Post by Gord on Oct 12, 2008 20:15:30 GMT -8
Friday I found myself at the Chaam Ridge Trail parking lot thoughtfully gazing at a bear eating blueberries in the clearing up on the hill overlooking the parking lot.
The weather was very nice but a bit chilly. A Red-breasted Sapsucker was on a tree near the start. Not much further along a small family of Grey Jays could be seen in the trees below the trail.
Spoon Valley offered views of four bears feeding on blueberries!
In the first 15 minutes I had seen five bears! I even managed to get two in the same photo.
Soaring over the meadow was a juvenile Northern Harrier. Soon after an adult Golden Eagle flew over as well. It was not overly busy for birds at this point save for a few American Pipits, ever present American Robins and a few juncos.
Northern Harrier juv
As I headed out of Spoon Valley I saw the morning's sixth bear looking down at me. We observed each other until he wandered off in a good direction ('good' meaning away from me and my intended direction)
This photo looks similar to the above shots, but he was half the distance away as I was using about half the lens.
I made it to the saddle between Lady and Cheam Peak without incident. A small flock of Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches were the highlight as I rested here. There was a little bit of hawk movement and I counted three Sharp-shinned Hawks, a Red-tailed Hawk, two more Northern Harriers and a Merlin go by in about a fifteen minute period. All going in a south direction. I got a picture of the Merlin.
The rest of the trip up to the top was uneventful. The scenery was very nice with just a light dusting of snow. I did not run into very many birds save for three Common Ravens. No ptarmigan either which did not come as much of a surprise considering three groups of people were ahead of me with dogs running all over. What was equally annoying/disturbing is that all three group's dogs felt a need to charge up to me barking and making a fuss all to the tune of the owner's shouting from a distance away "They're friendly!!!" Sometimes Im not sure what bugs me more. People letting their dogs to that or having the gall to try and smooth things over by claiming the dog is friendly even though it is hopping madly around in front of me barking.
I know it's not the dog's fault. Too bad too many dog owners seem to lack a little common sense to leash their dog when they see other people ahead on the trail. Let's not get into what these dogs might be doing to ground dwelling birds such as grouse and ptarmigan especially when they have fresh chicks. 
I bring this up when I enter into discussion about dogs running wild to which they reply "They're friendly!" 
Enough of that.
On my way back down I ran into a real highlight of the day. A Short-tailed Weasel took a huge interest in me and all but crawled all over me and my backpack. He sniffed at my boots, my outstretched hand (which I quickly withdrew remembering what ferocious little hunters they are) and pack. He would bounce away but come right back. I worked very hard with the camera to get pictures but it was very very hard. It moved with breathtaking swiftness and due to it's bold nature, would be so close that it was hard to follow. I managed a few shots, especially near the end when I was starting to figure out his patterns. But the third encounter with a dog of the day ended any continued hopes of photographs as it came blasting in barking at me. I guess me crouching at the edge of the trail was threatening or something. I tried to be gracious with the dog owner who came up behind explaining maybe the dog couldent tell what I was considering I was crouched down taking a photograph of a now long gone weasel. It's good to be friendly and gracious at all times for free, but I guess I wouldnt have been offended with an apology of some sort either for a) getting verbally assaulted by her dog and/or b) having my photography subject scared away by said dog.
Geeze, Im back complaining about poor dogs again. Here's the pictures of the Short-tailed Weasel. For a size comparison, his body is about the size and length of a empty toilet paper roll tube with a tail and legs attached. Even though very small, they are quite capable of subduing rabbits and grouse.
Back at the parking lot I looked up at the clearing again and was awarded a sight of a sow bear with a large cub playing nearby. Cute little guy! I was interested to note that the adult was jet black but the cub was brown. That made eight bears for the day and a new record! Two years ago I saw six one day with many three, four and five bear days too.
On the way down I ran across a Sooty Grouse at the side of the road. Always a nice hike even if a little busy with people and their energetic furry friends.
Im having a problem with photos here so will try to add them in a little bit. Hope Im not getting the problem Kathy had! (update- it's working for me now again)
Scenery shots
Lady Peak from the road up.
