Snowy Owl and Snow Geese

Photo Credits: Tim Rast

A day in the woods

Great Horned Owl came to check on me

I spent part of the day out in the woods today, collecting wood for a Beothuk bow reproduction.  I was hoping to collect mountain ash and spruce or fir.  I did manage to cut a nice straight fir log without too many knots from a wind-fallen tree, but I fell into a bog before I could find a suitable mountain ash trunk.  I saw lots of perfect mountain ashes in people's yards around town, but I don't think harvesting those would be good for business.  I'll head out again tomorrow to keep looking.  In the meantime I have a good fir trunk to split into staves.  I should be able to quarter it and get enough for four bows out of it.  I'm looking for a similar-sized mountain ash trunk, but will probably have to settle for something half the diameter.  I plan to make a few bows side-by-side from different woods in the hopes that one will turn nice.

It didn't look that deep when I tried to walk through it.  In fact, there was so much mud and debris floating in the water, that I didn't even realize I was stepping into a ditch.

There's no shortage of spruce and fir in Newfoundland, but I'd still rather clean up windfall than cut down a standing tree.

The fir log I took is about seven feet long and I plan to split it in half and then into quarters.  

I was barely ten minutes out of town, but the woods were alive with birds.  The Great Horned owl was the highlight, though.

Photo Credits: Tim Rast

Alberta Wildlife and Homesteads

Short Earred Owl.  Since I've been returning home to the farm as a visitor, I've been paying a bit more attention to the wildlife in the area.  This is my first time noticing short earred owls.

Seeing the elk was a bit of a surprise.  I can't ever remember seeing elk near the farm growing up, and a dozen wandered through on my second last day on the farm.

Fences really don't slow them down.

The Ferguson Place. I can remember going for supper with Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson in this house as a very small child.

I had to stop and take some photos of the frosted trees and buildings on my way out of southern Alberta heading to Edmonton.

Photo Credits: Tim Rast

Polar Peek-a-boo

Can you spot the hidden wildlife in each of these photos?  They've all got their eye on you!  There's a Wolf Spider, Lemming, Arctic Hare, Ermine, Polar Bear, Caribou, Snowy Owl Chick, Ringed Seal and  2 Ptarmigans.  Click the photos to enlarge them if you are having trouble spotting everyone.

Photo Credits: Tim Rast

Leaving Alberta

Snowy Owl

 I had another great trip back to Alberta.  The Archaeological Society of Alberta Flintknapping Workshop on Sunday was a blast and during the rest of the trip I saw lots of family that I hadn't seen in years.  The temperature was cold - as low as -33 degrees Celsius, and often in the -20 range.  I'm kicking myself for forgetting my camera on the day of the workshop, but I received a few photos from the official photographer that I think I can share with you on Friday.  In the meantime, here's some of the scenery from around the countryside.

I was only on the farm for a couple hours when this frosty coyote trotted through the yard.  It was minus 25 and he led the dogs on a leisurely chase across the pasture.

These four coyotes were born last summer a few miles north of the home place.

This is the farm where I grew up in Southern Alberta and where I stay when I come for a visit.  I miss the big sky.

I've never seen so many snowy owls.  You can spot them sitting on the power poles every few miles.

Can you spot the owl in this shot?

The Great Horned Owls seemed more comfortable in the trees.

The snowy owls were just as at home on the ground.  They look big when you see them walking through a pasture.  I thought this one was a coyote when I first saw it from the road.

Snowy Owl in flight.  Beautiful birds.

Photo Credits: Tim Rast