Out early this AM

Revisited the Osprey this AM, both parents still flying around with nest material although they didn't land back in the nest as often as last time, I didn't stay too long.

After leaving there I visited the beaver pond and caught him snacking on some birch.  He soon got back in the water and gave me the tail slap,  I guess he was telling me enough already.

Edith Lake today

Another HDR picture this time from Edith Lake.

Couple of flowers in HDR

Here are a couple of flowers in HDR (High Dynamic Range) where 3 or more pictures are taken at different shutter speeds and then combined.  The first is Wild Lily of the Valley.

The second a close up of the Moccasin flower head

Transit of Venus

Good day for grass cutting today, bit of a breeze off the lake to keep away the bugs.  Towards the afternoon the black clouds a bit of rain and thunder started time to pack it in for the day. Today is the day that Venus is between the earth and the sun, and  is visible as a black dot crossing the sun.  It was cloudy but around 7:30 pm and the sun popped out in a hole in the clouds, ran out and got the welding mask and after squinting and staring looking I finally saw a black dot at about 1:00 o'clock on the sun.  I can't wait to see it again in 2117 the next time it's visible. Didn't get any pics of it but it is all over the news.
Here is pic from a couple of days ago of a Starflower (Trientalis borealis).

Rain, and more rain

Damp weather the last couple of days, badly needed to put out the forest fires that have been threatening towns and cities.  Most fires in the NE are under control.  A total of 42,540 ha.  or 164 sq. miles were burnt in the Timmins, Kirkland Lake and the one north of Elk Lake. The one north of Elk Lake has deep hot spots that crews are still actively working on.

On another note here are some Bunchberry from today.

Back to the lilacs

The last time I was taking pics of the lilacs I saw what I thought were hummingbirds but smaller.  Long story short they were Clear winged Hummingbird Moths (Hemaris thyspe) which I had never before.  There were several flying around their wing beats were just like a hummingbird and hovered at the flowers to feed.  I took some pics but they were just moving to fast but finally I enlarged one of my pics to see this crop. This one would be about 35mm.

Swallowtail butterfly

The lilacs this year were just covered with bumblebees, wasps, moths and butterflys especially the Swallowtail butterfly as you see here

Fires still burning

Perfect weather for fires, very hot, a low humidity, dry forest and wind.  Another fire has now started south of Gogama.  Kirkland Lake is waiting for the call to evacuate if the fire gets any closer.  Rain may start next Sunday a long way off.

Here are some blueberry blossoms I seen coming back from the Osprey nest.

Great weather today

Yesterday afternoon we had quite a thunderstorm and shower.  Most of the water was just sucked into the ground it is so dry.  To the northeast there is a large fire threatening Kirkland Lake and out to the west near Gogama the fire stretches 45 km north to south (21,000 ha.) the largest in the province.  Lightning strikes from yesterday will start to show in a couple of days, with no rain in sight for the week.  Hopefully none around here.

Out this AM taking some pics of the Osprey nest I found a couple of weeks ago, they may have an egg  but are still building the nest.  Here's one with a branch for the nest.

Butterfly feeding on lilacs

The butterfly is upside down and feeding on the pollen below.  Look close and you will see the feeding tube.

Sitting around listening to the frogs

Near Foot Lake

First run with the boat this year

Testing the motor the other day so it will be ready for fishing .  Headed down to the falls at the south end of the lake.  Took the camera for a few pics too.

Supermoon tonight

Today is the day the moon is 26,000 km closer to the earth making it look 14% bigger.  This was taken tonight just after moonrise.

 This is about 45min later as it got further up in the sky and finally disappeared behind the cloud cover.

HDR of Marsh Marigold

Marsh Marigold

Lilac blossoms just emerging

With the warm weather and a bit of rain lilacs are just starting to open, here's a close up.

Old truck revisited

Back to retake pics of this truck at Duncan Lake.  Being early spring there are less shadows with no leaves in the trees.  This is 3 pictures stitched together as I was quite close to the truck to avoid branches. 

Temiskaming District Visitors Guide

This picture of Rankin Lake was taken during a canoe trip on the Montreal River.  We camped for 2 days on the beach. I submitted it to the Visitor's Guide just recently and it was used for the Gowganda info page.

So much for spring

The pictures tell the story.

Out with the old

As spring progresses the growth from the previous year starts all over again such as these cattails.

Yesterday down the Spear Lake Rd. to check out the bridge over the Wapus River.  On a southwest bank of sand in full warm sun my first wildflower of the season. I had been looking for this one as it blooms early.   Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea repens) a member of the Heath Family  (Ericaceae).

Down to Edith Lake

Road down to Edith Lake has dried out.  Ended up at the rapids and took a few pics.  Snow on the ground this AM with a cool breeze the rest of the day.  Pic of White throated  sparrow the Whistler of the North.

