East of Calgary, 30 September 2018

Today, 1 October 2018, we are under a Special Weather Statement. A heavy snowfall is likely for parts of western Alberta this week. This morning, it is -2C (windchill -6C) with freezing drizzle in the morning with a few flurries this afternoon. I think the normal temperature for 1 October is around 15C, so we are well below average. Snow tonight, which means I am getting my snow tires put on (tomorrow) one day too late. "The start of October will look more like the middle of winter across much of southern Alberta this week, as cold air and snow feature prominently in the forecast. After what have already been record-breaking amounts so far this year, more snowfall is on the way for parts of the Prairies, as Arctic air pours down from the north and Pacific moisture creeps over the Rockies. We're looking at the risk for some significant totals this week." From the Weather Network. Yesterday, 30 September 2018, 12 friends and I were lucky enough to see two of these beautiful Rusty Blackbirds. We were on a birding trip east of the city and we had stopped at one of the sloughs. IUCN Status: Vulnerable. I so rarely see these birds, so I’m always glad when I do see one. “The Rusty Blackbird is one of North America’s most rapidly declining species. The population has plunged an estimated 85-99 percent over the past forty years and scientists are completely puzzled as to what is the cause. They are relatively uncommon denizens of wooded swamps, breeding in the boreal forest and wintering in the eastern U.S. In winter, they travel in small flocks and are identified by their distinctive rusty feather edges and pallid yellow eyes.” From AllAboutBirds. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/rusty_blackbird/id en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusty_blackbird rustyblackbird.org/ The weather forecast was sufficiently bad that I almost decided not to go on this trip. As it turned out, I was glad I went, especially as we were lucky enough to see two Rusty Blackbirds and so many Snow Geese and Greater White-fronted Geese flying and down in the fields. Such an overcast day and SO cold! I think it was about -2C, with an icy cold wind. In fact, it was downright freezing and definitely not pleasant to be out in. At least it didn't snow. Why do we do it?? I'm not completely sure, lol.

Fall began just 10 days ago but "winter" arrived this morning, 2 October! Maybe five or six inches of the white stuff so far. I have an appointment this afternoon to go and get my snow tires put on - the snow beat me by just a few hours. Our temperature is -3C (windchill -7C) and we are under a Snowfall Warning.

On 30 September 2018, 12 friends and I were lucky enough to see two beautiful Rusty Blackbirds. We were on a birding trip east of the city and we had stopped at one of the sloughs. IUCN Status: Vulnerable. I so rarely see these birds, so I’m always glad when I do see one. “The Rusty Blackbird is one of North America’s most rapidly declining species. The population has plunged an estimated 85-99 percent over the past forty years and scientists are completely puzzled as to what is the cause. They are relatively uncommon denizens of wooded swamps, breeding in the boreal forest and wintering in the eastern U.S. In winter, they travel in small flocks and are identified by their distinctive rusty feather edges and pallid yellow eyes.” From AllAboutBirds. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/rusty_blackbird/id en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusty_blackbird rustyblackbird.org/ One of our stops was by Chestermere Lake. Any birds were the far side of the lake, so I turned my camera lens to closer things, including this pink Showy Cinquefoil bush. Usually, bushes have yellow flowers, both in the wild and in gardens. The weather forecast was sufficiently bad that I almost decided not to go on this trip. As it turned out, I was glad I went, especially as we were lucky enough to see the Rusty Blackbirds and so many Snow Geese and Greater White-fronted Geese flying and down in the fields. Such an overcast day and SO cold! I think it was about -2C, with an icy cold wind. In fact, it was downright freezing and definitely not pleasant to be out in. At least it didn't snow. Why do we do it?? I'm not completely sure, lol.