I've been cooped up in the house for the past two days.  I needed some fresh air headed to Elk Island National Park.  There are many trails to choose from for hiking and lots of picnic tables by the lake to just sit and enjoy the view.  I tried to do both.

I started at Astotin Lake.  The sun was just beginning to break through the clouds.  The warm rays began to burn off the fog that hung over the lake.  I could hear the gulls and the geese on the water.  

A south east wind was blowing.  I was not dressed warm enough to sit at the lake shore so I drove to the nearby Amisk Wuche Trail.  It is short and well treed; just right for today.

I was almost a quarter way around the trail when the sun was high enough in the sky to break through the treetops.  I love the early morning light.  It is warm in color making it ideal for some dewdrop and back lit photographs.

There are not many leaves hanging on the branches.  Most are forming a carpet on the trail.  The rose bushes are providing the last bit of color amidst the grey tree trunks.  It is amazing how each of the thorny branches produces so many varying shades of color.  They are beautiful.
 
I spent some time sitting on a bench that stands atop a hill, overlooking a beaver pond.  The ducks were swimming in the shadows of the pond.  I heard the bluejays in the spruce trees.  A pair of geese and a number of ducks flew overhead.  I could hear their wings whistle in the wind.  

As I sat on the bench, I closed my eyes and tuned everything out except the sounds of the forest.  The dried leaves clinging to the branches and the tall grasses rustled in the wind. The birds called from the treetops.  I heard a hawk and a raven call from overhead.  The nearby trees creaked as they swayed to and fro in the gusts.  The sounds were heavenly.

On the drive back home, I noticed the park staff replacing the culverts in the bison loop.  The heavy machinery did not seem to bother the bison herd that was grazing nearby. 

A coyote was hunting in the ditch.  It stopped now and again to listen for movement in the tall grass.  As I approached, it lopped off into the trees.

The birds were busy in the backyard again; so was the squirrel.  I opened the garage door and the bushy tailed little rodent stared back at me before running for the safety of a cabinet.  It has been storing food in the attic of my garage as well as in the boxes that I have items stored in.  I found some nice dried mushrooms in the box containing the tie downs.

The afternoon turned out to be sunny but windy.  The leaves that I was going to rake, blew into the neighbor's yard on their own so I could sit back and enjoy a coffee on the deck.