I finally got a photograph of the elusive elk roaming the hay fields close to home.  Through the winter I saw five of them feeding at the hay bales stacked at the edge of the tree line.  It is not often that they are in the open but it was my lucky morning to see two of the five.

My yard has been taken over by five young bluejays that are 'getting their wings'.  Their commotion in the lilac bushes got my attention yesterday.  They tried jumped from branch to branch squawking at each other.  This morning they made it to the willow outside my kitchen window.  Needless to say, my breakfast was not quiet.

Three of the five fledglings flew, well fell more than flew, onto my deck.  They all looked up at the tree and at the deck railing.  Two of them made it to the rail and attempted to fly to the fence.  One made it.  The other did not and landed on the ground.  The third was still on the deck attempting to get onto the railing.  It finally gave up and jumped onto the bottom board between the balusters.  There was not enough space for it to open its wings so only managed to jump down to the ground.  It took more than one attempt but they all eventually made it to the top of the fence.  There were two that were not as brave.  They could be up in the willow tree for awhile.

There was a lot of noise in the yard this morning but the entertainment value was worth it.

I could not believe my luck.  On the drive home from work each day I watch the ditches from side to side in case a deer or a moose happen to bolt across the road.  I was almost home when I noticed a moose cooling off in a pond.  It glanced up when I came to a stop.  My only wish was that it remain there until I got some photos.

Well, it stayed and I got my wish.  When it finally made a move, it climbed up the bank and came running through the tall grass.  It was headed in my direction.  My camera was ready as that beauty jumped the fence and came up onto the road in front of my vehicle.  Those clumsy long legs got it to the other side and into the Strathcona Wilderness Center forest in no time.  

This evening I was watering my plants and experienced the second bit of luck for the day.  I heard a hummingbird.  It turned out that there was not one but four of them in the yard.  This is the first time that I've seen a pair of rufous hummers in the yard.  I ran for the camera and staked out the feeder.  It was then that I noticed the pair of ruby throated hummers as well.  What a day!  I should have purchased a lottery ticket. 

A drive through Elk Island Park resulted in a bountiful number of waterfowl sightings.  Many of the ponds along the parkway are drying up.  Those with a decent water level had some very cute babies swimming in them or lounging beside them.  

I am not an avid birdwatcher but have been paying more attention lately.  The extent of my watching has been limited to the backyard feeders until I found an extensive birding list that one could indicate sightings.  

I started tracking them two years ago and each year since have tried to find at least one more species that I have not seen before.  Given all the ponds, sloughs, lakes and treed areas in the immediate area and the fact that I've now been paying attention to who's flying or swimming about, I've been able to add a number of birds to the list.

Their humorous grooming/feeding habits, their parenting 'skills' and their calls have been entertaining.  I watched some goose parents trying to herd eight little ones across the parkway at Elk Island.  It was quite the chore to keep them all in line and going in the proper direction.  

I'm not having much luck identifying bird calls but enjoy listening to those sweet sounds coming from the tree tops.  My alarm each morning is a robin in the tree outside my window.  

 

I ventured out to a new staging area in the Cooking Lake - Blackfoot Recreation Area to try some new trails.  The Blackfoot Staging Area is easy to access off the Yellowhead highway.  I drove to it in the winter and found a number of dog sledders preparing their sleds for an outing.  This time the parking lot was empty.

I wandered around and checked out what the area had to offer.  It has the typical cookhouse with indoor picnic tables and a wood stove but it also has some beautiful spots for outdoor picnics with fire pits; some with picnic tables and some with only the fire pit so you can pull your lawn chair nice and close to the fire.  Fire wood is provided.  What a great little spot for a picnic and some relaxation!

The trusty map was in my pocket and my camera was close at hand.  It rained the night before so I was prepared for numerous muddy areas but found only one.  The trails are not as well used as those at other staging areas.  The grass in many areas was more than a foot tall!

I wanted to find the lake that is home to a blue heron rookery.  The trail that I was on was very scenic; providing a variety of trees, lakes, sloughs and open areas.  The birds sang from the treetops.  The butterflies flitted from wildflower to wildflower.  The wild roses were so prolific that the aroma from them was very strong.  If I closed my eyes, I would have thought that I was in a rose garden.

I wandered and took in the forest sights and sounds.  It was a peaceful stroll.  So much so, that I didn't notice a fork in the trail.  I headed left when I should have gone right which added an extra 3kms to the hike.  

