Coyote - 9 Photos

If one is overwhelmed by the increasing growth of "reality" shows out there, to achieve a reality check - go out to where the wild things are, i.e. the natural world.

And one such visit gifted me a wonderful sighting of a coyote pack/family. I had seen the three younger coyotes the day before but this time, the three youngsters (I believe they were born Spring 2022, full grown but a little on the inexperienced side) were accompanied by an adult. Am not certain of the gender of the adult but there was no mistaking this as an older coyote because of its bulkiness & visible scars (Photo #7). 

And yes, it was an ideal situation with the coyotes positioned across a creek and me safely on the other side. Yes, one or more could have crossed the creek but with an experienced adult to keep the "children" in line, the youngsters were more pre-occupied in the hilly terrain and the possibility of finding food and having the odd scratch (Photo #1 through Photo #3). 

And in the end, the adult moved along the creek & then up the hill to cross over to the other side of the woods. That coyote was eventually followed by the other three, who took a more direct route moving along the ridge, most likely to meet up all together for a full day/night of hunting.

The youngsters have already proven their hunting abilities, catching rodents in the meadows, but hopefully now with some parental guidance they will fine tune their existing skills, tempered with a wariness of people.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

PHOTO #9

Mule Deer - 7 Photos

It appears that mating season for Mule Deer is at its end. 

The does have now gone back to relaxed grazing & the large stags have disappeared or at the very least, have retired to the woods for some rest, relaxation & building up on calories to see them through the Winter.

But for the younger bucks, there is still some mock fighting or jousting to be had - ahh youth! On this particular morning, both a two year old (Photo #1) and a three year old (Photo #2 & Photo #3) (ages approximate from their antler size), thought they would try to entice a resting stag into some engagement but to give this wonderful stag his due, he just couldn't be bothered or was just too tired to stand to meet the challenge. So he just pushed back in a resting position and then retired for the morning (Photo #4). 

So when the adults won't play silly games, let's have some play fighting between the younger generations (Photo #5, Photo #6, Photo #7). 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

Coyote - 8 Photos

It's never just a walk in the park for me but for this coyote what started out as a romp down the hill to the meadow below, ended in a flat out chase and in this instance, the coyote wasn't the pursuer.

First we have the descent down the hill with a brief stop for a much needed scratch (Photo #1).

Then there was the walk along the meadow's edge (Photo #2 through to Photo #4). 

Finally, well I didn't think it was the best decision this coyote could have made but then again I'm not a coyote. Rather than make it back up the hill and take the path along the ridge and then descend again and into the woods some distance along, the coyote decided to take the most direct route which was unfortunately through a herd of mule deer does.

There was that moment when coyote stare met mule deer stare. Then the flag went down and the largest mule deer doe headed straight for the coyote in a flat out run with the other six following in hot pursuit. It was a heart stopping moment for me as the photos show, that alpha doe came so close to making full on contact with the coyote (Photo #5 through to Photo #7). 

Wildlife mothers are, of course, extremely defensive of their young so the response was totally understandable but in this instance I was cheering for the "underdog". I have seen this particular coyote on its own on several occasions now and I believe it be a youngster probably born in Spring 2022. Hopefully, it's a lesson well earned for the coyote not to approach, on its own, prey animals as large as deer even if it is purely out of curiosity or the shortest route to where it's going.

And one might ask where were the male mule deer, particularly the larger stags, when this event was unfolding. Well after the coyote had been chased up to the very top of the ridge where it disappeared and the does went back to peacefully grazing, one lone stag appeared out of the woods with that "What's Up?" attitude (Photo #8).

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

Beaver (North American) - 9 Photos

Just a recap of the past couple of months of one of my two favourite rodents, the other one being, of course, the porcupine. :)

It's hard to believe that the photos below were taken in late October & November 2023. Yes, the leaves had turned colour and had fallen from the trees but the weather remained relatively mild which probably explains why the beavers were still hard at harvesting & building. Like us, they were taking advantage of the mild Autumn weather before the colder weather & Winter settles in.

We are now in the last weeks of November and the beavers' pond has now almost completely iced over. There are still small openings which I'm certain the beavers are using to surface from and access the wooded areas to top up their food supplies. They appear to have now changed their routines to a more nightly routine or at least under darkness. So less photo opportunities during daylight hours. 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

PHOTO #9

Coyote - 7 Photos

It may be slightly unusual to utilize a dog show term for wildlife but there was one particular moment when this coyote paused and took a stance not dissimilar from that seen in the finals where the lone undefeated dog at the end of the conformation event is named "Best in Show" (Photo #7).

And this coyote, not only being a skillful hunter, is a gorgeous representative of its species. Like all stars, he/she is extremely photogenic and luckily enough, there were some opportunities where the coyote slowed down its movements long enough to capture this canid in its pursuit of a potential meal.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

Coyote - 8 Photos

Not certain if this is a "Jack" or a "Jackie" but it definitely is a coyote with great jumping skills & dexterity.

Taken just a few weeks ago when deep snow covered the meadow grasses, the conditions warranted making a few gymnastic manoeuvres necessary to navigate the landscape & locate prospective prey.

And like the Red Fox, an aerial approach is sometimes the best way to get through to the tunnels and rodents under the snow. And if you don't succeed at first, it's on to other venues to try again.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

Mule Deer - 7 Photos

It's that time of year again when a male Mule Deer's thoughts turn to things other than grazing & sleeping. And yes there certainly is a variety in ages & racks but unfortunately for the younger males they will most likely have to wait a few more years before they actually become contenders.

That being said, I did witness one very large bulky male confronting a second almost its equal but while these two were in the process of a stand-off, a much younger male moved in to try his chances with the doe in contention. I guess one should always keep your eye on the "prize".  The doe was not having any of it, though, ran off and decided to wait for the outcome of Nature's reality show.

And if you are ever in the vicinity of male deer stand-offs, keep a close watch on where all the participants are heading. Even with a huge area with varying terrain, the speed at which mule deer can chase after one another (other rivals or does), is incredible and the darting & dashing can bring a hulking male deer suddenly too close for comfort. A grouping of large trees adjacent to each other can make for a safe viewing platform. :) 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

Mink (North American) - 7 Photos

During the last vestiges of daylight, a mink turned up looking for a quick fish meal. 

Although the conditions appeared to be almost perfect, after several attempts the mink left empty handed, probably for a more lucrative area.

So unfortunately, I guess the mink was literally and figuratively "up the creek" and in this instance, without a fish. :) 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

Coyote - 7 Photos

Coyotes appear in folklore & indigenous culture. In some stories, he has the power of creation. In others he is a culture hero, battling supernatural enemies. And sometimes, he appears as a messenger.

Now I know coyotes can't really fly but if you can manage to catch a coyote on camera at the precise moment when it is running, you can capture that moment when all four legs are off the ground (like a thoroughbred racehorse). The coyote can appear to be then truly flying (Photo # 6). 

So coyotes can't fly but there is definitely something magical about them, particularly as they can seemingly appear and then disappear into the landscape. 

PHOTO #1

Coyote"COYOTES CAN FLY #5"

PHOTO #2

Coyote"COYOTES CAN FLY #1"

PHOTO #3

Coyote"COYOTES CAN FLY #3"

PHOTO #4

Coyote"COYOTES CAN FLY #2"

PHOTO #5

Coyote"COYOTES CAN FLY #4"

PHOTO #6

Coyote"COYOTES CAN FLY #6"
PHOTO #7  Coyote"DID YOU CATCH THAT???"

Mule Deer - 11 Photos

With November half way through and the Winter months looming ahead, the deer herds have been in close proximity to each other with eligible & non-eligible males mingling with the does & youngsters.

Unfortunately, I have not been witness to any major battles but there certainly appears to be a great variety of male mule deer now in their full Autumn adornment. Antlers have grown to their full size depending on the age of the male stag and bulking up in weight is another sure sign of prowess.

And there are certainly pursuits of does, who are urinating frequently, no doubt to signal an interested stag as to who is is available.

Due to the serious bulking of the male deer who appear to change appearance almost daily, I have lost track of who's who, but you will definitely ascertain from the photos, which ones are in the top contention for the fair ladies. 

And I have included as the last photo, a youngster most likely born this Spring. Who can resist a fresh face? I don't know whether it is male or female but you just have to love those ears!

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

PHOTO #9

PHOTO #10

PHOTO #11

Beaver (North American) - 7 Photos

Have started with the sunset photos and as the cooler temperatures had remained during the day, the pond remained partially frozen around the beavers' lodge.

Photo #1 is a beaver sitting just at the edge of the ice shelf assessing the distance to shore.

Photo #2 is an appearance of the beaver just after there was a loud crack in the ice and up it popped through the hole. You can see a small sliver of the ice that he/she broke through just resting on its back. And part of the beaver still remained under the ice shelf as it just "hovered", eating away.

