Having left Drombeg Stone Circle close to noon, Bob and I soon paused in the tidy seaside village of Glandore for lunch al fresco with a lovely view of the local harbour from our position at the edge of a cliff. Read more
Ice Storm Toronto 2013
When people talk about Ice Storm Toronto 2013, I’m sure there will be much chatter about the devastation and suffering in the city, but many of those same people will readily acknowledge the transient beauty of an ice-encrusted world. In the hours subsequent to the brunt of the storm, Bob and I set out on foot to uncover some of that hidden splendour. Read more
Hiking Bright Angel Trail To Plateau Point At The Grand Canyon
When Bob and I decided to hike Bright Angel Trail, we knew it would be a demanding challenge, and one that would take many hours. From the South Rim, Plateau Point was a speck at the edge of the Tonto Platform; from midway down the fault line, the narrow meandering trail that leads from Indian Garden to Plateau Point was more discernible but no less intimidating. Read more
Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard at the Grand Canyon
As Bob and I neared Indian Garden along Bright Angel Trail at Grand Canyon National Park, we kept a keen eye for birds and animals along the way. I was conscientiously watching for snakes and so tended to scrutinize the trail in front of me to avoid stepping on one, in particular any Grand Canyon Rattlesnakes that might be sunning themselves. It was Bob who spied this Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard where it originally sat hunched on the small branch of a Catclaw Acacia. Read more
Opossums Foraging In Our Toronto Backyard
Bob and I always keep a keen eye on the goings and comings in our backyard. There is constant activity centered around the bird feeders. If it isn’t squirrels that have outsmarted our most recent positioning of the feeding stations, it is the delightful array of birds sparring for feeding rights that entertain us. What a shock when one day Bob was walking to the garden house and spotted a new little critter under the arbour seat. A Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) sat huddled in the shadows hoping to avoid detection. Read more
Elk On The Move In The Grand Canyon Village
When Bob and I first arrived at Grand Canyon National Park, it was getting late in the day, dusk in fact, so we were eager to find our accommodations in the Grand Canyon Village. As we drove down one stretch of the pavement, adjacent to the railway track, Bob caught sight of a number of Elk making their way from one side of the roadway to the other. Read more
Pygmy Nuthatches At Grand Canyon National Park
After completing a guided Fossil Walk along the South Rim Trail at Grand Canyon National Park, Bob and I hiked further along the rim to Maricopa Point before turning and heading back towards Maswik Lodge. Our detour proved worthwhile when we discovered a small flock of Pygmy Nuthatches inhabiting one of the many trees. Read more
Hiking Bright Angel Trail To Indian Garden at the Grand Canyon
The day preceding our hike on the Bright Angel Trail at Grand Canyon National Park, saw Bob and me taking it easy and making the necessary preparations for our lengthy endeavour. We purchased lots of salty snacks, lunch supplies, energy bars and fruit, knowing full well that the demands on our bodies would probably be the most extreme we had ever experienced. With our alarm set for 4 a.m., and plans to hit the trail by 5 a.m., Bob and I intended to retire early, but in the end, we hit the hay about the same time as usual…10:30 p.m. We were full of anticipation and trepidation. Were we really up to the task? Read more
Common Ravens We Sighted At The Grand Canyon
All along the South Rim Trail at Grand Canyon National Park, we observed various Common Ravens, often in flight over the gaping abyss, Read more
Mule Deer along the Grand Canyon South Rim Trail
Bob and I had been at Grand Canyon National Park for a few days, and on top of exploring the phenomenal panoramic sights, we had also been engrossed in the observation of a variety of bird species. It was not until the morning of a guided Fossil Hike that we first came upon some Mule Deer. People wanting to join the hike were to assemble on the canyon-side patio of Bright Angel Lodge, and there, just below the stone wall edging the pathway, a family of Mule Deer was having its breakfast. Read more