOiIS4ErXNz6PzMx9nQ5V5gCseyB0SkrZ-hOSquln3u6pwd1b38yvPipvOQYLmA/s320/groundhog-hill2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>One more. All I can say is "who wouldn't love to hang out with an opossum?"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuLFGNTq4PyX6Lk21M6TK8xse4mh0S92EPh0knPUvaCeh0QKhjDIe8smndJsMTWVmisiXKBn31rx85s99HstiUwWWGrKkYqAKe-z2kOgIfhnKnnY6JOH-Ns3UzbLNvvpZzJrT_r1LwRXTOQMe2jdfmRV2Skm4GJHAZ28Vi7ucKranefqvfD1EKwLUDQ/s695/groundhog-hill3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="695" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuLFGNTq4PyX6Lk21M6TK8xse4mh0S92EPh0knPUvaCeh0QKhjDIe8smndJsMTWVmisiXKBn31rx85s99HstiUwWWGrKkYqAKe-z2kOgIfhnKnnY6JOH-Ns3UzbLNvvpZzJrT_r1LwRXTOQMe2jdfmRV2Skm4GJHAZ28Vi7ucKranefqvfD1EKwLUDQ/s320/groundhog-hill3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Alrighty, off to get my day started and enjoy the weekend ahead. Thanks for stopping in. Cheers!</p>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-29785630696842699022022-10-07T00:21:00.001-04:002022-10-07T00:21:11.909-04:00Budgie #5<p>If you read my <a href="https://robandtheanimals.blogspot.com/2022/09/summer-bits.html" target="_blank">last blog</a>, you may recall how I wrote about how many budgies we had in the backyard this past summer. Four was a ridiculously sad amount of "lost" birds. I swear that I have jinxed myself as just days later after publishing that blog along came budgie number five. I really think the jinx started earlier in the summer when talking to a neighbour about how many domestic birds I had seen in the 'hood over the years and that it had been quite a while since I last saw one. Someone, somewhere heard this and said "hold my beer, you asked for it".</p><p>We had just gotten home early Sunday afternoon from a walk and I went out to the yard to see what was going on, looking for any migratory birds, check on my pigeon buds, etc. I wasn't out there long when I heard a budgie tweeting. I thought "oh no!" I raced back to the house, grabbed a towel, our rescue cage and my camera.</p><p>It took me a bit of looking before I finally spotted the bird in the foliage along the fence. It's a male as you can see by his blue cere (nostrils).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUNNG1NpNw8PBm4T4ZDrT9DQrgf4IR0misFx4u2XtfBnPC16SSf7WmIPLI5p_iDPQj4TFvJc-rxXoZIFon77deD1HXZNT8wb9CDK9l681uprhVz4-nceuit7flEcb-ZrNK0mA0tQ0mptM8IpVknOWpSBfj36WPCNdhfFvBCGT1IrAiF33nuCF30xP9A/s5184/budgie1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUNNG1NpNw8PBm4T4ZDrT9DQrgf4IR0misFx4u2XtfBnPC16SSf7WmIPLI5p_iDPQj4TFvJc-rxXoZIFon77deD1HXZNT8wb9CDK9l681uprhVz4-nceuit7flEcb-ZrNK0mA0tQ0mptM8IpVknOWpSBfj36WPCNdhfFvBCGT1IrAiF33nuCF30xP9A/s320/budgie1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I made noises at the bird, clicking and silly squeaky sounds to get his attention. He flew out of hiding, went right over my head and then landed on some wires across the yard.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-c4l3JhwSzpGhFzZGZUvS76hKjRNS8M-RKlMWLwKZ-lT2wmQc8VqufxMTTUWoFC4vhi-Enxcsbgj19nWC2HO9yb3_7w7QUdk3oH5nK7A59k_4Aq5132I9e5CHUQazyRrDZwyQUJzJvEU4KY3iCx3HgJSSAWRCCs1B9IKtFA8muub0G4aq8xT92y35xA/s4148/budgie2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-c4l3JhwSzpGhFzZGZUvS76hKjRNS8M-RKlMWLwKZ-lT2wmQc8VqufxMTTUWoFC4vhi-Enxcsbgj19nWC2HO9yb3_7w7QUdk3oH5nK7A59k_4Aq5132I9e5CHUQazyRrDZwyQUJzJvEU4KY3iCx3HgJSSAWRCCs1B9IKtFA8muub0G4aq8xT92y35xA/s320/budgie2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The bird spent the afternoon out back, either on the ground looking for food with the other birds or flying about the trees, checking out some other backyards but always returning to ours. It was a mild and sunny October afternoon.</p><p>Wanna caption this photo?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZkHMiQqM5BPj7X3iTjLSSn219vKgYE_4UYX7ai4w7WccLvkmH5UBAJCRBWpCypo1h2_AwfEowJRHlIcHBQkUOCSdwfkVi1vay6kZHsfZbs-bmKUmsYidoppy3n26C3dQt1w8c4ZeXZeBO5i4tf8JylkwaRGh8tWqU2BYkdZH8xhYd0sGpd5eSlj1dg/s4640/budgie-numb-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4640" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZkHMiQqM5BPj7X3iTjLSSn219vKgYE_4UYX7ai4w7WccLvkmH5UBAJCRBWpCypo1h2_AwfEowJRHlIcHBQkUOCSdwfkVi1vay6kZHsfZbs-bmKUmsYidoppy3n26C3dQt1w8c4ZeXZeBO5i4tf8JylkwaRGh8tWqU2BYkdZH8xhYd0sGpd5eSlj1dg/s320/budgie-numb-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I wish I took some video of the bird as he had no fear of the bigger birds, and none of the other birds gave him any grief for being out there. I remember when Misfit was living out back that summer, the blue jays were constantly chasing her. They knew she didn't belong out there. Misfit always got away but she never had peace when they came in. This boy though, it was like he belonged out there and always had been out there.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoptj7kR4bLjvQudA1zvC3bvjZP-tpX7UOWJKPfMUN-wNwrcOPSf0AdIr_Ws2ljezeoL_IqAnsNeXJ0H-H3bpd8GMZkLkHQQUUwhfoyxq_sZbE5Zr7HtMka03o-cDXOIUEdQV-h6U4PmI4gRXnBsGeWt33ExFXae2GNH091TvrIS6EQzemTAJ7-Go-g/s4148/budgie4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoptj7kR4bLjvQudA1zvC3bvjZP-tpX7UOWJKPfMUN-wNwrcOPSf0AdIr_Ws2ljezeoL_IqAnsNeXJ0H-H3bpd8GMZkLkHQQUUwhfoyxq_sZbE5Zr7HtMka03o-cDXOIUEdQV-h6U4PmI4gRXnBsGeWt33ExFXae2GNH091TvrIS6EQzemTAJ7-Go-g/s320/budgie4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The budgie showed no interest in the cage, no matter where I set it over the next few hours. I even put my bluetooth speaker inside, playing budgie calls, to try and lure him in. No luck. I couldn't throw a towel over him because all the other birds would flush at the sight of a towel in my hand, and when they flew, so did the budgie. I gave up on any sort of chase as it got later in the day. The temperature was going to drop down to 4 Celsius over night, so I really wanted him to have a good feed before it got dark. </p><p>Most of the other birds were disappearing by 6:30 PM. The budgie was still here. I watched him fly into our lilac tree a couple times before finally picking a branch to sleep on for the night. He was about 12 ft off the ground, surrounded by branches and leaves. There was no way I could grab him in there, or get a towel over him.</p><p>A crappy cell phone shot of him up in the tree.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpI9WDLISOY5dLLdAXLDsLBTMKIzVn519-wN9DEvMQLqVHP9QkzvXTSDKnDVfeysz-l0gFYUypBbwL-wYKACkvLEEtqErV0rCM5cdF8qG5hsNc3O_TeV5ydNxaSKEsHHGKnbK9tGCEMb4r3GUTltP3m_fxbFrJIM_eJHhCKyzTGL5zDJKJYvfh0qE_A/s2015/budgie-sleeping-lilac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2015" data-original-width="1504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpI9WDLISOY5dLLdAXLDsLBTMKIzVn519-wN9DEvMQLqVHP9QkzvXTSDKnDVfeysz-l0gFYUypBbwL-wYKACkvLEEtqErV0rCM5cdF8qG5hsNc3O_TeV5ydNxaSKEsHHGKnbK9tGCEMb4r3GUTltP3m_fxbFrJIM_eJHhCKyzTGL5zDJKJYvfh0qE_A/s320/budgie-sleeping-lilac.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br /><p>I left him be and checked on him a couple times after dark before I went to bed. He stayed put. I think he had a better sleep than me despite the chill in the air. I woke many times throughout the night thinking about him. I was out of bed by 6:30 the next morning and setting my plan in motion. I was going to try and trap him with a box, stick and long piece of rope.</p><p>As I stepped outside to set things up, I had to go back in and put a heavier coat on. We haven't had a cool temperature like this in 6 months. After I had the trap set, I sat in a chair and waited. The budgie started to tweet around 7:20 AM. By 7:30 he was out of the lilacs and down at the back. He came to ground a few times looking for food. I should add that during my set up of the trap, I cleaned the ground up of any spilled seed. There was food out there but under the box that was raised on one end. If I wanted a blue jay, I could have had one as this bird in the shot below spent a good 20 minutes or more under the box!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirx1zfgspelND9G2ayPdXSE8xZJfyx8-3A1ic8r4vguJD9eJI1JTvOWQovy58rCf23Orbc1pQVxb4GyRD_p0j8jyH--uhu0spaBzEOyat5Tfq6Mh6VNA51S0zdYtTxpNBh_5GTI43mPaD4v5mPMQO-u5ZwsbwZXiuR08M1LnzARgxpjsi68U-lI5fXhg/s2015/budgie-trap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2015" data-original-width="1504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirx1zfgspelND9G2ayPdXSE8xZJfyx8-3A1ic8r4vguJD9eJI1JTvOWQovy58rCf23Orbc1pQVxb4GyRD_p0j8jyH--uhu0spaBzEOyat5Tfq6Mh6VNA51S0zdYtTxpNBh_5GTI43mPaD4v5mPMQO-u5ZwsbwZXiuR08M1LnzARgxpjsi68U-lI5fXhg/s320/budgie-trap.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p>A few times he came so close...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Ku472yR1F9ug3U6sM3Sbww0zi1EYysDrQZJtgBSUCErqy7aKFjcVQQCAR9kl9uS4l-RZP-VkBm-VY8uz5wljHCXlfb4QhHvlPMYwGIlVKSJ-WOQXVXBMutZEQIKCVoqU0E5pqO5DfZAVhiWN73FFuYjCCvoL9y2407I1OelQO5o-4-ulecfcal-CHg/s2048/budgie-trap-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Ku472yR1F9ug3U6sM3Sbww0zi1EYysDrQZJtgBSUCErqy7aKFjcVQQCAR9kl9uS4l-RZP-VkBm-VY8uz5wljHCXlfb4QhHvlPMYwGIlVKSJ-WOQXVXBMutZEQIKCVoqU0E5pqO5DfZAVhiWN73FFuYjCCvoL9y2407I1OelQO5o-4-ulecfcal-CHg/s320/budgie-trap-1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>I left the trap, as much as it pained me to do so, but I needed a coffee at one point, another time I needed a heavier coat, then I needed to get a bit of breakfast in me. My absences were short and I kept thinking that this would be when he would go under the box.