news&views Spring 2022 | Page 16

Outdoor Living

Duane Radford | Article and Photos

Wildlife Viewing :

From Least Weasel to Bald Eagle

You ’ ve all heard the saying that something is just “ around the next corner ” — a universal phrase to create a sense of hope and optimism . That ’ s what wildlife viewing is all about — you never know what you ’ re going to see when you venture into Alberta ’ s outdoors , but you can be sure it beats staying at home . Further , with a plan , you ’ ll be more likely to see what you hoped for ! It ’ s as cheap as borscht — all you need is a pair of binoculars or a spotting scope — and it ’ s doable by mobility-challenged seniors during all seasons of the year .
Last October , my wife Adrienne and I enjoyed a staycation in southern Alberta at a bed and breakfast far from the madding crowd and the risk of being infected with COVID-19 . This B & B is a secluded getaway that abounds with wildlife viewing opportunities . It ’ s also located near Waterton National Park , a place that ’ s ideal for wildlife viewing ( by seniors ) even though the devastating 2017 Kenow Wildfire ravaged much of the park and no doubt killed much of its wildlife . As we were being greeted by the proprietors , a least weasel darted between us with what looked like a deer mouse in its jaws . These fierce predators seemingly have no fear of man , and the sighting was a harbinger of what lay ahead . After we settled into our accommodations , I sat on the porch enjoying the iconic landscape of rural Alberta . All was at peace with the world until the sounds of honking Canada geese pierced the air . Skein after skein flew over the cabin , likely from Waterton Reservoir where they were staging , to fields to the south where they were feeding . Hundreds of majestic geese flew by as we watched in awe of the autumn spectacle . Actually , autumn is often an ideal time for wildlife viewing , as migratory birds
take to the air and wildlife feed throughout the day to put on calories before the winter storms arrive .
The next morning , as I sat on the deck enjoying a cup of coffee , a striking bald eagle glided by along the Waterton River , no doubt looking for carrion , before landing nearby on a jagged old cottonwood tree . The eagle was bookmarked against a pale gray morning sky — what a sight ! Shortly afterwards , a mule deer doe gracefully hopped over a barbed wire fence along the perimeter . She started to browse on low lying shrubs , gingerly nipping off the tips of branches as she fed , scant yards away . She was undisturbed by my presence .
After breakfast , we decided to drive into Waterton National Park and spend the day sightseeing , taking some landscape and wildlife photos , and especially enjoying nature . On the drive to Twin Butte , en route to the park , we spotted several herds of mule deer feeding near the gravel road and a white-tailed deer doe with her twin fawns , as well as a bachelor herd of five mule deer bucks that the proprietors had told us were in the area . We spotted so many mule deer I lost track of their numbers . Several murders of crows were sighted along Highway 20 ( the Cowboy Trail ) as we drove toward the park , no doubt staging before they headed off to their winter grounds .
While one of the main motives for
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