Bald Eagle

Was talking to a friend, with a pair of mallards in the water just below us. Asked if he was able to see the Bald Eagle that was perched on the tree across the lake from us. He first did not noticed the eagle, but when it took to air it was spotted. It started to come in our direction, I quickly grabbed my camera from the car and got the setting ready to take pictures of the eagle.It looked as if it was going to pay the mallards a visit, the light was right and I was anticipating good images. The two mallards took to air and I started snapping one image after another. It got within 30 meters of us before it started flying away in the direction of the mallards. The Bald Eagle did not have luck catching the mallards, but I got my images.

Until next moment,

Amar

Mallards

I was walking along the river taking pictures of water fowls. Certain birds I come across will move away but some will take to air. For example I have been near mallards, within meters, they just go about their business. Then they are times I'm 40 to 50 meters away and they take to air as soon as they spot me. That's what happened with the attached picture, I was walking along the river when I spotted the three Mallard Ducks. I was talking their picture when they started to fly. Luckily I was able to get the attached picture, the female seems to be smiling as catching air.

Until next moment,

Amar

American Kestrels

Spent some time watching a pair of kestrels taking steps to start a family. Their home was near homes of other birds that sang called away as I watched the kestrels. One also had to keep a aggressive Northern Flicker at bay, as it also wanted to find a place to call home. The kestrels just did not want that home to be in the tree they were calling a home. Hope to return to get more pictures at another time.

Until next moment,

Amar

 

Prairie Crocus

It was many years ago, but whenever I see or take pictures of a flower the memories come back as if it was yesterday. A friend was house sitting over the summer, when I paid her a visit. On the table in the living room was a large coffee table book by the artist Georgia O'Keeffe, containing her painting of flowers.I was captured by each one of the flowers represented in the book. She painted them large with so much details, I took my time looking at each flower painting, not wanting to miss anything. Ever since, I have been attracted to flowers, each view of one takes me back to that special day.

Until next moment,

Amar

Bighorn Sheep

Sheep are easy to find in the park, bound to find them near or this time on the few of the roads in the Banff National Park. I was going for a small hike when I came across 8 of them. They were licking the road and any car that would stop. I grabed few pictures before driving on.

Until next moment,

Amar

Moon Climbing a Mountain

I have so many images in my head I want to take, the other day I got to take one of them. The pictures in this case was the snow blowing off a peak, while the sun is setting. The moon is rising to meet the blowing snow off the mountain. The hardest part was being at the right area, at the right angle to make it all happens. There were so many variables involved here, but that's the fun part of the challenge. When I saw what was taking place in the evening last week, the realty had matched the image in my head.

Until next moment,

Amar

American Dipper

I was near the Cascade River when I heard the song of a American Dipper. Took a minute to locate it and then I started to photograph it. It kept singing and I kept taking its pictures. There I was lying along the shore of the river to get the above image. Once I was finish with the photograph, then it was time to eat and listen to the song of the dipper. It kept singing even after I had done eating. Eventually I had to leave, leaving the dipper singing and waiting for mate to come by.

Until next moment,

Amar

Song Sparrow

It was a cold April morning, the temperature started out at minus 15 degree
Celsius but was rising fast with the sun. I was taking pictures of birds
that were near me but far more could be heard. Two Red winged Blackbirds
were calling out while perched on cattails. Nearby a male American Wigeon
was exploring the limited open water, every now and then it would send out
a call. To the side of me and behind me were four Song Sparrows, singing
away. Not too far away in the forest, I could hear the sounds of Varied
Thrush and a Robin. I was being entertained with nature's version of high
definition visual and surround sound. One of the Song Sparrow was perched
on a rock front of me, giving me the attached image.

Until next moment,

Amar

They are coming

Everyday more and more birds are flying into the park from their winter home. As ice and snow melts, habitat expands for the birds returning. Trying to spend as much time as possible locating birds, the anticipation for the spring migration is always shorter then the event. One day I caught the Red tailed Hawk flying overhead and on a another day the American Weigeon searching for food among the open water.

Until next moment,

Amar

Elk

It has been a long winter for this guy, spotted him slowly walking across frozen lake. If he was successful during the fall rut season, he didn't have time to eat. Winning Elk can lose fair amount of weight, keeping other bulls away takes lot of effort. Followed that up with heavy snowfall winter, challenge goes up for the already less nutritious food coming across their way. They draw the calcium back into their body from the antlers before they fall off, every bit helps. Spring is here and snow will melt, providing all the food the Elk need to continue their way off life. For this elk walking on the lake, belly will be full again.

