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.

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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?"

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"MAKE LOVE"

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. :)

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Porcupine (North American) - 8 Photos

That, of course, would be Porcupines & Quills.

No worries about a porcupine throwing its quills but this large male decided to make its way down to ground level during a busy time onto a potentially dangerous path. No danger from any wildlife, only the two-legged kind, including bicycles.

I don't know how it knew there was a lull in the action other than a porcupine's acute sense of hearing but having watched it for several hours from a safe & hidden location, I moved in to ensure it moved into another nearby tree and not an attempt to cross the path. This may have been its original intention because it climbed up a new tree and immediately slumped into a position totally out of the sun & the wind (Photo #8). Porcupines know best!

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Ring Necked Pheasant - 7 Photos

In this instance, I suppose "catwalk" isn't the best terminology for a Ring Necked Pheasant walking back & forth along a log. Perhaps "birdwalk" would be better??

Believe it or not, this male pheasant flew in and landed on a downed tree trunk while I was watching a porcupine. I was amazed that having struggled to stand up having sat for so long & reset the camera settings, that the pheasant continued its birdwalk, without interruption, along the fallen tree. Just like a model, it strutted from one end of the tree to the other and then repeated the manoeuvre. 

It paused twice to perform the "crow" announcing to all of its presence (Photo #5 & Photo #6). 

I have a particular preference for Photo #3 , which I believe is an unusual frontal view of a male Ring Necked Pheasant. Unfortunately, because of its head feathers sticking out from each side of the head & the demarcation of its head colouring, I have a desire to break out into a chorus of "M-I-C-K-E-Y MOUSE"! :) 

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Mink (North American) - 7 Photos

A bright sunny afternoon and the mink was out fishing. That blue colour of the water is actually the reflection of the clear blue sky in the still pools.

And no, a mink can't walk on water (Photo #3 & Photo #4).  It's the fallen marsh reeds creating a bed under the water that the mink is prowling along. It actually swam under the reed bed looking for fish with some success but scampered quickly away with its small catch before you could say "mustelid".

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Beaver (North American) - 5 Photos

Beavers are clever. Other than people, perhaps no other species can modify its surroundings for its own purposes. They are ecosystem engineers and current research is uncovering how they help fight drought and even be instrumental in reversing climate change. 

They have been called a "keystone species", which is a unique organism that supports the entire biological community. Wow - that's a big legacy for all those young beavers to live up to! :) 

They are very dexterous with their hands but can also use their mouths to carry even large branches. So who needs a hand or two?

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PHOTO #5 - "Well maybe, when eating." :) 

Porcupine (North American) - 5 Photos

It isn't often that I see a porcupine descend (or even ascend) a tree but every time is as exciting & nail biting as the first.

Any noise (and that can include the click from the camera shutter) or slight movement can send a porcupine back up the tree. They don't see very well but their hearing and sense of smell are both acute. And that can mean a very long silent wait for another potential descent.

Then if you add in early evening light (and not dusk) and a clear view of the tree & the climber, it doesn't get more perfect to document the event.

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Porcupine - North American"STEP BY STEP, PAW BY PAW, CLAW BY CLAW"

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Porcupine - North American"LONG WAY DOWN"

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Porcupine - North American"DON'T LOOK DOWN, DON'T LOOK DOWN"

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Porcupine - North American"CHECKING FOR AN ALL CLEAR"

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Porcupine - North American"HOMEWARD BOUND"

Mink (North American) - 7 Photos

As a starter, this mink is not in distress, no matter what it may look like from some of the photos.

It's Spring and I think it was a combination of cleaning out that Winter coat and a re-oiling process of its fur after swimming and fishing.

And what better way to get those unreachable places but to rub both topside & underside along an accommodating log, particularly when you have such short legs like the mink. From some of those expressions, I think it was a combination of feelings of relief and jubilation.

And those looks can range from "cuteness" to "look out - predator on the loose"!

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Bald Eagles (Adult & Immature) - 11 Photos

It was one of those non-Spring days in April with intermittent snow squalls. The lighting did, however, provide some wonderful contrast for eagle flights. And yes those white spots that appear on the eagles' wings are actually snow falling.

The immature Bald Eagle (probably 3 years old) was spotted first (Photo #1 & Photo #2).  He/she made a couple of flights down onto the ice but before I could get there, the gulls had chased it off and then it was back to a nearby tree.

And then the adult Bald Eagle flew in. Obviously it was not willing to share its territory or any food with this youngster and an aerial chase ensued with the young eagle making a hasty departure (Photo #3 and #4).

Then it was back to the same tree as a look-out for the adult, with intermittent fly overs to check out gull positioning and potential left-overs (Photo #5 through to Photo #9).

It appeared that the gulls were scavenging dead fish that had appeared just under the melting ice on the pond. They were patrolling the ice edge, pulling out the fish and feasting on the remains (Photo #10). The eagle was looking for that moment when a piece became available as gulls squabbled among themselves for who got the meal.

What was surprising was how cautious the Bald Eagle was. Considering its beak and talon size, you would think there would be no worries about taking on a gull or two but this was not the case. It was willing to wait for that opening when it thought it could swoop down and make off with a fish carcass but unwilling to take a stand (or flight) against the gulls. I suppose in an eagle's world, any potential injury is worth avoiding as no matter how slight, it could seriously impact its ability to hunt.

In the end, however, while the gulls fought it out within their group, the eagle swooped in, grabbed a piece of fish and flew off. And yes, that is a Mallard Duck ahead of the eagle making a quick get-away (Photo #11).

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Porcupine (North American) - 7 Photos

When photographing porcupines, I try to find the most optimal location from which to shoot (location, light, etc.) & wherever possible, blend into the landscape. This minimizes the stress on the porcupine & doesn't cause undue attention to my subject. I've been exposed too many times where wildlife has been subjected to mobbing by onlookers. This may seem selfish but I do believe that the welfare of the animal is paramount and unfortunately, not everyone adheres to that code. 

When conditions are right, porcupines like to "hang out" during the day in trees, particularly deciduous ones, to catch some warm sunny rays (particularly in the Winter) and occasionally munch on the bark of branches. They also love buds just before they come into leaf. Those sap filled buds must be porcupine candy. 

Porcupines are more active than one would think, while they are in those lofty branches. Their movements can be frequent but for very short periods, usually just seconds. So I usually subscribe to some "porcupine meditation" where one gets comfortable for the long haul, lying on the ground and just hanging out in the shrubbery. 

Being hidden from passersby, leads to some occasional overhearing of commentary about porcupines. These are just four that I heard one afternoon.

1. "I didn't know they climbed trees!"

Now I don't know where these individuals are seeing porcupines on the ground & if it is that frequent, I would  like to know the locations.

2. "I've never seen a porcupine in a tree before. It must be injured and has gone up a tree to die."

This one hit me directly in the heart. I normally do not correct individuals but in this instance, I had to inform the gentleman that this was, indeed, a regular & normal occurrence and it was a very healthy & active porcupine.

3. "Be careful if you walk under that tree. You don't want to have any quills falling on you."

Okay, I think the general population now knows that porcupines do not throw their quills but this has to be a new one for the books. Probably the worst that could happen, is to be hit by falling porcupine poop. And no worries, it's very hard (because of the porcupine diet), about 1 inch long and 3/8 inch wide. 

4. "Oh my that's a beaver! I didn't know beavers climbed trees."

At first, I thought I had misheard but no, this statement was repeated to the fellow's wife & two additional walkers. I just couldn't bring myself to make any comments.

And now for some photos of one of those tree climbing porcupines, North America's second largest rodents, the largest being the beaver who, of course, does not climb trees :) :) ! Yes, beavers can stand upright but the only trees they can climb on are the horizontal kind. (Photo #7)

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Beaver (North American) - 11 Photos

Slightly modifying two lines of the song by John Lennon, "Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)":

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful

Beautiful Beaver

The dam work having been completed, I suppose it was a night of relaxation and eating for the beavers, at least during the remaining hours of daylight.

Upon arrival at the pond, I spotted one smaller beaver sitting on a small reed island, munching away (Photo # 7).  It then disappeared onto the other side out of sight but I could still hear munching and tail slapping by at least two.

