First, I want to start this post with a note of relief that I went on my little vacation when I did, because as of yesterday, restrictions have returned to Alberta. Our Covid numbers, specifically the Delta variant, have sky-rocketed and restaurants will be only doing take-out, so moving around, gathering in groups and travel may be a lot more difficult. The province regrets that they will be issuing vaccination cards as proof of vaccines to give those who have been double-vaccinated a little more freedom and perhaps give those who are not vaccinated a little more incentive to do so. God bless our front line workers and healthcare staff in hospitals who are dealing with burnout and a surge of patients while being under-staffed. 70% of surgeries in Edmonton have been cancelled as ICU space is filling up to capacity and beyond. Be kind, people. Now, back to the vacation.
After we checked in to our rooms we drove 6 kilometers west then south to Fish Lake Recreational Area at about 7:30p.m. There are four loops of camping spaces but we went right to the lake which has a few camping spots and day use area. There is a dock here right beside the parking lot and a boat ramp for non-motorized boats. A lot of people, go figure, like to fish here. I asked one gentleman what he had caught , and it was a rainbow trout. I have swam off the dock in the past but it would too cold now.
Days are getting shorter and the light is pleasant at this time of evening. Looking toward the south side of the lake.
We crossed a small dam on the north side of the lake to follow a path that goes all the way around. We were chased by some curious company. I used my walker and had little problem negotiating the trail on this side.Nice reflections from this side at this time of evening. That is the T-shaped dock, ahem, that is blown out, with 2 benches. Another benefit are the benches on the trail, a nice spot to sit and enjoy the sights and sounds. As a person with mobility issues, I love those benches. Nice hues coming out.Two geese flew overhead. There are a pair of resident Osprey and a Loon with a younger offspring. but my images are not good.The view of the other side of the lake from one of the benches.Looking down the path we are on,A Common Loon swam by not too far in front of us. A real treat.8:13 p.m. Watching the coloursNice sunset.Last shot of the evening
After taking a few photos of the lake and sunset, we returned to the hotel dining room to have some fish and chips. well-cooked crisp fries, tasty coleslaw and 2 pieces of battered fish that was a tad cold in the middle but instead of complaining, I ate around the middle. I was tired after 4 hours of driving and it was good to have a warm bath and cuddle under a thick comforter while thinking about where we were going the next day: Cresent Falls and Abraham Lake.
After leaving my friend’s house, this was our first stop. Just a little place off the road but pretty, and peaceful.
I did take photos here and also took the time to “fire” my bear spray, which was way beyond its expiry date. I pointed downwind, and it was forceful sounding, but sprayed for only about ten feet feet. Hmmm, will get some new spray but at least this is the first time I ever used it and think it is important to practice. I feel less fearful now about using bear spray but would rather not see any bears at all other than from a car.
I did take photos here as well as had a snack and drink. You can see the rolling hills and mountains in the distance.
The view from the parking lot. Fall colours starting to appear.There was a little path leading to the right. and this is what I saw.Path to the left to a tiny waterfall.Lovely trees and reflectionsA bit challenging shooting into the light, but moving a few feet one way or the other helped.
It wasn’t too much further to the town, where we checked into the hotel, had a bite to eat and in the early evening we took a quick trip to Fish Lake a few minutes down the road.
As I shared with some of you previously, I was due to go on a vacation, maybe overdue. I tried to go on a vacation in August but could not find a car to rent anywhere! A lot of companies has sold off some of their fleets and it was hard for them to buy new cars due to a lack of computer chips, as well as the fact that cars had been booked by people on vacations from out-of-province.
It was extremely hot in August , or rainy and cold, so I didn’t miss much not being able to go at that time, but I hit a good week in September, weather-wise, car-wise and hotel-wise. I had considered going to Jasper again, as I did last year, but the prices had tripled at most locations, so decided on another favourite spot in Central Alberta, the town of Nordegg. Nordegg is an old mining town in the foothills with three restaurants, horsebackriding, museum, beautiful lakes and rolling hills. Not too much to do in town but there are gift shops and lots of hiking trails in all directions.
A bonus was when I wrote a friend to ask if I could drop in to see her on the way there, or if we could meet, and she replied that the timing was perfect as she had been planning to go to this area, was free and decided to rent a room for two days. I met her at her place and she led the way as we both drove our own vehicles. Of course there was a stop on the way. I had never been to Beaver Pond so was happy to see this place for the first time. It was a pretty, peaceful stop just off the road with a small lake and picnic tables.
We had a glorious two days of exploring, photographing and catching up on news, as well as enjoying the food at the two restaurants in town.
Stumps intrigue me with their lines, the new environment that grows from and around them, including the grasses, lichen and moss.
Here, I liked how the trunk was highlighted by the back light at Beaver Pond. A pleasant peaceful rest stop with picnic tables.Seen at Fish Lake, I liked the composition here, with the grasses and plants with their fall colours. Fish Lake again, I liked the starkness, the reflections and contrast.We walked a little way around Fish Lake in the early evening where the light was right and there were lots of intriguing little settings.Again, early evening and an old rotting trunk with lichen and moss.The longest day was spent travelling along Abraham Lake where we stopped at many points. I saw this stump at Windy Point and loved the lines in the wood.The morning after my friend Maxine returned home, I visited Gold Eye lake about a half hour drive west of Nordegg. Great stump on the trail at Gold Eye Lake.
These spots are all in David Thompson Country, named after an explorer, on Highway 11 which leads west into the center of the Rockies, with Banff to the south and Jasper to the north. I have made the loop from Edmonton to Saskatchewan Crossing to Jasper then back to Edmonton, which is a phenomenal trip, but I was content to hang around the country in Nordegg and area this time.
In the next post I will start with one of the stops we made, then go on from there. I am excited to share this with you, as I love this country.
I feel blessed to live close to a couple of green areas a block from where I live. I am close to the river valley and a large yard at a church, as well as a little park with an ornamental pond. It is known that green space in cities increases mental health. I can vouch for that.
The spacious yard where you are invited to come in and rest.Immaculate gardens tended by volunteers make this a delight to visit.A perfect place for weekly evening concerts although expect the occasional sirens from firetrucks, barking dogs and local transit briefly interrupting the peace.The water at this park runs out of a fountain then down a runway to the pond. There are Red-winged blackbirds here and a Pair of Wigeons and Lesser Scaups.The view from the other end of the pond. The tall grey rectangle is the fountain where the water comes from.There are walkways, trees and benches all around the pond. Often musicians will play on this platform ahead to the right.
