Upright Black Bear

Went and stood in its place. (after it departed of course)
No idea what it was looking at.

Staring off into space.

Please bear with me

My primary camera is suffering an unknown malady and has been dispatched to the "Pentax" hospital in Mississauga.

As I am forced to use my "backup" camera there will be a drop in the number of photos displayed and a reduction in their quality. At least for a couple of weeks.

As with any Second String or Understudy, substitutions   seldom match the real thing. In this case subjects need be closer as my telephoto reach is less and brighter lighting conditions demanded.

So unless I can improve my sneaking-up abilities on bright sunny days, I am left with much reduced opportunity. 

Female Common Mergansers in a display of synchronized swimming. (scores 10 at least)

 As of yesterday the Mallard family (above on the day before) has been reduced from 9 offspring to just 8.

One has become a victim of a Snapping Turtle.

The following photo is a bit gruesome.

It had been seized by one leg as the unwary  flock swam by, the snapper lay in ambush beneath the surface.

When I first spotted the duck in distress I was not aware that it was trapped by a turtle. Thinking it was stuck in a fork of an underwater branch J.J. and I mounted a canoe rescue mission.

Unfortunately, it took an hour to get to the duck by which time it had succumbed.

In any case it would never have survived even if it had been rescued. The leg by which it had been seized was damaged beyond repair  condemning it to a lingering death. 

The following photo is a bit gruesome but shows the results of the turtle's progress in devouring the carcass in the hour's delay in our arrival.

Such is Nature's Way

A Variety

Muskrat enjoying a Waterlily root

must be tasty. eyes closed and look of contentment.

Beaver for comparison.

3 views of a White Admiral Butterfly

Sandhill Cranes in flight.

Next is a family of Loons. Young are being schooled inn fishing techniques.

one parent has caught a fish and is offering it as an example of how you do it. Know it all youngsters not interested.

But hunger gets the best of them.

 

 

 

Wood-Ducks

Merlin Spat and more

This is about 2 Merlins (small Falcon) in a dispute over territory.

 Unfortunately they were far too fast in their "dogfight" for me to track with the camera.
However the last photo shows one with what appears to be a sizable wound.

Suspect more than just missing feathers.

One Merlin left the area immediately the fighting ceased. The second(injured one) departed soon after.

In 11 years I've never seen Sandhill Cranes out in the middle of the marsh.

 testament to lack of rain fall and low water levels. They were standing in water no higher than their ankles (do cranes have ankles?)

Great Blue Herons practicing landings and takeoffs from tree tops.

No Bull, Lots of Cows and 2 Calves (Elk)

Some Bull, somewhere is missing a great opportunity to add to his harem.

note the radio tracking collar

After they ignored me for a while something spooked them and they headed for the woods.

check the swarm of insects accompanying them

And another update on the Mallard Family's progress.

surprising they are not yet fledged. All other breeds seem to have and left.

Maybe they are just having too much fun. Look at the smiles and splashing.

3 Bats, No Belfry

Three little Brown Bats have taken up residence at the side entrance to ELSS.
Short, exterior hallway leading to the entrance  door.

2, sleeping away the daylight hours

this one found itself on the concrete walkway.

Showed its displeasure at being disturbed

The long and the short of it

note the wee tongue