Bits and Pieces

You may have noticed my new header picture. It is about the only "bright" thing to happen in the last three weeks. Note the Teddy Bear. Daphne is spoiled! We have had rain, rain and more rain for three weeks. The gardens are stalled out, or drowned. The walks have been limited to paved paths and the photo opportunities almost nil.

I guess that is my whine for the day!

I did manage to get a picture or two of a Great Blue Heron in a marsh at Rotary Park. The marsh is now flooded and the Athabasca River is up to flood level. (Did I mention we have had rain?)

 The Goslings are about the size of their mother now.

 This woodpecker kind of looked waterlogged.

 I did catch up with a Solitary Sandpiper sitting on a log.

 Same Sand Piper different view.

Think dry, and warm!

Another First for Me!

Today, Daphne and I ended up at the river on our daily walk. I thought I saw a Muskrat playing in the rather stiff current. Then I realized that Muskrats are lazy and stay in calm water or swamps. I took a few shots when he surfaced and then found out it was a River Otter. He wasn't very cooperative and would not come to shore.

Note the very impressive teeth! 

He was very sleek and graceful!

You can see most of the long tapered tail. Now that I know where he is (was), I will keep a look out for him in the future.

Enjoying the Sunshine!

After a week of miserable cold weather, fog, snow and rain, I was able to get out and about. The geese are pairing up and starting to look for nesting sites. I did manage to get  a LOT of photos on the river.

 I will keep it down to eight

 Here are a couple of shots of the back end of some Tundra Swans flying over. This year I am going to try to get more wing shots of birds.

 This guy misjudged and did a hard landing.

And a Female Merlin!

Cold Day on the River!

A few ducks over winter on the River. I haven't come across many this year. Here is a female  Common Goldeneye that decided to be a northerner. She was staying in the current and letting the new formed ice flow around her. There is enough current here that the river stays open.

A Warm Day and a Chance to Get Out

The temperature went all the way up to +5c or  about 40F. I grabbed the dog and camera and took a long walk, It was very nice not to have 3 layer on, a toque, hoody and two pair of gloves!

Even the Athabasca River looked warm, but not quite ready for swimming.

 The Mule Deer were enjoying some sunshine along the park boundaries

Just a Mulie Mamma and this years fawn

Finally they eased off into the woods

Winter on the Athabasca River

Today was a nice sunny day after two weeks of bad weather. It was time to take Daphne, my camera, and me and go for a walk. I had been down this access road during the summer, but never in the winter. The walking was good! The temperature was mild at -8C or 17.6F for you non bilingual folks. I followed the road about a mile and a half, hoping to see some wildlife. There were lots of tracks, but no critters.

The road came to the river. There was lots of ice floating down with the current. This part of the river never seems to freeze completely.

 Here is more ice floating down along with some shore freeze.

About 2 miles down, I came to an Indigenous Peoples ceremonial site. I must be politically correct and not use the Indian word, even though most of thenatives that I know refer to it themselves.

 We are coming up on the shortest day of the year and here is the sun behind the trees at high noon!

 I stopped following the road at this point because the river was rising and the water was flooding up where the road was. The slush was about a foot deep.

Here is another picture of the ceremonial site. It is being used as there is fresh wood cut and the snow has been cleared. That's all for today. 5 miles of walking and now time for a nap!

You all stay warm!

Out for a Drive

I came across this immature bald eagle watching a deer carcass. I was hoping he would come down, or fly, but no such luck.

 He was blended in quite well and I didn't see him at first.

 A very regal bird, but still a scavenger.

Also there were lots of Blue Jays

 And a Downey Woodpecker

 The Athabasca River is making ice at a good rate

 The Magpies were settling for left overs.

Spring Flooding

With the warm weather comes the break-up of ice on the Athabasca River. We made the national news with the flooding this year, the worst in 4 decades. The ice piled on the shore at the confluence of the McLeod and Athabasca Rivers gives some idea of how high the water was, and the power of the water. The boat launch is slightly unusable for a while!

On the Athabasca itself, ice and debris was piled high. The roads were closed to the major flooded area, so I was limited the dams that broke.

Here is a picture of a slough that was full of ice forced in by the Athabasca. I have taken lots of pictures in this area in the past.

 The walking trail was ice choked and impassible!

M&M Mallard Monday

Spring is getting closer, although we have 10 to 15 cm of snow forecast for later in the week. The Mallards are starting to appear on the river again, and Mallards are never wrong about spring!

 They were very busy preening and feeding.

The females were outnumbered by about 3:1. There was no squabbling going on yet!

 Just like a lady. Showing a bit of leg to get attention!

Just cruising in the current looking for food.