I am very happy that I live where I do, surrounded by green, and cafes, as well as a garden in my own back yard.
This shows half of the back yard with fountain, grass, benches and lots of flowers. Also the vegetables that I am growing in the planter box on the right.
Yes, I feel blessed to have all this pretty well at my doorstep.
While I am still interested in birds, I am also enjoying taking photos of bees on flowers in my friend’s garden while I stay at her place dog-sitting.
No bees yet, but I do love these colours of the Geraniums and Bachelor Buttons.Bumblebee on a Bachelor ButtonOrange-Rumped Bumblebee on a LythrumA Trio of Day LiliesEchinaceaBig Blossom; Big Bee, maybe a Queen? 17 mmClematis
There are a lot of forest fires in B.C. and some in Saskatchewan as well as in my home province. Before we were isolating because of Covid-19, now it is because of the smoke from the forest fires. the air quality report is 10+(out of ten) These pictures are of downtown Edmonton. I can smell the smoke in the hallways of the high-rise I live in. I have asthma and needless to say I am not going out today. Fire crews are coming from Mexico and Quebec to help fight the fires in B.C.
There has been very little rain in the past couple of weeks. You can see the green trees but the grass is colourless and dried out in many places. We have had temperatures in the mid 30’s degrees (high 90’s in fahrenheit) for the past three weeks, but don’t misunderstand me, I do not miss winter. Today is is much cooler, 20 degrees(68 F) and it would be great to throw open the windows for that cooler air, but, no, not a good idea. It is extremely smoky and may stay this way for a couple of days. The temperatures are going up again next week.
Looking west from downtown EdmontonLooking east toward downtown Edmonton.A few hours later, I can’t see the buildings at all. took the photo lower than before in order to get a focal point. The top of the school is at the bottom of the photo above this one.
This smoke will travel across the country and into the United States. I feel for the people, birds and animals that are living in the middle of it. I am hunkering down with my puffers and staying quiet.
I went to the urban lake today with a friend-not one pelican in sight although others had seen them yesterday. I was wondering why there were no baby Coots . Well I saw them today some older, some just about a week old. Get ready for a dose of cuteness.
One of the parents leading the chicks into the water.I would guess that these are just over a week old.Approaching the big jump.Mustering up the courage…A great jump! And off you go!
It took me a while to edit the photos I took , so l have some more pelican shots to share.
Pelican taking off to another part of the lake to go fishingHop, skip and fly!Taking offIn the shade here and getting nice abstracted reflectionsJust swimming byLiked their formation here
These photos are from last week when I went to an urban storm run-off lake. I was going to go back to the lake yesterday to shoot more photos but upon awakening felt very apathetic so put the fan on, stayed inside and edited for most of the day.
I got some shots of a lone pelican taking off so wanted to share them. That is a Red-necked grebe in the background.
Doing a bit of a runi thought it was going a short distance and maybe that was its intention , at firstLift off!I think the ones at this pond are not breeding , did not see one bract on the top of the billsLast big push of the wingsNow it’s airborne.
We are entering a heat wave and it will be roughly 32 (90 F) today and going up to 37(98.6 F) by Wednesday. I have stocked my fridge with jugs of water and ice (and lemonade for flavour). Last night it cooled down and there was a bit of a breeze so it was good for sleeping. That may not be the case in a couple of days.
I went in the morning earlier this week to an urban storm run-off lake, hoping to see great Blue Heron, ducks and ducklings and American White Pelicans. The water was smooth and the light great. Missed the Great Blue Heron but lucked out with a sighting of a Black-Crowned Night Heron.
The first thing I saw was this Mallard Hen with her brood of ducklings.
I heard a “swooshing” sound as I was taking a photo of the duck family , looked up and guess who was coming in for a landing?
American White Pelicans coming in to fish. these must be first year youngsters because no breeding bracksA chance sighting. I moved to get a better shot and it flew away, so I cloned out the branch that was poking into the picture.A first for me. A father Red-winged Blackbird feeding his fledgling. i love those eyebrows! I had read the fathers never help with the young. Not true. Male Hose Sparrow with fledgling. Is the feather stuck, or is he taking it back to the nest?Female red-winged Blackbird searching for insects to feed to her youngCanada Goose family getting up to go for a swim. they came back later to sun and shade. There are actually four goslings, one is just out of the picture range.American Coot on the rocks. Check out those feet. I did not see one chick.
I am still editing and also plan to go back to this lake at the end of this week or the beginning of the next. Maybe I will spot some Coot chicks or the Great Blue Heron. I thoroughly enjoyed my time here on the first day of Summer.
The forecast was for rain but I decided to take a risk and catch a bus to an urban park that has a little lake and is notorious for goose poop. I knew it was fairly late in the breeding season but was hoping to see some young ducklings and goslings and I was lucky to see both.
The longest part of the journey is the walk from the bus stop to the lake, but I actually walked around the lake with the aid of my newly-acquired walker. I love the freedom it gives me to be able to get out in nature. It did not rain for a few hours until I was a block away from home. It was worth it.
Half way around, near the shore was a Mother goose with her goslings. One youngster got up from the family unit and walked toward me, its head turned to one side and locking eyes with me. Mother noticed this and got up , with her head stretched out and headed toward me. I said to her, ” your child is approaching me, but its okay, I am going to leave.” and I turned away. She relaxed and went back to her brood.
It was a special moment and I got three photos of this cute character before exiting peacefully away.
Mother Goose with her broodI loved this little one’s open curiosity.Was it already learning the habit of begging or was it curiosity?Mom has noticed and is approaching . This is the point I excuse myself and leave, reducing any chance of escalation.
I was so happy to see them this young in mid June. There were a lot of gangly teenagers walking with their parents who are cute, too, but seeing the babies bring me joy.
That in-between stage when the adult feathers are coming in but mixed with a bit of down.
Though I live in the center of a city, I like being high enough to observe the prairie skies, especially when it gets stormy. It is a different viewpoint from usual in which to observe nature.
The windows can obscure the view somewhat because they are bay windows and when it rains the water makes it difficult, but I love the sun rises, sunsets, and the storms.
