It was my second attempt this winter to capture a sunrise picture with Mt. Wilson dominating the image. The mountain is located north of Saskatchewan Crossing, east of Highway 93 North, with the ice on the Saskatchewan River in the foreground. Windy mornings are quite common there, I find, and this morning was no exception. I was ready for that and actually enjoyed the wind as it blew loose snow over the ice in front of me. But the first morning light never reached the mountain or the clouds above Mt. Wilson. However, when I looked west toward Mt. Outram, about 15 km away, there was a beautiful warm pinkish glow. The sun’s light had made a long journey through the atmosphere, where shorter wavelengths, like that of blue, get scattered, while colours with longer wavelengths, like red and pink, are allowed to reach my eyes. And Mt. Outram, with Mt. Forbes just to the back right, provided the winter landscape. Another winter morning was enjoyed.
Bohemian Waxwing
Bohemian Waxwings tend to breed in open evergreen and mixed forests near lakes, ponds, or streams in northern North America and Eurasia. During the non-breeding season, they roam through open woodlands, urban areas, roadsides, and parks in search of any fruits they can find. During the breeding season, they eat insects and some fruits, but it's all fruits during the non-breeding season. They pick fruits from trees and shrubs, swallowing them whole. They eat just about any fruits they come across and consume dried fruits during the winter. Since these dried fruits have a high level of sugar, they regularly need to drink water or consume snow when it's not available, all to help with the digestion of the dried fruits. Here, they are consuming juniper berries.
Northern River Otter
For a number of decades, northern river otters were not spotted in the Bow Valley around the town of Banff. I saw my first otter several years ago. Since then, there have been more and more sightings. Last month in this same area, within 24 hours, I saw five otters and evidence of two more. It is very likely that there are far more than seven. This could be in large part due to the increase in the beaver population in the same area over the last several years, providing more wetland habitat.
It has been noted that if beavers are trapped out of an area, otter numbers tend to drop. Otters are found near waterways, swamps, marshes, bogs, lake shores, and marine coasts across much of North America. Their top swimming speed is 11 km/h, whereas on land, they can run at speeds between 24-29 km/h, either running or running and sliding.
They can use a variety of temporary dens within their home range, created by other species, often beavers, muskrats, foxes, and other mammals. Alternatively, they use natural sites that are adapted by otters, such as rock crevices, caves, logjams, undercut riverbanks, cavities in tree roots, and fallen wood debris. It is rare for otters to create their own burrows. Their preferred den sites typically have a submerged entrance, such as bank burrows or abandoned beaver lodges. Birthing dens tend to be a safe distance from the water to avoid the danger of flooding. During winter, snow cavities can also be used as den sites.
Townsend's Solitaire
I think if any bird were to swear, it would definitely be the Townsend’s Solitaire. In winter, when they move to lower elevations to feed on juniper berries, they do not like to share—no matter if it’s a small patch or a much larger area covered in juniper. And it doesn't seem to matter if the other birds are members of its own species. In the mountains, if you want to locate this thrush, go to an area with juniper berries, or if you come across Bohemian Waxwings away from urban areas, there’s a good chance there are juniper berries nearby—and one very ticked-off Townsend’s Solitaire. It will be calling out, making aggressive gestures with its wings and tail feathers, and going after individual waxwings as they try to eat the berries. Just last week, I could see and hear several hundred waxwings, but I could also hear one very agitated solitaire.
In the picture with the solitaire, its territory includes two patches of juniper berries. One is above the road, out in the open, which it has to defend from the waxwings. But this evening, toward the end of the day, it was feeding on berries hidden by the woods. When it needed a break, it would perch on one of three spruce trees while light snow fell. With an overcast sky and lack of light, I was able to get this picture with a blue-grey cast.
Moose
Relatively speaking, moose are a new species to North America, from a geological timescale perspective. They crossed from Asia to Alaska via the Bering land bridge about 15,000 years ago. Researchers, through carbon dating and collecting DNA from both ancient moose fossils and modern moose from around the world, have helped pinpoint where the species originated and how it spread. The modern moose shares a common ancestor thought to have existed in East Asia around 85,000 years ago. As the climate started to warm, moose began moving north, following the vegetation they fed on and continue to feed on today.
