The birds have been migrating back for a while, but now its full on. It seems everyday another bird is heard calling out, on the water, in the forest and in the sky. Even if you are not a birder, its great to hear all those calls. Every chance I get I'm out there, looking for those who nest in the park and those who are just passing by. The Banff Community Birdwalk kicks of tomorrow, let the fun begin.
Until next moment,
Amar
Calm water has to be a friend when taking landscape pictures. It played a large role making this picture stand out. Almost as if the water was not calm, half the beauty would not be in the picture. The sun was rising behind me, giving light to the sky, clouds and some of the peaks. All that reflected in the calm water.
Until next moment,
Amar
On a cold morning I was walking through deep snow, on a tail that was not well used, following my own tracks from the day before to same energy. Soon after I noticed tracks crisscrossing mine, belonging to a coyote from that morning. Being lesser in weight, it was able to walk on the snow crust, saving energy as it searched for food. After about hundred meters, the coyote tracks went off into the woods, but five minutes later well ahead of me I spot a coyote, thinking it must be the same one as he walked over a small bridge. In no hurry, I placed my camera in my hands and crossed the same bridge I was headed for. My plans was to go straight but not before looking toward the slow moving coyote to the left of me, who was listening for sounds underneath the snow before giving me a quick look. He easily moved across the snow and was soon out of sight, I continued on the trail.
Until next moment,
Amar
It had been few months since I took my last picture of Castle Mtn, I was there few days back. Snow and ice is melting and slowly the water level is rising.
Until next moment,
Amar
How time flies, in 2006 I took my first picture of a mammal, a pair of least chipmunks. In 2010 I took my very first picture of a grizzly bear, I was taking pictures of waterfowls when an adult female grizzly came into view. After few pictures she was gone. Since then I have seen many grizzlies and taken many more pictures. I can still remember if it was just yesterday, taking that very first picture of a grizzly, being aware of my surrounding and being cautious as the beautiful bear let me share her space. That feeling was still there, heat beating little faster, when I took this picture of the first bear spotted up from deep sleep this year in Banff National Park.
Until next moment,
Amar
For the members of the deer family, life will become easier in few weeks with snow melting and green grass to follow.
Until next moment,
Amar
Dead organic matter falls into the water and sinks to the bottom to the delight of the waiting bacteria. The hungry bacteria feeds on this matter, in turn releasing methane gas. Which floats upward, coming in contact with frozen water, forming the various frozen ice bubbles.
Until next moment,
Amar
March has been a rollercoaster of weather, winter to spring to winter and now we are having spring again. This picture was taken during the winter part of the month, all covered by snow again. But by end of that day, we were back into spring.
Until next moment,
Amar
On a cold morning this young female moose was busy getting few calories from the willow shrubs.
Until next moment,
Amar
Over the years I have taken many pictures while walking to and from work. Being addicted to nature photography, it`s hard not to carry a camera at all times, being ready when the opportunity arises. In this case it was in the morning and I was half way to work when I looked toward the Massive Range, about 15 Kilometers away from me. The peaks I see most morning were lit up with the first light and I only had few minutes before the low clouds above would block the light. More than enough time to get the picture and another reason to keep carrying my camera.
Until next moment,
Amar
It was just few days ago when it was and as well felt like winter, how things have changed so fast. It was during one of those winter days I came across this red squirrel perched on a branch and eating the seeds from a spruce cone.
Until next moment,
Amar
Picture taken few hours before warmer weather arrived to push away wintery march. The trees were still holding the snow before spring like weather took over and start changing the look of the valley.
Until next moment,
Amar
The Three-toed Woodpecker is the most often spotted woodpecker here in Banff National Park, found year around. Boreal forests and montane coniferous forests is their preferred habitat. Diet preference are insects, dominated by wood-boring beetle larvae, also happy to eat fruits and feed on tree sap. So the nest time you are in their habitat and hear a soft chipping sound, stop, locate the direction of the sound and step over to watch the woodpecker scale off flakes of bark to get at insects.
Until next moment,
Amar
There was a small spot where the water was open and calm, reflecting the top of Mount Rundle. Grabbed the picture and decided to turn the image into back and white, providing more drama in the sky.
Until next moment,
Amar
I have been enjoying the winter and the way things are looking it's not going away too soon. Cooler weather with snow arrived in March, it's back to winter wonderland in Banff National Park.
Until next moment,
Amar
It was a cold morning when I came across four male elk, the other two are just outside the frame. It had been a very cold night, so as soon as the sunshine hit the valley, they moved into it. Every bit helps.
Until next moment,
Amar
It was late afternoon when I took this picture of Mount Rundle from the vermilion lakes. It was the different blues that attracted me to take the picture and the foreground ice on top of the wood helped make it a better picture.
Until next moment,
Amar
For moose winter is about suffering and overcoming that suffering. Moose can handle cold, their large body is made just for that. It's about the food or more accurately the lack of nutritious food. Twigs are the main part of their winter diet, nowhere close to providing the nutrients they get from eating leaves during the summer. Now add the challenge of moving through the deep snow to get at the twigs. So it's no wonder that moose lose weight each day during the winter. But at the end of this winter as end of all winters, most will live to see spring.
Until next moments,
Amar
When you live in the town of Banff and can't get away, beautiful sunrises are not far away. I was in between things and decided to take a break and watch the sunset from the town. I was standing on the frozen Bow River trying to come up with a interesting composition, front of me the sky was on fire. So I decided to capture as much of the view as possible. Took several pictures from left to right and then created this panorama of a beautiful sunrise.
Until next moment,
Amar
I came across this coyote in the morning, just before I was seeing various tracks including of a coyote. Shortly after I came across this male who came out of the woods just ahead of me and kept moving front of me. I just happen to be going in the same direction, I kept my distance until he stopped. I stopped as well and watched him as he listened for a possible prey underneath the snow just front of him. In the end no food. he then started to move again, soon he was out of sight.
Until next moment,
Amar