Then eventually a much larger beaver swam into the area, came out of the water, retrieved a branch and returned to the shoreline. This beaver was extremely large and a lovely ginger colouring, obviously coming into its Spring/Summer coat. There were comings and goings of several more beavers after, including a smaller one who remained with the adult who I believe to be last year's kit from its size and attachment to the adult.

Eventually all the beavers disappeared into their network of ponds, probably looking for other places to forage. There is something so relaxing about sitting with beavers hearing their quiet munching sounds. And that soft "mewing", vocalized particularly by the youngsters communicating with the adults that just touches my heart.

They may be rodents but I think you will agree, beautiful. And what better mammal could we have as a national symbol than the beaver. They are hard working, community minded, family orientated and phenomenal eco-engineers.

ADULT BEAVER

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JUNIOR BEAVER

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Beaver (North American) - 9 Photos

Although there is some dam repair to complete, believe the beavers are waiting for some serious thaw of snow/ice to soften up the earth & material that lies beneath. And then it will probably be all "hands" on deck.

While waiting that out, the beaver family took some time to have a family "picnic" in one particular area of the creek to enjoy some refreshments & grooming.

One of the two adults, believe it to be Dad, decided to come ashore quite close in to attend to some fur maintenance, hence the close-ups.

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Porcupine (North American) - 7 Photos

Of course, another name for Sasquatch is "Bigfoot" and this porcupine certainly qualifies.

And it also appears he (from its size & location), still has not shed his Winter under coat. He definitely has hairy  (and large) feet! :) 

I've heard people express surprise at seeing porcupines in trees, making the comment, "I didn't know they could climb." Like the mythological sasquatch, porcupines like the solitude & safety of tree top cover, generally saving walk about moments for after dusk. 

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Muskrat - 7 Photos

I've often thought that the name "muskrat" for this smaller cousin of the beaver is not the most complimentary term. 

This little rodent who frequently co-habitates with its beaver cousin, will make repairs to their lodges and often appears in open water just before beavers make their presence known. Perhaps, the muskrat acts as a semi-scout, checking out for an "all clear".

Unlike beavers, however, muskrats are not solely vegetarian and will also eat small fish, snails, clams, etc. when the need arises. I have included a photo that I took in March 2022 of a muskrat with its catch (Photo #7). 

So how about a name change? As you can see from the photos below, they have similar harvesting habits as beavers and this particular muskrat seems to be particularly pleased with its choice (Photo #2 & Photo #3).

My suggestions in no particular order:

1. Muskbeaver

2. Lesser Beaver

3. Micro or Mini Beaver

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Beaver (North American) - 7 Photos

Having watched this beaver in its Winter/Spring Wonderland, I came to the conclusion that there is at least one more mammal more clumsy going through the snow than a photographer, and that's the Castor canadenis or the North American beaver.

But the lure of willow on a small island was like a trip to the candy store. So many choices. It just had to be the right one. And maybe it's just wishful thinking, but I swear this beaver is smiling (Photo #1 through Photo #3). He/she certainly has bright eyes.

Having chosen the perfect candidate (Photo #4), it was off through the snow (Photo #5) and back to the water to enjoy Nature's bounty.

Having enjoyed a great meal, what better time than to take some time out for a quick shake & a groom (Photo #6 & Photo #7). 

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Beaver - North American"SO MANY CHOICES"

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Beaver - North American"ON MY WAY TO THE CANDY COUNTER"

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Beaver - North American"ONE OF THESE, PLEASE"

PHOTO #4 - "I'm In Love"

Beaver - North American"I'M IN LOVE"

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Beaver - North American"CARRY OUT"

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Beaver - North American"A GOOD SHAKE"

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Beaver - North American"HAVING HAD A GOOD MEAL, TIME FOR A GOOD GROOM"

Beaver (North American) - 11 Photos

"Is this the Arctic?" No Beaver, just a Spring day in Calgary, Alberta! :)

Firstly, I would like to say that these beavers have more secrets than Area 51.  :)

And that  leaves us with the following four questions and answers:

PHOTO #2 - "Is This A Polar Bear?"

PHOTO #3 - "No - It's A Beaver!"

PHOTO #4 - "Is This An Arctic Seal?"

PHOTO #5 - "No - It's A Beaver!"

PHOTO #6 - "Is This A Snowman?"

PHOTO #7 - "No - It's A Beaver!"

PHOTO #8 - "Is This The Creature From The Icy Lagoon?"

PHOTO #9 - "No - It's A Beaver!"

PHOTO #10 - "It's Really A Beaver!"

PHOTO #11 - "Yep - It's Definitely A Beaver!"

Weasel (Long-Tailed) & Northern Flicker - 5 Photos

Spring has sprung, the weasel has "riz". I wonder where the birds is!

Unfortunately, I didn't manage to capture the pair of Northern Flickers on the tree where they were checking out potential nesting cavities. Needless to say, they were extremely agitated and flew off the tree as soon as they saw the weasel climbing up. But I did capture them later on in the nearby woods, performing their courtship ritual (male at top, female at bottom), which was so endearing (Photos #3, 4 & 5).

The chickadees had quickly joined in to the bird alarms. Then after a quick inspection of the tree hole (no nothing yet), the weasel descended the tree (Photo #1 & Photo #2) and onto more "grounding" matters.

It may seem cruel to some, but Nature just "is". Without predators, even small ones like this weasel, prey species would overrun the environment, damaging & disrupting Nature's delicate balance. And unlike predators whose successful hunts are at best 1 in 4 or even less, prey species such as herbivores (or even small birds) generally have a constant source of food without as much effort.

If this pair of Northern Flickers are aware of their surroundings & have the potential to be great parents, they will most likely choose a better venue to lay their eggs and raise their offspring. :)

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Barrow's Goldeneye - 7 Photos

It was a fairly quiet day beside the river, a few Common Goldeneyes & Mallards & an occasional sighting of a muskrat when in flew a male & female Goldeneye. 

Because they were relatively close as they flew by and lit by the sun, I thought I saw some "not so usual" markings. I knew they were Goldeneyes but once they had landed, I spotted the telltale white crescent marking on the male Barrow's Goldeneye.

Not so often sighted during the Winter months in Calgary, they can sometimes be seen in among the Common Goldeneye groupings. And even though, this male had brought his mate with him, he was still being chased off by the Common Goldeneyes as the courtship water wars continue.

So it was on a wing or four for the Barrow's Goldeneyes & a prayer to Nature from me that I had indeed spotted a "not so common" Goldeneye. :)

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PHOTO #6 - Male Barrow's Goldeneye (foreground) & Female Barrow's Goldeneye (background)

PHOTO #7 - Barrow's Goldeneye (left of photo) & Common Goldeneye (right of photo)

Coyote - 8 Photos

Am almost certain that this has happened to other photographers out there. You know the scenario. You have a great day of shooting, come home download from the camera onto the computer & then choose the very best images to develop.

And then somehow, that second tier never receive the attention that they deserve. Well this happened to me with a coyote session that I recently went back to, to review the photos. All I can think is that I must have had a spectacular day to have left this set unattended. 

It goes without saying the coyote is an exceptional representative of its species but I hope readers will agree that this set of photos deserved highlighting.

And yes, "shhh - coyote at work"! :) 

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Bald Eagle (Mature) - 9 Photos

Semaphore: A system of sending messages by holding the arms or two flags or poles in certain positions according to an alphabetical code.

Perhaps we could add "wings" to the above definition after "or poles". Does anyone know eagle semaphore?? (Photo #1 to Photo #5 )

Of course, this isn't an eagle signaling (but it certainly looks like it) but one shaking out the water from its feathers. In the past, I have managed to capture this action with ospreys but never with an eagle. It would be great in video to get the full effect but the length of time it took, was less than 5 seconds.

And then, of course, came the preening (Photo #6 to Photo #7 ). A bird's feathers are its life, particularly a bird of prey that needs that all important flight to hunt. 

And then it is close to mating time so maybe there is another side to this scenario - looking our best! (Photo #8 & Photo #9)

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Bald Eagle (Immature) - 5 Photos

I had managed to make it to the shoreline, just in time to get some clear shots of this immature Bald Eagle as it flew across the river. 

From its appearance, definitely hatched last year and as we are now in March, it has almost made that magical milestone of one year. Hopefully, it will continue to mature over the next few years and develop into a fully mature eagle.

But currently adorned in its mottled brown feathers and brown beak, this young eagle is a stunner & a magnificent flyer. Only time will tell if its hunting skills can keep up with its growth.