Here are some photos I took the other day when the clouds were gathering and a storm broke out.
Earlier in the day when the sky grew dark i found the yellow horizon interesting, perhaps it was dust? Rain is falling from the clouds.Dark clouds were moving quicklyClouds are tumbling and the colour has changed.Very blurry shot but later that night caught some lightningIt wasn’t what I call a “big banger” but the lightning went on for a couple of hours. I hope to get better at capturing the lightning.
Wow! the last day of May. It was a warm to hot day out, and I went for a walk in the neighbourhood to the local park. The park is nicely treed and has an ornamental pond, a favourite place for local people to hang out and relax. We have some feathered friends that like to come to visit, a pair of Canada Geese, and a pair of American Wigeons. The geese seem to be the smaller variety.
Two geese, quite relaxed and preening.Maybe he will go into the water but I captured the image just at this moment.Drake American Wigeon who has lost some of his green breeding colour on his headHen scouring for somethingTwo of them preening, a perfect way to spend the day and close off the month.
I enjoyed my walk there last week. This week I am on the computer while resting after my Cortisone shot in the knee on Friday, so it is a good time to go through photos.
I like Chickakoo Lake recreation area, it is familiar to me and though I can’t go as far as a few years ago I can still cover some of the trails
Here is the terrain from the Indian Ridge Trail where I went last week:
Lots of Warblers and Flycatchers in these birch and poplar stands.Near the parking area there is a playground and a few benches and picnic tables with scenic views of the spring Greens. These can be found in various places on the trails, too.There is more Spruce at this part of trail. I saw a Robin here and heard a Red-eyed Vireo.Close-up of a birch bark tree.Marshy area on Dog Leg Pond. The trail on the opposite side from me is called Nature’s Way.Back at the parking lot, I took a close-up of the blossoms.
Went with a friend to this pleasant recreation area with a few trails about an hour away from the city. As soon as we got out of the car we heard Yellow warblers everywhere and I thought I heard a Robin, but it was a faster cadence so I looked around and there it was, a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. I haven’t seen one in quite a few years so this was a thrill.
I have a walker now, something I stubbornly resisted until I was offered one for free from a woman who had one but it was not a good fit for her. I decided to accept the offer and realized it didn’t make me into an older woman but gave me more freedom. I took it with me on this trip and the person I went with had been slowing down to my pace, but after a short stint she wanted to walk further and faster, so we agreed to go our separate ways and meet back at the car in a couple of hours. I could go birding and take my time while she got a good, brisk walk and we both could enjoy the sights along the way at our individual pace. I still use my cane, but it is great to have a walker because I walk straighter, and can sit down when I get tired without having to find a bench or stump.
Here are some of the birds I saw that I could get an image of:
First Bird we saw was a male Rose-breasted GrosbeakA Flycatcher? Made a Che-bek! sound.I will try to ID it later.My first male Yellow Warbler this year-a little cropped. It was a challenge to capture because it moved all the time.Sat on a bench at this small lake and had a lunch while listening to all the bird songs.A somewhat closer shot than in the above photo. What I thought may have been a Merganser turned out to be a Common LoonNext to me was an inlet and a pair of Blue -winged TealsI heard a familiar song and patiently followed the sound until I saw movement . Delighted that this White-throated Sparrow came out into the open , save for a twig in front of his face. A Robin flew ahead of me so I got a quick shot.The trail was very pretty with spring green, sometimes totally enclosed by forest and sometimes open with views of the lakes.Near the end of this trail was some marshy area.At the edge of the marsh I was awarded with a visit from a Friendly Black-capped Chickadee with a juicy meal. Maybe food for a nearby family?
I enjoyed the quiet immensely, except the songs of the birds which are so plentiful and singing their hearts out. One song I heard but never spotted the bird was that of a Red-eyed Vireo. My friend and I both got back to the car about the same time and shared our stories about what we saw and heard. I also met a woman who, seeing my camera, shared information about a near-by site that is loaded with birds. Hmm, maybe next time.
I have checked a couple of times to see if the Crab Apple blossoms are in bloom and two weeks ago they were just coming out . With a couple of rainfalls and time last week they were in their glory. I usually think mid May and I was not disappointed. On the 17th I went to a nearby look-out and took photos-lots of photos along the promenade of two kinds : red and white.
Last week just opening.This week, in bloomA favorite, the Double-flowering Plum shrubs which only last about a week, so catch them when you can because they are a sight to behold.Walking down the promenade you get to breath in the scent of the red and white blossomsThe white blossoms that grow right out of the trunk.A great place to go for a stroll because there is always a bench to rest on when you get tired.I enjoyed being outside with all this colour.
Alas, in typical Alberta style, we got a spring snow storm, so it was white mixed with green, pink and white. I was crushed. A messy photo showing the snow.
Looking out today, all the blossoms are still there so they survived. Feeling grateful, mixed with a little trepidation as the forecast calls for more snow. Sigh, enjoy it while you can.
It is a double something-or-other. I went for a walk on the promenade yesterday overlooking the valley and saw this yesterday and that is when I captured the image. This evening I went for a walk again after a light rain, but without the camera, and the blossoms are coming out on the pink and white flowering crabapple trees. I will get back to take photos tomorrow, but for now enjoy this one!
I went to a lake in the city with friends this week and we were quite entertained by the geese. I think there was a nest down the hill from where we gathered because as I started to walk down the hill to see more, two geese walked toward me, not hissing, but staring. I took the hint and changed direction.
From the bench I saw lots of action which was a good opportunity to capture some action shots.
Just stay away!While one partner calmly watches the other gives chase.Other times the pair of them work together to cover both directions.On guard. they came out of the water and chased another couple a short distance.They just chase others far enough to set a boundary.Quite acrobatic feats of flight.There are longer periods of time times when the scrapping settles down and the geese go back to eating.There is also time for preening the feathers and they don’t seem to mind my presence, though I am mindful to keep a respectful distance and use a long lens..
I found the courting behavior of these Ring-billed gulls to be very quaint. They alternately dipped their heads into the water then dipped simultaneously. At one point they looked at me (third image) and obviously acknowledged my presence, then ignored me the rest of the time. I like the reflections of them in the water as well as the reflections on their chests.
