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.