I returned from Fernie to find about eight inches of snow at home. Most has melted but some remains where the sun does not shine on it. I didn't know what to expect at the Beaver Hills Biodiversity Trail but I was ready for snow or mud.

The trail turned out to be in great shape. There was snow in areas where the trail is tree covered and a leaf carpet covers the areas that would be muddy.

I had to take advantage of the day. The sun was brilliant and the sky was cloudless. I took a few moments to enjoy it from one of the benches that overlooks a pond. The waterfowl were gone. I wondered where the swan family settled for the winter. It was great fun to watch them through the summer.

I could hear Mother Nature's choir on my travels through the forest. The bluejays called. The squirrels chattered. The chickadees sang. A pair of moose were browsing in the woods. They heard the crunch of frozen grass under my boots and took off through the trees. A grouse flew up from the underbrush. 

I was there in mid morning. The sun was beginning to melt the frost. Leaves were holding drops of water that reflected the light. The forest carpet sparkled. It was a great day for a hike.

I was surprised at the number of creatures, big and small, that I saw yesterday.  I was not the only one taking advantage of a sunny day.  There was more wildlife on this trail than my usual Elk Island trails combined.

I was about a half hour into the hike when I spied a cow moose.  She ran as soon as she caught sight of me.  I could hear her crashing through the trees.

The birds were busy and vocal.  Black capped chickadees, white breasted nuthatches, juncos and blue jays flew from branch to branch in search of food.  I could hear magpies, crows and ravens in the distance.  As I approached the lake, a choir of waterfowl calls filled the air.  A flock of cranes called from overhead. 

The wood bison were close to the trail.  My first sighting was along the lake shore.  I could see his horns and the top of his head above the tall grass.  I saw four of them grazing in an open meadow and another four came thundering across the trail.  The ground shook as they stampeded into the trees.

Squirrels were gathering mushrooms for their winter stores.  One balanced atop a snag.  It stopped long enough to give me a scolding.

There were so many butterflies visible.  All were feeding on the remaining wildflowers; flitting in front of me on the trail and then stopping to rest on the warm sand.

I counted five grouse and four more moose along the way.  The one photo that I did get was of the south end of a north bound moose. 

I took the long way home to see if there were more creatures out on the parkway.  

Two young coyotes were walking in the ditch.  I pulled over to watch them and both came lopping to my driver's side door.  They waited to see if I would give them some food.  I could tell that visitors have been feeding them.  They were not afraid.

Astotin Lake had a couple of bison visiting the picnic area.  One decided that he needed to wallow in the sand on the beach.  He used his front hooves to dig in the sand before rolling back and forth.

Yesterday was fantastic for a number of reasons; the sun was shining, the temperature was perfect, there were no flying insects to bother me and so many of the forest creatures stopped to say hello.  What a perfect day!

As I looked out the back window to watch the sun rise, I noticed that the wind has stripped the autumn color from the trees.  I heard the gusts through the night and this morning, the backyard is littered with leaves.

It is still windy so the efforts to rake them would be fruitless.  I need a few bags of leaves to mix into my raised garden beds so the first chance I get, I'll be collecting that backyard carpet and mixing it with the black soil.

On Saturday when I got back from the farm, I was unloading my vehicle and saw birds overhead.  This time it was not sandhill cranes.  There were pelicans swooping and swirling!

The Canada geese are not on the move yet.  I noticed many flocks in the harvested fields; picking up what the farm equipment left behind.

The chickadees and nuthatches are busy feeding in the backyard.  I've added some suet and peanut feeders to attract more woodpeckers and blue jays.  There has been lots of action at all the feeders.  The sunflower seeds need to be filled daily where through the summer I filled those feeders once per week.

The birds are preparing for winter just as I was.  The firewood stand arrived and I put that together.  The log splitter arrived and the stack of wood is split, on the stand and covered up.  The new outdoor fire pit arrived and I assembled that as well.  I haven't had the chance to use it yet.  There is some prep work that needs doing in the old fire ring before the new one can fit inside safely.  

I can't wait to try it for the first time.  The forecast for the weekend is looking great and if the wind cooperates, I'm going to try my best for an autumn bonfire.  The best case scenario would be to have some leaves left over from the garden project.  Oh, how I love leaf bonfires in the fall.  I miss my old 'leaf trees' from the backyard.  They used to give me enough leaves for a bonfire to last all afternoon.

My arms feel like rubber bands but the wood is split and stacked.  It was a beautiful day to be outside.  The sun was shining.  The sky was blue with only a few wispy clouds. 

The birds kept me entertained all day.  They didn't seem to mind the noise of the log splitter.  White-breasted nuthatches and chickadees flew back and forth from tree branches to feeders.  Blue jays squawked and dived down to the seed feeders.

Whenever the splitter was off, I could hear cranes overhead.  At least 8 flocks of cranes came into view.  They circled and appeared to join together into one big flock.  They were on the move today.