</p><p>Finally after almost 4 hours, he went under the box, I pulled the rope and he was trapped. I brought out an old sheet from the shed, slid the box over the sheet, then wrapped the sheet around the box, and then brought it inside. I then got the cage, bringing that in too. He put up a fight with my hand as I tried to grab him. He couldn't see nothing but my hand and when I had him, he bit me quite hard. This wasn't my first budgie bite and I wanted this ordeal over with, so I held onto him, brought him out from the sheet and into the spare cage. As soon as I let go of him in the cage, he hopped on a perch and totally relaxed. What a good boy!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXAmx7DHDub0KukjVWCmRf6TbM6_E-cvX6_YSPrN2_ztpZFeiWqAjUIVboIV-blac2zgk7t1iVn0JNePEJbmVNMKx353IuJ7kGM21s3aDL8GQmwmR2cp9P5vTuvFFG9OC70kxPkOAtyQNpK2IfxQwhHYMq9yDGPTQMBdrwsc9sLeDyqABZHTuoaai9g/s2048/budgie-cage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXAmx7DHDub0KukjVWCmRf6TbM6_E-cvX6_YSPrN2_ztpZFeiWqAjUIVboIV-blac2zgk7t1iVn0JNePEJbmVNMKx353IuJ7kGM21s3aDL8GQmwmR2cp9P5vTuvFFG9OC70kxPkOAtyQNpK2IfxQwhHYMq9yDGPTQMBdrwsc9sLeDyqABZHTuoaai9g/s320/budgie-cage.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>We've been debating on what to do with him. Do we want another bird after over a year without? Maybe. How will Merry and Molly react to a bird in the house? But before taking him in, we agreed to try and see if anyone is missing him. I posted something on a lost bird page for Ontario. All I got was 2 likes. I was stunned at how many budgie posts were on this page, both for lost and found birds. Unfortunately the found birds was greater than people posting about losing their bird(s). Many of the found budgie posts were just people posting a photo of one they saw outside along with a location; not many were actually caught. So sad especially as we move through fall and the nights are getting very cool. These birds originate from Australia and don't do well in our cold Canadian climate. I posted him in a couple other places. I didn't care for some saying to leave him be, let him have a free life outdoors even if it is short instead of a life in prison. I'd agree if this was a bird that could survive out there and not A) freeze to death and B) be so dependent on us humans to feed it from bird feeders. I tried to explain this as much of a waste of time as it was and added that not every captive bird living in a house with humans has a terrible life of being ignored and locked up. Drama everywhere, eh? Doesn't matter where you go, what you do, someone is gonna stir shit, especially on the internet.</p><p>I've had a few offers to take him. One I said "absolutely not" to as they are a breeder and wanted him to help make more budgies for the person to sell. This is a huge part of the problem in the pet trade, people breeding animals for profit. Budgies are sold quite cheap through private sales, hell even in pet stores they are inexpensive. If the bird becomes a pain to someone because of the mess, or the squawking, then losing $15 or $30 is nothing to lose by opening the door and letting it fly out and having a budgie free home again. I've seen adoption posts for these birds through the city, trying to home birds found, and the fee is a mere $7!</p><p>I can only imagine how many budgies are sleeping outside throughout Toronto right now. Are they wishing they were in warm houses again with a seed dish all to themselves and not having to fight for supper? Poor things. They may be small but they have big personalities.</p><p>Okay, let's find joy in the rescue of this guy here. One less stray bird on the street. I will update soon on what became of him. Will he become a Mueller? </p><p>One last pretty shot of him in our holly bush. This would be a lovely Christmas card, maybe in Australia. What do you think?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_44XM2tRis_ekGuipVVNR4hs9ijOqkdB5iwraHynl8DHDM-QMvxOd0yK2B1iTbI4vT_zkEwuJksQWRW-aM5m_rMvX8jyWqzpilrgOS5jiKCs3wkmDOdJn_MOkQT0CYqkNEx7vOozjWxaZHnLVai4FzOoAJsWlavdRc1b5tR08QBjMR-9Tnk7EZYYFNQ/s4148/budgie-num-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_44XM2tRis_ekGuipVVNR4hs9ijOqkdB5iwraHynl8DHDM-QMvxOd0yK2B1iTbI4vT_zkEwuJksQWRW-aM5m_rMvX8jyWqzpilrgOS5jiKCs3wkmDOdJn_MOkQT0CYqkNEx7vOozjWxaZHnLVai4FzOoAJsWlavdRc1b5tR08QBjMR-9Tnk7EZYYFNQ/s320/budgie-num-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Lastly, I read any comments left. I reply to some but I don't think the person gets notice that I do. Jennifer I learned about Muskoka from you. Thank you. Angie, unfortunately blogger has made a change where people who follow a blog no longer get notification on when a new blog has been published. Why would someone think that change was a good idea?</p><p>Okay, it's 12:30 in the morning. It has been a very long day. I need sleep. I hope this blog came across well. I will probably read it over again tomorrow after my coffee.</p><p>Thanks for stopping in!</p>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-88316084566418664802022-09-26T14:11:00.001-04:002022-09-26T14:11:16.216-04:00Summer BitsI wish I had more to share of our trip the other week up to the Muskoka region but I do not. So after some pondering, I think another blog of bits from the last few months is due. It's been a quiet summer as we spent most of it at home like we normally do but I am sure there will be some interesting "things" here to enjoy throughout the blog.<div><br /></div><div>Early on in the summer I found this eastern screech owl while Angie was getting her hair done. I think it was a year ago that I found an owl here and anytime we are over to this spot just west of the house (four times a year roughly for hair cuts or bang trims), I go for a quick look around. The owl was just zoning about 25 ft off the path. So many people passed by and had no idea he was there.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXXql5sTfHElF8nEjV6LmNwjSIvcRqOydD8BXkGQ_PA2DAuLWt44obyxTbJCTFU4YBabCGqpmvxkqjomUPmBV1iP1azhzCmc6Siww179uwnXX5x4OQnDyoqJXrYpvDjZm_k5UZfr-vikNzwpq1IpgbdekJHeQUzTJxIyEi4Do3SM_27Tv8QaP9sdhNA/s4148/sleepyscreech2022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXXql5sTfHElF8nEjV6LmNwjSIvcRqOydD8BXkGQ_PA2DAuLWt44obyxTbJCTFU4YBabCGqpmvxkqjomUPmBV1iP1azhzCmc6Siww179uwnXX5x4OQnDyoqJXrYpvDjZm_k5UZfr-vikNzwpq1IpgbdekJHeQUzTJxIyEi4Do3SM_27Tv8QaP9sdhNA/s320/sleepyscreech2022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>We were in the area in August as well but I couldn't find an owl in this small woodlot due to all the leaves. I wasn't going off the path either... 1) didn't want to disturb anything and 2) I didn't want to pick up any ticks.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was bad for budgies around here this summer. More so than what I have ever seen. Four birds came to our yard in just over a month. </div><div><br /></div><div>This one on July 1st. A female judging by the lack of blue color on the cere.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ctwb-zZTZZdHl5L_TQ55yQgNY8Soi_N8Rr10wtuUKBESNHOVJ84Q8rZdwaputz6US1U1n6z-EEqXZBynGzjf1C1FtkkBRFYt4iNRgQJUXODA55dw2OahIx6OsHNUDZGfe7aJYaieo9xjDHw-1XsuhbEvb-mnozwFY3t-IGWXH2RMhptEOw6MNPIRCA/s2654/budgie2022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1769" data-original-width="2654" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ctwb-zZTZZdHl5L_TQ55yQgNY8Soi_N8Rr10wtuUKBESNHOVJ84Q8rZdwaputz6US1U1n6z-EEqXZBynGzjf1C1FtkkBRFYt4iNRgQJUXODA55dw2OahIx6OsHNUDZGfe7aJYaieo9xjDHw-1XsuhbEvb-mnozwFY3t-IGWXH2RMhptEOw6MNPIRCA/s320/budgie2022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>On August 6th we had two females, both were mirror images of our old girl Misfit. I didn't have my camera with me as I was hoping to catch them. The birds were very close to me but so were the pigeons. I had a towel with me but anytime I moved my hand with the towel, the pigeons flushed and so did the budgies. They both flew off together an hour or so later and we did not see them again.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is Misfit in the front with Moonie behind. Both of them were backyard rescues.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mfQ3EHkelTrTpFOk33G-JoZdj36sJc5zWNPjFjg14ZuWwYitDsdJ_KFtvxPtlID6dS09Q2Tq14zU4NEuYYufs3P5pHpt8hnscFlseKflWa4pTywT7E9w7KsFWNTORDXO4nBnQwClX7i1xk3Vg5mWphzFEaUrcwzFnS-uAD0LotbpKfSaHe2hirmcGw/s1437/mooniemisfit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1324" data-original-width="1437" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mfQ3EHkelTrTpFOk33G-JoZdj36sJc5zWNPjFjg14ZuWwYitDsdJ_KFtvxPtlID6dS09Q2Tq14zU4NEuYYufs3P5pHpt8hnscFlseKflWa4pTywT7E9w7KsFWNTORDXO4nBnQwClX7i1xk3Vg5mWphzFEaUrcwzFnS-uAD0LotbpKfSaHe2hirmcGw/s320/mooniemisfit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Then the very next day we had another budgie show up! Again I tried to catch this boy but had no luck. Look at that blue cere.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UIpTYB2KXkxM0pamKRNqa3MnOchL5LgwNK-H0xygE9Mp0fbY1Gc6S3kJ8aXf9wpa-i4iVs3uUuSQiD2SuUB2irema9gQC5ZAO5l-thGWYy-iRbUK-wXzs-Vznb6cd7hWOP5C0AxHKineSeqNVBJ3L3bs56hDpsqyWmNFvJk3EtwVKLcmM08teRlN0w/s4148/budgie3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UIpTYB2KXkxM0pamKRNqa3MnOchL5LgwNK-H0xygE9Mp0fbY1Gc6S3kJ8aXf9wpa-i4iVs3uUuSQiD2SuUB2irema9gQC5ZAO5l-thGWYy-iRbUK-wXzs-Vznb6cd7hWOP5C0AxHKineSeqNVBJ3L3bs56hDpsqyWmNFvJk3EtwVKLcmM08teRlN0w/s320/budgie3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I should add that I had set out our spare bird cage when these birds showed up, just in case they came back, and hoping that they would figure out that food is inside. That is how Misfit came to us.