Until next moment,

Amar

Robin

There were 12 Robins altogether, most searching for food, where the ground was not being covered by snow. There few three perched on nearby trees, among them was one preening its self. I found the image of its head tucked in its wings amusing. As if it was hiding from the fact that still lot snow coverd the ground.

Until next moment,

Amar

Elk Island National Park

I got to spend some time at Elk Island National Park this past week, it's a 194 square km nature wonder with rich cultural history. The northern prairies plateau ecosystem it repersents was covered with deep blanket of snow. Learned about the role national park played with bison conservation and as well important role with other wildlife spieces. The area also has human history that goes back 4500 years, from the First Nations to present. Was lucky enough to get few pictures of birds that I spotted, it's a home and migratory stopover to 250 species. Oh yes, also got few images of Plains and Wood Bison, what beautiful animals.

 

White breasted Nuthatch

I was heading toward balsam popular trees through deep snow to track down Hairy Woodpecker I heard and saw from a distance. It was busy looking for food on one of the tree, several meters above the ground. As I waited and hoped for it to get lower for better pictures, two White Nuthatches came our way. I started to focus on them as they got closer to where I was standing. They were looking for food as well, and I was kept busy taking one picture after another. The light was great and thankfully I was between the  late evening light and the birds. I had to move back, as one got too close for me to focus on. As it grabbed a piece of what I think was a larvae, I grabbed the attached image.

 

Until next moment,

Amar

 

Inglismaldie and Girouard

It was a cold morning with low clouds passing the valley. Light ray filtering through the clouds, high lighting certain parts of the mountains. Front of me the spruce trees stood in sharp contrast with the recent snow, while on the far side of the valley the mountains had a ghostly appearance. I quickly grabbed few images before the sunlight was blocked and snow started to fall again.

Until next moment,

Amar

Castle Mtn

 

In a world where so often one feels being pulled in so many different directions, its good to able to step away and be in control. Everyone should have at least one thing where they feel and are in control, even for a short while. A world where people are very happy to tell you what to do on your free time, you need to push back and you decide what to do with your free time. In a life where there seems to be more questions then answers, more problems then solutions, you need to find time to dance, travel, read, hike and/or what ever else that will help you recharge and keep the smile on your face. For me its connecting with nature, and being lucky enough to share that connection with others through photography.

Until next moment,

Amar

SnoopySleeping on the Dog House

I was in Lake Louise for work. As I was on my way to a workshop, I noticed the sunrise light hitting Mount Hector, locally know as Snoopy Sleeping on the Dog House. I had fifteen minute before workshop started, I quickly found higher position to get a better view of the mountain to get the posted image.

Until next moment,

Amar

Mobbing the Northern Hawk Owl

Often owls will get mobbed by other birds if spotted, not wanting to take the risk of the predator attacking. Rare for the owls to get hurt, mobbing stops when the owls moves on. In this case it was a Northern Hawk Owl getting mobbed. A Hairy Woodpecker was doing the job of calling out to let other birds know the presence of an owl. There was a Black-billed Magpie staying nearby as the Raven was in the owl’s face. After few minutes the owl decided to fly into the forest. The woodpecker chased it down and the magpie and the raven started to attack the owl. Soon another Hairy Woodpecker and Black-billed Magpie joined the mobbing. For few seconds the owl seem to look right at me, as if saying “can you believe these guys”. Once again the owl tried to fly away but was quickly spotted by the woodpeckers and the magpies and the raven kept trying to attack the owl. Eventually the owl had enough and decided to fly far away, only the woodpeckers followed.

Until next moment,

Amar

Mallard Ducks

Came across 6 Mallard Ducks, decided to stop and see if I would be able to get an interesting pictures. The sunlight was on the wrong side, opposite side of me. But snow and ice helped reflect the light on the shaded side of the ducks. The ducks were content and felt safe to go about their business on the far side of the pool of water. I waited, took pictures, waited and took more pictures until I got a keeper. They seem to form a line as they were heading back into the water, alternating between female and male. Cropped the image to keep the focus just on the ducks.

Until next moment,

Amar