A large pileated woodpecker came for a visit.  I heard it first and tried to determine where it was.  It flew into the yard from

the forest behind my yard and landed on an old poplar snag.  From the snag, it landed on a log on the ground.  There must have been some tasty bugs in that one.  It kept the woodpecker busy for a few minutes before it flew up to a stump just a few feet away from me.

I watched the woodpecker and it watched me.  Once it determined that I was no threat, it flew up to the suet feeder.  It amazes me that such a big bird can hold onto that cage and still be able to peck at the suet.

As I split the large logs, I found grubs inside of them.  I'm sure the woodpecker would have loved those juicy morsels.

I didn't get out to the trails but nature came to me and I enjoyed the show. 

 

As I sat at the kitchen table this morning, I watched the first rays of the morning sun stream through the tree branches at the back of the yard.  I could hear the chickadees in the tree by the window.  It was then that I decided that it was a good day for a spontaneous trip to Elk Island National Park.  So at 7:30am I threw the camera gear and a backpack into my vehicle and hit the road.

The bison were out along the fence line, grazing on the last blades of green grass.  Ducks and geese were swimming in the little ponds.  There was one thing for sure, there would not be too many people at the park at that hour.

It takes only 10 minutes to get to the park gate.  The sun was a little higher in the sky; illuminating the beautiful autumn colors.  Inside the park, bison grazed along the ditches.  They are so used to the traffic that they didn't bother looking up.

I stopped at each of the ponds along the park way so I could watch the ducks and the geese.  When the window was rolled down, I could hear them calling to each other.  Such beautiful sounds in the morning!

I drove to the Astotin Lake parking lot to see what was happening at the lake.  The sun was warming the air which in turn created a low fog over a grassy meadow.  I watched as the fog moved along the top of the tall grasses.

My hike took place on the Amisk Wuche trail.  The trail itself was covered with a leaf carpet.  The dew from last night made the leaves damp.  I could smell the decaying leaves and the ripe berries on the bushes alongside the trail.

Blue jays squawked in the tree tops.  Robins ducked and dived through the tree limbs.  Ducks swam on the ponds.  The water surface was as smooth as glass.  Photographs could not do the morning scene justice.  You would have to be there in person to take in the beauty and tranquility of the perfect Alberta autumn morning.

As I made my way around the trail, the spider webs shone in the sunlight.  They looked like someone had laser beams across the trail.  It could feel them on

my face as I forged ahead.  The dragon and damsel flies flitted from twig to twig; resting now and again in the warm sunshine.

I stopped at my favorite bench that provides a view of the larger pond.  As I moved to an open area to get a better view of the waterfowl, a couple of them flew up from the reeds; scaring the rest of them into flight.

What usually is a 45 minute hike, took more than 2 hours today.  I wanted to take advantage of the morning.  The sights were colorful, the sounds were tranquil, the smells reminded me that Mother Nature is preparing for a long winter nap.  The outing was perfect.

 

This morning I was undecided as to where to hike today.  It was already almost noon when I tossed some snacks into my backpack and headed out the door.  I ended up at Elk Island on the Beaver Pond Trail.

There were small patches of wispy clouds in a bluebird sky.  The sun felt warm and made for a pleasant hiking day.

The bison seem to like this trail.  Each time that I walk it, there are large bison 'pies' that I have to tiptoe over.  It is rather silly that at the trail head there are doggy-doo bags provided so you can clean up after your pooch yet the pies left by the bison could fill up more than one pair of shoes.

All was quiet in the treetops.  The squirrels on the ground were the only noise makers today.  I couldn't tell if they were playing a game of tag or hard-to-get.  They would chase each other over logs, around bushes and up and down tree trunks.  A couple of them were close to running into me.

I met up with one other person today.  I think he had just stopped so his dog could do his business.  He didn't look dressed for an outing.

It's going to take awhile to melt all the snow that is tramped down on the trail.  A lot of it has melted beneath the trees and on the banks of the ponds but the trail itself has more than a foot of packed snow in some places; yet in others it is bare.  In 2013, the last of the snow melted in June and I think there was more snow this year.

The drive home is usually uneventful except for today.  I was only a couple miles away from the park gate when a front tire blew.  Thank goodness for roadside assistance and the fact that it was a nice day.  An hour later I was on the road again.  Other drivers don't like it when one travels at 80 kph on a highway where the speed limit is 110 kph but what can you do when you have a temporary little 'donut' tire for a spare.

I made it home safe and sound.  As I unpacked my vehicle, the chickadees were singing their cheeseburger songs in the trees.  The bluejays were squawking as they sat on the fence.  I could see the deer in the forest behind my yard so I knew it wouldn't be long before they came for a visit.

The first to arrive were the five amigos.  Their coats are getting darker.  The young ones are beginning to watch for danger and do the 'tail up' stance along with stomping the ground with their front feet.  They thought Spike the cat was a threat and started chasing the poor guy.  I've never seen him move that fast across the snow!  It was a good thing that he was close to the shed when they spied him.  He didn't have far to go to hide.