Photo #3 is a the close-up as it rested just above the ice happily munching.

And yes there are still greens to be had, as the beaver managed to find its way through the ice (a true Canadian icebreaker) and up the bank to partake of the remaining grass on shore (Photo #4).

The sunrise photos were taken just after sunrise with the diffused sunlight shining into the creek and the beaver (Photo #5 through to Photo #7).

SUNSET - AS THE EVENING WAS DRAWING IN

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

SUNRISE - EARLY MORNING LIGHT

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

Coyote - 9 Photos

Picking up from the blog of October 30th, 2023, "The Coyote in Winter", here is the narrative & photos of the coyote's "doggedness" in its pursuit of a meal.

First there was a lot of stop, look & listen before this coyote settled on one particular burrow hidden in the snow. Then came a lot of digging, stuffing its head into the hole, retreating and repeating that process again and again and again (Photo #1). 

In fact, that intensity went on for at least 15 minutes and all the while I was thinking, "There is something worth pursuing down there for a coyote to be so determined to spend all that time on one spot". 

And then came success and a large vole appeared in the coyote's mouth which it promptly carried away from the hole (Photo #2 through Photo #4 ). The coyote laid down and dropped its well deserved meal into the snow  (Photo #5), but yikes!

Of course, I couldn't see into the snow but from the coyote's reaction, the prey had been caught but there was still enough life in the vole to try to make a get away. So then it was a matter of quickly re-catching it before our dine became a dine & dash (Photo #6 & Photo #7). 

There was no second mistake and one big vole became a well deserved meal (Photo #8). 

Obviously, I do not know the exact age of this coyote but from its demeanor and hunting habits, although full grown, it was most likely born Spring 2022 and just needs some experience to temper that youthful exuberance. An older coyote would probably not have made that error in judgement. And what a prolific hunter maturity will produce.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

PHOTO #9

Coyote - 8 photos

The title does have other connotations but I have seen that look of "oh no" when someone's dog gets a ground scent, stops, checks it out, drops & then proceeds to roll in it with great enthusiasm.

And no, this activity isn't a learned behaviour, it's inherited with that "canid" or canine gene so it's not restricted to domestic dogs.

Firstly, the coyote in the following photos, is actually in a state of total bliss & is not in anyway, injured. It put its nose to the ground, picked up a scent of some kind, did an about face and sniffed again. Then came the stop, drop & roll. And then it stood up and continued on with that all important pursuit of mice and voles hidden deep in the snow & matted prairie grasses. 

This coyote has some quite dark red colouring on its ears, legs and tail and can appear almost fox like (other than its size). I've included a a close up to demonstrate what a stunning example of its species this coyote truly is (Photo #8).

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

Coyote - 7 Photos

Not everyone enjoys cloudy days for photography but I have found that on those days when you can have the light source behind you & your subject, the light softly filters through the cloud cover. It provides a more diffuse & softer effect. The overall lighting quality is even & it generates no shadows.

Snow can also intensify that muted light source so higher ISO settings are not required.

And then enter one beautiful coyote and the mood & setting are ethereal or otherworldly.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

Coyote - 7 Photos

I am one of the last people to rush the seasons and I do realize that Winter officially is over a month away.

But from appearances, in Calgary, Alberta, the seasons went from Autumn to Winter in less than one week. And with colder temperatures, came snow and an accumulation that covered the grasses & shrubs in a deep cover.

But with those huge pads, a thick warm coat & an acute sense of hearing, the coyote is very adept at uncovering food under that snow cover. I envy the coyote's ease of traversing the snowy fields and it's only when it encounters a steeper incline that a leap into the white stuff is necessary.

And that sparkle on the snow is courtesy of Nature & her lighting skills.

With regard to Photo #6, the coyote after a solid 10 minutes of digging (and persistence), managed to uncover a large vole (I believe it was a vole) and after a couple of near escapes by the vole, the coyote laid down to finish off its meal. But that will be another blog.

The coyote is sometimes referred to as the "North American Jackal" because of its colouring & looks (Photo #7) although in its thick wintery coat, the coyote does have a resemblance to its cousin, the wolf. In fact, from its positioning & back-end shape, in this photo it almost looks like another member of the canid family, the African Hyena. 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

Coyote - 9 Photos

There are other places in North America where weather & seasons can change rapidly but Southern Alberta certainly has its share of dramatic transitions. Case in point, last Friday and this past Friday. Temperatures went from the high 20 degrees Celsius to -15 degrees Celsius (at night) with highs of the lower single digits during the day.

And with those lower temperatures came snow and quite a lot. In fact, there was enough to flatten the prairie grasses & shrubbery and encase the woods in a thick white covering.

Unlike the Long-Tailed Weasel who changes its Summer tawny/cream coat to a white one for the Winter (someone must be very happy, as two weeks ago this little mustelid would have been easy to spot against the Autumn browns), the coyote's coat has a more subtle change from lighter to slightly darker in the colder months.

And even with a quick change in weather & environment, the coyote still retains its crown as a master of disguise, blending into its surroundings and seemingly disappearing into the landscape. It can then reappear some distance from where it was originally. Usually it is only the coyote's movement that gives it away.

And then comes a magnificent sunny day when the coyote is drawn into a snowy grassland where potentially there are hidden mice & voles, close to the surface looking for some warming. 

And if you wish to experience the contrast between two weeks, check out the "Prairie Grasslands" blog of October 23, 2023.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

PHOTO #9

Mule Deer (Males) - 10 Photos

I first saw "Elvis" a few weeks ago exiting a woods, following one of the does in his harem. Then I spotted him again this weekend with exactly the same doe & youngster grouping (Photo #6 through to Photo #10).

The next day I spotted a stag in the same area but this time there were only two does & youngsters. At first I thought it was Elvis (so named because of his consistent "lip curl") and I hadn't spotted all the herd members. But then he stood up - oh my!

There was no way within 24 hours, could a stag size up to this level. Arnold (and one might guess why I named this particular stag, "Arnold"), is certainly a bruiser size wise. He basically has no neck and an even more impressive rack of antlers. Perhaps there were more members in his herd but out of sight. However, with that casual sauntering demeanor, Arnold did not appear to be concerned over the immediate lack of ladies (Photo #1 through to Photo #5). 

With Autumn generally comes a battle of the mature male deer. Perhaps, he doesn't have youth on his side but if I was a betting person, I would be putting my money on Arnold. When it comes to the pushing & shoving of two stags, that bulk and strength will definitely put Arnold ahead of the game and a strong contender for all the ladies.

ARNOLD

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

ELVIS

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

PHOTO #9

PHOTO #10

Coyote - 9 Photos

Not certain of the age of this coyote but it was hunting with a partner, who subsequently disappeared at a far off distance. 

However, this one continued its hunting along the top of the ridge until finally making its way down through the grass where it eventually ended up across from the creek where I was seated.

It definitely was on a hunting mission, periodically stopping to stop, jump & pounce for hidden rodents, albeit a relaxed & non-aggressive meander and that's when it took a "time out" where it just sat and took in the scenery (Photo #5).

Coyotes should always be treated with great respect and viewed from a safe distance. That having been said, normally I don't have an opportunity to lift the camera and have it focused before the coyote removes itself from the area. I do carry a small repellant spray for coyotes & domestic dogs but in all the years, I have been photographing wildlife the only issues I have had are with dogs who have been left off-lead (illegally) and the owners not taking any responsibility. Last Winter I had an unnerving experience with a pit bull when it ran up and sat behind me on the log where I was sitting and proceeded to try to play (and only play thank goodness) by climbing onto my back. The owner did absolutely nothing although he was less than 30 feet away. Eventually the dog returned to its "dog walker" where the two crept off on an alternative path. I purchased the spray the next day.

Now this coyote was looking for rodents that had been disturbed by removal of some debris by the creek, earlier in the week. It was on one side of the creek and I was on the other side. When the coyote appeared to direct its attention to my side of the creek, I enacted the "tsch" sound and it jumped back and trotted down the creek where it crossed much further down. And I did see it enter the woods, merrily jumping & pouncing on potential mice, etc. and finally disappeared as it moved out of the vicinity.

Coyotes naturally have a healthy respect for humans unless they have pups in a den close by, where they are on the defensive or they have been subject to feeding by people, a crime for which coyotes pay dearly. When will we, humans, understand that wildlife does well enough on its own and interference by us only results in its termination.

Thanks to this gorgeous coyote, I have a moment committed to memory & the photographs to remind me of the coyote's walk on the wild side.

