Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Black-Capped Chickadees of the Vermilon River. A P...

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Black-Capped Chickadees of the Vermilon River. A P...: "These photos were taken along the abandoned RR track on the east side of the river, where someone had built about 5 or 6 rough feeders i..."

Black-Capped Chickadees of the Vermilon River. A Post to Camera Critters

These photos were taken along the abandoned RR track on the east side of the river, where someone had built about 5 or 6 rough feeders in a sheltered, secluded area. I just sat down in the snow and took some photos including those of the nuthatches which I posted earlier. The birds were out in swarms which was wonderful.

Now some facts about chickadees which absolutely amaze me:
1) Chickadees can remember for at least 28 days where they hide their food.
2) They drop their temperature at night by 10-12 degrees C. below daytime temperature to conserve energy.
3) They feed their young 6-14 times per hour.
4) They have an established hierarchy based on aggressiveness.
5)They have 15 different calls to communicate with their flock.

Who ever made up the word birdbrained ? I know people who can't do any of the above including look after their kids.

The data is from Who's Who in The Hinterland.

A Post to Camera Critters.

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Storm Skies of The Vermilon River. A Post to Sky W...

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Storm Skies of The Vermilon River. A Post to Sky W...: "#1 #2  #3   #4   #6  #7 All these photos were shot during the day. That is the sun, not the moon and the photos ..."

Storm Skies of The Vermilon River. A Post to Sky Watch.

#1

#2



#3




#4




#6



#7

All these photos were shot during the day. That is the sun, not the moon and the photos are in sequence. To follow them, keep your eye on the small blue spot in the upper left hand quadrant and watch it change as the sun emerges and then disappears again.

In # 1 & 2 the blue patch is shrinking and the sun is hidden by the white cloud totally. In #'s 3,4 & 6 pinks appear in the blue patch as it shrinks and the sun appears.

In #7, the sun is barely visible but the clouds are pitch black, and yes the storm was a beaut!!!

A Post to Sky Watch.

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Monochromatic River Scenes of The Vermilon River-A...

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Monochromatic River Scenes of The Vermilon River-A...: "f16, 1/125 EC-.67, 55mm.  f8 1/500EC-.67step 55mm. I think landscape photography is supposed to depict the scene as I see it and perh..."

Monochromatic River Scenes of The Vermilon River-A Post to Watery Wednesday.

f16, 1/125 EC-.67, 55mm.



f8 1/500EC-.67step 55mm.

I think landscape photography is supposed to depict the scene as I see it and perhaps, only perhaps, as it really is. What I'm showing here, or maybe what I see is a rugged terrain with hard rock and cold water, set in a forbidding gray light; yet the snow highlights it and brightens it over all, as does the barely visible green of the trees;so, in a sense it warms it.

I'm also still trying to deal with a gray winter sky which we get often,and which I rather like. By the way rock outcroppings or little islands are common in the Vermilon. The river, in a rather laid back, but relentless manner just flows around them gradually, wearing them away, at the sametime making small quiet lakes, perfect for wildlife.

A Post to Watery Wednesday.

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: White-Breasted Nuthatch of the Vermilon River- A P...

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: White-Breasted Nuthatch of the Vermilon River- A P...: "I was really excited to see this guy as well as the area where he was feeding. I had originally gone to take some monochromatic winter&nbs..."

White-Breasted Nuthatch of the Vermilon River- A Post to World Bird Wednesday

I was really excited to see this guy as well as the area where he was feeding. I had originally gone to take some monochromatic winter photos, since I live now in a gray area, of the rapids located on the abandoned RR line on the east side of the river. Everything was fine until I arrived at an area that was filled with snow drifts, and therefore impassable. I turned around, changed lens ,and noticed swarms of chickadees deep in the forest feeding and went to see what was going on. Someone had set up numerous feeding stations and stocked them attracting this guy as well as other birds.I'm so intrigued by the idea that I'd like to try and duplicate it in another area.

The White-Breasted Nuthatch is not an especially rare bird but for my area and in the winter is . So I'm pleased  that I got these photos. They are generally attracted to deciduous forests, but now will reside in mixed as mine is. They are insect eaters, but will feed on nuts such as acorns and apparently sunflower seeds as they are here. They move up and down trees upside down, and get their name from their habit of putting the nut in the tree bark and whacking away at it with that splendid beak they have.

All information is from the Cornell Lab Site.

A Post to World Bird Wednesday.

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Purple Finch of The Vermilon River- A Post to My W...

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Purple Finch of The Vermilon River- A Post to My W...: "Female Male  Female  Probably one of the most dramatic winter visitors, these birds are in the forest and tend to sweep through t..."

Purple Finch of The Vermilon River- A Post to My World Tuesday.

Female

Male



Female

 Probably one of the most dramatic winter visitors, these birds are in the forest and tend to sweep through the bird feeders with some frequency. I always appreciate them when I see them. Although, I think I say that about all the birds.

A Post to My World Tuesday

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: More Black-Capped Chickadees of the Vermilon River...

