Sainfoin / Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.
A joy to see
Along the Bow River in fall
Yesterday's walk along the Bow River
Heritage tree from 1907, at Carburn Park
Winter chill
Winter walk at Beaverdam Flats
The Heritage tree at Carburn Park
Across the river
Elbow Falls, Kananaskis
Down by the river on a frosty morning
American Robin down by the river
American Dipper / Cinclus mexicanus
Elbow Falls, Kananaskis
Elbow Falls, Kananaskis
Common Merganser family
Sheep River Falls, Alberta
Yellowlegs
Town of Canmore, Alberta
The return of the ice pillars
Hello, winter
Hooded Merganser male
Yesterday's COLD walk
Final photo from Caroni Swamp, Trinidad
Twice the beauty
On the way to Canmore - seven Swans a-swimming :)
Hooded Merganser male
Common Merganser male
Another Pelican treat
Wood Duck male / Aix sponsa
Wood Duck male / Aix sponsa
Fall colours near the Highwood River
Harlequin Duck male
Day 6, part of Tadoussac, seen from up on the clif…
Day 7 afternoon, Surf Scoters off Tadoussac
Day 7 afternoon, Prince Shoal Lighthouse, off Tado…
Day 7 afternoon, Prince Shoal Lighthouse
Day 7 afternoon, Prince Shoal Lighthouse, near Tad…
Mallard family swimming on the river
American White Pelicans on the Bow River
American White Pelicans on the Bow River
Afternoon trip to the mountains
Kananaskis on a mixed-weather day
Late September in Kananaskis, 2019
Mallard pair at Mallard Point
Bow River, E end of Fish Creek Park
Mountain view
The art of ice
Sunset over Great Falls, US
A view from The Saskatoon Farm
Majestic Castle Mountain
A peaceful litte spot
Beyond the treetops
Reflected beauty
Common Merganser
Wood Duck pair
Mistaya Canyon, Icefields Parkway
View from the Saskatoon Farm
On the edge of insanity
Remembering the beauty of fall
Visitor to the city
LOOK CLOSELY : )
No such thing as a line-up
Pink slopes of the Canyon of the Yellowstone
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park in the rai…
Double-crested Cormorant
Ducks in Yellowstone National Park
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
A sense of mystery on a gloomy, rainy day
Double-crested Cormorants
Takakkaw Falls, Yoho National Park
Yoho's Natural Bridge
Barrow's Goldeneye / Bucephala islandica
Gulls, gulls and more gulls
Patiently waiting for spring
Bow River at Canmore
End of a cold winter's day
Long-tailed Duck
Cool, but cold
Like searching for Waldo
Last one in is a ... chicken?
The beauty of winter
Bands of blue
Banff, Alberta
Meltdown to spring
Deep freeze
Morning walk by the Bow River
A mix of colours
Happy Earth Day!
Turquoise
Elbow Falls
Red Canyon, Flaming Gorge, USA
Light from above
Sunrise
Sunlit expanses
Down by the river
Chilly "crop" circles
A local walk
Rocky Mountains
Jordan Rift Valley meanders
Morning reflections
A winter scene
Evening sun
Two of a kind
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At the start of our climb
All three photos posted today were taken the day before yesterday, 29 May 2015, on a trip way down in southern Alberta. A small group of us spent the day at the Whaleback, climbing the ridges, doing a species count. We had such a great day, finding all sorts of things of interest - plants, mosses, lichens - and in my case, insects, animals and birds, too : ) In fact, anything and everything, lol.
The weather was good for walking, not too warm and, up till the last part, dry. When I say "walking", the word "strolling" is perhaps more accurate - with friends like this, there seems to be something of interest every few feet. This kind of outing really suits me and my body! We were so lucky that the rain stayed away for most of the day. When I went on this outing in May 2013, it rained all day, though I still managed to get plenty of photos. The day was overcast with low cloud, making scenic shots rather unpleasant. On a clear day, you can just see the distant peaks of the Rocky Mountains.