I wonder if they see their reflections?Lots of head-bobbing, looking aroundAm I interrupting?Such a refreshing drink!Taking TurnsDrinking Together
Spring is unpredictable here in Alberta. Many years , but not this one, we have a snowfall on the first day of Spring. It did snow today but melted when it hit the ground. Other years we have had a blizzard on April 1st. Ha Ha some joke. A lot of us are happy for the warm weather as well as worried about forest fires because it is too dry. We need more snow and rain. I have heard geese, crows and a robin in the last couple of weeks, just waiting for my first sighting of a Robin, then the Ring-billed gulls.
Here are some images of the first glimpses of more to come. I am savoring it.
Time for rubber boots soon.First pair landed and went straight to the puddle.Second Pair came within minutes.They went over to the pond and challenged the other pair. Sorry about the wires, can’t be helped.
Flocks of Waxwings (Bohemian) are gathering in the trees, getting ready to leave.I think they just mated, it was quick.In the rural areas there are geese flying over and crows cawing. The ice is coming off the ponds in the wetlands where later I will see Blue-winged Teals, Mallards, Barn Swallows, Sora, Northern Shovellers,, Ruddy Ducks, Warblers, Song Sparrows and the Red-winged Blackbirds as well as a few Yellow-headed Blackbirds. I feel very happy as I wait in anticipation.
We have been in this pandemic for a year now since the first case in Canada and we were invited by one of my church groups to share our pandemic story with one another by e-mail which a few of us have done. I thought afterward to include my story here with a few changes and added photos, as follows:
It was a bit of a shock that week in early March when there was no eating at meetings, then the next week I received notices from every place I ever went to , that all were cancelled. It has been a Godsend to watch church worship online or in person when able, and attend Scripture Reflections and Spirited Arts Studio on Zoom. It has kept me sane.
Collage done in Spirited Arts Group while online
I stayed home a lot and did not go out much, except for walks in the neighbourhood. When Covid-19 case numbers dropped and the parks opened up in July, I rented a car and treated myself to a couple of nights at the Sunwapta Falls Resort in Jasper National Park while exploring the sites close by. Food was purchased in Hinton, just outside of the park and I cooked in my room as well as treated myself to a couple of delicious meals and afternoon tea in the resort’s dining room.
All the staff were friendly and wore masks, social distancing was practiced, plus there was hand sanitizer at every entrance so I felt safe. Another safety feature was Bear Spray that I borrowed from the front desk when I went out for walks.
Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Lodge in Jasper National ParkSunwapta Falls , a short walk or drive from the resort.
I enjoyed sitting on the veranda in the morning while sipping on coffee and reading my daily devotionals.
My morning spot for reading and coffee.My view from my chair on the veranda
I enjoyed driving the Toyota Corolla rental through the mountains and did go to a favorite stop and saw an eagle in her nest with an eaglet!
I stayed in Hinton one night outside Jasper National Park to see the Beaver Boardwalk with trails through the woods and over the water. The warning signs about bears, cougars and wolves sure kept me attentive but did not see any wildlife – there was an abundance of the Indian Paintbrushes and Western Lilies.
Beaver Boardwalk in Hinton, AlbertaWestern Lily
I joined one or two friends on hikes at Wagner Bog area, Strathcona Wilderness Center and Bunchberry Meadows. Wonderful!
Shooting Star at Wagner Bog west of Edmonton
Ruffed Grouse at Strathcona Wilderness Center east of EdmontonCanadian Tiger Swallowtail at Bunchberry Meadows west of Edmonton
I also went to Miquelon Lake with a friend for a weekend and stayed in a tent and cooked over a single-element gas stove. We were proud of ourselves because we got the tent and tarp up just as it started raining and we managed to stay dry throughout the night. We played Cribbage in the tent and survived one of the worst thunderstorms I have ever been in while camping… hours of crash and boom and rumbling, one storm after another. The next night we met up with another friend and we sat in lawn chairs on the beach until it was pitch black and watched the Perseid meteor showers and listened to owls and coyotes. That was a blast although the dark was a little scary!
3 fun-loving women waiting for a meteor showerDragonfly on a nature walk at Miquelon Lake
Christmas was fun with a Zoom visit with 5 households in Ontario-chaotic and noisy, almost like being there while watching my great nieces open gifts.
Christmas morning via Zoom
Since then I go on occasional walks with a friend, both of us always wearing masks to protect one another . I have damaged lungs and she has cancer, but we have had good walks and talks throughout the pandemic. I have gained a lot of weight in the latter months so a friend helped me get a rack to mount my bike and ride it in my apartment, and I bought trekking poles from Mountain Equipment Company.
Need the step stool to climb onto the bike and I can see out the window while I pedal.
I miss everyone but am somewhat used to being alone and spend a lot of time on Zoom to keep in touch with people. Hope to get outdoors more once it warms up a bit, been -20 or lower for about a week. Stay well, everyone!
It was the right time of day, in the late afternoon, so I took photos of what I was attracted to, trying to capture the glow. I like the late afternoon when the sun is going down, leaving a warm cast of light and the shadows are long.
The sun was setting and cast a glow on these shrubs. With the cool back ground I was drawn to the contrast as a composition.I liked what the light did for these worn railings in a small garden park.Close-up of a leaf with some artistic warp filter.Walking along the promenade.Sunny Hillside
If you are squeamish, make your choice about viewing this or not. It is not something I have never seen before, so of course I decided to record it.
This Magpie poking at something and since it was fairly close, I started shooting with my camera. The object was hidden by a bump in the land and some snow, then the magpie was picking up a small creature, poking it, shaking it, dropping it. I was thinking, “What has it got hold of?”
The magpie had caught a vole and was poking the poor critter, maybe taking some bites and I thought I saw movement and even told the magpie, “C’mon, don’t make it suffer, kill it.” The light was strong from the setting sun and I was looking down from the top of the hill so the details are not very clear.
The magpie is picking the vole up and shaking it. Must have learned this from the coyotes.This was when I could identify the vole, with its short little tail.A pause.The vole looks like it is sitting up but no, it is dead and some flesh is missing behind the ear.The vole is just beneath that little ridge and I guess I was intruding , because the Magpie looked at me, took a couple more jabs, then left. Maybe it will come back later.
It is the first time I have seen a Magpie eating more than grasshoppers but have seen them eating meat out of a bowl at the zoo. I have never seen a Magpie hunting a vole before.