</div><div><br /></div><div>We've had other budgies come in over the years but not in a while and never had more than one in a summer. Having four in just over a month this year was very upsetting. Some must have let all their birds go.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was seeing osprey fly over the house this summer. I've heard of them nesting along the Humber river but have never spotted a nest. Seeing these birds during the summer months pushed me to look in parts of the Humber that I rarely visit.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisowHsWTgguCeNTcFCtdX2cn9s87_ckV0B7bm49TMSbzUrBt54w10sAlAYoe5z9tPyreZGpvZmvym5lvkElE77jJ_XJRAD35LrRbKrgtVu3vOPkaqwXLIlbDys05TKQyYRt2pHMQRbJb8djnGFIvFdVg7kMVgorrW3WAigF3OkfTU3k4wmr5WZcOd1Rw/s2124/osprey22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1416" data-original-width="2124" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisowHsWTgguCeNTcFCtdX2cn9s87_ckV0B7bm49TMSbzUrBt54w10sAlAYoe5z9tPyreZGpvZmvym5lvkElE77jJ_XJRAD35LrRbKrgtVu3vOPkaqwXLIlbDys05TKQyYRt2pHMQRbJb8djnGFIvFdVg7kMVgorrW3WAigF3OkfTU3k4wmr5WZcOd1Rw/s320/osprey22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>We didn't have a great summer with baltimore orioles this time around. A pair randomly visited and we had two juveniles for a couple days in early August. Normally for us, late August is pretty busy with easily eight orioles steadily coming in, loading up for their journey south.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDvO3-k7J5BBXdPueK-dqYfIKMMuhlT7po4w6SJMuMa5cGDy0yUddSEkgV15PX8p6VBLaSwh5eCJj-nHj8GDEGOg_96vZSpSm0GEBgCxp5z2yVJjzc4kg7jm6xDKlhJcTfLohMVl3-1-U9XNjsmj8uSnyL2Hi41L_N3LW3wD3jDT7nRNLIW_ir72eKQ/s3318/2022august.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2212" data-original-width="3318" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDvO3-k7J5BBXdPueK-dqYfIKMMuhlT7po4w6SJMuMa5cGDy0yUddSEkgV15PX8p6VBLaSwh5eCJj-nHj8GDEGOg_96vZSpSm0GEBgCxp5z2yVJjzc4kg7jm6xDKlhJcTfLohMVl3-1-U9XNjsmj8uSnyL2Hi41L_N3LW3wD3jDT7nRNLIW_ir72eKQ/s320/2022august.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>What we were blessed with this summer was more frequent visits from at least three ruby-throated hummingbirds. Past years, they were here at first and last light, and rarely any other time of the day. This year, especially through August, they were coming in all through the day from sun up until sun down. I wonder if the really dry summer may be the reason? A lot of their natural food source from the various flowers may have suffered from the many weeks of drought. I'm glad we were able to help them along.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8E_ja6Xky4q1ErdmPpjm_TwC23NaR9wVO5TJIwONHm6Y8CnwKToRBZDueB9CAZoWUXk78jhUcyGk0aZccMTeqZByV94HTx8_DO3_Xvah-mhHCq94CPv_w1sOc3mWaOUVxmeSPsiZkIuyx4QU4HWi7zIwwwoxGpHSKi4xm8q6c-KtFm3vLMi69_wUD6g/s1440/Collage%20Maker-31-Aug-2022-07.45-AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8E_ja6Xky4q1ErdmPpjm_TwC23NaR9wVO5TJIwONHm6Y8CnwKToRBZDueB9CAZoWUXk78jhUcyGk0aZccMTeqZByV94HTx8_DO3_Xvah-mhHCq94CPv_w1sOc3mWaOUVxmeSPsiZkIuyx4QU4HWi7zIwwwoxGpHSKi4xm8q6c-KtFm3vLMi69_wUD6g/s320/Collage%20Maker-31-Aug-2022-07.45-AM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>With more time at home than out and about, I brought out the macro lens again. It's amazing how many teeny tiny creatures can be found in the garden. Check out this oblique streaktail.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnC03lQzVboTmBabC2N4Apx-v_XwPoy8LgMR0KDRGURZM3_WvHE9Zqt3aoyolrZvduWk2laSiGofTJRReSjXVgH1Zm9WZYZmaPKeTN2DfXW8tWbp-6GC63BnJE5mGqnTo-zucdk4cf5asDEN9i8UkbWckD2BQfjtggSGW7uCaRN0StM0P_PM9C4MhMng/s2298/oblique.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1583" data-original-width="2298" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnC03lQzVboTmBabC2N4Apx-v_XwPoy8LgMR0KDRGURZM3_WvHE9Zqt3aoyolrZvduWk2laSiGofTJRReSjXVgH1Zm9WZYZmaPKeTN2DfXW8tWbp-6GC63BnJE5mGqnTo-zucdk4cf5asDEN9i8UkbWckD2BQfjtggSGW7uCaRN0StM0P_PM9C4MhMng/s320/oblique.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Then there's the webworm moth, or as I call them "hippie bugs" and Angie calls them "winnebago bugs". No matter what one calls them, they are cool to look at.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEytVil86vwfjdA7avcIv2Cn5uk6YRcjHxvV8aBeYiwJ2LYZG7BuTNLTdAYpnqzl297Ud63O7CS3ZLKx3om5_M_6DE2m8rYKxp-CqCZks8BznFnis12TEj9v6hTHpfft-QI2UT62ukXFZAXWXQ52l4MvSghb68AYkuyfMyOeZ81tdymz_UA1_L669pGQ/s4148/webworm-moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEytVil86vwfjdA7avcIv2Cn5uk6YRcjHxvV8aBeYiwJ2LYZG7BuTNLTdAYpnqzl297Ud63O7CS3ZLKx3om5_M_6DE2m8rYKxp-CqCZks8BznFnis12TEj9v6hTHpfft-QI2UT62ukXFZAXWXQ52l4MvSghb68AYkuyfMyOeZ81tdymz_UA1_L669pGQ/s320/webworm-moth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>It was nice to see a few candy-striped leafhoppers this summer.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ufoyv9s4wpeOvdOe-dmsgmCIfACvwXqj7gpGWmHopNbr8rK3nh3e32deUadSaDep2zzCtGFv_uZfkiuRkdadMF95asg-KjHU6WvDoTenkg8I3iU3udI5yc-z7KLMjxNrdfhGqNYt6Uqk_zRoCQlcjegNM_EhQdW4C2FUlB55yVs40dYsl2IBnnorQA/s3318/leafhopper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2212" data-original-width="3318" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ufoyv9s4wpeOvdOe-dmsgmCIfACvwXqj7gpGWmHopNbr8rK3nh3e32deUadSaDep2zzCtGFv_uZfkiuRkdadMF95asg-KjHU6WvDoTenkg8I3iU3udI5yc-z7KLMjxNrdfhGqNYt6Uqk_zRoCQlcjegNM_EhQdW4C2FUlB55yVs40dYsl2IBnnorQA/s320/leafhopper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>A cool surprise one morning was the lady next door blurting out "ewwwww, look at this big bug!" which of course got our attention. I went over to see and was pleasantly surprised to see a big northern bush katydid. I don't recall ever seeing one before. They were having a large gathering at this house and were going to be using the BBQ which is where the insect was; so we moved over to our yard in a safe, quiet, sheltered spot where it spent the day.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTz8XU6ehdWZn-NCu_uXE3tV6Rht_iMPkM99C0ynW-ezC009qW4WOfqr2bu4P3dJ1xtFtixHI-TC3IrmBkxtD6lbuostC1wz2EzCuW54BlQQXub2LNA-TFDepEots_15SIxeZvkt-yNEQg3b5_bLWVumzLZTAyLD5Ei2zBKHWTvnbItI3T5E6r5lH_9w/s5184/north-katy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTz8XU6ehdWZn-NCu_uXE3tV6Rht_iMPkM99C0ynW-ezC009qW4WOfqr2bu4P3dJ1xtFtixHI-TC3IrmBkxtD6lbuostC1wz2EzCuW54BlQQXub2LNA-TFDepEots_15SIxeZvkt-yNEQg3b5_bLWVumzLZTAyLD5Ei2zBKHWTvnbItI3T5E6r5lH_9w/s320/north-katy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>We've had a lot of dog day cicadas in the yard this summer.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucik7brZ5jygee4k9POIpI3Ja6vXGNclOhKozrOjKDtk1dGD5Rp5e3sRBduaAnmMUOe94Pu7bVv_vTH0g1Pn8ALLLgAKG3Li7KX6Xgl4aBZPblDyl54Jrc0lF7988Ap9DEkTsGu1kWbu2wNT9apJ9iPwJVqphksuazhxAAuFeqv5w1Z8xVmlO-GTTkQ/s5184/dog-day-cic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucik7brZ5jygee4k9POIpI3Ja6vXGNclOhKozrOjKDtk1dGD5Rp5e3sRBduaAnmMUOe94Pu7bVv_vTH0g1Pn8ALLLgAKG3Li7KX6Xgl4aBZPblDyl54Jrc0lF7988Ap9DEkTsGu1kWbu2wNT9apJ9iPwJVqphksuazhxAAuFeqv5w1Z8xVmlO-GTTkQ/s320/dog-day-cic1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>On a Sunday morning walk near the house, we chanced upon this fawn. I haven't seen a fawn in many years. Sure, it's an older fawn as this was late August when we saw it; but still a fawn. It's mother was nearby but they weren't too concerned by us as we kept our distance and it was a busy spot for human activity.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLp9N0cYuy0ibsKlrRAVMy8bBQY2pZw-JufhOIcBJ71isS9aTz_k-BA8bi5mYpN5ZgALZZW9Lk1hymB-mNLkH2InuuxC40-ThLHarG-GBW0AlyrQF7EWBLAgmnIC2SzIoiwydZ4kwCup8nigjxoQAzInC0zEpKR6pBmxVxMH_C7BFuSusUJHtvXld_IQ/s4148/fawn2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLp9N0cYuy0ibsKlrRAVMy8bBQY2pZw-JufhOIcBJ71isS9aTz_k-BA8bi5mYpN5ZgALZZW9Lk1hymB-mNLkH2InuuxC40-ThLHarG-GBW0AlyrQF7EWBLAgmnIC2SzIoiwydZ4kwCup8nigjxoQAzInC0zEpKR6pBmxVxMH_C7BFuSusUJHtvXld_IQ/s320/fawn2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>We haven't been blessed with daylight views of skunks this summer other than one morning. Thankfully I had woken up early for some reason and spotted him shortly after 7 AM.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXU8YFfUsHR6wgn48IR3B36kXMv0cN-J916RHsTH5-euo5vNyJJ-fDHim73s42BTqfeqsV8jf6_n_GkLkTuwp8SXVfynCyBGKGqQRCAXgERux2dvDuxBgN4tSq6BbkfHwQFKTHbKAOv0o41gs8pVyD1yBE-Zr00ka5gqDpV0o-mTzGUBjCe5F7hALsBw/s5184/skunk-2022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXU8YFfUsHR6wgn48IR3B36kXMv0cN-J916RHsTH5-euo5vNyJJ-fDHim73s42BTqfeqsV8jf6_n_GkLkTuwp8SXVfynCyBGKGqQRCAXgERux2dvDuxBgN4tSq6BbkfHwQFKTHbKAOv0o41gs8pVyD1yBE-Zr00ka5gqDpV0o-mTzGUBjCe5F7hALsBw/s320/skunk-2022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The mass of migrating common grackles that stopped in the same morning weren't too concerned by it's presence.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSruq1R9II8j2rkVGQOLgV1OTtkNHk5u_SFR58YDQN6lWK_Il1xj8dgs6z_vNe6fBdCPSS2NM5rlmF7xwhBgSrrZkCpzCwvhKGuLcO2ZaMoaQklaSU9hqEbfK7k5ffPda17Ev9dBdPHZpFXcG9DZlXqGjJpBXpQOxZeZ8dOD5aQ4NxDt--SsrW_N3wA/s5184/IMG_8684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSruq1R9II8j2rkVGQOLgV1OTtkNHk5u_SFR58YDQN6lWK_Il1xj8dgs6z_vNe6fBdCPSS2NM5rlmF7xwhBgSrrZkCpzCwvhKGuLcO2ZaMoaQklaSU9hqEbfK7k5ffPda17Ev9dBdPHZpFXcG9DZlXqGjJpBXpQOxZeZ8dOD5aQ4NxDt--SsrW_N3wA/s320/IMG_8684.