Chinook Arch over an old farm

Just added the remaining 16 photos taken two days ago, SE of the city with my daughter. Tomorrow, it will be a very early start and a long day, on the first annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count that I will be going on this season.

Last night, I had computer problems and I thought I was going to have to take my computer in to be checked. Fortunately, after making sure all plugs were firmly pushed in, I managed to get it to work again. It would not be a good time for computer woes for the next while, with the last few Christmas letters to write, and with communication a necessity for the Christmas Bird Counts that are now underway. Unfortunately, the same thing has already happened twice today as well.

The day before yesterday, 15 December 2018, was spent with my daughter, as it was our Christmas. At her suggestion, and my total agreement, we drove south to the Saskatoon Farm where we had an early morning, hot breakfast. It is a favourite place for both of us and it was great to visit just in time before they close for a well-earned six-week break for the owners and staff. Unfortunately, they had done a very thorough clean-up of the farm, so there was not as much to photograph as there usually is. They will be opening again at the beginning of February.

After wandering round for a while, we drove further south and checked out the Frank Lake area, hoping that we might just be lucky enough to see a Snowy Owl. No luck, unlike our Christmas trip last year. Not a single small bird was seen, either - in fact, nothing. That is, until I was driving her home back in the city and she suddenly exclaimed that she was sure she had just spotted either an owl or a hawk, perched high up in a tree. Of course, we had to go and check it out. Not 100% sure, but it looks like a juvenile Bald Eagle (from the back view).

The weather was beautiful, I think around 2C, but quite windy. A very impressive Chinook Arch all day. Most important of all, it was my favourite kind of day - out with my daughter and our cameras!