Osprey

This picture was taken few weeks back when the ospreys were still in the park. The adults have gone south, first the males, followed by the females and then soon after the juveniles make their way.  The young head south on their own, somewhere in their beautiful brain is all the information they need to reach their destination. The Osprey mate for life, but they do not travel together or head to the same place during fall migration, the next time they will get together is during spring when they are back in the mountains at their nest. The young will stay south for couple of winters and on their return will look for a mate to start their own family. 

Until next moment,

Amar

Mount Rundle

It often happens with sunrises, just when it looks as if nothing is going to take place, the sky lights up. That was the case few weeks ago, the morning sky caught on fire lasting several minutes. It's why you have to get out there to take advantage of unexpected.

Until next moment,

Amar

Black Bear

Banff National Park has same amount of black bears as grizzlies, but the later get most of the attention. One of the main reason is the black bears are well represented across the country, so they are often seen, but not so with the grizzlies. There are less of them and now only found in western Canada. But both play an important role in the wild, as do this adult black bear.

Until next moment,

Amar

Elk

The large bull is moving his harem from out of the forest to the open. Where he can see what is happening, if any other male is moving toward his females. Only rest he gets is during middle of the day, once he starts bugling, he will not stop until mid-morning. 

Until next moment,

Amar

Elk

I came across this large bull elk middle of an another busy evening during the rut season. There is very little time to rest and eat for this bull, he is kept busy keeping his harem together and other males away. Bugling loud and often, signalling his strength and size to ward off competing bulls and to attract females. It's tough work for the bull to keep his harem together, losing considerable amount of weight, as a result becoming vulnerable to predators and the coming winter. All to mate and to pass on his genetic superiority to the next generation.

Until next moment,

Amar

Herbert Lake

Daylight was coming to an end when I had arrived to the shores of Herbert Lake. The water calmed down and the sky and the land started to reflect off the water. The sky was crazy, filled with clouds, in the distance on the slopes of the mountains the golden yellow larches could be seen and as well the fall colours were present along the shores of the lake. The lake sits next to a road, I looked ahead at the beautiful view, forgetting the vehicles passing just meters from me.

Until next moment,

Amar

Cable Mtn

I was back along the Bow River during the evening, this time to take pictures of Castle Mtn. The sun is starting to move toward the south, helping to create better images of the mountain. Each day the light will only get better, giving me even more reasons to be out there.

Until next moment,

Amar

Grizzly

This young male not yet ready to compete against the older and larger males, but his day will come. When I came across him the last time, he was looking healthy and larger then before.

Until next moment,

Amar

Wolf

A wolf spotted keeping his distance, carefully moving through the vegetation along a trail.

Until next moment,

Amar

Barn Swallows

The morning I took this picture there were few set of Barn Swallow fledglings being fed by their parents. I just had to decide which group was going to give me the best picture without me interfering with their feeding. The parents were flying over land and water, bringing back insects for the fledgling to feed on. In most cases the fledgling's call would  let me know when the parent were coming, I would have my camera ready to take pictures. This went on for a short while, at one point all the swallows decided to take to air, but soon after the fledglings were back on the same small tree. Providing me more than enough time to get the pictures I wanted. 

Until next moment,

Amar

Osprey

Things were getting bit tense between the these two siblings, only a week or two away from being on their own. It was now everyone for themselves, they were waiting for the parent to bring back food, trying to push each other off the nest while they waited. The one remaining on the nest would then have the best chance at getting the fish their parent was bring back.

Until next moment,

Amar

Elk

This bull elk may look silly in the picture, but in realty it was all business. The rut season is on and this male had just tossed around tall grass and was heading toward the nearby females in his harem. All the large male elk will be busy for the next few weeks defending or competing to mate.

Until next moment,

Amar

Upper Waterfowl Lake

I have spent my share of time on the either side of the Upper Waterfowl Lake, exploring the trails to Cirque and Chephren Lakes, as well walking up and down Mistaya River.  It's a beautiful area and there is always something to find and come across. I like to get out there before the sunrise, no sound from the road making its way to the lake, just the calls of the various waterfowls I have come across over the years.  And what better way to start the day then to watch the towering peaks front of me light up with the first light of the day. 

Until next moment, 
Amar

Mount Rundle

Even after seeing several hundred sunrises, I still enjoy the new one as if it was the first one. They are never the same, there are so many factors that make up a sunrise and in the end each factor varies to create a unique sunrise.

Until next moment,

Amar

Grizzly

We are approaching the end of shepherdia season, or better know as the buffaloberry season. What a season it has been, one of the best in a while here in the Bow Valley and the bears took full advantage of it. Black bears and grizzlies, males and females and young and old all spent most of their time eating these small berries. Adding on the weight daily, this will make it easier for them surviving the winter and for the females who mated, they will have company in their den in January and rest of us who are lucky enough will see the  bundles of joy in the spring time. A adult bear can eat more then 200, 000 berries in a day, that's is more then 20, 000 calories. For me that's like eating 45 of my favourite chocolate bars, in a day. Num Num Num Num......... 

Until next moment, 

Amar

Mule Deer

Two mule deer sibling comforting each other by touching noses. I first thought it was just the female, but when she got up and decided to move on, the two fawns came out from their hiding and followed their mother.

Until next moment,

Amar

The Monarch

I waited and then watched as the sun rose behind me and soon after light up The Monarch front of me. The water was still front of me in the small lake, helping create  a reflection of the mountain that lies on the border between Alberta and British Columbia. After taking few pictures, it was then time to go for my hikes.

Until next moment,

Amar

Black Bear

Two black bear cubs staying close, follow their mother to the next stop for food. They are seven month old and all the confidence they have, all comes from the protection of their mother. As well  their mother teaches them everything they need to survive on their own when they are pushed away next year. For now they have time to play and mother to help find food and protection.

Until next moment,

Amar 

Common Loon

Not all great athletes made it to the olympic, for example the Common Loon. A fast flyer, it can fly as fast as 120 kilometre per hour. A great diver, has been found as deep as 60 meters below water surface. And the things it can do in water would make any swimmer jealous,  these abilities come in handy when you have to catch your food that lives in water. One of the reason it's a great diver is due to its solid bones, makes the loon less buoyant but great for getting below the water surface. The loon is not able to fly right out of water, that's why the loon needs to run on water before getting into air. There is no medal for this loon, it has these and other abilities for one reason and one reason along, to survive.

Until next moment,

Amar

Sunflower

I enjoy taking pictures of flowers and insects and when possible of both together. In this case I was taking pictures of wild sunflowers and the bees that were busy getting food and pollinating. It was not a bad way to spend some time on a beautiful afternoon. I just had to find the flowers with a clean background and then wait for the bees to fly in and out.

Until next moment,

Amar