Even though winter is my favorite season of the year, I am enjoying the fall colors that are still abundant.  The thorny rose branches are adorned with an entire palette of colors; varying shades of red, orange, yellow and burgundy.

Some of the tall aspens are still sporting their bright yellow leaves.  These colorful canopies create brilliant reflections in the still water.

The anemones on the trail lost their flowers long ago but their leaves are more beautiful than their flowers were. 

The wild raspberries show off their red foliage.  The morning sun produces beautiful back-lit images.

If you haven't been out to enjoy the beauty of autumn, I encourage you to do so soon.  The weather is holding out but winter is bound to happen sooner or later and we'll be looking at a serene, blanket of white where the only variance in color will be shadows cast onto it.  

It's Thanksgiving and it was a beautiful day.  I ended up having the day off and wasn't going to waste the sunshine and warm temperature so I left home at 9am en route to Elk Island National Park.  As I drove to the park, I noticed that the warm rays of the sun created some fog over the ponds along the highway.  

At 9:20am, I was leaving the Shirley Lake Trail parking lot for a 12km hike.  I've snowshoed this trail in winter and wanted to experience it in another season.  It was only me and Mother Nature.

My vehicle was the only one in the parking lot.  As I packed up, the coyotes were howling in the forest.  Blue jays called from the tree tops.  The sun was rising higher.  I knew it was going to be a good day.

Frost covered the grasses and leaves along the trail.  The morning sun reflected off the ice crystals, creating millions of sparkles around my feet.  I was so busy watching the beauty on the ground that I missed seeing a great horned owl perched on a nearby branch.  It swooped down in front of me and then up to a higher tree.  I tried getting close enough to get a photo but the owl was camera shy.

An hour into the walk brought me to a beautiful spot with a picnic table that overlooked the lake.  The water was calm and looked like a sheet of glass.  The only ripples in it were those created by the swimming ducks.  The sky was blue with very few clouds.  The fall colors across the lake were beautiful.  

I sat at the picnic table for 30 minutes, admiring the scene in front of me.  As I took in the view, I reflected on what I was thankful for on this beautiful day.  I heard the waterfowl calling on the lake, the honking geese flying overhead and the cheeseburger calls of the black capped chickadees.  The colored tops of the aspens across the lake reflected on the water.

I've hiked numerous trails in the park and there is always something that I've seen or experienced for the first time.  Today, on the way to the group camping site, I came across a decaying bison carcass.  I noticed a rib bone on the trail and a few feet further, my nose detected the rest of the carcass.  The smell was not pleasant.  The skeletal bones were picked clean but there were still entrails and skin baking in the sun.  Nasty.

I reached the group camping site at 11:25am.  There were no campers so I took a 30 minute break at this spot as well.  I could see the first picnic table that I stopped at across the lake.  The large flock of ducks were still floating in the sunshine.  A slight breeze rustled the tall grasses on the lake shore.  A few leaves danced across the open tenting area.

At 1:15pm I finished the loop and was back at the parking lot.  It was not empty like it was in the morning.  The parking lot was full.  


As I drove toward the south park gate, there was a steady stream of vehicles coming into the park.  Many people took advantage of the beautiful fall day.

I got home and just could not bring myself to spend time in the house.  I lit a fire in my new fire pit.  It was the first time that I used it.  I pulled out the reclining lawn chair, made myself a cup of coffee and enjoyed the crackle of a fire for the remainder of the afternoon.  It was an awesome day.

"I love early mornings when it feels like the rest of the world is still fast asleep and you're the only one who's awake and everything feels like it isn't really real and you kind of forget about all your problems because for now it's just you, the world and the sunrise."~Author Unknown

I sat at the kitchen table with my coffee this morning and watched the sun rise. The pinks, the oranges, the reds and the yellows were something to behold.  It all happened in a span of 25 minutes.  It was a most beautiful sunrise.

This being the day before Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the wide open spaces, the fresh air, the freedom to roam and the opportunity to witness the rising sun in all its splendor.

