Here, there and everywhere

On By Mike and Christy5 Comments

Still dressed in their summer coat this Ermine was doing what Ermines do. Looking and running and looking and running over here, over there just about everywhere in search of their next meal. Because an Ermine has such a long slender body and high metabolism they rapidly loose body heat needing a fairly constant caloric input. This means an Ermine needs to eat about 75% of their body weight in food every day. Thus they spend most of their waking hours in search of the next meal.

Anything over there?

When the hunting is good Ermines store food in their dens for the lean times.

Maybe over there?

Just about now this guy should have changed into their winter coat of pure white except for that black-tip on the tail. Seeing them bounding through the snow on a snowy winter day is a sight we look forward to.

Score

On By Mike and ChristyLeave a comment

Score_1
Finding food sure can be hard work. Which reminds us it’s time to put out the feeder for these guys as winter is heading our way.

We were watching this House Sparrow search intently through the gravel and forest debris and score with what appears to be a tasty little seed.

A bite well earned.

Everybody loves Rabbit Brush

On By Mike and Christy4 Comments

Just a few weeks ago the Rabbit Brush was in full bloom and hosting quite a party where everyone was invited. Rabbit Brush is a native plant found over much of the western United States that blooms in late fall providing one final burst of color before winter arrives. According to the USDA, Rabbit Brush:Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, provides both nesting habitat and forage for a wide variety of birds, insects and small mammals. One of the more frequent visitors to the party were White Crowned Sparrows.

In this case an immature White-Crowned Sparrow seemed to be foraging for insects.

Another visitor we noticed on more than one occasion was the Monarch Butterly stopping by for a sip of nectar as they migrate south for the winter.

Last but not least the Ruby-crowned Kinglets found the party too good to ignore and we frequently saw them foraging through the bushes in each of a meal.

A beautiful plant and a welcome splash of color as snow is forecast for the weekend.

And speaking of weekends, have a great one.

Savoring a sunset

On By Mike and ChristyLeave a comment

Some days the sun sets so quickly the show is over before you even have had time get into your seat.

This was not one of those days.

In a wide open landscape a slowly setting sun beams into the beginnings of what feels like a land of endless canyons. The sky and land each full of colors that slowly changed before the dark of night set in.