Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: 12 July 2016

Taking a short break from posting photos from Waterton Lakes National Park, as there are several photos from a recent botany walk and a short drive yesterday that I wanted to add. These were the first Blue Lettuce flowers that I had seen for a long time, so I was happy when a group of us came across it at Shannon Terrace, Fish Creek Park. I have missed so many botany walks again this year and I wasn't sure if I wanted to go on this one, when I saw that the weather forecast was for the risk of thunderstorms. Decided I had better go, as the forecast for two days later was even worse. As it was, thunder and lightning was all around us as we climbed down through the trees and the rain was spitting until we reached the parking lot, when it began to pour. Recently, every day seems to be following the same weather pattern - thunder and rain - and it is becoming very tedious, though we desperately needed rain, and a lot of it. montana.plant-life.org/species/lactuca_tatari.htm We had a good walk, climbing up the ridge on the south side of the creek and then down through the boreal forest and back to our cars. There was a good variety of plants, including Wild White Geranium ((Geranium richardsonii), Dewberry ((Rubus pubescens), Sweet-scented Bedstraw (Galium triflorum), Wild Lily-of-the-valley (Maianthemum canadense), Leafy Arnica (Arnica chamissonis), Showy Locoweed (Oxytropis splendens), Thesium ramosum/arvensis, Fringed Loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata), Naked Mitrewort (Mitella nuda), Fairy Bells (Prosartes trachycarpum), Pink and Greenish Wintergreen (Pyrola asarifolia and P. chlorantha), and tiny Twinflower (Linnea borealis). We also heard and saw at least two beautiful birds of prey as we walked through the forest and it was obvious that we had come across a family with young ones. I so rarely see hawks close up and my knowledge is pretty limited, so I would appreciate any help with ID in my next photo - thanks! Wondering if it is a Cooper's Hawk?

Taking a short break from posting photos from Waterton Lakes National Park, as there are several photos from a recent botany walk and a short drive yesterday that I wanted to add. I have missed so many botany walks again this year and I wasn't sure if I wanted to go on this one, when I saw that the weather forecast was for the risk of thunderstorms. Decided I had better go, as the forecast for two days later was even worse. As it was, thunder and lightning was all around us as we climbed down through the trees and the rain was spitting until we reached the parking lot, when it began to pour. Recently, every day seems to be following the same weather pattern - thunder and rain - and it is becoming very tedious, though we desperately needed rain, and a lot of it. We had a good walk, climbing up the ridge on the south side of the creek and then down through the boreal forest and back to our cars. There was a good variety of plants, including Wild White Geranium ((Geranium richardsonii), Dewberry ((Rubus pubescens), Sweet-scented Bedstraw (Galium triflorum), Wild Lily-of-the-valley (Maianthemum canadense), Leafy Arnica (Arnica chamissonis), Showy Locoweed (Oxytropis splendens), Thesium ramosum/arvensis, Fringed Loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata), Naked Mitrewort (Mitella nuda), Fairy Bells (Prosartes trachycarpum), Pink and Greenish Wintergreen (Pyrola asarifolia and P. chlorantha), and tiny Twinflower (Linnea borealis). We also heard and saw at least two beautiful birds of prey as we walked through the forest and it was obvious that we had come across a family with young ones. I so rarely see hawks close up and my knowledge is pretty limited, so I would appreciate any help with ID - thanks! Wondering if it is a Cooper's Hawk? Adult, juvie, male, female?