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Trumpeter Swans (Adult) - 9 Photos

Swans appear to have this angelic or seraphic quality, maybe because of their pure white colour (in the adults) & their grace in flight (Photo #1). However, this gracefulness doesn't transpose when it comes to their movement on land, which brings us to the dialogue & photos below.

These two swans from their closeness & familiarity with each other were obviously a pair & being Trumpeter Swans, life mates. Having managed to climb onto an icy shoreline from the river, appeared quite content to groom & nap.

And then the largest of the two (the male) and the furthest from the water, decided it was time for a drink. Rather than try to navigate the icy platform by slipping & sliding its way round its mate, one of a swans' ungainly movements, the quickest way was to push "Mrs." out of the way.

Subtlety isn't perhaps a swan's strongest suit. Much better to bite its mate to facilitate a move (Photo #2 to Photo #7). And, of course, its mate relinquished and moved back into the water (Photo #8).

And then that allowed the male to partake of some cold river water (Photo #9).

Amusingly, for some time after, the two remained apart but eventually all appeared to be forgiven and they were back on the ice, side by side.

So it appears that bird pairings have their little spats too. The disagreements don't appear to last too long though.

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Mink (North American) - 11 Photos

Having accumulated quite a number of photos of related minks over the past few years, I felt it time to put this family tree down, with a bit of their history.

My very first encounter with a mink was just over five years ago and eventually I came to know that this mink was a female (Photo #1 & Photo #2).  I repeatedly caught her fishing in a creek but it wasn't until I saw her with an enormous Prussian Carp (an invasive fish species) that I truly clued in to her gender (Photo #3). Having caught an amazing meal, she disappeared into a rock crevice & didn't materialize until 45 minutes later. (And yes, there I waited knowing, "one way in, one way out".) I expected to see only a mink exiting, having gorged itself on the fish but no, she slowly crept out, fish in mouth, and entered the creek. Then it dawned on me, the fish was for her entire family, her youngsters and herself.

A month or so later, I saw her entering & exiting her usual fishing spot & then close behind her, were two smaller minks (Photo #4 & Photo #5). From their size & appearance, I thought the larger one to be male (who I named Big Boy) and the smaller, a female (Little Girl or LG for short). Big Boy definitely had a much larger & flatter head. They followed their mother up a bank and to a much larger pond where I assumed they would be instructed in the art of fishing.

I never saw the young male again but on several occasions later in the month, I would see the mother first running along the creek, followed a minute or so later by the little female.

The following Spring, there was a "new" mink in town, a slightly smaller mink with a narrow face (Photo #6).  It was LG (Little Girl). As she had taken over her mother's fishing spots & wild mink live only 3 to 4 years,  I assumed that sadly her mother had passed and she had inherited her mother's territory. Again I would repeatedly see her fishing in the same fishing spots. Her approach & tactics were, however, completely different - another clue that this was not the same mink.

And again, that Spring whenever she caught a fish, it was back downstream with her catch, never pausing to take even a bite. Yep, a month or so later, I caught her running along the creek bed. Some fifteen minutes later, appeared not one, not two but three little minks in small, medium & larger sizes. And so they were named, Mini (for Mini Me because she looked like a smaller version of her mother), George & Sparky (Photo #7, Photo #8 & Photo #9). Sparky's name will become apparent. 

I went back to the same area the following day, hoping to spot at least one mink being that there were now four known minks in the area. After a period of waiting, the three youngsters appeared one at a time. The two smallest hit the rock pools looking for fish, the larger one went immediately to where his mother fished & not ten minutes later pulled out a whopper (Photo #10). Oh, Grandmother Mink would be so proud. So that's how Sparky got his name. He certainly "sparkled" when he appeared with that fish. (I wonder if he was allowed to keep it for himself or was forced to share when he got home?)

Last year, I scoured the same area for months & no minks. Being that Spring had come & gone, it didn't look good as this is when baby mink are born. And then on a hot day in very late July as I was having a quick snack by the creek, a mink suddenly appeared. My first thought was "that is one huge mink". It then proceeded to hunt in the grasses for rodents & fish in the creek. And shortly upon its arrival, up it popped with a sizeable fish. It could only be "Sparky", the oldest male (Photo #11).  

I had never encountered a full grown male mink before and I was amazed at its size & the "don't give a darn attitude". I saw Sparky a couple of times after that but I assume being a "fearless" male, his favourite fishing areas were the much larger ponds and of course the nearby river, particularly in the winter months.

I don't know what will happen this year. Hopefully, Sparky will meet up with a female & there will be more mink antics this Spring. One can only sit & wait! :)

PHOTO #1 - Grandmother Mink

Mink (North American)"YO - DOWN HERE!"

PHOTO #2 - Grandmother Mink (grooming on a log)

PHOTO #3 - Grandmother Mink with her amazing catch

Mink (North American)'ON OUR WAY OUT"

PHOTO #4 - Little Girl (or LG)

PHOTO #5 - Big Boy 

PHOTO #6 - LG (or Little Girl) now Mom,  the following year

Mink (North American)"SLIDE OUT"
(Female - Adult) - LG or Little Girl (Mum)

PHOTO #7 - Mini Me (or Mini for short), the young female youngster

Mink (North American)"PEEK A BOO"
(Female - Juvenile) - Minnie Me

PHOTO #8 - Curious George (the smaller male youngster)

PHOTO #9 - Sparky (the oldest male)

Mink (North American)"A GIANT LEAP FOR MINK KIND"
(Male -Juvenile) - Sparky

PHOTO #10 - Sparky (his first year) with his catch

Mink (North American) - Juvenile"FLY"

PHOTO #11 - Sparky, the following year. (It's all in the genes.)

Coyote - 4 Photos

In some legends of Indigenous peoples, "Old Man Coyote" created people, animals, plants and the earth.

Upon close examination of the photos below, you can see that this healthy coyote's teeth are yellowish & relatively well worn which leads me to believe that this is an older canid, probably male from its size. Hence, the name, in this instance, of "Old Man Coyote".

Spotted him, merrily making his way down a snowy path at that easy coyote trot , heading directly in my direction. I tried to remain out of sight but unfortunately, with that sharp coyote eyesight to no avail. It was a quick stage right, down a small bank then along a frozen pond, where ever so often a head and a partial body appeared above the top of the bank, as he loped along.

I caught sight of him as he made his way across the pond, checked out the local beaver lodge and then up the bank where he joined the path again and then off he ran. And trust me, at a coyote's leisurely trot, there is no hope of keeping pace (or even getting closer) to bridge that distance.  And you can add "avoidance" to the coyote's repertoire. 

No matter - I managed a few camera shots of this exquisite canid and hopefully, he was off on a successful hunt and to return to his den, where perhaps he and his mate are planning on new arrivals this spring. :)

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Muskrat - 11 Photos

Muskrats are, not only the cousins to our North American Beaver, but also to the European Water Vole. In fact, "Ratty" in the children's story, "The Wind in The Willows" was actually a water vole and not a rat.

It's so unfortunate to have "rat" in your name, particularly when you are a relative to the beaver & cohabitate with them in their lodges. And it has been documented that muskrats do not live "rent free" in beaver lodges. They actually assist with interior lodge repair, placing mud on holes in the structures, etc. Quite often, while watching in the early evening for beavers to appear, I have seen a muskrat exit the lodge first, usually sometime before the beavers. Perhaps, an early scouting trip to ensure an "all clear"?

This large muskrat had been swimming up and down a river channel, when it decided to relax, eat & groom on an ice shelf close to shore. It made periodic ventures into the water to obtain new shoots to return to the same ice shelf and enjoy. Being so large, I am thinking it was actually "Dad" to the muskrat clan in this area & on a previous weekend, I had counted up to seven swimming back and forth and diving under the water.

Muskrats, like beavers, do not have great eyesight, depending more on their hearing & sense of smell. There were various waterfowl feeding in the channel & I don't know why but one particular Mallard Duck decided to continually feed close to the ice shelf where the muskrat was sitting (Photo #11) and eventually on one foray into the water, the muskrat & the duck had a head on collision. I can understand a muskrat with low vision having such an encounter but what was the duck's excuse! :) 

Well after a quick attempted nip by the duck, Muskrat decided there were quieter & less controversial rest areas & went downriver to find a more secluded spot.

