Pronghorn Antelopes: Saskatchewan's TransCanada Highway

Mature male Pronghorn Antelope beside the TransCanada Highway. © SB

West of Swift Current, Saskatchewan, yesterday, we saw more than two dozen Pronghorn Antelope along the TransCanada Highway.

These very fast moving (up to 100 km/hour) mammals have excellent camouflage — tan fur against tan grasses.

And they can be elusive.

Sometimes, a drive west from Regina along the TransCanada yields sightings of several; sometimes, none.

The Pronghorn is a native North American animal, evolving from other mammals that have been here more than 25 million years. (Now that is a long time! And my source is The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan, whose researchers have a much better sense of long time than me.)

And so Pronghorn Antelopes are one-of-a-kind, the only surviving members of their family.

Fall is said to be a good time to see them (when the herds gather). I was hoping for great antelope encounters on our drive — and was not disappointed.

The first group of Pronghorn Antelopes were far away on a rise of land, and the third and fourth groups were only distant white and brown specks... But the second group of five of these wonderful, wild Prairie animals was clear, bright and alert, and fairly close to the highway.

Young male Pronghorn Antelope, with stubs of horns. © SB

Distant Pronghorn Antelope, on a Prairie bluff.   © SB

What are these? Pronghorn Antelope. 
Location: West of Swift Current, Saskatchewan.
Photo date: October 6, 2013.

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American Dog Tick on Dandelion flower - Ick!

And now, a look at the dark side of prairie nature — an American Dog Tick (or Wood Tick) I saw today while I was out taking photographs of Dandelions and Early Blue Violets at the Condie Nature Refuge near Regina, Saskatchewan.

And yes, just seeing this image makes me itch! (I wore lovely light-coloured clothing and offered very little exposed skin to make myself as tick-safe as possible... If I look at this before I go out next time, though, I'll consider adding several additional helpings of DEET!)

American Dog Tick on Dandelion flower, waiting a meal... © SB

The marking on this tick's back indicate that this one is a Dog Tick, aka Wood Tick, and given its size, it's likely a female. Dog ticks aren't the species that carry the agent that causes Lyme disease, though I'm not convinced that any good can come of a tick bite! (For more on that, see tick-borne diseases at the link to CDC, below.)

Black-legged Ticks, or Deer Ticks, are the culprit for Lyme disease — although SaskHealth says they represent only about three per cent of Saskatchewan's ticks. Overall, the risk of contracting Lyme disease here in Saskatchewan is apparently low — but not zero. (You can read more on the Government of Saskatchewan's Ministry of Health Lyme Disease page.)

If you want to learn lots more about ticks — and really start your skin crawling — the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention's Stop Ticks page is a good place to start. CDC also has information on Tick Removal. (Hint, tweezers really are best). And, Madisson County in New York also has a comprehensively itch-inducing tick page, with links to a Tick Bite Locator.

(For those asking — no, I did not get any ticks or tick bites today. As far as I yet know... And I may now need a second shower. Seriously, I'm way too suggestible to read this stuff, even the parts I've written myself! So this is it! Time to post and share the joy with others.)


What is this? An American Dog Tick, aka, a Wood Tick.

Location: Condie Nature Refuge, North of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: May 22, 2013.

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Sharp-tailed Grouse Lek: Ancient dance, ancient birds

Sharp-tailed Grouse displaying purple neck patch.  © SB

Recently, I had an awesome opportunity — to visit a Sharp-tailed Grouse lek near Regina, Saskatchewan, and watch these prairie birds perform their dance of dominance.

It's all about mating — but the female grouse didn't seem to care.

In fact, we only saw one bird that may (or may not) have been a female Sharp-tailed Grouse during the two hours we were there. (Males and females look alike, except when the males are actively lekking.)

I love that word, lek, whether in verb or noun form.

It so well describes the dominance displays of a few human males I've known, who apparently saw fashion (no jeans/running shoes, please!) as part of their corporate dominance plan.

