Friday, October 15, 2010

Seasonal Changes

One morning, recently, we saw this lovely creature near the house.

Growing a new winter coat

In motion
Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus)

(main source for information: Hinterland Who's Who)

- also called the Varying Hare
- found only in North America
- common in all regions of Canada
- ears shorter than other hares' ears
- fur turns white in winter
- large hind legs
- habitat - prefers coniferous forests with dense understory
- black tufts of fur on edges of ears
- diet in winter: twigs, bark, spruce tree needles

Earth

Thursday, October 14, 2010

An Autumn Sky

I spent a leisurely morning raking leaves
(no noisy leaf blower for me)
while every so often contemplating
the clouds racing across a brilliant blue sky.


Friday, October 8, 2010

Garter Snake

My husband came in from cutting wood
to tell me that he saw a garter snake
at the base of a birch tree, and
did I want to take a picture?

(please click on image for better viewing)


Earth

Monday, October 4, 2010

In the Birch Trees


(please click on images for better viewing)


Yesterday at about four thirty in the afternoon, I saw a few birds foraging in the birch trees. They seemed to be very interested in what was on the leaves. One bird, in particular, paused long enough for me to focus and get some acceptable pictures.

I haven't come up with an ID yet, although I've gone back and forth between this warbler and that warbler. I almost thought I had a name for this pretty bird, but at the end of the day, I still couldn't be certain. And so it goes - me, the novice birder; me, taking pictures of birds at every opportunity; me, trying to correctly identify them, often getting it wrong; and me, a dedicated bird watcher.




Note: Identified as an immature Yellow-rumped Warbler, fall plumage.