The things you see out the window

Working at the computer and something caught my eye out the window.  A Pileated Woodpecker across the road in a dead tree.  One of the largest woodpeckers around these parts.  The camera was right beside me...........................

then he left............

By the way I saw my first Robin yesterday, maybe spring is coming. Not so by the snow streaming past the window right now  5:23:PM  DST.

Starry nights

The last few days when the moon hasn't come up early the dark clear skies have been good for checking out the stars.   Here is a shot of Orion, the three stars are his belt and the vertical nebula and stars are his sword, off to the left is the brightest star Sirius. The reddish star above his belt is Betelgeuse.  Those lights are Old Reekie.

Hoary Redpoll

If you look at enough Redpolls all winter you may find a variant called a Hoary Redpoll. These birds have white in their feathers suggesting Hoar Frost hence a Hoary Redpoll. 

The Arctic redpoll, known in North America as the hoary redpoll, is a bird species in the finch family Fringillidae. It breeds in tundra birch forest. (Wikipedia) 

A short look at this mornings lunar eclipse

click on  the videos full frame to see a better view

Thought I had the clock set this morning but something went wrong.  I did capture a little piece of it sinking below the trees, because of the time we only got to see a partial look at the eclipse.

Creeks and Rivers

Creeks and Rivers are starting to show more water around rapids and narrow areas.  Still a lot of snow in the bush it's will take some time before it goes, unless it rains. A couple of shots of Montreal River at Edith Lake and the Wapus Creek at the bridge.

Finally a new bird at the feeder

After wading thru hundreds of Repolls, Chickadee's and Grosbeaks a new bird finally appeared on the front step.                                     A Morning Dove.

click for bigger pic

Truck accident at Wigwam Hill (east of Lost Lake)

This video is a little shakey, I should have stopped and shot.  Truck with load going east loses control coming around bend and finally rolls on it's side meanwhile an empty log truck coming towards hill has to take action and hit the ditch. 

Aurora Borealis

The last couple of nights we have had some great northern lites.  According to the weather network we may still have some tonight.  Getting camera ready the first night I was out I didn't have the right settings all pictures were deleted, last night I was ready and had some practice shooting too I'm sure glad to get another chance.  The camera collects more colours than your eye.

Feeding crows

An other video this time feeding crows, they seem to like the chicken skin and bones but not the baguette who would know.

Threat of lots of snow by tomorrow

Good thing I went out and cleaned some of it all ready.  To bad it took me so long.

Finally a break in the weather

Last couple of days have been quite nice with the sun out the temperature has gone above the freezing mark.  Still lots of Redpolls and Grosbeaks.  Waiting for the flood of more species to start coming in. Here is a male Redpoll eating up some sunflower seeds.

End of February finally

Just before Christmas I bought a GoPro camera, I worked with it for over a month but I was having trouble, I thought it was me but ended up being the camera. After a few emails with GoPro in California and a couple of weeks I finally got a new one sent to me. They were very easy to work with my problem with the camera.
 I have been taking some videos and stop motion, the unit is working well and I just need to get a better handle on it myself.  Here is a couple I did today. When I speeded up the snowshoe one it looks like the Walk of the Penguin.

 

The other is a stop motion of cleaning the upper roof on the house before it all falls down on the lower roof.

    

Portrait of Pine Grosbeak ♀

click for bigger pic

Backyard birds

With all the extreme cold these days the birds are flocking to the feeders, I have been refilling my feeders 2 to 3 times a day. Mostly Redpolls, Evening Grosbeaks, and Chickadees. 

 

Single Lake on the snowmobile trail

Drove west today out to Single Lake where the snowmobile trail comes up to the road, walked down the trail down towards the minnow pond, and from there into the North Arm of Gowganda Lake. Lots of snow in the trees some of them snapped off. 

Up early this morning

Up early this morning to put some more logs in the furnace, it was so bright out I didn't have to turn the lights on.  The moon is still very bright which cast great shadows in the backyard.  Thru the window I got some good shots, of the backyard and a bonus the school bus coming into town and going out (notice the roof light flashing).  In the picture of the back yard in the sky you can see part of the constellation of Cassiopeia.

February - Snow Moon

Lots of snow and very cold nights for some time now, the daytime temps have been more moderate but when the wind is up it's cold.
Last night was the full moon and in February is called the Snow Moon which is just what we have lots of snow.  The Hedlund Marsh pic is in black and white, not much sense in colour these days.

Comet watching

Finally got a picture last night of the comet Lovejoy that has been in the sky for awhile now.  The best days up here were this last week.  With the weather and the moon it didn't offer many opportunities.  Last night I finally got a pic, not very good but its a picture.

Click to see larger picture

Doesn't look like much but it's there found west of the Pleiades

Something new Feeder Cam

Trying out my new GoPro Hero 4 Black since Christmas but having troubles with the editing.  Getting close to understanding it better.  Here is one I think is worth publishing.  The Feeder Cam in high speed.

Frosty weather

Finally a bit of a break in the weather today and even tomorrow.  The last week or  so has been pretty cold, here is one of the frostier days.

Cold and colder

Most of the northeast of Ontario is covered with very cold weather with lots of snow.  Gowganda has not been left out temperatures tonite are going to -29C° with wind chill of -41C°.  Will have to put more logs in the furnace.  Here are a few cold and snowy pics of Gowganda for the new year.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Montreal River

Down by the river between the dam and the bridge yesterday still lots of water going through.  Lots of ice up and down the sides and along the rocks.

