Category: Alberta
This nest, built out of moss was on a steep cliff next to a series of rapids near the Akamina road to Cameron Lake. There were three chicks nearing fledgling age that somehow managed to stay within the nest while extending their heads out to get fed by their parents. The two adults fed these chicks every 5-10minutes and tended to the nest. The fecal sacks produced by the chicks were removed by the parents and dropped into the rapids to wash them away.
An American dipper holds onto the slippery rocks after catching several insects along the river with the rapids splashing around the bird
An American dipper partially submerges in the rapids to search for insects to bring back to the nest.
Just like clockwork it took all of 5 minutes of sitting along Akamina lake before I heard an animal moving through the forest on the opposite side of the lake and this moose appeared along the water’s edge. She moved around the lake towards me feeding along the way. Once she finally figured out that I was there she only briefly looked at me before going back to feeding on the plants around the lake.
After about 30 minutes of feeding by the lone female moose a yearling bull moose joined her in the water to feed.
Driving 6 hours from Edmonton and sleeping 2 hours in the back of the rental car was worth it to get back down to Waterton National Park for a day. I was surprised to find so many wildflowers still out along the roadsides and I finally managed to get some good photos of American dippers. Here are a few photos
Banff National Park
Banff National Park
Along the road leading from Waterton to Glacier National Park in Montana.
An unusual rock with raised ridges and shallow depressions that have been colonized by this bright orange lichen.
Owen Slater Photography 