Urban Nature

While visiting the Phoenix area I saw many Curve-billed thrashers.   Most thrashers I observed were picking away at various cactus plants.  They are a fairly large bird with a very distinctive yellow eye.  There were many birds in Phoenix that are common to Manitoba but it was great to see some new birds that I do not get to see here at home.

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

Some recent photos of white tailed deer today.  These were taken in late October / early November and as I had hoped there were more bucks visible at this time of year.  It is rutting season and we need to be extra alert while driving in both the city (we have a large urban deer population in Winnipeg) and on the highways.  The deer run all over the place during the rut and many are killed in traffic.

Enjoy!

~Sharon