Button-eyes
Classic beauty - 53 Buick
Catkins
Look, Mom, I can fly!
Invasion of the Midges!
Baby Larch cone
On golden pond
Black-necked Stilt
Wild Gooseberry
A good start to yesterday
American Avocet
Sharp-tailed Grouse
A welcome splash of red
Old Puffballs
Brewer's Blackbird
The joy of spring
Moose, with a bad case of ticks
Beautiful Hellebore
The elegant American Avocet
Blossom
Canada Buffaloberry / Shepherdia canadensis
Common Grackle / Quiscalus quiscula
Signs of spring
Ruddy Duck in choppy waters
Yellow, glassy eyes
Monkeyflower / Mimulus
The art of building a nest
Malachite butterfly on blue
Curious Mule Deer
Northern Pygmy-owl from January
A touch of blue
Cinnamon Teal
Head to head
Grebes with the red "button" eyes
A fine day for birding
Little more than black silhouettes
Adventurous little owlet
Western Meadowlark
American Coot
Pine Coulee Reservoir, November 2013
Male Sharp-tailed Grouse
Red wagon by Bow Valley Ranch
Long-tailed Weasel
Deep inside a dark barn
Clouds over a prairie farm
See also...
Keywords
Authorizations, license
-
Visible by: Everyone -
All rights reserved
-
220 visits
Fields of golden stubble


Yesterday afternoon, 1 May 2015, I left home to drive SE of the city, with Frank Lake as my main destination. I was there on 26 April with quite a large group of birders and the lake was so beautifully calm - made for some nice reflections. Yesterday was the opposite, with very strong winds, making it really difficult to stand and especially hold a camera. The wind started a short while after I left home and I did wonder what it was going to be like at Frank Lake. The highway south is through pretty flat, prairie land and so there is little to break the force of the wind. As a result, I had to grip the steering wheel the whole drive, trying to keep my car within the lines of my lane. A few hours of gripping my camera and bracing myself against a wooden corner at the bird blind (hide) didn't help. Last night and today, my shoulders and arms are so painful, having triggered the inflammation in both shoulder rotator cuffs again. Fortunately, today will be a lot more relaxing.
I didn't see many species of bird yesterday afternoon, as my main focus was on the Eared Grebes, that I love seeing and photographing. Far more of them than a few days earlier, probably because they were trying to find a slightly more sheltered bit of water instead of the huge expanse of open lake. Saw a Coot or two, a few Canada Geese, maybe 15 or so White-faced Ibis in flight. Saw a couple of Yellow-headed Blackbirds, one Red-winged Blackbird, and endless noisy Gulls. Drove past the Great Horned Owl family and all looked well. I went all the way round the lake, but didn't see any birds at all along these gravel roads. I always love the prairie landscape.
The trip was worth it, though (apart from my painful arms!). Now I just have to go through and delete all the dozens of very blurry Grebe shots. Hardly unexpected, though, given the very windy day. I was just amazed that a few photos look like they may be sharp enough to post!
I didn't see many species of bird yesterday afternoon, as my main focus was on the Eared Grebes, that I love seeing and photographing. Far more of them than a few days earlier, probably because they were trying to find a slightly more sheltered bit of water instead of the huge expanse of open lake. Saw a Coot or two, a few Canada Geese, maybe 15 or so White-faced Ibis in flight. Saw a couple of Yellow-headed Blackbirds, one Red-winged Blackbird, and endless noisy Gulls. Drove past the Great Horned Owl family and all looked well. I went all the way round the lake, but didn't see any birds at all along these gravel roads. I always love the prairie landscape.
The trip was worth it, though (apart from my painful arms!). Now I just have to go through and delete all the dozens of very blurry Grebe shots. Hardly unexpected, though, given the very windy day. I was just amazed that a few photos look like they may be sharp enough to post!
- Keyboard shortcuts:
Jump to top
RSS feed- Latest comments - Subscribe to the comment feeds of this photo
- ipernity © 2007-2025
- Help & Contact
|
Club news
|
About ipernity
|
History |
ipernity Club & Prices |
Guide of good conduct
Donate | Group guidelines | Privacy policy | Terms of use | Statutes | In memoria -
Facebook
Twitter
Sign-in to write a comment.