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Bufflehead - 11 Photos

I'm probably not the only one out there who has seen the male Bufflehead duck from a distance and thought, "What a cute little black & white duck". Buffleheads are a third of the weight of a Mallard duck & smaller than the Common Goldeneye.

But if you add in one natural ingredient, sunlight, at just the right angle something magical occurs. (Well, I think it's magical.)

Like the White-Faced Ibis's feathers, when viewed in the right light, the male Bufflehead's head feathers shimmer and take on tones of emerald green & maroon. And with the white patch behind each eye, that black & white duck is no more. (Photo #1 - Photo #6)

I had been taking a snack break beside the river channel when two dueling male Buffleheads caught my attention. They must have gone at it for at least 20 minutes, one in particular chasing the other away, only for it to return for another round of sparring. As you will see from the photos, one male is slightly larger and more colourful than the other. This larger duck, I believe, was the victor in this match. (Photo #7 - Photo #9)

And what was the object of their attention - well, the female Bufflehead of course. (Photo #11) And just because this male Bufflehead won this round, it probably won't mean it has won the mating privileges of this particular female.

THE VICTOR

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THE CONTENDER

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THE DUEL

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THE FEMALE

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Coyote - 9 Photos

It's always great excitement to see a coyote out hunting.

This handsome canid, from its leggy appearance, was probably born Spring 2022 and from its size, most likely a male.

Hitting the shoreline just after sunrise, he was out looking for a meal - maybe a vole or two or perhaps, even a glorious pheasant. And yes, as you will see from the photos below, he did see me watching from a safe distance but he was much too busy and caught up in his searching to pay too much attention. 

Then he was back on track following his nose and heading further south in pursuit of breakfast.

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Bald Eagle (Mature) - 11 Photos

This eagle is one of a pair that I have photographed previously. 

I am not certain if it is the male or female but whatever its gender, it certainly amassed a small number of admirers on this sunny Winter afternoon. 

The eagle had landed on a tree branch in a small grove of trees, close to a walking path. It had been there at least 20 minutes before I arrived, close enough to begin photographing and there it stayed, happily viewing the surroundings and perhaps even basking in the sun (and the adoration of its fans) for another 30 minutes before departing. 

One would like to think that its flight in our direction was to give a maximum show to those below but I believe it was mostly due to the direction of the wind. Birds, particularly, the larger ones take off into the wind.

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Bald Eagle (Immature) - 7 Photos

I feel all Bald Eagles, no matter what their age, are magnificent & awe inspiring birds of prey.

This particular immature Bald Eagle has particularly striking markings and is probably approximately 3 years old. Because of its stature and appearance, I have dubbed him/her "The Gryphon", after the mythological creature. 

It will almost be a sad moment when this youngster ages a couple more years and achieves its white head & tail feathers and all the trappings of a mature Bald Eagle and loses the unique characteristics.

And although it was a suspicious eagle in the past, never staying long enough for me to get off more than a couple of camera shots, this time although it led a merry chase from tree to tree, it eventually settled for half an hour. Thus allowing for greater documentation of this truly beautiful bird.

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Long-Tailed Weasel - 8 Photos

Having crept under a log with the "catch of the day", the weasel eventually resurfaced, first without its meal, then with.

At first I thought it had spotted me and kept ducking down to avoid a confrontation but then it dawned on me!

The little snow hill was probably no more than 18 inches to 24 inches in height but for a very short legged weasel it must have been huge, particularly with a mouthful. The popping up and down was its attempt to get enough momentum to get over the top. Trust me, being somewhat short myself, I can relate - trying to reach those drinking glasses from the top shelf is a real pain. :)

Eventually, there was success and the weasel ran off to a better location, hopefully to enjoy a well deserved meal.

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Long Tailed Weasel - 5 Photos

A wildlife predator doesn't have a Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde split personality. Like Nature, it just "is". Without predators to maintain that delicate balance in Nature, the animals they prey upon would multiply & create unhealthy eco-systems. 

One good example is the re-introduction of native wolves back into Yellowstone National Park in 1995. Before their re-introduction, elk, etc. because they had no large predators, multiplied and remained relatively non-nomadic in the park. This resulted in decimation of grasslands and plants, etc. through their over grazing which impacted other wildlife, including insects. When wolves were added back into the landscape, elk and other similar species, became more nomadic, including moving to higher elevations, thus alleviating the stress on the environment.

Wolves generally pick the easier targets, such as the aged, the injured & sometimes the very young. But as with all predators, every hunt does not result in success. They may go for days without making a kill. 

Like the wolf, the weasel expends a great amount of energy in its pursuit of prey and not every expedition brings success. So here are a few photos of a "softer" side of a weasel, that adorable but "pound for pound", a fierce adversary.

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Weasel (Long-Tailed) - 5 Photos

Apologies to any extra sensitive individuals out there! :) 

I was going to use the first line of that old magpie nursery rhyme, "One for Sorrow" but although it was sad for the magpie, it was a great catch for an amazing little predator. The magpie's demise probably went a long way to adding to those calories that are so needed for the weasel's survival.

And how did I spot a white weasel in all that snow? Well, it wasn't the weasel I saw first. It was this feathery black & white ball bouncing towards me. Seconds later, I could see a long body attached, trying to make its way through the shrubbery in unique weasel fashion, half running, half bouncing.

And for all those Bald Eagles that have been harassed by magpies as they sat on their perches, there is probably one Bald Eagle out there somewhere, smiling! 

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White-Tailed Deer - 7 Photos

This young deer was in relatively close proximity to its mother. From its size & appearance, I would say it was born Spring 2022 and as it does not appear to have any "buds" on its head, would assume it's a little girl.

It was a case of walking through some trees & shrubbery, watching for icy patches on the path, when we basically both looked up at the same time. She was some distance away, feasting on the small leaves & twigs in the grove. Once we had established a safe distance between us, she went back to happily munching & stripping the branches of their wares. 

It was an opportunity to take some close-ups of a deer eating from the tops of branches and being able to see the inside of her mouth, teeth & tongue. 

She eventually made her way around the grove, met up with her mother and the two wandered off into the woods.

As a final note, I would make this recommendation. Please do not feed the deer (or any wildlife for that matter) in these provincial parks. First, it is against Provincial Park regulations & second, believe it or not wildlife do well enough on their own. We are now having instances where individuals are actually hand feeding deer. This may seem adorable but hand fed deer can become aggressive deer. It is one thing to have a chickadee fly right to your hand or around your head looking for food, it's another thing for a deer to strike out looking for that hand-out which has not been offered.

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Common Goldeneye (Male) - 8 Photos

Common is, of course, a word defined as "the most known or the most frequently seen" and is often used in nomenclature of plants & animals. 

It can also be used in a derogatory sense,  inferring cheapness or inferiority. 

While pursuing opportunities for photos of the more infrequent sighting of the Barrow's Goldeneye, this particular male Common Goldeneye came close enough in to the shore line to capture some photos, which detail the finer attributes of this little bird.

Like the Barrow's Goldeneye, this little diving duck is one tough bird. It dives in the frigid waters for fish & can hold its breath from up to 10 to 30 seconds. Take a moment to review some photos of the Common Goldeneye and see if you agree that the "Common Goldeneye" is not so common. :)

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Belted Kingfisher - 4 Photos

Everyone must have those days, even occasionally, when you feel blue.

For the Belted Kingfisher, it must be every day. :) The question is does he know he's blue (literally) or on a poor fishing day, does he feel blue (figuratively)??

On this day, the skies were that great Alberta blue and the conditions were extremely cold. I have a great deal of respect for this little fisherman, some of whom brave the cold wintery conditions and stay in Calgary for the Winter. They fish quite successfully from the trees that border the Bow River or from trees along any open water such as creeks that have remained partially open.

The first acknowledgement that he is present is usually that kingfisher rattle, announcing his arrival.

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Bald Eagles (Mature ) - 11 Photos

The following photos feature two Bald Eagles (actually a partnership) and were taken over the course of several hours.

I followed one as it landed on a tree and it was subsequently joined by its mate. The two then flew to a pair of trees very close by and then eventually ended up in one tree, one on a branch above the other where they remained for almost two hours, literally just chilling out. If you check out the feet and talons of one eagle, in particular, you can see they are bright red, presumably covered in the blood of a recent & probably substantial meal. They probably both had recently dined well which may explain why they were attending to "other matters" for such a long period.

