2016: A Year in Review

I had the best intentions of sharing more on my blog this past year.  Although, many pictures were taken and a lot of work was done, little if any got posted.  Plans are in the works to post some of the projects I've begun, and, hopefully, I will create more posts showing before and after shots.

For now, I will add photos taken throughout the year showing seasonal changes (at least those I have found so far (shots of snow from last winter and this year see to be missing...as are big chunks of June and July).  Too many pics to share anyway.  ~smile~

---This is a long process...especially when starting on New Years Eve...I'll post what I have sorted so far...mostly mid to late summer:

Finally a small assortment of berries for the birds--with more to come as more things mature and as I add more species.  This is the first time that our sassafras made berries! :)

More Fox Captures from Game Cam

First evidence that there is more than one fox.  A pair? :)

More Fox Captures from Game Cam

"New" Visitor on Game Cam Pics

For approximately 3 months or so, I have been consistently using the game cam that was a gift from Jeff a couple of years ago.  Today, I looked through about two weeks worth of photo captures.  For the first time, in all of those months, there is finally a shot of a bear.  In our 8-9 years here, we have seen a bear twice--well, Jeff and I saw one a few months after moving in (it was eating from our bird feeder)...several years later, I saw one probably 10-15 feet away from me (this time no pane of glass between us).

I am excited to see it again.

I adjusted the brightness on this and left the time stamp.

After all of these months, I'm still waiting to see a turkey (or flock of them) go through.  I'll have to wait and see what the next few months bring.  Hmm...I have to wonder if I would see some babies in the spring--fox with its kits would be really cool! :)

More Trail Cam Pics

Leaving the trail cam in the "high traffic area" paid off, I am thrilled with some great shots I got of the bobcat! :) :) :)

It took me way too long to post them, but here they are:

And the new "mystery back end"...what I am assuming is a porcupine.  How long will I have to wait to get a full body shot--and a great one--of the porcupine.  I am pleased to have these creatures nearby.

Another Fox Pic

I left the trail cam in place for as long as my patience held--probably 5 days.  Still no face pic, but this is still a better shot than the first few I got. :)

Just as there were already garter snakes on the property and a bear came to our bird feeder when we first moved in, I assume nothing that I did to improve the property is responsible for the fox passing through...but, perhaps what I have added, will allow it to utilize the property for more than just a pass through.

There is a spiderweb at the top of the photo...I cropped most of it out which makes the few bright lines more puzzling.

Phase II...in progress...

After buying a liner last year, I never got around to digging the pond--my focus was on planting the meadow (I've yet to post about the trials and tribulation of establishing my native meadow over the past two years--I hope to post about that before too long).  As I recall, the heat of the summer kept me from digging later in the summer, but I did end up breaking ground on December 25, 2015 since the ground had yet to freeze and I had no concern about the heat. 

This summer, I am smart enough to get up early and work in the shade before noon...now I'm well on my way to digging Phase II, my largest pond ever--still not as large as I'd probably like; from all I've read, the biggest regret of any pond owner is that they didn't make it larger.

Honestly, I can't even remember how large the liner is, but I recall thinking that I could make a pond approximately 17' X 5'or 6' ft...with a depth at some point of 3 ft or so.  Time will tell.

If, somehow, I end up with a larger pond, I hope to buy a larger liner and use the one I have for a wetland.  As you can see, I'm winging this.

Game Cam Surprises

While sorting through the pics from the game cam--with my husband, Jeff, watching over my shoulder (so glad to see him interested and excited as a few surprises came our way). :)  

No big surprises with the rabbit, squirrel, robin, and ground hog that appeared in the pics--and I was not even surprised to see the raccoon (I've seen their prints in my latest addition to the yard--that I've yet to post about)...but I was happy to finally have a photo of one.

I have wanted to see a fox (and hopefully photograph one) in the yard for years.  I guess I knew it was possible or even likely that they were here or at least passing through...just undetected by me.  Now, I have proof. :)  YAY!

 

Again...no surprises that we have free-roaming cats--I love cats, but hate to see them prowling in the habitat that I am creating to support wildlife.  Domesticated cats are not natural predators of North America...and they decimate wild bird (and other critters) populations that are already struggling with habitat destruction.  So, of course, I was not happy to see these two on the game cam.

What I was not expecting was to catch what looks to me (and to Jeff) to be a bobcat! :):):)  This is a natural predator and one that I've only seen in books.  Since getting this incomplete shot of him (or her)...I have moved the game came to face in the opposite position...hoping to get a face pic next time.  :)