Snow Storm!

It was snowing pretty good this morning, but Daphnie still demanded her walk. More and more geese are coming in every day. They found a sheltered cove and were huddled down. Even Daphnie walking along the shore did not move them.

 We are expecting 12 to 20 cm of snow over the next few days. It's typical, it seems, for the end of March!

The river was rougher than normal, with the wind blowing down river

On a lighter note, the Blue Jays were sitting and waiting patiently for their peanuts.

 Of course, Big Brother was perched right over the geese, watching intently!

Have a good day. Stay isolated, Think WARM!

Whats new at the Feeder?

With the temperature still at -28C and -47C with the wind chill, the feeder has been very busy the last 10 days. We seem to be hosting 6 Blue Jays several times a day.

 There are also 8 Chickadees that come in after the Blue Jays are finished.

 There are also about 30 sparrows that like throwing shells around. This one was fluffing up the feathers.

This Bald Eagle wasn't at the feeder, but in a tree by the dog park. No matter what the temperature, Daphnie insists on her walk twice a day. I was surprised the camera didn't freeze up.

Here is a female Pine Grosbeak. She and about 10 others come in the morning and again in the evening.

Here 

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.

Lucky shots

It was sunny today so I took a little drive to see what I could find. This Bald Eagle was not co-operative and I only got the one shot

However, there was an abundance of Mule Deer. They co-operated far better than the Eagle.

 

Big ears and a white rump with a black tipped tail defines them.

 

I kind of like the contrasts of brown and white.

Eagles

In about 12 years in Alberta, I haven't been in the right place at the right time to get Bald Eagle photos. Today ended that drought.

 I was driving down a county road and saw 3 immature Bald Eagles dining on a deer carcass. Two flew away and one remained. I was able to walk about 300 yards behind a hedge row, then pop out into the field to take some (a lot)  photos 

 When he put his head down, I walked forward until I was about 50 feet from him. He was not worried at all.

 I was surprised to see them and expected them to be on their way south.

 The picture below shows the inner eyelid closed. It makes it a good candidate for Halloween.

 The lighting was not the best, overcast and flat . I cannot complain. I got pictures!

 I looked at the pictures and area afterward. It was picked clean, probably by the coyotes. He was getting something to satisfy his appetite.

 The beak is similar to the Osprey's and a mean looking tool, designed to cut and rip.

 So, he finally saw me!

And off we go! I was a little confused at first and thought it might have been a Golden Eagle. My son Andrew took a look and said "Bald" apparently due to the lack of feathers on the lower foot.

 Massive birds with a wingspan up to 90 inches!