PHOTO #1

Coyote"HIDDEN SECRETS"

PHOTO #2

Coyote"LOOKING BACK"

PHOTO #3

Coyote"STOP & LOOK"

PHOTO #4

Coyote"NOSE TO THE GROUND"

PHOTO #5

Coyote"JUST SITTING PRETTY"

PHOTO #6

Coyote"SITTING PRETTY" - #2

PHOTO #7

Coyote"SITTING PRETTY" - #3

PHOTO #8

Coyote"SITTING PRETTY" - #4

PHOTO #9

Coyote"ONLY A PAUSE BEFORE MOVING ON"

Mink (North American) - 7 Photos

So the definition of "loggerheads" is to be in disagreement with someone and believe it or not, "grrr" is used to express annoyance. 

So put the two together & include the "logs" that the mink was utilizing as cover. Then one can accurately describe a long session waiting, watching for and periodically having a mink put in brief & erratic appearances, some of which are under water chasing fish.

Then add in some lighting challenges, as it goes from partly cloudy to full bright sunshine, with the sun not in the most ideal position bearing down from left of the mink and eventually in direct line to the front of the lens. 

So it was a lot of "grrr" and some wishful thinking for longer mink pop-ups and better positioning but in the end, you always work with Nature and you can obtain those enchanting captures.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

Mule Deer (Male) - 7 Photos

Was hoping to have another encounter with a small grouping of Mule Deer does & youngsters, when I found a couple of does and their offspring at the end of a meadow next to a small grove or copse of trees.

I set up and started taking photos when there was some rustling in the fallen leaves surrounding the woods.

So I looked right and there was another doe just making her exit into the meadow but close behind her was another deer, head bent. And then it straightened its neck and those magnificent antlers appeared.

As you can see from Photo #1 & Photo #2, the stag was executing the lip curl, which is formally called the Flehmen response, having detected the doe's pheromones. Unfortunately, for this handsome fellow, neither this doe or the other two were interested in his attention and they quickly made their way up the hill and into more cover.

But I guess the Autumn is young and there still remains time for this male deer to have more encounters with does, as well as potentially meeting up with other contenders for the "fair does". So it was back to sampling Nature's greenery for this stag (Photo # 3 through to Photo #7).  

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

Mink (North American) - 6 Photos

Minks may be small in size but huge in energy.

The lighting in the first three photos differs from the last three because of a quick change in positioning from north to south by this mink. You never know where a mink is going to pop up (and it's not only weasels that go "pop") and for how long. Sometimes the camera doesn't have the opportunity to re-focus and that doesn't take into account a change in lens length. Mink do have that annoying habit , albeit endearing, of being some distance away, disappearing and then reappearing right in front of you, within spitting distance.

So for all those times that a mink has taken sufficient time to pause the action so that a clear photograph can be taken, I say "thank you"! :) 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

Mule Deer - 5 Photos

Mule deer which are native to Western North America are so named because of their ears, which resemble, yes you guessed it, a mule.

And that would be where the similarity ends, particularly when agility comes into play. They can "prong" right up there with the Pronghorn, covering great distances with their bouncing. 

These photos were taken over the course of a couple of days & show a more relaxed mule deer doe & this year's offspring. 

But you just have to love those big ears! :) 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

Mink (North American) - 5 Photos

The best time to catch minks with photography generally is when they are pre-occupied with fishing, in my experience. 

They can pop up from hidden spaces, then disappear & reappear some distance away.

This mink, obviously, had an appointment with a favourite fishing hole so having popped up from a log pile, it dashed off to places far, far away. :)

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

Muskrat - 7 Photos

Saw this little mammal swimming towards a small peninsula in the pond. At first I thought it was a muskrat, then well maybe a mink and then it was back to a muskrat again.

Once it came out onto land, I could see it was a muskrat but a very very wet muskrat, with some pond sediment probably mixed into its fur, which probably accounts for its dark colouring. The pond shoreline has some low spots where the muskrat was swimming.

It then spent the next 45 minutes, grooming with intermittent breaks for eating and nibbling and then back to grooming again. From its size (and cuteness), I believe it to be a youngster. It's actually the first muskrat I have seen at this particular pond in some time.

From the sequence of the following photographs, you can see the transition from "gremlin" to "hedgehog" and then the final transformation to the traditional muskrat.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

 Beaver (North American) - 9 Photos

One may question why you would have a portrait studio for a rodent but how could you not love that gorgeous beaver face with those relatively small ears and huge nose. And if you look closely, you can see that beavers actually have fur/hair on their noses, particularly the older ones (hmmmm)! 

Beavers are amazing engineers, having been beaver home schooled under their parents' tutelage, are unbelievably hard working & very family orientated. Even the youngsters born the year before, look after (i.e. babysit) their much younger siblings. And although like most families they have their little disagreements, they live, work & play together as a family unit. 

I guess you have to be, seeing that they are huddled up, sharing the same living space in a lodge for five to six months of the year.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHO

PHOTO #8

PHOTO #9

Beaver (North American) - 9 Photos

The two beavers in the following photos are two siblings in a family of at least six beavers. There are two more younger ones, born the following year. Although each beaver has its own set of tasks, the two sets of siblings do appear to hang out as pairs at various times.

I spotted one of the two heading down towards the water channel, when suddenly the second one quickly appeared running through the grass to catch up to its sibling. And there they were, nose to tail, heading into the water, off on another harvesting mission for material to winterize their lodge (Photo #1 to Photo #3).

And it was another busy day of transporting branches & logs from the trees fallen by the adults. 

As the afternoon drew to a close, the only two beavers who remained above water were these two older siblings, nibbling at the branches that rested above water, next to the lodge.

A quick snack and then the wrestling match began, all in fun, of course. Nothing violent but it had all the appearance of two teenagers having a friendly tussle on the living room sofa (Photo #4 through to Photo #9). 

After a few minutes, one dived under and then the other, most likely to join the rest of the family at the lodge.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8 

PHOTO #9

Mink (North American) - 7 Photos

I thought what a great nickname for this agile & expert escape artist, namely the North American Mink.

It's usually a "now you see me, now you don't" type of scenario, particularly if the mink is not pre-occupied with fishing. Add in that body type & camouflage and it seems to disappear completely from view.  And quite often, like its weasel cousin, it can pop up much further away or even more frustrating right next to you, too close for the camera lens to adjust.

So times like this, when there is a slight pause in the action, are to be cherished and appreciated. So fish on, little mink and feel free to stop by any time (and if you can, please stay a little longer). 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

Beaver (North American) - 7 Photos

To quote that famous line of the Monty Python "Lumberjack Song" -

"I'm a lumberjack, and I'm okay

I sleep all night and work all day"

I don't know about the "sleep all night and work all day" part for this beaver, although he/she was out during the latter part of an afternoon doing beaver work, harvesting trees for lodge renovation.

I have been fortunate to watch beavers, chew down trees before and drag them across flat terrain, to reach water where they ferry them across ponds, etc. to their destination but this was a real show stopper.

Having floated this felled tree through a water channel near the tree grove, the beaver had hauled it uphill to the dam where the log got wedged in between some branches in the dam's make-up. So what's a beaver to do? After some major tugging & twisting, the beaver went to the other side of the dam where the terrain is flat and then disappears into the pond and took a very short break (Photo #2).

And then comes the amazing feat (and feet). :)  The beaver stood on its hind legs, reached up & grabbed the log with its two front paws, pulled it down, dug its back feet into the mud and dragged it across walking along on its back feet, until it could pull it into the water (Photo #3 through to Photo #7). From there, it was only a matter of steering (well, for a beaver I guess it's much easier), until it reached the lodge where the log was deposited.

Perhaps I'm not the most nimble of individuals, but I would say most people would be hard pressed to lift a heavy freshly harvested tree (and heavy) onto their shoulders, walk through muddy & wet terrain and then swim across a deep pond. And that's for a two legged mammal but the beaver normally travels on all four of its feet and rarely stands on two, except for very short periods usually to sniff the air for an "all clear".

If ever there was a "Beaver Olympics", this beaver is definitely a contender for the "Gold"!

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

Eastern Phoebe - 5 Photos

Many of us have probably been told by someone (maybe even our mothers) to "close your mouth or you'll catch flies!

Well in this instance, for the Eastern Phoebe, it is an adage to live by and an action that is required to "live".

I was just watching the comings and goings of the regulars at the creek when I noticed a small bird dashing across the water. As it dashed, it grazed the water and then alighted on a low branch, much like a small raptor "hawking" its prey.

I am not the most knowledgeable when it comes to identifying smaller birds but this little one appeared somewhat different from the "regulars".

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

Beaver (North American) - 11 Photos

Beavers use logs, twigs & branches, stones & mud to build their lodges and it's that combination that makes for a strong reinforced beaver home. The mud is used similar to the cement utilized in human construction. It goes on wet and then solidifies, reinforcing the structure.

However, unlike human construction, beavers only have the tools literally at hand (or foot or tail) to collect the material, transport it to the building site and then make their way up to the top levels to complete the tasks.

