After two days of rain it was great to get out for a walk this afternoon. Where better to enjoy the sun and admire the greenery than Elizabeth Lake. On our way there we saw a bald eagle being dive bombed by two or three crows. Later Mrs. Jensen suggested that we check out the pussy willows that we planted on April 14 by the storm drain outflow. Several of the plants appear to have taken. It will be interesting to check on them from time to time.

As we walked close to the shoreline, we noticed that the water level had risen since our last visit. We enjoyed the shade of the "Octopus Tree", a large willow with many tentacle-like branches close to the ground. Nearby someone spotted a dark garter snake slithering through the grass. Everyone was respectful and gave it plenty of space before it disappeared shortly after into some thicker vegetation.

We enjoyed a game of "Camouflage", where we had ten seconds to move away from Mr. Wilson and find a hiding spot among the vegetation. If he could see us, we were out of the game. Afterwards we had to move closer without being spotted, and once again we had ten seconds to find cover. While this game was going on, Mrs. Jensen hid. Then we had to find her. That was more difficult than we thought, so we asked her to call out to give us a clue as to where she was.

Then we all headed to a little rise in the middle of the area we were exploring. We got into our tribes and then we got to choose which shrub would be our special den for the rest of our adventure.

While walking around the lake today, I spotted this Western painted turtle. It was about 30 cm. long.



As I approached slowly, it turned and moved towards the water while I was still 20 meters away. Only its head showed, as it waited for me to leave. Further round the lake, I spotted a second turtle swimming through the flooded shoreline. Once again I was at least 20 meters away, and moving slowly, but it stopped and remained where it was with only its head showing above the surface.



The water level remains high. The area near the outflow has been flooded since the snow and ice disappeared off the lake at the beginning of April.

Today we met up with Mrs. Bedell's class, who were dipnetting for water bugs and insects. One student's container was full of a thick, dark mixture of water mites.


When we stopped to watch, we could see yellow-headed blackbirds, coots, mallard ducks and a ruddy duck.


We were fascinated by Western tent caterpillars crawling around inside their tent. They had already stripped bare many of the leaves on their host shrub.

The walk to Elizabeth Lake this afternoon was made between showers. The level of the lake remains high and the trail is still flooded near the outflow. Swifts were rising and falling as they presumably hunted insects. This surprised me as there was a wind blowing and few insects evident at ground level. There was no turtles out and about at the usual places.


Few birds were visible on the water.


The wild roses are in bloom.

Today we went on a field trip with our grade 6 buddies. We began with a weed pull in Kinsmen Park on either side of Joseph Creek removing burdock, which is an invasive weed. We had some excitement when one of the younger students almost stepped on a baby fawn. We moved from that particular area to avoid any possibility of a confrontation with the mother. We managed to fill between 15 to 20 large garbage bags.



Afterwards we had fun teaching our big buddies about the Water in Africa activity we learned about last fall. Some of the big buddies remembered doing this with Mr. Wilson when they were in grade 3.



They also enjoyed taking part in the Canoe Race.



Afterwards we set off by bus for the St. Eugene Mission Resort. On the way there we followed the creek downstream to where it meets the St. Mary River. One minute the creek would be on our right, then it would pass under the road and be on our left, then on our right and so on all the way to the Mission.

When we got to the St. Eugene Mission Resort Isaac Birdstone told us how he had scared off a 2 year old black bear which had killed a fawn only two days ago. Although it was a sad story, it reminded us all of the ways of nature. Afterwards Isaac had taken the dead fawn and returned it to Mother Earth in the traditional way of the native people.



Then we walked to where Joseph Creek meets the St. Mary River, which was running fast as a result of the melting snowpack. To get there we had to pass this osprey nest.



As we approached the osprey left the nest and circled overhead. When we moved away from the nest, it returned.

Today's trip down Joseph Creek was memorable!

Today we had our last trip of the year to Elizabeth Lake. The weather was cool, windy and overcast with the threat of rain. However, it stayed dry, and our enthusiasm made up for the blustery conditions. We played a number of eco-games including "Mosquito, Frog, Heron".



After our picnic lunch we were busy dipnetting for water bugs and insects when someone spotted a red-winged blackbird's nest in one of the floating cattail islands close to the wooden dock. We watched as the mother fed the hungry babies.



Shortly after a Canada goose came too close for dad's comfort, so he dive-bombed the goose to chase it off.