January 4th - First 2022 Sighting of the Beaver

It was a good day at Asylum Lake on January 4th. So much to see today and it was so beautiful first thing in the morning. There was a lovely low light over the field this morning. Combined with the ice it made for a lovely photo, so peaceful. 

I got my first 2022 view of two beavers. I was so excited! There are a total of three beaver lodges on the lake, two older ones and the new one by the point. I was walking close to the two older lodges and saw two beavers swimming around in a break in the ice. The ice is getting thicker and it seems the beavers are working hard to keep a little bit of water open. 

I watched as one beaver popped back up from under the ice into the open water with what looked like part of a tree in its mouth. How exciting to see! I could see the end of the branch with its typical beaver-gnawed end. 

Another beaver seemed to be keeping an eye out for this one as it was swimming around a little further away seemingly keeping an eye on me!

How wonderful it was to see not one, but two of them! The most I have seen together is four. I was walking with my friend Joanie that morning. It was quite a treat!

After leaving the beavers I walked back through the woods down to the stream. It's quite lovely in winter especially with a coating of snow. 

I walked back up through the field. There were deer resting on snow in the lovely morning sun. They were nestled beneath trees finding a quiet place while they could. 

She didn't look too happy that I was watching her, but I was quite a distance away and I didn't stop for long. Sounds strange, but usually I talk softly to them and it seems to calm them as though they know I mean no harm. 

I could hear the birds as I walked and was able to catch a photo of a lovely Cedar Waxwing sitting up in a tree. I love these birds. I don't seem them as often as I would like. They seem to be around at Asylum more in the winter as they just love the berry trees. Their colours are lovely and soft and I just love the tuft on top of their heads. 

A beautiful winter morning at the lake. It's a reminder of why I really enjoy this gem in the middle of the city.