a Feast at The Inglewood Bird Sanctuary

The sky is beginning to clear, the temperature is starting to rise, I thought I better get out there because these changing conditions mean the end to rime ice.  I got the monkey off my back and hit the Deerfoot 500 when I saw it rated green the entire stretch I needed to drive to get to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary.  As I pulled into the parking lot, I knew I was in for a feast!  Even the parking lot looked like I had never seen it before.  I assumed others were sensing the same as me when I saw them snapping shots of the scenery in the lot, not even waiting to go through the gate first.  I aimed for the gate and entered under a canopy of branches dressed in a very thick layer of rime ice!

I was here for the beautiful views and if I saw birds on this frigid morning then that would be an added bonus.  The feast for my eyes began!  I was donned in the most layers yet this season. I knew it would be a slow go and slow go does not equal warmth unless there are a multitude of warm layers from head to toe.

another welcoming winter canopy  

feast your eyes upon this

Well into this slow go around The Sanctuary, I could feel I had a frozen in place smile!  This view of the kiosk captured my attention.  There is something about this photo and I don't know how to explain what that something is, but there is something!  I can't stop looking at it!

The south end of the creek leading away from the lagoon was open water.

This view was mesmerizing.

The feast continued but I was not feeling full yet! 

The Walker House on The Sanctuary property glowed across the Lagoon.  

The Walker House

rime ice covered trees lining the snow filled meadow

The creek leading into the lagoon was frozen.

My mind drifted off for a few seconds and in my dream I was skating on that creek.

(There is no skating at The Sanctuary.)

I received that added bonus of getting to see birds and that made the feast even more fulfilling.  There were half a dozen or so Common Redpolls gobbling down the seeds from this trees.  

The Redpolls are known to be able to hang upside down while they eat. While this one hung upside down, it also turned its head around. I like the little red patch on its head.  This leads me to believe it is a female. 

The Black-capped Chickadee looks like it is extra wide-eyed!

a Bald Eagle

This was a lone Canada Goose sitting on the snow in the Lagoon.  If you look back to where I wrote "The feast continued but I was not feeling full yet!" and look at the photo underneath, that black dot in the middle of the snow in the centre of the photo is this Goose.  I watched it walk from the edge to the middle and then just sit down and it stayed there.  

The Bow River was mostly open water with some ice formed along the side.  Hundreds of Canada Geese, along with Mallards and other species took refuge here.  

a Common Goldeneye swimming in the river

I took one last swing by the Walker House before heading down the trail back to my vehicle.  The Mountain Cottontail was now out & about.  It was very entertaining to watch with a feast of antics.  I did not have to smile because my smile was already frozen in place from everything else I saw on this frigid morning.  It pulled on a branch and created a snow flurry.  

It sat in front of this vent that had steam coming out. 

I watched it licking this little icicle sticking out of the snow. 

When I was ready to leave,

 the Cottontail was snuggled in the snow with a feast of a large leaf. 

Rounding the last corner before heading to the exit, I spotted a coyote who also spotted me. 

This long stretch of time with rime ice conditions brought a feast for my eyes.  I got "out & about" in it as much as possible and embraced it not knowing how long it would last. Now I see with the sunshine, an increase in temperature and the slight breeze, the rime ice is being blown off the trees.  I got my fill of this feast!