Bow Lake
It was great to be back up at 93 North—always a fantastic place to explore and find photography opportunities. It was also wonderful to see more snow than around home. While the snowpack is nowhere near its normal amount for this time of year, it still felt like the middle of winter while exploring the various areas. Normally, I would have needed my snowshoes to handle the snow, but this winter, I managed to get by without them every day. During one of my visits in the last few weeks, I aimed to capture sunrise pictures at Bow Lake. Bundled up, I still had time to find a spot and set up the camera before the sky began to light up. The sunrise did not disappoint.
White-tailed Ptarmigan
The White-tailed Ptarmigan in summer makes its home mostly in terrain above the tree line, at elevations that can exceed 4,000 meters. Their range extends from Alaska to New Mexico, with habitats that are mostly treeless at the higher elevations of their range. Vegetation, due to heavy winds, tends to be 36 cm high or less. Trees, if present, tend to be stunted and molded by the high winds. At the lower part of the ptarmigan's elevational range, spruce, subalpine fir, and white fir may be found in small clusters in alpine meadows.
White-tailed Ptarmigans often forage in small, narrow spaces or openings that have formed due to freezing and thawing on steep slopes, where small plants have enough moisture and shelter to grow. They can also be found near streams or at the edges of melting snowfields. When snowstorms begin in autumn, ptarmigans move downslope to more sheltered areas, where willow, alder, and birch grow around meadows with sedges and grasses. As the weather turns severe in winter, some ptarmigans move below the tree line into forests.
During the summer and early fall hiking season, I try to seek them out as I make my way up to, and explore, alpine meadows and higher slopes. During the winter months, at lower elevations where shrubs like willow poke above the deep snowpack. This year, due to below-normal snowpack, half of the height of the willow was above the snow. I came across four White-tailed Ptarmigans resting after their morning consumption of willow buds. They blend in nicely with their surroundings, but with some time and effort, they can be spotted. And on some occasions, when they are close enough, I'm able to get a few good pictures.
Red Fox
Four species of foxes from the Canidae family can be found in Canada. The swift fox, the smallest of Canadian foxes, was historically found from southern Alberta to southwestern Manitoba but was thought to be extirpated from Canada by 1970. However, with help from captive populations and those obtained from Colorado, swift foxes were released in southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan. Since then, there have been records of breeding in the wild. Swift foxes are listed as Threatened in Canada’s Species at Risk Act. The first record of one being found in Banff National Park was in 2012. It was assumed to have traveled some 400 kilometers to get there. Unfortunately, it was run over and killed on the Trans-Canada Highway.
Grey foxes, similar in size to red foxes but slimmer, have slightly rounded ears, a black back stripe, and speckled grey sides. Their undersides are off-white, and their neck, the backs of their ears, and their legs are yellowish. They are found in the very southern parts of Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec. They are also listed as Threatened in Canada’s Species at Risk Act.
Arctic foxes are small with white fur in the winter and dark brownish fur during the summer. Like red foxes, they have a circumpolar distribution, meaning their range spans a wide range of longitudes around the North Pole. Both species are listed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. However, due to climate change, red foxes are increasingly pushing north. Not only are they expanding their range into arctic fox territories, but they are also hunting them.
Red foxes are the largest species of fox in Canada, weighing between 2.5 and 6.5 kg. They have a wide range across North America, Europe, North Africa, and Asia, and they have also been introduced to Australia. One of the few species that has adapted well to human presence, the red fox thrives in areas of farmland, large cities, suburbs, and other urban ecosystems. This red fox mainly spends her time in the wild, but her range does include some human-populated areas. When she was spotted early in the morning, she was busy searching for voles.
Cascade Mtn
With all things being equal, the best light for photography in the Northern Hemisphere tends to be in winter. Even if we are only looking at the light at the start and end of the day, there's not only better light but also a longer window during which this light exists. This is due to the Sun being lower in the sky during winter. The lower angle of the Sun in winter better illuminates the features of the mountains compared to the summer light. Also, in winter, when snow is present, more light is reflected, reducing the chance of harsh shadows. This also means that if you like someone, you should be careful taking their picture in the middle of a sunny summer afternoon, when the Sun is more likely to cast harsh, dark shadows on their face.