Obviously, the transportation is probably the easiest step, literally ferrying the logs & branches across the pond but there are no chainsaws, cranes or heavy equipment to assist in the harvesting or the moving of heavy boulders & rocks up to the top of the lodge. 

And I can say as a meager human, it would not be possible for me to carry a log or a huge boulder up a slippery muddy slope, having extracted oneself out of deep water. And then, of course, there is the matter of a four legged mammal balancing itself on two legs and walking, let alone climbing to the top of a beaver lodge with a heavy load.  Extreme human athletes should take note.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

PHOTO #9

PHOTO #10

PHOTO #11

Beaver (North American) - 9 Photos

Question: Do the beavers know something we or our meteorologists don't know? (Perhaps, Winter will soon be upon us?)

This family of beavers was hard at it, late afternoon and well before sunset, doing major lodge work, presumably in preparation of Winter. The lodge, itself, is an already well established one but obviously the beavers know it will need more insulation & build-up, as well as pantry stocking prior to the freeze up of the pond.

And in typical beaver fashion, all family members had a job, with the two adults (Mum & Dad) doing the cutting down & hauling of trees & branches into the pond. The two oldest youngsters appeared to be the ones taking the smaller leaf covered branches down under and into the lodge, while the youngest two were fetching and carrying small greenery for the beavers' pantries (Photo #7 through Photo #9).

Dad is one massive beaver, as you can see just by the size of his head (Photo #4 though to Photo 6). It was an unbelievable opportunity to see a beaver in broad daylight, tackle huge trees, chewing them down and then hauling them through brush to the pond and welcoming water (Photo #1 through to Photo #3). And just the pure determination and purpose, just endears you to this amazing mammal.

The next blog will be "Day 2 - Mudding (Or The Labours Of Herculean Beavers)"

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

PHOTO #9

Bald Eagle (Adult) -11 Photos

How could you not admire a mature Bald Eagle hanging out on a branch overlooking the river.

After some manoeuvering to obtain an unobstructed view, I managed to find a sweet spot for shooting albeit half sitting, half lying down and shooting up. It was good to be relatively comfortable as this amazing bird remained on this one branch for over 40 minutes, just surveying its surroundings and grooming (Photo #1 through Photo #7). 

Well that was the case until the magpie mob showed up, followed shortly thereafter by the raven rabble. You have to give the magpies their due, in particular, as they are truly bold as brass but somehow they know that the eagle will not retaliate for fear of any type of feather damage (Photo #8 & Photo #9).

But this time, the eagle had the last laugh (Photo #10 & Photo #11).  It didn't actually fly off to another location, it dropped down to a lower location on the tree, with its back up against thick leaf covered branches (so no sneak attacks from behind) and a frontal attack that would entail trying to fly directly into the sun. It took me some time to locate its new location as it was totally in shadows and a direct line of sight into bright sunlight.

So it was off to other venues for me and when I returned, the eagle had gone, probably flown back to join its mate and the entourage had left, no doubt to find other raptors to bully.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

PHOTO #9

PHOTO #10

PHOTO #11

Great Blue Heron - 9 Photos

Photo #1 documents one of the "antics" of the Great Blue Heron I've named "Goofy". It is usually seen with another Great Blue Heron in a location nearby and sometimes they fly in together so I'm not sure if it's a partner or a youngster. 

I have noticed on several occasions that this particular heron would look upward and quickly snap open & close its bill, while fishing and at first I thought it might be clearing something from its mouth, like a small piece of food. While it was fishing this time, I took a shot as it was standing on a beaver lodge and it happened to be at exactly the same time this snapping motion occurred.

It wasn't until I got home and downloaded the photos from the camera, that I realized that "Goofy" had successfully caught a large blue dragonfly, which he/she quickly ate. Nothing like a little appetizer before the main course. Photo #2 is an enlargement of Photo #1 with a text marker showing the dragonfly's location.

I don't know if all Great Blue Herons try to grab large insects from the air but talk about dexterity. I can't even manage a pair of chopsticks! :) For me, this is one for the books.

The remaining photos (Photo #3 through Photo #9) are of a more stately "Goofy", with its magnificence feathers and tall elegant heron status.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

PHOTO #9

Pika - 5 Photos

Kananaskis, Alberta, CA

Taken almost at sunset as the sun slowly dipped just below the shelf where this Pika had moved to munch on greenery and have a good scratch.

The Pika had approached me but I backed up and grabbed the photos some distance away, a great advantage to a lens with a long focal length. I was somewhat appalled when the day before I had witnessed a photographer attempting to take photos of a pika by placing his camera lens almost into one of the rock tunnels, where I assume a pika had entered. What he achieved I do not know as we just continued on looking for more wildlife in a less intrusive atmosphere.

Caught in this subtle lighting, the rabbit appearance certainly becomes apparent, particularly when you can see the bottom of its feet (Photo #3 through to Photo #5), although perhaps not quite Peter Cottontail.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #

Pika - 7 Photos

Kananaskis, Alberta, CA

With Autumn almost here, the Pikas must be in the last stages of harvesting whatever grasses & flowers remain to see them through another mountain winter. Pikas do not hibernate. They travel through the tunnels under the rocks & snow during the winter months, surviving on the plant material they have stored during the warmer weather.

The following photos were taken an hour before sunset and although there didn't appear to be many about, those that were, were busy grabbing whatever vegetation was around. And there was some disappearing into small caves and exiting with food. Hopefully, this was actual harvesting and not raiding another pika's pantry! :)

PHOTO #1

Pika"PIK-A-BOO"
(Kananaskis, Alberta, CA)

PHOTO #2

Pika"ROMEO OR JULIET"
(Kananaskis, Alberta, CA)

PHOTO #3

Pika"FROM THE BALCONY"
(Kananaskis, Alberta, CA)

PHOTO #4

Pika"HUNKERED DOWN"
(Kananaskis, Alberta, CA)

PHOTO #5

Pika"PIKA ON THE ROCKS"
(Kananaskis, Alberta, CA)

PHOTO #6

Pika"POISED"
(Kananaskis, Alberta, CA)

PHOTO #7

Pika"FOOD SATISFACTION"
(Kananaskis, Alberta, CA)

Rocky Mountain Sheep (Immature) - 7 Photos

Kananaskis, Alberta, CA

It's that time of the year when the mothers and their offspring in the Rocky Mountain Sheep herds break off into nursery groups, while the mature rams battle it out for breeding rights at the higher elevations.

This group was originally on a high cliff shelf but eventually all members made their way down to take in some refreshment at the river. And then each little grouping of a Mum & a youngster(s) returned to their original plateau, most likely for the evening and safe from predators. There was at least one set of twins (Photo #7), double the fun & double the trouble.

At this early age with assistance from genetics & the right "footwear", you have to admire their skill at manoeuvring the uneven boulders with the river rushing below. And it's so effortless, with no looking down.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

Mink (North American) - 8 Photos

Caught a brief glimpse of this mink as it walked along a log but then it disappeared into the woods. Not what I was expecting.

But I thought I would give it a go and followed it into the trees, waited 20 minutes and then spotted it again, this time heading towards the water.

So I walked around and there it was, making its way down this fallen log where it actually stayed for 10 minutes.

And it literally hung out on this log, keeping a close eye on the water looking for fish, I assume. I almost expected it to pull out a fishing rod & line and be there for the morning.

I keep referring to the mink as "it" as I'm not certain whether it is male or female. My initial thought was that it was female. Males generally have squarer heads, where this one has that narrow and finer look. And males are much larger, almost a third more than the females and this one did not look that large. 

Perhaps, it is a female whose cubs have now grown and are self-sufficient, so now she is only fishing for one. That would explain that "chilled" attitude. This had to be one of the most relaxed minks I have encountered (by mink standards that is). 

And then it slowly turned around, worked her way up and out of sight.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

Black-Crowned Night Heron (Immature) - 7 Photos

According to some research, immature Black-Crowned Night Herons take approximately 2 years to obtain their adult plumage. They can fly at about 6 weeks of age and this youngster has passed that period and milestone. 

It is now only a matter of building flight muscle and ability before it begins its first journey of its migration for southern climates to live during the colder months.

I have to admit that like the immature Bald Eagles, I find the plumage of the young Black-Crowned Night Herons striking, particularly in flight (Photo #4 through to Photo #7). And, of course, they are so well camouflaged in the marsh areas against the wetland vegetation (Photo #1 through to Photo #3).

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

Great Blue Heron - 7 Photos

Am not certain if this is a somewhat young heron or a fully mature & breeding adult but because it has frequently ignored "human" presence and maintained its position, I am suspecting that is a younger heron. I have had encounters with another larger heron that has taken to flight immediately it has sensed an approach.

I named it "Goofy" partly because of its looks at times but mainly because of its activities.

I have caught it actually bathing in a large pond and by bathing I mean submerging its entire body into the water up to almost its back (another blog to come). In fact, at one point it actually was floating in the water like a duck. In my past experience, Great Blue Herons generally don't like to get their belly feathers wet & try to extract themselves from situations where this may occur.