I love this section of my town (city, actually) because of the big decorations they have in the streets. It sure creates a festive spirit. I started off looking for the conjunction of the planets , but it was cloudy, so I continued walking around the neighborhood a bit and took some photos that I have been meaning to take. Enjoy!
One area is lit up like this all year, with the colours changing according to the season.So glad I got out for a walk with my camera.Corners come in handy for those head-on shots.One spot on the street has a little park full of lights large and small, twinkling away.
I went the 5 Freedoms Ranch which is a rescue and rehabilitation ranch outside of Edmonton with my Camera Club and got my horse fix after being away from them a long time, petting them almost as much as taking photos. These people are a society of horses lovers who rescue horses from abusive and neglectful situations as well as from meat packers so they can live their final days in freedom and with lots of food and water and space to move.
5 Freedoms stand for:
freedom from hunger and thirst
freedom from discomfort
freedom from pain and injury
freedom to express normal behaviours
freedom from fear and distress
Some of the horses were very skinny, starved where they were previously kept. Others had a wild look in their eyes when they saw people coming near, and stayed away from us. Most were well fed and easy to approach. The staff and volunteers work diligently with them to build trust and nurse them back to health. We were allowed to go into the paddocks with a staff person. Quite a few members of the Camera Cub showed up and a couple of them brought carrots so a few horses were enjoying the pampering.
Here are a sample of photos taken that morning of the better-looking horses, I didn’t have to heart to share the ones who are skin and bones:
Fresh hay is always availableAll sorts of breeds and mixed breeds are taken care of here.
Some foals were born here
She is taking care of the foal beside herNot just horses, but also mules and donkeysDrippy LipsGetting a drink. One mare lost her foal and when a newcomers youngster arrived, adopted it.I loved this horse’s colourBays, Sorrels, Chestnuts, browns, Pintos, Greys. They are pretty comfortable and getting used to people who are loving and kind
The horses, especially sorrels, looked very nice with the fall colours. The one above on the left had ribs sticking out, some were too fat, and there were others who were racks of bones, as a result of an owner, or owners who never bothered to feed them. I was so glad to go here, very appreciative of the staff and volunteers for what they do to restore the animals back to health and build trust with people. Our members donated our photos to help their cause.
5 Freedoms Ranch and Rescue Society is holding a raffle to raise money to feed the horses and care for their needs over winter. You can check out the webpage at https://rafflebox.ca/raffle//5frrrs
On a different note, I have not been too regular with posts or comments on other’s posts because I got a call to see an apartment in a senior’s independent living building and decided to take it. The vacancy came up out of the blue and I had little time to decide, but did decide to move there, signed the lease today and now I am excited. I am down-sizing and packing and hope to move before we possibly have more restrictions in our city due to the rise in new Covid cases. Back to the blog soon!
I took my friend’s car to my favorite local park and there were lots of geese. There were a few taking off and a few landing, so I had lots of practice at panning the camera to follow the birds. All were in pairs except for small groups landing or taking off. I wondered if they are just doing some practice runs, getting ready for the long flight that is to come.
Incoming!
It was very noisy, everyone honking wildly as they landed or took off, or when they were on the ground and someone else got too close.
Constant coming and going Some were languishing quietly but looking a little stressed.Others were less than welcoming.Another welcoming party. Not a great shot but I liked capturing the behaviour.No, one does not want to lie on the ground now in this park. Might be slippery.
This scene seemed relatively quiet, but with all the squabbling I wondered how they choose the leaders and get along for the long flight that is ahead of them.
I have spent more time reading other people’s posts and and have not been getting out and posting myself. It was a shocking reminder to get moving and maybe catch some birds during migration a couple of days ago when the temperature dropped to an overnight low of 3 degrees celsius. Weather should never stop me but I did get an extra blanket out of the closet and hunkered down for the night.
Today my post is about looking back at what I have seen in the last few weeks. Some may be new, and some may be repeats.
Oh, there are two young ones following Momma Ruffed Grouse.She is making noises to alert the chicks to stay in hiding.Immature Ring-billed Gull soaring on the wind, almost completely still at times.At first glance I thought this might be an Eastern Kingbird because the breast is so white and the tail has white trim as well. Otherwise I think it would be a Phoebe.Juvenile American Coot sunning on some driftwoodRed-necked grebe further out in the waterA curious Black-capped ChickadeeWe saw this squirrel carrying a young one up a tree, then she came to check us out.
I am planning to visit a friend who has her family’s trailer parked at a lake south of where I live. This has always been a good place for birding and I am looking forward to our visit and shared photo shoots in a couple of weeks.
It has been years since I sat under the stars and was able to see them so brilliantly. I was with two friends sitting on a beach waiting to watch the Perseids meteor shower last week. Out of practice with camera settings and putting up a tripod with telescopic legs that need to screw open or shut and got nothing with my camera, but saw a few streaks across the whole sky and on the horizons. It was good having company in the dark, never would have had the nerve on my own. We were southeast of Edmonton in the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve where light pollution is at a minimum. Here are some photos of our view as the sun set.
I missed the full glow in the clouds as I spent so much time fiddling with my tripod, finally took this by hand.Some Canada Geese were out in the water with some Grebes, Gulls. Far away but still nice to see them.Picnic table made a decent foreground subject.A beautiful calm night. Cold too! glad I had a tuque and layers under my jacket.
The clouds did clear to some extent and we had a great view of the Milky Way and could hear the yipping of Coyotes and two great Horned Owls calling to each other along with our excited voices exclaiming, “there goes one!” ” I saw it!” “It had a tail!” “Did you see that??” ” Right across the sky!”
Upon arrival at the parking lot, the rain poured down so I stayed in the car and waited it out for about 10 minutes. Once it cleared I was good to go. It is a very short walk to the falls but the weather was still “iffy.”
Mount Kerkeslin peaking through the clouds on the east side of the highway across from the Athabasca river and falls.Stopped for this rock with it’s impressive lichen and moss.I skipped a couple of viewpoints because I knew what I wanted, but stopped because this ledge of moss was so beautiful. my photo does not do it justice. I took this from the top of a set of stairs from which I had a better view, but had to wait for people to get out of the way. That is the Icefields Parkway in the background.This is where the water goes after the falls. On the other side of the fence you can go down steps to the river. When water is lower, it is a beautiful aqua colour.taken in May 2012My camera and I got soaked from the spray rising from the falls as well as the rain. Was constantly wiping off my gear.Top of the Falls. Lots of power.Slowed the shutter speed down for this shot, a little blurry but like the effect on the water.