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>The raccoon family were MIA most of the summer except for captures on my trail camera during the night. A couple of the kids recently made an appearance early one evening. Cute little rascals, eh.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecTTzw1xhTSKz_vaPRPjUbAQ_5gT_Ftb4K5yi29Nh-cJKbQnL9HVpyEt49rORks75LF4G1tiRsh9mB4LgwyC3f_Ry7OzbkKLYzl_IqkE_cDpqXIU1uFwIhhK8MnRKi8n7ALRlo065FGBLIsfkCj3ohGavcw9xghhKMHw8LRtUSO-IHFiiQi_gTYPYcg/s2048/2022-raccoon-kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecTTzw1xhTSKz_vaPRPjUbAQ_5gT_Ftb4K5yi29Nh-cJKbQnL9HVpyEt49rORks75LF4G1tiRsh9mB4LgwyC3f_Ry7OzbkKLYzl_IqkE_cDpqXIU1uFwIhhK8MnRKi8n7ALRlo065FGBLIsfkCj3ohGavcw9xghhKMHw8LRtUSO-IHFiiQi_gTYPYcg/s320/2022-raccoon-kids.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>We have seen mom too, which is good to know that she is still around. Our raccoon mom is older and limps around due to arthritis, our guess anyway. She may let them stay with her through the winter but by next spring, she will be pushing them out of the territory as she prepares to have a new litter.</div><div><br /></div><div>The cam has been picking up our mom opossum some nights as well as one, possibly two, new opossums. We know mom by her tail stump.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtG0Q_DnCsKh5GLmESvjePW089-2TUyytmXxP0xBaPLWAZhaKXMeR3gfTLc4xno523qBZ1ytLkVdgEvI6FimFQbRxHlK7iOp0g0o8E2vxMfIB51QFVgEV9ER6wehuOD1Y6hZyTFbZmiTOEDcwHI8fFlOOwd4D57NVnfcm1kVOOOhsU9dVRHkOFKNcsA/s1440/Collage%20Maker-18-Aug-2022-08.04-AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtG0Q_DnCsKh5GLmESvjePW089-2TUyytmXxP0xBaPLWAZhaKXMeR3gfTLc4xno523qBZ1ytLkVdgEvI6FimFQbRxHlK7iOp0g0o8E2vxMfIB51QFVgEV9ER6wehuOD1Y6hZyTFbZmiTOEDcwHI8fFlOOwd4D57NVnfcm1kVOOOhsU9dVRHkOFKNcsA/s320/Collage%20Maker-18-Aug-2022-08.04-AM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I'd love to see one with my own eyes again soon; but knowing they are around just by the trail cam captures makes me happy. Here is one that used to use a hollow log in the yard as a hiding spot. Unfortunately the log crumbled to bits over the years. I keep looking for another one when out.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUICl5QV4nKuw3pWdIFTuSN5UKO_iVaQZgqssll8LIeyK3RZ_SruA6pVb_6FVX1a9vO3h6HRF-J4Jhxcu5WmZCfPB8_2j7ffii59lKz8hAeJC-C4W70GQ6FFa7KNGOLfQ6KRO0SgBdgQcqb1TSAmPvEEjE5cHqRGQgnJ2v2EUsdxzZmPBV0Cb-sPUjyQ/s2090/opossum1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1568" data-original-width="2090" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUICl5QV4nKuw3pWdIFTuSN5UKO_iVaQZgqssll8LIeyK3RZ_SruA6pVb_6FVX1a9vO3h6HRF-J4Jhxcu5WmZCfPB8_2j7ffii59lKz8hAeJC-C4W70GQ6FFa7KNGOLfQ6KRO0SgBdgQcqb1TSAmPvEEjE5cHqRGQgnJ2v2EUsdxzZmPBV0Cb-sPUjyQ/s320/opossum1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Gulliver is still a daily visitor here for the most part. I think she's been coming to my hand for about one year now, and has been coming to the yard for approximately two years. This is a recent picture of her. The holly berries behind her make for a nice backdrop and I wonder who will be coming to feast on them during the winter months?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6srpQILbRJqkYFpJT0mEoUiS7thWhfg4tZRLmzkSwU8j4xiRlR2e3WBNQ1SJOFHXgY117L9_bUtA2kbewfI0-8Mq4ik0wJ-g9VTyUZGePw2RexJFZ7iqGxMh9ZdjR1aIwYTj_NiTPXkwTSl5uxv6B-7plaOM_CCUxrqnjI56l-07OCehZq4W4FzEutA/s2048/gulliver-2022-august.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1599" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6srpQILbRJqkYFpJT0mEoUiS7thWhfg4tZRLmzkSwU8j4xiRlR2e3WBNQ1SJOFHXgY117L9_bUtA2kbewfI0-8Mq4ik0wJ-g9VTyUZGePw2RexJFZ7iqGxMh9ZdjR1aIwYTj_NiTPXkwTSl5uxv6B-7plaOM_CCUxrqnjI56l-07OCehZq4W4FzEutA/s320/gulliver-2022-august.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br /><div>Charlie is also still fairly regular. The last few years she's disappeared through most of the winter and always missing her anniversary date which I believe is February 27th, Facebook memories help me remember. All I do know is that this coming February will mark 5 years with Charlie. That's a great long life for a "city pigeon". She's a wise bird and avoids the hawks during the cold months.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-gNcVkvSP7sD_EtncSCxW2ZQI3got6Z07LWQRTPZ7bSyN9hVxU87ojQImTcqyPGy372AsvKT_enAK3J2BPuwW02GApfx2EGbBzwxgzgreUOp4awRs02IsqPzrn27awlUG1lGvXaLX7SY-0cMY3yl6CQ9o1_jTtLKolVPvRjwgSoULHTtB-KAfyHjwQ/s2048/charlie-august-2022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1990" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-gNcVkvSP7sD_EtncSCxW2ZQI3got6Z07LWQRTPZ7bSyN9hVxU87ojQImTcqyPGy372AsvKT_enAK3J2BPuwW02GApfx2EGbBzwxgzgreUOp4awRs02IsqPzrn27awlUG1lGvXaLX7SY-0cMY3yl6CQ9o1_jTtLKolVPvRjwgSoULHTtB-KAfyHjwQ/s320/charlie-august-2022.jpg" width="311" /></a></div><br /><div>There's one more backyard buddy I should post about, Ripper, who I see for days in a row, then not for days, sometimes weeks. I always wonder about him when he's not around and then he suddenly reappears. He's getting a blog post of his own very soon. Stay tuned for that. Here's us from this past weekend. He's awesome!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Lr0ENoVh7F6lzegUxMhRMKqwBHjv-QZEA7yd-SHPZUN1oYq6WpUOW73wftHeSAkNaQYasQiMe2h8qMXrjZUmUKB42hWPNTH_wYmG3L-Kn9fVeRAHfZaMcObMRCwXFD_rvltIOIDhKwmpnABAHbGuuo8tsRK7OS7CkJVy7CigOXFNcY075pIzbHU9Ww/s766/ripper-sept-2022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="689" data-original-width="766" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Lr0ENoVh7F6lzegUxMhRMKqwBHjv-QZEA7yd-SHPZUN1oYq6WpUOW73wftHeSAkNaQYasQiMe2h8qMXrjZUmUKB42hWPNTH_wYmG3L-Kn9fVeRAHfZaMcObMRCwXFD_rvltIOIDhKwmpnABAHbGuuo8tsRK7OS7CkJVy7CigOXFNcY075pIzbHU9Ww/s320/ripper-sept-2022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I talk about how I cannot wait to get out of Toronto as it is becoming way too crowded and there is so much development, condos popping up everywhere they can squeeze one in, yet the infrastructure is not growing with the buildings and townhouses (they cannot widen the roads so traffic gets worse all the time). Then looking back through this blog I am about to post, leaving here will certainly fill me with a lot of sadness too. Our property is 25' X 177', which is big for the city, definitely attracts a lot of creatures all throughout the year. People we know outside of the city cannot believe how much we see here compared to where they are. We make the yard welcoming to them all and more so as the development around us continues.</div><div><br /></div><div>This isn't really how I wanted to end this blog but with the window open, I can hear machinery from down the road. Blech.<br /><div><br /></div></div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-14187842328439936912022-09-21T08:16:00.002-04:002022-09-23T08:50:24.817-04:00Great Find on the Road to Nowhere<p>Angie and I were away for a few days last week up in the Muskoka area. It was nice to be north of the city and enjoy a little time out with nature. At one point someone recommended to us a trail in the Waubaushene area called the Tay Shore Trail. It was on our way home so we decided to check it out after we checked out of the lodge. The person's directions were a bit vague so I entered the trail name into my Google maps on my mobile and away we went. The drive seemed to be taking longer than what we thought and it also took us into a small subdivision, and from there to a dead end street that had no trail. Ugh!</p><p>Angie said she saw a sign for the trail back near the highway but we stuck to the directions on the mobile, thinking we may end up at the other end. Since that wasn't the case, we now turned around from this dead end "road to nowhere" and started making our way back.</p><p>We had barely done the u-turn and passed a couple houses when Angie blurts out that she saw a fox. I stopped the car and then backed up. Sure enough there was a fox up the driveway to the side of a house on a large lot. It was just sitting there, looking at us, then to the ground, back at us, back to the ground and then it started to dig and pounce.</p><p>I grabbed my camera from the back seat. Neither of us left the car and just watched him from the passenger window along the road. He was probably 100 ft away but we could see him clearly as the area was not obstructed at all.</p><p>It was rather dark and raining. I knew any photos that I got weren't going to be great quality but I wanted to capture some of the moment to share.</p><p>Acknowledgement.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06ZfUqD5jVf16l4BuGqWHfb31WS7qqWtb1vZb6My-gNDR4_MlcFclPj9ksQxhW6LSmruh0RI56efeOWv0mVA_m0MHBSGKtmgFof9QScTP3iwb7teiXA71RpeaqYYQKEgnuAe2SN_cTSBHBZscTx1ogwE5dlEwhb2cIvkDqrWElFr2FwNlaWIpqY7zJA/s3318/wabu-fox0.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2212" data-original-width="3318" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06ZfUqD5jVf16l4BuGqWHfb31WS7qqWtb1vZb6My-gNDR4_MlcFclPj9ksQxhW6LSmruh0RI56efeOWv0mVA_m0MHBSGKtmgFof9QScTP3iwb7teiXA71RpeaqYYQKEgnuAe2SN_cTSBHBZscTx1ogwE5dlEwhb2cIvkDqrWElFr2FwNlaWIpqY7zJA/s320/wabu-fox0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Still looking at us.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAj_004_x29eXyrYhY0TomnAcQJ_XtECGiQr_gilRDTzYhIaHkHGu9RUH3v6WT6dKyJVW0W5Fr0l0Q4mEtOvoqxDC5K6959VrPLWwe8AWQSmmm1gOHiWe2X9uj0SG65Q3hEtgppYNyyVny-qOXgfeFYuyFxd8FFDQZe3Ha5RH_hs85a52xSW7S5vyVw/s4148/wabu-fox00.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAj_004_x29eXyrYhY0TomnAcQJ_XtECGiQr_gilRDTzYhIaHkHGu9RUH3v6WT6dKyJVW0W5Fr0l0Q4mEtOvoqxDC5K6959VrPLWwe8AWQSmmm1gOHiWe2X9uj0SG65Q3hEtgppYNyyVny-qOXgfeFYuyFxd8FFDQZe3Ha5RH_hs85a52xSW7S5vyVw/s320/wabu-fox00.