Gerry Khatchikian, ASA, TRC, SFR

Bon mercredi de Montréal, Québec! Happy Wednesday from Montreal, Quebec!

Last Wednesday, I was astonished to see the following scene in Montreal and in the backyard!

For those that regularly visited my blog during my days in Montana, I have created a group called Moose Monday on ActiveRain where photos of moose were featured and shared on Mondays. I have actually made a few Moose Monday posts from Montreal. Now, with the latest sighting, how about a group called Woodpecker Wednesday? Just kidding, Wordless Wednesday is sufficient enough! But it does sound fun and it would be interesting to see and know where else in North America these wacky and wonderful red-headed woodpeckers make appearances especially on Wednesdays, doesn't it? :-)

As I watched these two woodpeckers last Wednesday, I could not help but imagine the sound that Woody Woodpecker (see the link to his website at the bottom of this post to hear the actual sound) made as an animated cartoon I watched on TV when I was young.

One would not expect a woodpecker sighting in Montreal let alone two woodpeckers in action on a tree (they were at it for at least 15 minutes before they flew away, plenty of time for this photographer to capture some amazing pictures). I have heard the sound of a woodpecker in the morning in Red Lodge, Montana but I have not actually seen one. Luck had it such that I saw two of them (it gives seeing red a whole new meaning, lol) up close in a backyard in Montreal.

Here is another photo (out of the many photos I took) of the woodpeckers to leave you with. Want to see more woodpeckers on Wednesdays? :-)

Want to see more photos? Check out my other photos by visiting my Photo Blog Book .

If you want to see Woody Woodpecker in action and hear the wacky sounds he makes, check out his website at http://www.woodywoodpecker.com/

Photos and/or written content produced by Gerry Khatchikian. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Gerry Khatchikian.

Moose Monday - The Hungry Moose in Saint-Sauveur, Quebec

After heading to Saint-Sauveur to grab a bite to eat prior to returning to Montreal from our getwaway in Val David (Feels Like Montana in Val David, Quebec), I ran across some interesting moose...

At a corner of a street on Main Street (rue Principale) in Saint-Sauveur was a restaurant very decorated for the holidays and a subject just calling attention to be photographed for an apparence in today's Moose Monday.

Now, how often do you see a hungry moose carrying a fork with them? :)

This was my first moose with fork sighting! :)

As I mentioned this restaurant was well decorated for the holidays. In the balcony, they were deer, an angel, a snowman and guess what?

The name of the restaurant in Saint-Sauveur is very easy to remember... it is called restaurant le St-Sauveur...

If you are ever in the area and are hungry as a moose, you now know where to go... Bon appétit!

Gerry Khatchikian

Want to see more photos? Check out my other photos by visiting my Photo Blog Book .

Photos and/or written content produced by Gerry Khatchikian. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Gerry Khatchikian.

Feels Like Montana in Val David, Quebec

I was lucky to get to spend 4 days of the first week of 2011 with my brother and nieces in the beautiful Laurentians (North of Montreal). We rented a chalet by the lake at Val David, a beautiful quaint town that reminded me of the peaceful winter setting also found in Montana.

Here are some of the photos I took to share with you.

The sunset view of the frozen lake from the chalet.

The chalet with lots of amenities including sauna and hot tub (also included was a snowman!).

A beautiful day was spent downhill skiiing at nearby Mont Blanc.

Another day was spent snow showing.

Here are some icicles along the way.

This was the view (credit goes to my niece Aline who took the photo) of the village from the highest point we reached that day.

I was wondering if I would encounter some wild animals to photograph while in Val David. Sure enough a few came across my path. A squirrel visited our balcony at the chalet.

And a woodpecker was spotted by my nieces near the end of our snow showing experience and I had to backtrack to capture the following photo.

Where is the moose in Val David? :) I leave you with a moose vision of the lake (Lac des Truites) in Val David.

For me, this was by far a time very well spent with family in a long time.

2011 is off to a great start. A New Year and new beginnings for me...

Carpe diem

Gerry Khatchikian

Want to see more photos? Check out my other photos by visiting my Photo Blog Book .

Photos and/or written content produced by Gerry Khatchikian. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Gerry Khatchikian.

Wishing everybody mountains of joy during the holiday season.

Here are some photos taken at a nearby park in Montreal, Canada.

Happy Holidays!

Gerry Khatchikian

Want to see more photos? Check out my other photos by visiting my Photo Blog Book .

Photos and/or written content produced by Gerry Khatchikian. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Gerry Khatchikian.

Moose Monday - Moose Vision from Saint-Adele, Quebec

The following photo was taken on the grounds of the Hotel Le Chantecler.

Le Chantecler is a very good ski resort in the winter time. The Hotel Le Chantecler is great for the apres-ski and it is also a very good spot to have brunch on weekends with family and friends.

Here is a view of the Hotel Chanteclerc on a beautiful fall day (a reminder that today is the last day of fall).

For more on this popular hotel and resort. You can check out www.lechantecler.com for more info (in French or in English).

Happy Moose Monday on this last day of fall!

Gerry Khatchikian

Want to see more photos? Check out my other photos by visiting my Photo Blog Book .

Photos and/or written content produced by Gerry Khatchikian. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Gerry Khatchikian.