I love when I can say that my week was filled with firsts.

It rained, albeit not much, but enough to green things up and wash down the pollen that has coated everything.

I took a walk after the rain. It was fresh and the water droplets glistened in the sun. I love that earthy smell that occurs after a rain. Did you know that there is actually a word for that? Petrichor is defined as 'the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil'. Who knew? I certainly didn't. That's first #1.

The beaver pond was active in the morning. I had been at the pond by 7am on a couple of mornings and was surprised to find the beavers in action. I watched as one dove down and returned with scoops full of mud that were added to a dam. When enough mud was in place, it grabbed branches and proceeded to use claws and teeth to push the branches into the mud. I've never seen how they maneuvered the large ones into place. That's first #2.

My backyard has been abuzz with bees. The blossoms on the honeyberries were a favorite spot for the pollinators until I planted out my annual flowers. This made the bees and the butterflies very happy. 

I was happy when I sighted the first hummingbirds of the season. The feeder has been up for a few weeks but a pair of ruby throated hummingbirds appeared yesterday. Hooray! That's first #3. There's more!

The wildflowers are in bloom. I saw violets, marsh marigolds, wild purple clematis and wild strawberry blossoms this week.

I came across new species of waterfowl that I have not seen before and was able to ID them. What fun!

I visited Elk Island National Park to check out the completed Living Waters Boardwalk. It was the first time on the new structure and it is beautiful. What a great place for birdwatchers. There were grebes, coots, geese and loons within close proximity.

I lost track of the number of firsts that I experienced over the past seven days. Have you witnessed any spring time firsts this week? If not, you may see some over the long weekend. The sun should be out so I hope that you will be able to get out and explore the spring beauty.

Living Waters Boardwalk at Elk Island National Park

Purple clematis

Marsh marigolds

They're back! An amazing number of species returned from warmer climates this week.
 
I got to watch a pair of trumpeter swans raise their families for the past two summers. Last weekend they returned to the pond that they have been nesting in and they put on quite the show. There was a lot of showing off and preening. As I watched, they rolled in the water so their feet were sticking up in the air. They stretched and flapped their huge wings and called to each other. It was great to watch the two of them in action.

While the swans were putting on a show, so were the Greater Yellowlegs. They balanced carefully on the floating logs as they reached into the water for food with their long bills. When the hunting was done, they playfully chased each other. I didn't know which birds to watch; both were very entertaining.

The sandhill cranes were still migrating as were the White fronted geese. I hadn't heard of them before but they came over my backyard. It wasn't until I got a clear photo of them that matched my bird ID book, that I found out what they were. That was a first for me!

Today a purple finch showed up at the tray feeder. The tree swallows returned to the nesting boxes. I heard a small song bird that I could not recognize. I hope it returns so I can get a look to identify it. It's song was beautiful.

This was a very eventful week in my yard and at the ponds. It was filled with lots of opportunities to watch the antics of the returning birds. 

Have you had a chance to get to a local pond or a neighborhood lake to see who has returned near you?

The ponds along the roadsides are filled with waterfowl. This week I've seen pairs of mallards, buffleheads, green-winged teals and northern shovelers.

The ponds at the Beaver Hills Biodiversity trail are filled with waterfowl as well. I keep checking to see if the trumpeter swans have returned but so far they have not appeared. I've watched them raise families for the past two summers. They were back the last week of April in 2017 but no sign of them yet. There were still flocks of migrating birds overhead this week so perhaps they will still show up.

The ponds are also filled with active beaver colonies. What fun it is to sneak up on them and watch as they go about their business of chewing, chewing and more chewing. When they get tired of that, there's a bit of mud lodge/dam repair and then more chewing. There were four adult sized beavers out at the same time during one visit. That was a treat to see them interact and go about their daily routines.

The most out of the ordinary find this week was a red-necked grebe. It was out of the ordinary because it was not in the water. The grebe was on the trail; not even close to the edge of the water. It was on a hill, overlooking the pond. 

At first I thought it was injured but it looked okay as I approached. It began its warning call and it fluffed up the feathers on its head to look bigger. I passed by and continued on my way. It was gone when I returned. I guess it wanted to take in the view as I do each time I reach the crest of the hill.

With the arrival of spring, there are so many opportunities to spend time outside. Walk through your neighborhood and observe how many different species of birds there are. Go for a color or a texture walk before the trees leaf out. You'll see colorful lichens on the tree trunks and many textures of bark. Watch for animal tracks; especially in the wet areas. Listen to the bird calls.

