What is called a partridge locally is actually a grouse, the Spruce Grouse. We also have Ruffed Grouse. When there is less snow, they are starting to congregate and mate this time of year. So far, I am seeing (and hearing) a lonely only.
I tried to get a pic, but because of the deep snow, I couldn't get anything meaningful to the viewer. By the time I got closer, the bird flew away.
What is called a partridge locally is actually a grouse, the Spruce Grouse. We also have Ruffed Grouse. When there is less snow, they are starting to congregate and mate this time of year. So far, I am seeing (and hearing) a lonely only.
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For the first time in a long time, there were birds flitting about today. And singing! Little finches. I don't put a feeder out, because it mostly feeds squirrels and bluejays; the little guys are still left to their own devices.
It's a good sign. The cold weather is passing. I'll be happy to see some warmer temperatures. The cabin fever part of the program has definitely been longer than the last many years. As, I am sure, you all know. Also known as 'snowbirds'. Lots and lots of Slate-coloured Juncos bopping around today.
Here comes the last long weekend of the season. Looks like we are getting good weather for most of it.
There will be turkey in the air...I mean the aroma of roasting ones. Might see a wild turkey by the side of the road, or a clutch of them. They have been much more visible this year than in the past, lots of sightings. Anyone driving through Algonquin Park in the dark tonight, be aware of moose! They can sneak up on a car pretty quickly. In other words, it isn't safe to "book it" through the Park after the sun goes down. In my 24 years here, there have been 3 very late arrivals due to collisions with these grand creatures. These unfortunate incidents all happened on the stretch of hwy 60 inside Park boundaries. That being said, moose are not restricted to the park, so collisions are possible on all local roads. Also, anyone on highway 60, keep in mind that there have been lots of speedtraps, especially on the long weekends, this season. Thanks to everyone who has been part of the experience here in 2013, tourists, volunteers, and regular clients. I will be taking bookings for the next while, weather permitting, but soon it will be time to plan and book your 2014 getaways. Here is the list of birds identified by the ornithologist who was here 2 weekends ago.
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15199543 Another beautiful day in paradise is drawing to a close. No frost here yet, but I have been taking the immense fuschia (aka my hummingbird feeder) in at night as a precaution.
Apparently hummingbirds can survive up to minus 20C. There were sightings of rufous hummingbirds last December, in Eganville and Ottawa. What the heck do they eat at that time of year? All the flowers are gone, so no nectar there. The tree sap isn't running any more, so no food there either. Even those sugar water feeders freeze at that temp (personally, I think hummingbirds need nectar, not sugar). Another of nature's mysteries... It's garbage day.
There are moose tracks beside the garbage cans. Fresh ones. Now it seems I can look out the office window, and likely see a moose at sunrise. BIG moose tracks. It's probably the same big boy that traipsed through the upper campground on a regular basis this past spring. Happy birdwatchers, sights and sounds abound. Quite a list was compiled in a 20 minute walk.
That was just in the grounds here. And then, they went into the woods. Last weekend was a successful fish weekend. Now it's full moon, so it should be good through this next couple of days as well.
Wild animals are smart. This past weekend, one fisherman inadvertently fed a snapping turtle. He left his pike in the water on a line, to stay fresh, came back to find a head. The turtle came back for seconds. http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/08/21/canada-plans-to-use-hexacopter-drones-in-war-against-geese/
This probably trumps my brooms. Maybe orange brooms would be better... Who knew? A broom tops it. When the geese hit the beach, I walk up to them with the broom in the air and fling it. They have become used to the firecrackers, and my car. Actually, they have become increasing bold, there was even a dog on site and they landed. I'll bet multi-broom works even better!
It's a first! I just had people book a campsite for the rest of the day, because they cannot find a fish at Rock Lake, or Lake of Two Rivers, etc.
I've been sending people to Algonquin Park for years, for all kinds of things that are not provided here, like interpreted hiking trails, restaurant, art museum, TED talks, book signings. It's the first time I have had something that Algonquin Park does not have. Fish! There are fish here. Oh, except in the old days, when Algonquin had very few sites with electricity; I used to get lots of RVs, Europeans on tour. Now that the Park's organized campgrounds have been contracted out to a private interest, they have more than enough sites with electricity and water. I can take down the sign that says "Algonquin Park Overflow". Ok, so I already knew that. Kewl though that someone, who is camped in Algonquin, spotted habitat here for fish, and is fishing right now, as the weather change rolls in. Hope he gets a big pike! As far as I can tell, the biting bug population is well under control. The swallows are out in full force, and I will credit them with the drop in black flies. The mosquito population is also reduced. Of course, the deer flies are just coming into their season, but I am not seeing the numbers of previous years, too wet for them, I think. Yes, I know I said the bugs were gone 2 weeks ago. Wishful thinking...they had a resurgence. This time I think they are really on the run.
It's definitely old news now, but the fireflies have been lighting up the evening air for the last 2 weeks. It's always so magical to see them. They are somehow temperature dependent, only the warm nights, but I haven't figured out what the critical temperature is. It is rather tropical here, a downpour or 2 passed through overnight, and this morning is very humid and warm. Great day to be by the water.
People don't often think of flying insects as wildlife, but they are indeed animals. Due to the unusually rainy start to the season, they are a fact of rural life at this time. The best way to enjoy yourself in the country is to be prepared.
