Close to Home!

A Hermit Thrush visited our backyard...

and plucked a juicy grub out from between the walkway stones!

Meanwhile in Canatara Park lots of life can still be found! Caterpillars including this Large Yellow Underwing, are searching for shelter from predators and the upcoming cold weather! It was found on the underside of a leaf.

A spiky looking Ruby Tiger Moth caterpillar on a spiky leaf.

Milkweed seeds waiting for a windy day to burst from the pod and spread seeds for next year’s Monarch population.

Red-breasted Nuthatch storing seeds under tree bark.

White-breasted Nuthatch, checking that the coast is clear before flying away. It is interesting watching nuthatches. Many times I have witnessed one bird stealing the hidden food cache of another bird.

Spruce cones are loaded with tiny ‘winged’ seeds, nestled under the cone flaps. The tree is like a grocery store for hungry birds, including this Red-breasted Nuthatch. Look closely as the Nuthatch has a winged seed is in its beak. The 'wings' help falling seeds 'fly' away from the parent tree, just like the keys on Maple Trees.

Black-capped Chickadees also depend on Spruce Cones as a food source.

Black-capped Chickadees have been putting on a nice display lately as they search for seeds and insects on goldenrod and other plants.

Tufted Titmice are typically difficult to find locally in the summer months when raising young. They are now flying in winter social groups with Nuthatches and Chickadees, making them slightly easier to find.

Dark-eyed Juncos are the Snow Birds of the middle latitudes. Over much of eastern North America, they appear as winter sets in and return north each spring to breed.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Dark-eyed_Junco/overview

Big yawn from a well camouflaged Mallard hen!

Redhead ducks are beginning to gather on what is left of Lake Chipican. Low rainfall this year has greatly reduced the size of the lake.

Frosted Mapleleaf Vibernum - a sign of approaching winter weather.