A Herald of May

These first two photos were taken before May 1, I had stopped by the bluff near the Senior Center and sighted a couple of beluga in the river. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a picture. It has been really windy the last couple of days and even the birds can't keep their plumage tidy! 

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Immature eagle in the wind. Check out those talons! I met a couple from LaGrande while on the bluff. The man was looking for a good eagle photo, but said they were trash birds. I laughed. 

 May 1 I hiked thru the muskeg to see if I could capture a few waterfowl photos. I'm not sure I'll go out again, it was really wet! I forgot to pay attention to my feet and slipped in the grasses almost to the car, bad idea!!!

 I had gone out because earlier I had driven past and noticed this giant white bird on the ice. It was all folded up and I was afraid it was dead. Nope, it was just sleeping! I can't imagine sleeping on ice, but all the birds were doing it!

 The ice didn't seem to be more than a rather chilly shelf to hang out on. I laughed at this photo! Walking and sleeping on ice in the sun seemed the thing to do on the first day of May.

I think this is a lesser yellow legs, similar to the greater yellow legs, but smaller. I could be wrong, however.

 I took this to show how far away I was from the edge of the ice. I did walk up to the 'shore', it was uncertain in spots. I opted to stand where I could tell the ground was solid.

 There were lots of birds flying. These two passed over the icy lake and startled the lone swan on the ice. I think there were tern, but they were moving pretty darn fast to do more than see their white graceful shapes as they darted around.

 Muskeg!

These last photos I was on the edge of the shore, I had hoped the swan would come closer. It didn't.

 When I got back to the house, mum told me she had a flower getting ready to bloom. I'm so glad I scattered these seeds last year! I love their perky blooms. (violas)

Bits of Breakup

April has been full of all sorts of weather. so far. We've had melting days and snowy days and then almost hot ones. Here are a few photos I've taken while out and about. 

 Easter flowers from church and snow on Wednesday and Thursday of the same week!

The snow melted quickly and it was nice enough to go for a tramp in the woods. I didn't go very far, the snow may have been rotten (slushy), but it was deep in spots! 

I sent lake updates to our neighbors while they were on vacation. Every day it more water was seen on top, the next two photos were 24 hours apart! 

 I decided to not go down to the lake edge, the path has about 6 feet of ice on the bottom stretch of the path! I accidentally took this next photo while contemplating my decision to go down or not

We saw waterfowl on Bishop lake when we drove past, I went out to see if the swans were back and identified a male and female mallard. They took off when I approached and landed on clear water on the other lake. I attempted to hike to that far lake, but the snow was too rotten and the way wasn't entirely solid. 

 I did find 'fluff' in the creek from the other lake. It was really soft, so it might be from swan.

 This was the first time I went to the lake Bishop side of the culvert. The no trespassing sign was on the ground buried in brush, so I figured it would be ok..

 Later, on Thursday of this last week, I went to Arness Dock to see if you could get to the beach yet. The road was 'clear', but I didn't want to risk it! I took photos from on top of the hill. I climbed up quite a ways on top of the snow. In the photo below, I found I'd taken a picture with the Monopod in it. You need to look close, but it is there! (I think that is the name of that platform!)

 The jack up rig seems to be home for ravens. I could hear their liquid gurgles and as the sun set, pairs winged around the different parts reaching into the sky and settled on the black metal.

 The sunset wasn't purple on the mountain side, most of the clouds were behind me. It was fun to watch the sun drop into the sharp outline of the horizon. It was definitely golden!

A Walk Around the Lake-lots of photos.

I really should have an account for these photos, there are so many. I kept the better ones for this!!! It was super fun to walk around the lake. I haven't done that in decades. AND I also found it neat to see things from shore, rather than from the kayak. Most of the lake shore in the summer months is not good for walking. Today, this uncertain day before Easter in 2017, it was lovely. 

I took several photos of objects melted into the snow and ice. The snow around most of the lake was sturdy enough to walk on. I only sunk into a few spots and about a third of the way around, I was wishing I had worn my winter boots and not mud boots! 

 I saw a dragon shape in this---

A serene bowl of ice and snow.

 Cool spot I wanted to sit in for a bit, but the log really was a bit too unstable.

 These photos are fun because I have many pictures of this log from the water. It was cool to see it from above and beside.

 Shattered shapes in the ice!!!

 
 Here, I was VERY glad to have my spring boots on. This spot moved as I bounced on it. I didn't bounce long and I was very careful. As you can tell, it is close to shore.

 Ice coming off the water on the edge of the lake. Look how much is embedded in it!

I was sad when I reached this spot. This is my lake phone booth. But, the branch has broken off and is in the water. I can still 'park' here to talk, but it won't be as hidden. 

 More fun ice shapes!

 I ran across a bit of trouble and had to figure out how to circumvent this really wet patch. I tried to go under the trees, but what little hair I have left ended up tangling in the branches! So, I found a different way.

 I went around the little grove of trees. You can really tell how hard the ground is when you walk in the moss and there is not a smidge of give in it. But, at least I didn't get wet!

I found my favorite kind of diamond! One made of ice and snow! 

 I was seriously annoyed. I had hoped the dogs were not out, they always are, but I could still hope! They didn't discover me until I was almost to the nursery part of the lake. Silly dogs started barking like crazy!!!

 Crevasses in the ice. Small and deep.

 Looking up the lake from the 'nursery' portion where all the lily pads are in the summer. The ducks often raise their babies in this area because it is safer than the other end of the lake.

 A shadow selfie! I was back where I started. Thankful and very impressed I could walk on the ice and snow as easily as it if was normal ground. I saw things I would not see in the summer and got a bit of exercise.