My suggestion to keep black flies off is Vatika, an East Indian hair oil with coconut, olive, and some other things. The flies smother in it, so they cannot bite. You can find it at any East Indian grocery store, $4 for enough to last for years in your camping kit. It's good for your hair, and your skin, and will not eat the finish off a table, as do some of the OTC bug sprays. Last season I learned 2 new tricks about mosquitoes, from people who stayed here. One used beer. It worked. The other used vanilla extract. I am always looking for alternatives to the poison spray in little bottles. The other thing is to wear light coloured clothing. A white hat is always good. Leave the smelly soaps and shampoos at home. Someone with Wave Runners has discovered this bay, and is using it as a wave pool. I hope it's not someone who is around all summer.
Every wild bird nested in the reed bed just went for a huge ride, and so did all the frog eggs. Guaranteed to kill... Toys are great, in the right environment. Take the wave runners out on Bark Lake. Nothing smaller. They were created for ocean riding. People say they care about the environment. It's a subject taught in school now. People need to care for the environment, not about it. People need to understand their fun kills things they need to care for. It's not something another person can do for them. Just had another rainshower. Very pleasant outside. Warm, not hot. The longest day of the year is upon us. The wild strawberries are ripening, another rain will make them luscious. Only one more mushroom so far. There is supposed to be lots of rain this week coming, that should make them bloom again. Haven't had time to go look for the chanterelles.
It's just non-stop here, and not done yet. That would explain the lack of commentary. The holiday weekend is only a week away. The loon is flying and singing in the morning, I am only hearing one. There's probably another one up at Green Lake. Fish were top feeding all day. Another early morning visitor, in the eastern part of the campground. Actually, it was more strolling than running.
It's amazing how such a small animal can have such a big tail!
The least bittern is back, I heard it yesterday. Very tropical out there this morning. For years, there has been a hummingbird coming to my front porch. He's back! I usually put a fuchsia there for him to feed upon. This year, it has been too cold so far for any flowers to be put out. Also, I cannot find a fuchsia locally. It seems none of the garden centres supply them any more. Last summer it was a begonia instead. A red one. Wrong shape, right colour. My hummingbird fed on it anyway as far as I could see.
Until I put the hydro and phone service underground, I would often see him perched on the wires. Now I have no idea where he rests. I heard on a CBC show (some authoritative professorial type) that hummingbirds are NOT attracted to red. Right. That's why he tries to land in my hair... So do bees. Apparently they are not attracted to red either. Apparently the ones here are colour blind. Maybe the people who study them are colour blind? But I digress... To be sure, I don't know if My Hummingbird is a he or a she. Hummingbirds make me happy. I won't feed them from a plastic POC (piece of crap) filled with sugar water. I will find an appropriate flower. They also feed from the so called "silver maple" that is found all over the neighbourhood. Apparently an ornamental from Europe that came with settlers, this tree, which defies taxonomy, is prolific in the area, and upon my land. First comes the Yellow Bellied Sapsucker, a relative of the Woodpecker, who pecks holes (woodpeckers eat insects, sapsuckers suck sap. Strangely). After that, Squirrels drink the sap, and Hummingbirds float and tap sap while in midair, from the same puncture wounds on the tree. Ah, that humans would cooperate so easily! What a wonderful world it would be... In response to questions/comments re: Memorial Day
1. Wild mushrooms. It's too early, and the weather isn't exactly mushroom weather, it is too cold! I did see some gyromitra esculenta (false morels), but those are the ones that have to be cooked specially, and are not for everyone. No sitings of morels. Next likely bloom is chanterelles, but the weather has to get warmer. 2. Moore's falls is rockin'! Lots of water coming over, we just had buckets of rain again the last couple of days. There were kayakers here already to ride the falls, before the Victoria Day weekend. The river level is high this year; maybe you heard about the flooding in Bancroft, Whitney, and Huntsville? Serious downpours the 20ish of April, washed out a lot of trails in Algonquin Park, tons of flood damage (they thought the dam at Whitney was going to blow), but it was all ok here. Also, the sinkhole that swallowed a car opened up on Hwy 62 just north of Bancroft again. I don't know about Algonquin Park, but everything else has pretty much been put back in order. 3. Spring Peepers are singing their little hearts out. Makes it hard to hear the falls at night! After 2 years of construction on a place for me to live, I almost have things in order.
I have always had a place for YOU to stay! Recent wildlife activity includes: a moose in the upper campground a baby deer, also called a doe, stepping right beside the big boy's tracks deer between the cabins a rabbit, when there were campers in on the Victoria Day weekend 4 geese on the waterfront, one with a bad leg. I feel badly about having to scare them away so that the beach will be clean for swimmers. BIRDS, BIRDS BIRDS! Of course, there are many things I don't see, because I am busy making every thing right for your arrival. In spite of watching, the 4 solar storms (CMEs) last week apparently did not result in aurora at this location. It seems the CMEs pointed away from earth. Everyone who wants perfect weather, no bugs, and not many people around should be booking this weekend.
That's what we've got. about the black flies being gone. No record done date yet. New hatch out came upon the heels of the previous utterance, I'm not bad, but one of the volunteers is polka dotted.
More volunteers arriving tomorrow. I am having a great time with them, we are productive and everyone seems pretty happy about the flow of activities. Those of you who have been here before will easily be able to see some of their input. Maybe it's time to play "spot the changes"? But apparently true. I waited a whole day to say something.
It appears the black flies are done at this location. This is a full 10 calendar days earlier than any previous year of my 22 here. As far as other wildlife sightings, cabin people saw a deer frolicking on the far side of the waterfront as they sat out eating dinner at their campfire pit Tuesday evening. Oh, and pickerel have been landed. |
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February 2018
AuthorSince 1989, I have been known to many as The Red Dear. Most of the rest of humankind calls me Sandra. Categories
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