I left home yesterday when the sun was already up so I could see the entire backyard.  As I came off the deck, I noticed an empty bird feeder and another one askew.  I went to investigate. There was something amiss with the strawberry patch as well.  It was not as full as it had been the day before.  Some visitors came through under the cover of darkness and did a little feeding in my backyard.

I was on the look out for them as I left the lake.  Most times they are not too far away.  This occasion was no different.  There were three white tail deer drinking at a nearby dug out.  They didn't seem to mind me stopping but as soon as I rolled the window down, they bounded into the nearby trees.  I did manage to catch a couple photos of their white rumps.

The gold aspen leaves shimmered in the morning sun at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre.  I could see one trail through the trees.  It was covered in leaves yet the tree tops were still clinging to the uppermost canopy.  The colors were fantastic. 

The evening sky was cloudless and the moon shone brightly as I made my way home.  A couple of sets of beady eyes reflected light in the ditch; one fawn and one doe were feeding on some cut grass.

The shorter days make it difficult to take in even a short hike as it's dark when I leave for work and most days it's dark when I come home.  I sure would like to try out one more long hiking trail and admire the last colors of autumn.  The weather looks like it will hold out for another couple of days so I just might be able to have another full outdoor day.