Common Redpoll
The Common Redpoll is one of the bird species that calls Banff National Park home during the winter. Winter is when most of us get to see them in Canada and in the central or southern United States, as they search for seeds. They breed in the northern latitudes, among scattered shrubs and trees such as willow, birch, or alder in areas of tundra. Common Redpolls primarily eat seeds in winter, particularly birch and alder seeds. The redpoll in the picture was feeding on seeds from birch catkins, along with several of its buddies. They will also probe for insects. This winter has not been particularly cold, but nonetheless, some redpolls will tunnel into the snow to stay warm during the cold nights. These tunnels are about 30 cm long and approximately 12 cm under the insulating snow.
Mount Rundle
It was a cool morning, and I had decided to start the day outside by getting a sunrise picture or two. The best chance this morning was going to be at Vermilion Lakes. I got there with plenty of time to spare. A few others were there, with their phones in hand, looking around to see what background was best for them to stand in front of. The clouds were starting to light up, but there was no rush, so I took my time with the camera in hand, to find a simple shot that would reflect the moment. I found the feature on the lake, lined it up with Rundle, and took a few pictures. I took a few more with the camera in landscape mode. Then, I stopped and enjoyed the rest of the sunrise as the surroundings got brighter. Probably the biggest change today in my pursuit of the picture is being more relaxed and taking more time to observe what is happening around me with my naked eyes during these special moments.
Grizzly
A claw is a curved, pointed appendage found at the end of a toe or finger in most mammals, reptiles, and birds. Claws are made of a hard protein called keratin, which also makes up scales, hair, feathers, horns, hooves, and even our nails. For many predatory mammals, claws can partially retract into the animal’s paws. For example, members of the cat family (Felidae) have retractable claws. Having retractable claws helps protect them from wear and tear.
The grizzly bear has claws which are always on display, and are crucial for its survival. These claws vary in length depending on the size and age of the bear, with an average length of 5 to 10 cm, though some claws can reach up to 15 cm. The main function of the grizzly’s claws is to provide protection and aid in survival in a tough habitat. However, they also play an important role in the bear’s daily life, such as searching for food and shelter. They are excellent for digging dens and for searching for food, like roots and rodents. Long claws also help grizzly bears climb steep slopes when heading to their den or in search of food.
This picture of M136 was taken in November when he and M122 were still searching for food. Using his claws and other tools, M136 had gained enough fat to survive another winter in his den.
Common Raven
Another Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is upon us. Led by the Bow Valley Naturalists, the CBC in the Bow Valley will take place on Saturday, December 14, 2024. I usually write about the CBC a week before it happens in the Bow Valley, but I think I mixed up my chocolate intake, and here we are. The Bow Valley Naturalists have been involved with the count since 1975, so tomorrow will be the 49th count. Much has changed in recent years, let alone when looking back to 1975. The CBC counts that occur across Canada have become even more important for observing what is going on with our feathered friends.
There’s an important Citizen Science component to the CBC, but it’s also a great way to be social and active as we listen and look to find what species of birds are around us. And there are always some surprises, even if we don’t come across a Common Raven with leucism. This raven was spotted about 56 km from where we will be counting.
Animals with albinism lack melanin, the natural pigment in skin, feathers, hair, and eyes. They tend to appear pale pink or red in color. Leucism, on the other hand, is a defect in pigment cells, which causes animals to have pale or muted colors, or, as in this raven's case, patches of white. If the raven was all white, one way to tell whether the bird has albinism or leucism is by looking at the eyes. With leucism, the raven would have dark-colored eyes, rather than red or pink. Leucism, like albinism, is inherited. The muted colors and patches on an animal’s skin or feathers can vary depending on the genetics of its parents.
So, whether you’re a beginner, an advanced birder, or somewhere in between, dress for the weather and bring a few snacks—chocolate is always a good choice. Enjoy another Christmas Bird Count. And even if you’re not participating in this event, which started in 1900, the next time you see a bird, give it a look for a few extra seconds or a minute and appreciate how amazing birds are.
Grizzly
M136 ("Split-lip") is the other large grizzly bear that calls the Bow Valley its home. As for the media and public attention, it's M122 ("The Boss") who gets most of it, if not all. But unlike perhaps us humans, neither bear cares who's on the news, nor do they care what we call them.
A few years back, I was at a viewing area, watching over a large open space when a family visiting from another province stopped to have a look. I said hello, and they asked if there was any wildlife in the area. I mentioned there were a few birds around, but as far as mammals were concerned, there were just the two-week-old grizzly bear tracks below us.
