It's Been Awhile!

I seem to have migrated away from blogging. Why, I'm not sure. With the pandemic, I have been watching the news, but have backed away from that also. I was getting depressed. Why does nobody push good news? When I was in the paper making business, the joke was "Good news doesn't sell. I guess that today it is even more true. What have I been doing to keep myself going in this age of depression?

In September of 2019, I started serious walking with my dog, Daphne. To date we have walked a total of 1,257 miles, burnt up 152,338 kcal, and taken 2,549,600 steps. Daphne has done a lot more miles as a straight line is unknown to her. We have enjoyed a lot of wildlife and forest trails together.

My goal has been 5.1 miles per day.

My camera goes with us and here are a few of my pictures that I am happy with.

Wolf Spider

Daphne at Rest

Killdeer

Bald Eagle

Canada Geese

Great Blue Heron

Female Tree Swallow

Male Tree Swallow

Savannah Sparrow

Mallard Hen plus Ducklings

Solitary Sandpiper

Spotted Sandpiper

Great Blue Herons

This has been a good year for watching Herons. They are coming out of the swamps and feeding on the gravel bars. I won't repost the previous shots, but will post the new ones.

They are one of my favourite birds. Regal, majestic and quiet.  My goal this year is to get more in flight shots. They are hard to come by as they tend to fly away, not towards me.

One of my favourites!

This is the best I could do so far. The day was a little cloudy and early in the morning so the shutter speed was not what I wanted

Lots of Deer Today!

I was out and about at 6:30 am because I couldn't sleep. Daphne was OK with the early hour. These were taken along the Athabasca Riverbank and the Rotary Park pathways.

 They did not seem to mind me, but kept an open eye on Daphne. Some of them did not even bother to get up, but stayed still and enjoyed the morning sun.

I saw seven different deer along my walking route.

They are all looking a little worse for wear, starting a heavy shed. I did not see any sign of them giving birth. I am hoping for some fawn pictures this year.

Daphne was good and did not pull or attempt to growl or chase.

May 9,2020, Out and About

There were lots of birds out this morning on the walk

American Wigeon

Northern Shoveller

Common Loon

Song Sparrow

Great Blue Heron

Common Merganser

Hooded Merganser

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!

They Continue to Come!

A lot of the migratory birds are back, just to get hit with a major snow storm!

Common Goldeneye

Northern Shoveller

Great Blue Heron

Common Merganser

Common Merganser Pair

Common Merganser Drake

Great Blue Heron

Geese on the Athabasca

Lots of activity!