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: More Black-Capped Chickadees of the Vermilon River...: "These are more views of these marvelous, playful guys who visit with Boomer and I in the woods or at home. Boomer and I are ju..."

More Black-Capped Chickadees of the Vermilon River-A Post to Camera Critters # 142

These are more views of these marvelous, playful  guys who visit with Boomer and I in the woods or at home. Boomer and I are just waiting for the roast of pork to finish so we can put Christmas lunch/dinner together, so I thought I 'd post these fellows to wish everyone the best possible Season's Greetings.


A Post to Camera Critters # 142

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Views of some Chickadees of The Vermilon River-A P...

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Views of some Chickadees of The Vermilon River-A P...: "I have a lot of good views of Black-Capped Chickadees; so for Wordless Wednesday I'm posting them."

Views of some Chickadees of The Vermilon River-A Post to Wordless Wednesday.

I have a lot of good views of Black-Capped Chickadees; so for Wordless Wednesday I'm posting them.

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Evening Grosbeaks of The Vermilon River- A post to...

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Evening Grosbeaks of The Vermilon River- A post to...: "Female  Female Profile   Male Grosbeak These birds arrive in flights and at first you're wondering if you've got some Goldfinc..."

Evening Grosbeaks of The Vermilon River- A post to World Bird Wednesday

Female



Female Profile




Male Grosbeak

These birds arrive in flights and at first you're wondering if you've got some Goldfinch still in summer colours. Then you realize you've got something far different and then, they're gone. Beauties aren't they? But They'll eat you out of house and home.But who cares?

Originating in the foothills of the Rockies they have moved east and were noted in the 1850's around Toronto and have since spread. They are members of the finch family and tend to prefer coniferous forests although they will now settle happily into mixed forests. They are attracted to forests with spruce bud worm problems as they are a natural predator of the the bud worm.
The english name is somewhat forced as they are not creatures of the evening. Rather, the french name is much better, en francais:  Le gros-bec errant or the large beaked wanderer which describes their habits. In an especially bad outbreak of spruce bud worm in the Maritimes there were huge numbers attracted by the insect. But after spraying few remained.

The above probably accounts for their presence here. It is a regenerating primarily coniferous forest, although
with lots of soft and now some young hardwood trees. There is also a spruce bud worm problem.Suprisingly enough they also like salt and gravel so you will find flocks on the roads.

 Not only is the female attractive, although the male with those yellow horns is more so, but in the summer the beak will turn green, and  they sit in the spruce trees so the green beak completes their camouflage.  The colourful plumage is also,then, natures' protection.

All these facts are from the the Cdn Web publication "Who's Who In The Hinterland".
A post to World Bird Wednesday.

A Taste of Summer at The Vermilon River-A Post to my World Tuesday

Broken Monarch



Eastern Tiger Tail




Unknown Moth

Readers who are familiar with this site know that it deals not just with birds , but all manners of flora and fauna of this small section of forest that Boomer and I move around. Apart from our area it is an enormous forest, it's just that Boom and I are only capable of travelling in a small area, probably no greater than a radius of 10 miles because we walk. You know that strange motion that keeps you fit with little effort, and allows you to enjoy nature that is not confined to a zoo or park or some such.thing. It also means we leave no carbon imprint. What we take in we bring out.
 As I've said many times before it is a regenerating forest originally obliterated by mining.And I can still show you  some stains on the rocks that remain from that time. Some older members of the area can remember when diesel fuel was burnt off the river from spills at the railyards. And old RR equipment still sits in those yards likely polluting the ground  with petroleum wastes. The RR was a Crown Corporation at one time. a unique Canadian invention that permitted the Government to run a company at arms length and pour millions of dollars of taxes into it to preserve jobs, and  to make the economy look good.

Forestry clear cut the forests for lumber, and fuel for the smelters with little thought to the future.

But some people fought  for tough  legislation to curb the mining companies. The RR has not much improved although it is no longer a welfare project but now a private company. It has just moved onto greener pastures (no pun intended). And the remaining area is probably of little interest to forestry companies because the forest is now too young.

In the light of the results or lack of results at Cancun, we never learn or accomplish anything until we actually threaten our politicians with that one thing they fear- no legislative seat and the need to find a job.So work for recall legislation in your community, and invite your reps at all levels to join the unemployment line.

Boom & I are lucky in that here the forest is re-generating and at least a small group of people will ensure that it continues to. And we intend to enjoy the forest and all its bounty. So enjoy this little taste of summer with the compliments of Boom & I of the Vermilon River.

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Boomer of The Vermilon River- A Post To Pet Pride....

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Boomer of The Vermilon River- A Post To Pet Pride....: "To All A Merry Christmas!!!  The test of a northern dog is how they get water.   Ever Attentive   Hey Look at..."

Boomer of The Vermilon River- A Post To Pet Pride.

To All A Merry Christmas!!!



The test of a northern dog is how they get water. 




Ever Attentive




Hey Look at that.....

