Abandoned

I can never resist photographing a tiny shell when I happen to come across an old, faded one, either in a forest or down at the edge of a lake. Picked up this one lying in the forest in Cypress Hills (SE Alberta), when we were shown a few forest trails on 22 September 2013. Posting later today, closer to noon, as I had no choice but to sleep in as I had two long, tiring days with very little sleep!

The day before yesterday, 5 October 2013, I was on a full day of birding east of Calgary. As far as photographing birds, these occasional day trips to sloughs and lakes usually result in no, or very few, bird photos, as everything is so very far away. However, I do enjoy being driven along the various backroads (thanks so much, Brooke and Eric!) and spending time with some old, familiar faces and a few new ones, too. Have to admit that, while everyone else is peering through their binoculars at distant specks, I tend to spend some of the time looking down at the ground around me, searching for plants, textures - and more empty snail shells : )

Yesterday, 6 October 2013, I spent a very enjoyable day with three friends and a group of interesting, knowledgeable people from Calgary and further afield. After a long drive N of Calgary, we explored the JJ Collett Natural Area, looking for mosses, lichens and absolutely anything else of interest to add to the species list for the area. This was the first time I had ever been lucky enough to go there, thanks to friend Sandy, who drove two of us there and back. A very interesting and beautiful natural area, with good trails.