The Palette Changes to Bronze

Photos: November 13, 2016

It has been a most magnificent autumn with the colours lasting longer, plenty of sunny days and many days with above average temperatures. There are still trees that hang on to their leaves. With some exceptions, the yellows and reds have given way to the bronzes.



I love the crunching sound as I walk through the drying leaves. As I did as a child, the children play in the leaves - it says autumn to me.



Squirrels are feasting in the crab apple trees, fattening up before the temperatures drop and they spend more time in their dens. Now there is plenty to eat. Winter will be harder.



Night falls early. The supermoon rose on the horizon - a beautiful sight. A peaceful end to a beautiful autumn day.

At the Squirrel Snack Bar

I'm not sure what they are finding to it. It is not exactly picnic weather, though the sun's warmth is noticeable. The squirrels were out in great number today. And this "snack bar" seemed to attract a few!

The Squirrel Restaurants

We went for a walk up on Mount Royal. The squirrels were feasting at the Squirrel Restaurants - areas under the bird feeders. While above, chickadees and nuthatches flitted back and forth from nearby trees to the feeder, underneath the squirrels gathered in numbers. I had not seen an albino squirrel before.



There were a number of these "restaurants", each with a very satisfied clientele.

Unusual Weather

I went walking yesterday with my coat flung wide open, no hat, no gloves in balmy temperatures. While it felt nice, it did not feel right.



For my American friends: 15°C is about 59°F - shattering the previous record of 8.3°C for this date. Christmas? It felt more like a spring holiday. It is not just today's temperatures that feel different. Although we have had green Christmases before, there has always been snow before, even if it all melted again. We have not had more that a few flurries which never lasted more than a few hours.



The squirrels have been taking advantage of the weather to keep eating and put on a little more weight. One article I read suggested that we may have a plethora of squirrels in the spring due to fewer deaths over the winter with their extra stores of fat. This then will result in a bumper crop of babies.

Snow is coming but the forecast is for a mild winter.

Wishing all my friends a happy holiday. Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it! Wishing all a happy, healthy time full of family, friends, fun, laughter and love.

Feasting

Feasting, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

I had several layers on as I went out for a walk. These squirrels took advantage of their fur tail coats as they feasted on the frozen fruit that had dropped from the trees.



Feasting is more fun with a friend.



Sometimes it's good to have a wind break along with the fur coat!

Watching the Birds

Watching the Birds, originally uploaded by susanvg.

I was at a friend's to play music and she has a well used bird feeder. I delighted in watching the chickadees and others swoop down and fill up. Her bird feeder also attracts others - big, fat, black squirrels. It was fun to watch one in particular who climbed up a bush, the branch swaying like a hammock. He positioned himself so that he could reach over with his front paws, grab a snack, and then return completely to his branch. Each time he reached, his hind quarters went up as the weight on the branch decreased. Once his weight was back he bobbed up and down as he consumed his prize. It seemed to work for him until one back paw lost its grip. Then the acrobatics began as he maneuvered to get a better grip and finally got all four paws on the feeder. Every so often, my friend sends out the squirrel patrol - her very friendly dog, Schubert. The squirrel (at least temporarily) left the feeder to the birds. I wonder if he knew he had been the source of great amusement.

May 4/10: Thieves

May 4/10: Thieves, originally uploaded by susanvg.

This photograph looks like it's about tulips but actually it is about the tulips that are not there. You may notice that two have been decapitated. There are thieves in the neighbourhood. I saw one from my bedroom window. It cut off the bloom and went off with it.

I used to puzzle over this. I knew these thieves were squirrels and was always angry that the petals of the flower would be strewn around as if the squirrel vandalized my garden, decided it wasn't to its liking and left the evidence to taunt me. Today I saw that it ate the heart of the flower (usually only the red tulips), leaving the petals. I am a little more forgiving as I see the damage, knowing some of it went to nourishment.

Day 247: Squirrels

Day 247: Squirrels, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Several days ago I posted a picture of this temple and mentioned that squirrels stop by to dine there. This visitor brought his own food (plucked from my neighbour's tree) and perched here to enjoy it. The moss this year is particularly thick due to the rain we have had this summer. Nature is quite something. I always marvel that growth continues despite us. Weeds push up in cracks in sidewalks and moss grows where none was planted.

I have a love / hate relationship with squirrels. They are certainly cute and it is fun to watch their antics, but they do leave a mess. When I had a bird feeder, for a few months I enjoyed the variety of birds that visited. After a while the squirrels figured out how to shimmy down, hang upside down and gorge themselves on the plentiful supplies. While it was fun to see their acrobatics, the birds no longer came by, other than the pigeons who quite liked the seeds that were spilled on the ground due to the squirrels' wild swinging. The feeder came down. I do take pity on the squirrels on icy winter days and occasionally throw leftover bread out the window (good, nutritious whole grain bread). But mostly, I let them fend for themselves and with the number of squirrels I see, I guess they are thriving.

Day 112: Spring Forth

Day 112: Spring Forth, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Two days of rain have really greened up the city. The grass has taken on its verdant hue. Bushes show signs of leaves. Each day brings new discoveries. My tulips seem to grow before my eyes. In Montreal, spring, once primed, goes into fast forward.

Now I watch the squirrels carefully. So often, just as these tulips are about to open, I find headless stems and petals scattered around. Moth balls in the garden, cayenne pepper, I've tried it all to no avail. It makes each tulip that manages to open, despite the squirrels' midnight raids, that much more precious.