Curious Horses

Hey, Mom. What's she got?

Once they figured out it was a camera, they turned around and headed for the barn. At least I got this shot first.

I am linking to  Saturday Critters HERE.

Cow and Hay

 Peeking at me and my camera

Most of the cows are out behind the barn chewing their cud. This one is still hungry. She's young and still growing.

Okay, she says. You ARE looking at me!

I am linking to  Saturday Critters HERE.

Niwa

Young and well behaved

I was taking photos at a local airport - a grassy landing strip - when this cutie approached me to check me out. I guess I must be okay  because she let me pet her head and take her photo, and then she wandered off.

I am linking to  Saturday Critters HERE.

Chickadees

Black-capped Chickadee on branch

Have I told you lately how much I like chickadees?  This time of year they frequent my feeders. They may appear to be a little piggy...but wait! Did you think that was the same chickadee you saw a couple of  seconds ago. Probably not!

Chickadee on fence

This time of year, chickadees get together in smallish groups and, being quite unselfish, they tell the other members where the goodies are and scold ME if they think I ought to give them more space. LOL

I am linking to  Saturday Critters HERE.

Innocent Squirrel

 ME??!!

This little scamp hurried up a nearby tree. It was guilty of stealing peanuts. Hmmm

A crumb on it's face

It has its "I'm a good little squirrel" look on its face, don't you think?

I am linking to  Saturday Critters HERE.

Cardinals

 Female cardinal

Although both a female and male cardinal live in our yard somewhere, I rarely see them except this time of year. They can be amazingly secretive, especially the female. Sometimes I see the male gathering food for the young'uns in late spring but I think the female is already off starting a new family...perhaps with a new lover even.  How scandalous! LOL

Male cardinal

I am linking to  Saturday Critters HERE.

Little Red

UH-OH! CameraGirl saw me!

Little Red just sneaked up the back of the fence and is now heading down.

Hurry!!

Got it!!

I was waiting for the local red-bellied woodpecker to arrive, trying to entice it with peanuts in the shell.  But this little scamp...

YUM! Got any more?

wanted peanuts too...and would not go away no matter how many peanuts it stole and ate!

I am linking to  Saturday Critters HERE.

Colourful Chickens

 Colourful chicken

In a town next to East Gwillimbury, a farmer has free range chickens. So free that sometimes they stand by the edge of the road! (Brave, aren't they? Oh, and crazy too.)

 Breast feathers

This one is so attractive with flecks on its breast feathers and...

 Tail feathers

peacock colours on its tail that it's not difficult to understand why

An Orillia street market

crafters create fake chickens for collectors.

I am linking to  Saturday Critters HERE.

Chickadee-dee-dee

Chickadee on cattail

This was a first for me - a chickadee eating cattail seeds...or perhaps looking for tasty insects or collecting fluff for its nest.

During the summer months, chickadees eat animal protein such as insects and ticks. When I learned they ate ticks - including the kind that carry Lyme disease - I decided they would be very welcome in my gardens!

 Chickadee on red-osier dogwood

During the winter months, though, they eat seeds when they cannot find insects. Although they don't migrate, they do gather in flocks during cold weather - mostly with other chickadees but they are fine with other small birds joining in too. In fact, migrating birds are known to spend time on stopovers with them. which is great if you want a variety of birds at your feeders.

Two hungry chickadees

I am linking to  Saturday Critters HERE.

On Parade

Participating in the Santa Claus Parade

It was mitten and hat weather but everyone had a good time.

I am linking to  Saturday Critters HERE.

Merry Moose

An East Gwillimbury Moose

Yep, the real thing! I bet most of you think it's a pony....but look at it's antlers - they are a sure give-away!

East Gwillimbury has two Christmas parades every year, this one in the village of Mount Albert, a small community with tons of spirit. This moose is advertising the Moose Caboose, where during the spring, summer and fall you can purchase yummy breakfasts and lunches...and ice cream including (of course) the Kawartha Dairy flavour Moose Tracks.

I am linking to  Saturday Critters HERE.

Mallard Hybrid

Hybrid?

This different-looking duck hangs out with mallards and likely thinks he's one of them. But he's bigger and more colourful, so I suspect he's a hybrid.

Apparently mallards are "flooding the gene pool" of quite a few other duck varieties, but I have no idea what the other parent of this duck is. Any ideas?

I am linking to  Saturday Critters HERE.

Stainless Steel Swan

On the dock in the harbour, Midland, Ontario

This sculpture celebrates the volunteers and donors who supported the reintroduction of Trumpeter Swans into the nearby Wye Marsh and Georgian Bay.  

Another view of the same sculpture

By the mid-1930s there were no Trumpeters in Ontario due to overhunting for their meat and feathers. In fact, there were only 77 pairs in all of Canada.  Today Trumpeter swans are a protected species in Ontario - so it's illegal to hunt or harass them.

I am linking to  Saturday Critters HERE.

Equus caballus

 East Gwillimbury horse out on a beautiful autumn day

We have truly had a lovely November. Just ask this Equus caballus (horse)!

Two horses out enjoying the lovely weather

I am linking to  Saturday Critters HERE.

Donkey Warning

 Braying donkey

Someone excited this donkey and...

Stopped inches from the electric fence

I'm afraid it was ME!  Maybe he was warning me about the electric fence???
I am linking to Saturday Critters HERE.

Indian Summer

 Enjoying a pretty day

These photos were taken before wind blew the leaves off the trees.

Not alone

I am linking to  Saturday Critters HERE.

Green Thumb's Scavenger Hunt

 a. Question (What do YOU want?)

I do LOVE the challenge of a photo hunt and recently I discovered a once-a-month hunt hosted by Greenthumb HERE

b. Cream (coloured - trim and bricks)

c. Number (136)

d. Lattice (top of fence)

e. Familiar (the world over, I believe)

F. Ring

G. Today (HAPPY HALLOWEEN!)

H. Down

I. Writing (well, sort of)

J. Many

K. Broken

L. Whatever you want

Besides Greenthumb's Scavenger Hunt  HERE,

I am also linking to  Saturday Critters HERE.

Egrets Still Here

 Egret and reflection

I'm always surprised to see egrets here in October because I think of them as being "exotic" visitors to Ontario.  After all, we have had a hard frost and there was a thin layer of ice on this water a few hours before I took this photo. They are hardier than they look!

Patiently fishing

Apparently they will stay in our marshes until they completely freeze over, or as long as they can find aquatic treats.
I am linking to Saturday Critters HERE.

Juvenile Raccoon

OOPS! Busted!

I am linking to Saturday Critters HERE.

Talking Turkey

 Tom Turkey

Monday is Canadian Thanksgiving (although my family is celebrating on Sunday) so Tom Turkey wants to wish all my Canadian readers a happy Thanksgiving weekend.  Tom Turkey is not very worried as he is a main attraction at a Muskoka cranberry marsh.  He reasons the owners there still need him. BUT...

UH-OH!

he hasn't thought very far ahead.  What about Christmas dinner?