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Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)

Chipmunk spotted despite camouflaged stripes blend with forest's edge.

I don’t think I have photographed a chipmunk before. A long time ago I planted tulips and other bulb plants in the garden bed at the front of our home. Whenever I was in the garden cleaning up dried leaves and and pulling weeds I would see a chipmunk scoot across the driveway from our yard to the neighbour’s. I have not seen any on that side of the house. I think they ate all of the bulbs as the tulips have not grown in years.

I noticed a chipmunk scampering around on the deck in the rear of our home but this is the first time I have seen it in the open. It was easing something. I assume it was berries. It scampered around on the soft green moss under the trees before heading for the fence line to forage in the dried leaves.

Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)
Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) · 10 April 2024 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR

The dark brown to blackish stripes on the back and sides help to camouflage the chipmunk. Once he started scampering around the leaves at the fence line marking the forest edge it became hard to find it for the photograph.

Eastern chipmunks are listed as a species of Least Concern according to the IUCN Red List.

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

First time photographing a ground-foraging White-throated Sparrow's.

A White-throated Sparrow graced my backyard with its presence. I think this is the first time I have photographed one. I could hear the clear whistles and repetitive phrases of the White-throated Sparrow's distinctive song.

The White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) is a small bird belonging to the family Passerellidae. It is primarily found in North America, with its range extending from Canada to parts of the United States during breeding season, and migrating to southern regions in winter.

The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males and females displaying differences in plumage colouration and patterns. The bird is a ground forager, feeding on the suet mixture of seeds, insects, and plant matter that had fallen from the bird feeder.

Using twigs, grass, and other plant materials they build nests in the thicket of shrubs and low vegetation that grow just beyond the fence. The species is adaptable and can thrive in various habitats, including forests, woodlands, and suburban areas. White-throated Sparrows play a role in ecological balance by contributing to seed dispersal and insect control within their ecosystems.