7:22am

7:36am

7:37am

7:43am

7:47am

I left home yesterday when the sun was already up so I could see the entire backyard.  As I came off the deck, I noticed an empty bird feeder and another one askew.  I went to investigate. There was something amiss with the strawberry patch as well.  It was not as full as it had been the day before.  Some visitors came through under the cover of darkness and did a little feeding in my backyard.

I was on the look out for them as I left the lake.  Most times they are not too far away.  This occasion was no different.  There were three white tail deer drinking at a nearby dug out.  They didn't seem to mind me stopping but as soon as I rolled the window down, they bounded into the nearby trees.  I did manage to catch a couple photos of their white rumps.

The gold aspen leaves shimmered in the morning sun at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre.  I could see one trail through the trees.  It was covered in leaves yet the tree tops were still clinging to the uppermost canopy.  The colors were fantastic. 

The evening sky was cloudless and the moon shone brightly as I made my way home.  A couple of sets of beady eyes reflected light in the ditch; one fawn and one doe were feeding on some cut grass.

The shorter days make it difficult to take in even a short hike as it's dark when I leave for work and most days it's dark when I come home.  I sure would like to try out one more long hiking trail and admire the last colors of autumn.  The weather looks like it will hold out for another couple of days so I just might be able to have another full outdoor day.

I remember how excited I was the first time that I saw a pileated woodpecker.  It was shortly after I moved here.  I glanced into the backyard and saw this huge bird on one of the old poplars.  Bark chips were flying in every direction as it searched for insects.  One of my nephews was with me for the day.  He was my witness to the large visitor.  That was 12 years ago.  I grew up in Alberta, about 125kms away, yet had not seen one before this day.   I ran for the bird book to identify it.

Since that day, I've seen pileated woodpeckers on numerous occasions in my yard as well as on the local hiking trails.  Even though they are a common occurrence now, I stop whatever I'm doing to observe this beauty in action.

Its 'laughing' call, body size, brilliant red cap and long strong beak remind me of a cartoon character.  I've seen them gripping the wire cage of the suet feeder, hanging upside down for up to fifteen minutes while pecking at the suet.  I've seen them searching under the bark of an old poplar snag and I've seen two at the same time, resting on fence posts in the backyard.  I don't think I will ever tire of watching these amazing creatures.

This evening I heard one calling in the backyard.  The setting sun was shining directly on the suet feeder, illuminating a bright red head.   I took a 15 minute break to watch the backyard reality show.  

I love autumn almost as much as I love winter.  Life slows down.  It is a calmer, more peaceful time.  I'm able to be outside more often as the temperature becomes more bearable for me.  The mosquitoes are gone.  The can of insect repellent can be put away.

The colors of fall create an earthy palette along the roadside ditches and the trails.  I leave early for work because I stop many times and marvel at the beauty as the morning sun highlights the treetops.  The yellow of the aspens is even more brilliant when the sun's rays strike the color laden branches.

When the leaves fall and I hike the trails, I listen to them crunch under my boots.  If I walk in the morning when the leaves are wet, I watch the sunlight reflect off the dew or rain drops.  They are nature's sparkling crystals.  

The empty branches on the underbrush allow me to see the wildlife that remained hidden behind the thick, green, summer foliage.

The haunting calls from the flocks of geese and cranes catch my attention. 

Their graceful flight patterns remind me of a choreographed ballet, swooping and gliding through the air.  I've seen pelicans, cranes, and geese overhead; all heading south.  I wondered where they were coming from and where they were going.

My skis and snowshoes are waiting for the snow to fall.  Until that happens, I'll wind down just as Mother Nature does.  I'll take in the sights and sounds of autumn.  I'll breathe in the cool, crisp autumn air and take every opportunity to spend time outside.

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!

I had a road trip planned for today until I stepped onto the deck this morning.  It was calm and warm.  I wondered why I would waste a day like this cooped up in my vehicle.

The alternate plan was to try a new trail at Elk Island National Park.  I decided on the 16km long Wood Bison Trail.  Estimated time to walk the loop is 5 hours.  Now that is the way to spend a beautiful autumn day!