I was soaked so went back to the lodge for a shower and nap, then had a bowl of cream of yam soup with masala spice, and a chai latte in the restaurant. Such luxury!
After supper it cleared up and the sun even shone, so I went to one of my favorite spots in the park, not far away, which is one of the reasons I chose to stay at this location.
The road to the falls is right beside the lodge and it is not far at all. I have been here before but am always attracted back – is it the energy? the roar of the falls, cascading over the rocks? Yes, and yes. I love the roots of the trees here, but it is very hard to step over them, was holding onto the trunks for dear life as I came down a slight grade.
Bear activity is up in the park with less people being here, and there is a big black bear in the area so I gladly borrowed some Bear Spray from the front desk(mine has passed the expiry date) and practiced getting the can out of the holster and pulling off the safety clip like a kid playing cowboy before leaving. It did rain and I kept my hood down so I could hear, and sang some of the weirdest songs as I walked along the trail. I had watched a video about how to use bear spray and one guy was singing “Roxanne” and that is what I did , as well as singing “How Great Thou Art” and “Old Dan Tucker” and “Teddy Bear’s Picnic.”
The classic view from another bridge above the gorge. I went to where that person is standing and to the fence on the left that is higher up.closer but staying on the right side of the fence-the level can rise up quickly and the rocks are slippery.The water is high.taken from the upper fence lookoutLower down slowing the shutter speedUsing a slower shutter speed and small aperture again. I was getting soaked from a steady drizzle of rain and spray from the fallsThese are the roots I mentioned earlier but oh, so hard to walk down.I just had to check this out.
The gorge after the falls.
Enjoyed the wild flowers beside the trail.
Bunch berriesTwin flowers beside the gorgeMy one wildlife shot-ha ha!
Sunwapta Falls Lodge is 53 km south of Jasper on the picturesque Icefields Parkway and where I booked my stay for two days. “Sunwapta” is a Stoney Indian word meaning “turbulent waters”. Before I entered the lobby, there was a bottle of sanitizer on a table beside the entrance. All the staff wore masks indoors and out and everyone was very friendly and helpful. My hosts had my information from the booking so there was no more transaction to carry out. They gave me a bigger room than expected with two double beds in a long building like a town house with a shared porch.
Off the lobby was a gift shop then the dining area. There were signs and markers that guided one to the entrance and exit in the dining room which was log style and decorated with animal fur draped over the rafters A couple had the table in front of the fireplace and there was another room off the main dining area if it got crowded and people were well spaced from one another. I felt quite safe with regards to Covid-19. The food was great and I also had brought some with me.
Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Lodge-the display to the right of the Tipi displays the stories and prints of famous Indigenous Chiefs such as Black Bear, Poundmaker, Crowfoot, etc. The lobby is in the middle with the entrance to the right and the restaurant is on the left side. I forgot to ask about the totem poles.
It is very expensive for my lifestyle but always wanted to come and treat myself after stopping here a few years ago. Only regret was that I did not book one more day. My plan was to stay on the parkway and visit some favorite spots that I have been to before, as well as go to places I hadn’t been. I lessened the list on my itinerary but drove shorter distances and relaxed more.
A courtyard in the middle of a cluster of cabins.
My favorite features were the microwave that I asked them to bring in, coffee maker, round table beside the window where I knew I would be writing, and a chair outside on the porch where I could have a leisurely morning coffee and do my reading. The latter feature was very important to me because I live in an apartment without a balcony. Here’s my view from the front door. Glorious! I didn’t mind the cars as the mountains were much bigger in real life. I enjoyed the constant chatter of Pine Siskins and even saw some Robins.
View from my Front DoorA little closerPeak on the right side
I explored the grounds and met the resident Ravens.
They had names which I have forgotten.
Pretty tame Raven
Time for bed and be ready to explore Sunwapta Falls and Athabasca Falls the next day.
I must apologize for the long pause after my last post. I was away and had only my tablet with me. I find the screen small for accessing all the features available on WordPress. I am back at home and comfortable(except for the heat) working on my desktop.
I left Hinton mid-morning and saw the Roche Miette in the distance, one of the first mountains you see coming into Jasper National Park from the east, a familiar welcome to the rockies.
Roche Miette meaning Crumb Rock. The locals talk about the face looking upward at the right side of the photo.Roche Ronde seen from a pull-off stop beside highway 16 or Yellowhead highway.Low-lying clouds all day but no rain.First stop Maligne canyon where there are signs reminding people to socially distance.The water is high and roaring through the canyon that includes 6 bridges that you cross as you follow the trail.close-up of the beginning of one of the falls as the water goes downhillI braced myself against a fence and slowed the shutter speed and closed the aperture to f32. In the winter you can go on ice walks at the bottom of the canyon, which amazes me when I see it now during run-off.Some of the garbage I saw, left on the rocks. Who do they think is going to clean up after them? I saw discarded plastic water bottles and cans a few times. I want to tell them, ” If you can’t carry out what you brought in, or show no respect for nature, stay home.”Lower down the Maligne Canyon TrailThe falls at the first bridge, a very deep part of the canyon but there is so much water it is hard to see this.
The trail from the falls at the first bridge leads to the Maligne Wilderness Kitchen where there was hand sanitizer at the entrance and exit. I stopped for a hearty Vegetable Potage soup which was very satisfying. I was so thirsty and the water they brought to me was in bottles with a stopper on top. The servers sat me a safe distance from other guests , wore masks and brought stainless steel utensils that were wrapped. This was the first restaurant I have attended in months and I felt comfortable.
I decide to go up the road to Medicine Lake, so named because it empties in the fall to riverbed and fills up in the Spring and Summer. Of course this summer it is very high due to all the rainfall we have received. There was a forest fire there about five years ago and it is interesting to see the changes.
Medicine Lake looking south from the look-out.Looking back in the general direction from where I took the previous photo.Usually later in the season you can walk to many of these “islands”.
