An interesting visitor

This Varied Thrush was photographed by Anna Robertson at their home east of Red Deer. Jim says that there is a reported sighting south of their home/east of Innisfail as well.

Varied Thrushes are fairly early migrators, but they're rare visitors to our area. In Alberta they're more usually found in damp-ish conifer forest in the mountains.

If the body shape looks familiar, it's because our more usual Robin is also a thrush.

For more information, check out the Varied Thrush page at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It's a great site for loads of bird information.

Seen in the Sanctuary:

 I took advantage of the nice weather to get out on the Dr George Trail to see what's up at the moment. Some things were neat:

Deer trail through the trees

Moose trail on the bird blind. I wonder how ticked she was when she realised that it's a dead end.

 Some things, though, didn't make me as happy:

Human use of deer trail

Snowshoe tracks amongst the animal tracks on the West Lake

Boreal Chickadee obviously used to being hand-fed. Thanks to the visitor who's name I didn't get for assisting me with this picture!

We ask our visitors to please remember that there are rules in a wildlife sanctuary, and in a heavily-used urban sanctuary those rules become especially important. Enjoy your walk, but try to stay on the existing (human) trails rather than making your own.

Also, if you notice people feeding wildlife in the sanctuary, please let our staff know.

Seen in the Sanctuary

I got a chance to take the camera and go for a walk this afternoon. Here's a little of what's happening on the Dr George Trail in early August:

The chickadees were all very busy. They always seem to be.

Looks like this little guy is getting ready to cocoon.

I seem to take a lot of photos of duck bottoms...

There's lots of nectaring on the goldenrod right now.

That's a meadowhawk. Appropriately, in the meadow.

It's definitely prime saskatoon season.

Can you spot the face made by these woodpecker holes?

The Sanctuary was a very busy place today, both with the resident animals and all the people that came to visit. Thanks for taking the time to talk to me out there, folks. And remember, if you see one of our staffers out on the trails please don't hesitate to say hi. You never know what we might be able to tell you about recent happenings!

Seen in the Sanctuary

Just a few quick photos from yesterday's stroll:

Black-capped Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Red Squirrel. This one had just lost a territorial spat.

The warmer weather has meant more activity in the Sanctuary, but with the deep snow snowshoes are still the best way to get about. Call us at 403-346-2010 for details about rentals.

About this time every year...

We're into the part of August where the grasshoppers leap out at you as you walk the Dr George Trail, the Purple Asters and Goldenrods are showing off their colours... and people phone us concerned that there's something wrong with the trees because they're turning yellow.

Sorry, everyone, but it's that time of year again.

Here in Alberta we have a number of trees and shrubs that start turning colour fairly early, but probably the most noticeable is the Balsam Poplar. It can start turning in mid-July, and since it's one of the main tree species in the park it's hard not to see the yellow leaves peeking out everywhere.

Hard to believe, but it happens this early every year. It's not a signal of illness or pesticide use; it's just the tree's natural cycle. It's hard for a lot of us (including me) to process the fact that a tree could be getting ready for fall when there's usually still a fair amount of summer, and I think that's why people become concerned when they see the yellow leaves. It is normal, though, even if it's a tiny bit depressing.

On a happier note, here are a few of the things I saw on my walk around the 1 km today:

Grasshopper on the path

Goldenrod peeking through the shrubs. And my shadow...

The Red Squirrels have been leaving lots of piles of peeled cones.

A Mosaic Darner

Mystery feathers all over the bird blind. I wonder if something got eaten.

Bottom's up!

An update on the Grebes

I'm not entirely sure if this is the same family since we've had several pairs of Red-necked Grebes nesting on the West Lake this year, but since they're hanging around the same area as the nest at the Bird Blind I suspect that it might be. If it is, it looks like they've lost one chick. Unfortunately, that sort of thing happens in nature.

I think it might be the male doing the feeding in the pictures below, but if there's someone out there who knows their grebes better than I do please feel free to correct me in the comments.

