The temperature has been above normal for this time of the year, it was winter wonderland after the snow this morning and then the temperature went up and we got rain lower in the valley. It will be interesting see how rest of the winter turns out. But well before all this I got to see a amazing sunset in the fall. It was a great evening, taking pictures in all direction before the warm colours covered the clouds, at which time I faced west. I quickly moved to the one side of the still water and continued taking pictures until the light faded away for a another day.
Until next moment,
Amar
Elk
I caught this bull elk crossing the cold river, he did not get into the water right away. First tested the water few times and also he was deciding where to enter the river. He had some challenge getting through the deep water, swam up the river and then he went cross to the other side. Did a little shake and off he went.
Until next moment,
Amar
Mountain Goats
Few days later this place was covered by snow, but before that I got to watch these goats and nine other in the morning and then in the afternoon. While I was taking their pictures in the afternoon from few hundred meters below, I was also trying to figure out what they were staring at. In the morning I heard the call of a Golden Eagle nearby, I could not see or hear one in the afternoon, plus they are only wary of one when their offsprings are quite young. Even after they ran for fifty meters or so in the opposite direction, I had no clues. In the end I got to watch the Mountain Goats on a sunny fall afternoon and a mystery to solve. Nature always find a way of keeping you coming back.
Until next moment,
Amar
Castle Mountain
In September it looked as if winter was going to be here early, but the warm October changed all that. Now winter is trying again in November, this time it has a better chance of staying. The peaks in the park are starting to hold on to the snow, looking beautiful during sunrises , sunsets and in between.
Until next moment,
Amar
Common Merganser
I was walking along the Bow River, when I reached a bay where a female Common Merganser was looking for food. I kept walking to go get the picture I was looking for, on my return the merganser was still in the same area. Got my camera out and started to take its picture and then waited to see what it would do next. Weather it was me or it just decided to move on, I missed the moment when it got out o the water. I quickly got the camera on it and got picture of it flying.
Until next moment,
Amar
Grizzly
I have seen the female grizzly 148 since she was one year old, with her brother, sister and the very famous mother 164, and this year I have seen her more times then I deserve. Over the years I have observed how a grizzlies change physically from spring to fall many times over, it still amazes me the transformation that takes place. In this picture there are two images of 148, the one on the right was taken in July and the other in October. The pictures showing the fur getting darker, gaining the frost tips that they are know for and as well the winter coat is much thicker and fuller. Also she is getting better at locating food, helping her gain weight that will help her over the winter. The experience she is gaining at finding food, will help her when she has smaller mouths to feed in the next few years hopefully.
Until next moment,
Amar
Mountain Goats
Few weeks back I watched this adult and one year old moving along the side of the mountains, ocassionally stopping to eat along the way. The mountain goats have their winter coat on, ready for the winter when it decides to arrive.
Until next moment,
Amar
Castle Mountain
It was a great evening to take landscape pictures, any direction I looked there was a picture waiting to be taken. As the sun got lower and lower the light got better and better. I kept moving and taking pictures until the light was gone, one of the picture I took that evening was of Castle Mountain.
Until next moment,
Amar
Gray Wolves
The day was coming to an end, I was taking pictures of elk and decided it was time to make my way home. Before I reached my car, around the corner came two adult wolves, they gave me a quick look and kept walking on the edge of the forest. From the direction they were heading, I came to the conclusion they were on a hunt. In the distance I could see three elk, eating and not aware of the predators getting closer. I moved to a location up the slope from where I was standing, to sit down and see what would unfold. There was open space between the wolves and the elk and the space in between was wetland, not good for running. I just could not see the wolves surprising the elk. And just like that the elk started to stare in the direction of the wolves and then the three elk started to move toward the nearby herd. I think the wolves gave away their location once realizing it was not going to work. They then came to the edge of the forest and started walking where we first saw each other. I stayed put from where I was hoping and watching through my lens the kill that did not took place. Once the two wolves were out of sight, I made my way to my car thinking about what I got to witness.
