Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow

This little Sparrow was singing away in the garden at Lake Louise on 30 August 2013. We happened to arrive at the lake just before it decided to rain. Can't complain, though, as the weather was so enjoyable for a good part of the day. Driving west from Calgary, we soon saw that the mountains (eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains) were looking rather hazy. Before too long, we found ourselves driving through very low, thick cloud and the mountains, there one moment, had partly disappeared the next. This went on for a long time and I began to wonder if we would even be able to see the beautiful mountains the further west we went. Eventually, the clouds lifted and the sun shone. Later in the day, the grey clouds started drifting in and we did get some rain, but we had already seen the "best" things. We were able to go inside the Chateau Lake Louise and wander around while the worst of the rain fell. It did clear, giving me a chance to take photos looking out over Lake Louise. Our furthest destination was Peyto Lake (and just a little further). It had been 30+ years since I had seen Peyto Lake so, needless to say, I was just thrilled to bits to get a chance to go there, thanks to good friend, Sandy!

"White-crowned Sparrows appear each winter over much of North America to grace our gardens and favorite trails (they live in parts of the West year-round). The smart black-and-white head, pale beak, and crisp gray breast combine for a dashing look – and make it one of the surest sparrow identifications in North America. Watch for flocks of these sparrows scurrying through brushy borders and overgrown fields, or coax them into the open with backyard feeders. As spring approaches, listen out for this bird’s thin, sweet whistle." From AllAboutBirds.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-crowned_Sparrow

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/white-crowned_sparrow/id