Tag: insects

Backyard Visitors

It was a hot weekend, Claudia was at her year-end camp with Rangers at Rockwood Conservation Area. When Susan and I dropped her off Friday evening, the campsites were packed.  Claudia is finished Rangers for the year, she is going back for her final year in the fall. We figured we have been driving the girls to Guiding events for the past 18 years. I had the camera out this morning before it got too hot. A couple of butterflies were hanging around the yard.

A female House Finch in the trees.

The bees were hanging out on the lilac bush.


Enjoying the Hot Weather?

I’m off for a couple of days this week, Susan is off the entire week, she’s been busy getting the girls ready for their trip. In the mornings it still bearable to sit out on the back deck and watch the birds. Here are some pictures of the new bird feeder I got for Father’s Day. There have been more House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) around the feeder recently.

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A female House Sparrow.

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A neighbourhood squirrel making his way along the fence before Chloe can spot it.

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A bumblebee visiting the flowers.

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Chloe does a good job of keeping order in the backyard, she chases the squirrels and larger birds, but is getting better letting the smaller birds feed at the feeder. She has figured out that the birds drop pieces from the suet feeder which she likes.

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A Week in the Eastern Townships

I was down in Frelighsburg, Quebec this past week for work installing a new monitoring site. Not much of an opportunity to try out my new lens, but did get a few bird shots. Not sure what this one is, my birding app couldn’t tell me.

A Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis).

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Some fungi off the roadway.

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There were a lot of Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolour) living in boxes on the power poles.

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On the drive back to Toronto, we stopped at the Mallorytown OnRoute service centre and came across this sign in the parking lot. Not sure what the attraction was for the bees, but the sign was covered and they were flying around it. Good thing I had my telephoto lens, didn’t have to get that close.

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Backyard Happenings

Some photos from the backyard recently. Angela and Claudia were playing badminton and Chloe was watching (waiting) for the birdie. As soon as it hit the ground she would grab it and take off.

The girls are pretty good now, so the birdie doesn’t hit the ground as often.

 

Our lilac bush has finally bloomed and with it has attracted the bees and butterflies.

The bees were busy.

The Region of Peel offers free landscape consultations to residents. It is called Fushion Landscaping. During the consultation they show you ways to create a modern, environmentally-friendly space and give you a personalized garden plan and plant list. They also give you some free stuff. Since we took the play structure down we have been thinking about how to make some changes to the backyard. Stay tuned.


Bumble Bees

Some pictures of the bumble bee that was hanging around our lilac bush.

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Claudia showing us her yoyo skills.

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Angela.

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One more bee shot.

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