The trail that I took by mistake was beautiful.  It ran between Blackfoot Lake and a slough.  Numerous duck families were out for a morning swim.  A beaver hid in the grass; watching to see if I would notice it.  A number of species of small birds banded together and chased a hawk away from a nesting area.  It was teamwork in action.

I doubled back and headed west on the trail that I really wanted to be on.  It rain along the north shore of Blackfoot Lake.  Waterfowl called from the distance.  Blackbirds balanced on the tops of last year's cat tails.  I didn't see the heron nesting area but that was okay.  I stopped and enjoyed the scene from a picnic table that was placed beside

the lake.  As I rested, a Baltimore oriole flew over and perched in a tree top.  It sang a sweet song before moving on.

I will definitely revisit this area to explore more trails.  It offered a variety of landscapes.  The bees, butterflies and dragonflies were plentiful.  The wildflowers provided beautiful sights and smells.  What a great choice for a peaceful morning hike!

 

I needed to unplug.  I hadn't been on the trails for almost two weeks and I could feel it.  I needed some solitude and found it at my favorite campground.

The weather was not looking promising in that area but a little rain doesn't bother me.  In fact, a walk in the rain is peaceful and mind-clearing.

I packed up my vehicle on the evening of the 16th and left early the next day.  The sun was shining and the sky was blue.  It was the perfect beginning to a three hour drive.  

Near the half-way point, clouds were building up and a few raindrops began to fall.  The showers turned to rain at Rocky Mountain House and did not stop until I got to the campground.  By the time I was ready to set up camp, the rain became light and soon stopped; leaving a fresh, forest smell.  I wished that I could bottle that aroma to take home. 

I was in my favorite campsite.  There were only a handful of campers and none of them were close to my site.  When I arrived at the lake, I contemplated a site along the lake shore until I noticed a couple of the RVs parked there had generators so I headed to #37.

It doesn't take long to get camp set up.  I sorted out all the camping gear into convenient, marked tubs so all I have to do is make sure that what goes in each is actually in there each time I come and go.  If that happens, I just grab and go when I get the urge to leave.  

The tent takes only ten minutes to set up.  It takes longer to get the tarp up if it is required and this time it was required.  Rain was in the forecast for the entire time that I was to be there.  The first order of business when everything was set up was to get the camping coffee brewing on the stove.  That gritty, dark roasted beverage is what I look forward to each time I go camping.  There is nothing that comes remotely close to that flavor, grounds and all.

Once camp was set up, I drove down to the day use area at the lake.  The sun peeked through the clouds reflecting on the calm water.  A pair of loons swam close to the dock.  I really wanted to get some good photos of them and made note that they were pretty cooperative that day.

On the way back to my site I stopped at the little campground store to inquire about firewood.  The clerks said that due to significant theft last year, everyone would need to get wood from the bin closest to the store so it could be monitored.  The camp site fees include wood and the bin was nice and handy to the site I was at but having to drive to get the wood is at least better than no wood.  

I stayed at camp that night and enjoyed a bonfire.  There's something magical about staring into those flames and watching the sparks fly as the pine/spruce sap crackles.  That's another smell that I wish that I could bottle up for later use.

As the sun set and the fire waned, I chose to call it a night at 8:30pm.  I was hoping that the mountain air and the cool temperatures would allow me a restful night as I hadn't been sleeping well at home.  Sleep patterns have been disrupted for a few weeks and I needed to catch up.  There were no overnight thunder storms and no forest fire helicopters overhead.  Silence prevailed and so did my sleep.  I woke only a couple times to adjust the toque on my head as the overnight temperature dipped to +4C.  It was heavenly and so was my sleep.  I don't recall the last time that I had at least eight hours consecutively.

I could see my breath when I stepped out of the tent in the morning.  The sun was coming up over the trees and began streaming through the upper branches.  Coffee and hot oatmeal was on the menu and it sure tasted good.

My day was spent driving west on the David Thompson highway.  There is an ecological reserve along the way.  Bluebird houses are set up on the posts.  They are numbered and monitored.  This is the first year that it looked like the majority of the houses were occupied.  I could see the 'nestee' sitting on the barbed wire beside his/her house.

My first stop was at Landslide Lake.  Many years ago I participated in a photography workshop.  The instructors took us there for an outing shortly after a controlled burn was held in that area.  It's been fabulous watching how the forest changes each year.  The black ashes from the fire are covered now with bright green grass and colorful wildflowers.  The snags are losing their burnt bark and the shiny white trunks are showing.  The birds have returned, bringing their chorus of songs back to a quiet landscape.

