-18C was feeling like a heat wave this morning.  By the time I left the house it was -15C and downright balmy.  My destination choice was the Lakeview Trail that runs alongside Astotin Lake.  It's been awhile since my last visit so I wanted to see what winter has brought to that area.  On the way to the park, not far from home, two white tail deer were running along the range road.  As I got closer, they veered off into the deep snow and through the trees.  I didn't get close enough to see if they were a couple of my regular yard visitors.

The road through Elk Island Park was extremely icy.  The wind had polished the surface up nicely and the fine snow falling this morning did not help matters any.  I pulled into the parking lot at the lake and noticed that I was the only person there.  

The trail looked well used by snowshoers.  I didn't bother to wear mine.  The hiking cleats worked just fine as the snow was well packed. There was no wind and the snow was letting up so I knew that it was going to be a great hike.

The beaver pond looked like the barren tundra.  Bison and elk had taken their chances crossing the deep snow on the pond.  They browsed in areas alongside the trail, leaving broken branches behind.

The rabbits and hares left many tracks as well.  Branches that were close to the snow surface had bark stripped away by those furry little creatures.  I could tell that it was not a porcupine because they had left little round deposits behind.

I did not hear one bird or squirrel the entire time that I was walking.  As I came close to the end of the trail, some branches were moving back and forth at the top of a tall spruce tree.  I was thinking that it was a squirrel but as I came closer, a large great horned owl flew up from the cradling boughs.  What a beauty!  It flew off into the bush and out of range for a photo.  That was disappointing.

I got back to the parking lot and my vehicle was still the only one there.  On my way out of the park, I noticed a porcupine feeding on some willow branches.  It was standing on the snowbank and climbed into the tree itself when I stopped to watch.  A short distance up the road, a second porcupine was feeding.  This one was balancing on a very thin branch while munching on the bark.  Outstanding!  They must not weigh very much underneath all those quills.  The branch that it was balancing on was not very thick.

When I got home, I made myself a nice hot coffee and sat down to watch the backyard birds for a bit.  The chickadees were busy.  A couple of nuthatches were also sharing the feeder.  The deer had not visited yet as the tub was still full.  There was no sign of the pileated woodpecker.

I've been waiting impatiently for the pine grosbeaks to show up.  I love the burst of bright color that they bring to the yard.  Until that happens, I'll have to be happy with viewing the photos from last winter.