Until next moment,
Amar
Cascade Mountain
I was making my way home from work, getting closer to the bridge I needed to cross to get over the Bow River. The crossing was delayed, when I looked to my left, a picture was waiting to be taken. The beautiful mountain blue sky with scattered clouds, the colours of the fall, the fall light on Cascade Mountain and the calm water of the Bow River all playing a part to provide the beautiful view.
Until next moment,
Amar
Tundra Swan
After watching mountain goats on the sides of the mountains from the road, an hour later I was watching 6 Tundra Swans in a very cold lake. They were taking a well deserved break from their migration to the South. It was time to groom and eat in the shallow waters.
Until next moment,
Amar
Pilot Mountain
Here's a picture of Pilot Mountain, that was a marker for many who were travelling through the Bow Valley in the early days. Since it can be spotted from a great distance from the East and from the West. In this case the picture was taken just west of Pilot Mtn. in the evening.
Until next moment,
Amar
Northern Pygmy Owl
In life we are always taking sides and we tend to do that with nature as well. When we see or a hear about a particular bear, we start making connection with that bear and want to see it survive when it competes with others and nature it self. If there is limited food, we hope the bear we connected with finds it and not other wildlife, even though others have done nothing wrong. In the case of the Northern Pygmy Owl in the picture, I had watched it over few weeks bringing back food for the female sitting on the next, same when the eggs were hatched. I thought I was going to get a chance to see the fledglings perched on a branch, but that never took place. I think the red squirrel that I saw many times that had failed to get into the nest, finally succeeded and killed the nestlings and maybe even the adult female. The male adult would bring back food and call out, but there was no respond, no begging from the nestlings. Then few days later the nest was infested with ants. For a while I felt sorry for the owl who worked so hard for his family and negative toward the squirrel. But in the end no was in the wrong and no one was in the right, this is how nature works. The owl was working hard for its family and the squirrel was doing the same for its. So were the many small birds the owl brought back as food. In the end nature won, a natural process got carried out.
Until next moment,
Amar
Silverhorn Creek
I have to spend more time taking pictures of falls, every year I have plans but I just don't carry through. This is a small one, but I like the surrounding colours of the rocks that really help make this picture.
Until next moment,
Amar
Cascade Mtn
It was a cold morning, as I stood not too far from Bow River, waiting for the sun to light up the peeks . The few clouds that were visible were lit up along with the peeks and complemented by the fall colours on the valley bottom. Watching the beautiful view front of me helped overcome the cold I was feeling.
Until next moment,
Amar
Elk
Golfers look away. This and many other bull elk did a number on the golf course during the rut season. This bull after digging up the grass, urinated and rolled in it before starting the bugling. All part of the rut season in Banff.
Until next moment,
Amar
Grizzly
It has been a challenge spotting a bears in the park since latter part of the summer. Lack of food has them spread out throughout the park looking for calories to add before they go to sleep over the winter. If anyone can find food it will be them, using all they have learned from their mother and being very curious and opportunist creatures. During the summer "split-lip" and I crossed paths, his official name is 136 but "split-lip" is his moniker. A name he got after getting a cut on his upper left side of his lip, more then likely from a fight with another boar, he likes to rough it up. We should be a respectful distance from any wildlife encountered in wild, even more when this beautiful and unpredictable grizzly is encountered.
Until next moment,
Amar
Spotted Sandpiper
You don't want to mess with this week old Spotted Sandpiper, it will kill you with its cuteness. It blends in so nicely among the rocks, but its calls and bit of luck gave away its location. I sat down on a dry spot and after few minutes it got close enough for a good picture.
Until next moment,
Amar
Moon
I was not able to take any pictures of the supermoon lunar eclipse because of the clouds, but I was able to get one of the moon the following night rising over Tunnel Mountain.
Until next moment,
Amar
Mount Rundle
One of the most photographed mountain in Banff National Park is Mount Rundle. People are either taking pictures of the mountain or taking pictures of themselves front of it. One evening I was out to take pictures of the mountain, when i noticed people taking their own pictures. I decided to include them in my picture.
Until next moment,
Amar
