Loping along
A coyote loping along the frozen shoreline of the Sturgeon River in St albert.
Checking me out
This coyote came from behind me as I was photographing two other coyotes out on the lake, then checked me out to see what I was going to do next.
Symbiotic Relationship?
Do magpies and coyotes have a symbiotic relationship? This was the first of two encounters in close succession that I photographed at Big Lake that morning.
On the edge of town
A Mom and juvenile have just exited the Grey Nuns Forest and looked back presumably to make sure they were not being followed. Homes in the Riverside development are in the background.
Silent
Blue Jays calling out a warning drew me to look for and eventually find this Barred Owl deep in the woods.
Keeping Watch
I have been playing cat and mouse with this young female for about a week. Every other time we run into one another she has either hidden behind a bush or just run off. Today she stood and watched and gave me this great photo opportunity in great light.
Squirrel with berry
Left behind
A young Tundra Swan, accompanied by some late to migrate Mallards, appears to have been left behind and is spending what is likely the last few days of its life at a slowly diminishing water hole as Big Lake freezes up.
Sunrise over Big Lake
Wetland at Sunrise
Frozen Food
A muskrat enjoys a snack while sitting on the ice of the freezing up river.
River Roost
Canada Geese and other waterfowl use the remaining open water on the Sturgeon River in St Albert near the Ray Gibbon Drive overpass for their overnight roost, soon they will have to head south.
Flight time
Canada Geese lift off from their overnight roost on Big Lake in a light snowstorm.
Leap
Canada Geese thrust themselves into the air from their overnight roost on Big Lake,
Cooling down
Geeses and waterfowl roost on the remaining open waters of Big Lake.
Big Lake during freeze up
Canada Geese gather on the ice - water interface during freeze up on Big Lake.
Duel
A pair of Northern Harriers decide to have a duel while cruising over the shoreline of Big Lake. I am guessing they are siblings.
Ready to go
A Bald Eagle readies for take-off in Sturgeon County.
Starting to turn
Fall is starting to show in the woods near the Sturgeon River.
Sturgeon River in fall
Morning light breaks over the river.
Morning light over the Sturgeon
Getting near to peak fall colour on the banks of the Sturgeon River.
Empty
It's all black except for Jupiter and its moons on their closest approach to earth in 59 years.
Interloper
The red-tailed hawk could not intimidate the starlings to leave its most favoured perch overlooking Big Lake.
Starlings
On the power lines that cross the Sturgeon Rover at Big Lake.