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Looking to the ground.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dVlWF1kBdY8BkiOklGGHsONPR9mqxImFfJRA_Oe5hX-mco1xqs82VzL5KEzwxcfCAXmwy9GGlE7DrjLl0pUHDyXIxE_N7Fmkk7JlrBgEPdlAWQp6Zg9w2YJRbZ1l5EVX4_UQau9fmy87OSYeRieSKTo2mj1iO7LqrYBsdAVRzuJpWHC6E0_kiU_CYw/s4148/wabu-fox000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dVlWF1kBdY8BkiOklGGHsONPR9mqxImFfJRA_Oe5hX-mco1xqs82VzL5KEzwxcfCAXmwy9GGlE7DrjLl0pUHDyXIxE_N7Fmkk7JlrBgEPdlAWQp6Zg9w2YJRbZ1l5EVX4_UQau9fmy87OSYeRieSKTo2mj1iO7LqrYBsdAVRzuJpWHC6E0_kiU_CYw/s320/wabu-fox000.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The hunt.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zVc5s4kBAX82JiAOShBjMtFCJga6Nn1HLMmjyqaDEwh0UO8C6YW_r8ignO_BojBhhfBPdHw0EcAuxWeK3I5PpQmibF7M9Inl_VzDhifJuaxUrp9TYeBOKxLkcqP-0JQBjJNmKGiaiqzHaW5cuA6RAMp8eCTnFF8R9FaSJU_wFuVOEQqxWR3kR6wYzg/s4148/wabu-fox1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zVc5s4kBAX82JiAOShBjMtFCJga6Nn1HLMmjyqaDEwh0UO8C6YW_r8ignO_BojBhhfBPdHw0EcAuxWeK3I5PpQmibF7M9Inl_VzDhifJuaxUrp9TYeBOKxLkcqP-0JQBjJNmKGiaiqzHaW5cuA6RAMp8eCTnFF8R9FaSJU_wFuVOEQqxWR3kR6wYzg/s320/wabu-fox1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Pounce. Bounce.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdjq-urQn2nkNKogmPnIZ0J5LX7oWEmOP7A0PzRY-TSx2XlvpLG0EDfRXnEz-WaKCSa9-lJeOZt22W28dHDInDN_BZ3VMfO3HvjwH-y6_trj51sZT4UrahVpgUUGfRcGaKiabERXBDedcEKA0eLsIVTfotNQCZMG_2fUxOw8UTepLUjFKfDI8teQ5Kw/s4148/wabu-fox2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdjq-urQn2nkNKogmPnIZ0J5LX7oWEmOP7A0PzRY-TSx2XlvpLG0EDfRXnEz-WaKCSa9-lJeOZt22W28dHDInDN_BZ3VMfO3HvjwH-y6_trj51sZT4UrahVpgUUGfRcGaKiabERXBDedcEKA0eLsIVTfotNQCZMG_2fUxOw8UTepLUjFKfDI8teQ5Kw/s320/wabu-fox2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I wish I took some video of this as it was so interesting to watch.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPcs9076KxWf5FoAcel9wffaLfJxDPIYYixxrn7ptOzZL-pw3cjGB_n0vWzcT2464DRHX0n_RT2agqgszCZSs-SSxmQ15UImBgzTrT8VcPRWLzV1PX24hmJ_sOFvw29EDGXrHQtZlInzbK9W0-uSTBHRH7tjup8R1nRuoX44dq_rLFbkLbkuYmKbEfQ/s4148/wabu-fox3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPcs9076KxWf5FoAcel9wffaLfJxDPIYYixxrn7ptOzZL-pw3cjGB_n0vWzcT2464DRHX0n_RT2agqgszCZSs-SSxmQ15UImBgzTrT8VcPRWLzV1PX24hmJ_sOFvw29EDGXrHQtZlInzbK9W0-uSTBHRH7tjup8R1nRuoX44dq_rLFbkLbkuYmKbEfQ/s320/wabu-fox3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The catch.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbixmQukP_cd4A7FwN-Qw1dGZq8CMOJGX-MX-aHbaYokGvH2la-j4UT9PpWLBXAPi-N5lzX_v5YQI9dubM_vuG1R8Yeb_Jwl2AXvWnucVahGqYOHRDEX5UER7jxWBEXcv2DY1uoRvXWdkHgezN3aH17TbQ3rCFQRGQqD-fgjdjQjRYsn6D6YztKb-VPw/s4148/wabu-fox-catch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbixmQukP_cd4A7FwN-Qw1dGZq8CMOJGX-MX-aHbaYokGvH2la-j4UT9PpWLBXAPi-N5lzX_v5YQI9dubM_vuG1R8Yeb_Jwl2AXvWnucVahGqYOHRDEX5UER7jxWBEXcv2DY1uoRvXWdkHgezN3aH17TbQ3rCFQRGQqD-fgjdjQjRYsn6D6YztKb-VPw/s320/wabu-fox-catch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Don't be jealous! Get your own rodent lunch.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFI5QTnt4SFlzqIlvLFY80BfAsTdhsyy2sd3CBtcfW9hNz1PhdS4R6xQzfp07AMcRV3LMpkwE_TjFhBBCN_tWu2RRzr_1aYoMWAw0j8xOFwl5PCUYCNPbHLIep7XsnD6ksADXTsPojGHFDRd3NlK-tdRBr_c_I4rq7EQLVFVGC30olCCfraGmA2kxdA/s4148/wabu-fox.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFI5QTnt4SFlzqIlvLFY80BfAsTdhsyy2sd3CBtcfW9hNz1PhdS4R6xQzfp07AMcRV3LMpkwE_TjFhBBCN_tWu2RRzr_1aYoMWAw0j8xOFwl5PCUYCNPbHLIep7XsnD6ksADXTsPojGHFDRd3NlK-tdRBr_c_I4rq7EQLVFVGC30olCCfraGmA2kxdA/s320/wabu-fox.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Gone in 60 seconds.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWLCsm32axCvHrcBda3kIeueSFrhNsrowBLAtQeLQhcdAuOXDrQsiWjIe39uJJEJJ_f2zz2En9AG1HqloMdgoUJZpvz2dMBhEAWBJchsa2UZ1zebquKRErziFQOhQ2A_WDjbKfYiB2DxFlz8ENgZVcgCUtqDNepRYuRTGBlxQFA1nnx1TdENFoiPOeQ/s5184/wabu-fox4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWLCsm32axCvHrcBda3kIeueSFrhNsrowBLAtQeLQhcdAuOXDrQsiWjIe39uJJEJJ_f2zz2En9AG1HqloMdgoUJZpvz2dMBhEAWBJchsa2UZ1zebquKRErziFQOhQ2A_WDjbKfYiB2DxFlz8ENgZVcgCUtqDNepRYuRTGBlxQFA1nnx1TdENFoiPOeQ/s320/wabu-fox4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>A good stretch after all that.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizufa3idQSdAFW3gkaODFheJdNw_lc-tKpVCTw2idZf3N68CF2fu4eNnpJvvQYRf9sIHznBpL3SLrm2vGAsVHRoEtSLO4gNPH7-didDHwO8y79ckr1FXZdVy3uCIr_-Co6m4-LSUkIhAf_U3-p85ZtUqhJtJbKn24REGskhvD3EaB5DvmLY9F5fZKH5Q/s4148/wabu-fox5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizufa3idQSdAFW3gkaODFheJdNw_lc-tKpVCTw2idZf3N68CF2fu4eNnpJvvQYRf9sIHznBpL3SLrm2vGAsVHRoEtSLO4gNPH7-didDHwO8y79ckr1FXZdVy3uCIr_-Co6m4-LSUkIhAf_U3-p85ZtUqhJtJbKn24REGskhvD3EaB5DvmLY9F5fZKH5Q/s320/wabu-fox5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>One last look before he disappeared between the hedges further back.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggm14n77ksrUTSs0M6sCfhpiGzaRqvDJuKYnQ8Evv-CikbyABpa_8EGG2qXaqA7HgwcEBbaiU-1k-xqnQMqKIoCOTrTr7T_xLCIuy9iVuCYIo5ExeyFu4S_zJ70mEV2JoM0oGdeiBgb-ExvwUiCKqw6-60Gi7UWgBlp-dJpcm2O-49wfDZzaeQ6Ldc5Q/s4148/wabu-lastlook.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4148" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggm14n77ksrUTSs0M6sCfhpiGzaRqvDJuKYnQ8Evv-CikbyABpa_8EGG2qXaqA7HgwcEBbaiU-1k-xqnQMqKIoCOTrTr7T_xLCIuy9iVuCYIo5ExeyFu4S_zJ70mEV2JoM0oGdeiBgb-ExvwUiCKqw6-60Gi7UWgBlp-dJpcm2O-49wfDZzaeQ6Ldc5Q/s320/wabu-lastlook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>We don't see foxes very often, especially hunting like this and it was unexpected (not on our radar), so this was a very cool encounter. Staying well back and let nature happen naturally is how everyone should view wildlife.</p><p>What made this encounter even better is that after we drove away, we did find the trail near the highway. Unfortunately the rain started coming down fairly hard and steady. We braved the elements and still checked out a long stretch of the area. We saw a couple crows, phoebes and some sparrows. Rather uneventful I must say. We were very thankful for our great find on the road to nowhere!</p></div></div></div></div></div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-46586663936459233832022-08-31T09:44:00.001-04:002022-08-31T09:44:21.160-04:00Meet Boop<p>Chipmunks have shown up in our neighbourhood this summer. We know that there is at least three of them. Some may be thinking, "ya, what's the big deal?" Around here, chipmunks appear every few years and sometimes they aren't a long staying guest. Some just disappear while others have been found dead in neighbours' backyards. I suspect the free roaming cats are the main reason.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7plb5HZrFPnMidUmiLu-9ckT-STbN3ythXOJosLtr1qEF0ueQ4yFkGHqesOe3zMfHzDVEz7pCXLObFlP9BhJBZrUoOr57yRUuiTt5CXz_3d9yqJuRXDYRvcRUidTceQJlQbX34kH3-O0Mlc3GFyPmCvfVBQlD9fuE0ysloo6usIJMvR8i-MA-CM9tg/s2048/boop1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1779" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7plb5HZrFPnMidUmiLu-9ckT-STbN3ythXOJosLtr1qEF0ueQ4yFkGHqesOe3zMfHzDVEz7pCXLObFlP9BhJBZrUoOr57yRUuiTt5CXz_3d9yqJuRXDYRvcRUidTceQJlQbX34kH3-O0Mlc3GFyPmCvfVBQlD9fuE0ysloo6usIJMvR8i-MA-CM9tg/s320/boop1.jpg" width="278" /></a></div><br />So, in the last decade, this is probably the third summer that we have had chipmunks. The thing that is really cool about it this time, to us anyway, is that one of them has made his home at the back of our yard. We get to see a lot of him. What's not to love about having a chipmunk? They are cute and fun to watch. The squirrels are always chasing them when they have food, trying to steal it. Seeing how fast and agile a chipmunk can be, dodging other squirrels, running around and even under the pigeons is a new source of entertainment to our "backyard nature channel". Merry and Molly get quite excited at the sight of these little creatures too and will sit in the window or at the back door for lengthy amounts of time, just watching. We really have to be careful when going in and out of the house to make sure neither suddenly darts out the door to chase one.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAWNHRf81MKTPDLXmwd-OYFqaoX1iVg6MTn2OqdIasCoSseQz9e_ODZxTAtGjD0x5L2ncXnDLnVQ42v4_R37m71bmadrjLMyGEUdrj1Wt4Wc-gmFtWo_CgI01hfETCPZnZ_mCdGpwRFYwXVKirjC68zptgHKkJghjmOXKC2nZdIbbjn3oiHWyi3I2yA/s2048/boopblog5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1754" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAWNHRf81MKTPDLXmwd-OYFqaoX1iVg6MTn2OqdIasCoSseQz9e_ODZxTAtGjD0x5L2ncXnDLnVQ42v4_R37m71bmadrjLMyGEUdrj1Wt4Wc-gmFtWo_CgI01hfETCPZnZ_mCdGpwRFYwXVKirjC68zptgHKkJghjmOXKC2nZdIbbjn3oiHWyi3I2yA/s320/boopblog5.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><p>Angie has named him Boop. She names most of the backyard critters. Why Boop? Well, she booped him on the nose the other weekend and... there you go! It isn't something neither of us make a habit of doing, it was just something in the moment and that was it. Chipmunks can become tolerant and accepting of human presence but I wouldn't call them tame; they are wild animals. Yes, in the last couple weeks we have had some up close and personal encounters with this little one as he has quickly figured out we are an easy food source. His meals have changed from peanuts, which isn't the best choice to offer them because of how fatty they are, to now getting almonds and other nuts will be offered after I make a trip up to Johnvince near Downsview Park. Johnvince has a great variety of nuts to buy and at a great price compared to the grocery stores.