Another early wake up call so that I could enjoy the glassy lake. This is my view paddling out of the marina.
Naturalist, writer, artist, and educator with a Ph.D. in Ecology. I make interpretive signs, illustrations, murals, and books. Sometimes, I chase polar bears and belugas. #scicomm #sciart http://www.discoversecondnature.ca
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Another early wake up call so that I could enjoy the glassy lake. This is my view paddling out of the marina.
What a cool little guy!
Lovely!
Thank you. I’m not paddling while I’m filming, which makes it a lot easier to be steady.
You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoy it. I think the illusion is because I’m going around the corner and there’s not a lot of definition in the shoreline.
Thank you, but it was my friend and his father. Thankfully, I still have my father. Yes, the village is a very beautiful place for all manner of ceremony.
The launch is just before the bridge, but I couldn’t pass up drifting underneath it a little bit before pulling myself out of the water. I hope you enjoyed this little interlude as much as I enjoyed my paddle this morning. 8/8
It’s not even September, but the geese are already on the move. I’m not sure if these guys are heading south or somewhere to feed. We are right on the central flyway, so we get a lot of bird traffic. 7/8
Heading back to the launch. It always feels so surreal when the water is like this. I’m starting to feel the heat of the day out in the open like this, but we’re getting close to the car. 6/8
I met up with some American white pelicans at the mouth of the river. These are the largest birds in Manitoba with an 8 to 10 foot wingspan. I was actually surprised at how much they were willing to tolerate me. Usually, they fly off well before I get this close. 5/
It’s about a 4 km paddle to the lake. The river gets wider and wider until you come around a bend and there it is. 4/
The barn swallows were out in droves, snapping up whatever flying insect they could find over the water. I’m glad I got going before the heat of the day so I could witness all of this activity. 3/
It was a very peaceful paddle. While fishermen use this river to access the lake, it’s not commercial fishing season yet so the boat traffic was almost nonexistent. There were still lots of birds to listen to as they get ready to head south. 2/
I got up early and took the kayak to a different part of the lake this morning. This is the Washow Bay drain, a little river that runs up into Lake Winnipeg. I thought it would be a fun change of scene. I was right why not join me on this 10 km morning paddle 1/
Wow! What a find!
I know the island very well. Yes, some of the dock is still there. My friend’s dad was a Ferry captain. Unfortunately, they are both gone now. I was born after the causeway was put in so I never got to take the ferry.
Tried putting the kayak into the lake at a different spot tonight. Unfortunately, it was much shallower than I expected and not the best paddle. Still, it was an interesting view of a landmark I’ve seen hundreds of times from the road.
EDMONTON: HELP Mayday mayday SOS: both Fiasco and Franca have gotten out of the house through a busted window screen and the back gate was found open by my catsitter I am VERY FAR AWAY! If you are in the Highlands region can you keep your eye out
I want to know where you got the tiny floaties!
It's been a lot. Fingers crossed.
What a beautiful snake in gorgeous light.
This morning was the first day with nothing in the traps. We found a hole leading into the kitchen yesterday morning. I'm hoping we finally stopped the tide at 15 mice.
It's been a hell of a week, so here's a yawning polar bear that looks like he's giving a primal scream. Pretty much encapsulates my emotions lately :)
You know what they say about letting sleeping dogs lie :)
beautiful
We’re always our own worst critics
They're not any easier to photograph from the kayak out here. I had three tracking my trip yesterday but they never held still.
I'm glad I could help. I've also had that experience with a Townsend's solitaire that I spotted on Hecla many years ago. I've never seen one before or since.
What lovely shot of a beautiful family.
Like Winnipeg is 24,500 km² give or take. It’s a little bit bigger than Belize and on evenings like this, it’s such a treat to paddle.
It’s funny that you mentioned that, but I’ve never seen a sooty grouse. We have a spruce grouse up here. 😊
This is incredible. At first glance, I thought it was a photograph.
How awesome! Congrats!
Hi authors! Please remember to file a claim!
One of my favourite songbirds. A lovely photo!
These polar bear cubs are 8 months old. They will stay with their mother (watching out of frame) for another year and a half before they are ready to venture out on their own. They were so curious of us humans watching from a giant, silent, tundra buggy. 🌿🦊🐻❄️
They could’ve been sealed in, but I have a feeling I’m still missing something. Professional help coming tomorrow.
Not yet. I caught two more overnight.
I’ve had a rough night too. Sleeping on the porch is lovely unless there’s no wind and I can hear anything a long ways away including my distant neighbours who decided to have a loud bonfire until at least 2 AM. The storm was a relief.
I see coyotes two or three times a week. I’m not afraid of them. It’s just good common sense to keep some distance between yourself and wildlife.
One of the local coyotes decided to see me off on my kayak this evening. Always fun to run into one of these guys as long as we each keep our distance.
Not tonight. That’s OK. It’s quite lovely out tonight.
Thank you. It was quite the thing to watch.
Well, we won’t know for a few more days. With my luck, I’ve trapped one in here. The traps will stay out till the end of the week.
Thanks. I was actually feeling kind of miserable, but it was good to be out.
Nice! What a beautiful evening.
I spent 3 hours lying on my bathroom floor, reaching around the legs and plumbing of my clawfoot tub, but I think I fixed the hole that has been letting the mice in. I’m not sure what possessed me to exercise my arms further, but it was nice to be on the water. 100km and counting for the year.
I’m so glad he’s better. Give him a snuggle for me.
How very sad.
I’m working in the far corner behind a clawfoot tub that I cannot move so it’s not exactly an easy task but I’m determined.
