Backlit bundle of fluff

Another photo of one of the two Barred Owlets that several of us were privileged to see near Edmonton on 4 June 2013. They were roughly three weeks old and would not normally be perched on a branch like this. Licenced Raptor Bander, Richard Chamberland, had invited myself and two friends from Calgary, plus a few others to visit two nesting boxes that he had built and placed on someone's private land. One had a family of six tiny Northern Saw-whet Owlets and the other held two much larger Barred Owlets. A really neat experience for all of us!

It's supposed to be the hottest day we've had this year, today, getting up to 32C/33C (and will feel like 39C). If it reaches 33C, it will tie the record for the hottest 2 July. It will be far too hot in my place, so I will have to go for a drive this afterrnoon - love to be in an air-conditioned car : ) This heat will help dry out all the floodwater damage in most parts of Alberta - unfortunately, there is a risk of rain showers in the forecast for a few days, including a risk of thunderstorms this afternoon. It's going to be a hot, hot day for all those doing strenuous work clearing all the flood debris.

Argh!!! Just checked the forecast and apparently we are under a Severe Thunderstorn Watch. Potential for large hail and damaging winds. Will still have to go for a drive, though, as the heat in my place is making me feel nauseous. Hope the hail stones and I don't cross paths : ) Checked for road conditions just after I typed this - most roads in Kananaskis Country are currently closed with bridges washed out, so I won't be going far. Of course, things like this are not top priority (and shouldn't be), so it looks like Kananaskis isn't going to be possible this summer.

It's 35C (feels like 42C) in Calgary this afternoon!! I don't know what you call the higher number - in winter we call the "feel" windchill. I went out for something like five hours this afternoon, driving west of the city past Bragg Creek. You can only drive on Elbow Falls Trail (Highway 66) as far as the turn-off for Maclean Creek, which is one place I was going anyway. Found a few things to photograph along the various backroads, too. Back home, feeling like I'm sitting in an oven!!! Air-conditioning would feel SOOOO good!! Ha, I can't tell what the temperature is in my computer room - it has gone off the end of my desk thermometer ( i.e. above 32C).

Wow, just read that the Calgary Zoo's preliminary estimate for damage to their land and buildings is $50 million. On top of that, they estimate that they will lose a million dollars in revenue with the Zoo being closed till end of July and even then, only part of it will be open at first. And that's just the Zoo!

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