As the afternoon sun began its descent, the two, one after the other, flew in the direction of the river.

So what do eagles get up to when they have some time to relax. Well ........

PHOTO #1 - Having A Conversation With Our Mate

PHOTO #2 - Spending Some Time With A 'Friend'. If I was this magpie, I would be paying close attention to the colour of this eagle's feet :) 

PHOTO #3 - A Quick Pose Before Changing Locations

PHOTO #4 - Choosing Just The Right Perch

PHOTO #5 - Taking That Horror Movie Pose

PHOTO #6 - Cleaning Our Beak With A Newly Broken Off Branch. Who said eagles don't use tools???

PHOTO #7 - Taking That "Who Me?" Look

PHOTO #8 - Now That Looks More Like A Bird Of Prey

PHOTO #9 - Relieving That Annoying Itch

PHOTO #10 -  S-t-r-e-t-c-h

PHOTO #11 - The Inevitable Good-Bye

Sharp-Shinned Hawk- 10 Photos

So I was sitting by a river, waiting for a certain Belted Kingfisher to come in closer. The seconds turned to minutes which turned to over an hour, which - well you get the picture.

Then I heard this plop close-by and looked quickly to my right and there sitting on a semi-submerged branch in the river channel was a Sharp-Shinned Hawk. So I quickly aimed the camera taking as many shots as I could before the hawk flew away but then it just sat there.

"Now I know we just met & far from it for me to comment on your perch choices, but you're sinking!"  And yes, although Sharp-Shinned Hawks weigh only up to 115 grams, this branch was already half under water before the addition of the hawk. With the movement of the water and the weight of the bird, the branch was rapidly disappearing. So the hawk deserted the "sinking ship" to another branch more secure & then hopped to some rocks on the river bed.

I expected it to fly off at this point but then it flew clear of the debris onto a series of rocks where it sat & took some time to decide its next move. Eventually, it flew up onto fallen tree and then across the river where I saw it hunting, chasing after the smaller waterfowl along the shore.

I am not certain if it had gotten too close to the river in its pursuit of prey and made a semi-crash landing to dry off and it was any perch was better than no perch but it was amusing to see it sitting there in a dignified hawk manner, as its tail feathers slowly disappeared into the water. But obviously no lasting harm done.

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Bald Eagle (Mature) - 3 Photos

"Crouching Eagle" can be a yoga pose or even a play on the movie title "Crouching Eagle (Tiger), Hidden Dragon". One could almost imagine an eagle being mistaken for a dragon, with its wing span, large head & beak and those magnificent talons.

This particular Bald Eagle flew into a grove of trees and chose to land on a broken tree, before departing.

Maybe it assumed this position because of the nature of the perch or perhaps for a quick get away. All that mattered was for a very short period, it allowed some quick shots of a magnificent bird.

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Porcupine (North American) - 7 Photos

Perhaps "'Cuddle Bug" isn't the first nickname that comes to mind when one thinks "porcupine" but with their dark furry brown faces & their cute little footpads (that always remind me of soled slippers), maybe a re-visit is in order.

This Cuddle Bug probably stayed up in a tree after a night outing, foraging for food, deciding that some warmth & sunshine would be conducive for some scratching & napping.

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Belted Kingfisher - 7 Photos

I've been wanting to use the title of Country Artist, Dean Brody's song for some time and thought it was an apt description for the little Belted Kingfisher, although it probably should be "Lightning Bird"!

Am still amazed how some of Belted Kingfishers remain in Calgary, AB during the cold winter, fishing anywhere where there is open water (and fish, of course).

I try to be the "glass half full" photographer and not dwell on the shots that I miss, like this little Kingfisher landing in the tree. But thanks to Nature & the camera equipment, I managed to catch its dive from the tree & its flight away.

The Belted Kingfisher isn't as flashy as the British Kingfisher but when you can see the underside of its body with its wings spread, you can imagine those paint swatches you find in the paint aisle. The Belted Kingfisher certainly should have a swatch entitled, "Belted Kingfisher" featuring multiple shades of blue.

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Squirrels (Red & Eastern Gray) - 9 Photos

In one afternoon, I encountered both the Red Squirrel & the Eastern Gray Squirrel. No matter what their status, both were extremely photogenic and so so cute.

The Red Squirrel is, of course, native to Alberta & unfortunately, because of the introduction of the Eastern Gray to the West in the early 1900's, has had its numbers significantly reduced. There does appear to be some recovery, however. In areas of Fish Creek Provincial Park, there are now Red Squirrels where I've never seen them before. Perhaps, it is because I haven't been aware of them previously but hopefully, the former is true and their numbers are increasing. It is a sad fact that as a species, humans have not learned the lesson of the question, "What could possibly go wrong?" of introducing non-native species in our environments.

They are both cheeky but each has a distinct appearance and having reviewed the photos, the terms "Ninja Warrior" & "Sumo Wrestler" struck me because of the stance, shape & attitude of each species. 

Review the photos below and see if you agree. That "bring it on" look of the Red Squirrel may explain why it is now showing up in more regions of the park.

THE NINJA WARRIOR - RED SQUIRREL (NATIVE TO ALBERTA)

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THE SUMO WRESTLER - EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL (INVASIVE)

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Bald Eagles (Adults) - 9 Photos

The photos below are of a pair of Bald Eagles who are permanent residents of Calgary, AB. They have a nest on an island in the middle of the Bow River and frequent the river's shores regularly.

The male of the pair appeared in the January 2nd, 2023 blog, "When An Eagle & A Magpie Play Chicken" and unfortunately was "defeated" by the magpie, i.e. gave up his perch.

Mid-morning, again the male eagle flew into the same tree and took up the same perch, with the identical positioning as previously (Photo #1). So there I was madly shooting, when out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a second & much larger eagle coming in for a landing. The male had to move over to allow sufficient room for its mate, who landed in all her magnificence (Photo #2 & Photo #3). 

The female, however, had taken her perch in exactly the opposite direction to her mate. So there they were side by side but facing different ways. (Male is to the left of the photo, female to the right.)

Soon these two eagles will be re-affirming their commitment to each other, which can include chattering to each other with heads lifted up. But in the interim, what better way to show love but to watch either other's back. Magpies beware, there will be no sneaking behind and tweaking tail feathers with these formidable two, standing side by side.

And even Bald Eagles can sometimes look silly as they try to establish positioning on a branch (Photo # 6). 

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Bald Eagle & Magpie - 10 Photos

The Bald Eagle a large & truly magnificent bird of prey. Its vision is 4 to 5 times that of a human and with 4 talons on each foot, it is a formidable hunter and sometimes scavenger (Photo #1 through Photo #4). 

And then there is the Black-billed Magpie. A large flashy relative of jays & crows, it is a social & intelligent creature. One particular magpie decided to take on this Bald Eagle, alone, in what can only be described as a game of chicken. I believe it had figured out, long before I did, that the way the eagle had perched with its talons in a position for a northerly take-off, that if it approached from the south, there was little the eagle could do to defend itself without putting its body off balance.

It proceeded to attack the eagle from the south, with extremely gutsy manoeuvres (Photo #5 through Photo #9), at one point going directly up the back of the eagle's tail & back feathers (Photo #9). It was interesting, for once, to see a "duel" between these two birds from the magpie's perspective.

It was a quick look through the legs (Photo #10) and then the eagle was off. 

Black-billed Magpie 1

Bald Eagle 0

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Great Horned Owl - 9 Photos

Firstly and most importantly, the Great Horned Owl depicted in the photos below is NOT injured. 

I had been given a tip from a fellow photographer that he had seen a Great Horned Owl sitting in the snow on a frozen creek. Now it was at least a 20 minute walk to the site, even longer going the scenic route and that would mean that the owl had already been there at least that length of time already. So what are the chances of it still being there.

Well if you don't try - you don't get. So off I walked, took the scenic route around the creek as I thought it would bring me to the best spot to achieve shots without too much obstruction. And there was the owl sitting in the snow, with ravens in the trees lining the edge of the creek. 

As the ravens were quietly waiting in the trees, subsequently joined by magpies, this owl was most likely sitting on a freshly killed prey and not wanting it to be eaten by those "uninvited guests", it was literally sitting it out, waiting until the ravens got bored and left. You can see from the angles of its head, it was keeping a close watch on the comings and goings of the smaller birds.

