Me, Boomer and The Vermilon River

Sunday, October 7, 2012

A Common Snipe, Birds, Otters At Play, and Scenes of the Vermilon River.

I fear Indian Summer is over with a temperature drop to -3 C in the morning and a rise in the afternoon to 7 C. We're also experiencing a cold rain, which is very close to snow. The photo opposite was taken on Boom's pre-sunrise walk. No wonder we scare people who suddenly see us emerging from the fog. Good thing there are no people.

Most of the photos in this post were taken on days when Indian Summer was in full swing, as you can see from the shot opposite.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PHOTOS SO CLICK ANY PHOTO TO WATCH THE SLIDE SHOW.

A Post to: I'd-rather-be-birdin', Our World Tuesday and Wild Bird Wednesday. Click on any one to redirect.

Blue Jay

Immature White Crown

Duck in flight.

Female Hairy Woodpecker

Geese on the River.

In flight hawk-Northern Harrier?

Immature White Crown.

Male Hairy Woodpecker.

Male Purple Finch

Sky reflection

Common Snipe. The first time I've seen one.

Despite the rain, the leaves are still resplendent. I checked the web for an explanation of the leave colour change. The colours apparently are already in the leaves, but hidden by the green chlorophyll, the chemical which promotes photosynthesis. Once the temperature changes the chlorophyll leaves. The red colour comes from glucose left in the leaves which turns red in the sunlight. The brown in oak leaves is chemical waste.

Sun Rising.

Upper River.

Wood Ducks

As I said earlier the Pine Siskens signal the arrival of fall. There were about fifty in this flock, and as with all Boreal birds are voracious feeders.

Blue Jay.

Pine Sisken

Immature White Crowned Sparrow. Another sign of fall is the arrival of these fellows. They're a larger sparrow and quite spunky. The immature always looks to me like he has a Mohawk cut, which suits his aggressive nature. As with other birds of the Boreal, they feed on the ground and are voracious eaters.

Female Hairy Woodpecker.

Immature White Crown

As I explained earlier the Otter were at play. Nothing is more fun to watch then these clowns as they frolic in the wetland.

Pine Sisken

Common Snipe

Wood Ducks.

Pine Sisken

Wood Duck

River Otter

Pine Sisken

Otter.

One of three trying to outdo one another.

Pine Sisken

Otter playing.

Pine Sisken

Sky in wetland.

Duck in flight

Blogger/Google has been a little better lately in allowing access to sites, but some are still hard to get into. The opposite is a frosty, foggy wetland.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Still More Colour and Wildlife of The Vermilon River.

The weather has been perfect, sunny with temperatures at about 19 C, say 70 F. This is about to change as it's raining now and tomorrow the big drop comes. The temperature will be about 10 C, in the 40's F. Yes there will be snow in the north tomorrow, but it won't stay. I guess that means Indian summer is over. All these photos were shot on the west side of the River, and it was wonderful.

The Pine Siskens are in, another sign of fall. The Siskens were a flock of fifty vigorously feeding on some cedars in an area between the River and wetland. I was trying to photograph a Snipe which I'll show later and the Siskens when the Otters showed up. I thought they were going to splash me, when I ignored them so here they are.

The first series of photos are of the colours in the River,Wood Ducks, and a male Hairy Woodpecker.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PHOTOS, SO CLICK ON A SHOT AND ENJOY THE SLIDE SHOW.

A post to: Sky Watch Friday.

I'm still having trouble getting into some sites. I think because of blogger.