Harvest Time

No, this isn't a harvest moon, but, rather the noon day sun through the (yecht) smoke. It has been almost impossible to take decent photos these last two weeks due to the smoke!

I did try to catch this Red Tailed Hawk, but gave up. The ISO was so high and the smoke so thick this is what I got.

Meanwhile our garden is producing well. We are eating fresh potatoes, lettuce and carrots, also some beets. When you don't have a lot of space, you plant close, and dense. It all works out!

This last shot was from the end of July to show what one month of growing does around here.

Hopefully, your garden is growing and producing well.

Put it Up and They Will Come

My old feeder was slightly banged up, so I scrapped it and put up a new one. It only took one day for the birds to find it.

The Hairy Woodpecker was one of the first. He liked the home grown sunflower heads.

The Evening Grosbeaks were close behind. It doesn't take long for the word to get out.

The Sparrows showed up of course. I'm not sure which type this is. He doesn't match up with my reference books.

There are a lot of Robins still about, even though we had about 8 inches of snow on the ground. They stayed in the Crab apple tree.

Dark Eyed Juncos were also there.

My Favourite clowns, The Bohemian Waxwings put on a good show.

OK, OK, so this Red Tailed Hawk was not at the feeder. I found him down the road a bit. Poetic licence I call it!

October Birds

The Red Tailed Hawks are still hanging around the fields even though the crops are off.

They are vary patient waiting for mice, but also very spooky. At times I could use a longer lens  

Here is a Magpie in the process of putting the run on the Red Tail.

Fly past!

The crows are starting to flock up getting ready to move south. Lucky birds!

the next two photos are of a Hairy Woodpecker that landed on a tree beside the truck.

Things have been very quiet on the hunt for critters (camera wise). I just missed getting a great shot of this Red Tailed hawk. He caught me napping!

This other one was cooperative, but not in flight.

I couldn't resist this pair  of "Love Bird" Magpies.

It's starting to get cool around here, dipping down to below freezing at night. Snow is forcast for Saturday. Hope they are wrong!

Another walk-about

It was a nice, sunny afternoon and I went looking for some well composted horse manure for the new raised gardens in the back yard. Of course, I took the camera and found a field where the Sandhill Cranes have been hanging out for a while. Thank goodness for a long lens as they were pretty spooky. 

 They have a tremendous wingspan although you wouldn't know it when they are standing.

 The pond next to the field had a few mallards in it.

 Last years cat tails look pretty grubby after a winter.

 There were a couple of Red Tailed hawks soaring overhead. Hard to track with a long lens!

Tomorrow, i will go for coffee with the guys and then head out to get two loads of manure (unless it's raining)!