When was the last time that you went for a walk in the forest, in the rain? The air is fresher. The greens are greener. The sound of the raindrops is soothing.

Dig out your raincoat, your splash pants and your rubber boots. Layer your clothing. Don't forget something to keep your head dry and your hands warm. Head out to the nearest tree stand, park or trails and enjoy the rain. Oh, and don't forget to jump in a few puddles.

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The beaver pond stakeout was a success. They were everywhere. The most entertaining one had a long branch that he/she held like a corn cob and rotated as it nibbled the young leaves off.

The best time for viewing the beaver ponds is just as the sun is beginning to set.  This beauty was out at about 7:30pm.

g leaves off.

Elk Island National Park never disappoints no matter what time of day I travel there however, the light and quiet of an early morning visit enhances the experience.

A visit at 7:30am found nobody else around; not even the park staff were out that early. There were no humans but there were definitely many creatures big and small; beginning with the bison along the roadside. They paid no mind to me as I stopped to watch them graze in the tall grass. 

An elk bolted out of the forest as if being chased. In a blink of an eye it was gone into the forest on the opposite side of the road.

Ponds were alive with waterfowl in search of food. Each has families of Canada geese in them. The goslings are now big enough to search for food on their own, under the watchful eye of their parents.

As I wandered the beach at Astotin Lake, the avocets and gulls were harvesting the blood suckers close to shore. The water was calm and the warm light of the morning helped to create a very memorable scene.

A great blue heron flew across the lake. The pelicans were gathering. Once they were all together, they swam in unison in search of food. The cormorants and red neck grebes were near the boardwalk. 

I parked myself in a Parks Canada red chair and watched and listened to the sights and sounds of the early morning. What a great way to begin the day.

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I love to go a wandering along the .....

When I wander, I like to wonder. I wonder about how I easy it is to get 'lost' in the simple act of walking through the woods. When I wonder and immerse myself in the sights, sounds and smells of the forest, I pay attention to the little things. When I pay attention to the little things, I see things out of the ordinary. 

Today for example, a tender young plant growing from the moist forest floor was covered by a decaying leaf. As the plant grew, it found a hole in the leaf and began shooting up through the leaf. I found tent caterpillars munching on new green leaves and I heard the frogs singing their happy choruses in the pond that finally has some water in it.

Today's visit to the park was filled with bird calls and buzzing bees. There was time spent watching the pelicans huddle and swim like a synchro team. The herons were fishing and the terns were dipping and diving overhead. The robins were collecting earthworms from the paved path.

It didn't take long for me to tune out all the man-made sounds and tune in to Mother Nature. I'm sure glad that I did. I think there will be a return trip tomorrow.

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My visit to Elk Island National Park was blustery and wet but it provided a good opportunity to see a number of different bird species in action.

The waves along the shore of Astotin Lake brought tasty food right up to the gulls and avocets.  They didn't have to search too long or hard for the blood suckers that they had for breakfast.

When I drove into the parking lot, a great blue heron flew up and over the tree tops.  I watched and determined the direction it was headed.  I made my way to the Living Waters Boardwalk in search of the heron.  It wasn't long before I caught sight of it in the reedy shoreline.

I love watching these graceful birds.  This one moved stealthily through the reeds in search of food. It worked it's way to the end of the reeds and flew up to choose another spot.

There were two of these beauties close to the boardwalk.  What a lucky day!  I spent a couple of hours huddled on the floating dock as I observed their hunting skills.

 The red necked grebes dived and surfaced in front of me.  Their calls echoed through the mist on the lake.

Four pelicans flew overhead and landed close to the shore where the gulls and avocets were positioned.

I have had an annual park pass since 2007 and have hiked at Elk Island 2-3 times per week.  I don't know why I had never visited the Living Waters Boardwalk until a few weeks ago.  It is my new favorite spot.  It is peaceful with lots of bird action to watch.  The gentle waves lap against the side of the floating dock.  There are a couple of benches on the dock for bird watchers to sit and relax.  

Three hours flew by.  I was soaked from the misty rain but the air was fresh and the bird watching was as relaxing as it could get.  I got back to the parking lot feeling rejuvenated.

 

The description for the American avocets in my Birds of Alberta book is elegant. I'm not sure what draws me to these birds. It could be their combination of colors, their long bill or their long stilt legs. This is the first year that I've seen these beautiful shorebirds and I hope there are many more sightings to come. They are animated and so much fun to watch.

I knew the day was off to a great start when I saw a male white tail deer just a few kilometers from home. The warm morning light shone around him. He stopped to watch as I watched him. What a beauty.

That was just the beginning to a wonderful day of animal and bird watching. There were another 3 deer between this guy and the park gate. A coyote raced across the parkway. The bison grazed in the distance. Muskrats perched on logs in the water were eating the tender young shoots that they collected.

The abundance of waterfowl and shorebirds is a birdwatcher's dream. I'm not experienced with telling different species apart but I do love watching their antics as they go about their business.

I particularly like the shorebirds. They dip their beaks into the water in search of food. They balance on one leg. They are very vocal when you happen to come across them. I've been scolded many times by those little creatures; not knowing that they were even there as they blended into their surroundings.