And eventually it did fly off, with a small dead bird in its talons, hotly pursued by ravens & magpies hoping to obtain a piece of the "action".

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Swan (Tundra) - 7 Photos

If I looked this good and was this athletic, I would be doing more self admiration too (Photo #3 ).

Although the Trumpeter Swan is much larger, whiter & has that special presence, the Tundra Swan has its unique qualities as well, such as its yellow spot just in front of its eyes. And, of course, it has those magnificent white feathers as well.

And as for the light discrepancy, all the photos were taken during the same session, the sunlight disappeared the latter half of the day, which gave the softer blue light.

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Tundra Swans - 7 Photos

Because of Alberta's diverse weather & seasons, its wildlife can also be varied particularly with migrations. Where else can you encounter White-Faced Ibis in the summer months and swans from the Arctic in December.

So what do you do on those days that are -31 degrees C with the wind chill and snow showers - well you hunker down with those newly arrived Tundra Swans and hope for some great photo opportunities. 

And although these two swans were sitting on an icy shoal, they were much more prepared (and more practiced) for the state of an Arctic blast than one lonely photographer.

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Coyote - 7 Photos

This conversation was between a pair of coyotes and from their sizes & demeanors, I would say a partnership of male & female.

I was actually in the area scouting for coyotes when I heard the coyote cries/howls coming from very close-by. It was a conversation between these two and I was the eavesdropper, (although I don't believe they cared). And thanks to that vocal exchange, I knew that coyotes were in the near vicinity.

Now I knew where the sound was coming from. It was now a matter of trying to locate movement within the shrubbery & snowy surrounding and flat light. I spotted the larger one first, who I assume was the male, tracking every so often, with his nose to the snow, sniffing & listening for mice/voles (Photo #5). As he headed toward the bottom of a small uprising, I spotted the second coyote, smaller (but fully sized) and appearing to be a little more timid. Believe this must have been his mate.

She quickly trotted across the meadow and up the small hill, where she paused for a few seconds (Photo #7), then turned south along the small ridge and back down into the treed area and her mate quickly followed her.

Although never venturing too close, they both came in my direction to where I was standing & then leisurely trotted on looking for small rodents, etc. for their morning meal. Both were extremely relaxed & appeared content in their own environment, minding their own business of finding small prey (perhaps, even a pheasant if they were lucky). 

Not more than 15 minutes later, a couple of dog walkers arrived into the area, with dogs off leash (a prohibited practice in the Provincial Park), probably none the wiser. The coyotes had long moved on, most likely into the more thickly forested areas where people do not travel or cannot access and I had lost sight of them.

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Bald Eagles (Mature) - 10 Photos

Alberta, CA certainly has its share of extremely blue skies. One reason behind their vibrancy could be is that higher altitudes have less atmosphere to scatter light hence it appears lighter & brighter.

The following photos of two different Bald Eagles were taken on two different days. The first set (Photo #1 through Photo #8) was on a day in the early afternoon where the north wind was blowing in fluffy white clouds; hence the dramatic contrast in some of the photos. I don't add blue skies to my photography. The change in the lighting is due to the tracking of the flying bird. This mature eagle was literally just chilling out by the Bow River, Calgary, AB and appeared quite happy to perch and watch any people traffic passing under its tree and any incoming waterfowl.

The second set (Photo #9 & Photo #10) were taken on a completely blue sky day in the late afternoon. I had had a bit of a quiet day for photography so when this eagle did a wonderful fly by and angled just at the right moment, it made it all worthwhile. And because the tracking was minimal, the lighting basically remained constant.

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White Tailed Deer (Bucks) - 11 Photos

It's not often you get front row tickets to one of Nature's Fight Nights/Days. These two male deer were almost evenly matched with regard to their racks but in the end, perhaps bulk and endurance won over antlers.

The match was the most serious I have ever witnessed lasting almost 20 minutes, with one deer, at one point, actually pinning the other to the ground (Photo #8 & Photo #9 ). This was a serious contention over who had rights to the doe, who was lingering in the nearby woods. And before proceeding further, I would advise that both the victor & the challenger trotted off completely sound, with perhaps some minor scrapes. The victor scoped out the near vicinity after catching his breath, to ensure there were no more skirmishes to be had.

In the end, it was endurance and probably conditioning that won out and the challenger gave in from exhaustion.

And that haze that appears in Photo #2 is in fact, the heavy breaths expelled by both bucks in their battling.

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Swans (Trumpeter & Tundra) - Mature & Immature - 7 Photos

The swan migration south must now be in its final stages. It will be a matter of time to see how many swans actually stay in the Calgary, AB region over the Winter. I personally believe those that overwinter have a definite advantage over those that migrate further south. There are basically no predators, lots of food as the Bow River remains, for the most part, open for the winter months and the journey back up north in the Spring is much less and therefore they expend less calories. And they can get a head start over their counterparts on those nesting areas in the Spring.

So here are some arrivals & departures from Calgary. As a photographer, I really appreciate the vocalization of the swans, there is a lot of trumpeting & honking as they fly over & hopefully land and the Trumpeter Swans, in particular, perform synchronized head bobbing accompanied by strong honking prior to departure, which generally gives you some time to position yourself and the camera.

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Porcupine (North American) - 5 Photos

I have been seeing this porcupine over the past three years and have managed to capture him in various trees and when extremely fortunate, on the ground.

It is definitely a male and a large one at that. 

There is a female porcupine who resides in a neighbouring wood. Two years ago, she had a "porcupette" (yep that's what they call a baby porcupine), who was also a male. And trust me, I know he is a male because he has been known to display his nether parts! He left his home woods last Spring and I think he now resides in his own territory much further south.

Male porcupines, in particular, can be very possessive of their territories and ladies. You wouldn't think so by seeing them asleep in trees but they will put up quite the defense. Late last Spring when the youngster mentioned above moved down into another male's territory, two photography friends actually witnessed the young porcupine having his butt kicked (literally) out of the tree by the much larger incumbent male. He did land safely on the leafy bed below and went quickly on his way, hopefully to greener pastures. :) 

So I assume that the porcupine who appears in the photos below, being that it is mating season, is looking for love from the female close-by. He has been spotted in this tree at least two times now and the tree is at the very end of the woods where he resides and closest to the patch of woods across from the female's home base. 

I have not spotted the female since this past Spring so hopefully all is well but as porcupines in the wild generally get up to their mating practices under the cover of darkness, so we won't know any results until next Spring! :)

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Bald Eagle - 5 Photos

American Bald Eagles generally do not achieve their full white head feathers, etc. and maturity until 5 years of age. This particular eagle appears to be a year or so shy of attaining that status.

However, the remaining immature head feathers make for some striking and interesting looks. For example, although it doesn't appear to have reached the "bald" status yet, we appear to have a comb over happening. :) See Photo #1 & Photo #2 .

Then there is Photo #3 for which the darker feathers almost appear to be either age or worry lines. :)

Am certain within the next 12 months, this eagle will possess its full adult feathering and it will be that much more difficult to identify among the other adults.

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Long Tailed Weasel - 7 Photos

It is an old saying but one that may ring true.

Who could resist that adorable weasel face with its long whiskers and pinkish lined round ears? A small little mustelid who changes the colour of its coat for Winter camouflage and yet, such an effective predator regardless of its size.

And when confronted with a face to face on view of the Long Tailed Weasel (Photo #1 & Photo #2), one should be grateful that this predator is the size that it is and not that of a much larger predator such as the cougar. Then rodents wouldn't be the only potential invitees of the weasel "having a friend for dinner" (Photo #3 through to Photo #5). 

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Weasel - Long Tailed"CHECKING OUT THE COMPETITION"

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Weasel - Long Tailed"ONE OF US IS HOLDING THEIR BREATH!"

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Weasel - Long Tailed"HAPPY MEAL"

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Weasel - Long Tailed"CATCH IT WHILE YOU CAN!"

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Weasel - Long Tailed"READY TO STASH"

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Weasel - Long Tailed"LURKING IN THE SHADOWS"

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Weasel - Long Tailed"CHECKING OUT THE TERRAIN"

Coyote - 9 Photos

The Will'-o'-The Wisp in folklore is an atmospheric ghost light seen by travelers at night. Coyotes even during the daylight hours seem to appear and disappear into the shrubbery & trees.