They started asking questions about bears, and the next thing you know, I was giving a point talk on the two large grizzlies, M122 and M136. After listening to me for a few minutes, during which I only used their numbers to identify them, the lady said, "That's very cold, giving them numbers instead of names." I replied, "There have been no complaints from any of the bears." Then I went on to explain that naming can lead to anthropomorphizing, which can result in data and conclusions that are not objective or valid.
Even then, researchers can develop attachments to a specific bear and feel saddened when its death is not natural. For some, naming a wild animal can place a sense of value on it, which implies that humans have power over them.
Some of the reasons a bear gets tagged are for research purposes or because the bear is being monitored for public and/or its safety. Once it's decided that a bear is going to be tagged, a team will work together, with each member having specific responsibilities. Once the bear is tranquilized, the team ensures that not only is the bear collared and ear-tagged, but that necessary samples are collected and the bear's health is checked.
With modern technology, the collar can send a radio signal or GPS coordinates. Male bears receive their ear tag with their assigned number on the left ear, while females get theirs on the right ear. Humans do make mistakes, though. A few years ago, a male black bear was spotted in the spring with cubs from that year. The Parks Canada team realized that it had been tagged on the wrong ear. Depending on how long the collar's battery lasts, it may function for a couple of years. For example, if the collar sends out a GPS signal every minute, it will last much shorter than one that sends out a signal every hour.
M136 was last collared and ear-tagged several years ago. His collar didn't last long; it's assumed he got into a fight with another grizzly, and off came the collar. However, he still has a small ear tag in his left ear, which can't be seen in this picture. It's often assumed that only part of his tag is attached to his ear, but he was tagged with a smaller ear tag. The yellow ear tag can be easily viewed, but you'd have to zoom in or get dangerously too close to see the number on the tag. There are other ways to identify him, such as his lighter-colored face, his narrower head compared to M122, the cut on his upper lip on the left side that gave him his street name of "Split-lip," and other features.
In the end, it does not matter what the public calls him or any other bear. The far more important thing is to give this bear, and all other bears, the space they need to make a living.
Mountain Goats
In 2022, it was the International Year of Caves and Karst. These hidden worlds contain unique ecosystems. The International Year of Caves and Karst was established by a number of organizations to shine a light on the importance of caves and karst. Karst forms when soluble bedrock is dissolved by water. It starts with existing fractures and cracks in the bedrock, which become enlarged through dissolution. Given enough time, large subterranean drainage networks can develop, connecting the surface with the subsurface.
Rainwater picks up carbon dioxide from the air, and as it makes its way through the soil, it turns into weak carbonic acid. This slowly dissolves limestone, dolomite, and other types of soluble rocks along the joints, bedding planes, and fractures, which over time become enlarged enough to form caves.
This cave can be viewed from a pull-off along the road below, a few hundred meters away. It is even better seen with binoculars or a zoom lens. At parts of the year, I can see mountain goats on the slope of the mountain that this cave is part of, sometimes grazing or hanging out in front of it. On this occasion, there were six of them. I noticed one standing right away, but when I zoomed in, I could see two sitting at the entrance and three on the rocks just below. Mountain goats' habitat makes up an interesting geological world.
Copper Mtn
I think we've all heard the phrases "be in the moment" or "just enjoy the moment." Understanding these words is easy, but living them can take years, and for some, a lifetime. This fall, more than at other times, I’ve found myself reflecting on these words. At work, on a hike, listening to the radio, and elsewhere, I've heard others compare the fall colours in the Canadian Rockies to those in the East. Lately, I’ve come to see this type of conversation as a waste of time and energy.
A few weeks ago, in October, I was visiting family in the Toronto area, where I grew up. Every day, I would go for a long walk to a park, enjoying the fall colours on the way there and in the park. I was amazed by the beautiful colours nature can produce. Late September and early October, I once again enjoyed the fall colours in the Bow Valley and on several hikes in the mountain national parks. Again, I was amazed by the beautiful colours of nature. Not for a second did I think about or compare which area had more beautiful colours. Each time, I was simply enjoying the experience and, as always, part of me was hoping it wouldn't end.
