Weekend away up north.

What beautiful weather this weekend and some neat wildlife too. As soon as we got to our destination someone pointed out a mouse running around out front of the cottage. It stayed above the snow for a while so I grabbed my camera and took a couple of shots. It was really neat to see it for so long because usually when I see a mouse it is darting across the road or in the talons of a hawk.

I checked out the rest of the property for tracks but I only saw signs of deer and more mice. I lined the deck railing with some food for the birds and placed some food for the deer beside the trail that they have obviously been using for quite some time due to how heavily tracked it was. Early the next morning my friends and I went for a walk and we saw four deer crossing the lake. I raised my camera and took a couple of shots and then all of a sudden one fell through the ice. I exclaimed it to my friends and then we watched as the deer quickly climbed out of the water and back up on top of the ice. I then realized I didn’t take any pictures. Darn it, I froze up. I missed an opportunity for an interesting wildlife shot. It was still neat to see and I was really glad it got out okay. We were really far away and the lighting wasn’t the greatest anyway but I was still disappointed that I missed photographing it. The deer had a bit of a limp but it seemed fine.

Another interesting discovery was five trumpeter swans in the river in town. I realize their numbers are getting higher after being extirpated in the 80’s but it is still neat to see them. They came to the edge of the river to get some food. Only four of them where tagged and there were three adults and two yearlings.

Later in the day my camera broke again and now I have to send it in again. Hopefully it won’t take as long as last time because the weather is getting nicer and it won’t be long now before spring is upon us. I can’t wait!!!