Spring affords us the opportunity for rejuvenation so spend some time outside with the sights, sounds and smells of a new season; before the mosquitoes arrive.

Red-necked grebe

3 of 4 beavers at the pond

The snow has been around for so long that it felt like I was forgetting something when I didn't have to hike with snowshoes this week.

There are still patches of snow in shaded areas on the trail but all signs point toward spring finally being here. It was a great week to be outside.

Have you ever witnessed a black capped chickadee preparing a nest? I did. I was under the impression that they built nests with twigs and such in evergreen trees where they like to hang out. I found out that is not the case.

I was in my favorite section of the woods when I saw two chickadees in a birch tree. One had started a hole in the bark and was pecking out bits of wood. The hole was almost large enough for a bird to get into which made me think that it was going to be a nest. 

When I got home I got the bird book out and sure enough, the chickadees excavate holes in trees and once the hole is large enough, they begin dropping the bits that they peck inside the hole to make it soft for the eggs. This was a first for me!

The spring migration has started in earnest. Swans and sandhill cranes flew over today. It was difficult to get my yard work done when I was constantly watching the dance that the cranes were doing in the sky.

In between visits to the trail, I managed to get the garden beds prepared, ornamental grasses cut down, lawn furniture uncovered and a lot of yard clean up done. I'm looking forward to the first bonfire of the season and am hoping that it will be this weekend! I can smell it already.

If you didn't get out much through the winter, there is no excuse now. Start with a little jaunt around the neighborhood to see what signs of spring you can find. Enjoy!

Nest excavation

The chickadee dropped the bits of wood that it excavated.

Back inside for more.

A lovely heart-shaped entrance to the nest.

Spring migration - Swans

Spring migration - Sandhill cranes

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I saw a snowshoe hare yesterday and it was as white as could be. That's probably a good thing since there was another four inches of snow at the beginning of the week.

It began with rain that turned into big, wet flakes that kept falling until everything was wearing a blanket of white again. I must admit that it did look beautiful but even this winter person is longing for camping season.

On Tuesday morning I had to dig out the snowshoes again for my daily hike. I put them away thinking that they wouldn't be needed until next winter. Silly me.

I ventured to my favorite trail. It looked like a perfect snowy Christmas card. My timing was impeccable. I went out early while the snow still clung to the branches. An hour later would have found me dodging the melting snow as it dropped from overheard.

Young trees were bent over under the weight of the white stuff; creating obstacles to get around. That was tricky. I didn't want to knock the branches and end up with snow down the back of my jacket.

The towering spruce and poplar trees were wearing stripes. The wet snow clung to the rough bark creating patterns in the woods.

There were lots of animal tracks on the trail and through the trees. The black feathers of a crow lay under a spruce. A coyote ate well the night before. That is one thing that I will miss once the snow is gone. I could see all the tracks of the nocturnal animals in it.

The woods were silent and peaceful. It was beautiful but I'm ready for spring.

Have you ever had a close encounter with a porcupine? I did and it was the highlight of my week. 

There is a stand of willows interspersed with birch at the far end of the snowshoe trail at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre. I was feeling lucky and hiked to that spot with the hope of a porcupine encounter. I've seen them there previously.

As I got closer I noticed that more tree branches were chewed bare since my last visit. The porcupines were busy. In fact, one of them was still midway up a birch tree and was munching at the tender bark.

The trail took me to within 10 meters of the tree but I wanted to get in closer. No snowshoes meant sinking to my knees in deep snow and filling up my boots but the pay off was worth it.

Just call me the porcupine whisperer. As I approached, the porcupine stopped chewing, didn't move and just watched me. I talked to the little guy and he appeared to realize that it was just the crazy lady with the camera again. He straightened his body and gave himself a little belly scratch before continuing with his meal.

Geese honked and flew over head. Squirrels chased each other up and down trees. Blue jays squawked from the tree tops. I got lost in the moment; watching that porcupine for more than 30 minutes. I think it was the snow melting in my boots that finally brought me back to reality.

What a great outing! Enjoy the up close and personal photos that I snapped. I hope you are able to get out more now that the temperature warmer. Happy hiking!

Birch trees appear to be a favorite snack spot for the porcupine.

It held the stick just like we hold onto a cob of corn.