These were two coyotes on the hunt for food, patrolling across the Bow River in Calgary, AB.

The first was smaller & we basically spotted each other from across the water at the same time and then it was off (Photo #1 & Photo #2).

The second (perhaps the adult or the male) had no issues with a person safely positioned across a rather large moving body of water and just went on its coyote business, after having locked eyes for a brief moment (Photo #3 through to Photo #9).

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Bald Eagles (Male, Female & Immature) Plus 1 - 12 Photos

This is a pair of Bald Eagles that are true residents in the Calgary area and reside near the Bow River. 

They are full time residents, adding material to their nest each year and for the past two years that I have observed them, have been successful in raising at least one eaglet.

As they frequent an area along the Bow River, where there is some human activity (including fishermen), they appear to have become a little more accustomed to seeing people and therefore, as long as they haven't something else on their schedules, are more willing to perch in trees along the river for longish periods and tolerate a human presence. 

Particularly at this time of the year, I have observed them on several occasions, perching either alongside each other on one branch or one above the other on the same tree, chattering away in eagle speak. Their commitment to each other is outstanding.

As I was watching the swans, I saw a shadow cross the meadow, looked up and saw this gorgeous young immature American Bald Eagle (Photos #10, 11 & 12). As it was in very close proximity to the two adults & their nest (at one point it was perched in a tree near the nest) and because of its age, I'll go out on a limb (no pun intended) and say it was probably this year's offspring of these two nesting eagles. 

Later in the afternoon, the two adults perched one above the other along the river, checking out, no doubt, the waterfowl available in the water below (Photo #9). There were numerous photos of these two in this tree but this one was chosen because of the magpie that kept flying in and out and got bolder and bolder. So bold, in fact, that it is looking directly into the eyes of the female Bald Eagle - "Are You My Mother"!

Photo #1 though to Photo #4 are of the male departing. Photo# 5 through to Photo #8 are of the female's departure.

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PHOTO #9 - "ARE YOU MY MOTHER???"

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Swans (Trumpeter & Tundra) - 7 Photos

It appears that the swan migration is now in full flight, with swans (both Trumpeter & Tundra) flying regularly through Calgary, Alberta, CA.

Only time will tell how many will actually overwinter here, having discovered that there is plenty of open water and food available on the Bow River for the duration of the Winter. Believe those that stay have worked out that they can go half the distance, spend half the calories in flight exertion and have a head start come Spring. Perhaps even have their choices of the best nesting areas having arrived a little earlier than those coming up from further south.

And in this fall migration, it was lovely to see so many families, with adults having more than one youngster accompanying them.

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Bald Eagle - 6 Photos

This adult Bald Eagle had other things to do on its agenda, so it didn't stay long enough for a few perching poses. However, it was generous enough that when it took off, it did so towards me which gave the opportunity for those dynamic flight poses.

The title may come from a "Top Gun" movie but this flyer would put most to shame.

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Porcupine (North American) - 9 Photos

It's hard to believe the photos that follow this commentary were taken only two weeks ago.

A porcupine had decided to come out of its den and warm itself. It was extremely low on this broken tree trunk although as the sun moved around, it climbed higher where it could shade its face from the light.

But it did present some great opportunities without hindrance of branches. Those photos where you can see the porcupine with its head pointed upwards were the moments where it was sniffing the air. With the aid of the camera, you could actually see its nostrils moving in and out. This is the time of the year when porcupines are "looking for love" and as the sniffing was not in my direction, perhaps it was checking out a potential hook-up. :)

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Coyote - 6 Photos

Have a problem with mice, voles, gophers, etc.? Who are you going to call?? This handsome creature, of course.

Caught this gorgeous coyote on the way out of the park. He/she has donned its thick winter coat and appears to be healthy and a good weight. And has the necessary skills for survival, including a wariness of humans.

So look out rodents where ever you are!

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Weasel (Long Tailed) - 7 Photos

The coat colouring of the Long Tailed Weasel, like other mammals such as the Jackrabbit, is dependent upon the hours of daylight, eg. tawny & cream to white for the weasel.

Certainly is a great method of camouflage for the changing of seasons but unfortunately for this little mustelid, in Calgary where snow can appear in August and disappear in winter months because of chinooks, etc., it definitely is challenging to maintain their "cloak of invisibility".

This little weasel was easy to spot against the terrain of rocks and brown grass & shrubbery but its speed and erratic behaviour wasn't hindered by a coat "malfunction". Snow should return again soon to the woods and then it will be a matter of watching for dancing portions of snow :)!

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Bald Eagle (Immature) - 8 Photos

Some may prefer to sight and photograph mature adult Bald Eagles. I will take any sighting and an eagle that is relaxed, perched in a tree, no matter what age, is a gift.

From the colouring and appearance of the feathers, this is most likely this year's offspring. Perhaps female because of its size. And what a beauty even at such a young age.

And there it perched, just chilling but keeping an eye on the river and occasionally checking out the waterfowl below and perhaps, the potential of fish and then it was off. 

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Great Blue Heron - 11 Photos

Believe this is the same Great Blue Heron but the photos were taken on two different days at two different (but close in proximity) locations. One was a large open pond, the other at a beaver dam where melting snow had increased the flow of the creek.

The heron appears to be wary of loud noises and movement in the water but is a little naive when it comes to people, i.e. it actually walked into the area where I was sitting on the bank. Hopefully with maturity, it will become a little more "worldly", particularly as it migrates south for the Winter and into the southern United States, where there are predators such as alligators, etc. lurking in the marshes/swamps.

However, it had no issue with the quantity and quality of fish it was catching, as you will see from the photos below. I was very happy to see it removing (and eating) a number of the invasive Prussian Carp from the eco-system before they had a chance to hit the Bow River. And some of them were whoppers! (See Photo #1 through to Photo #5.) In fact, I actually spotted one carp in shallow water along the bank, myself. It was so large I could see its head, etc. above the water level. The heron at the time was on the other side and it eventually saw it as well and sauntered across. (Photo #1 & Photo #2). I did have a camera moment at the point of shooting where the heron was so close & the fish so large, that the camera initially wouldn't focus. Luckily, we both re-adjusted and the heron took some time in getting the fish just right in its beak.

I have also included some grooming and fishing activity of the heron. (Photo #9 through to Photo #11)

PHOTO #1 - "OH NO MR. BILL" - (An homage to the character from Saturday Night Live)

PHOTO #2 - "MOUTH CLOSED"

PHOTO #3 - "HAVE I GOT EYES FOR YOU! :)"

PHOTO #4 - "POSING WITH THE WINNING FISH"

PHOTO #5 - "DOWN THE HATCH"

PHOTO #6 - "A LITTLE SALAD WITH THE MAIN COURSE"

PHOTO #7 - "STANDING TALL IN OUR BLUE "MORNING COAT" OVER THE BEAVER DAM"

PHOTO #8 - "WATCHING FOR THE FISH GOING OVER THE DAM"

PHOTO #9  - "GROOMING IN THE LATE AFTERNOON SUN"

PHOTO #10 -  "PROFILE"

PHOTO #11 - "A TOTAL GROOM"

Bobcats (Adult Female & Juvenile) - 9 Photos

Southeast Calgary, Alberta, CA

This is the second set of photos from the session that took place on October 16th, 2022. (See Blog of October 17, 2022, "Love is Not Just a Human Emotion").

As identified on the Home Page of the website, I do not utilize any form of baiting, that includes verbal cues. I also do not trespass on private property. These photos and the ones previous were taken in a public alley way, bordered by wooden fencing & a public building with an open parking lot. The cats were kind enough to stay within those perimeters.

As mentioned previously, bobcats in Calgary have set up territories close to residential areas where there is a great deal of prey and protection, but close to wild areas. Another spot much further north from this one where bobcats have been regularly sighted, has an infestation of feral (domesticated) rabbits that have been freed and have multiplied. 

