Inglewood Bird Sanctuary February 20, 2026

With a more friendly forecast of minus twenty-two celsius without windchill, it was time to get "out & about" safely for a few hours.  As I walked the trail from the parking lot at The Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, I picked up the pace when I spotted the sundog between the trees. I wanted a wide open view of it. Even though this means that it is winter and it is cold, it was a welcoming sight to the Sanctuary!

After admiring the sundog, I darted to the riverside before the sun got too high. Darting here and there helped me to stay warm. That's a long line of geese and mallards on the ice at the edge of the open water. They were huddled together, not a sound being made.  It was not until later when it warmed up somewhat, that they then moved about and became vocal. 

view of the snow-covered Lagoon

The smallest birds that stay here for the winter were busy being "out & about".  No matter how cold, they still go about their business.  I saw many Black-capped Chickadees.  This one had a tiny icicle hanging from its beak.  

a Male Hairy Woodpecker

There were a few White-breasted Nuthatches.  

I always hope I get to see the resident Cottontail Rabbit. In fact, I saw two! The first one was too quick for me to capture a photo.  This was the second one which came out from under the side of a viewing platform.  It saw me before I saw it, yet it stayed there long enough for me to zoom in and snap this shot.    

a little later when I retraced my steps back to the platform, it was sitting out in the open

Just like when I first arrived and picked up the pace for a better view of the sundog, I did that once again when the colours lit up the sky.  I watched it dance then slowly disappear, then I quickly moved on darting again along the trail.  

There was not a whole lot happening at The Sanctuary while I was there, yet a whole lot did happen, probably yesterday.  I was the first to walk the trails today. There were many deer and coyote prints in the snow but they were muted from a dusting of snow overnight. These markings were muted too.  I wondered what may have occurred! 

More muted markings!  

It looked like wings swept through the snow.

By now my hair tips was frosted, I could tell my nose and cheeks were pink. My lungs were full of fresh air, nature cleansed the cobwebs from within, I felt satisfied and fulfilled.  It was time to head home!    

Welcome Winter! February 17, 2026

When I looked out this morning I saw exactly what was forecasted and what I had hoped to see!  White and more white and nothing but white! Before it got even more white, I went out to get a couple of close by errands accomplished.  Then it was time to get all comfy and cozy enjoying being inside looking outside.  Being "out & about" outside will come tomorrow!

I have been watching lots of the Olympics! The scenery has been interesting to see almost as much as the athletes competing.  While figure skating will always be my most favourite sport to watch, I also enjoy those that are rough and tumble.  Watching the freestyle skiing and the snowboarding inspired me to do this watercolour painting.  

I was also inspired to look back at my photos and my blog posts from when I hiked in The Italian Dolomites in June of 2019.  While I am no olympic athlete, I like to think I am an "athlete" (the definition of "athlete" is in the heart & soul of the participant) and I can tell you I felt like a winner when I posed for this photo.  

Yesterday was a whole different story!  I walked from Carburn to Fish Creek and back while capturing the essence of a spring-like day in the middle of winter.   It was a beautiful day yet very dry and very dusty.  In fact, my black winter hiking boots are now brown after the last few "outs & abouts".  The clouds caught my full attention!  The Deer did their usual morning river crossing.  They know the safest place with the lowest water level to cross.  The coyote gave me the eye then took off over the hill.  The Carburn Bald Eagles were busy building their nest. The Ducks:  Female Common Merganser with the red head, Male Bufflehead with the white and green head, Male Common Merganser with the black head and red bill, Male Common Goldeneye with his head bent back. 

I am caught up once again on the thirty day watercolour challenge.  The instructor has been incorporating the use of coloured pencils and crayons but I have been sticking to watercolour paints to complete my version.  There are just a few more days to go.  I am feeling I am ready for this challenge to end!  

Beaver Lodge & Route 66 February 13, 2026

The sun was up for a short while by the time I arrived at Beaver Lodge off Route 66 out in the Elbow Valley. I was a bit surprised at the lack of snow.  That meant spikes were not needed so stayed in my backpack, nor was it necessary to be wearing winter hiking boots. It's pretty out here when it is white, yet I embraced what I was presented with, after all beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I was seeing lots already. 

A very thin layer of ice covered one of the beaver ponds.  

