AstroGypsies

We are lucky to have a pair of Red Bellied Woodpeckers about. I see the male quite often, the female is more of a recluse this time of year, or just prefers grubs and bugs over dollar store suet, not this guy;) As soon as the feeder goes out, he pushes past the Hairy and Downy woodpeckers for first dibs. I have been bringing the feeders in at night or the raccoons party, pulling them down, as well as rearranging anything I have on the table top. My Winter berry branches were stripped of their berries along with my few American Bittersweet berries, rats! I’ll need to keep my photographic props under lock and key overnight it seems….”Who me?”

I do put everything away in case a bear decides to rip everything apart as well:) Brome Bird Feeders has always been kind, sending spare parts but I do try to avoid these bird feeder bashing scenarios!

It is awfully quiet out there though, the hummingbird whirs are gone, no more yelling orioles, just the locals. Tuxedo birds;) The White Breasted Nuthatches and the Black Capped Chickadees, all smartly dressed. The only colour and noise come from the gangs of Blue Jays extracting payment from the various props I have on the table. They are quick learners, Pavlo’s dog could learn a thing or two from them;)

…and it continues…part two…

They could lean something from the black squirrel;) but they kept at it!

Show ’em how it’s done Mr. Squirrel!

Could this constitute cruelty to Blue Jays? Their lawyer, the red squirrel may be in contact with me soon, especially after the day of the dead spread;) “I WILL get that peanut!” is their motto!
Compliments to Galeria Mexicana in Ensenada for this fabulous rocking raven. They make amazing metal animals and birds! I try to add to our menagerie each visit!

The Blue Jays were not impressed with my Día del Muertos offerings either;)

The things we do to keep out of trouble;) The locals are always photogenic as well! The Mourning doves hang about on the rocks, with the bit of sun we had earlier this week they were warming their wings as the Dark-Eyed Juncos poked about in the leaves looking for dropped seeds and suet.

The Woodpeckers are all back from the forest. I have even caught a glimpse of the Pileated, such huge birds! They are still working on a stand of dead basswood, they have quite the holes and chambers pecked out of huge old trees! Their is also a pecking “order” at the suet…Red Bellied, Hairy’s, Downy’s and of course the White Breasted Nuthatches slink in when they see a opening!

Not many newcomers…I spied an American Tree Sparrow perfectly camouflaged in the leaves as I walked along the road. The American Goldfinches are sporting their Winter colours and a sole female Purple Finch has been about. I’m glad hunting season is over…sigh…one big doe made it, I saw her walk across the hill late yesterday. A lone Autumn Meadowhawk was slowly crawling across a leaf as well, now that is LATE!

The only bug I have seen other than moth! Most of the insect eaters have moved South by now! There are still ticks…sigh…I guess we need a bout of -10° to get them to go dormant! Maya, our mare, is doing well since the antibiotics but has had an occasional sore day, I completely understand!

So, no leaves now, other than a few dried up oaks that refuse to let go…I like that, stubborn! It is so very still along the road, no mail to check, ah, Holiday strikes. We’ll see if my calendars ever arrive! Asi es la vida amigos:)

Fall…and yet…still no snow;) I may have just jinxed us! Ha! Winter tires go on today. Oh Canada. I spent a week trying to absorb and understand what the crack house below us was doing the first week of November but I still feel a sense of loss, and sadness and at times disgust. We’ll be planning future trips accordingly if we go South. Perhaps across Canada and down the West coast might be our new MO. We’ll see. I’ll leave you with some more fall mists and beauty, my antidote to the hate and craziness we encounter in this crazy world called Earth…stay tuned for more of this beauty!