 Native BC Red Squirrel ... Loss of habitat and taken out by the much larger (invasive) Eastern Grey Squirrel , but small pockets of them do exist in North Saanich today (especially in my area ...       Hummingbird with a lot of choices! (fast food)   Red (headed) or ed (breasted) sapsucker.... someone please help ID
 This pair of 1 year old Bantam hens lay lovely little eggs. (One of them lays a blue egg) The breeding is 1/2 Mille Fleur D'uccle so they sport feathered feet. Sold as a pair @ $40.00   My little titan was last seen (briefly) on Saturday evening. Here are a few shots from my last encounter. I continue to keep a sharp eye watching for the little guy but he seems to have arrived, healed considerably and my thoughts are he has headed South. Rufous Hummingbirds generally disappear around mid June around here ...young of the year are often seen into September but this is the first adult I have encountered past July. Farewell little jewel.. Safe travels and Godspeed!!!      On Sunday afternoon my jaw nearly hit the floor when I looked out back and saw a brilliant flash of red gold and a familiar friend! Mr Rufous Hummingbird was back!!! These little giants head South like clockwork around mid June each year (traveling to the South of the USA and Southern Mexico to spend the winter. I have to tell you that in more than 30 years of feeding and watching Hummingbirds I have not seen an adult male Rufous around here past the first week of July. There was a dash for my camera gear (that I have been having focus issues with) and I said a small prayer that the camera would function and Mr Rufous would hang round for at least a few shots. Now it is Tuesday evening and I have taken at least 1500 photos of the little phenomena who has been involved in some sort of dramatic incident. Notice his right eye area...     Despite his injury this mini Titan has literally taken over the back yard, protecting 2 feeders from other hummingbirds, fighting off wasps and catching his daily quota of flying insects. God Bless you Rufe! You are a true warrior !!!  Ouch.. But you should see the other guy!!!  This is how you munch down those chewy flying bugs!! Nom nommm
Coopers Hawk and Merlin interact in the early morning light |
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December 2023
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Summer 2023.. I just received notice that my blog has been awarded a distinction of being one of the top 10 photography blogs in Canada.
* All images and content copyright Terry Venables and NaturalImagesCanada *
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