Inspection

I had been waiting to catch sight of the chicks for an hour with no sign of life when a Hairy Woodpecker flew in to perform an inspection of the Pileated Woodpecker's nest and got no response from inside. It looks like, and I am hoping, that the young ones have fledged.

Summer community

A Spotted Sandpiper joins a Goldeneye on the community log overhanging the Sturgeon River.

Time for a grub

A female feeds a chick a very tasty looking grub.

Summer beckons

The run in to the start of summer, blooming dogwood and poplars in full seed on the banks of the Sturgeon River.

Wild Rose Trail

In the woods of Lois Hole Park

Greening up

Big Lake

Wetland diving

Black Terns dive into the wetland to collect food for their nesting partners.

Bugs for you

Mom delivers a mouthful of bugs for a hungry chick.

That's all

Dad has done his duty and is moving around the tree stump for Mom to take over.

Feeding

The male has flown in and feeds one of the chicks

Twins!

After seeing no activity around the nest site during my brief observations over the last couple of days at last two chicks reveal themselves while waiting for the adults to bring food.

Feeding time!

Mom turns away after feeding the young ones.

On a rock in the river

Spot the Spotted Sandpiper hunting from a rock in the fast flowing Sturgeon River downstream from an old beaver dam.

I see you

A racoon pauses to look back after being disturbed (by me and the dog) on the Sturgeon River.

Skinny Squirrel

A squirrel pauses to look at me and the dog as we make our way through woodland.

Forest in bloom

Deep in the forest (I was lost for a while actually) in Sturgeon County.

Fishing

Spring colours brightly reflect on the Sturgeon River as a Racoon turns rocks looking for stuff to eat, (probably crayfish).

Chiilin out

A pair of ducks finding this fallen tree convenient to watch the world go by on the Sturgeon River.

Full load

A Marsh Wren collecting nesting materials from last years cattails in the wetland.

Catching the moment

In an instant, what I believe to be a male Black Tern feeding a tasty beast (freshwater shrimp?) to it's intended mate. This was one a three feedings that took place in that spot close to the boardwalk while I watched. Hopefully they won't decide to nest there, if they do it's going to be an "exciting" summer due to their aggressiveness when their young are hatched..