Chickadee Photo Art

Bald Eagles of Ucluelet

// July 17th, 2010 // No Comments » // Birds of Prey, Pacific Ocean & Vancouver Island

Welcome back to my website & thanks for visiting !

We have Bald Eagles all across our provinces but these photos were taken in Ucluelet on Vancouver Island.  This is one of my favourite places to visit.  It is home to the Wild Pacific Trail, Broken Group Islands, whale festival in March, situated next to the Pacific Rim National Park (Tofino half an hour north) and wildlife abounds.  I would highly recommend a visit here if given the chance. When we were out whale watching we saw a “flock” of bald eagles out on the ocean diving into the water eating the same roe that the whales were feeding on. Unfortunately, we were in very rough waters at the time and  it was raining  hard as we passed by so I could not get photos of that.

We couldn’t get closer to this nesting pair because of the rough surf that day.  An enormous tree with a huge eagle nest at the top.  I wonder how they withstand all the weather and winds being so out in the open.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

Atikaki Wilderness Prov. Park & Jackson’s Lodge Outpost

// July 5th, 2010 // No Comments » // Atikaki Wilderness Provincial Park, Birds of Prey, Boreal Forest, Otters, Scenic

** New photos gallery has been updated. . .

It started with a plane ride arranged through Shaun Jackson of Adventure Air over the boreal forrests of north eastern Manitoba and into the Atikaki Wilderness Provincial Park to Wapeskapek Lake on the Gammon River.  Our own private island cabin (Jackson’s Lodge Wapeskapek Outpost) was home for the next three days. Everything about this trip was awesome! Hot weather, an evening thunderstorm, great pickerel (walleye) fishing, wildlife sightings and terrific accomodations with everything we required and more.  I was pleasantly surprised at how well-equipped the “outpost” was – hot/cold running water, indoor shower, a great variety of cooking utensils and dishes, propane fridge, stove with oven and a freezer.  My son and fiance sighted a moose and calf swimming in the river, we had river otters hanging out at our boat dock, a clear view of nesting bald eagles with one chick right at the water’s edge, a variety of beautiful forrest song birds and even garter snakes basking on the heated bedrock.  The rasperries and blueberries were just beginning to ripen and they were abundant so the next groups in will have plenty to pick and enjoy.

Fishing was excellent and as much as I enjoyed the fishing I have to say I equally enjoyed taking photos of the Bald Eagles, Otters , songbirds and scenery.  It truly is wilderness and it was a most exciting trip. Warning! Warning!  Bring lots of bug spray – that was the only drawback of being in the back country and the black flies are relentless.

We saw a few groups of wilderness canoe enthusiasts camped on the mossy bedrock and paddling downstream on the Gammon River.   We weren’t sure where they started off from but that would be a really exciting canoe trip for the more experienced paddlers.  Adventure Air may fly groups in and drop them off – not sure but one could enquire about this.

Canadian Shield rock cliffs lined the river in many places. The scenery all along the river was truly beautiful.

Below:  The view from our cabin – now that’s a view one could use more often!

From the air we could see this group of wilderness canoe enthusiasts.

Heavy rains have made the rivers creep up onto the land.

Lastly – our island getaway.  Thanks Shaun Jackson for a very memorable wilderness experience!

Enjoy!

Sharon

Great Horned Owl II

// May 6th, 2010 // No Comments » // Birds of Manitoba, Birds of Prey, Boreal Forest, Whiteshell Provincial Park

I actually walked by this owl as it sat motionless on the ground and so beautifully blended into the still brown spring grasses.  It was not injured and moved into this mantling position.  I have heard they sometimes nest on the ground – perhaps this owl was doing just that.  The next photo is the same owl sitting straight up – the position it was in when I went by it.

The following photo of a Great Horned Owl in flight.  What struck me was the size of its feet and the light colouring looking at it from below.  This owl had three owlets, one was found dead by city workers, one remained in a tree and one was thriving on the ground.  I was told this owl “thumped” a person from behind when they tried to put the owlet from the ground back up in a nearby tree. Apparently they had been advised to do so by someone at the wildlife rescue shelter.  I was also told the person had claw marks on their back and the owls talons had gone right through his clothing. Even though her owlet was on the ground she was still certainly watching over it.

Next, two owlets showing different stages of plumage.

Enjoy!

~Sharon