At this point instead of going further up the mountain to Maligne Lake, I decided to head to go down the mountain to highway 16 and go west then south on the Icefields Parkway to Sunwapta Falls where I was staying for two nights- a couple of hours drive.
When I decided to post some photos of stumps, I thought I knew where they were because I take photos of them. I did find some favourites that I was thinking of and I know there are more… somewhere. Regardless, this has spurred me on to start a new folder dedicated to that topic.
It is wonderful when you continually return to a favourite trail to observe the change in landmarks over a period of years. Some stumps certainly fit into this category and I have seen upright trunks totally disintegrate. For example the log behind the stump in the first picture is a small pile of wood chips now.
The next photo shows a mere skeleton of a stump that I have seen waste away over the years, but I think it has a lot of character.
This one stands sentry to the beginning of a trail in Whitemud Ravine, Edmonton.
Do you see the old man’s face in there? Whitemud Ravine, Edmonton
Some stumps support a whole world of living things. I call them fairy homes. Cavell Lake, Jasper National Park.Part of a stump, you can see where my eye was drawn to. This was on the Maligne Canyon Trail in Jasper National Park.Here is another favourite of mine that has disintegrated since this photo was taken.
Hope you enjoyed seeing some of my favourite stumps. I will going to Jasper NP tomorrow so hope to find some subjects. Ha! You know I will!
Getting out to Elk Island National Park for the first time this year was a joy after being locked down since March due to Covid-19. I took a lot of photos and did notice that I did not see as many birds as in May and June, which does not surprise me.
There were a few birds, and butterflies and other things that I want to share under the headline of summer moments. There are some moments that will stay in my mind for a long time, because I remember the excitement associated with it, as well as the beauty. I hope you enjoy the following photos.
I shared the Cedar Wax Wings with you last post but I figure there is room for one more..This Song Sparrow came and posed for me and I managed to get a few shots. Others were too high and too distant, so this was a bonus.I did not see the spots on the leaves before until I enlarged the photo so almost 100% sure these are Buffalo Berries. Birds love them . So do bears.I find that Fleabane are pretty when they are in full bloom. I am starting to recognize some common names for the wild flowers.Saw a small herd of Bison and can’t see too well but I think it is the bull that has all the birds on his back.This might be a Taiga Bluet Damsel Fly. Bluet for sure.Four Spotted SkimmerThe water is very high which kills those saplings on the edges of the shorelines. Calm waters make for beautiful reflections.Nice reflections of the clouds which did build up and gave us a shower, but a light one so it was refreshing rather than a soaker.The Living Waters boardwalk is not accessible because it is under water. In middle ground is a Red-necked Grebe feeding a chick.This is a new Butterfly for me, it is called an Inornate Ringlet.
Too many photos are too many, so will stop here. I like shooting everything in nature, first birds then Butterflies then dragonflies. I am tentatively starting on wildflowers, or maybe I should say “trying to ID” wildflowers. It is the same with butterflies, I mean, really, just how many Fritillaries are there!?
I had a photo with a stump in it a while ago and one of the people that reads my blog told me that she likes stumps. I haven’t forgotten and found a couple of my favourite stump photos, so that will be the topic of my next post. Have a great day!
I have been lucky to spot a few Cedar Waxwings this year so wanted to share what I saw the other day when I visited Elk Island National Park for the first time since it reopened, but must say they move around a lot and I found it difficult to get a good shot because of shadows and trigs, etc.
This one stopped for a moment, for which I am gratefulA few Waxwings came at the same time and seemed to love these berries which I have not yet identified.Cedar Waxwing gorging on berries.My friend alerted me to this when we went up an unknown trail to see what was there. I am glad we went .Waxwing giving itself a good shake. I like this shot.
Thanks to a kind friend, I got a ride to the park to blissfully spend time with my fine-feathered friends and shoot to my heart’s delight. First I will share some photos of Canada geese and goslings , whom I am happy to report, were all ages from quite young to fully grown.
A pair of Canada Geese, mated for life.Preening and sleeping after a swim on the pondA gaggle of geese coming out of the pond right where I was standing. Probably a grown up family.A proud parent keeping watch over the “teens.”I respect their space, not getting too close and let them approach me. This family seems comfortable with my presence.Yum, dandelion is good!
It was an interesting walk today. I approached the valley via one of the stairways and could hear the Yellow Warblers calling back and forth, “Sweet, Sweet, I’m so Sweet.” Everything has filled out so much , I had trouble seeing into the trees. I saw a flash of Yellow and waited and watched. This is as close as I could get , but happy to see it.
Male Yellow Warbler Male Yellow Warbler further up the path. I suspect the females are nesting.
I wonder if this was the coyote that I was taking photos of a few weeks ago?
I walked down the path to look for another Warbler as well as keep my eye out for Coyotes, wishing I had my walking stick with me and planning to put my camera bag above my head to look “bigger”, if I needed to. I didn’t go far because the clouds were getting darker and I heard the distant rumble. I stopped to take some photos of the sky.
A little bit of blue that soon disappeared.Can definitely hear thunder now.Rain coming down in the distance
It wasn’t long before I turned around and headed home. I got wet, but found it refreshing and it was very nice to have a warm bath when I got home.
My friend and I came upon this bird in the middle of the trail, at the Strathcona Wilderness Center east of Edmonton which I supposed was a Grouse at the time. I checked my field guides when I got home , and to the best of my ability identified this as a Ruffed Grouse, based on the squared -off tail with a black band at the end, the black at the upper breast, the white eye line.
At we got closer, I brought my camera to my eye and took a picture. A few steps closer, I stopped for another shot. As we drew closer, taking a couple of steps and one photo at a time, it walked stealthily toward the woods where it disappeared. Luckily it wasn’t rushed out of sight and gave us some opportunity to observe it.
Following are some of the photos I managed to take.
First sighting and subsequent image.The place where it was lying to the right of the bird was not checked. Was it going to try to nest there?a little closer walking across the grass.The closest we got before it ducked into the safety of the bush.
Feel free to set me straight if I am wrong, it is certainly known to happen. I enjoy these finds when out for a walk in nature.
They have reached their peak and bless the neighbourhoods with their eye-catching beauty and pleasant perfume. Don’t miss them, they don’t last long. I seem to have misplaced a few images of blossoms-did I delete them from the camera before downloading? H-m-m-m.