Several weeks ago, a friend shared with me pictures and words about a great hike he and others had on a beautiful morning. I enjoyed his story and could hear the excitement in his voice, recalling the same excitement I had experienced that same morning elsewhere. Not for a second I wish I had his experience or he had mine. We all had a great morning. Life is short, and I let others worry about creating lists of things you "must do” or create a top ten list.” Life becomes fun and easy when I can find something special in each moment I encounter.
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Times when the world seems out of control and you can’t make sense of it, nature is a great remedy. Add birding to your outing, and the mind begins to fit into nature’s rhythm. During late fall and winter, only a fraction of the species are encountered compared to spring and summer, requiring a greater effort to hear and spot them. This is even more challenging when most birds aren't calling out as they do during main birding season. That said, they still make other sounds, including this tiny songbird, the Yellow-crowned Kinglet. This was especially true when several of them were foraging for insects through the leaves. With their yellow crowns showing, they blended in perfectly among the half-dried leaves still clinging to the branches. Light rain fell as I tried to get a few good pictures while the kinglets kept moving, searching for food. In those moments, the world felt small and manageable again.
Golden Larches
The larches are coniferous trees, like pine trees, as they have needles instead of leaves, and their seeds grow in cones. However, unlike evergreen trees, larch needles are deciduous. Come fall, the larches turn golden. To save nutrients for later use, as temperatures cool and days become shorter, the chemical components in the needles that photosynthesize—specifically, those that create sugars from carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight—begin to break down. These chemicals, mostly nitrogen, are stored elsewhere in the tree. It is during this process that the needles of the larch trees become golden-coloured, a transformation that lasts two to three weeks, depending on the weather.
Northern Lights
A coronal mass ejection (CME) erupted from the active sunspot AR3842 on October 1st. On the 3rd, it was reported that the sunspot AR3842 had exploded again, and now two CMEs were headed for Earth. The forecast predicted that the first CME would strike Earth on October 4th and the second on October 6th. Geomagnetic storms were expected to arrive on the weekend of October 5th and 6th, bringing with them the northern lights.
The news improved when smaller CMEs were also observed heading for Earth. However, forecasting weather with 100 percent accuracy on Earth is challenging enough, let alone predicting the northern lights when something is arriving from the Sun that’s 150 million kilometers away.
The lights started slowly, becoming visible on the night of the 6th, but the big show began in the mountains as soon as it got dark on October 7th. The intensity of the lights seemed to increase four separate times that night, revealing colours beyond just green to our naked eyes. As we enjoyed the northern lights, the sunspot AR3842 was not done yet. A bigger explosion occurred on the 7th, and a more powerful CME was on its way, striking on the night of October 10th. But that’s a story for another time.
Lake O'Hara
We all have our reasons for hiking, and I certainly have mine. It's important to have more than one reason. If my only goal, for example, were to get the perfect picture, I would likely be disappointed most of the time.
More importantly than getting the picture, I find that being active is key, and I find hiking in nature to be very mentally relaxing. So, before I even captured this image, I already felt accomplished that day. The sky was supposed to be partially cloudy that morning, but as I got closer to Lake O’Hara, the clear sky began to disappear. When I reached the lake, it seemed that the first morning light wouldn't break through the clouds. Still, I continued to the spot I wanted to reach, ready to see what would unfold before me.
Half an hour later, I arrived at my location, put my backpack down, and layered up. I had my first food of the day as I waited patiently. I felt relaxed while I waited for the sky to open up. I became a sort of trail greeter, standing or sometimes sitting by the trail, chatting with other hikers who were now making their way up the same route. Their hikes had started at the lake below me. We exchanged a few words; they might take pictures, and then they continued on. This repeated several times with different hikers.
I think I waited in that general spot for about 90 minutes before I was satisfied with the picture and then made my way down to the lake for a stroll before heading home. For this image, I didn’t have to think outside the box. I was already content with my hike and feeling relaxed. Capturing the photo was just a bonus as I enjoyed the views while the sky slowly opened to reveal the shot I wanted. After that, I made a quick descent to the lake, followed by a walk around it. With the water being calm compared to just a few hours earlier, I was able to capture a few more keepers. Another bonus that morning was seeing a few familiar faces on my way down to the lake and while walking around it.
A picture like this is not just about the view it presents. But also, all the experience before and after that came about one beautiful fall morning.
