Bozo the Seagull

I forgot this photo on the last post.  This particular Seagull was the only one that showed no fear of me at all and would eat alone and turn it's back on me.  The seagull would always be standing with it's two legs crossed and one wing hanging down.  It didn't have any trouble walking or flying so it wasn't injured.  Made for an entertaining few minutes. 

Every time I giggled this is how it would look at me.

Dump Turkey

Back on the east cost we always called Seagulls "Dump Turkey's" because they were very common and always at the dump.  Never did find out if they tasted like turkeys.  Although they are common south, in Nunavut they are one of the first signs the brief summer is starting. 

I had left a bag of bread on the counter and one or more of the cats tore the bag and destroyed the bread inside.  So instead of throwing it in the garbage I figured it was a good excuse to bait some birds for photos.  The best of the results are below.

My favourite photo of the evening.  I originally passed it off as a failed photo but after looking at it again the eye kept drawing me in.  Taken just as the seagull was taking off.

The bait.  I had to stand outside for about an hour before they would start going for the food.  Luckily the last couple of days have been sunny and warm.  Today it's 2C but feels liks 20C.

The first investigator on the scene.  Didn't care for me being so close to the bait.

Was a failed photo until I noticed this shadow.

Fighting over a prime spot.

A rare moment in the summer.  A raven and a seagull in the same place. 

My second favourite photo of the evening.

This would have been my favourite if it had been in focus and the other seagull wasn't in the photo.  But a friend at work liked it the best and wanted to see it on the blog.  So blame him not me.

Arctic Hares

Not the best photos but the conditions were bad.  10:30 pm and the sun had just gone below the hoizon, strong wind and the tempeture was -8C without the wind and the snow won't hold my weight anymore.  After the initial photo below they took off and I decided to chase them though the knee deep snow.  In the end it was all worth it.

A bit blurry but I had the big zoom out and was hand holding it.

They had run (hopped?) up one of the steep hills at the park and gave me some time to set up the tripod and catch my breath.  The wind was blowing hard enough that I had to hold on to the tripod or it would blow over.

Neither one ever turned their back on me even though I was a long way off at this point.

Too cute.

Matty Land

I will be back to blogging soon.

Until then all is good in Matty Land.

:o)

A Friend

Anytime someone begins the journey to the North there is a rollercoaster of emotions to go through. You will feel fear, dread, excitement, anticipation and wonder to name a few. What makes it an easier transition is to make friends when you arrive. They will provide the necessary support and sage advice you will need to adjust to your new surroundings.

The second person I met when I got of the plane was Terry Girouard. The big fellow with the long hair and scraggly goatee met me with a friendly smile and a helping hand with all the luggage. I found out the next day that his cubicle was close to mine and I stopped by after introductions to thank him for helping me with the luggage. We soon learned we had much in common and a friendship quickly developed.

A couple months ago Terry went to the health center complaining of sever pains in his side and was soon medivacted to Iqaluit for more test. Soon after that it was off to Ottawa for even more test. I seen his wife Barb walking and stopped to ask how Terry was. With tears in her eyes and a shaking voice she told me he had oesophagus cancer and it has spread to his liver. Barb and the children were leaving immediately to fly to Ottawa to see Terry in the hospital.

After a brief battle Terry died last night around supper. He was a lot of things to many people. A husband, father, son, brother, musician, poker player, co-worker. To me and many people in Cape Dorset he was, and will always be, a friend.

Moon Walk?

No it isn't a photo of footprints on the moon just my footprint in the snow.  I was playing with the photo in Photoshop and got the result below.

Back Side

The back side of Dorset Island.

More Snow Formations

Holey

Just hanging out

Tunnel

Very delicate

As the wind blows from right to left the wind driven snow catches on this lip and slowing wears it down creating the lines you see to the right of the ridge.

I way over 270lbs with my gear on (The majority of that weight is me *sigh*) and I barely make a mark on drifts and they look so soft.  Try hitting them at speed on a snowmobile.  Ouch.

Big Drift

The road going to the new lagoon. The lagoon isn't being used yet so it will be awhile before this drift across the road is removed or melted.  The part were you can see the tracks is were I attemped to climb to the top of the drift.  It is about 3.5 meters to the top and vertical at that section.  I didn't make it.  Were you see the drift continuing past the road it is almost straight down for a couple hundred feet and someone either went down or up it on a snowmobile.   That is well past my skill level.

Snow Removal Needed.

Lonely Boat

It will be a couple more months before this boat makes it to the water.