Eared Grebe

These are one of my favourite birds to photograph, and I do have much better photos than this one. However, I'm posting this one quick shot, despite its poor quality, just in case it's the only time I get to see one this close this year.

It was seen when I spent the day (24 May 2014) with my youngest daughter, driving SE of the city, checking a familiar spot or two in the morning, and we were lucky with certain birds, but not with others. A pair of Great Horned Owlets were where we had hoped they would still be, but I'm sure they will be fledging before long or maybe have already flown by now. I had hoped to find a White-faced Ibis to show my daughter – various friends had been seeing and photographing them from fairly close. We bumped into friend, Greg, at the birding blind, and I had just told him that I was hoping to find an Ibis. I had barely got the words out when Greg swung round and pointed way up, saying: “You mean, like that one?” I'm sure I would have missed it. So, at least my daughter saw one, even if just a distant bird. Thanks, Greg!

After driving along a few of the backroads, we then went to the Saskatoon Farm for a delicious lunch and to wander round the greenhouses and gift shop. A weekend day is perhaps not the best time to go – or should I say that a weekday would probably be quieter. So many people out enjoying a warm, sunny day. Thanks so much, Rachel, for such a great day spent with you, and thanks for everything else, too.