The video, below, shows some footage I took of part of their lek dance.

And I loved seeing these birds! If any avian species has ever made me think of dinosaurs, their potential cousins or ancestors, Sharp-tailed Grouse in full lek would be it.

They prowl, they pounce, they prance, they dance. They make themselves very tall, then very broad. And then they stare. Long meaningful stares of threat... or forgetfulness. They sit down. The focus, perhaps wanders, or perhaps it's all a waiting game. Eventually, one male ambles off. A pause, and then the lek begins again.

Low and broad, the Sharp-tailed Grouse strut. © SB

The Sharp-tailed Grouse also leap into the air
- and at other males. Beware! © SB

The birds I saw claimed a section of pasture near Regina — there used to be several Sharp-tailed Grouse leks near the city, but this seems to be the only one now left.

Every morning around dawn (that's now about 5:30 a.m.), the birds gather. They cluck, they chatter, their pinions rattle and they do a gobbling thing, a little like the sound of turkeys.

About 12 grouse were gathered for the lekking display when we arrived. The neighbour's dog chased them off by rushing across the pasture to meet our two cars, but dogs are easily bored and mating birds, determined... So the dogs wandered off and the grouse flew back to their chosen spot of trampled prairie. (Yes, this was a remnant of original prairie, with club moss and other low plants forming the fragile and essential base layer.)

The Sharp-tailed Grouse appeared to divide the lek space into sections, within which several individual dominance displays took place. They say not all breed, just the ultimate winners, so the gene stakes are high.

Sharp-tailed Grouse on the lek. © SB

The Sharp-tailed Grouse has been Saskatchewan's bird emblem since 1945. I visited this lek with friends (including Trevor Herriot) from the Public Pastures - Public Interest group, to learn more about this amazing native prairie bird.

What are these? Sharp-tailed Grouse.
Location: Near Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: April 27, 2013.

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White-crowned Sparrows Return to Regina

White-crowned Sparrows returned to our Regina backyard this weekend — a stop-over on their migration to their northern breeding grounds (Northern Saskatchewan, Yukon, etc.) from their winter patch in the southern U.S.

White-crowned Sparrow, hunting for seeds in my backyard.   © SB 

I love watching new native sparrows and song birds pass through! And I welcome these White-crowned Sparrows, with their crisp black and white head markings, and jittery way of jumping back and forth while foraging for seeds under the feeders.

(And the grass itself has just started to sprout; a week ago, we had snow drifts in our yard.)

What is this? White-crowned Sparrow.
Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo date: May 7, 2013.

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Herd of Mule Deer in the Qu'Appelle Valley, Saskatchewan

On the weekend, we saw a herd of Mule Deer foraging on the hills of the Qu'Appelle Valley — an interesting change from the White-tailed Deer we've seen several times lately.

Mule Deer grazing in the Qu'Appelle Valley. © SB

To me, Mule Deer look grayer than the more common White-tails, but there are other, more prominent differences:

• Mule deer's ears are enormous, well, like the ears of the mules they are named for. 
• They don't have as prominently white eye-rings as White-tailed Deer. 
• Their tails are thin and more ropelike with black tips — and are not raised like white warning flags when they're startled and run. 

Line of Mule Deer walking up the hill. © SB

Mule Deer, Saskatchewan, Canada.  © SB

Not obvious at a glance is that fact that these are true Western deer, said to more abundant in the southwest of the province, while White-tailed Deer are widespread across Saskatchewan and most of North America.


What are these? Mule Deer.

Location: Near Craven, Saskatchewan, Canada.  

Photo dates: April 13, 2013.

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Richardson's Ground Squirrel — with snowball

I saw this Richardson's Ground Squirrel two days ago when I was driving grid roads north of Regina, looking for Horned Larks and other spring birds.

He (or she?) popped up from a decaying snowbank to watch me... first his head, then his whole body.

And then the gopher (which is what we call the RGS in Saskatchewan) stood, a snowball in his hands. "Watch it, human. I have a snowball and I know how to use it!"

