Freezing up

Water, flowing over a beaver dam on the partly frozen Sturgeon River, spreads to form the shape of a bird, or a fighter jet?

Moonrise at sunset

The rising moon is illuminated by the setting sun. Taken in Sturgeon County looking towards the western boundary of St Albert (the line of trees in the foreground)

Beneath the Eagle's Nest

A grey mid-November morning finds a family of Trumpeter Swans, some Canada Geese, and Mallards in open water that is over looked by an Eagle's Nest on the escarpment overlooking the narrows of the now mostly frozen Big Lake.

Pot of Gold

A rainbow in November is rare enough to make use of whatever is at hand to get a photo, which happened to be my 500mm lens, so I was only able to squeeze the end of it into the shot.

Heading for the sun

A flight of Trumpeters do a final lap over Big Lake before heading out towards the setting sun to resume their southward migration. WARNING; NEVER INTENTIONALLY POINT YOUR CAMERA DIRECTLY INTO THE SUN (this shot was an accident as I panned across he sky following the birds and I had to quickly remove my eye form the viewfinder when the sun came into the frame).

Night arrival

Canada Geese fly in for their nightly roost on the remaining open water of Big Lake.

Drama on the East Shore

A large storm cloud moves in across the eastern shoreline of Big Lake after sunset.

Ice on fire

The ice on Big Lake reflects the after glow of the sunset.

Leaving

A swan takes a run across the open water to take flight as the setting sun blazes golden light across Big Lake just prior to sunset.

Proliferation

A lovely natural scene on Big Lake with Canada Geese both on the ice and in the air in the early morning. Pity there are seven communication towers in this one shot!

Sunrise over St Albert

Looking down the Sturgeon River towards St Albert at sunrise.

Blur

Even though I was working off a tripod the cold haze and subject movement, combined with low light and slow shutter speeds, made for everything getting a bit blurry as night fell over Big Lake. The colours are nice though, just don't look to closely!

Losing the light

Also known as sunset, at Big Lake.

Into the sun

Canada Geese hop up onto the ice of partially frozen Big Lake and march towards the rising sun before taking off for their daily tour of their grazing fields.

Night Roost

At dusk, Canada Geese, a few Tundra Swans, waterfowl, and gulls gather around the pool of unfrozen water. Then suddenly there is a great lift off and swirling in the sky.

Dusk at freeze up

Thousands of birds of all sizes congregate around a pool of open water on the partly frozen Big Lake at dusk.

Shimmering Light

Just before the sun sets, golden light shimmers across Big Lake to throw the birds swimming in the unfrozen pool of water into silhouette.

First Rays

After the frenetic rising of the Canada Geese order is restored with the remaining geese and returning gulls basking in the first rays of the sun hitting their position on the ice of partially frozen Big Lake.

Filling the Sky (2)

A wider shot of the scene after a large number of Canada Geese rose up off Big Lake just before sun-up.

Lift off (3)

The Geese closer to my position get agitated and start marching on the newly formed ice of partially frozen Big Lake as their brethren take flight from their roost.

Filling the sky (1)

Canada Geese (or some of them) fly off their over night roost at Big Lake just as the sun started to rise above the horizon.

Lift Off (2)

Canada Geese and accompanying gulls wake up the remaining Tundra Swans as they rise into the air over Big Lake just as the sun rises.

Lift Off (1)

Suddenly there was a great commotion and cacophony of honking geese and the rear line lifted off as though they were one. Big Lake.

Calm before the Storm

As I walked up to Big Lake in the dawn light I couldn't hear a murmur and thought that maybe the birds had already flown the roost, my worries were over as soon as I took in this scene, it was so peaceful you could hear a pin drop.