Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: training

This particular Red-tailed Hawk resides at the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre in Coaldale, southern Alberta. This is a wonderful place that rehabilitates and releases (whenever possible) various birds of prey - hawks, owls, Bald Eagles, Turkey Vultures,and Golden Eagles. Some of these birds act as Wildlife Ambassadors, too, including educating the public away from the Centre. Sometimes, a bird is used as a foster parent, too. This summer, we have had practically no 'normal' summer days. They have been either too hot thanks to our endless heatwave, or too smoky thanks to all the wildfires in British Columbia and Alberta. The forecast for this day looked good, sunshine all day, with rain forecast on several of the coming days. I decided to finally do a drive all the way down south to near Lethbridge, so that I could again visit the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre in Coaldale. Last year, I did this drive for the very first time on my own and I wanted to make sure I didn't lose my courage to do it again. During the 511 kms that I drove, I had to ask for help with directions twice - both times in the same small hamlet! The forecast was for sun all day, but there was no mention of the smoke haze that completely blocked out the mountains and pretty much the foothills, too. Shortly after leaving home, I was almost tempted to turn around and come home, but I had noticed rain in the forecast for some coming days. I reckoned I would still be able to photograph the fairly close birds at the Centre, which worked out fine. Amazingly, I had managed to make myself get up early on the morning of 3 August 2017, and set off just before 8:30 am. My intention was to drive straight to Coaldale without stopping anywhere en route. Not an easy thing for me to do, as I much prefer driving the backroads rather than the highways. However, I knew it would take me a few hours to get there and I wanted to have as much time as possible down there. On the way home, I drove just one dusty, gravel road, but saw nothing but a couple of Horned Larks perched on fence posts. A couple of old barns (that I had seen before) and a few scenic shots, were more or less all I took. Twelve hours later, I finally arrived home, at 8:30 pm, totally tired out, and my car was just about out of gas. For the first time in the year that I have had this vehicle, the gas level warning light came on. Also, it surprises me that the oil change light has never come on, as I have done 8,500 km in just under 12 months. I was given free oil changes for the life of the car, but was told that I can't get them done until the light comes on, on the dashboard. After doing a bit of Googling, it seems that it is quite normal to have done this many km, or more, before the maintenance light comes on for getting a first oil change. My previous vehicle was 17 years old and things have obviously changed with newer cars!

When I took myself off for a short, afternoon drive SW of the city on 5 March 2013, I found an unexpected haze over the hills - and nothing much to photograph. Then, all of sudden, I noticed this rider training (?) a second horse, sending the snow flying. It was so beautiful to watch, and I felt rather like an intruder when I got out of my car to take a few photos. As fast as they had appeared, they were gone over the hill. www.flickr.com/photos/annkelliott/13379592555

When I took myself off for a short, afternoon drive SW of the city on 5 March 2013, I found an unexpected haze over the hills - and nothing much to photograph. Then, all of sudden, I noticed this rider training (?) a second horse, sending the snow flying. It was so beautiful to watch, and I felt rather like an intruder when I got out of my car to take a few photos. As fast as they had appeared, they were gone over the hill. We had more snow overnight. March tends to be a month in which we get snow, it melts and then, just when you think the ground might actually be clear, it snows again, and it does this over and over again. We definitely need the moisture, though. Once I've cleared the snow off my car, I have to drop my vehicle off to be repaired. When I drove east of the city a week ago, I could tell something wasn't quite right with it. Then yesterday, the orange warning light came on when I was driving home after my volunteer shift. I also had a horrible feeling that I could hear a "bubbling" sound. Thankfully, I was close to Canadian Tire, so I called in and had someone take a quick look at it. Sure enough, it looks like there is a crack and coolant was leaking out of it. Thank goodness this didn't happen when I was out in the middle of nowhere! Hoping it won't be an expensive repair, but .... My car is 14 years old and I'm beginning to feel a little uneasy now about driving the backroads. Dread the thought of having to replace it, but I might just have to do it a little sooner than I had hoped. Later: anyone else not able to see thumbnails of your own photos or Your Contacts' photos when you click on any photo to open it and look at the comments? Haven't had this happen before. Instead of showing four (?) thumbnails in a row, it shows four empty boxes with just a tiny green icon of some sort in the corner of each square. Interesting.