Creamer's Field Lake

There's been a lot more melting at Creamer's Field over the last several days and the field looks like a lake, although a very shallow one.

There are still some piles of snow, but they are much smaller and very dirty.

Lots more birds are there too.  While we were there this morning an eagle cruised over, making all the Canada Geese take to the air.

What really grabs the attention though are the Trumpeter Swans.  Even with a cloudy day and dipping their heads into the mud they still seem to glow.

I am linking up with Tom at the Barn Collective

and Eileen's Saturday's Critters.

Backyard Visitors

The last few days there have been a couple of Hairy Woodpeckers visiting my backyard.  I like how they announce their presence with a loud call, getting my attention and allowing me to grab my camera.

I am linking with Eileen's Saturday's Critters.

Audacious Squirrel

Nothing can quite match the audaciousness of a squirrel.  In June of 2013 one of our little red squirrels perched in one of the flower pots on my deck, surveying his kingdom.

Because the shot wasn't sharp, I played a little with some filters.  I think I like the original best, although all of them have their merits.

I am sharing with Gaelyn's Foto Friday Fun 115

with my photo index No. 7215

and

Eileen's Saturday's Critters #78.

More Reindeer Babies

I posted photos of the reindeer and calves at the University of Alaska Experiment Farm last week, and several people were interested in seeing more up-close photos of the reindeer calves.  I took the first batch of photos last Tuesday, and went back again on Wednesday.  One of the reindeer had her calf right up near the fence, but it was sound asleep and not much more than a lump of brown fur.  Mama had been nudging it a bit as her snout was covered with straw.

Mama looked a bit confused.  I believe the reindeer in this section of the farm are all first-time mamas, so they need a little extra attention.

I had taken the photo below of Mama on Tuesday when she was voicing her opinion about something, but at the time I didn't know what.  Looking closer at the photo I see a lump of brown fur at her feet, and perhaps it was not too long after the baby's birth.  They wait at least 24 hours after the birth to tag the baby's ear to allow for bonding with the mother, and I can't see a tag in any of the photos of this baby.  Perhaps Mama is saying "What do I do now?"


I cropped a few of the photos I took on Tuesday to focus more on the calves.  Click on the photos to enlarge them for a better look.

And another shot of the barn from a different angle and one of the grain storage facility.

The Fairbanks Experiment Farm was established in 1906 to conduct research and promote agriculture in Interior Alaska.  In the past they have grown swine, cattle, sheep, and sled dogs.  They got their first reindeer in 1997, and the research is geared toward the nutrition and production of reindeer.  They are studying the effect of different grains on the diet of the reindeer and the taste of the meat.  The program is the only one of its kind in the world.  Although there are huge numbers of caribou in Alaska, there are relatively few domestic reindeer.

The rest of the reindeer at the farm are in pens across the road.  And, yes, they do spend the winter outside.  There are very few cows grown here and the reindeer are much more suited to our climate.

I am linking up with Amy's Barn Collective #28

and

Eileen's Saturday's Critters #70.

Mama Moose

A couple of moose wandered through our yard last week.  They look to have come through the winter quite well and I'm sure they enjoyed the mild winter we had. 

Mama moose appears to be pregnant and will give birth mid May to early June.  

Shortly before she gives birth she's going to chase off last year's calf, who is now close to her size.  That's the calf in the photo below.  It's amazing how much they grow in one year!

I'm linking up with Eileen's Saturday's Critters.

The Sculptures Are Finished

Thursday at 9:00 p.m. marked the finish of the Multi Block Competition for the Ice Art Championships.  Friday morning the area was quiet, the tools all put to rest.

Below is a sampling of the sculptures.  Friday was cloudy and there was a couple of inches of new snow.  The cleanup of the Multi Block area still needed to be done, so not the best time for good views of the sculptures.  We've had several more inches of snow since then and more likely.  I'll probably make another trip to the Ice Park on Monday for some better shots, and with a little luck there will be a bit of sunshine to add sparkle.

I'm adding a bit of color from my garden with a photo taken September 5, 2011.

I'm linking it up with Eileen's Saturday's Critters 64

and

Gaelyn's Foto Friday Fun 101 (My Index No. 8888)

The bright colors look very appealing right about now!

Fish On Ice

The Single Block Competition at the Ice Art Championships is completed and the winners chosen.  The third place winner in the Realistic Division was "Take a Walk" by Junichi Nakamura of Japan and Chris Foltz of the United States.  Mr. Nakamura is a retired farmer who has been coming to Fairbanks for the Ice Art competition since 1996.  He has competed around the world and has won many awards.  Mr. Foltz is from Oregon and has competed in Fairbanks since 2010.

 When we went by last night the sculptures were displayed under white light, which is how they are judged.  They will switch to colored lights, and I'll post a photo of that when I get back to the Ice Park at night.

I'm not quite sure what kind of fish this is or what the title means, but I don't think he's a fish you'd want to mess with. 

I always enjoy focusing on the details of the sculptures.  I am constantly amazed at the ability to create such interesting shapes and textures.

I went by the Ice Park earlier in the day while it was bright sunshine.  Although the Single Blocks are shaded in the woods, the sunshine always brings out some nice features.

I am linking this icy critter to Eileen's Saturday's Critters.

Home on the Range

Digging into my archives again for Gaelyn's Foto Friday Fun, my Index #1977 popped up with this photo of an antelope that we saw in October of 2009 when we took a trip down the Alcan.  We'd crossed the border from Canada into Montana and were on our way to see our friends Mona and Don (Montanagirl).  The antelope were plentiful at that time, but a lot were lost a few years back in a harsh winter and they still haven't rebounded to their previous numbers.

I'm also linking up with Eileen's Saturday's Critters.

Yummm

March 2011

 Linking to Gaelyn's Foto Friday Fun 93

with my Index No. 72

And because I had so many fun moose photos taken over a period of several days, a few more of my bird feeder raider.

I am also linking with Eileen's Saturday's Critters 56.

Sharing a Treat

The Pump House, one of our favorite restaurants, is just a little ways up the road from my house.  I've posted photos of the Pump House before, and you can see some of those HERE and HERE.  In the winter their parking lot is often a good place to see Ravens, our most plentiful wintertime bird.  The attraction for the Ravens isn't the restaurant, but what's across the road.  To you and me it's a dumpster site, but if you're a Raven it's an all-you-can-eat buffet!

February 2, 2010

I'm linking with

Gaelyn's Foto Friday Fun 89

with my Index #4852

and

Eileen's Saturday's Critters 52.