Robins Fishing

     No matter how much time I spend in the wilderness, there is always something to surprise me. Today, after a hot tip from The Edmonton Nature Club blog, I head over to Hermitage Park, located in North-East Edmonton. I find a few trees festooned with bird feeders being mobbed by woodpecker, dark-eyed juncos and black-capped chickadees. They are being monitored by a gentleman sitting in his old pickup truck. I watch for a while but this is not what I came here for. When I ask, he offers to lead me to the destination I am curious about.
     "Just wander down there where that magpie is landing," he points. Along the edge of a small, frozen flood-water lake is a thin sliver of open water. "That's where you will find them. Don't wander out onto the ice," he cautions.
     I grab my camera, tripod and binoculars and wander toward the waters edge. Sure enough, sitting in a dead snag is an American Robin. This is January 31, the dead of winter in Edmonton, Alberta. It is -1 C., snowing lightly and robins are not supposed to be hanging out in this part of the world at this time of year.

Robin Caught Stickle-back

      I sit down and snap a couple of photos of the the perched robin then notice more of the red- breasted birds emerging from the forest around me and landing at waters edge. As I watch, they seem to be worming, like they do in summer time. They are hopping along the ice edge, cocking their heads to listen, then pull something from the water. Who knew that robins enjoy ice-fishing and are very good at it.
     I sit for over an hour watching in amazement as robin after robin appear and pluck tiny fish from the water. At times the open water boils with hundreds of small fish called stickle-backs. The birds are very adept at flipping the fish head-first and down the hatch they vanish.

Robin Fishing

     I don't know why there is a sliver of open water along the edge of the little lake in mid winter. Magpies also know about the fishing hole but are too shy to come near as I sit there.

Stickle-backs Trying to Avoid Robin

     As I am leaving, the bird-watcher is driving past and asked, "How did you make out? I have been watching the robins fishing here for five or six years." he tells me.
     Every trip to the park or the wilderness, no matter where can bring us very special surprises. Not everything can be explained and all rules can be broken by Mother Nature's critters.

www.wildviewfinders.ca

Haiku Poetry by Robyn Jacobs

Haiku Poetry by Robyn Jacobs

This poem was written by Robyn after her inspirational polar bear tour in the Churchill region with me over three days.

Well below freezing                                                  

Extreme weather conditions     

Lime Green Aurora

Winter in Churchill

Vivid lime-green streaks  

Aurora Borealis

Amazing light show

Swirls of colour streak

Far across the northern sky

God’s artist at work

Pre-Cambrian Shield Lines Hudson Bay

Black and white boulders

Witness to the Arctic freeze

Winter in Churchill

Tundra Wanderer

Polar bears wander

Across the white tundra

Hungry predator

Catabonic winds

Savagely bite the arctic

Cutting through the snow

Mother and Cub

Mother and cub traverse

the icy tundra landscape

Polar bear tundra

                                                                                                 

                                                                                                      

 Small, floating icebergs              

Drift, carefree on Hudson Bay

Ice Covered Boulders in Inter-tidal Zone

Announcing winter

                                                                                                                   Glinting winter sun

                                                                                                                   

Sunset Over Churchill River

Reveals an icy landscape

Wintry Hudson Bay

                                                                                                                   

Two polar bear cubs

Staying close to mothers steps

Feeding on the kelp

Mother and Cubs Picking at Washed Up Kelp

Roaming polar bear

Skating on the icy lake

Foraging for food

Thousands of Icy Ponds and Lakes Dot the Tundra

Watchful mother waits

For menacing male to pass

Danger averted

Mom with Two Cubs Watchful Of Danger

      Haiku poetry originated in Japan during the 12th century. It is generally about nature and each stanza consists of three lines; the first and third line have five syllables and the second line has seven. They do not rhyme.

     Poetry creation is one of the time fillers I like to use to entertain and engage guests during times when wildlife sightings wane. There is not always a polar bear within a few meters. I,myself,am not a poet of any kind,but certainly do appreciate the poetry talent of some of my guests. I enjoyed many examples of poetry and limericks and now Haiku during the past season tours. Thank you for that entertainment.

www.wildviewfinders.ca

Quick Jasper Trip

     Jasper National Park is certainly one of our greatest natural assets, no matter when you visit. It is also one of my favorite places to visit for a long weekend getaway. We purchased our annual park pass for $140.00, so now we can visit all Canadian National parks for the year. We spent New Years Eve here this year. Parks Canada had a "night sky" festival going on but we chose to do that on our own. We spent the chilly evening trying to get photos of Northern Lights in a spectacular star-filled sky. We saw a couple of glimmers and beginnings of Aurora but nothing spectacular. While warming up in the dark car, I was reminded of amorous days of our youth while at drive-in theatres or watching submarine races. The next morning I saw on Facebook some fantastic aurora photos taken but all around 1:00 and 3:00 am. I am a cold and sleepy photographer that turns into a sleepy Popsicle long before that time.

Star Light Over Old Cabin

     
     Midnight saw us tucked warmly into my overpriced bed for the night. This over priced hotel was twice what it cost me for the same room two or three weeks earlier, thanks to being New Years Eve. Oh well.

Hoar Frost Covered River Flat

     We were out of town fairly quickly the next day headed toward the ice fields and Saskatchewan Crossing where we take off on the Cowboy Trail to Rocky Mountain House before heading straight home. This whole drive is one filled with spectacular mountain scenery and, today, good roads. Brilliant sunlight lit hoar-frost decorated forests and highlights sparkling snow and ice-covered aqua-colored rivers. The temperature varies from about -26 to +5 in some places along the David Thompson Highway.
     We pause at a couple of ice flows where dare-devil ice climbers chip their way up icicles clinging to the sides of wet weeping rock walls. Not a challenge for the faint-of-heart or me, for sure.

Ice Climbers on Weeping Wall

     We did see warning signs and ribbon marking off an area where a grizzly bear had mauled an ice climber who had disturbed his sleep about a month or so ago.
     One of the hazards of driving on the highways at this time of the year are the little birds that are collecting grit from the road. Sandy grit is used to provide traction for vehicles but creates a tremendous hazard for birds that require grit for their digestion. When I got home and washed the car, I picked a sparrow sized, red-crossbill from my grill. I know I hit more of them and did see some lying on the highway, future raven food I guess. I tried to miss as many little flocks as I could see in time.
     Speaking of raven, I managed to get a few photos of a beggar raven in one of the pull-outs. He was scavenging for a handout but got nothing more than immortality through my photos.

Raven Portrait

     There are many things to do while visiting the National Parks, at any time of year. Ice climbing, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowshoeing, sight-seeing, wildlife watching and photography can be done during the day. There is a great night life in many pubs and restaurants in the town sites.
     Next weekend, we are off to Banff for a photo seminar,my first. I have always wanted to try one of these workshops so now I will get to see if they are worth while or not. I am looking forward to it and will report later.

www.wildviewfinders.ca