Cold and windy

After a short break of warmer weather we are in for a couple of cool days.  This is a pic of the wind blowing the snow across the lake down by the river.  The other ice growing on the porch door.

 remember to click for larger picture

Today and a few days back

How the weather has changed last week snow and below freezing and today almost 5°C and rain.  We should not complain at all with the snow problems in Buffalo now.  All across the lake is water, the edges are opening up again.  This won't last long either.  This post is number 900.

TODAY

Most of the lake has thin ice

 Today down by the dam taking some pictures water levels have gone a way down as the dam has six logs removed.  Most of the lake after last night has a skim of ice on it even the North Arm and down by the river.

Last night and this mornings snow and freezing rain

Here is a couple of pics from this morning after getting dumped on during the night and this AM.  Some areas are still getting more and we could get a lot more overnight.  Chance of more freezing rain too.  If this is the start it's going to be a long winter.

Paving the road thru Gowganda

This project started some time ago with new culverts, seepage tube along the road, grading and finally the new asphalt.  By the time it was ready to put the first layer down the weather was closing in and made for hit and miss work.  The second coat started and so did the snow and cold finally a couple of good days lights were bought it for extended paving hours.  In a couple of days the second coat was finished.  I took some video in the dark to show the equipment and the lighting they used when working in the dark even the lines were put down.  It is finally quiet in town again and with a lot less traffic.   The new asphalt road runs from the east of the big hill coming into town to down by the old maintenance buildings on the west side of town.  They widened the road so there is more walking room along the edge of the road great for those big trucks that crowd you all the time.

Rough-legged Hawk

A lucky chance to video a Rough-legged Hawk came up at my neighbours.  Wayne is a trapper who had a few skinned beavers by the side of his house.  Dana alerted me of the hawk eating on one of the skinned beavers.  It is a immature bird that must have been awfully hungry as it kept eating for a least 2 hours. Took lots of video and here is a sample.  Some of this might be a little gory for some be aware.

Fall flooding

The rain hasn't stopped for days and now the lakes and rivers are in spring time flood mode, Gowganda Lake is close to all time high water, the rivers very dangerous.  In Elk Lake the town dock is under water.  The whole system is backed way up now.  Starting tomorrow we will be treated to several days of sunshine, finally.

This is downstream of the Notch Dam

This is the Notch Dam the water is almost to the top of the dam this water is coming from the Montreal River thru Duncan Lake and joining the Montreal River at the Wapus Creek.

Canoe trip to Ishpatina Ridge Part 4 (end)

Day 4 and 5

 After leaving the McCullock Lake campsite we headed back north to Smoothwater lake.  It took several hours of portaging but when we hit Smoothwater the portaging was OVER. We headed up to our first campsite for the night a lot more relaxed knowing there was no more portages.  Next morning we paddled out of the park and north to the landing at Beauty Lake Road. Once again a great trip. Brian's smile says it all.

A video of us just about to pass the boundry line of Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Wilderness Park.

New growth

From the old and decayed life springs up.

Canoe trip to Ishpatina Ridge Part 3

Going for Ishpatina
 Up early had breakfast and packed up for the paddle to Scarecrow Lake where the landing is to take the 3 hours hike to the top. Paddled down Mihell lake to the first portage a small one at 120m. After the portage we decided to leave all the camping gear there and go for the Ridge. If not we would have had a portage of over 1200m to do with all the equipment.  Packed a small bag with some lunch and camera and headed to the 1200m. portage into Scarecrow Lake. What a relief not taking all the gear with us.
Started the hike at the landing, trail was marked but in a few places it took a bit to stay on the right trail the rocks and moss were damp and slippery as we ascended with a few slips and falls, it took a good 3 hours to get to the top both of us were glad to see the top at this point, a few more meters and we were at the fire tower. At this summit we were 693m the highest point in Ontario. Fortunately the sun came out viewing was a little hazy but you could really see for miles. Spent some time taking some pics had some lunch, looked around for about an hour and then started back down, that took about 2 1/2hrs.
Our goal when we got back down to the canoe was to make it back to the camp we stayed at last night good thing we had left all our gear on the other side of the 1200m portage. Got the tent up and a bit of supper and by that time it was getting dark.

More fall colours

   

This was taken at the north end of the Edith Lake Rd.

Canoe trip to Ishpatina Ridge Part 2

After a breakfast of boiled eggs and toast and coffee we headed south to the first portage at the south end of Smoothwater. The first portage is the hardest, this wasn't the case as they just got worse.  Having bought to much for this trip there was, one trip for the canoe, another for 2 barrel packs and whatever you could hold in your hands and another trip of Sealine pack and a smaller pack. 5 trips for each portage. The first portage being around 720m to Apex Lake we are now over the height of land and all waters from this lake flow south. By the way 720m X 5 is 3.6km of portage. At end of Apex lake another portage of 1100m to a small lake another 60m,30m,and 160m takes us to McCullough Lake. This is the where we camped the 2nd nite. Supper that night didn't amount to too much as we were pretty well beat.  Early to bed. 

Map courtesy of Ottertooth.com

McCullough Lake camp