Peace and late evening sun
Very young Mule deer
Mariposa Lily / Calochortus apiculatus
Three days in Waterton Lakes National Park
Nodding Silverpuffs / Microseris nutans
Mountain Lady's Slipper / Cypripedium montanum
Red Rock (Canyon) Parkway, Waterton Lakes National…
Shrubby Penstemon / Penstemon fruticosus
Maidenhair Fern / Adiantum aleuticum
Checkerspot sp.
Red Rock Canyon, Waterton Lakes National Park
Rosy Pussytoes / Antennaria rosea
Citadel Peak, Waterton Lakes National Park
American Goldfinch
Wood Lily
View across the valley
Stink Bug / Banasa dimidiata
Wild Chives / Allium schoenoprasum
Least Chipmunk / Tamias minimus
Ambrosia sp.
Spotted Coralroot / Corallorhiza maculata
A touch of sunset
Lyn's cat
Purple avens / Geum rivale
Swainson's Hawk
Muscari sp., white
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, flashing his colour
The dreaded Goat's-beard / Tragopogon dubius
Ten little bundles of joy
Barberry
Blue and banded
Moose kneeling to lick salt from the road
Masterwort / Astrantia major
Eastern Kingbird
A scene from the past
Chionodoxa forbesii, white
Eared Grebe
Brant grain elevator
Grape Hyacinth / Muscari sp.
Moose in the late evening sun
Yellow Lady's-slipper
Flashing his neck feathers
A snack that is sure to tickle
Colour for a dreary day
Eastern Phoebe / Sayornis phoebe
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173 visits
Yellow-headed Blackbird female


On 4 May 2015, we finally had a day without strong winds. I decided that it might be a good day to drive SE of the city again to see what I could find. The last few times I had been there, the wind had been so strong, making it almost impossible to take photos.
The very first thing I saw when I reached the gravel road off 23 at Frank Lake, was a beautiful Western Meadowlark. I only see one very occasionally, though I did see a second one later in the afternoon.
At, or near, the bird blind/hide, there were a few Eared Grebes, Coots, Canada Geese, numerous and noisy Franklin's Gulls, a Ruddy Duck, a few Yellow-headed and Red-winged Blackbirds, several Western Grebes (further away and barely within camera range) and American Avocets. White-faced Ibis were either down on the ground in the distance or flying around, mixed in with the Franklin's Gulls.
After visiting the blind, I drove around the lake, seeing the second Meadowlark and, to my delight, a pair of Long-billed Curlews that were extremely well-camouflaged against the stubble and dried grasses in a field. I' think I may have seen one before, probably through someone's scope, but never really "seen" one properly. Managed to get a few shots, though the birds don't show up very clearly.
Along one of the roads, friend Greg passed me, going in the same direction. He stopped briefly and said he was on his way to help mutual friend, George. A few hours later, I saw a photo on Facebook of the predicament that George had found himself in. When I say his vehicle was stuck in mud, I really mean STUCK, lol! Not sure how he managed to find such wet, muddy ground, as everywhere else is bone dry. Well done, George! The things we birders/photographers sometimes go through to get photos!
After driving all the way round the lake, I decided to drive north of 23, stopping at one of the sloughs there, where I was able to get photos of American Avocets and Black-necked Stilts and this female Yellow-headed Blackbird (grainy image). So, all in all, an enjoyable, quite rewarding afternoon, spent in one of my favourite areas.
The very first thing I saw when I reached the gravel road off 23 at Frank Lake, was a beautiful Western Meadowlark. I only see one very occasionally, though I did see a second one later in the afternoon.
At, or near, the bird blind/hide, there were a few Eared Grebes, Coots, Canada Geese, numerous and noisy Franklin's Gulls, a Ruddy Duck, a few Yellow-headed and Red-winged Blackbirds, several Western Grebes (further away and barely within camera range) and American Avocets. White-faced Ibis were either down on the ground in the distance or flying around, mixed in with the Franklin's Gulls.
After visiting the blind, I drove around the lake, seeing the second Meadowlark and, to my delight, a pair of Long-billed Curlews that were extremely well-camouflaged against the stubble and dried grasses in a field. I' think I may have seen one before, probably through someone's scope, but never really "seen" one properly. Managed to get a few shots, though the birds don't show up very clearly.
Along one of the roads, friend Greg passed me, going in the same direction. He stopped briefly and said he was on his way to help mutual friend, George. A few hours later, I saw a photo on Facebook of the predicament that George had found himself in. When I say his vehicle was stuck in mud, I really mean STUCK, lol! Not sure how he managed to find such wet, muddy ground, as everywhere else is bone dry. Well done, George! The things we birders/photographers sometimes go through to get photos!
After driving all the way round the lake, I decided to drive north of 23, stopping at one of the sloughs there, where I was able to get photos of American Avocets and Black-necked Stilts and this female Yellow-headed Blackbird (grainy image). So, all in all, an enjoyable, quite rewarding afternoon, spent in one of my favourite areas.
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