At one point during the day, "Goofy" flew onto a pathway & proceeded to walk along the path, until it decided to take flight, only to return eventually to the same pond.

Afternoon became early evening and after some hours of successful fishing,  it took to the grassy verge along the wall, walked along and then took position on the wall to do some grooming.

And as the sun became lower in the sky, it provided some wonderful soft lighting, accenting "Goofy" and the magnificence of its feathers and colouring. My apologies, "Goofy", that nickname was given more out of affection & admiration than malice! :)

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

Beaver (North American) - 3 Photos

This is a sequel to the previous blog, "BABY ON BOARD", August 28th, 2023.

So the next morning I headed out to where I had spotted the mink the day before, hoping to have more mink sightings. 

Before I had had a chance to sit down, there was the unmistakable sound of a beaver slapping its tail against the water. And then once I had settled in, there was another slap. Yes, there definitely was a beaver in the pond and close by.

I have seen beavers out at this time of the year (around 9:00 a.m.) but generally they are on their way home to their main lodge from a night/early morning of dam repairing, eating, etc. This beaver was actively patrolling, travelling the full extent of this particular pond including the individual water channels and the area near the small disused beaver lodge where the mink had disappeared the day before. 

Occasionally it took a break in a shaded area to groom and at several points, it almost appeared to be napping, taking that beaver position of sitting, with its stomach protruding. This time, however, its head was low to its chest and eyes closed. Have never actually seen a beaver nap! :)

There were at least four complete patrols and they lasted until 11:30 a.m. (No wonder this poor beaver was tired. It was well passed its bedtime.)

On one of those last patrols, the beaver swam around to where I was sitting (next to the little lodge) and popped up (Photo #1 through to Photo #3) and looked directly at me before diving back down.

It then swam across to the wooded area, where it exited the pond and walked down a little dirt path through the trees. I believe this path leads into a water meadow where the beaver could then cross one of its dams and head home.

And no, there was not a mink to be seen. In fact, there was no sign of a mink all day. Lots of fish breaking the surface, though.

These beavers do patrol the full extent of the pond network on a nightly basis. However, I have not seen a beaver in this pond since very early Spring and generally it's the youngsters in the early evening. Because of the minimal rainfall this Summer, this area has been somewhat difficult for the beavers to traverse from their lodge. Was it coincidental that only the day before, a mother mink had taken up residence in the small beaver lodge and a beaver was sent out to check out the area?

Unlike muskrats, mink are not welcome visitors to beaver lodges and definitely not welcome as lodgers. Mink can easily prey on baby beavers so any intrusion would result in a beaver defense and friends in the past have witnessed a beaver taking on a mink on top of a lodge.

So if this was a reconnaissance mission, who was the CI (Confidential Informant)??? Was it the scent of the mink alone? Mustelids have a very strong distinct odour. Or was it one of the Mallard Ducks who inhabit the pond? :) :)  I know they were very vocal in quacking the times the mink appeared in the water the day before, which had alerted me. And why did that beaver swim over and give me the once over! :) :) :) 

Only Nature knows the truth of what happens out there. 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

Mink (North American) - 9 Photos

So there I was checking out a pond where I have seen beavers in the early Spring but not much else in the way of mammals. There was, however, some bird & duck activity which I was monitoring but then just off to my left, came what I thought was a muskrat. And then quickly changed my mind, it was a mink. It dived underwater & then briefly thereafter popped up in front and then disappeared under an unused beaver lodge (Photo #1 & Photo #2).

And then a few minutes later, it popped up again, went back into the water & swam across onto a nearby shore, where it disappeared (Photo #3 through to Photo #5). A short while later it came out, swam directly back to where I was sitting, dived under again and went off to what I thought would be fishing.

And then sometime later it re-appeared & repeated the same process. This time I managed to catch some shots of what it had in its mouth as it approached my side of the shoreline. "That's some strange looking fish?" and then "Why would it be bringing fish back & forth." Mink generally eat fish in-situ other than mother minks who bring back freshly caught fish to their offspring. And then it's only one trip, not repeated trips in succession from dry land.

I had had an opportunity to review the photos initially on camera & because of this mink's narrowed head size & more delicate features, I thought it might be a female mink.

And then reviewing the "catch", I realized this was no fish but a young mink. Mother minks, like weasels, have been known to move their little ones from one den to another to ensure they are not discovered by predators. This was probably one of those moves & Momma had decided that a disused beaver lodge was the perfect location. It was close by to the original den, could be reached by water, with an abundance of fresh fish just on the doorstep. And they carry them across, by the scruff of the neck, much like a mother cat with her kittens (Photo #6 through Photo #9).  

That first swim to & from was probably the first, if not the second trip, the mother had made and I had caught her with the camera bringing over the last of her offspring.

After this last trip, no more sightings and I assume everyone was all tucked up in their new abode.

And there is a sequel to this story, which happened the following morning. It will appear in the next blog, "Pond Patrol".

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

PHOTO #9

Great Blue Heron - 5 Photos

The Great Blue Heron had been fishing in one of the ponds, probably having some success as it had been there quite awhile.

Eventually, it took to the air but this time, instead of going directly north it made a complete circle around the pond, which not only allowed for some flight photography but an opportunity to photograph the same bird in flight not only against the blue sky but the also the backdrop of the dark green foliage of trees & shrubbery.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

White-Tailed Deer (Doe & Fawns) - 8 Photos

It's been almost two months since I first spotted this doe with her two fawns in the ponds. And there they were in the same body of water as before. 

The fawns still have all their spots but they are much taller & bolder and if possible, even more adorable. With the water a little deeper than it was, although a little hesitant about crossing the small channel, once in they boldly ventured into the water and onto dry land. 

Just a few minutes previously I saw a handsome buck with a set of already impressive antlers heading into the same water meadow. He was seen again later in the afternoon. I'm assuming with his presence being so close to the little family, he actually sired at least one of the fawns. From some of the material I have researched, one or more bucks can mate with one doe, producing two or more offspring with different fathers. Perhaps, with mating season just a few months away, he is keeping an eye on the doe.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

Black-Crowned Night Heron (Adult) - 7 Photos

"Night is drawing in" can mean so many things. It can be that the days are getting shorter or it can have a more personal note as drawing someone into a conversation, for example.

In this instance, this might have been one of the last opportunities I have of photographing an adult Black-Crowned Night Heron prior to its migration south from the Calgary area.

This, I believe, is one of a pair who actually nested and produced one offspring, which probably explains so much activity in the late Spring. (See Blog "The Night is Still Young - July 20, 2023.) One can only hope that they return next year to repeat the same chain of events.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

Great Blue Heron - 5 Photos

There's nothing quite like catching something out of the corner of your eye, spotting a Great Blue Heron flying in low and then it suddenly landing on top of an old fir tree.

It wasn't there long but probably just long enough for the heron to take in the surrounding wetland from a "bird's eye view", making a decision as to where to fish and then flying onto its destination.

And once it has landed in among the dense bulrushes, the heron can fish undisturbed without being seen. It may, however, have somewhat like company. Black-Crowned Night Herons have been spotted heading in the same general vicinity.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

Pied-Billed Grebe (Immature) - 5 Photos

Have been trying to capture Momma Pied-Billed Grebe with a fish. Unfortunately, she has been too quick on the dive, resurface & off to feed her four youngsters.

But now that the little Grebes are now fishing for themselves, this opportunity presented itself.

And unlike Mom, immature Pied-Billed Grebes are a little slower in their uptake of swallowing the fish. In fact, it took at least a minute for this youngster to position the fish into a devouring position. It does seem a little self-satisfied with its catch or perhaps, it was a case of "can't believe I caught one". :)

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

Belted Kingfisher, Merlin, Grackle - 8 Photos

So the youngsters born this Spring have fledged and although their parents appear still to be in the picture, they have become quite self-sufficient, including superb flying & hunting abilities. 

The young Belted Kingfishers are very successful in diving for small fish & the Merlins excel in catching dragonflies in mid-air. 

But, of course, there is always sibling rivalry between families and different species.

Photo #1 & Photo #2 are of an encounter between the Belted Kingfisher & Merlin. Believe the Merlin, was actually looking to land on the next tree but was just taking the shortest route which was, of course, past the Kingfisher. And yes, the reason I managed the capture was that I was shooting the Kingfisher, saw it became agitated, kept shooting and into the frame appeared the Merlin.

Photo #3 through Photo #6 are of the two Merlin siblings. There are three but the oldest now only makes brief visits to this particular tree. As with all siblings, sometimes they are quite happy to be next to each other or on nearby branches. And then other times, there is a lot of "he/she is touching me" or a fight over the same top branch. 

