Chickadee Photo Art

Nopiming Provincial Park

// July 5th, 2011 // No Comments » // Birds of Manitoba, Birds of Prey, Boreal Forest, Canadian Shield, Nopiming Provincial Park, Scenic

I love visiting Nopiming Provincial Park mostly because you can drive into “wilderness” and really feel like you have gotten away from the hectic city life.  Although there are some cottage developments  and a few campgrounds it is much quieter and remote than the more familiar Whiteshell Provincial Park.  Below, a Bald Eagle sits watch over her nest.  There is at least one chick here – we saw the wing flapping  up and down.  Perched high above the water, Bald Eagles are excellent fishers.

Speaking of fish (I am about to brag here)  – Below is just one of the rather large Smallmouth Bass which I caught. These bass were put back into the lake where they belong.  They are so much fun to catch and I love the way they will leap out of the water.  Great pickerel fishing too!

Below:  A scenic view from a lake in Nopiming.

Below:  The moon as seen during the daylight hours.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

Peregrine Falcon

// June 2nd, 2011 // No Comments » // Birds of Manitoba, Birds of Prey, Pembina Valley

The next few posts will feature some scenes and birds found on a recent trip to the Pembina Valley area of Manitoba.  Rolling hills and small rivers meander throughout.  Yet another beautiful part of Manitoba.  This Peregrine Falcon was in the Pleasant Valley sitting by a river.  Peregrines Falcons are raptors and can dive up to 200 miles per hour. Talons outstretched, they capture prey in flight with pigeons, starlings and doves being favourite meals.  They can live up to 17 years.  A Peregrine does not build a nest but instead uses the ledge of a cliff or building.  They will raise up to four chicks which stay in the nest  for about 6 weeks.  It was a real treat for me to see a Peregrine Falcon in the wild as I usually only see them on the local webcams which follow the nesting season in our city.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

Bald Eagles of Ucluelet

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

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