As I pulled into the parking lot I noticed a couple of bluebirds in a nearby branch.  I watched as they gathered food and brought it to a hole in one of the tree trunks close to the outhouses.  I soon realized that they had nested in the hole.  There was a boulder a short distance away that made the perfect observation spot for me.  I wasn't on the clock and had no particular place to be so spent a half hour watching the busy parents feed their young.  What a great opportunity I had.

I drove west again, taking in the landscape.  The mountains looming in the distance.  The burned out areas left from the Spreading Creek fire last year were changing.  Even though it has only been one year, there were signs of new growth between the burnt trunks.  Many of the snags have toppled, creating interesting patterns on the forest floor.

The ditches were filled with colorful wildflowers.  Prairie lilies, Indian paintbrush in various shades and vetch to name only a few.  I stopped now and again to take some photos of those that I could not name and had never seen in the wild before.  Mother Nature's flower garden was brimming with color. 

I drove into Banff National Park to the Mistaya Canyon.  It is a favorite spot.  I love listening to the surge of water in the rapids as it makes its way to the drop in the canyon.  The power of the water can be felt by the spray created as it falls.  There were a number of tourists there, visiting from other countries.  It made me realize how grateful I was to have such pristine, majestic beauty less than a half day drive from home.  How lucky we are.

Waterfowl Lakes campground is on my list to camp at once again.  I've camped there only once and remember the smells and sounds which makes me want to revisit.  I drove south to check out the sites, not knowing that it does not open until the end of June.  That just gives me a reason for another trip in the not so distant future.

Rain showers began on my way back to my campground.  I decided to drive through a number of the smaller campgrounds along the highway to see what they had to offer.  All were in the same situation as Fish Lake.  There was no firewood in the bins.  Many had signs posted to see hosts at other campgrounds for wood.  The thieves have made it an inconvenience for all those who care for and appreciate what nature has to offer.

I returned to my site in the mid afternoon.  After a quick lunch, the fishing rod, camera and I went to the lake.  A couple of fly fishermen with their hip waders on were trying their luck along the shore close to the cookhouse.  I wandered further south and found a bench to

park myself on.  Most times I don't end up fishing for very long.  I don't have the patience to sit and wait and wait and wait.  I get even more impatient when I can see that the fish are nibbling on my bait but not biting my hook.  I pulled the line out of the water and brought the camera out.  

The loons must have known that I wanted some photos of them.  They put on quite the show for me.  As I left the lake, they serenaded me with their haunting call across the water.  That was the perfect way to end that visit.

I went back to camp for supper and still had time for one more visit to the lake.  This time I hiked the trail.  If the camera is not with me, the hike takes about 45 minutes but with a camera it takes much longer.  The sky cleared.  The raindrops were still dripping from the tree branches.  The

sun's rays were shining through the treetops.  The moss and the needles on the forest floor smelled heavenly.  The squirrels chattered and the birds sang.  At that moment, I was sure glad that I was unplugged.  The peace and serenity of the forest is an experience like non-other.

My evening was spent by the campfire.  I was getting ready to call it a night when I noticed some movement by the outhouses.  A beautiful white-tail buck was staring at me through the trees.  It didn't move and neither did I so he continued eating the long tender grasses.  That was the perfect way to end the day.

The next morning was pack up day to head home.  I didn't want to leave but loaded up anyway.  I always make sure that I leave the site cleaner than when I arrived; picking up the bottle caps and litter left by the previous campers.  A stop at the lake was in order before

hitting the road.  The loons were out on the water.  A hare hopped out of the bushes in search of food.  A chipmunk scurried under a nearby log.  Fish Lake's creatures came to say good by until next time.

It was a perfect trip and much needed.  I caught up on my sleep and was able to unwind.  I left the area feeling rested and so grateful for the solitude that this area provides.

I visited the pond at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre with the intention of watching the beavers.  They were in hiding but the waterfowl entertained me.  A family of geese were feeding on the tender young grass at the edge of the pond.  As I approached, the parents warned me away with a loud hiss.

A pair of horned grebes and cinnamon teals swam silently across the pond surface.  The blackbirds perched precariously on the tops of the cat tails; their songs filling the air.

Tree swallows have taken up residence in the nearby birdhouses.  Heads popped out of the entrance holes.  The roof was knocked off one of the houses.  I didn't see any sign of life in the box so I peered into the top.  There were eggs inside.  The mama showed up soon after.

