Who Pulled the Plug?

The city of Ottawa crew came around one day last week and removed the tree trunk that was across the creek slowing down the flow of the water.  The tree trunk was there when we bought the place in 2003, and they came around once several years ago and lifted it so more water would flow underneath but this year they took it away completely.  Harrumph. Now I'm wishing I didn't say those unkind things about the beavers (come back...we need you)!

Early Spring by the Creek

While it is still cold, the birds, waterfowl and assorted furry critters have returned to the creek.  It was like a super highway of action on the weekend.  Three male wood ducks chasing a female, the mallards, a pair of herons and two very large beavers.

The very skittish blue heron stayed briefly until it spotted movement on our deck.

There were two of them, something we don't see very often.  They are usually very territorial, so we wondered if they were a breeding pair.

The mallard giving a beaver wide berth.  We watched the beaver chase off some ducks earlier...grumpy fellow.

You can sort of see the flat tail in these photos.

They have been very visible this year and we're hoping they haven't decided to take up residence on that little island. I'm not the biggest fan of our national animal as they are very destructive to our trees.  Move along buster, move along!

Creekside Damage Control

Pete spent a good part of this summer trimming and clearing out dead branches and trees; it is an ongoing task and could be a full time job. He noticed the other day that one of the large willows by the creek sheared off in the high winds we had last week and went down to have a look.
It hadn't been down a day or two that a beaver came upon it and started using it to sharpen his teeth. Notice the small trees surrounding it that have been taken down also.

This tree had some mesh protection by the former owner, but had outgrown it. We had not wrapped the big willows thinking they were safe...I guess not!

Their teeth are so sharp it looks like they can cut the small branches with one chomp. Beavers are incredibly destructive rodents, and while I thought they were pretty neat when I was a kid, I've since changed my mind about them. Now they are just a nuisance.

Wrapped and hopefully safe. Pete said that the small trees were taken away. I don't know where the beavers lodge or dam is.

Snapshot from the balcony today. We have just a dusting of snow compared to our friends in Southern Ontario who have been hit with almost a years worth of snow in the last few days. The beaver better not touch the oak trees we planted (and wrapped) or it will be made into a hat!

Evening and morning by the creek

Sunset. That little dot on the island is a beaver! They show up in the area in early Spring but don't stay for long.

This fellow wasn't bothered by me talking to him...he kept munching on a twig.

The grackles are back...we call them the black "squawkers". This looks like a scene from Hitchcock's "The Birds". Actually, hearing the birds in the morning is wonderful after the quiet of winter.

An addendum to our wild wet walk the other day...Bunny slept in bed that night (after a bath of course!). Four more were bathed yesterday, including Paris who is back at the shows this coming weekend. No more making mud pies for awhile!