White-tailed Deer

Yesterday morning, 7 March 2015, my plan was to go with a group of friends on a bird walk at Votiers Flats, in Fish Creek Park. Sounded as though the paths were pretty good, though still some ice, so I left my ice grabbers in my car. A short distance into the park, someone slipped on the ice and fell heavily, at which point I said I was going back for my ice grabbers and would probably see everyone later. Instead, I end up going for a walk on my own, rather than wait for everyone else. The main path was pretty clear, but the other paths were treacherously icy.

Eight or so beautiful White-tailed Deer were the first encounter, including this doe, followed by a couple of Pine Grosbeaks. Heard several Blue Jays and had a gorgeous male Ring-necked pheasant fly across the path ahead of me. Couldn’t take my eyes off it till it disappeared into the trees, and never even thought about trying to get a photo. Saw or heard all the usual birds including Black-capped Chickadee, Nuthatch and a Downy Woodpecker.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-tailed_deer

The weather is amazing at the moment and will be even better for the next week, climbing into double digits around 14C to 16C. March tends to be our snowiest month, but so far, has been great. Not unusual, though, for us to get a heavy snowstorm in May, so we’ll see.