Photo #7 & Photo #8 are of an encounter between the Belted Kingfisher & the Grackle. With this first incident, the Kingfisher gave way and took flight to avoid the Grackle. Once the Grackle had left the tree, the Kingfisher took its original perch, dived & got a fish. The Grackle re-appeared some time later, tried to bully again but this time the Kingfisher held its perch.

The Grackle did try the same tactic on the Merlins but you can imagine what their attitude was. "Really, you want to make this tree an issue." Grackles do know their limits. 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

Merlins - 9 Photos

The following photos were taken over a period of a few days and times, hence the change in lighting.

It appears these are three young Merlins hanging out together in a wetland area with the occasional oversight of one or both parents. And yes, they do seem to get along but like all siblings there is a lot of "he's/she's touching me" or no sharing & whining.

One thing is for certain. Merlins are incredible flyers even at such a young age. They have the agility, speed & manoeuvrability of jet fighters. On more than one occasion I was hazed by a Merlin, having spotted its target and flying overhead.

And what are they targeting? Believe it or not it's dragonflies. They catch them in mid-flight, sometimes inverting, flying upside down and grabbing the insect with their talons, just like a jet fighter doing a roll. Heck, I can't even capture a dragonfly with the camera while it is pausing in flight. Included, as Photo #9, is a close-up of the successful hunter with its prize. I normally don't include photos where a bird is resting on a wire but this young Merlin just seemed to cry out to have a photo with its trophy. That shiny look near its beak is a dragonfly wing. Merlins seem to devour dragonflies like people eat lobsters, pulling off certain appendages first.

So young Merlins, good luck in all your endeavours and have a successful southern migration in the next month or so. But if you could, please leave some dragonflies to combat those mosquitoes! :)

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

PHOTO #9

Great Blue Heron - 7 Photos

What with intense sunlight, humidity and smoke, Nature's lighting this Summer has been interesting and challenging at times. In fact, the day prior I had a similar opportunity to capture a Great Blue Heron (may even have been the same heron) on the same tree close to the same time of day.

Because the heron had been so gracious with its time, I had had ample opportunity to check and even experiment with the settings on the camera. However, when I downloaded the photos, although sharp, they weren't what I was expecting.

The next day the heron returned to the same tree & although, the lighting was slightly subdued with light cloud around, the clarity had definitely improved and the sky was almost magical with subtle tones of blue & pink. 

That background brought out definition & sharpness in the heron and its feathers giving it this surreal appearance. And what could be better than to find at the top of an old fir tree, a Great Blue Heron.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

Black-Crowned Night Heron - 5 Photos

Because of the hot sunny weather Southern Alberta has been currently experiencing, I decided to try an early evening reconnaissance in the wetland area. Wildlife has tons of common sense. It knows not to expend energy unnecessarily in the dry heat and use up valuable energy and resources. So I thought there might be more wildlife sightings as the evening temperatures began to cool.

At first it was relatively quiet. There were a few ducks swimming and of course, the muskrats were out doing their pond patrol. Then a pair of Merlins showed up, diving for dragonflies. They were persistently pursued by magpies who I assume were trying to steal their catches.

A couple of beavers swam into the pond but as their food sources are now plentiful in & close to the water, they just swam through to the next body of water.

And then this Black-Crowned Night Heron showed up & flew onto a dead fir tree.

At first, I thought it was just there for a brief rest before going on to join its partner or fishing but no, there it sat, preening, resting & ignoring the scuffles going on around it.

And it was still there perched on the tree when I left at sunset. 

The lighting in the photos below show the passage of time, as it goes from soft evening light to sunset. And as the daylight faded, so it appeared did the Night Heron. Perhaps this was its night perch, a safe oasis with a gentle breeze. 

And perhaps, another "bird fact" fades into the sunset as well. A Black-Crowned Night Heron that sleeps at night & is active during the day. :)

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

Black-Crowned Night Heron (Mature & Immature) - 3 Photos

Rain was now moving in, so made the decision to head back. Just as I approached the edge of a pond, I looked across & down and there huddled up was this young Black-Crowned Night Heron (Photo #1).

So quietly moved in, took some shots & then as I increased my range, I spotted the adult (Mum/Dad) sitting in the willows just a short distance away (Photo #2).

Just couldn't resist and I pulled back the lens and got the two together sitting so still (Photo #3).  I looked down to drop my water bottle and when I looked up, they had both disappeared into the willows.

I thought they might creep back in so I waited but a short time later two adults & the youngster flew out of the wetland, landed in the nearby trees and then flew off again into the middle of the marshes.

Earlier this Spring, I was fortunate to capture this pair of Black-Crowned Night Herons on a number of occasions but have noticed in the last month or so, their range has increased & is further into the ponds. At first I thought they were trying to avoid the bullying of the Red-Winged Blackbirds (which might be one reason). However, having captured this youngster on its own ("The Night is Still Young" blog - July 20/2023), coming out of the middle of the marsh where the adults had frequented earlier, I believe they had nested and raised at least one offspring. Now that "junior" has earned its wings & can fish on its own, there is no longer a need for this family to stay in one spot. 

And so now they can travel across the wetland network as a family, allowing the young heron ample opportunity to increase its flight skills & endurance in time for the migration south.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

Pileated Woodpecker (Immature) - 7 Photos

Was off to track down a Great Blue Heron (GBH) that from all appearances had landed in a nearby pond when passing a small wooded area, I spotted that distinctive red headdress peaking out from behind a tree trunk. 

It then flew to a fallen tree and began scooping up ants with its tongue.

A few minutes later it flew deeper into the trees and I continued my GBH search. It wasn't until I downloaded the photos that I could ascertain that this was probably a youngster born earlier this year. Now having fully fledged, it was out on its own in pursuit of woodpecker goodies and what better way to start a meal than with some easy to find appetizers. :) 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

Double-Crested Cormorant - 7 Photos

Once in a while, Nature does give do-overs.

Had missed a dive & resurface of a Double-Crested Cormorant the day before. When it came up, there was something hanging from its bill. The "something" disappeared down the cormorant's throat so quickly I thought it was some weedy substance from the bottom of the pond.

Fast forward to the following morning. In swam a cormorant which dived & resurfaced, again directly in front of me. This time I was ready and could see that it was indeed a fish.

And together with that do-over, all the stars were aligned (or perhaps birds) and the cormorant, the camera focus & the photographer all worked as one. :)

I rarely hold down the shutter button for a long period but this was one for the books. No sooner had the cormorant resurfaced with the fish, then it swallowed and down the throat it went. Time can appear to slow and having rechecked the playback of the camera sometime later, the entire episode took less than 3 seconds.

Because of the size of the fish, I reached out to Fish Tales Fly Shop in Calgary, Alberta for an identification. If you ever want to know what type of fish, reach out to a source that specializes in fishing & fishing equipment. It was identified as a White Sucker, a native & common species in Alberta and a bottom feeder. So it's a shout out to David & Courtney for their rapid response & assistance. Very much appreciated!

After a few less successful dives, the cormorant swam back into the larger pond and then took off to new fishing destinations.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

White-Faced Ibis - 11 Photos

Although with the very hot weather continuing in Alberta, it is difficult to believe that Summer officially ends in September but before that the White-Faced Ibises will begin their migration south. It should be noted that White-Faced Ibises are only found in the Americas.

It has been a celebration in colour with the iridescent feathers of this "rainbow" bird.  Now if only the camera could consistently focus on this erratically moving metallic ibis. It may seem to the naked eye, focusing on such a colourful creature would be an easy task but I have also encountered this issue with Wood Ducks in among grasses & shrubbery. What appears to us to be a "stand-out" is actually a masterful disguise. The dark metallic colours of both birds are a distraction to the camera & in attempting to keep up with the bird's walk, the camera's focus can be caught up in the background.

So we might be close to seeing the end of the appearance of the "rainbow" but for now we aren't quite there yet.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

PHOTO #9

PHOTO #10

PHOTO #11

Black-Crowned Night Heron (Immature) - 9 Photos

Apologies - I just couldn't help myself with the title of this one.

The following photos are of an immature Black-Crowned Night Heron. I find the colour transition of immature birds to mature totally fascinating. That includes the gradual change of the young Bald Eagle into its mature white head & tail feathers.

Just chilling out by a pond, waiting for some bird to fly in or a mammal to swim in when I looked up and saw a bird standing behind a Mallard Duck but definitely much taller. "Where did you come from??" It just seemed to magically appear. One moment it wasn't there & the next, there it was.

And then keeping it in sight, I realized it would crouch and walk down a small gully in the bulrushes out of sight and then repeat the process sometime later & up it would suddenly pop again. 

It would catch a few fish just while standing with the ducks and then would retreat into the shade of the marsh grasses for some time, probably to take advantage of the shade and potentially more fishing opportunities.

