The Path to the Dog Park

 It was pouring rain today with the possibility of snow in the morning, so I took a different way than normal to the dog park. We came across  this young buck Mule Deer (3X3 points), probably a three year old. The dogs saw him, but they are fairly well trained to "stay" while on the leash.

He let us walk right up to him without startling. You can see Missy's head in the picture

All the time I was saying 'stay" to the girls. When he did bolt, they just watched him go with out yanking or pulling on the leashes, All told I saw 9 Mule deer in the Park today, mostly does. I like these impromptu training sessions! 

The Fall is Great!

 One of my favourite times of the year is fall. The colours are spectacular and the temperatures are comfortable. A person isn't soaked in sweat all the time!

River Trail

In the fall the wildlife is moving around more. With all the colours they are still hard to see. If you are lucky, an ear twitch may give them away

Cow elk with babies

Bull Elk

Mule Deer

The Mulies know how to blend in

Elk Resting

This is the time to enjoy the colors as the first wind will bring the leaves down. For the next 10 days, the night temperatures are forecast to be below 0C, and daytime highs only +3 to +5. The next thing, the colors will be gone and the landscape turned to white!

Bits and Pieces

It Has been a slow couple of weeks with temperatures in the 30C range. Too hot to do much outside other than watering the garden and taking drives. This is our new flower garden/ pumpkin patch  somewhere in there ,there are pumpkins growing.

We also had a good crop of sunflowers. If you look close, you will see a bee sleeping through the +6C night. The sun warmed him up and he continued on with his pollinating.

There was a cocky Magpie in our neighbour's Mountain Ash tree watching me very closely.

Elaine finally finished her most elaborate crochet project to date...a baby blanket.

I may have posted this Kingfisher with crayfish before, but I like the shot.

More and more mule deer are coming out to feed, and likely to get away from the mosquitos.

The old crow found something tasty, at least for him

The doe Mule Deer look healthy

This family of ducks is also looking good

The Great Blue Heron thought I couldn't see him!  just couldn't get closer.

My Walk May6,2020

It was a good day starting at 06:30 dark. The pictures were all taken around Rotary Park in Whitecourt.

We have a Northern Shoveller preening

Whatever he can do, so can she!

It was fairly warm, but this Seagull still had to fluff up. 

A pair of Blue Wing Teal enjoying the sunshine. She is very camouflaged!

Then there are the noisy crows. This one was not happy with Daphnie being so close.

The Common Loon was enjoying a stretch after chasing breakfast in the pond

Our Ospreys

are back. There have been Ospreys in that nest every year for about 9 years that I know of.

There were five Mule Deer in the park and they didn't mind Daphnie at all

They just kept on feeding.

Then there is the Canada Goose, head up looking for any danger to his hens

All in all, a good hours walk!

A Warmer, Sunny Day!

It was nice to get out again without a heavy coat, Toque, heavy gloves  and go walk-about with my faithful companion.

 We have a lot of snow this year and its only mid February. The Mule deer are looking healthy in spite of the snow and cold.

 They are even starting to get frisky while they enjoy the sunshine

 I figured they would have been scared off as the town held a massive snow mobile rally over the weekend, with about 450 sleds all going past their holding area.

Mule Deer and Ospreys

 Going into Rotary Park today, this family of Mule Deer were at the entrance

 They are used to people and didn't mind resting a bit

 Then again. there is always one exhibitionist!

This is the only Osprey still around. I guess he is just reluctant to get into the world. I don't blame him!

Mule Deer and Triplets

They are triplets, but I couldn't get them all in the same picture. 

Dog Park and Wild Life

On the way to the dog park I came across this lone female Mule Deer, just willing to be photographed.

The grass is getting very tall, and approaching 4 feet high in places. Some of the local farmers are starting to make hay, but it is still very rainy.

Don't look now, but you have hairy ears!

 She is in very good shape. I suspect she is a yearling from last year.

 Back at the Park, Daphne met up with Percy, a 4 year old Golden. They have not seen each other for many months, but picked up the relationship right where it left off. BFF. Daphne's Kong on a rope, not to be messed with, but rather be shared.

 Both are very stubborn and will not give up! Lots of growling going on and tug of wars.

 Daphne normally wins and is a master of playing keep-away.