Beavers, Frogs, & Dogs...Oh my!

I have never seen on, but the wood frog is fairly common in Alaska. I found this one on the North Bivouac Tank Trail up Campbell Airstrip Road in Anchorage. The dogs never even noticed. The Beaver picture was taken at dawn at University Lake in Anchorage. I chose to make it B & W because of the low light. This representation seemed to give the best detail.

English Setters are Dogs Too

I have had the pleasure, over the last couple of days, to puppy sit my friends English Setter puppy Carat.  It has been a pleasure to have a puppy in the house again and it has definitely been making the older dogs stay on their toes.

Friday I took the dogs for a walk on the Jodphur Loop at Kincaid Park.  Yesterday JD, Crystal, and Carat played at the Kincaid Beach.  The tide was high and the dogs played along the gravel stretch, in the dunes, and in the tall grass between the bluff and the dunes.

Dogs at Play in Kincaid Flats

There is a great spot down at the end of the Coastal Trail near just down from the Kincaid Chalet in Kincaid Park.  From the Coastal Trail at the Chalet you head down the hill until you come to where the trail follows the contours of the bluff that runs along the ocean.  There is a beach several 100 yds away from the bluff.  And in between is what I call the Kincaid Flats.

When there has been a lot of rain the flats are definitely wetlands.  All sorts of waterfowl will congregate... depending on the time of the year.  It has been raining a lot.  In fact today was probably the nicest day we have had in a month.  I took my dog JD and friend dog Crystal out to burn off some energy.

After the two spent some time getting muddy I decided I better get them cleaned off before we headed back to the car.  That was when the madness began.  There were some Greater Yellowlegs (sandpipers) taking in the water in the flats and JD decided she was going to get one.  Of course she did not, but she tried... for 20 minutes strait.  JD chased the birds and Crystal chase JD.  It was quite a scene.

I don't think the birds were any worse for the experience.  They didn't seem to be nesting and JD never had a chance.

Puppy Pictures

Over the last two days I have gotten to meet the newest member of the weekend walking "Anchorage Airedale Pack".  Hardly an exclusive group, we walk the loop from the North Bivouac parking area to the gas line trail, to the tank trail, and back to the parking lot.  

Gypsy Lou is Mark's new puppy and she is fitting right in.  Below is a slide show from my latest "role of film".  It features photos of Gypsy, but include more with Jasper, JD, Maizy, Elsa, Crystal (the lab), Marty (a Yorkshire Terrier).  

My cat makes the slide show, but the bear print and the cow moose that Jasper agitated are a little more impressive.

Taking a Look Back

I was just looking back through some of my photos from fall 2006. I can't wait to get out to windy corner (Turnagain Arm) this fall and get some shots of more sheep.

Eagle Eyes in Kincaid Park

Was walking the dog a week ago and spotted this eagle under the canopy at Kincaid Park in west Anchorage. I would have walked right by without noticing, but the smaller birds and squirrels were chattering and squawking out warnings to each other. I had just gotten my 50-500mm lens back from the repair. Good timing!

Powerline Pass

Powerline Pass is my favorite hike during the summer. It is picturesque with plenty of opportunities to see wildlife.

Yesterday I took JD and Rory for the walk. I have been dog-sitting Rory for a few days and I needed to tire the two of them out a bit. We took the trail out to the lake at the base of the pass. I think the lake is Ptarmigan Lake, but I am unsure.

We saw some small birds, a Cow Moose and her two young calves, and a Bull Moose. I did see some bear scat, but fortunately never saw one. The dogs chased ground squirrels the whole time.

Toward the end of the trip Rory was beat, but JD pushed on playing the entire time.