And although the heron appeared to be a little nervous manoeuvring around the Mallard Ducks, it seemed to take some comfort from their company, birds of a feather and all that, I suppose.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

PHOTO #9

Black-Crowned Night Heron - 6 Photos

According to The National History Museum, "birds evolved from a group of meat-eating dinosaurs called theropods. That's the same group that Tyrannosaurus rex belonged to, although birds evolved from small theropods, not huge ones like T. Rex".

The Black-Crowned Night Heron although small in stature, stalks shallow creeks & ponds and their shorelines for fish & small prey, including young muskrats. Watching the heron in its hunting mode, creeping along the edges like a cheetah consistently in stealth mode, makes one thankful for its small size & less ferocity than the Velociraptor. But on my, those ruby red eyes!

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

Wilson's Snipe - 4 Photos

This little bird was making so much vocalization from a clump of reed grasses, I just had to wait and see if it would make an appearance into a non-obstructed area.

And then it walked across to the little beaver dam and there was Wilson - sorry Wilson's Snipe.

It took a few minutes to view the surroundings and then off it flew. 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

Black-Crowned Night Heron - 8 Photos

There is something so special of spending some day time with a Black-Crowned Night Heron, particularly one that has found sanctuary in a more remote part of a pond, safe from the harassment of Red-Winged Blackbirds. 

I can relate, having been hazed by a few of those Red-Winged bullies  while walking along a path far from a wetland area and/or potential nesting spots. They can be intimidating despite their size but unlike herons who appear to cower (both Great Blue & Black-Crowned Night), a few defensive swipes from my hands generally sends them packing. Those moves aren't to make any contact but only to state my case. "I'm no where near your territories so go back to where you came from!"

Because of the rocky sections of this part of the creek, the Night Heron was camouflaged by the environment and therefore, could spend hours fishing & grooming, without interruption from annoying low flyers. And yes, there were Red-Winged Blackbirds in the vicinity, just totally oblivious to a little heron minding its own business. 

And woe to a heron who ventured out of its "safe zone" - Photo #8. 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

Muskrat - 7 Photos

I'm not certain why this muskrat repeatedly made a beeline to this small mound created by a fallen reed.

From its size and appearance, it is most likely a young muskrat, maybe even born earlier this year. 

It had to divert from its regular swimming path to make its ascent. The muskrat could easily have swam around it or avoided it entirely, but several times that afternoon, it climbed up, walked a step or two across and then went back down the other side. The photos below document that ascent of "Mount Musk-arat" and include some of the tiny flying inhabitants of the pond. Every athlete deserves its own cheering section.

Being young perhaps it was the challenge or just enjoyment. Or maybe it is a young muskrat's way of strengthening its core to be better prepared to confront any potential adversaries, maybe even take on the odd Great Gray Heron or two! :)

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

White-Tailed Deer (Doe & Fawns) - 5 Photos

Another hot sunny day in Calgary, Alberta and like all mothers out there, this doe was trying to keep her twin youngsters hydrated and cool in the outdoors. 

And what better place, than one of Nature's splash parks, i.e. a shallow creek. 

This one comes with not only cooling waters to walk in but a convenient snack bar close-by. And, of course, another sibling to share playtime (Photo #5). 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

Sora - 6 Photos

So what are the chances of this happening twice??

The Sora is not a rare bird but it is a very shy one so to catch it twice open areas within the space of a month or so, is quite the gift. Hence, the title "Finding Neverland". Neverland is, of course, that fictional island featured in the literary works of J.M. Barrie, and home to Peter Pan.

It's not an is-land but the Sora does live in wet-lands, which provide food, shelter & nesting area potentials.

The Sora is also known as the "meadow chicken", probably due to the way it "hen pecks" in its pursuit of food in the muddy marshlands but that does seem so unfair a description for such a unique looking little bird, with its almost zebra like camouflage feathering. 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

Great Blue Heron - 8 Photos

Great Blue Herons can be as tall as one metre with their necks outstretched so it's somewhat amusing to see them harassed, terrorized & even bullied by Red-Winged Blackbirds (Photo #6)  - yes, that's a black bird sitting on the back of the heron who is trying to hide in the rushes. And not only is it from the air but from "sea" as well, i.e. the local pond dweller, the Muskrat.

In fact, this past weekend I was witness to Muskrat/Great Blue Heron encounter. The heron was hugging the pond shoreline where I was sitting, unfortunately for me partly obscured by marsh grasses & reeds. So I thought I would wait it out and hopefully the heron would make its way around & out for a great close-up shot. And then the large male muskrat showed up on its regular patrol.

It was heading across the pond when it saw the heron standing close to where the muskrats have a small bank den. It immediately made a detour & beelined straight to the heron. It moved in close to the heron, turned its back towards the heron & gave one mighty slap with its tail. Needless to say, the heron flew off from a standing position to parts unknown. Really Heron? What's the muskrat going to do? Bite your toes! :)

But here are some photos of a more relaxed heron, stalking out fish & occasionally catching a meal. And then there is always the resulting shake-out of feathers after a quick head splash (Photo #1). 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

Beaver (North American) - 8 Photos

After a brief summer rain shower, it was back to the pond to see what new arrivals had appeared. 

Mother Mallard was back with her now eight ducklings (there had been nine - uh-oh) and of course, there was the muskrat patrol. And then out of the rushes, swam a beaver, the first time I had seen one so close since Spring.

Now that the pond superhighway is open, allowing for complete access to the entire pond areas, there are ample food & supplies for the beaver family, without having to make treks out of the safety of the water. If a beaver did decide to take to ground for some grooming or dam repairs, the marsh reeds & grasses are so tall now they would be well hidden from sight.

Three more beavers eventually swam through, each exiting in the same direction but one particular beaver turned, swam back and did a swim by and appeared to be checking out the "strange object" on the shore. I believe these four beavers to be the offspring of various ages of the two adults, as they had not yet reached their full potential size wise (Photo #5 through Photo #8).

As I spend some hours just sitting at the edge of ponds, waiting & watching for wildlife and potential photographic opportunities, the regular inhabitants, I believe, have come to view me as just part of the background of pond life as long as I maintain a low profile. Sometimes, however, that profile may be a bit too low key. I have on a number of occasions had to duck for low flying Yellow-headed Blackbird youngsters acting out sibling rivalry.

So as this one beaver swam by, I caught him/her in a blink or was that perhaps a wink between pond inhabitant & pond visitor?? :) :) (Photo #1 through Photo #4) And that blink was highlighted by a ring of white fur circling each eye! 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

White-Faced Ibis - 8 Photos

Perhaps the metallic bird would be a more apt description for the White-Faced Ibis.

And I know that it is only a physical characteristic of its bill, but it always appears to be smiling. Maybe it's a little knowing smile of a secret being shared, i.e. it's true beauty. :) 

These ibises were secure enough in their surroundings to allow for some close-ups, including grooming (Photo #1 through to Photo #4). Then it was time for some stand-up stretches & shakes (Photo #5 & Photo #6).

And then there was a stretch of wings, which I assume included some sun bathing, which, once again, showed off those magnificent colours (Photo # 7). 

A final shot is a close up of the second ibis to show off those ruby red eyes. (Photo #8)

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

Muskrat - 6 Photos

Light, weather conditions, time of day & location are all factors that can influence photography. And what better way to demonstrate the variables than with cute muskrats on various patrols in their home ponds.

Two muskrats whom I believe to be male & female, have given me ample opportunity to view the comings & goings of the beaver's little cousin. They have a vast system of ponds that they utilize & I have come to realize they visit the same area of a pond on a set schedule. You can't set your watch by their timing, but they definitely have a particular routine. 

They are also most likely the same pair that were featured in the June 1, 2023 blog, "Make Love - Not War". It was only a week ago, that they appeared to be back at the business of making more little muskrats. This time, though, they chose a reed bed thick with bull rushes & marsh grasses. In fact, one particular Yellow-Headed Blackbird family have nested on the platform so that particular afternoon, there was a lot of muskrat squeaking & bubbling, accompanied by that distinctive rusty gate vocalization of the blackbirds.  But this day, all was discreet with the muskrats except for the arrivals & departures at the "green room" (Photo #1 through Photo #3).

Muskrats can have two to three litters a year and within a month, the kits are independent, being able to swim & feed themselves. Unfortunately, some of the youngsters make the mistake of taking refuge in the shallow reed edges along the water where herons like to wade looking for a meal & it's not only fish that will satisfy a heron's hunger!

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

Black-Crowned Night Heron - 9 Photos

So these are a "fly by night heron" during the day. 

I have included, as the last photo, a stationary Black-Crowned Night Heron to demonstrate how this small heron changes its appearance purely by different actions.

And it always helps in achieving "fly-bys" to have a few Red-Winged Blackbirds scaring up & chasing herons. 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

PHOTO #9

White-Faced Ibis - 10 Photos

Just having the White-Faced Ibis summering in Calgary, Alberta's wetlands is magical. It is such an exotic looking bird and gives that tropical feeling on a hot summer day.