Great day today sunny and warm, tomorrow rain and getting colder and freezing temps.  Just a usual spring.  Down the Mann Ridge Rd. to see if the opening of the old mine addit has started.  Pretty quiet down there just a bulldozer stashed in the trees, they said they would start in May but I thought they may have started earlier with the good weather.  A combined macro of willow flower. The bee's will be out enjoying the pollen.

Minnow Lake

Put in the minnow trap a couple of days ago thinking it was too early but today ended up with a dozen minnows, the water must be warming up quickly.  On the trail I started seeing some new growth here and there it's about time.

First Whitefish of the year

Took a hike across the road a couple of days ago when the ice had moved from shore.  This is earlier than usual but here is the first whitefish of the season.  Several more and I will be able to fill the smoker. Mmmmgoood.

Ice out

Finally the ice moved down the lake with the wind yesterday.  Today most of the lake was clear down past the big island.  It's nice to see the waves on the blue water again. 

ATVing again

Promise of a warm day took us for another ride.  This time north on the Bouche Rd west of town over the top of Firth Ck. where these pics are taken, south down the Holwood Rd. west of Firth lake to the highway.  Along the highway to the Elkhorn Rd and down to the Elkhorn Lake landing and then back home.  Good ride with some mud, snow and ice in the shadows. The pic is of Ed Barnstaple and Paul Trudel.

Checking out the Everett Lake Rd

Drove up to Babs lake in the truck yesterday tried a little fishing but with the ice still in makes it difficult finding open areas.  Couple of pics one of Miller Ck. and one at Babs near a big beaver house where I tried to fish.

More video of Gowganda Lake ice conditions

A change to YouTube Video

Video post of Montreal River Runoff

Put together some clips for this short video, enjoy.

Some spring pictures

 Hedlund Marsh

 On Highway

Wapus Creek

Taken along or just off the highway west of town.

First day out ATV'ing

Pushed the ATV out into the sun for a couple of hours this morning to  warm it up turned the key and away it went.  This has been the way I have started this machine in the spring since 2001, never take the battery out in the winter at all.  After a quick check over and some air and check the tires I'm ready to go.  Went over to Paul's and headed for the mine road east of town (it had been ploughed out during the winter for the wood cutting).  Went right up past the mine and towards Flatstone Lake where they have the road blocked with rocky berms to close the road.  We both left with a jacket on but by the time we got to the berms we were in shirtsleeves.  Temps were around 24°C at least.  Road was wet and muddy in some spots but will soon dry out. The picture today is of Bab's Lake where we were ice fishing only a couple of weeks back.  If the weather stays the same the ice will be out soon.  

I bought some worms for fishing in front of the house for whitefish but now I can't get on the ice as there is too much open water to get to the ice.

Thunderous morning

Quite a thunderstorm with hail and rain early this morning.  The lightning storm was one of the best, not many ground strikes but lots of cloud to cloud.  Put off the walk for an hour and then headed out the sun was shining going one way and lightning and thunder behind. Here's one of the sunny spots.  The rest of the day sunny and warm lots of snow disappeared and everything drying up.

Another sign of spring

Early this AM the sound of a Robin, sure enough just north of the house 2 were sitting in a tree on the next street.  I  think they were probably thinking they are too early getting here with the snow and ice.  This is not my pic but one from Google and placed on some snow.

Out for some pike today

Got out on the lake just before noon, snowshoed in from the road,  with all the melting going on it was hard slogging. The shoes just kept disappearing under me.  Finally got down to the lake to try out my new auger, works like a charm.  My old one was close to 30 years old, what a difference. By 3:00pm  5 pike the biggest 24 in. bought 3 of them home.  Looking forward for some fresh fish.  Great day on the ice.

Big mild spell on its way

A long mild spell will be hanging around for awhile.  The snow is quickly melting with lots of dirty snow showing.  Rain tonight into tomorrow.  Out the road to the west to Hydro Ck. this afternoon for a ride.  Couple of pics of highway and of power line taking hydro to southern Ontario.

After the heat and rain

The snow took a beating yesterday and late last night the rain started, this AM lots of snow had disappeared and the ice has turned dark with slush.  The snowmobilers will have a hard time dealing with these conditions.  By the time I got home this AM it was cooling down and a fine snow was falling again.

Big change in the weather

Warm winds are blowing today in Gowganda, lots of snow has disappeared.  Sunny and 10C temps made the snow melt quickly, the wind gusting to 50 km/hr helped.  Here is a pic from this AM's walk.

Milner Lake

Down past Milner Lake where they are now drilling for silver, plans are to open the old ramp, screen and bolt for safety and do some exploration down the mine.  It goes down 700 feet or more. Work will be well underway by May.

The picture is of Milner Lake at it's winter best.

Snow sculpture

The wind is doing some great things with the snow, this is on the corner of a wood pile.