Canadian Shield

These large woodpeckers can be found through all seasons in Manitoba.  They are capable of making large holes in their favourite trees or hyrdo poles.  I have found them to be extremely skittish and will fly at the slightest movement so I am always feeling pretty lucky to get a photo of them.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

A loud flapping sound right behind my head scared the dickens out of me but when I turned around and saw that a Spruce Grouse had landed on the railing right behind me all was well.  The Grouse was on its way to a birch tree to eat the tender buds at the very top.  It flapped over to the tree ( they don’t really fly well ) and then started climbing up and up until it got to the tiniest branches at the top.  There were two other Grouse already up there and I hadn’t even seen them.  I was surprised that the tiny branches held their weight while they stretched their necks out to get the buds and clinging to the branches with their feathered feet.  This group of Grouse were up in the tree tops each day at dusk while I was visiting my friend in Northwestern Ontario. They roost in the spruce trees and also forage for food on the ground.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

Red squirrels are active during the winter and can be seen running around in the snow and on trees on milder winter days. They build great  nests sometimes lined with stolen fabric which they have borrowed from lawn furniture. Fur lined and cozy they can keep warm on blustery winter days.  Their nests are built in spruce/fir tree boughs, inside hollows of tree trunks or in homes/garages and sheds if they can get access.  I love watching their antics and get a kick out of them when they “scold” you from above.  They are territorial and although many squirrels can live in the same area they often go on real good chases chattering and uttering clucking warnings to other squirrels.  They can clean out a bird feeding station in no time but then they need to eat too. I always find many peanuts buried in my flower pots and beds every spring courtesy of the squirrels.

Enjoy!

Sharon