Chickadee Photo Art » Whiteshell Provincial Park

Winter Bird Feeding Station – Redpolls

Sharon — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:00:50 +0000

Winter feeding can attract a variety of beautiful birds that remain with us year round. Nuthatches, chickadees, grosbeaks, woodpeckers, jays, redpolls and sparrows to name a few. The next few posts will feature photos of this year’s visitors to the feeders. Black oil sunflower and suets seem to be the food of choice for those named above except the sparrows prefer a millet mixture if given the choice. I’ll start with the beautiful little redpolls.

Enjoy!

Sharon

Skunk in Winter

Sharon — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:00:34 +0000

You could not miss seeing this black and white striped skunk out for a walk on a sunny and warm winter day. They are normally nocturnal so I am not sure why this one was on a walk about during mid-day. It was walking along and rooting under the snow here and there in search of food. These photos were taken in the Pinawa area. About the size of a domestic cat, skunks won’t bother you unless they feel threatened and it is very wise not to annoy them. In all fairness to the skunk their body language will give you warning if you are too close. Their diets consists mainly of insects and they do eat small rodents as well. Sometimes in more rural areas skunks will damage lawns by digging for food. I especially love the baby skunks and they are adorable reminding me of kittens following along behind their mother. One campground in the Whiteshell that I frequented had many skunks which would appear with the onset of dusk and they wandered around the campsites in search of food. They were so used to people and being fed that they were almost like the campground pets. One walked right under my camp chair one night on its way to the lakeshore for a drink of water. I enjoyed watching them wander about without feeling threatened.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

River Otters

Sharon — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:00:41 +0000

Another fall day and a drive out to the Whiteshell Provincial Park. Once again I happened upon an otter family of three. Every time I come across an otter or otters they always will swim a little in my direction, pop their heads up and take a look. As usual, their curious nature allowed for this photo before they swam a little farther down the river. I am always thrilled to see these playful animals in their natural environment.

Below: A river otter from an early spring trip, once again taking a look.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

White Tailed Deer

Sharon — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:00:43 +0000

Some recent photos of white tailed deer today. These were taken in late October / early November and as I had hoped there were more bucks visible at this time of year. It is rutting season and we need to be extra alert while driving in both the city (we have a large urban deer population in Winnipeg) and on the highways. The deer run all over the place during the rut and many are killed in traffic.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

Pine Siskins

Sharon — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 11:00:13 +0000

Delicate little Manitoba birds that can be attracted to feeders. They seem to love thistle and black oil sunflower. These photos were taken in the Whiteshell area.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

Manitoba Wildflowers

Sharon — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:00:13 +0000

More wildflowers commonly found in Manitoba. Below is a Shrubby Cinquefoil (Whiteshell).

Below: Smooth Camas (Oak Hammock Marsh)

Below:Dames Rocket (Whiteshell)

Enjoy!

~Sharon

Manitoba Wildflowers

Sharon — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 11:00:45 +0000

Three of our four seasons bring with them a variety of wildflowers that decorate our roadsides, fields and forests. Every year I stumble across a few that I have not seen before and it has gotten to the point where I am actively searching for new ones to photograph. If you have not looked yet, check out the Wildflowers Gallery found to the right – there are hundreds of Manitoba Wildflowers catalogued there.

Below – Blue Eyed Grass ( Spring )

Below: Silky Lupine ( summer ) Tall and showy in a variety of colours, whites, pinks, blues and lavenders.

Below: Woodland Horsetail. These plants have remained unchanged for millions of years except Woodland Horsetails of today are smaller. Chances are you have seen these plants numerous times but have not paid too much attention to them as I did. They are also known as Horse Pipes, Joint Grass and Mare’s Tail.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

Purple Finch

Sharon — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:00:44 +0000

These photos were taken in the Whiteshell area during courtship season. The finch in the above photo was busy courting the females, hovering above the branches, flapping his wings and strutting. He put on quite a show and was great fun to watch. He was more brightly coloured than normal during this time – all dressed up for his big date.

Below: Female Purple Finch

Enjoy!

~Sharon

Wildflowers of Manitoba

Sharon — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 11:00:37 +0000

Today, some wildflower photos taken this summer in Manitoba. Above is a Wood Lily which is commonly found along roadsides and forest edges. This lily was growing at Oak Hammock Marsh.

Below: Common Bladderwort. These grow in marshes with the green leafy mass of the plant being under the water and the flowering stem shoots up above water level. This was in a marsh in Nopiming Provincial Park.

Below: Northern Crane’s Bill. I found this one growing in a scrub forest area in the Whiteshell. The bloom on this plant has seen better days but it is still a pretty plant.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

Blue Flag Iris – Wildflower

Sharon — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:00:03 +0000

These wildflowers are found along roadsides and usually around marshy areas. I saw quite a few of them in various areas of Nopiming and the Whiteshell this summer. They are very beautiful, delicate and unfortunately short lived as far as bloom time goes.

Enjoy!

~Sharon