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPeUlLHSZYA2WDg_vd_DzCNMBbtFKpxozHKqutApI5r1m8Sz0xjAZq05FI6UnuBrkrMukt67ndkn_H9jHHtY9dulFgDaZluuaY5I_lJh8JYJXd3tnWW9RYwuZuUaRVkk-PhzboZqm9JQLzdoCx_94Q2IdU9ovvA8dgcvoi64W4vp4vcXZMMSxqBdAcA/s2048/boop2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPeUlLHSZYA2WDg_vd_DzCNMBbtFKpxozHKqutApI5r1m8Sz0xjAZq05FI6UnuBrkrMukt67ndkn_H9jHHtY9dulFgDaZluuaY5I_lJh8JYJXd3tnWW9RYwuZuUaRVkk-PhzboZqm9JQLzdoCx_94Q2IdU9ovvA8dgcvoi64W4vp4vcXZMMSxqBdAcA/s320/boop2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Boop enjoying almonds at the little decorative picnic table my coworker picked up for me last summer. I love the personalized touch with our last name.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6xxDy0R9YH9tuLcogf2frXeajmv63v-9D7s7eT4OReLSr1qScncXfOKJHeBjl1SPjSXjXCZQHhuH0ci8qRbhl3w9HfZlaWNsjULgWnKn0YDqaTzE1M87RG8cFncyjNBbW7HfGPbNeJSkvKjHyD80Xj1dkg3-I9MRtEdHoudloykqR3jZha1JXvbZBg/s2048/boop3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6xxDy0R9YH9tuLcogf2frXeajmv63v-9D7s7eT4OReLSr1qScncXfOKJHeBjl1SPjSXjXCZQHhuH0ci8qRbhl3w9HfZlaWNsjULgWnKn0YDqaTzE1M87RG8cFncyjNBbW7HfGPbNeJSkvKjHyD80Xj1dkg3-I9MRtEdHoudloykqR3jZha1JXvbZBg/s320/boop3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Our property is over 170' deep and most of it is the backyard. Boop has made his home down near the shed, probably 70' from our deck. It was hidden in a small patch of grass and we spotted it when one of us hid down by the shed, watching him go to it after leaving our deck with a mouthful of food. We knew he was very close to us and were curious how close. Unfortunately a few days later some animal, I think a squirrel, discovered Boop's "home" and tried to dig down into where his stash is. I do think it was a squirrel because a skunk or raccoon would have done a lot more damage to the entry than what I saw. Like other creatures that have come to stay with us, I did what I could to help Boop and protect his home. We have quite a few large rocks down back and I circled the hole with some. So far nothing else has tried to get down there. Let's hope it stays this way. And if you were wondering, the new addition did not bother Boop at all.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4lEra4o4cVMV1sW1g6ErdfOZVo_vZxZ7n9rOXVA-plrF-owpbVmRxcA5J3YC4CvhTVex-YWnCfjb1RqbTdy74GqFJxxO9YPwUN6amA3eGN1iAl5uFirzmGSBSGyNMvvwJHOkziZgGsyFTO__DwWWaAyuo3Yj95m0xD8Ubp6hv16-Aum9R0nSq_eczIA/s5184/_MG_7114.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4lEra4o4cVMV1sW1g6ErdfOZVo_vZxZ7n9rOXVA-plrF-owpbVmRxcA5J3YC4CvhTVex-YWnCfjb1RqbTdy74GqFJxxO9YPwUN6amA3eGN1iAl5uFirzmGSBSGyNMvvwJHOkziZgGsyFTO__DwWWaAyuo3Yj95m0xD8Ubp6hv16-Aum9R0nSq_eczIA/s320/_MG_7114.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>In he goes!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLIVqUM2DkBIR6e6Rz61BsQGSl5Or0srufV2JgDQgbjQG0GWidz5K2B5nhb6moc0C5AoD9essLsXQv1qpt2JLUg1LPcyDuwctSUiKcFao5PFzVVKObfzCX73Z4pL4eNybDAXYtLHq_jD-2k9UQo7bIxdFzFGSoOelptixncWYBFz-zQ4PylJt6FHDdA/s5184/_MG_7162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLIVqUM2DkBIR6e6Rz61BsQGSl5Or0srufV2JgDQgbjQG0GWidz5K2B5nhb6moc0C5AoD9essLsXQv1qpt2JLUg1LPcyDuwctSUiKcFao5PFzVVKObfzCX73Z4pL4eNybDAXYtLHq_jD-2k9UQo7bIxdFzFGSoOelptixncWYBFz-zQ4PylJt6FHDdA/s320/_MG_7162.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>How about a little game of caption this with the next photo? It's kinda like "Nyah nyah, I have a castle!"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8U3JOIM1SVKuAB-f3BijWC9UuCCgSMtoVNbsrx3vGHfTY8b8o92xxNnF8K9mNY1-G4-X468W0hgHWOFckMpxfEbhj-thpS2X2HsTTSUziw0EUz3AOStV1HCV8hd66rrmY2MMXd5vivuhMbV_q_KSSbEK2u5hxcOar5GXTV5n72CW4-DATpwesJJRfNA/s5184/funnyfridaychippie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8U3JOIM1SVKuAB-f3BijWC9UuCCgSMtoVNbsrx3vGHfTY8b8o92xxNnF8K9mNY1-G4-X468W0hgHWOFckMpxfEbhj-thpS2X2HsTTSUziw0EUz3AOStV1HCV8hd66rrmY2MMXd5vivuhMbV_q_KSSbEK2u5hxcOar5GXTV5n72CW4-DATpwesJJRfNA/s320/funnyfridaychippie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I started this blog on August 2nd. Now it is August 31st. Where does the time go? A few days in the last number of weeks I was telling myself to finish this blog but there's always something going on it seems. *sigh* As I key this, Boop is still with us. We don't see him nearly as much during the work week since we have jobs and everything else that is a part of our daily lives; but come the weekend, it is backyard time and Boop finds us (or we find him). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIo9NXbgkLxiJTi7WZDt4IcF2Lzkr6pBoGMQ-NdCC19MATlrFU2EgJ7BQsXOU3KpVSti5YwH_x4t6DjuHSZtrffLdVx6q3RW7BvkZEIvygnXkUx99jpG_CNIq7PS9WzrqqHSWKPxc74GpFeEMmbxtTAtyY-bNjHMTWd0DcNYL-FPEMa02RjDzL_6TSA/s1617/boop-another.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1617" data-original-width="1213" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIo9NXbgkLxiJTi7WZDt4IcF2Lzkr6pBoGMQ-NdCC19MATlrFU2EgJ7BQsXOU3KpVSti5YwH_x4t6DjuHSZtrffLdVx6q3RW7BvkZEIvygnXkUx99jpG_CNIq7PS9WzrqqHSWKPxc74GpFeEMmbxtTAtyY-bNjHMTWd0DcNYL-FPEMa02RjDzL_6TSA/s320/boop-another.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>He gets spoiled rotten on the weekends with loads of almonds and peanuts, sometimes a bit of sunflower. It's a buffet and we let him have his choice. He has to search a lot for food during the work week when we aren't around nearly as much, gathering more natural stuff from the backyards.</p><p>Boop is a welcomed distraction on the weekends after a hard week of work and stress. It's funny how such a tiny little creature can help with our demeanor.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPu6pfxg4ODJkw0FpdvdyAxIArBhJ-gF_W42V4xjT8r14V7V-brqQQ-05fnGjNTx0hgk8GmbV6NmAB66tCdWxg4hnbgBkzfmdkKsgkODG2_x2R0k9sWqibePCAv-conUHUumxQhlPDPtZjRNNYNzhZhHxPk7P_20GLkPgCuYJ8cNTzzyHm7aMGGU5Fug/s2048/boop-anotehr1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1886" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPu6pfxg4ODJkw0FpdvdyAxIArBhJ-gF_W42V4xjT8r14V7V-brqQQ-05fnGjNTx0hgk8GmbV6NmAB66tCdWxg4hnbgBkzfmdkKsgkODG2_x2R0k9sWqibePCAv-conUHUumxQhlPDPtZjRNNYNzhZhHxPk7P_20GLkPgCuYJ8cNTzzyHm7aMGGU5Fug/s320/boop-anotehr1.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><p>Most will agree that it's lovely to have a few chipmunks around their properties. I hope you are one them. Have a great day!</p>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-172395123842135842022-07-28T10:15:00.001-04:002022-07-28T10:15:25.409-04:00Listen to Your Brain<p>Last week I went for a walk after cleaning out some nearby nest boxes. My ears quickly tuned into the screeching sounds of a red-tailed hawk. As I listened and followed, I could tell there was more than just one. I recognized the cries of a couple juveniles and two adults. Oh sweet!</p><p>I found the birds in and around a school sports field. A bird on the roof, one on a hydro post, one on a goal post (all 3 were juveniles) and I soon was able to spot both parents hiding in the woods just off to the west. Their calls were distinct of adult red-tails or what some believe to be vultures and eagles in old television shows and movies. Maybe they still use the call of the red-tail in current films? I'm not sure.</p><p>The young birds gave me great views and photo opportunities. Unfortunately I only had my macro lens on which isn't very good for taking pictures of anything at a distance. I tried to take some of one but was convinced none of the photos would turn out with this lens. Actually, looking at this photograph, it really isn't too bad for a freehand shot using a macro lens. What do you think?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXswrtqOR035QbYxePQ7HEK6o0RCK4vBkOGHY23Ew1mcP7OPWOxIEytJHfyAuRoAaLYU2K_rV0lnC8j4ay9PT3Gk1vMOv5a2PsDBu1NmtoodNxv0_djaayn7wMD6aCAs6F9q5H5KR_unn4hQncUYcUFsGwsTDfeubR0s0hFwcnJeHmPKvd8vRTLeqg5A/s3318/macro-hawkshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2212" data-original-width="3318" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXswrtqOR035QbYxePQ7HEK6o0RCK4vBkOGHY23Ew1mcP7OPWOxIEytJHfyAuRoAaLYU2K_rV0lnC8j4ay9PT3Gk1vMOv5a2PsDBu1NmtoodNxv0_djaayn7wMD6aCAs6F9q5H5KR_unn4hQncUYcUFsGwsTDfeubR0s0hFwcnJeHmPKvd8vRTLeqg5A/s320/macro-hawkshot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I texted Angie about the cool discovery and told her that I would return the next morning with my big lens. I watched the hawks a little longer and then headed for home. As I got to the house, my brain started drilling into my head to grab the 500 mm lens and go back. Why wait until tomorrow They are there now, so close to home.</p><p>I listened to my brain and am so glad that I did. I had an amazing encounter watching them for another half hour or so. Plus, it turned out that I got busy the next morning and couldn't get over to see them. I did return the day after and while I saw them all again, none were showing well or sitting low like that first day. You will see what I saw in the photos below.</p><p>One hanging out on the goal post in the sports field.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXJN5BB1ZiLLXDu0iwF1TPLdwQR7NUNFKeX9ZZZz6s08nB6KbWsPumCbqSBJSkcGx0v5WKb3glj-6CsmVSmupKKgehnUXfw4XoYCTgjF6DCQTHUTyuX70Y1i2PwcCqL54Dmx2qI76LU3j6OuO4uy5NIxvoLYCnfTgJKr-WZ80G1gtMQK2gn1_x0o3zA/s3318/post1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2212" data-original-width="3318" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXJN5BB1ZiLLXDu0iwF1TPLdwQR7NUNFKeX9ZZZz6s08nB6KbWsPumCbqSBJSkcGx0v5WKb3glj-6CsmVSmupKKgehnUXfw4XoYCTgjF6DCQTHUTyuX70Y1i2PwcCqL54Dmx2qI76LU3j6OuO4uy5NIxvoLYCnfTgJKr-WZ80G1gtMQK2gn1_x0o3zA/s320/post1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>He had a good preening session after the light showers through the morning.