Even though the sun was up, it was not up high enough to brighten up the treed sections along the trail.  I heard birds but I could not see them.  I also heard a scuffle in the bushes which turned out being this deer.  Just after capturing this photo, the deer darted away with its white tail in the air.  

reflection in a pond of open water

While hiking along the Beaver Ponds Trail that was mostly surrounded by trees, I could see it looked lovely out in the open.  I decided to find my way out to Route 66, hike along there, then return to the Ponds Trail on the way back. Gosh, I definitely could have donned my regular hiking shoes or hiking boots.  These winter boots were too much!  This eight kilometre stretch of road is closed for the winter months so no snow plowing is necessary by the Parks People.  During a typical winter, the snow would be ankle to knee deep along here.  I know because I have been here many times when it was!  

view behind me

View ahead of me!

I found snow on the road!  

I hiked up to the high point on the road across from the Timber Harvesting Lot.  As you can see behind me, the road is clear of snow.  Another three kilometres and I would be at Forgetmenot Pond.  I did not come prepared to hike there so made this my destination. 

view from the rock I settled down on to sip and snack

a short video enjoying my hot beverage

I found a small slice of ice which became my muse!

It measured about two inches in height. 

During the hike back, I met two people with two dogs heading up to the high point.  I also met a guy and gal hiking there too.  As I was nearing the entrance back to Beaver Lodge, I met a lady starting her way up Route 66 on the clear dry road.  It was much bright now along the Beaver Lodge Trail.  

I heard lots of birds and saw some of the ones I heard.  This American Dipper is standing on the very edge of the ice with its reflection in the water.  It bobbed up and down and even went for a swim or maybe it was a bath as it splashed about.  

This is a Boreal Chickadee, one of many that were flitting about.  

I also saw Mountain Chickadees and Black-Capped Chickadees. 

All species of Chickadees were plentiful.

I heard a very familiar sound, a sound I had not heard yet this year!  This was my first sighting of a Robin this winter and this year. There were a few but I focused on this one as it stayed still.

Time came to leave then head on home!  

a thrill up on Nose Hill February 9, 2026

It was about time I hit the hills of Nose Hill Environmental Park!  I have not been there this year! With everything being brown in the city,  seeing a dull brown hill after another dull brown hill after yet another dull brown hill has not appealing to me.  It could be worth it though if the sunrise was nice, I saw wildlife and the trails were free of snow, ice and mud. If this was to be my experience then I know I could find lots to love! So just go!  Just do it!  So I did!  

I started out in the dark! 

As I ascended, colour started to conjure up in the sky!  

I see five deer!  Do you?

The sunrise was putting on a show!  

The view played a number with my mind!  

Those are clouds not mountains! 

That's the sun peeking through the clouds middle right!  

At first my mind told me this is a reflection in a lake with the mountains behind the lake!

 a wider view with a line of pink from the sun between the land and the clouds

With the sunrise behind me, I could not have planned it if I tried, to have the sun where it is!

 Once the sun was fully up, I took this panorama shot!

I had a permanent smile on my face!  I was loving how this hike up the hills was turning out!  As I carried on down a couple of hills, I spied a coyote dashing through the field.  I watched it, I photographed it, I waited until it went on its way!  But.....

.....as I was watching, another coyote came upon the scene! I watched, I photographed them, I waited until they went on their way!  But.....

.....as I was watching, another coyote came upon the scene!  I watched, I photographed them, I waited until they went on their way!  But.....

.....they were going down the trail I was aiming for! I watched, I photographed them, I waited until they went on their way!  Then.....

.....I did an about turn and hiked off in the opposite direction!  Even though, I was still smiling wide! Everything so far during this hike up on these hills was what I hoped for.  Yes, the hills were brown, yet I saw a spectacular sunrise, I saw wildlife plus the trails were in summer-like condition. The mountains look beautiful no matter what!  

a Buck

As I came down the last hill, I took one last look back and I was still smiling because I felt fulfilled and full of love for everything so far today! The plan was to head on home and check to see if the video was posted for today's watercolour challenge.  I did two more painting challenges yesterday to finally catch up. Now I am back on track and excited for what today's challenge would be! 

Today's challenge was this!  I painted it to fill the 11 x 15 inch page. The painting showed us how to paint the word "LOVE" using negative space! I did not need to smile when I saw what the challenge was because I was already still smiling from everything there was to love about my thrill up on Nose Hill!