Tag: Canada

Elk In A Snowy Meadow Near Lake Louise

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elk sitting on snow near lake louise 2

One afternoon during our stay in Banff National Park, Alberta, Bob and I decided to take a drive from Lake Louise along the Bow Valley Parkway, a quieter highway than the Trans Canada, only two-lane versus four.  We were in hopes of spotting some wildlife and were on the lookout for elk in particular.  Seeing another vehicle pulled to the side of the road, we slowed to have a look.  At first, we didn’t notice the Elk laying in the snow but rather thought the tourists were admiring yet another beautiful mountain peak. Read more

Great Horned Owl Sitting In Thickson’s Woods

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great horned owl in thicksons woods - whitby 6

On a lark, Bob and I thought we would revisit Thickson’s Woods in Whitby, Ontario, to see if we could find the Great Horned Owls that inhabit that forest.  It had been about a year since we earnestly looked for the Owls, and sure enough, one of the beautiful birds was found perched in the top of a tall pine tree. Read more

Ice Climbing In Johnston Canyon At Banff

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ice climbing in johnston canyon - banff 5

While visiting Banff National Park, in Alberta, Canada, Bob and I learned of a hiking trail at Johnston Canyon that promised views of frozen waterfalls after traversing the length of a deep river gorge beneath sheer canyon walls.  We knew the experience would be right up our alley.  What we did not anticipate was finding a group of ice climbers actively ice climbing the frozen waters of the Upper Falls. Read more

Magical Ice Skating On Ward’s Island Lagoon in Toronto

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putting on skates at lagoon skating rink - ward's island - toronto

One of our objectives when visiting Ward’s Island was to go ice skating on Lake Ontario!  We had heard from a friend, a long-time resident on the Toronto Islands, that, over the years, rare opportunities had arisen when people could actually skate around sections of Toronto Harbour and perhaps, more dependably, on the ice of the frozen lagoons.  Those occasions have been few and far between. Read more

Crushing through ice aboard a Toronto Island Ferry

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toronto harbour in the winter

One winter, Bob and I decided to make a trip to Ward’s Island aboard a Toronto Island Ferry in Toronto Harbour.  It is one of 13 in the chain of islands that gives protection to Toronto’s Inner Harbour.  With the winter of 2014 being the longest and coldest in recent memory, the bay separating the mainland from the islands had become totally frozen over.  We thought it would be a neat experience on board the ferry as it negotiated the icy waters on its way to Ward’s Island. Read more

Ice Skating On Lake Louise

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Ice Castle on Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

On our first morning in Banff National Park, in Alberta, Canada, Bob and I had planned to go cross-country skiing, but with the sun shining brightly, we headed up instead to checkout the skating surface on Lake Louise.  We were pleasantly surprised to find not one but two ice rinks, with one reserved for ice hockey, and the other set off by a glistening castle fashioned out of blocks of ice for ice skating. Read more

Snowshoeing On Lake Agnes Trail To Big Beehive

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Jean snowshoeing on the Lake Agnes Trail at Banff National Park, in Alberta, Canada

During our stay at Banff National Park, not a day passed without a dump of fresh snow.  Either we awoke in the morning to an additional 6 inches weighing down the trees, or snow fell so thickly when skiing that we could barely see which way to go.  One afternoon, owing to the lack of freshly trackset cross-country ski trails, Bob and I opted to go snowshoeing up into the mountains following the Lake Agnes Trail from Lake Louise. Read more

Black-billed Magpie In Kamloops

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black-billed magpie sitting in tree - british columbia 2

After spending a few days on Vancouver Island, we returned back to the mainland for a trip to the BC interior.  During a brief stay in Kamloops, we were lucky enough to see a number of Black-billed Magpies outside of our hotel. Read more

An Opossum visits my Toronto backyard

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opossum in toronto backyard - 6

On one of the first really warm March days of the season, Bob and I enjoyed a walk to our local park.  We were thrilled to see an Opossum scouting around for some food there amid the snowdrifts, and it reminded us of the three that had visited our own backyard in late December.  We had seen no sign of them since then.  We were no sooner home from the park when a little visitor came calling…a very large Opossum (Didelphimorphia). Read more

An Opossum Enjoys A Sunny Winter Day

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possum sitting under a tree - toronto park

Finally getting a break in the frigid winter weather, Bob and I seized the opportunity for a walk in the brilliant March sunshine at Milliken Park, in Toronto, Ontario.  It seems we were not the only ones taking advantage of the warmer temperatures.  An Opossum was out strolling  atop the deep snow, on the search for something to eat. Read more