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

** 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.

Bald Eagle with Pickerel ( Walleye )

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.

River Otter enjoying fish remains

Gammon River Rapids enterting Wapeskapek Lake

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.

Canadian Shield Bedrock on Gammon River

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

Room with a view! Wapeskapek Lake Outpost.

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

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

High waters on Gammon River

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

Wapeskapek Lake Outpost

Enjoy!

Sharon

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

The Red Tailed Hawk is common in the countryside of southern Manitoba and is often seen perched on poles or trees alongside field areas.  They are large birds of prey who would feed on small animals such as rabbits, mice, gophers and the like.  Their belly area shows white plumage while the back and tail are a rusty brown colour.

As I was taking these photos  I thought the hawk was going to take to flight as it suddenly turned toward me, lifted its back end and stood up a little straighter.  However, it appears it needed to do what hawks do . . . throw a projectile “poop” out. Oh well, I thought I would post this unusual photo anyway.  See below.

After the hawk did its business it took to flight.

Enjoy!

Sharon

Bald Eagles are both predators and scavengers.  They can be seen soaring high in the sky riding the air currents, by roadways dining on roadkill or perched up high on a tree or pole keeping watch on their hunting grounds.  I have observed them raiding a goose nest, picking a fish out of a lake, locking talons in mid-flight and then twirling together in the sky.  With eyesight second to none and the ability to dive from the skies upon their prey they are truly amazing birds of prey.  The mature eagles display their unmistakable white heads and tails while the young keep their mottled brown plumage until their third year.  It’s always a thrill to see a Bald Eagle in the wild.  Webcams such as the one on Vancouver Island a few years ago make it possible for people around the world to watch the nesting and habits of these beautiful birds.

Below:  Immature Bald Eagles – likely second year as the white plumage is beginning to show.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

I think that Mother Nature has the hiccups! Our weather this year has been totally out of our normal weather patterns. This hare started turning white in October just showing white on its ears, feet and belly. Now, at the end of November the hare has completed its colour transition and is totally white. It is so cute but very vulnerable now to predators because it is no longer camouflaged due to the lack of snow. We should have snow on the ground by now but instead we have still been enjoying the above normal temperatures. A very unusual but welcome fall seeing as we didn’t have much of a summer this year. In early October we had a fair bit of snowfall but it all melted away and our temperatures went up into the double digits again. The Canada geese are still here and should have been gone a few weeks ago while the Snowy Owls have returned. The small ponds and marshes are just beginning to get a layer of ice while the waters on the lakes and rivers remain unfrozen. Like I said earlier, Mother Nature must have the hiccups . . . Most of us are enjoying one less month of winter weather but there are those that depend on winter for a living or look forward to winter recreation – the ski resorts, snow clearing operators, snow machine enthusiasts and the like. It has been snowing lightly today so perhaps winter will arrive in the next few days – we’ll see. Personally I’ll be happy to settle for a warmer winter with snow – can’t imagine not having a white Christmas on the prairies.

Look at those big feet !  This will help the little hare run on top of the soft snow instead of sinking into it.

The Snowy Owl preys on rabbits and small rodents.  They survey their hunting grounds from high up and can often be seen perched on top of hydro poles.

Enjoy !

~Sharon

More on the Birds of Manitoba and another member of the raptor family, the Great Horned Owl. These birds are commonly found around our province. Within the city, they can be found at Assiniboine Park, Fort Whyte Centre and other park like areas. They like to have open areas nearby for hunting but also the protection of spruce trees. The eggs are laid in loosely built nests of sticks high up in the branches of trees. This year, the family I was watching had three owlets. I was speaking to the city workers who were keeping an eye on the family. One owlet had fallen to the ground and a worker was advised by a wildlife employee to put it back up into a tree. He did this but suffered the consequences of the parent owl who silently and swiftly thumped him from behind leaving claw marks on his back. I have heard other people mention the parent owl will often take a swoop at them to protect their young. One should not try and get too close to any nesting birds – we should not want to disturb them in any way. Watch from a distance and enjoy. (Click on thumbnails to view a larger image)
~Sharon

Great Horned Owlet

Great Horned Owl

~Sharon

~Sharon