{"id":3789,"date":"2015-09-03T13:41:43","date_gmt":"2015-09-03T17:41:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/?p=3789"},"modified":"2021-01-14T21:13:09","modified_gmt":"2021-01-15T02:13:09","slug":"seen-from-cottage-deck-south-eastern-ontario","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/seen-from-cottage-deck-south-eastern-ontario\/","title":{"rendered":"As Seen from the Deck (of a Cottage in South-Eastern Ontario That Is)"},"content":{"rendered":"

As I mentioned previously<\/strong><\/a>, sometimes I see the most when I just stay still especially if within view there are several habitats intersecting. At our relatives\u2019 cottage, the front deck is a perfect place to spend an hour to see a parade of interesting creatures going about their own activities. Here are some glimpses from a visit early in August.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nOne of several Blue Jays that inspected the area.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>|
\nIt’s hard to see in a photo, but this White-breasted Nuthatch had found a moth on the trunk. It carried it up to a level part of the tree and then bashed it repeatedly before eating the body. I felt sorry for the moth but impressed with the Nuthatch.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nIn good acorn crop years like the one when this was written, I watch Chipmunks squabble below, listen to them chirk, and occasionally see one race up a tree trunk.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nOf course the lighting isn’t always perfect for photography. This Ruby-throated Hummingbird approved of the fuschia plants hanging from the eaves.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nWhile checking a flock of chickadees who arrived en masse, I discovered this imposter. This Black and White Warbler was also looking for insects in the White Pines overhead.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nLooking down under this same tree, I saw this Indian Pipe flowering.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nChecking what else was down there, I spotted a White Admiral that was not in the more southerly pattern of a Red Spotted Purple<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nLooking at the lake, I watched Mama Mallard showing off her yoga poses.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nThe Loon appeared briefly, perhaps enjoying one of the hand-fed-bread sunfish that live under the dock, before it slipped silently back underwater and away.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nA variety of caterpillars usually amble along the deck boards. For size comparison, that green twig is actually a pine needle.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nDragonflies, both large ones like this and smaller Meadowhawk-sized ones often perch to bask in the sunlight on the boards below the eaves. I’m not sure what kind this one is although it looked about the size of a Common Green Darner.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nFortunately, this was not a Beaver. Unfortunately for our neighbours’ Button Bush, however, this Muskrat wanted to line a new sleeping platform under their floating dock.<\/p>\n

There are times when I toodle around in the canoe or hike around with the Deer Flies and I wonder why I don’t just stay on the deck instead. I carefully don’t notice that I’ve probably seen more from the deck than from anywhere else, in case I lose all incentive to move.<\/p>\n

Related Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n