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I got lost today. Not in the sense that I didn't know where I was but lost in the sights, sounds and smells of the early morning at Astotin Lake. 

On the drive to Elk Island Park at 7:15am, the sun's rays shone through the clouds creating a heavenly scene. It was -3C and it called for gloves to be worn to keep the shutter-button finger warm.

My first stop was the beach area at Astotin Lake to see if the avocets were there. I watched in awe as seven of them searched for food along the shore. What an amazing sight.

I walked south to the Living Waters Boardwalk. The birds were calling in the distance. I saw a great blue heron fly over the lake and land on a reedy shore. 

There were a couple of large white birds across from me but too far away to see without the binoculars. I was quite excited after finding out that they were pelicans. I was happy to see them from afar but even happier when more than 20 flew in my direction. 

Two grebes were feeding just off the boardwalk. One dipped its head beneath the water and came up with a green minnow net. It swam around with it for a few minutes before dropping it back into the water. What a strange sight.

The coots were putting on quite the show; running across the top of the water.

After watching the birds in action for an hour, I made my way to the Lakeview Trail. The hike was beautiful. A breeze began to blow and with it came a smokey haze; the after effect of the Fort McMurray wildfire.

The sun was shining and the temperature was just right for hiking. It was the first day in almost two weeks that I've been able to spend time on the trails so I took full advantage of it by driving to the Amisk Wuche Trail and hiking that trail as well.

Two beautiful hawks were perched on a snag. They flew up as I came near. The geese and ducks called from the pond. I heard a muskrat munching some green reeds beside the boardwalk.

The violets, wild clematis and marsh marigolds are in full bloom. The leaves on the shrubs and trees are now open. It's difficult to see the deer and moose amidst the trees because the trails are now walled by the greenery.

6.3kms of trails and the lakeshore were explored today. I came back feeling rejuvenated. My back was rested and my head was clear.

I was so immersed in my surroundings that I didn't realize that I had spent 5 hours at the park. What a treat.

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The yard is greening up and the dandelions are beginning to bloom. I mowed the lawn for the first time this season. The deer did a fine job of fertilizing it over the winter.

The strawberry plants are beginning to flower. All the runners from last year have rooted and the berry bed has doubled in size.

The potatoes, onions and scarlet runner beans are planted. I was tempted to buy the bedding plants already but am glad that I didn't. There have been a couple nights where the temperature dipped below freezing and things were pretty frosty.

I had three, one cubic yard bags of compost, mulch and gravel delivered last week. The bag of gravel was the last to be distributed in the yard. That was an all day project but it got done yesterday. I got all the yard work done so my days off later in the week could be used for trail time.

I hunted through my files for photos of moms/babes and found a few in tribute of Mother's Day. I hope all the mamas out there had a great day.

I found a sentinel this morning. I was taking in the sights of a beautiful morning on the way to work today. A hawk was perched, silent and still in a tree top.

I pulled over to the side of the road with the hope of capturing an action shot. It tipped its head in one direction and then the other. It leaned forward, looking down. I'm sure there was something in the grass below that caught its attention.

The hawk unfurled its wings and balanced on the end of a small branch. I thought it would dive but whatever was below must have escaped because the hawk returned to its sentinel post without breakfast.

I've seen many hawks along the roadside but have never had the opportunity to see one as close as this. What a treat to have spent a few moments watching this beautiful bird.

This morning I woke to the sound of rain. As daylight broke, the gentle shower stopped and I went out to the deck. The air was cool and fresh and the new vegetation was a lush green. It is quite the contrast to the wildfire photos coming out of the Fort McMurray area. The devastation it has caused reminds us that Mother Nature is a force much larger than us. I can't begin to imagine what the residents were going through. 

When I heard the first reports about the wildfire I turned the radio on and was listening to what was going on. Listeners were calling in as they sat in traffic on Highway 63. They spoke of their evacuation experiences and mentioned seeing all the animals running from the burning forest. One fellow said the ditches were filled with deer.

As the reports kept flooding in I noticed how many people stated that it was 'just stuff' that can be replaced. They were safe and their loved ones were safe. That was all that mattered.

They are right. Even though the fire is devastating and has turned their lives upside down, the lost infrastructure and the buildings will be reconstructed. The forests will regrow. The realization is that you only have one life. When it is gone, it is gone.

When you are out enjoying the trails and the campgrounds this summer, do so with care. Don't take for granted that your campfire is out. Douse it and make sure that there are no longer any live embers. Take care when using ATVs and disposing of smoking material.

The cause of the Fort McMurray fire has not been determined but it started someplace with a little spark. If it was a lightning strike, that is not something we could have prevented but we need to do our part when it comes to outdoor experiences. Let's ensure that we do everything possible so another fire of this magnitude does not happen by human causes.

The swallows are back! I love watching these lovely birds dive and swoop. They are so graceful in flight.


Most of the nest boxes at the end of the driveway at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre are occupied by these beauties. They perch on the nearby fence posts and on the barbed wire until you get too close. If that happens, look out, you will find them diving at your head!