Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: gosling

On 2 June 2013, I was out on a full-day bus trip to the Red Deer Wetlands Area, NW of Calgary. I think it was about an hour and a half's drive to get there. This was an annual outing arranged through the nature group that I belong to, and each year is to a different place. The Red Deer Wetlands Area includes Slack Slough (our first stop), the McKenzie Trails area (our second stop, and where I photographed the little Canada Geese goslings above), and lastly the Kerry Woods Nature Center and Gaetz Lake Sanctuary, where we spent the last two hours of the day. The latter was such a beautiful area, wonderfully laid out, with several viewing decks around the lake. Some of us chose to walk the whole way round the huge lake (further than I had expected, lol!). A couple of Moose certainly made it more than worth the effort. We were so lucky that the rain stayed away until just the last few minutes of our walk, and then the heavens opened. The forecast had been for thunder showers morning and afternoon, but it just remained overcast till the last moment - hence a lot of photos that came out blurry, ha. A great trip, well-organized - thanks so much for all your hard work, Lynne! - and it was so good to see various friends that I hadn't seen for ages, as well as those whom I see often.

My daughter and I saw this pair of Canada Geese and their tiny goslings on 25 May 2013, in SW Calgary. Another photographer in the area told us that a passerby had said that they were just one day old, but I'm not sure. Have a very long day today, doing the May Species Count at the Whaleback (about 170 km drive from Calgary, south towards Pincher Creek ). Forecast is for rain all day, 8C this morning (windchill 5C) and up to 14C this afternoon (windchill 12C). Just hope I'll have enough of the "right" kind of clothing to keep me warm enough for hours and hours of hiking/walking the hills. Not hopeful for photos because of the rain and dark skies, which is most unfortunate. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Goose ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

..... and your little legs get tired easily, lol! This little Canada Goose gosling was one of several that were busy feeding along a gravel roadway in Bridlewood, right next to a road. My heart would miss a beat each time one of these youngsters moved closer and closer to the main road, but somehow they seemed to know that they mustn't go any further. Both Mom and Dad were, of course, keeping very close watch over them. In fact, one of them was only a couple of feet away from this little one. I noticed that some of the goslings had these striped markings on their neck - anyone happen to know if this is a male/female thing? Needed a day at home today after a very long day trip yesterday that lasted about 13 hours : ) A two and a quarter hour drive south of Calgary took a few of us to the Small Whaleback, where the beautiful, rolling hills were covered in carpets of wildflowers. Our walks are always very slow, while we search for and record all plants, insects, birds, mammals, etc.. Even so, at the end of our hike, I managed to hobble the last few feet and was luckily able to collapse on the low trailer that we discovered parked in the parking lot. Fortunately, the owner didn't return before the rest of our group returned to the cars a short while later - it felt SO good to be able to sit down! What a beautiful area this is and I am so grateful to have had the chance to visit and explore a few of the hillside slopes and meadows. The weather was beautiful - sunny but not too hot and a lovely cool breeze that felt really good but was a bit of a pain when it came to taking flower and insect photos! Thanks so much, Moya, for leading this amazing trip and for driving some of us there and back. Today, last night's rain continues. Too bad for anyone going down to the Stampede Grounds today. I keep forgetting that it's the Calgary Stampede for 10 days! "The Royals", Kate and WIlliam, got the chance to go down to the Stampede Grounds a few days ago, before it was open to the public. They seem to have had a great time here in Canada - England will feel so small to them now, after visiting such a vast country : )

Little Canada Goose goslings are growing up so fast, but a few of the ones I saw on June 9th were still at the cute stage : ) I love to see them when they are out for a walk with Mom and Dad and then suddenly flop to the ground. Seen at a local wetland in south west Calgary.

I've only seen maybe half a dozen goslings this spring, three of them at the Zoo. The place I used to get some photos, Carburn Park, oiled the Canada Geese eggs this year, and only three of them seem to have been so well hidden that the oilers missed them. I gather people complained about all the mess that the Geese leave behind on the grass and paths. Messy birds, yes, but it still seems rather harsh to deprive the Geese of having and raising families for just that reason. Give me the goslings any day - I'd be happy to watch where I'm stepping.

Gosh, I took this photo of Canada Goose goslings way back on 3rd May last year, at Carburn Park. I kept coming across it, but never got round to checking whether I had already uploaded it to my Flickr photostream. Apparently, I hadn't, and so here it is : ) If we can just get the next three months behind us, spring won't be all that far away ... sigh. Sounds so good!

These are the first Canada Goose goslings that I saw this year, down at Carburn Park. Still at the cute and cuddly stage : )

Another photo of these first Canada Goose goslings that I have seen this year. So cute, and they always seem to have individual personalities even at just a few days old.

Or Like mother, like daughter!

A photo from back in May. This little guy amused me because all the others were facing one direction and he was different.

Saw my very first Canada Goose gosling yesterday morning when I managed to go on a walk in a local park. Mum and Dad were lying on the bank next to a lagoon. Dad got up and started to swim and then Mum got up to follow - and there was the little yellow ball of fluff that had been sheltered under her warm body. What a thrill to see this little one-day old cutie!

I was amused at this little guy leading the troops.

My daughter and I saw this pair of Canada Geese and their tiny goslings on 25 May 2013, in SW Calgary. Another photographer in the area told us that a passerby had said that they were just one day old, but I'm not sure.