Eastern Slopes Adventure Company

Red-breasted Nuthatches can usually be found in coniferous forests where they creep up, down, and sideways over the bark without regard for which way is up. They travel the tree trunks and branches, where they search bark furrows for hidden insects. The seeds of conifers make up a large part of their winter diet.

The Cree called it Atimoswe (or Atim Ozwe Sipi) Dog Rump Creek. With the post office and a small cluster of buildings, the Town of Stoney Plain was formed in 1907. However, as time passed the “e” was dropped and the more common spelling of Stony Plain was adopted. A small creek south of the town is called Atim Creek, which is Cree for dog.

My morning muse with this juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron. Walking ever so slowly in search of breakfast, this young one worked the shoreline.

If you sit long enough, they will come to you. This pair of female Goldfinches settled into the tree next to me for a brief visit. A male flew by, and away they went.

American Goldfinches are among the strictest vegetarians in the bird world, selecting an entirely vegetable diet and inadvertently swallowing the occasional insect.