Or perhaps this is just ice, caught in his wee paw.

Richardson's Ground Squirrel, aka gopher.   © SB

What is this? Richardson's Ground Squirrel, aka prairie gopher. 
Location: Grid road north of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.   

Photo date: April 3, 2013. 

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Deer in the Qu'Appelle Valley, Saskatchewan

One of many Qu'Appelle Valley deer.
(Crop from 270 mm) © SB

We saw dozens of deer near Regina, Saskatchewan, yesterday — in the Qu'Appelle Valley east of Craven. First, one group of 11 White-tailed deer, then a handful more, and then larger herds.

The deer were feeding on grasses exposed by the receding snow, and from our distance, they looked well-fed and healthy... But camera lenses can be misleading, and this is said to have been an extremely harsh winter for wildlife.

These White-tailed deer were entertaining to watch — some appeared completely oblivious to us, as we stood on the road above. Others seemed mildly curious, while a few ran away, white tails flagging a warning.

Oddly, though, in running away from the fields, they ran up and across the incline towards us, as if safety meant their usual route through the wooded slopes of the valley sides — even if that meant crossing the road in front of a car. Our car.

I've noticed small flocks of roadside birds do the same: They see the car, swirl up to flee — and as they rise, they turn and fly towards the vehicle, often flying right at or beside it.

Two deer watch from the valley bottom. (Crop from 300mm)  © SB

Distant shot of a group of White-tailed Deer. (From the road, at 200mm)  © SB

What are these? White-tailed Deer (And no, we were not close to them...) 
Location: South side of the Qu'Appelle Valley, east of Craven, Saskatchewan, Canada.   

Photo date: April 2, 2013. 

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White-tail Deer of Deer Valley, Saskatchewan

Out driving, looking for deer this week, we found these White-tail Deer in the aptly named Deer Valley, near Lumsden, Saskatchewan.

The deer watch me as, elbows and lens propped on a distant snowbank, I take a telephoto shot. © SB

The deer are watchful, cautious. They don't look like they approve of human incursions, even (especially?) at the edge of this new real estate venture — an area marketed with their name and body parts (Whitetail Ridge, Deer Point Place), where their wild majesty may soon be seen only as an annoying intrusion into gardens and golf.

Yes, the lowland where they are feeding will be a golf course again once the snow clears and the land dries out. Lush valley bottom claimed for human recreation...

Try to ignore the natural world if you will. But it is here, hidden perhaps and unnoticed. But watching...

What are these? White-tail deer.
Location: Near Lumsden, Saskatchewan, Canada. 

Photo dates: March 14, 2013. 

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First Gopher of the Year: Spring?

We saw our first Richardson's Ground Squirrel, aka prairie gopher, of the year today, looking stunned — or sunbathing? — on a snowbank beside the road.

These gophers hibernate for many, many months... Males apparently wake before females, so perhaps this little fellow was wondering where his mates were.

So, the question of the day: Now that he's awake, does that make it spring? (Please?)

All right, now, I'm awake! Bring on the fun! © SB 

What is this? A Richardson's Ground Squirrel, aka a gopher.   

Location: Near Lumsden, Saskatchewan, Canada. 

Photo dates: March 14, 2013. 

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Fox Squirrel in Regina, Saskatchewan

Face-to-face with a squirrel in downtown Regina, Saskatchewan.

When I took this photo, and posted it, I'd thought it was a Red Squirrel — but a commenter below suggests it's more likely a Fox Squirrel. After checking pictures online, I think Anon. is indeed correct.

I hadn't heard of Fox Squirrels before, which isn't surprising, as Natural Neighbours: Selected Mammals of Saskatchewan says they are relatively new here, and thus "unknown to many people."

Apparently they entered Saskatchewan in the 1970s, and they now inhabit areas along the Qu'Appelle River and other places. They are the largest tree squirrel in the province, and are fast, agile and generally inconspicuous, with a tail that can act as a parachute if they fall.

