Daily Pics #271.

Posted on October 9, 2020 by

33 Comments

Good morning everyone on this very beautiful autumn morning! The sky is mostly clear although the sun is not yet shining, but it should be soon. The small birds are busy outside chattering and looking for their breakfast. That part is easy around here, there are seeds everywhere on this deck and the feeders. The blue jays are very busy, as usual, going after their breakfast of sunflower seeds and taking as many peanuts as they can to hide them for later use. Blue jays have been studied quite a bit it seems and they have discovered that blue jays can locate the food they have hidden more than a year later. Even in areas where there is really no physical markers to help them remember, such as a large yard or field. Chickadees are also like that, and many other birds. Chickadees will hide food, such as bugs, during late summer and fall, which they will then use as a food source in the winter to supplement what they can find naturally. It helps to ensure survival during what can be a very harsh environment during our long cold winters.

The chickadees are here this morning too, enjoying their breakfast of sunflower seeds. There are two things that most birds who come to feeders will eat, sunflower seeds and peanuts. Nothing else is really needed. Both provide wonderful nutrition and energy for the birds anytime and are about the most perfect of foods for them in the winter. Jasper hasn’t been here yet, he comes later in the morning now. No chipmunks either, they too don’t come until later. Everything starts changing by late September or early October. The days are shorter, it’s noticeably cooler, so animals change their behavior. The small birds are around the longest during the days, especially as temps really start to drop by the end of this month. They need as much food as possible to carry them through those long cold nights. I managed to remember to bring my bird feeders in early last night, no more going out after dark for me. Unless I forget to bring the feeders in earlier, then I have no choice.

As soon as it was dark last night I heard some loud noise on the deck. Muffin jumped up to look out the window. She crouched. Her fur fluffed out. I had to look. Sure enough, a bear was on the deck. Hmm, I’m glad I remembered to bring those feeders inside. This was a different bear than the last 2. How do I know? He had a small white patch on it’s head. I went for my camera, even though pics through the window are never that good, but I figured I would try anyway. But by the time I got ready, which didn’t take long, he was already climbing over the railing and down the other side to the ground. So I missed. I waited too long. So that makes 3 bears in less than a week and a half.

Well, we have some more fall color for the featured image. No, the picture isn’t crooked, the benches and tables are on the side of a hill. I’m not sure how they expect people to sit on that one bench without sliding off however. And in the pic above is a purple petunia from my little deck container garden, which is all gone now. Summer flowers are finished for another year. The sun is shining beautifully on those golden leaves, a beautiful fall morning indeed. Happy Friday everyone and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

©2020 Steve McLeod.

Category: Autumn, Beauty, Birds, Black Bear, Country Pleasures, Encouragement, Fall, Happiness, Photos, Positive, Sunshine, Uncategorized

33 Comments on “Daily Pics #271.”

  2. Steve, I appreciate you sharing your knowledge about the blue jays and the chickadees. Thank goodness you remembered to bring in the bird feeders before the bear tears them up. You and Muffin stay safe!

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    • That’s okay, send away! How have you been lately? Now I can find your blog again after losing everything. Even knowing your name sent me elsewhere. Amazing really.

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      • Haha I probably shouldn’t be making extra commitments or promises right now. I’m a month behind on emails. It’s been crazy busy lately with 13hr school days, and on my days off I’m too exhausted to do anything productive. 😴

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      • I can understand that. Best to take the time to relax and rest so you don’t wear yourself out. Especially with Covid cases on the rise! Be careful out there.😀😺

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      • The hospital I go to is one of the COVID hotspots. So far I haven’t had to wear a N95 mask – just the basic surgical masks. I probably sanitize my hands 100 times a day. You can never have too much hand sanitizer and soap.

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      • I constantly either sanitize or wash my hands, even though it’s still not bad here yet, only 10 cases in town. But if there is 10 known cases, how many other unknown cases are out there? I wouldn’t want to go through this a second time, my body is still worn out from the first time. I’m trying not to go out much right now anyway. Stay safe Hilary!

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      • Considering that your town has 10 cases, that’s still a lot. Calgary has 1M people and there’s 80-100 outbreaks on a “good day.” Sadly I have to step foot in the hospital across the street where it’s gotten bad. I try not to think about it too much as worry can worsen anxiety. All I can do is hide behind my mask and pray that I don’t breathe in contaminated air!

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      • Yes, it’s best not to worry about it, protect yourself as best you can and go in to do your work. It can sometimes be more risky to go out shopping. I don’t normally stock up on things, my place is too small, but I might start stocking up on some things so I won’t have to go out as much this winter. I really don’t mind staying home. Though if I have to stop feeding birds it might not be as much fun.🙄

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      • We go out shopping often. I’m not too worried about contracting something at the mall as long as there aren’t people huber-hacking all over me. A lot of ppl are still scared to go to malls so those places aren’t too crowded. The busiest place I went to today was the Great Canadian Superstore. It was PACKED and there was no sign of anyone following the 6-feet social distancing rule. 🙄

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      • Yes, people here don’t like to follow that social distancing rule, there is some, masks are mandatory but some people still refuse even if they don’t have health problems, or they just cover their mouth with the mask, and I know they don’t have problems, they just don’t like wearing a mask. Sigh.

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      • What angers me most is when people refuse to wear masks. They are technically allowed to decline and use the “I have health issues” excuse. And we aren’t allowed to question them! It’s so irresponsible imo. If everyone followed the rules and did their part, then we wouldn’t be in this mess. Sigh.

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      • Yes, I know people who use that excuse and yet I know they don’t have health issues. One says, I just don’t like wearing them, they’re uncomfortable”. Big deal. Not everything is comfortable. Another just wear it over his mouth. Well, I’m still wearing it, he says. Sigh. That’s right, people just need to follow the rules and things would not be so bad. I hope you get some time to relax and enjoy the weekend Hilary!😀😺🌞☕☕

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  8. Another bear ! Glad we do not have any bears…only once has a bear wandered into our town…lovely petunia…rest well tonight !☕️☕️🐻😮🙀

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  9. well look at the petunia 😍 wow such a vibrant colour ✨ I’m late, and did I really missed these many posts 😒😄here I come and finish that 😁

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