I already told you Boom's story. These are just some typical photos of Boom and me interacting. Photo 2 is standard for a malamute in that every day out is a free popsicle from nature and the sound of  crunching ice puts my own teeth on edge. This is how ,of course,arctic dogs get their water. There is no point putting out a water bowl.
Boom ,as civilized as he is, is still a feral animal in his DNA, and in the body he inhabits. His hearing and sense of smell is that of the wolf and his eyesight catches movement.I am not saying he is a hybrid! In these last two photos he senses something, and if it is something that I should know about he will grunt not bark. These guys are not barkers, although they will howl, and talk back in a sing song low growl, which is funny to hear.

A Post to Pet Pride.

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Blue Jays Of The Vermilon River- A Post to Blue Mo...

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Blue Jays Of The Vermilon River- A Post to Blue Mo...: "These guys amuse me to no end with their squawking in the woods when I'm trying to be quiet in a woodsy way, but I still think they'..."

Blue Jays Of The Vermilon River- A Post to Blue Monday

These guys amuse me to no end with their squawking in the woods when I'm trying to be quiet in a woodsy way, but I still think they're one of the finest looking winter birds that we get.

I had posted this information earlier on another Blue Jay post with different photos. But here goes again:

If you remove the Hummingbird from of the sun, it will lose its brilliant colours. The colour is in the way nature has constructed its feathers which refract the sunlight into the birds' vivid colours.Similarly, the tail feathers of the Blue Jay are constructed to reflect those vivid blue and white colours.

A Post To Blue Monday.

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Monochromatic Trails of the Vermilon River-A Post ...

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Monochromatic Trails of the Vermilon River-A Post ...: "Side trail Is this going to fall on me?  Look at that sky.  What me depressed? One of the interesting challenges at this time ..."

Monochromatic Trails of the Vermilon River-A Post to Scenic Sunday # 127

Side trail

Is this going to fall on me?



Look at that sky.



What me depressed?

One of the interesting challenges at this time of year in any northern climate is the white balance. We get a lot of gray skies along with white snow,conifers that are a deep rich green fringed with snow, and a distinctive lack of bright colours, unless you count my sweater.As an aside the snow permits Boom and I to track the four legged animals so we can try and catch up to them to photograph. Many people in fact in the area are depressed, but me I love the weather and the challence of colour balancing. I'm just learning, but I use a fast shutter speed, 1/20 or 1/30 with f16 and an EC of .67, and an ISO of 400.

The effect is to produce an almost monochromatic photo with just a touch of colour. It shows especially in the over hanging branch in which you can just see green. It also shows in Boom who is standard Malamute colours -white, black, gray with a touch of beige. You can just see the beige in his coat.

Hope you like the views.

 Post to Scenic Sunday #127

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Red Squirrel of the Vermilon River. Post to Camera...

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Red Squirrel of the Vermilon River. Post to Camera...: "While Southern Ontario has its black and gray squirrels, we in the Vermilon River have our red squirrels(common to all parts of Northern&nb..."

Red Squirrel of the Vermilon River. Post to Camera Critters #141

While Southern Ontario has its black and gray squirrels, we in the Vermilon River have our red squirrels(common to all parts of Northern Canada). They are a conifer feeder; namely on the cones that these trees produce; although they will also feed on insects, seeds etc. As well they feed on the sap of conifers. The squirrel bites the tree allowing the sap to dry,and then returns to feed. Their hoard of cones, seeds etc. are stored in "middens"which they tend to forget about and thus aid in the re-generation of a forest.

They are solitary except for the mother after the birth of her young. They are smaller than the gray or black but larger than a chipmunk. They are no longer restricting themselves to coniferous forests, but are expanding into mixed forests.

The fellow depicted here allowed me to get fairly close because he was in a dense tree, and concentrating on his lunch. The photos were taken at the lower end of  the Long Lake wetland. In earlier posts I took my readers on a tour of the wetlands. See the archives if you want to tour them. He is in no way habituated; he is a creature of the forest, and took off as fast as possible once lunch was complete.

Information primarily from Nature Works.

Post to Camera Critters # 141

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Stormy Skies of The Vermilon River-Post to Friday ...

Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River: Stormy Skies of The Vermilon River-Post to Friday ...: "Previous Day  Warning Sky   Storm Sky   Bee In Common Burdock        After many complaints from me&nbs..."

Stormy Skies of The Vermilon River-Post to Friday Sky Watch

Previous Day



Warning Sky




Storm Sky




Bee In Common Burdock





 


  After many complaints from me about the lack of snow we had a blizzard sweep in this week from Ohio. So be careful what you wish for. The photos show how the sky changed over a very short period. The temperatures with wind chill were about -22 C degrees and about 15-20 cm. of snow fell, but the real clincher was the drifting snow. We dug out continually, and finally managed to make it to the woods today.

The last photo is just a summer reminder. Remember Dec. 21st is equinox-equal day and equal night. But by the next day, the day is longer and the progression begins towards noticeably longer days. How's that for being an optimist? Boom & Gary of The Vermilon River.

Post to Friday Sky Watch.