Friday 2 November 2007

Canadian link

I've been watching a blog from New Brunswick, Canada, http://naturetales.blogspot.com/, over the last few weeks (great photos, lovely birds, marvellous autumn colours). The variety of birds visiting their feeders is impressive, presumably because it gets so b. cold and feeders are an even more important source of food.

November Feeder Area Sightings

  • Downy Woodpecker 01
  • Grackle 01
  • Crow 01
  • American Goldfinch 01
  • American Robin 01
  • White-breasted Nuthatch 01
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch 01
  • Slate-coloured Junco 01
  • Tree Sparrow 01
  • Mourning Doves 01
  • Black-capped Chickadee 01
  • Hairy Woodpecker 01
  • Blue Jays 01
My own list is unsurprisingly not so long, but I'll persevere (more gulls, at least!)


On another matter, as there were no birds around due to the balmy weather [note to any Canadians : in this context, 'balmy' = mild, windless, dull] my eyes were on my feet today.

And I saw a few of these strange plants, which previously puzzled me when encountered on the South Downs.
One of these mossy things had a small purple flower - could these be a late stage of Viper's Bugloss?
Also peeping through the sand and shingle were a variety of hawkbit-like flowers.....but I'm not going to hazard a guess at which ones, as they are too tricky for my limited knowledge.

A dune held a population of fungi, with a large number of snails around them. Is there a link between the fungi and the snails, I wonder - it's a pretty hostile environment.


2 comments:

me ann my camera said...

Thank you, Steve, for your interest, comments and mention on your blog. Our weather has not turned all that wintery here in New Brunswick yet and we have only had a frosting of snow once overnight. Heavy frosts have now taken the last of my Marigolds that had been in bloom up until about a couple of weeks ago. This weekend we are expecting heavy winds and rain from post sub-tropical storm Noel as it passes through our region so we shall see how that influences our numbers at our bird feeders. It will be interesting to note the different species and numbers that visit your feeders also during the coming winter months. Your interest is appreciated.

Anonymous said...

As it was below zero, the sun was out both days this weekend. My first task was to fill the bird feeders in an attempt to lure them back. Mission accomplished! Within the hour I had Chipping Sparrows, Chicadees, Slate Juncos, a male Cardinal and wonder of wonders a Blue Jay.