While the Monday morning commuters were stuck in traffic yesterday, I was stuck behind a slow moving moose. It was out for a leisurely stroll. The only problem was that it was walking down the middle of the road.
The only vehicle on the road was mine. I approached slowly. When I was about ten car lengths away, it turned its head and looked at me but did not move into the ditch. I got to within five car lengths when it decided to move. It obviously didn't feel like jumping any fences that early in the day because it turned into the driveway access to an open field.
That was a great way to begin a busy day. After thirteen years of use, my lawnmower decided to call it quits so I had to go shopping. The new one that I purchased had to be put together. I was impressed to find that it started on the first pull of the rope.
The day was perfect for working outside. I managed to get the entire spring clean up done so it can rain anytime. The new perennials planted in the fall are about three inches tall. The leaf buds are popping open on the ninebarks and the saskatoon bushes.
The garden beds are ready for planting. I mixed leaves into each of the beds. I'm hoping to have time this week to plant the beds and put the greenhouse caps over them.
This season is my busiest time at work. With the yard work done, I can enjoy my 'after-work' cup of coffee on the deck while I listen to the birds singing and watch the backyard green up. I'll be getting the outdoor gear list ready soon because camping season is just around the corner.
The front yard got a new blanket of cedar mulch that is providing a wonderful smell outside the door. I finished emptying the last bag as the rain clouds neared. There was enough time to spare so I managed to get the gutters cleared of all the twigs and leaves that collected in them over the fall and winter. The rain barrels were ready to catch the first spring rainfall.
The rainfall was much needed. I witnessed a grass fire a few days ago that was only a mile away from home. The wind whipped the flames up and guided the fire close to an acreage yard. The fire department got it under control before any damage was done. There were two more grass fires that started yesterday; one just two range roads over from mine.
The rain began last night with the first thunderstorm of the season. It filled two rain barrels. The showers continued on and off through the day. The sound of the drops was soothing and the smell was fresh. It was much needed to dampen all the dry grass, to give the new grass and perennials a much needed drink and to tame the dust that has been blowing around with the gusty winds.
Last night I was carrying and armful of garden hose to the shed. I was not paying particular attention to where I was stepping until I noticed movement just as my foot was going to touch the ground. It took a couple seconds to realize that it was a snake. It was hard to believe that they were out already. It was only April 22. They must have been celebrating Earth Day.
The garter snakes have been in the yard for a couple of years now. They appear to enjoy the naturescaping that was done. There are a couple of areas piled high with twigs and branches. The piles provide shelter for the snakes and tiger salamanders.
The ice build up from winter is almost gone. The grass is greening up. The perennials are sprouting. The leaf buds on the willows are popping open. The cranes and swans are returning from the south. The sweet songs of the chickadees wake me at the crack of dawn. Spring is definitely providing a variety of sights, sounds and smells.
I started my evening outing at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre pond. When I pulled into the driveway I saw one beaver and a pair of mallard ducks swimming there.
I parked myself at the edge of the pond. The ducks disappeared on the other side of the rustling cattails. The beaver swam away from the dam and dived under the water. I could see the direction it was traveling in by watching the bubbles that surfaced. Usually they dive and come back up right away but this time one left and didn't come back.
I waited for the beaver to return. While I waited, the boreal chorus frogs serenaded me. I love their spring songs; the sound echoing through the trees.
There was no further action at the pond so I decided to take a trip to Elk Island National Park. That's where the action was. Bison, a coyote, elk, deer, moose, waterfowl and beavers; I saw them all. As I staked out a beaver pond, I also saw a long-billed shorebird. It was difficult to determine exactly what it was but my photo appeared to match that of a snipe in my reference book.
The bison were abundant. Many were grazing in the Bison Loop; others were grazing in the ditches along the parkway.
I glanced to the east and noticed a moose slogging through a swamp. It lifted its long legs and water dripped, reflecting the setting sunlight.
Every pond that I passed by had busy beavers in them. Some were eating while others were grooming. What a treat to see so many of them out this evening.
I wasn't the only person watching the wildlife tonight. One pond had a 'beaver jam'. There were three vehicles pulled off to the side. Each driver had a camera set up on a tripod. I was in awe of one of the camera lenses. It looked to be at least 6 inches in diameter.
I left the park as the sun was setting. I should have stayed around Astotin Lake to watch the sun set. The colors were amazing.