My backpack held enough snacks for the day, extra clothing and some of my camera gear.  I left home at 9:35am and was ready to hit the trail at 10:00am.  It was not as wide or as well worn as the trails that I frequent on the north side of the park.

I just about turned back because I could hear the traffic noise from the Yellowhead Highway.  That was the last thing that I wanted to hear.  I was about 3kms in before I didn't hear the traffic anymore.  Instead, I heard woodpeckers and chickadees.  

I saw a cow moose feeding on some willow branches.  She was camera shy and took off into the trees before I could get a photo.

There was a bluebird sky overhead.  The warm sun shone down so it didn't take long for me to make a pit stop to remove the jacket I was wearing.  At 11:25am, I was at the south end of Flyingshot Lake.  I had hoped to see cranes or swans on the lake but no such luck.  The only waterfowl out there were ducks.

At the half way point, I found a log that served as the perfect bench for me to sit, take in the beauty and have lunch.  There was not a sound and not a soul out there.  It was just me and Mother Nature.

The colors were spectacular.  I was lucky to see a male ruffed grouse in full regalia.  He looked like he meant business but as I approached he flew into the trees to join a female.

The trail took me through a mix of very different landscapes.  I hiked past a lake, marsh areas, open meadows and a ravine filled with colorful larch.  There were a number of downed trees across the trail and a number of wood boardwalks to cross to get over wet areas.

At 3:25pm I arrived back at the parking lot.  I made good time considering that I was carrying a backpack, a camera bag and my tripod and that I had stopped for lunch and for many photo ops.

This was definitely the right way to spend the day.  Fresh air, sunshine, animal sightings, bird calls, the colors of autumn and crunching leaves made for a perfect outing.

Oh yes, and one more thing... NO bugs!

Just as I was getting ready to go for a hike this morning, the wind began howling.  It gusted to 70kmph, breaking off branches from the willow tree next door and blowing lawn furniture over.  I had to hold onto my cap or it would have ended up across the yard with the furniture.

So much for the hike.  I went straight to getting the yard ready for winter.  It was a good thing that I didn't hit the trails.  Today turned out to be a very productive day.

The water barrels are now empty.  The hoses are drained, rolled and tucked away.  The garden shed is organized and all my favorite containers are tucked inside, away from the snow.  My vehicle is washed.

The bees are gone so I cut down the last of the flowering perennials.  I'm debating on whether or not to cut down the tall ornamental grasses.  They would provide some color and height to a winter landscape but they would also make it harder to shovel the paths.

The wind let up this evening.  I'm able to open the back door without having dry leaves blow in to my kitchen.  The sky is clear and the moon is brilliant.  The moon light is reflecting off the metal garage roof.

As I stood on the deck, a coyote howled in the distance.  The leaves on the willow next door are rustling in light breeze.  The gusty day turned into a beautiful moonlit night.

 

Howling winds and rain showers describe today.  The temperature dropped indicating the cold front is closing in.

The birds must know that there are flurries in the forecast.  They were having a feeding frenzy.  Two bluejays were simultaneously pecking at the same suet feeder.  The magpies strutted to the cat food dish hoping to grab some tasty morsels and keep from being ambushed by the cats.  The nuthatches scanned the poplar snag in their silly upside down manner.  The juncos worked their way through a patch of seedy weeds. 

The backyard birds were not the only ones busy this evening.  Flocks of swans came over tonight just when there was no camera in hand.

As I walked through the yard, I noticed raindrops on the many leaves that were strewn on the ground.  I couldn't resist a few water drop photos.  

There were some big red strawberries in the garden.  They were well hidden so last night's frost did not get them.  I managed to pick a handful of sweetness.

Leafy lettuce is still growing by the back step.  The hens and chicks sprouted many new little 'chicks' even though I transplanted them in the hottest part of the summer.

There is snow in the forecast with the incoming cold front.  From the looks of things it will not be staying if it actually happens as it is supposed to reach +17C on Sunday.  That will be perfect to celebrate Thanksgiving a week early.