Prairie Muskrats in Saskatchewan

Muskrat near Chaplin, Saskatchewan © SB  

Today, a few photographs of muskrats from my files.

These furry mammals with their long front teeth and freaky bony fingers are common in prairie sloughs and creeks, where they glide silently through murky water, swishing their leathery black tails.

The photos here of muskrats are all from early spring, when ice folded at the edges of the water, and packed snow lined the creeks. 

The first two pictures —  muskrat facing left, and the same muskrat swimming — were taken near the lake south of Chaplin, Saskatchewan, at the end March. Warm weather came late this year and that's ice on the bank, not sand. 

The third picture, of a muskrat eating a submerged reed, was also taken in late March — and chunks of ice are obvious around the muskrat's feet. 

Muskrat near Chaplin swimming in the creek.   © SB   

Early Spring. Muskrat at Valeport Marsh, Saskatchewan © SB  

What are these animals? Muskrats
Location: #1 and #2: South of Chaplin, Saskatchewan; #3: Valeport Marsh, near Craven, Saskatchewan. 

Photo date: #1 and #2: March 31, 2012; #3: March 25, 2012. 

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Killdeer: Nine Mating Moves

Yes, this is a Killdeer mating sequence, shot south of Chaplin, Saskatchewan, along the shore of Chaplin Lake, part of the Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve Network.

And no, I didn't deliberately shoot these killdeers mating. As those who know me know, I'm very short-sighted. My telephoto zoom is my vision piece. And, as those who've taken pictures with me also know, I take lots of shots at a time.

It's the law of large numbers: The more pictures I take of any given subject, the more chance there is that at least one will be in focus.

Or, they might reveal an interesting sequence... 

Like this...


The Nine Mating Moves of a Killdeer. 

1. The nonchalant approach. Really, this killdeer is just strolling down the beach. 

10:27:11 a.m. 

2. What's that? A hot new bird in the neighbourhood?  

 10:27:12 a.m. 

3. Maybe call. See if he's free and interested. 

10:27:14 am. 

4. Time for a drink. And a mirror. 

 10:27:26 a.m.

5. Ready. 

10:28:35 a.m.

6. Steady. 
(Only one pair of legs on the ground. Yes, it was the Killdeer foot count that told me something was going on.) 

10:28:40 a.m.

7. Go! (Or not. I was a very long way away.) 

10:28:48 a.m.

8. More action.  (Or maybe he's clambering off?) 

10:28:49 a.m.

9. The End.

10:28:51 a.m.

I don't know what that male did to lure her across the beach. Scraped a nest, perhaps? 

And yes, I was shocked when I realized what I had taken pictures of... I mean, isn't the end of June a bit late in the season for mating? What are they thinking? 

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What are these?  Killdeers 

Location: South of Chaplin, along Chaplin Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Photo date: June 29, 2012.  

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