So the bobcat like the coyote has adapted to our suburban/residential surroundings, walking the line between human habitation and wild woods & meadows. I would say for the majority of the time, they are reclusive and remain unseen but sometimes an opportunity arises like the one below, where you come to realize that Nature is always around us. We just have to be paying attention, be at the right place & time and you might see wildlife taking a walk on the "not so wild side"! :)

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Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Juvenile"ASLEEP ON THE FENCE"

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Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Adult (Female)"A VERY RELAXED MUM"

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Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Adult (Female) & Juvenile"TIME OUT"

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Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Adult (Female) & Juvenile"WALKING THE LINE"

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Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Adult (Female) & Juvenile"FENCE HUGGERS"

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Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Adult (Female) & Juvenile"BACK TO FRONT"

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Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Juvenile"A BOBCAT LION KING IN WAITING"

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Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Juvenile"COULD BE OUT OF AFRICA!"

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Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Adult (Female)"CAT ON THE SAVANA"

Great Blue Heron - 11 Photos

This set of photos were taken over a period of two days. I am not certain if it is the same Great Blue Heron or two different ones, as there have been two spotted flying together.

The creek had been full with water rushing over a beaver dam. The heron had discovered just by standing on the dam over which the water flowed, fish literally came to him. And what whoppers were caught. (See Photos #1 and #2.) In this instance, I don't think its eyes were larger than its stomach.

Photos #6 through #9 are from the second day when the heron moved further down the creek and did short flights, probably the most expeditious and safe method of travel.

It is believed this to be a young heron(s). Feathering does not appear to be as mature and the demeanor is certainly a little naive, i.e. they are not as wary of humans as they normally are. Or perhaps, it's just a food/fish frenzy of stocking up the calories before the migration south as the colder weather sets in.

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Bobcat (Female & Kitten) - 9 Photos

Southeast Calgary, Alberta, CA

One of the first unwritten (or perhaps even written) rules is "never put the camera away".

I had just had quite a successful day in Fish Creek Provincial Park (Calgary, AB) and was heading home, late afternoon. Proceeding along a main road that borders a residential area and the park itself, I spotted a large cat sitting under a tree next to a building. From its size, colouring & demeanor, I thought "bobcat".

Looking for the quickest road to turn off, drive around and park, I headed into a small parking lot. I parked the car, grabbed the camera and thought, "There is no way this cat is still going to be there".

As I approached the area, one cat (which I soon discovered was a kitten), jumped up on the wooden fence, which bordered the alley and settled under some tree branches. Grabbed some shots, moved away from the road and looked down and there quietly sitting next to the fence, was Mum. 

I am not certain if this was her only kitten or whether Mum had already navigated the other(s) across the busy road into the provincial park. 

In Calgary, bobcats have taken to "hanging" out in residential areas, that are close to open spaces such as Fish Creek Provincial Park. There must be ample opportunity for prey (such as rodents, rabbits, etc.) and some protection from other predators. 

Mum was so relaxed and was more interested in trying to round up her skittish kitten. The kitten quickly jumped from the fence to join its mother and as you will see from the photos, both had some quality together time. Having had some reinsurance from Mum, both moved along to once again to try and cross the road.

Mum lined up first looking left and right and I honestly had my heart in my throat. She waited for the traffic to be held up at the lights and then proceeded to cross. One car made a right hand turn and I stood to one side on the pavement to catch the driver's attention. And yes, she came to a complete stop. Mum crossed the road safely to the park side and waited for her kitten.

The kitten was snuggled up under a bush near where Mum had been next to the building but no enticement from Mum or from my feeble efforts, could get it to cross. 

Nature knows best so I quietly left the area, got back into the car and drove off. I know Mum was waiting close by and if the little one didn't make it across soon thereafter, Mum probably would have navigated the road again to bring her kitten across later that evening.

So my thanks goes out to Nature for this extraordinary gift. As you will see from the photographs, the love displayed between mother & kitten is no less than (and perhaps is more) than that felt by humanity.

PHOTO #1 - The Kitten on The Fence (those red objects are small fruit on an ornamental crabapple tree)

Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Juvenile"KITTEN WITH ORNAMENTAL FRUIT"

PHOTO #2 - Mum (and no, she is not concerned at all, only panting - it was warm)

Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Adult (Female)"BOBCAT MOTHER"

PHOTO #3 - A Yawn From Mum

Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Adult (Female)"YAWN"

PHOTO #4 - Cat (Mum) in the Grass (waiting for Junior)

Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Adult (Female)"WAITING FOR JUNIOR"

PHOTO #5 - The Kitten Looking for Reinsurance from Mum

Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Adult (Female) & Juvenile"A MOTHER'S WELCOMING TOUCH"

PHOTO #6 - This Wasn't Just a Snuggle

Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Adult (Female) & Juvenile"GETTING CLOSE"

PHOTO #7 - Looks Like Someone Was Looking for the Milk Bar!

Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Adult (Female) & Juvenile"NOW WHERE IS IT?"

PHOTO #8 - Mum and Her Kitten

Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Adult (Female) & Juvenile"MUM & KITTEN"

PHOTO #9 - Backfield in Motion 

Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Adult (Female) & Juvenile"BACKFIELD IN MOTION"

Porcupine (North American) - 7 Photos

I looked up the meaning of "quilly" and found two definitions:

1. Quilly is used to describe something that is limitless or truly timeless; or

2. Abounding in quills.

I believe both definitions describe the porcupine in different ways.

The photos below were taken late afternoon, early evening some weeks ago, while leaves were green on some trees. I have added captions to capture those porcupine expressions.

PHOTO #1 - "PLEASE, NO PHOTOS!"

PHOTO #2 - "OKAY, IF YOU INSIST"

PHOTO #3 - "YOU ARE GETTING SLEEPY"

PHOTO #4 - "AND SLEEPIER"

PHOTO #5 - "NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP"

PHOTO #6 - "ASLEEP"

PHOTO #7 - "BOTTOMS UP"

Muskrat - 7 Photos

To paraphrase Mark Twain's quote regarding the size of the dog in the fight:

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"It's not the size of the muskrat in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the muskrat."

As mentioned in the October 10th blog, "It's Time to Introduce Sidney", this adult muskrat was taking no prisoners when it came to a mink (no matter what size) who came prowling around its beaver lodge home. There was another smaller muskrat swimming in the vicinity, that I assume was an offspring.

There had been a lot of in water splashing & chasing, after which the mink left for another fishing area with less confrontation. It may seem a little strange that a fierce predator such as a mink would give in to a muskrat but in the wild, expending calories without reward can be paramount. That combined with the potential for injury would probably make this mink move along. And there are certainly more lucrative fishing areas in the vicinity and well within its territory.

So here is our little champion. If you have taken on a mighty mustelid, taking time out for some grooming & relaxing is a just reward. And, of course, you can always keep a watchful eye on the creek for a certain mink's return.

PHOTO #1 - Doesn't this muskrat looked rather pleased?

PHOTO #2 - Yep, nose to tail that's one big muskrat (in muskrat terms).

PHOTO #3 - Nibbling by the creek.

PHOTO #4 - Autumn does provide some great contrast for a little fuzzy brown rodent!

PHOTO #5 - A quick reflection.

PHOTO #6 - You (other than a certain mink) just have to love those feet and claws.

PHOTO #7 - No this isn't a muskrat in distress, just a muskrat having a good old scratch!

Mink (North American) - 7 Photos

I have had one previous sighting of this "new" mink but unfortunately it was brief and from some distance. My only thought at that time was that it was big and was some distance from the river (albeit in a large pond). So I am thinking another male due to physical and territory sizes.

The day was drawing to a close and I was hanging out at a creek (a completely different area from the Sparky sightings), hoping to photograph some muskrats. I was just about to pack it in when upstream comes a semi-aquatic mammal just motoring through the water. My first thought was a beaver.

It dove under the water, splashed and resurfaced by a small fallen log in the water.

And there it was, that mink. At the time, I couldn't understand why it remained beside this small log for some time but in retrospect, I think it was looking for the fish that swam in and around the log, potentially easy fishing.

Eventually, the mink swam close to a beaver lodge where it encountered one of those "take no prisoners" muskrats. Now if I was a muskrat, no matter how big, I wouldn't think about challenging a mink and would be heading for safety but this muskrat wasn't intimidated. The muskrat eventually made the creek too uncomfortable for the mink and the mink took to the high ground and off to more lucrative areas.

A further blog will feature this tough muskrat, who after its confrontation, took time out to groom and stretch on shore, in the wide open. I suppose once you have defeated a mighty mustelid, your confidence level soars.

And I have named this mink, Sidney, a name that could be appropriate whether it is male or female (just in case). 

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