Expedition Canada

Another Bear & Full-On Day Fri Jun 18th  Common Loon - backlit by morning sun Well Nick is here!   The Common Loon has evaded my camera until now and though 'common',  is an amazingly attractive bird.  Ideal for a Black and White TV test card of yesteryear (for those old enough to remember).  This was taken on my morning walk with Jack who stood on the dock, initially growling and then barking in frustration, unprepared  t o jump off and give chase!  Some gun dog! Back at the house and about to start a cup of coffee, Nick surfaced and announced he was going for a swim (despite the dentist's advice not to do so until 3 days after all his wisdom teeth were removed), and was I coming.  Fellow dads will understand, when such a challenge is issued by a son, you don't decline!  So we went off for a 100m swim in Mixal. Quite refreshing after breathing returned and once the shock of the initial submersion wore off! N...

Local day Northern Alligator Lizard Sun Jun 13th The unsettled weather is coming to an end, not just yet! The rain cleared during the morning and gave way to some warm sunshine that enabled us to get outside, but with an uncertain forecast we decided to stay local.   Fred took to her knitting needles and I checked out the gazebo up behind the house to watch the wildlife .... well I saw a lizard and that was about it! Mid afternoon, and needing to be doing something I did a solo canoe around Mixal Lake.  I've been surprised how few waterfowl there are on the lake.   At most I have seen the odd Merganser and there are two sometimes three Common Loons  out fishing.  They are an extremely attractive bird with their black and white marked back and would make a good TV test card! Just as I was heading out on the canoe, my new fishing mate rang to ask if I'd like to have another go for Mixal trout.  Silly question.  The paddle was very tra...