So... Fox not Red... I still like this squirrel's bright black eyes — but I confess to not being nearly as enamoured by its very red chisel-like teeth!

What big teeth you have, squirrel! © SB

What is this? Fox Squirrel  

Location: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Photo date: May 3, 2012 

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Deer in the Qu'Appelle Valley, late winter afternoon

Late on a winter afternoon, a herd of White-tailed deer grazed in the Qu'Appelle Valley, near Lumsden, Saskatchewan. Their main culinary attraction appeared to be hay, from snow-topped round bales arrayed around the field.

A cluster of seven (?) deer, at the hay bale   © SB

At first, the cluster of deer around each bale stopped and stared at me as I sat in my car, way off on the shoulder of the road, snapping pictures. Then, the White-tailed Deer began to ignore me and went back to eating, clambering onto the bales, running — and greeting each other.

White-tailed deer, watching the photographer  © SB

Deer running towards the shelter of trees. © SB  

Deer, clambering onto the hay bale for a different view of food.© SB

The young deer, at left, ran across the field to greet
the older deer, centre, which stood still and watched,
then rubbed noses with the young one, once it arrived.© SB

What are these? White-tailed deer

Location: Near Lumsden, Saskatchewan. 

Photo dates:  February 12, 2013

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House Finches: scarlet and brown feeder birds

House Finches frequently visit our backyard bird feeder in Regina, Saskatchewan — and when they perch nearby in the sun, the males' feathers are amazingly bright!  

The male House Finch has a brown crown and bright markings on his head, chest and back — the latter is often visible as a flash of red between his wings. The female, as below, is a more subdued brown and white bird. 

Male House Finch; backyard   © SB

Female House Finch; backyard   © SB

What are these? House Finches.  
Location: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. 
Photo dates: February 8, 2013. 

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White-tailed Deer in the Qu'Appelle Valley

As I drove around a bend in the Seven Bridges Road towards Lumsden, Saskatchewan, three White-tailed deer bounded out from among the hay bales in a nearby field. I slowed down. The deer ran a short distance along the road ahead of me, their white tails high and feathery. And then, one by one, the deer stopped to watch me.

White-tailed deer, watching.   © SB 

What is this? White-tailed deer.

Location: Near Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada (on Seven Bridges Road/Lumsden). 

Photo date: February 4, 2013. 

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Snowy Owl near Regina, Saskatchewan

Two Snowy Owls so far this winter near Regina, Saskatchewan. At least, that's all I've seen in the area northwest of the city, and I believe they are the same Arctic birds, as each is always in the same place on the prairie, making me suspect they've chosen their winter-in-the-south territory.

I saw this Snowy Owl, below, first on New Year's Day, and then again in early February — on what I swear is the exact same power pole! (At the same small bend in the same rural road, anyway.)

Snowy Owl, on the road to Pense, Saskatchewan  © SB

Based on its extensive dark markings (and what All About Birds has to say about that), I would guess it's an immature female. From what I can see, young female Snowy Owls are the most heavily barred with black.

I love these birds! They make me happy when I just drive by them!

And while so far, I haven't seen any signs of an irruption of the scale we saw here during winter 2011/12 — during which I saw them within 15 minutes on every road I took outside of Regina! — I am just so happy any time I leave the city and receive the gift of seeing a Snowy Owl in a field or on a power pole. (They seem to love power poles — height, hunting viewpoints, and few entanglements for their six-foot wingspan.)

This owl, for those wondering, was about half an hour west of Regina; my other owl (who likes hanging out in heavy, unphotographable glare or shadow) is just a few minutes away.

For pictures of Snowy Owls from last year, you might be interested in these from this blog and Latitude Drifts, one of my other blogs:

• Immature male, on pole;
• Several Snowy Owls, including a few in flight; and
• A lovely mature male Snowy Owl —  almost totally white. 

What is this? Snowy Owl.

Location: Near Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada (on the road to the Town of Pense). 

Photo date: February 4, 2013. 

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