A gentle breeze rustled the high branches of the aspen trees.  Ducks quacked in the pond across the road.  The swallows swooped overhead.  The moon was rising above the tree tops.  It was a beautiful evening to share with Mother Nature.

The rain this week made the spruce trees so happy that all the new buds popped open sending a shower of pollen into the yard.  A fine yellow blanket covers everything, including my deck.

Pollen and I are not friends so when I took the broom to rid it from the deck, it fought back.  The result was swollen eyes and clogged sinuses.  I was definitely the loser in the battle.

This is why I love winter.  No allergy problems.  No mosquitoes.  No dandelion fuzz flying up my nose as I walk.  I miss my white, non-allergenic blanket of snow.  While I wait for it to return, I'm forced to witness the backyard happenings while sneezing and sniffling.

The hummingbirds are back and busy at the feeders.  I bought a new feeder that has a ring on it so the little beauties can perch while they feed; all the better for getting their photo.  

They are aggressive little things.  A blackbird got too close to a hummer nest and was probably surprised by the attack it encountered.  The hummingbird flew after it at top speed; right over my head.

Last night I walked into the kitchen to find a pileated woodpecker sitting on my deck railing.  It appeared to be marking its territory like a dog or a cat.  It rubbed its head on the railing as if leaving a scent.  When it was done, it flew into the middle of the yard to some log stumps.

The woodpecker was very entertaining.  It grabbed hold of a stump and tried to make friends with a beaver statue.  The wood pecker moved around the circumference of the log.  As it moved, it kept glancing up at the beaver.  It would move its bright red head to the left and to the right.  There was no response from the statue so the woodpecker took to the trees.

I can watch the backyard birds from the safety of the house where the pollen cannot enter.  As I watched the woodpecker last night, the bloomed out dandelions shook their heads and spewed more seeds over the grass.  It's time to mow again.  I may have to wear a hazmat suit.  Winter, where are you?
 

My schedule of late has not allowed time for trail adventures.  Time off has been spent trying to stay ahead of the dandelion invasion in the backyard.  One full day from sun up to sun down was spent playing catch up with the weeds, spring plantings and mowing.  It was due to this productive day that I was finally able to venture to David Thompson country for an entire day.

I watched the forecast but was going to go rain or shine.  There was more shine than rain so it made for a pleasurable drive.  We try to go annually for some spring bear sightings.  The ditches along the David Thompson highway are usually filled with tasty dandelions that the bruins love.

We packed up and left at 8am for the three hour drive.  Within 20 minutes from home, a young moose crossed the road in front of us.  There were a couple of pit stops at Village at the Lake and Rocky Mountain House.  My son was lucky to see a great blue heron watching for lunch in the Battle River.  The only wildlife we saw along the David Thompson highway was a coyote.  We made it to the Nordegg area just before noon.

Landslide Lake was our most westerly stop.  I love to visit the area to see how much it changes from year to year.  My first visit there was a year after a controlled burn took place.  Each year since, the forest has changed.  The first year, the wild flowers were abundant.  Since then, the young aspens have been reaching for the sky.  They are now about 5-6 feet tall in most areas.  The charred bark from the standing snags is falling to the ground, leaving pure white trunks.  The birds have returned and sing from the tree tops.

From Landslide Lake, we drove east to Fish Lake.  It is a favorite camping/fishing spot.  The lake side picnic tables were filled with partiers, helping someone celebrate a 25th anniversary.  There were a number of boats on the lake with fishermen hoping to catch the big one.  The pier had kids running back and forth on it so it would have been pointless to try and cast from there.  

We left the Fish Lake day use area and drove through the campground.  The sites are still well maintained and my all time favorite one was sitting empty.  There were not too many hardy campers.

The Harlech Fish Pond can be found along the highway, east of Nordegg.  We stopped here to try our hand at fishing.  The wind gusted now and again making it difficult for casting but the sun was shining and there was nobody else around so the afternoon was perfect.  Just before leaving, a dark cloud to the north of us provided some thunder in the distance but no rain in our area.

After packing up the fishing gear, we left this beautiful country for the trek back home; arriving around 8pm.  The day trip is long but so worth it if you only have one day and need to make the best of it.  

I'll be digging out the camping gear and heading that way again when I can stay for a couple of days. In the meantime, I'll be trying my best to get out to the trails more often since the invasion of the dandelions in my yard is finally under control.