I think January has returned. It was -24C at 7am on Monday and today it is -26C. -26C on April 6! That is not going to help melt all the snow. I pulled out some old photos of my yard for comparison. In 2016, there was no snow left at the end of March. This year, I still cannot see my garden beds. Even if the groundhog predicted 6 more weeks of winter, we are beyond that.

Even though the morning temps were chilly, I donned the winter gear and made my way to the trails for my daily hike. Visiting each day provides me the opportunity to see who visits overnight. There are usually fresh tracks in the snow. I've been trying to ID them. That has been a lot of fun. This week I saw something new!

There was a lot of untouched snow on the pond surfaces so when I came round a bend and saw rows and rows of deer tracks, I knew something was up. They all lead to one spot; a small area that the beavers had dammed up. The scene looked like the remains of a party gone wrong; a rumpus if you are familiar with the story 'Where the Wild Things Are'. 

The snow was trampled and discolored with bodily fluids. Large clumps of hair lay on top of the crusty snow. I've seen does fight when they get angry and it isn't pretty. They rise up on their hind legs and bring their hooves down on their foe; tearing hair out in the process. There had to be a lot of does and a lot of foes to warrant the scene in front of me.

I didn't have my snowshoes with me that day. I tried walking out on the ice surface but there was still a meter of snow and I was sinking past my knees. I took the snowshoes out the next day. By that time, the scavengers had been around to check things out. Birds left wing imprints in the snow and coyote tracks crisscrossed the deer tracks. I could only imagine the fight that happened a couple nights prior.

I noticed that there has been more action in the woods of late. The hares, coyotes, foxes, and squirrels have been more active. The squirrels have been breaking into their food stores. I often wondered where all the hazelnuts go before they ripen. I found out this week when I came upon the broken open shells at the entrance to a squirrel tunnel in the snow.

The mice are venturing out to the surface of the snow rather than traveling through their tunnels. The magpies are busy gathering twigs and constructing nests. The geese are back. I could hear their honking overhead. Too bad their ponds are still covered in ice and snow. I hope that spring actually arrives before the swans do. I've been watching them raise their young for two summers now and hope to do so again.

The forecast for next week is looking more spring-like. Here's hoping that turns out. Some garden centres and greenhouses have delayed their openings by a couple of weeks. Last year the driving ranges were open. This year they will have to plow them out if they are hoping for an early opening.

Bundle up and head out to enjoy that last bit of crisp, fresh air. Think spring as you watch for all the signs that indicate that it is just around the corner. Enjoy!

Spring 2016.  Where's the snow?

Spring 2018.  Where's the garden?

Deer tracks lead to the beaver dam.

Remnants of a big fight.

The scene after the deer left. 

Warm, cold, really cold is the recurring theme. Early in the week I was on the trail, having to peel off layers because the temperature was +9.4C. Today I woke up to -22C at 7am. 
 
It seems that the only thing for discussion these days is snow and the fluctuating temperature. The total snowfall for the week was about 10cm. Those poor little plants sprouting in front of my window will be inside for a while yet. The garden beds are still buried.


The 25+cms of snow on the garage roof slid off only to be replaced by more snow. The tops of little Alberta spruce can now be seen in the backyard; just another 40cm of snow to melt.

The warmer days at the beginning of the week allowed for some fun on the trails with one of my grandaughters. We put the snowshoes on and headed out for some fresh air and nature watching. There wasn't much to see on the first day.


The second hike took place at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre. We were looking for porcupines but were out of luck. The squirrels were really entertaining; chasing each other up and down trees and jumping from branch to branch. I think they thought my little hiking partner was a tree. They came to within a foot of her. If she wouldn't have moved I'm sure the squirrels would have ran up one side of her and down the other. 
 
The tulips in the floral departments at the grocery store and a visit to a local greenhouse has me longing for some spring color. That blanket of snow in the backyard is taking its sweet time to disappear. I do so enjoy my winter activities and have put a lot of kilometers on my snowshoes but my kayak, tent and bike are ready for some attention. Bring on spring.


What is the first outdoor activity that you will participate in once the snow is gone? Happy Easter everyone!

Snowshoe fun in the woods.

Animal tracks in the snow.

Checking out the worm holes in the snag.

We had it all this week; fog, rain, heavy snowfall. The foggiest morning left the tree branches coated in hoar frost. As I walked the trail, when the woods were silent, I could hear the frost crackle. It was eerie but beautiful at the same time.