Seen in the Sanctuary:

There are lots of families to be seen on the lake at the moment, so be sure to visit our bird blind if you're coming for a walk.

Couldn't resist adding this male Ruddy Duck, even though he's not hanging around with a bunch of youngsters. Today in a short period of time I spotted Ruddies, Blue-winged Teals, Goldeneyes, Mallards, Canada Geese, and Red-winged Blackbirds, and I'm not even particularly good at water or shore birds. Bring binoculars or a telephoto lens, and you're sure to get some good bird views. Oh, and as always, bug spray is a pretty good idea...

An extremely lucky salamander

This very small (you can see the curve of the ice cream bucket it's in, to give a sense of scale) Tiger Salamander was found by City workers in a dirt pile that was shortly to be moved by a Bobcat. Amazing that it was seen at all, since it was pretty well camouflaged in the mud.

We'll be releasing this little one in the Sanctuary, but if you'd like to know more about Tiger Salamanders come down to the Nature Centre and visit Boris, Natasha, and Lucky.

Yep. We've had two lucky-to-be-alive salamanders brought to the Nature Centre in the past couple of years. They sometimes don't pick the best places to hang out.

If you're thinking of a Canada Day long weekend visit, our hours will be 10 - 8 on Saturday, 10 - 5 on Sunday, and 1 - 8 on Monday. And if you'd like to join me on Monday, I'll be leading an edible plant walk at 1 pm. Phone us at 403-346-2010 for details.

And, um, bring bug spray. The mosquitoes are pretty persistent at the moment.

Just hanging out at the lake

I went out to the bird blind on the West Gaetz Lake this morning to check on a couple of things, and as I generally do I took the camera along with me just in case. Here's a bit of the wildlife that was hanging out:

 Red-necked Grebe

 A pair of Gadwalls

 Mallards and Blue-winged Teals preening on an old muskrat mound

A very uncooperative Blue-winged Teal who insisted on feeding rather than posing

A rainy or overcast day can often be a good time to find the birds a little closer to the deck than they might be on a hot, sunny day. Don't be afraid to put on the gear and go out for a wet walk.

Big tracks, little tracks

Anyone here at the Nature Centre can tell you that I'm not a winter person (just because you're a native Albertan doesn't mean that you're born with a love of Alberta winters). On a gorgeous day like today, though, even I couldn't help but take the camera for a walk around the Dr George Trail. Here's a little of what I saw.

Red Squirrels tend to use the same routes over and over. This may look like a squirrel gang, but it was just one running back and forth. Probably chattering if anyone dared to be in the way, too.

Tiny tracks tell a tale as well. Mouse and vole tracks (I'm certainly no expert, so I couldn't say which this is) may look like they suddenly disappear, but if they do there's a hole in the snow somewhere nearby. These little animals make entire warrens of tunnels under the snow, often complete with special sleeping chambers and latrines.

A deer trail down the lake, with the Nature Centre in the distance. Deer, like people, generally make use of paths that have already been started. Why break a new trail if you don't have to?

If we had more days like this, I'd find winter a lot more pleasant. Still, I can't help myself wishing that spring was a little nearer and that I was taking pictures of crocuses or Early Blue Violets instead of tracks. Speaking of spring, though, our spring newsletter and event calendar are out and should be in your mailboxes soon. If you're not a Friends of the Kerry Wood Nature Centre member but would like copies, drop by the Nature Centre to pick them up. If you'd like more information about the Friends, give us a call at 403-346-2010.

Dead plants have benefits

Here's a good reason to be a little lazy about your yard cleanup in the fall: your neighbourhood wildlife will be very happy.

I noticed this male Downy Woodpecker gleaning my dead sunflowers the other day (there was a female with him as well, but she was more camera-shy). In my case, a few standing dead plants and a small feeder on a balcony attract numerous chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and occasionally a magpie or two. The smaller birds use the plants for shelter as well as food, and everyone checks out the feeder. I generally stock it with black oil sunflower seeds (our usual recommendation for general feeding), but at the moment I have it filled with nutmeats. They've been a real hit, especially on colder days. The quick energy is appreciated.