Well, I found it. Now I’m just in the process of fixing it.
I’m glad you found whatever works for you. In my case, there is no vegetation immediately around the house, but I live in a forest. Finding the hole is the most important thing. This is a recent incursion so they haven’t had enough time to store anything.
That must’ve been fun. I use steel wool because copper wool is harder to come by here. However, I usually try to block off anything more permanently with wood or metal.
I haven’t seen it for years and I don’t remember the reference. Either way I’m going to go try and fix the bathroom. I’m pretty sure I made it worse when I tried to fix it on Thursday. Getting under the tub as a challenge.
Thanks for the suggestions, though I don’t think it will work for me. We also have lots of things that eat the mice, but not enough to keep them out of my house if there is still a hole.
I’m glad you got them out.
Nice job! I paused the video and I think it might’ve been an orange crowned warbler.
That’s an interesting solution unfortunately one that won’t work here. 🙂
Oh my goodness! That’s extreme and I’m so sorry you had to live with that. I’m not at that stage yet, thankfully. I would be if I wasn’t here catching them every day.
Thanks Gwen. Unfortunately, this is not my first rodeo. You keep them out for a while and then they find a new way in. The good news is that I found a hole in the skirting that I’ve had somehow missed for years. Now I just have to find the hole in the house.
I live in a boreal forest, so there are mice everywhere. No amount of deterrent works, unfortunately.
If you could afford it, I really recommend getting a pest control professional to come and check your house. They won’t destroy anything if you don’t want them too, but they will help you find the hole. Check all around every pipe and your baseboards and anywhere wires come in.
I do recommend that. I have been dealing with someone who has been out once and he helped me figure out the problem the first time. They just created a new one. He’s coming back tomorrow if I don’t figure it out sooner.
Yeah, it’s been a bit of a demoralizing couple of days, but I think I might be closing in on the problem. At the very least I have a pest control professional coming tomorrow. He’s been helping me via text the whole time.
I’ve tried pretty much every repellent in the book without any help, but I appreciate the suggestion. I need to find the hole.
Most people don’t do it, but I have anxiety related to killing mice so it’s just going to have to be relocate for me.
It was really neat to watch him.
I appreciate the thought, but I’m not killing them. The only way that stops is when I figure out how they’re getting in.
Thanks, Bob. Professional help is coming tomorrow.
I’m surprised I reacted fast enough to pull the camera up off my lap.
Thanks for the suggestion. I live in the middle of a very thick forest so I’m not sure how well I would be able to do this. My main goal is figuring out the point of egress and sealing them off or they will be a problem all winter.
I think the waves were slowing it down.
Yeah, I usually only would get one or two at a time. I’ve never had this many at once. It did take years to find a lot of the holes, but I think I’m finally getting to the end once I find this one.
I’ve been out here for three nights. It’s been a little chilly, but it’s lovely. I could have it a lot worse.
I’ve seen them get through smaller than that. I’ve been dealing with this for years off and on. Hoping, that this week is the week we figure it out for good.
Yeah, I know how small a hole they can get into. They were coming under the baseboards in the bathroom and that might still be the problem now. I have to figure it out.
I’ve had several entrances over the years. A new one has opened up in the last week and I just can’t figure out where it is. The good news, is that I think I finally found out how they were getting into the crawlspace so that hopefully is solved for now.
Thanks, Lisa. I’ve dealt with this often on for over a decade, but this is the worst I’ve ever had. I’m going to solve this problem once and for all this week whatever it takes.
The live traps are working, but until I can figure out where the hole is, I’m gonna be dealing with this until I run out of mice in the crawlspace.
I’m sleeping on the porch for now.
I’ve dealt with this on and off for years, but never at this level. I’ve had a pest control guy come out once and he found the problem then but somehow a new one has cropped up. He’s helping me remotely but can’t get out in person until Friday so I’m on my own trying to find wherever this hole is.
I’ve had a very demoralizing three days. I’m dealing with the worst mouse invasion I’ve ever had. I’ve relocated seven so far and probably two more will be going in the morning. I’ve sealed off the crawlspace, but there’s a hole in the house that I haven’t found and they are driving me crazy.
They are totally harmless.
I'm assuming you mean the artist? No, I'm afraid I don't.
That looks great! Really nice job with the colour gradation on the neck and horn.
Not something you see everyday. I was resting by a pond yesterday when this red-sided garter snake decided to swim across. So very cool!🌿🐍
Thanks, Gwen. It's hard to spot in this photos. I'll post some more where you can see it.
Very cool. I had a couple broad-winged hawks this morning, which were fun.
Wow! What a great yard bird!
I was actually bobbing around on a boat when I took these. I'm pleased they're even in focus.
They were so rolly polly :)
It's a beautiful morning here and I'd love to be this polar bear cub enjoying the sun while lying on its mother, but I have work to do :) 🌿🦊🐻❄️
If you’re ever around Pelly’s Lake, a little south east of Holland, I have some interpretive signs I made up on the hill there.
This is gorgeous. I love that part of Manitoba.
Oh dear, I’m glad he’s going to be OK. I’m sorry about your bank account. That’s one of the reasons I had insurance for Toby. He was a poster cat for vet visits.
This only happens in a few locations, mostly along the Seal river. The Bears around Churchill haven’t figured this out yet.
Beluga caviar comes from fish, not whales. Whales or mammals and do not produce caviar.
July and August are when you can see them.
I’m Canadian. The joke was completely lost on me.
I’m hoping to have a better weekend next weekend too. I’m currently dealing with a sudden mouse infestation. I’ve caught six in 24 hours and I can’t figure out where they’re coming from.