On my drive home from work yesterday I noticed that almost all the ice is gone from the local ponds; including the one that I've been visiting. The beavers have been busy; adding mud and reeds to their dam. They are preventing the water from flowing through the culvert so the pond is close to overflowing its banks. Over the course of three days, they have added four inches in height to the entire length of the dam.
As the beavers worked, a muskrat came by. It scampered onto the dam as if inspecting the work being done. Hunger called and it soon was hunkered down in the cat tails looking for new green growth.
The ducks and geese have arrived on the pond. I won't be able to visit for the next few days but there should be even more action by the time I get back there. Spring has arrived.
The boreal chorus frogs are waking from their winter naps. I heard a few last night. In a couple of weeks, their calls will be deafening.
There was a slight breeze that swayed the tall aspens. The tall, white trunks looked beautiful against the cloudless, blue sky.
Geese flew from pond to pond; their honking echoing through the trees. I was able to sneak up and observe the geese as they swam but the ducks were skittish and took off each time I tried to get closer.
When I finished the loop and returned to the beaver pond where the trail begins, I noticed one beaver adding mud to the dam. I was just in time. I prepared a front row seat for the early show.
I sat down along the edge of the pond. The beaver noticed me and swam back and forth; eying me over. There was no tail slapping; just gentle dives and surfacing. Each time it surfaced, it looked in my direction.
I watched for forty five minutes. During that time the beaver dived and dug up the soft mud to add to the dam. It chewed off the old bulrush stalks and added them to the mud. When it got hungry, it found some new green growth amidst the old stalks. The night was calm and there was no traffic so I could hear the chewing.
I had my binoculars with me but didn't have to use them. The beaver was only eight feet in front of me and the dam it was working on was only about twenty feet away. I had the best seat in the 'house' and was not disappointed by the evening entertainment.
It was supposed to rain today. I was looking forward to a spring shower to freshen everything up. The clouds came and went without a drop.
When I was sure that I didn't need a raincoat, I ventured out to the Strathcona Wilderness Centre. It was my first outing since the spring thaw. Winter's white blanket is almost gone. Most trails are snow-free.
The thaw has been slow, allowing the moisture to seep into the soil. There is not much water in the sloughs and very few puddles in the low spots. Many sloughs and ponds are not yet ice-free.
I parked at the end of the driveway at the SWC and headed to the trails east of the beaver pond. Half the pond has a thin layer of ice on it. All was quiet there; no waterfowl, birds or beavers.
There was a slight breeze that rustled the tall, dry grass. The trees swayed to and fro. I tuned out the vehicular noise from the township road and tuned in the natural sounds. Chickadees sang their 'cheeseburger' songs from the clumps of birch trees. Some Canada Geese flew overhead. I could hear their wings moving through the air.
As I walked, the water squished beneath my boots at the bottom of the hills. At the top of the hills, the leaves were dry and they crunched as I stepped on them. In the open areas the wind picked up dry leaves and made them dance across the trail. The loose pieces of birch bark flapped against the tree trunks.
On the Wagon Loop portion of the trail, a young moose was resting close by. It did not hear me and I did not see it. As I approached, it stood and ran through a slough. We scared each other. At the other side, it stopped and looked back at me. When it realized that I would do no harm, it began eating willow branches.
The birds provided the music for the evening. A hawk soared and called out. A robin sang from a tall aspen. A crow 'cawed' from the top of a spruce tree.
The sun was beginning to set by the time I got back to the beaver pond. The poplars created long shadows across the trail. The pussy willows were back-lit by the sun, making them look like twinkle lights in the bog.
I finished the loop and came back to the pond where I started my walk. There was no action when I began but there was plenty when I returned.
I heard rustling in the dry bullrushes. The sound caught my attention. I stopped to see if I could determine what was in there. I noticed two beavers packing mud on a dam and one more swimming toward them.
The air got cooler as the sun went down but that did not stop me from staking out the pond. I love watching the beavers as they go about their business. This evening, in addition to observing their work on the dam, I saw one grooming itself. What a treat!
I packed it in after thirty minutes because my hands were frozen and my teeth were chattering. I can't wait for the next evening that I can observe Mother Nature in action. That's my reality entertainment and I love it.
I've spent the past week indoors. Needless to say, today was spent outside. The snow is almost gone. The sun was shining and the hiking trails were calling.