But like most animals, depending on the circumstance they can appear to change their appearance into different shapes & sometimes, other creatures.

For example:

PHOTO #1 - "A GIGANTIC HUMMINGBIRD" :) 

PHOTO #2 - "THAT SALON HAIR STYLE"

PHOTO #3 - "LOOK OUT - INCOMING VULTURE"

PHOTO #4 - "A BIRD THAT CAN APPEAR TO WALK ON WATER"

PHOTO #5 - "A MYTHICAL CREATURE - PERHAPS A MODE OF TRANSPORTATION FOR ELVES OR FAIRIES"

PHOTO #6 - "FLYING OUT OF MIDDLE EARTH (LORD OF THE RINGS)"

PHOTO #7 - "LOOK UP IN THE SKY, IT'S A BIRD - IT'S SUPER IBIS!"

"PHOTO #8 - "DOUBLE VISION - PART 1"

PHOTO #9 - "DOUBLE VISION - PART 2"

PHOTO #10 - "DOUBLE VISION - PART 3"

Sora - 7 Photos

So maybe it's actually a whinny in the marshlands but have heard that distinctive "whinny" for some years now and have known what it was but have never had visual contact.

And then it happened and I finally had a sighting while waiting for other marsh dwellers to put in an appearance (Photo #6 & Photo #7 ).

Fast forward to the following hot afternoon and I had taken refuge for shade in among some tall grasses pond side. Again, I was watching the goings on of the various wildlife when I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. As this edge is frequented by Yellow Headed Blackbirds, I thought it was just another forage when through the grasses I spotted the Sora making its way out of the grassy clump into the water's edge.

I had the camera already in hand ready to shoot but not wanting to spook the little bird, I held my breath & waited those few seconds, while it took a path directly across my camera line and into a clear view (Photo #1 through to Photo #5). It then took a turn to my right and disappeared back into that massive thicket of marsh grasses & rushes.

So now I can put a "face" to that mournful whinny when I next hear it.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

Black-Crowned Night Heron - 9 Photos

I occasionally wonder how birds are given their common names. In this instance, I suppose, 1 out of 3 isn't bad in the description department.

First - The crown of the Black-Crowned Night Heron isn't black. It's dark navy blue.

Second - For a bird that's described as a "night heron", it certainly appears in the daytime regularly, including in and around noon time.

So that leaves us with "heron". That part's right. A much smaller compatriot to the Great Blue Heron, it too enjoys the same prey such as fish, small crustaceans and the odd small muskrat. :)

So here are some photos of the "Black-Crowned Night Heron". And depending on its positioning & activity, it can change appearance quite dramatically.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

PHOTO #9

Beaver (North American) - 7 Photos

They may be rodents but life is never boring. It can involve family, eating and food gathering to name just a few pastimes (and work times). 

Have added captions to the photos below as they seemed to cry out for some comments. :) 

With regard to Photo #6, I reached out to Dr. Emily Fairfax who is an Assistant Professor at a California university & beaver (dam) enthusiast & asked if the adult beaver was cleaning or grooming its youngster. Her reply was, "The adult is probably grooming the baby. They get waterproofing from their castor glands so the adult may be accessing to use it as it grooms the baby, rather than "cleaning" the glands." (Thanks, again, Dr. Fairfax!)

PHOTO #1 - "STAND TALL"

PHOTO #2 - "AN INTIMATE MOMENT BETWEEN ADULT & YOUNGSTER"

PHOTO #3 - "UP CLOSE & PERSONAL"

PHOTO #4 - "DOOR DASH FOR BEAVERS???"

PHOTO #5 - "GOLDEN BEAVER (RETRIEVER)?"

PHOTO #6 - "ADULT GROOMING YOUNGSTER USING THE OILS FROM ITS CASTOR GLAND"

PHOTO #7 - "WHAT A SHOOT!" (The beaver put all its weight onto its back legs to pull out this behemoth.) 

White-Faced Ibis - 6 Photos

As the term "Flying Rainbow" bird has already been taken, (it refers to the Rainbow Lorikeet), I thought perhaps "Flying Prism" bird might be an apt description for the White-Faced Ibis.

It may look entirely black from certain perspectives, but looks can be deceiving. And although it is continually pursued by Red-Winged Blackbirds, perceiving it to be a bird of prey that will feed upon their eggs & young, again it is a case of mistaken identity.

The White-Faced Ibis's diet consists mainly of insects, snails, crayfish & small fish. Birds' eggs do not appear to be on the menu. Perhaps it's that "vulture pose" as it comes in for landings that have led blackbirds, etc. astray.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

Muskrat - 11 Photos

The following two sets of photos were taken over 2 days in a period of approximately one week.

And in reverse order, let's start with the "war" part. A smaller muskrat entered a small cove in the pond where a large muskrat was eating. It was greeted with what I believe was aggression and chased into the open water. As you can see from Photo #1 to Photo #4 , teeth were bared by both parties, there was paw to paw contact and eventually the larger muskrat literally put the smaller one on its back in the water. This large muskrat then did a somewhat partial submerged victory swim, with the defeated quickly swimming to the far end of the pond.

I thought this might be a younger, less mature muskrat (perhaps even an offspring), trying to push its way into an adult's food source, particularly with the ensuing battle.

Now for the "make love" part. The very large muskrat was enjoying basking, scratching & feeding in a small inlet on this warm Spring evening several days later (Photo #5 & Photo #6). It suddenly stopped, sniffed the air (Photo #7), turned and in swam a smaller muskrat.

This time events were entirely different. They swam around each other in a mutual greeting and then well, I'll let Photo #8 through to Photo #10 tell the story. And yes, they did "get a room", that being the little sunlit inlet.

After a brief encounter where the male groomed the female, they swam briefly together (Photo #11) and then separated harmoniously, one going north, the other going south.

I can't say for certain that the first set of events was or wasn't an adult putting a youngster in its place or whether it was a show of unwanted mating but there was no doubt what the intention was in the latter. And hopefully, within the next month, there will be the pitter patter of little muskrat feet in the beaver lodge.

"WAR?"

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

"MAKE LOVE"

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

PHOTO #9

PHOTO #10

PHOTO #11

Great Horned Owlet - 5 Photos

Another successful fledging by a Great Horned Owlet. 

Let's hope it's one giant leap for a long & productive life for this little Great Horned Owl. Wildlife has a steep learning curve. The length of time spent with parent(s) differs between species but when all is said and done, the survival of offspring depends mostly upon how well it has learnt those all important life lessons from the adults. And in most cases, there is no moving back into the parents' domain if things don't work out! :) 

Wishing all the very best to this young owlet on its journey into the great domain of Nature.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

Red Squirrel - 6 Photos

This "Little Red" is not the "Riding Hood" kind. It's Alberta's native Red Squirrel.

It had appeared in the same area of woods the day before when the weather was wet and damp. And then the next day when sunshine & warmer temperatures re-emerged, so did the squirrel.

"Little Red" hung out perusing the logs & trees, looking for food and grabbing a quick "squirrelly" nap ever so often, basking in the sun. And then it was gone but not before giving some great poses for the camera.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

White-Faced Ibis - 5 Photos

I have a fanciful theory that most birds were given the opportunity to choose two out of the three following gifts from Nature:

1. Flight

2. Beauty

3. Song

For example, the little House Wren can fly and flit about. Although very plain, its song is lyrical. The Bald Eagle has magnificent looks and incredible flight abilities but song or voice - not so much. Of course, then there is the Emperor Penguin. I suppose if you substituted swimming ability for flight, you still end up with two out of three, the second being beauty.

And now we come to the White-faced Ibis. It definitely has great flight and the ability to hop small distances. It definitely didn't choose "voice" as its vocalisation is like a witch's cackle. And seeing this bird from afar or in flight, it can look somewhat like a black vulture. But then here comes the magic - iridescence. In sunlight, the true beauty of the ibis appears, in vibrant greens and maroons. 

And add to that mix, a very generous White-faced Ibis who chose a bed of last year's rushes to hunt for food, making the contrast so complete.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

Mink (North American) - 5 Photos

LinkedIn is marketed as the "world's largest professional network on the internet". One can utilize it to locate the right job, for example.

So what is "MinkedIn"? How about using it to locate the right mink! :) :)

And this little mink is a definite candidate. I believe from its body & head sizes, it's female. Although minks are not a very big mustelid, the male mink is much larger than its female counterpart. Having seen two different males last year, it was quite shocking to see the size difference between the sexes. Male minks are much bulkier & have a "devil may care" attitude, probably due to the fact that the only interaction they have with females is during mating & there is no worry about little minks to provide for at the den.

So here is one adorable mink, cute as its button nose but of course, looks can be deceiving. :)

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3