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVI6_q9PFBR1v6I0Av9xTlTdsgh6bK8JFEim21Ag2qgrXQAx5YVNaBmRSYa_LIhUOb7oxW38of3-4osFMesd43dViAlNbqDPAc6H2YlhkiMWrJOxubaPozL4DjfmlSbbzp0LzHgBgcrrDHlBZQ_R3ggA-ZPCy524_H2xfYt5DsbdtzjwZUc_0FhM_kA/s3318/post3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2212" data-original-width="3318" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVI6_q9PFBR1v6I0Av9xTlTdsgh6bK8JFEim21Ag2qgrXQAx5YVNaBmRSYa_LIhUOb7oxW38of3-4osFMesd43dViAlNbqDPAc6H2YlhkiMWrJOxubaPozL4DjfmlSbbzp0LzHgBgcrrDHlBZQ_R3ggA-ZPCy524_H2xfYt5DsbdtzjwZUc_0FhM_kA/s320/post3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>He tolerated my presence, though I wasn't close, having my 500 mm lens. I'd say it was because he is young and curious; and not okay with humans.</p><p>Another was up on this hydro post near the school, just screaming away.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARFERVPvv9lbGmF_xDesZR2yFFOHQLs2ZYW652WTxMY9NiBCD0n72skCEDwhPZaX93XtrdH3D3S26pXuSxxUgDY4zpWBXe9-m5cW2HXXqvkQrgXJYLne85Bbtcqbx7WYv9Z-5kaQX72HZdnnLxnD1AI4yLyZI_ZxppV8eG-Qx80YF7ouFMt1qrIff0A/s3318/pole1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2212" data-original-width="3318" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARFERVPvv9lbGmF_xDesZR2yFFOHQLs2ZYW652WTxMY9NiBCD0n72skCEDwhPZaX93XtrdH3D3S26pXuSxxUgDY4zpWBXe9-m5cW2HXXqvkQrgXJYLne85Bbtcqbx7WYv9Z-5kaQX72HZdnnLxnD1AI4yLyZI_ZxppV8eG-Qx80YF7ouFMt1qrIff0A/s320/pole1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I could hear both adults calling back from the woods to the south and west of here but neither could be seen due to the full trees. I imagine they were warning calls to me wandering around but who knows for sure, it's not like I could climb this pole and get their kid (but they don't know that).</p><p>The young birds did fly to various spots while I was there. They flew well. They landed well on these "perches" but coming to ground was a different story... they landed like Woodstock from the Peanuts as it was more of a crash landing and a tumble; I see the young peregrines do the same thing early on.</p><p>This one came to ground and put on a lovely "show" for me, which was like the grand finale, because after this encounter, I left the scene.</p><p>What a beauty! It's hard to believe that this is a young hawk and is still very dependent on his mom and dad for care.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvptXQI_aFklV_NGoYudeTxpizPp14aSFttF0UM5JmLGdJqXViw-4K1nqKbDm_nTODRlvDPZ1tZx3yzcb5dAk9qtO-ZPFO4Yt0DDRn317-00IqF3AYNDDI1asMZ8gtLNs2sTqkCISOF0WS810jY83zP-8Ng_6-AANvfbo2C2CSxD4yQxHxGOeFX1zPiA/s5184/rtha-gorgeous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvptXQI_aFklV_NGoYudeTxpizPp14aSFttF0UM5JmLGdJqXViw-4K1nqKbDm_nTODRlvDPZ1tZx3yzcb5dAk9qtO-ZPFO4Yt0DDRn317-00IqF3AYNDDI1asMZ8gtLNs2sTqkCISOF0WS810jY83zP-8Ng_6-AANvfbo2C2CSxD4yQxHxGOeFX1zPiA/s320/rtha-gorgeous.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>He walked around this area, finding pieces of squirrel to feed upon. I also saw some rabbit parts too!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KLIxjJw_hJLazWQNIWJXi54tKrpExj1b1JXwJlwEuA_BctlNjPIYhPbKQY0S9rZn6kCde0pGcUrYBtIX9it_HKExRJA7--lEUNrhW-IvPt7-o0r8l428rzqFdUNfrdoIW-qD0XH_xBeTPBKE1XD9s-XqIiqcnOJ0wFVLpngNG9XRP9Ju0pe0mAdYCQ/s3318/rtha-lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2212" data-original-width="3318" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KLIxjJw_hJLazWQNIWJXi54tKrpExj1b1JXwJlwEuA_BctlNjPIYhPbKQY0S9rZn6kCde0pGcUrYBtIX9it_HKExRJA7--lEUNrhW-IvPt7-o0r8l428rzqFdUNfrdoIW-qD0XH_xBeTPBKE1XD9s-XqIiqcnOJ0wFVLpngNG9XRP9Ju0pe0mAdYCQ/s320/rtha-lunch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>As his parents and siblings screeched and screamed, he called back.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoUWnXY0DfEbMDA6FzlTbxbqbIBem2g92harT-w_jAMCIVXv4ku34y1mWqFYMtLQlHcEYpSXyMd2bxzPUnVsl4EbI6I76MoIZ7CmFEePHFn1UAzFmnkdxXCgrpUrqt54_nGFQX2TUS2YxspBsxMa0CSB86oOfL8tGYEjCTywqlvCTPOvtgEnXHTTeVw/s5184/calling0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoUWnXY0DfEbMDA6FzlTbxbqbIBem2g92harT-w_jAMCIVXv4ku34y1mWqFYMtLQlHcEYpSXyMd2bxzPUnVsl4EbI6I76MoIZ7CmFEePHFn1UAzFmnkdxXCgrpUrqt54_nGFQX2TUS2YxspBsxMa0CSB86oOfL8tGYEjCTywqlvCTPOvtgEnXHTTeVw/s320/calling0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I took a couple short videos of the birds, letting you tune into what I heard as well as saw.</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPOPL8aTYbY">Here is the one on the post.</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3-t--eh4Ho">The one on the ground.</a> </p><p>My cats aren't fond of these hawk calls.</p><p>I've been by the area a couple times since and have seen and heard the birds. They are flying high and staying off the ground now. It was like a brief fledge watch for me, only with hawks this time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjQV-qYTEqfVKanHwFMzA_AG7ledUQOeRxKK2EisxJ8oiK9ALEje3zcWHf-oZ8Sv90TvF58PvLTplyrIDsVFFzti_-_JyMXHAL5-QrTmmLDVJcQQhapowHw1LLuT_YxhzfWkj7gT_PvuYEgyHsA6d-F9ydpeMOwcGIldITE81RDr3Dfo3ZgnxxeJVLw/s3318/flyby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2212" data-original-width="3318" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjQV-qYTEqfVKanHwFMzA_AG7ledUQOeRxKK2EisxJ8oiK9ALEje3zcWHf-oZ8Sv90TvF58PvLTplyrIDsVFFzti_-_JyMXHAL5-QrTmmLDVJcQQhapowHw1LLuT_YxhzfWkj7gT_PvuYEgyHsA6d-F9ydpeMOwcGIldITE81RDr3Dfo3ZgnxxeJVLw/s320/flyby.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIemRo2vo9-bBdGuVFN54snKiQ85NRPl6_3yDpoInxwhnXJKt9kisJetFHEeYfRpUmxeuTEPnyNwUOJyCIvxGvlkpc1Lv2VNdupHwerifHjoaBarQZISsaCv0vXOMS26R6UbL-hIAvHUkfY61nXdBM9h4OCya5JzWIZZe6tSg2KVgmQtg0SfVs0QKKYQ/s3318/flyby1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2212" data-original-width="3318" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIemRo2vo9-bBdGuVFN54snKiQ85NRPl6_3yDpoInxwhnXJKt9kisJetFHEeYfRpUmxeuTEPnyNwUOJyCIvxGvlkpc1Lv2VNdupHwerifHjoaBarQZISsaCv0vXOMS26R6UbL-hIAvHUkfY61nXdBM9h4OCya5JzWIZZe6tSg2KVgmQtg0SfVs0QKKYQ/s320/flyby1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>It was a reminder to me that we should embrace the moments in front of us, especially with nature, because they will not be repeated. Listen to your brain is the only title that I could come up with.</p><p><br /></p>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-536724749484502008.post-83749546735562284352022-06-27T07:41:00.001-04:002022-06-27T07:41:16.343-04:00This Opossum<p>Late in 2021 a tail-less Virginia opossum was appearing on my trail camera. It was sometime in October that I first noticed her.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDAF9fVr1ZSNPNe_Q0KFSgNUwLNgyDZKewVUpS5QxDO4nVm6u97yAwiLw5BTQLvygokpVu8vAHC0uxfGUErJyrzlJUEnrXTt5XAIXgUEooZwK_Gx9VulbN13AObEp6Dp2EtaGmYfMHgxSPmGuNzaWmo_wJ-WewhbzS2v-3l5TbDoT9Gz1Nm9GsxynlA/s1944/opossum-october2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1458" data-original-width="1944" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDAF9fVr1ZSNPNe_Q0KFSgNUwLNgyDZKewVUpS5QxDO4nVm6u97yAwiLw5BTQLvygokpVu8vAHC0uxfGUErJyrzlJUEnrXTt5XAIXgUEooZwK_Gx9VulbN13AObEp6Dp2EtaGmYfMHgxSPmGuNzaWmo_wJ-WewhbzS2v-3l5TbDoT9Gz1Nm9GsxynlA/s320/opossum-october2021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Any time after that first cam capture, I was happy to see her again. Even with run ins with massive raccoons, she kept visiting.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRy4DbuaAdTKz1lzU8HZ6O58doc7nPxZfBEMDBesZRnWxG7hy0g5iu2gU5n59WIu82OmwcAbs7FzJlBTh78neMKfPiEg49i7Hj5zDNRRxEG1Fnhs8yznPMQe-DiwjEkvSYCAjlPgW1f_5baLIOGchZfK_fW6tv8mHLXXpTQEqGcLnf-b-0Q0i5me3Ztw/s2040/opossum-november2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2040" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRy4DbuaAdTKz1lzU8HZ6O58doc7nPxZfBEMDBesZRnWxG7hy0g5iu2gU5n59WIu82OmwcAbs7FzJlBTh78neMKfPiEg49i7Hj5zDNRRxEG1Fnhs8yznPMQe-DiwjEkvSYCAjlPgW1f_5baLIOGchZfK_fW6tv8mHLXXpTQEqGcLnf-b-0Q0i5me3Ztw/s320/opossum-november2021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Even as the temperature dropped and the snow was staying on the ground in late December, she was still coming around. I had set up a small shelter down back that she sometimes used, or it was used by another like in the shot below (that's her in the forefront). She disappeared after this night. I kept looking out for her but she wasn't coming around. I never forgot about her but the hope to see her again faded as we moved through the winter months. As you may know, opossums are wanderers and I assumed she did just that, wandered off despite having food and shelter here</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkm6jlv_9F5UCxVHNvjArbrLBV97k_eT_0LzDI73Ci56o9ijv935oNNkmow9Lfifm0upSnLAvNiSlwdp5u_mR6QVLhNe_YrBHHCgqCtQWLyJTLVyrzeXXJJgsFeIPtiMrgheTbHVGeI5yjLgFl6lCu7ZoLOiKxrG9fCCeeLwTxu3LvatV2vgZJ5zGSw/s2000/opossum-december2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkm6jlv_9F5UCxVHNvjArbrLBV97k_eT_0LzDI73Ci56o9ijv935oNNkmow9Lfifm0upSnLAvNiSlwdp5u_mR6QVLhNe_YrBHHCgqCtQWLyJTLVyrzeXXJJgsFeIPtiMrgheTbHVGeI5yjLgFl6lCu7ZoLOiKxrG9fCCeeLwTxu3LvatV2vgZJ5zGSw/s320/opossum-december2021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Then surprisingly she returned about 5 months later. I wondered where she had gone for all those months but was very happy to see her back. While we never named this opossum, she became one of the stand out individuals of the backyard.