I've had some long work days and didn't have the opportunity to have a close look at the back yard until this morning. There are some icy patches along the north side of the garage but the rest of the yard is almost dry. It is almost ready for a good clean up.
That task was not on the to-do list today. I needed to go for a hike. I've missed the fresh air and the sweet sounds of nature. I drove to Elk Island National Park for some outdoor time.
The bison were out along the parkway. Some were walking down the middle of the road while others grazed in the ditch.
Some ponds still have ice on their surface while others have open water. Canada Geese and a number of ducks are inhabiting the open ones.
The park staff were busy destroying beaver dams. Their vehicle was parked along in a ditch and I could hear the blasts. On my way out of the park, the water was flowing so they were successful in their project.
I made my way to the Amisk Wuche trail. There was a lot of action there today. Most sections of the trail are dry but there are some small areas that still have some ice and snow.
One small beaver pond was flowing over the trail. Someone had constructed a make-shift log-walk that I had to balance on to keep my feet dry.
As I walked I could hear the trees creaking in the wind, the geese honking on the pond, the squirrels chattering in the treetops and the birds singing their spring songs in the evergreen boughs.
I stopped to enjoy those beautiful sounds. They were music to my ears. As I listened to the natural choir, I noticed the juncos and boreal chickadees contributing their choruses.
A butterfly flitted in front of me, landing in a sunny location to soak up the rays. I heard rustling in the long grass. It took me a while to determine where the sound was coming from. A busy muskrat was chewing on some new grass.
I spent two hours on the trail that usually takes about 45 minutes to hike. There was so much to see and so much to hear. I could not have asked for a better outdoor break than the one that I had this morning.
The warm sun rays were shining through the kitchen window this morning. I was toasty warm while eating breakfast so I thought it would be a great morning to go for a hike. Little did I know how deceiving it was.
I gathered my camera gear and dressed for what I thought the temperature was going to be. My thought was to head to Elk Island. The closer I got to the park, the more I noticed how windy it was. My attire for the backyard was not fitting for the trail so the hike turned into a short road trip.
I was still closer to home than to the park when I saw a moose sunning himself. He was lounging in a sunbeam on a small hillside. Traffic on the Yellowhead was zipping by in both directions but it didn't appear to bother the moose. If I could have pulled over, I would have gotten a good photo but sadly it's only a memory.
The ice on some of the ponds has melted, yet some are still frozen over. I found numerous geese and a few pairs of mallards in the open water. There was no sign of any beavers or muskrats for that matter.
The bison were off in the distance so there were no crazy 'bison jams' like the 'bear jams' in Jasper. The only other wildlife I saw today was a lonely coyote running across the parkway from one side to the other. By the time I got to where it crossed, it was no where in sight.
I took the scenic route home with the hope of seeing more moose but that was a bust so here's hoping that the backyard wildlife will pay a visit this afternoon.
Snow! Lots of it! The yard was bare but now it has a white blanket once again and it's not melting very fast.
I hadn't been on the Elk Island trails for a while but yesterday we visited a couple of them. We were not the only people enjoying the sunny day. There were many vehicles on the parkway and in the parking lots.
We started at the loop that runs along Astotin Lake. There was still a lot of snow on the trail. The Canada Geese stood on top the ice; searching for open water. The lake was still frozen right to the shore.
The skies were clear and the day was sunny. It felt so good to be outside in the fresh air. We finished one trail and decided to hike a second one so we made our way to the Amisk Wuche trail.
A couple coming into the parking lot mentioned that they had seen a moose on their travels. We were on the look out for it but didn't see one. The only wildlife witnessed were some chickadees and a squirrel.
The bison were out on the parkway. Numerous vehicles were parked along the road and people left the safety of their cars and trucks to make their way across the road toward the bison. I just don't know what people are thinking when I see that happen.
Late in the afternoon, the sky clouded over. Snow showers dropped large fluffy flakes. Today, most of the day was cloudy. The sky did clear in the late afternoon.
I saw the deer milling around in the forest behind the yard. It wasn't long before they made their way into the yard. Through the winter they came a couple times a day. Now they are coming only a couple times a week.
There is a full moon and a sky full of stars this evening. I went out to the deck to enjoy that night sky view. The coyotes were howling in the distance. The geese were honking on the lake. It's a beautiful night for some sky-gazing.
