Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: MacKenzie Lake

This Oak leaf caught my attention this morning, on a walk with a friend around MacKenzie Lake. When we were looking at the leaves, we also saw the pink, hairy "thing" that I have posted after the Fireworks 3 photo.

This beautiful Echinacea was growing in someone's garden near MacKenzie Lake the other day. I always love to see the spiky centres of these flowers.

Black Terns are common in Alberta from May to September. There were up to 14 of these Black Terns landing on these rocks at MacKenzie Lake the other day. The Black Tern "dips, dives and swoops, picking insects neatly off the water's surface or catching them in mid-air." ("Birds of Alberta" by Fisher and Acorn).

Though Ruddy Ducks are common in Alberta from April to September, I don't get to see them very often and usually when I have seen them, they are far away in the distance. This family was swimming on MacKenzie Lake recently. It was the first time I had ever seen Ruddy ducklings, so it was quite a treat. Breeding males have a beautiful blue bill. A Ruddy Duck has long, stiff tail feathers often cocked upwards, as can be seen with this adult female.

These birds are common in Alberta from May to September. These were seen on MacKenzie Lake.

I saw this "thing" on a walk with a friend around Mackenzie Lake this morning. I have just checked 10 pages of caterpillars on the excellent "What's That Bug?" website, to no avail (and now I feel queasy after looking at so many, LOL!). After I twisted the Oak leaf slightly to take a photo, this "thing" did not start moving and there was no sign of any "legs". I wonder if it is some sort of gall or egg case. If anyone can ID this for us, we'd be so happy!