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WU3koWzekitqEUUxHA9yDGlLXhknM9WJAtttCPBeE-d7jnoiI6Z6hHgKoagYDmF9k-DTzfX2MYDxR7zINwDONQcKEJ0rD0mRr-Cu_MdHESm5g5rhFTaTL-2st0EQuRkOPUzrxtU3VhbEl3J-4Ol0nGU35vM0sQjlhpmRqZf7IEEWIKkjxZwgU73_IA/s2048/opossum-may2022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WU3koWzekitqEUUxHA9yDGlLXhknM9WJAtttCPBeE-d7jnoiI6Z6hHgKoagYDmF9k-DTzfX2MYDxR7zINwDONQcKEJ0rD0mRr-Cu_MdHESm5g5rhFTaTL-2st0EQuRkOPUzrxtU3VhbEl3J-4Ol0nGU35vM0sQjlhpmRqZf7IEEWIKkjxZwgU73_IA/s320/opossum-may2022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Funny thing as time passed, the captures of her on the camera showed her belly getting bigger and actually dragging along the ground.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaG7oPgClBgzJEkirPs3KBZHYZHVZ2p0ueLbXmClXzPmjEk5mvYEhWjpapEDXn7xOl79DdnkQYPUfpccT2khbgc-A_BLOgko4jcdaN3ZbUNY44VcM92Gs5xQtzQHvOJBoYYGvsObIQxUMSOTO43IC-HGhabv-diAs9GV4za5ZPJClxX6FfTmduC5IxRQ/s3264/DSCF0097.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaG7oPgClBgzJEkirPs3KBZHYZHVZ2p0ueLbXmClXzPmjEk5mvYEhWjpapEDXn7xOl79DdnkQYPUfpccT2khbgc-A_BLOgko4jcdaN3ZbUNY44VcM92Gs5xQtzQHvOJBoYYGvsObIQxUMSOTO43IC-HGhabv-diAs9GV4za5ZPJClxX6FfTmduC5IxRQ/s320/DSCF0097.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Here she is with another not that you really need a comparison.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijWp6bQghI7p84HY9YGaW5AYoaa1hpQAjXsQTSVhvEXyKWhZCqLjRW2qbrWgsLyIIBOCjIDWodiiQiu6QJ5qLPuV_GGAFnpkCKjKp080AviSs17Ftn3C3T7aeU8bPPsmaXyihkfK9NFQn3PQvoSf7Mzob2Cvp3QnT7piHNxjf3JflnHTyfhTE0AhLOg/s3264/DSCF0087.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijWp6bQghI7p84HY9YGaW5AYoaa1hpQAjXsQTSVhvEXyKWhZCqLjRW2qbrWgsLyIIBOCjIDWodiiQiu6QJ5qLPuV_GGAFnpkCKjKp080AviSs17Ftn3C3T7aeU8bPPsmaXyihkfK9NFQn3PQvoSf7Mzob2Cvp3QnT7piHNxjf3JflnHTyfhTE0AhLOg/s320/DSCF0087.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Seeing this "development", I knew she was either pregnant or carrying young in her pouch. I spent more time watching out for her, both with time spent out back after work, and as well as keeping the camera set up near the gate to our backyard. I was fortunate enough to see her with my own eyes one night and I took a very short video. Please give this a view, it's only 6 seconds. Look at that waddle!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Lj-ukpAluv4" width="320" youtube-src-id="Lj-ukpAluv4"></iframe></div><p>I threw her part of an apple, to which she took, and then I went into the house. As much as I loved seeing her, I am confident the feeling wasn't mutual. The trail camera was set up for the night. Look at what the cam caught 90 minutes after I saw her.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmyoO_T9VgONvvi219U-MGM_vVKdXKKZ66PGVDo-dbXJtGR98wl-C0NuqJYHIcFp0HbnKcjiVrPyIwEAVawP_Y8NnJIb91Yw-HRpE9A5zQfuriJDrRQk0GCjOJViQZ0DLZCxeZ8xYVneUyrhq-VCwxDIPHLJAGTlYDCp7tztdRIVkw9-1y4xKBKNcKw/s3264/DSCF0120.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmyoO_T9VgONvvi219U-MGM_vVKdXKKZ66PGVDo-dbXJtGR98wl-C0NuqJYHIcFp0HbnKcjiVrPyIwEAVawP_Y8NnJIb91Yw-HRpE9A5zQfuriJDrRQk0GCjOJViQZ0DLZCxeZ8xYVneUyrhq-VCwxDIPHLJAGTlYDCp7tztdRIVkw9-1y4xKBKNcKw/s320/DSCF0120.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Holy shit! That's a baby opossum on her back! Here is the image cropped.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FJvxM5SJsis9H6lfKVDzCR256XrrVpHXs4Wiq6c6kDjwvW6TlC2grRnk06CFWnOR_2frVqyIE31DKoB0blDgwk0lzgzAR3u33DvLDh3850elAQ6i_1hIJRmvsJBqx-TtII3OMraBv3FDmb2NoKss26zVb5whAq16KD9m3BsklNV7Ncw3xWKqCqobcg/s1672/baby-opossum.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1254" data-original-width="1672" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FJvxM5SJsis9H6lfKVDzCR256XrrVpHXs4Wiq6c6kDjwvW6TlC2grRnk06CFWnOR_2frVqyIE31DKoB0blDgwk0lzgzAR3u33DvLDh3850elAQ6i_1hIJRmvsJBqx-TtII3OMraBv3FDmb2NoKss26zVb5whAq16KD9m3BsklNV7Ncw3xWKqCqobcg/s320/baby-opossum.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>This is something that I have always wanted to see with my own eyes, a mother opossum carrying a baby (or babies) on her back. I borrowed this image from a quick Google search, helping some of you understand why I would really like to see this...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4RpJuLEwds_I5_Lmo1XVzn6vixZr-dnVrLGUvzrl8-DRglXvh0mnlfpQFTYGcsKQevkMjKSkhjftGuwyefOHRoYM765WtZaqZC7fCeae08wSFgjPvu2ZBjfIQNZyLBSLmd7fhng1ZMi9XIosKgDFdiS83tZyMnKl2-aIbFYD_sA9GiuUqReQSHQpHw/s1200/op-babies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="662" data-original-width="1200" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4RpJuLEwds_I5_Lmo1XVzn6vixZr-dnVrLGUvzrl8-DRglXvh0mnlfpQFTYGcsKQevkMjKSkhjftGuwyefOHRoYM765WtZaqZC7fCeae08wSFgjPvu2ZBjfIQNZyLBSLmd7fhng1ZMi9XIosKgDFdiS83tZyMnKl2-aIbFYD_sA9GiuUqReQSHQpHw/s320/op-babies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Seeing this on the cam, and so soon after I saw her for myself, drove me nuts (in a good way). Believe me that the next week, I was spending a lot more time sitting outside after dark, quietly, waiting. I never got lucky to see her for myself. A couple nights there was teasing captures as she came in for a drink but then would turn around and leave back up the walkway, and I wouldn't see much of her from the shots.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofVmyIahEEI7OjyR2POkCXeBhtP0p_YUMrHScavBYQ3OCMgRvzoAd8ZDsvcM-U6lTdQbhpbYmXEQvop7zKuh8ThaeGDD12wd-aru9ouTuSV9Q7DYWmUfVsj6fNmDvbaJzaFnxF6KLC4lQp7c85FeRZTWkzFEqMIdHGg8U-YSSW205zQnNykcQvyle5g/s3264/DSCF0251.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofVmyIahEEI7OjyR2POkCXeBhtP0p_YUMrHScavBYQ3OCMgRvzoAd8ZDsvcM-U6lTdQbhpbYmXEQvop7zKuh8ThaeGDD12wd-aru9ouTuSV9Q7DYWmUfVsj6fNmDvbaJzaFnxF6KLC4lQp7c85FeRZTWkzFEqMIdHGg8U-YSSW205zQnNykcQvyle5g/s320/DSCF0251.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Of course another opossum was coming around more now, and I even saw him for myself too. Don't it figure?!?!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1yM84RTWLiv2h33SY3VDB3vrInW82nAhZSI5z8FtdU1p8UNbGSGMZktBXf202vUOp24CE99YoeinIHfY-CuHcZ8auFHMP81uHsCH4RWP9Tsh_47E2E-qn3Q0Zl8R_RseW04odnrfiieX5z6YfuJI4nn007PErUANRS91CrMFEC6UdfWJwrDWjVsQMA/s3264/DSCF0067.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1yM84RTWLiv2h33SY3VDB3vrInW82nAhZSI5z8FtdU1p8UNbGSGMZktBXf202vUOp24CE99YoeinIHfY-CuHcZ8auFHMP81uHsCH4RWP9Tsh_47E2E-qn3Q0Zl8R_RseW04odnrfiieX5z6YfuJI4nn007PErUANRS91CrMFEC6UdfWJwrDWjVsQMA/s320/DSCF0067.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>What was he seemingly snarling at through the gate?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj834tc5yFKSBCXJtYlVVyJdrbKiP3NBEbS-LMSj3RPNduuU8xDbaxqIvD-d-1Pi5F7nnu-jeWm4-mu-B5gmUZiVS5_9UDPPXPoT85Hva2G_aYBYdT8_Mi64qUqYpRjgPw20jhaMSriOopGyuEio6mw9sqPMmcmDHGwHl1lS7Zp-I3vRmm-9C79HYOQsQ/s3264/DSCF0242.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj834tc5yFKSBCXJtYlVVyJdrbKiP3NBEbS-LMSj3RPNduuU8xDbaxqIvD-d-1Pi5F7nnu-jeWm4-mu-B5gmUZiVS5_9UDPPXPoT85Hva2G_aYBYdT8_Mi64qUqYpRjgPw20jhaMSriOopGyuEio6mw9sqPMmcmDHGwHl1lS7Zp-I3vRmm-9C79HYOQsQ/s320/DSCF0242.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Another short video you can see if you are on Facebook, I made the link public. This happened one night as I sat on the deck steps waiting. I was initially excited to see this opossum, but not as much once I realized it wasn't her; then I just got back into the moment and see him nonetheless. Opossums are awesome! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rob.mueller.9/videos/1424461371309680">Link here</a>.</p><p>This past Saturday I set the camera up in another spot, right along the path between our house and next door's. Look who finally showed up again. Mom-op!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpTTG89f-FRRZCPgo35ej2vxahd4aitDhpIFtrJ2RRQ-MPADapYpZ1v9KitHGVZc8qR4DLZ9vSigitOlximgqX8a0oYwKQNu9I6zNalrYn-AWOu4YLdvfShCZs-p7xKaeYaO4GNL0TlAT9RBXpaJUfn4QUIC6RTeVZcKpHzsiogz9UvtE6nkIZN8Ofw/s3264/DSCF0114.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpTTG89f-FRRZCPgo35ej2vxahd4aitDhpIFtrJ2RRQ-MPADapYpZ1v9KitHGVZc8qR4DLZ9vSigitOlximgqX8a0oYwKQNu9I6zNalrYn-AWOu4YLdvfShCZs-p7xKaeYaO4GNL0TlAT9RBXpaJUfn4QUIC6RTeVZcKpHzsiogz9UvtE6nkIZN8Ofw/s320/DSCF0114.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJgwsCUaL0pKNaqlZMfB57GDu6G7l7gh6jBD-5LCXu5iCGOL8qESqzqoZNLsmv_10UlfGpeRl_aM4sO9VTHYkBUhztJZJ-v-2wMlNlxI0u4ilBShzOcP7JjlVNrrT-uFto7ohMqUzx_QsXcdD3sVqSSfzBXbmm14DOqh1gMyaAQ3D_QHoJ4MmxpuXIw/s3264/DSCF0119.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJgwsCUaL0pKNaqlZMfB57GDu6G7l7gh6jBD-5LCXu5iCGOL8qESqzqoZNLsmv_10UlfGpeRl_aM4sO9VTHYkBUhztJZJ-v-2wMlNlxI0u4ilBShzOcP7JjlVNrrT-uFto7ohMqUzx_QsXcdD3sVqSSfzBXbmm14DOqh1gMyaAQ3D_QHoJ4MmxpuXIw/s320/DSCF0119.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>I think she looks thinner. What do you think?</p><p>I'll be keeping watch, but that's what I do 365 days out of the year anyway. This was probably it for 2022 (I cannot believe July is just days away). Knowing we had one out there is almost as cool as seeing it.</p><p>We do all we can to make our property more inviting to the wild ones. 2022 was our best winter for having a screech owl here, a raccoon had her babies in our dog house this past spring and now this opossum. Not that I am giving up on this opossum wish, but I do wonder what may be next?</p>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13394415371484679221noreply@blogger.com4