Golden, for ANOTHER snowy day

What a day we've had today, especially this afternoon! Was out birding in South Glenmore Park all morning - we saw something like 24 species in and by the parking lot, even before we had started our walk! Lovely to see quite a few Tundra and Trumpeter Swans on the Reservoir (that is now half melted), Common Loons, Grebes, Ring-necked Ducks, etc., etc.. Then the snow started falling around lunch time. After a quick lunch, we went over to 12 Mile Coulee in the north west part of the city. I knew this would be quite a brutal walk/hike, as it is steeply uphill and downhill. However, I SO wanted to see the rare Townsendia hookeri wildflowers! Part of the walk stayed clear, but then the snow, rain and small hail started : ) Too tired and painful (LOL) to deal with the photos I took today - will have to wait till another day. Oh, I did see my first snake of the year (plus a second one's slithering tail) - a young, male Wandering Garter Snake, all coiled up because it was cold. And, Doug, if you read this, there were some beautiful Lichens growing on the rocks up there.