Lilacs are everywhereHoneysuckles? I am not sure.The Crab Apple Trees along the promenadeNice smelling and so pretty.Friends Visiting in the Scented AirPause…
In the immediate neighbourhood, it is the same: Magpies, House Sparrows and House Finches, though the latter are hard to spot. As well as being in the immediate vicinity, there are many flyovers of Canada Geese, Crows, Chickadees and Ring-billed Gulls. A lot to be grateful for.
Then just down the street, there is more. With May and June being peak months for breeding and raising young, I am itching to get “out there” and happy to find the regulars as well as my first sightings for this year.
As close as I can get, plus some cropping, but happy to spot a male Yellow Warbler.I was hoping this male Yellow Warbler would land on this branch. We were both curious. I think this Black-capped Chickadee is a juvenile.A Black-billed Magpie, taking a pause, so a good time to grab a shot
This pair was found at a small urban pond outside of Edmonton. Their blue bills and animated looks made this a no-miss opportunity. A handsome couple, indeed. these are a medium sized diving duck that often dabble. the sometimes lay their eggs in other ducks nests. It is the first time I have seen them this close.
Seeing a Male Ruddy Duck for the first time in a year is always special for me, and this small urban pond pond had a pair. I first saw the male at the edge of the reeds, then the female. They were swimming close together then made a hasty retreat among the reeds where they quickly mated, then came back to open water.
Drake and Hen Ruddy ducks swimming close togetherThe hen retreats and lowers herself in the water while he follows.He goes to the side or behind, hard to tell from where I was, she is facing us, partially submerged.A bit of splashing going on.More splashing as he mounts, chest all puffed up…hard to tell what is where.Deep crease in his chest.Putting on a nice display for the lady.And the hen is giving herself a shake , followed by pruning by the both of them.
It will be fun to come back to this pond and check for more Ruddy pairs and ducklings. Taken with the lens extended the full 300mm and then cropped.
Maybe the latter two have more in common, both being tricksters but this is what I saw this day.
American Robin: For a while I didn’t see any, now they are everywhere. I like their singing, even at 3:30 a.m.Not a great shot, but I learned their underwings are red like their breasts.In the valley, Magpies are hanging around waiting for a bite to eat as this Coyote hunts.Above the valley, this Magpie obligingly posed for me, with its fine feathers. They will go through a molt in due time, but usually look this way.
Tulips are one of my favourite flowers, and I picked up these tulips at the grocery store. When I got home I realized these are Maple Leaf Tulips, designed with a shape of the maple leaf on the sides. They were designed for the 150th birthday of Canada, a gift from the Netherlands.
Gifts of tulips has been a tradition since Queen Wilhelmina sent 150,000 tulips to Canada after the war was over as a way of thanking Canada for the liberation of the Netherlands from the invasion of Nazi Germany. But before any of that happened, when the Germans originally invaded the Netherlands, Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard were forced to flee to Ottawa to escape the conflict. Juliana later gave birth to her daughter Margriet inside the Ottawa Civic Hospital in 1943, after Canada’s federal government declared the maternity ward extraterritorial so that the birth could still technically take place in The Netherlands.
Tulips are not originally native to Holland, but were introduced from Turkey in the 1600’s.
The Canadian Tulip festival takes place in our capital city, Ottawa, from May 8-18th. You can go online and take virtual tours of the gardens.
Maple Leaf Tulips-a welcome addition to the dining room table.
Hundreds of coyotes live in the river valley and I have run across them while walking the dogs and often hear of encounters from others. One of my wishes has been to spot one in the valley and get a shot with the camera. While I was looking for birds, I spotted a shape at the bottom of the hill and thought, “Ah! it’s probably just some garbage.” I took a closer look through the lens and to my delight, it was a coyote. I used a 300 mm lens and cropped some of the images.
Magpies hanging around for scraps.A mother has to keep herself fed. She will show me how it is done.The Pounce.Another leap.I see a short tail it might be a vole.A couple of gulps and down the hatch.One last look before we each continued on our way.
I took lots of photos of her as I watched her hunting in the grass. She caught about 5 small critters. I was blessed to be able to observe her for ten full minutes.
Having more time on one’s hands allows for more frequent checks on the change that is taking place this spring. The grass is turning green and the sound of lawn mowers echo in the neighbourhood. The leaves are growing and slowly filling the forest with a canopy to shelter all below. Yet if one is busy, all these changes happen and it becomes a new world rather quickly. It wasn’t too long ago when snow lay on the ground and the wooded areas were dull grey or brown. Don’t miss it.
Here is an update on the trails that were photographed last week.
The first blush is growing.Early in the morning and it is quietSomeone out for a stroll on their bicycle.
The following images are not of bunnies, but are Prairie Hares, sometimes referred to as White-tailed Jackrabbits. I thought our neighbourhood had three regulars but I am probably mistaken. There may be many more, because they only live from 12-14 months. They don’t really hop as much as leap and can reach speeds up to 60 km per hour. They are probably a little safer here downtown from the coyotes. I enjoy seeing the Hares, as they lay on the lawns in between apartments or nibble on the grass in the park or on the boulevards. The mothers will leave the babies alone because they have no scent, but will come back to check on them. If you see a baby hare in the wild or even in the city, it is best to leave them alone.
Here’s one between two buildings as I come up the street.
It has come closer to the front sidewalk. Someone is raking leaves on my right side.
It has decided to cross the sidewalk in front of me.
Picking up a little speed as it heads for the road. Where is it going?
Where is it going? Across the street, to meet up with this friend.
Moving faster than my camera speed.
The first hare in the photos was crossing the road to meet the second, I have seen them in relatively close proximity before at the nearby park. The second one still has a lot of white in its fur. In the summer they are brown or gray and in the winter they turn totally white, except for the tips of the ears. They weigh up to 3.5 kilograms and eat up to a Kilogram or 2.2 pounds of greens a day and twigs, branches and bark of landscape plants in the winter-not popular with the gardeners. They may have up to 3 litters in a year, with 4-6 babies each time.
I enjoy seeing them in the city and will observe to see if any are paired up or have babies.
This adult American Coot had a rigorous bath at the urban lake this day. I wish my settings had been set to a higher speed, but I still like the effect.
Just starting the bath.A good shake.A good workout.A dunk.A good splashRefreshing! just a bit of preening to finish the job.