Leaving standing plants in your yard will attract birds, but that's not the only bit of "messiness" that wildlife  likes. A loose pile of twigs and leaves can provide hibernacula for several of our local butterfly species. Yes, many of the butterflies you see in the spring have actually overwintered. Brush piles can be good for other animals, too. One of our staff members has a snowshoe hare regularly using his as a winter shelter.

For more ideas on making your backyard more wildlife-friendly, check out NatureScape Alberta by Myrna Pearman and Ted Pike. It can be found in many local bookstores, including our own here at the Nature Centre. Call Bob at 403-346-2010 ext 103 for more information or book recommendations.

Snow in the Sanctuary

We've been a lot busier with Twitter than the blog lately (you can follow us at @NatureCentre), but today I thought I'd take a quick walk on the Dr George Trail to see what I could find after our recent snowfall.

Anyone who knows me can tell you that I'm most definitely not a fan of snow or cold, but there's no denying that a covering of snow can give an interesting insight into what's sharing the trails with our human visitors. As always, click on the photos to see larger versions:

Our deer population likes to sneak snacks from the bird feeders when no one's watching.

Deer tracks down the sides of the path; humans down the middle.

Red squirrels tend to use the same runs over and over as they go from tree to tree.

I found moose tracks down the trail to the bird blind.

If you keep your eyes open, you may even see bird tracks in the snow.

Here's a track I'd sooner not see. Please remember, everyone, that dogs aren't allowed in the Sanctuary. There are plenty of other great places in Waskasoo Park to go walking with your dogs, but in the Sanctuary the wildlife should always come first.

I hope you'll take a moment in the next day or two to see what other tracks you can find. In the meantime, Halloween is coming quickly, and Kathryn has some fantastic things planned for our Family Drop-in Halloween on Saturday, October 27. It runs from 6 - 8 pm, and admission is $3/person or $10/family. Dress up, and come explore the spookier side of nature. Call us at 403-346-2010 for more information.

Seen in the Sanctuary

I took a quick trip around the Dr George trail at noon because it just looked like too nice a day to stay indoors. Here's a little of what I saw:

I always love dragonfly season. This one's a female Meadowhawk (probably a Pale-faced Meadowhawk, although she's unhelpfully hiding her face here). Meadowhawks are one of the smaller types of dragonfly.

I'm including this shot mostly just because I have a sneaking suspicion that I've been taking photos of this same exact bird all summer long. Likes to pose, I guess.

The dew on this Grass Spider web made it show up a lot better than they usually do. The hole to the right is actually more of a funnel (the webs themselves are called funnel webs). The spider would be hiding at the bottom of the funnel, waiting for potential prey to vibrate the web.

And finally, apparently the squirrels are enjoying the Little Forts in Peculiar Locations art installation as much as I have. If you haven't yet had a chance to look for the forts, make sure you stop by the Marjorie Wood Gallery first to pick up your map.

Seen in the Sanctuary

It's a warm, sunny day out there, and that usually slows things down for the animals in the Gaetz Lakes Sanctuary just like it does for us. Call it their version of sitting on the beach this long weekend, if you like, but hot weather generally makes it pretty quiet out there. I was out this morning to see what I could see, though, and here's a quick look at some of the things I found.

We usually have one or two resident bats, but today there were five. If you'd like to know where they hang out, just ask our front desk staff and they'd be happy to show you.

Damselfly. A bluet of some sort, I think, but I haven't looked it up yet.

A Barn Swallow on the bird blind.

This is an Anglewing, and I'm pretty sure that it's a Green Comma. I didn't get a look at the ventral side of the wing, though (unusual, that. Usually when I have the camera out they refuse to open their wings rather than refusing to close them), so I'm not absolutely certain.

 

Sharp-eyed visitors may notice a few new temporary additions along the Dr George Trail. They're part of our new art installation, Little Forts in Peculiar Locations by Robin Lambert. It's a fantastic and unique show, and I urge everyone to come down to the Marjorie Wood Gallery to check it out!