Something scared the deer off during the first visit.  They came back about 15 minutes later but there were more.  The two mule deer had shown up as well.  That made for quite the action in the backyard; fighting, head butting, foot stomping and rearing up.  I had my own reality nature show.

I don't usually have more than one light on in the evening but tonight I turned that one off as well to participate in Earth Hour.  I lit a couple of my favorite candles and did some internet shopping for new tires.

Sunshine, blue sky and fresh air filled my morning.  The Beaver Pond Trail at Elk Island was quiet and peaceful.  As I made my way around the 3.5km loop, I heard a fox yipping in the forest.  If it was waiting for a friendly reply, it didn't happen.  The birds were busy in the trees.  I heard a pileated woodpecker, a nuthatch and some bluejays.

A light breeze was blowing.  It swayed the tree trunks enough to make them creak.  Some of the aspens had dead leaves clinging to their branches that rustled in the wind.

The remaining snow is still about a foot deep on the trails.  For the most part it is packed but the edges are beginning to crystallize.  There were a lot of animal droppings on the trail; bison, moose, elk and coyote.  It is rather pointless to provide bags at the trail head for cleaning up after dogs when the wild animals use the trails for their 'deposits'.

There is a section of the trail where large spruce trees tower on either side.  Boreal chickadees called from the highest branches.  The cones at the top were providing a supply of seeds.  I usually see both boreal and black capped chickadees but today there was no sign of the little black capped ones.

The hike was great.  When I got home I sat outside on the deck for another half hour.  The sun felt so warm.  I was fighting not to fall asleep.  There were some chores that still needed doing.

The ice on the driveway is almost melted so I dragged out a bucket of hot water and washed off the spring grime from my vehicle.  I can see out the windows again!

When I was done and had everything put away, I couldn't fight the urge to have a nap any longer.  That two hour break was just what I needed.  

Two deer showed up shortly after I woke.  I noticed that the pair was made up of one white tail and one mule deer.  The white tail had no intention of sharing the grain in the tub yet the mule deer shared the sunflower seeds in the tray feeder.  The snow has melted down enough that it is making it difficult for them to reach the seeds in the hanging feeders.  There are some bare patches of ground showing along the fence.  The deer have been trimming that grass.

The rain that was in the forecast did not materialize.  I wish I would have.  I love the fresh smell that a spring rain shower brings.  I broke down and removed my 'We love snow.' sign from the front door.  After being on the trails the past couple of days, I have to admit that I am also ready for spring.

 

Ahhhh. That's all I can say.

There is a full moon tonight in a cloud free sky.  It is lighting up the night and streaming through my windows.  The wood stove is lit and I'm in front of it with a cup of coffee.  It's the perfect ending to a relaxing outdoor day.

I hiked one of my favorite trails at Elk Island National Park.  On the way, I came across a young coyote along the roadside.  It was showing off its hunting prowess.  I watched him for less than 10 minutes and during that time he caught at least 5 mice. 

It isn't the first time that I've seen him in the ditch but it is the first time that I was witness to his successful morning hunt.  As he snacked on his wiggling treats, he gave me a toothy grin.

I had not been on the Amisk Wuche trail for awhile and so didn't know if there was still some opportunity to take in the autumn colors.  

Most of the leaves had dropped but the grasses provided color along the boardwalk.  There were still a number of ducks in the pond.  As I watched, they dunked their heads under the water to reach the plants, leaving me to see their duck butts above the water.

While standing on the boardwalk, a couple of squirrels were having a squabble.  One was chasing the other at top speed.  The one in front came within 6 inches of running right into my leg.

My favorite part of the trail snakes through a stand of spruce trees.  It reminds me of a mountain trail.  I can smell the sap that seeps through the bark.  I love to stop here for a few minutes and take some deep breaths.

The squirrels have a number of middens at the base of the trees where the remains of their chewed up spruce cones lay in heaps.  

I noticed that there is a number of young trees that are only about 4 inches tall, growing up through the leaf carpet.  As I admired the new growth, I heard a pileated woodpecker.  It was difficult to tell where the sound was coming from.  I scanned the tree tops but was surprised to find it on the ground.  The sun shone from behind the large bird, illuminating its red feather crown.  It too, was putting on a show for me.

The walk through the woods this morning was very calm and peaceful.  The only sounds that I could hear were those of the forest; trees creaking, blue jays squawking, ducks quacking, squirrels nattering and the woodpeckers boring for insects in the bark.

I came across a decaying log that caught my attention.  The bright green moss that covered it stood out against the brown vegetation.  The contrast was a beautiful sight.  I could see that the squirrels were using the log to store their winter food.

Autumn has been beautiful.  Last year at this time there was snow on the ground.  It seems to be holding off with no mention of it in the forecast.  If the butterfly that I saw today has anything to say about it, the snow won't be coming anytime soon.