Snow on the trees on Cheam
Spoon Valley (the bears were on the left hand part of the slope)
A hiker just past half way to the top.
View southeast
The weather was very nice but a bit chilly. A Red-breasted Sapsucker was on a tree near the start. Not much further along a small family of Grey Jays could be seen in the trees below the trail.
Spoon Valley offered views of four bears feeding on blueberries!
In the first 15 minutes I had seen five bears! I even managed to get two in the same photo.Soaring over the meadow was a juvenile Northern Harrier. Soon after an adult Golden Eagle flew over as well. It was not overly busy for birds at this point save for a few American Pipits, ever present American Robins and a few juncos.
Northern Harrier juv
As I headed out of Spoon Valley I saw the morning's sixth bear looking down at me. We observed each other until he wandered off in a good direction ('good' meaning away from me and my intended direction)
This photo looks similar to the above shots, but he was half the distance away as I was using about half the lens.
I made it to the saddle between Lady and Cheam Peak without incident. A small flock of Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches were the highlight as I rested here. There was a little bit of hawk movement and I counted three Sharp-shinned Hawks, a Red-tailed Hawk, two more Northern Harriers and a Merlin go by in about a fifteen minute period. All going in a south direction. I got a picture of the Merlin.
The rest of the trip up to the top was uneventful. The scenery was very nice with just a light dusting of snow. I did not run into very many birds save for three Common Ravens. No ptarmigan either which did not come as much of a surprise considering three groups of people were ahead of me with dogs running all over. What was equally annoying/disturbing is that all three group's dogs felt a need to charge up to me barking and making a fuss all to the tune of the owner's shouting from a distance away "They're friendly!!!" Sometimes Im not sure what bugs me more. People letting their dogs to that or having the gall to try and smooth things over by claiming the dog is friendly even though it is hopping madly around in front of me barking.
I know it's not the dog's fault. Too bad too many dog owners seem to lack a little common sense to leash their dog when they see other people ahead on the trail. Let's not get into what these dogs might be doing to ground dwelling birds such as grouse and ptarmigan especially when they have fresh chicks. 
I bring this up when I enter into discussion about dogs running wild to which they reply "They're friendly!" 
Enough of that.
On my way back down I ran into a real highlight of the day. A Short-tailed Weasel took a huge interest in me and all but crawled all over me and my backpack. He sniffed at my boots, my outstretched hand (which I quickly withdrew remembering what ferocious little hunters they are) and pack. He would bounce away but come right back. I worked very hard with the camera to get pictures but it was very very hard. It moved with breathtaking swiftness and due to it's bold nature, would be so close that it was hard to follow. I managed a few shots, especially near the end when I was starting to figure out his patterns. But the third encounter with a dog of the day ended any continued hopes of photographs as it came blasting in barking at me. I guess me crouching at the edge of the trail was threatening or something. I tried to be gracious with the dog owner who came up behind explaining maybe the dog couldent tell what I was considering I was crouched down taking a photograph of a now long gone weasel. It's good to be friendly and gracious at all times for free, but I guess I wouldnt have been offended with an apology of some sort either for a) getting verbally assaulted by her dog and/or b) having my photography subject scared away by said dog.
Geeze, Im back complaining about poor dogs again.
Here's the pictures of the Short-tailed Weasel. For a size comparison, his body is about the size and length of a empty toilet paper roll tube with a tail and legs attached. Even though very small, they are quite capable of subduing rabbits and grouse.Back at the parking lot I looked up at the clearing again and was awarded a sight of a sow bear with a large cub playing nearby. Cute little guy! I was interested to note that the adult was jet black but the cub was brown. That made eight bears for the day and a new record! Two years ago I saw six one day with many three, four and five bear days too.
On the way down I ran across a Sooty Grouse at the side of the road. Always a nice hike even if a little busy with people and their energetic furry friends.
Im having a problem with photos here so will try to add them in a little bit. Hope Im not getting the problem Kathy had! (update- it's working for me now again)
Scenery shots
Lady Peak from the road up.
Snow on the trees on Cheam
Spoon Valley (the bears were on the left hand part of the slope)
A hiker just past half way to the top.
View southeast