The first day of spring was a warm +10C with blue sky and sunshine. It was a great day for a hike. The moose were out; mama with her twins and a male/female pair. A black backed woodpecker pecked on the bark of a tall spruce. It's not often that I get to see one of them.
 

Later in the week, the pileated and hairy woodpeckers frequented the backyard feeders. The pileated one was very entertaining. During the winter, the suet blocks were frozen solid but this week they were soft. The pileated woodpecker landed by the suet and proceeded to tap on the block. Its beak sunk to the bottom and it tried all sorts of ways to remove the fat that coated it.


It was a great week for wildlife watching and for hiking. The upcoming week will probably be the last for snowshoeing and x-country skiing. The snow on the trails is starting to deteriorate. 
 
The snow in the backyard will take some time to melt but as it does I'll be planning what to put into the garden beds. I've got some ideas to extend their use by putting in a trellis for some of the vine crops. As much as I like the snow, I also like gardening and camping so as the seasons change so will my outdoor activities. I'm outside no matter what season or temperature.


Are you planning your garden? Enjoy!

How did you do? Did you get to enjoy some of that golden sunshine this week? I sure did!
I spent 10.5 glorious hours hiking 29kms this week. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and Mother Nature provided the entertainment. 
 
I rotated my time between Elk Island, the Biodiversity trail and the Strathcona Wilderness Centre. Each offered up some fantastic experiences.


Let's start at the Beaver Hills Biodiversity Trail. The snowpack at the Bio trail is down to half of what it was last week. There is still a lot out there making it hard to believe that in a couple of months the ice will be gone from the pond and the swans should be back. 
 
As I hiked, the chickadees sang their 'cheeseburger' songs when not foraging for seeds on the birch branches. There were a lot of moose, deer, squirrel and weasel tracks visible. No sign of the big cat tracks this week so I'm thinking it has moved on.


The snowshoe trail at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre offered up an opportunity to get some close up views of a couple of porcupines. It's almost guaranteed to see one or two at the far end of the trail. There is a thicket of willow and birch that appears to be a favorite spot for them. I spent an enjoyable 30 minutes watching them feed on the birch bark. The forest was so still that I could hear them nibble. I am always in awe of their ability to balance on narrow twigs but after observing their long claws, I can see how they are able to hold on.
   
The Simmons Lake trail at Elk Island had hard packed snow. No need for snowshoes there. The temperature hit a balmy +9C on the day of my hike. Needless to say, some of the layers were being removed as I wandered through the woods. It was a beautiful sun-shiney day. Not a cloud in the sky made for a beautiful contrast between the bright blue hues and the white snow. On the way out of the Park along the parkway, three young elk were feeding alongside the fence. It is not often that they are visible. What a treat! Bison, moose and white tailed deer grazed along the fence line adjacent to Highway 16. 
 
Twice this week I saw moose on the way to a hike. The rural roads are not busy in the early afternoon so I was able to pull over and observe them feeding on willows at the edge of a wooded area. 
 
The backyard has been quiet. The flock of redpolls and grosbeaks that had been visiting the backyard feeders through the winter have left. 
 
There are signs of spring everywhere. Puddles forming from the melting snow. Pussy willows opening on the branches. The native grasses that I planted last year are without snow cover now and are about 2cm tall.


It was great to see so many people on the trail this week; some local and some from a distance. I welcome the opportunities to share the info and observances that I have gathered about the local trails and to hear about those that I've not yet visited.


So many 'locals' are not aware of the wonderful opportunities to be with nature that exist just a short drive from Edmonton. Many of them are free so the only cost is the price of gas to get there. Where else could you spend an entire day breathing in the fresh air, clearing your mind, getting some exercise and learning about the environment surrounding the big city for only the cost of fuel?


So, what's your outdoor goal this week? A walk around the backyard or the neighborhood? A visit to a local park or river valley trail? Maybe it's just a few minutes on your back deck?
Whatever it happens to be, take the time to engage your senses. Be in the moment. Listen to the natural sounds around you; birds singing, water running, snow crunching. Smell spring. As temperatures begin to climb, the spruce and pine sap will begin to flow and the smell will be delightful. Watch for colors, textures and patterns in the woods; the oranges and greens of lichen on the treebark, the straight lines of holes drilled into tree trunks by the sapsuckers, the patterns left as the snow melts. Birds will begin the search for the perfect nesting materials and will become more active.


Whatever your outdoor experience is this week...Enjoy!


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