Just before taking the turn for the road leading to a place to park, we stopped at a spot down by the river and did a search there. I was thrilled to bits to find three or four Tent Caterpillars on a plant next to a large rock and thought what a way to start the day. After taking a few photos, I walked to the other side of the rock and noticed what almost looked like a circular patch of lichen growing on the rock surface. A closer look revealed a mass of dozens of these caterpillars, with several others climbing up in single file to join the rest. Still makes me itch all over, just thinking about it, lol! Did I take a photo? Yes, of course I did, and I will post one in the next day or two.
Another highlight of the day for me was when I happened to notice a tiny spot of bright red deep inside a distant Early Yellow Locoweed flower. I zoomed in for a photo and thought it looked like it might be a Ladybug. Couldn't count the spots properly, so I very gently parted the petals to get a better look. Unfortunately, it crawled on to my hand and wouldn't return to a petal until after I had taken two or three shots, and then it immediately moved out of sight. I was so happy to find that it was a different kind of Ladybug, though I had seen one a few years ago - still have to check the ID, but I believe it was a Convergent Ladybug.
Part way through the day, I stayed behind while the rest of the group climbed to a higher ridge, and I explored the lower ground. It was a place where I knew I wouldn't get lost - but I did have to wait till at least some of the others returned a few hours (?) later, as others were needed to create an opening to climb though the barbed-wire fence again : ) I found plenty to photograph and it was quite a feeling to be so high up with such an amazing view all around, and to be alone up there. While I sat to eat lunch on a rocky outcrop with a couple of trees, a tiny Sparrow (of some kind) came to visit a couple of times and sing for me. Also, there were maybe half a dozen Brewer's Blackbirds that stayed around the area for much of the time, flying or perched on low bushes. A truly magical time.
The rest of the group had a great time, too, and saw Parry's Townsendia flowers and lots of Balsamroot in bloom. Fortunately, I had seen the Townsendia before on a brutal hike to Picklejar Lakes several years ago. Two years ago, I had also seen hillsides at the Whaleback covered in the bright yellow Balsamroot flowers. I did manage to find several plants huddled together lower down, so was happy to get a few photos of these bright and cheery flowers. As usual, their large leaves and beautiful flowers had been well-nibbled by the caterpillars that live on them.
Altogether, a wonderful day in an incredibly beautiful place with great company! Many thanks, Robin and Cedric, for giving me a ride there and back - appreciated it SO much! And Sandy, if you happen to read this, I guess I have to thank you for not letting me know that you wouldn't be going, lol!
The weather was good for walking, not too warm and, up till the last part, dry. When I say "walking", the word "strolling" is perhaps more accurate - with friends like this, there seems to be something of interest every few feet. This kind of outing really suits me and my body! We were so lucky that the rain stayed away for most of the day. When I went on this outing in May 2013, it rained all day, though I still managed to get plenty of photos. The day was overcast with low cloud, making scenic shots rather unpleasant. On a clear day, you can just see the distant peaks of the Rocky Mountains.
Just before taking the turn for the road leading to a place to park, we stopped at a spot down by the river and did a search there. I was thrilled to bits to find three or four Tent Caterpillars on a plant next to a large rock and thought what a way to start the day. After taking a few photos, I walked to the other side of the rock and noticed what almost looked like a circular patch of lichen growing on the rock surface. A closer look revealed a mass of dozens of these caterpillars, with several others climbing up in single file to join the rest. Still makes me itch all over, just thinking about it, lol! Did I take a photo? Yes, of course I did, and I will post one in the next day or two.
Another highlight of the day for me was when I happened to notice a tiny spot of bright red deep inside a distant Early Yellow Locoweed flower. I zoomed in for a photo and thought it looked like it might be a Ladybug. Couldn't count the spots properly, so I very gently parted the petals to get a better look. Unfortunately, it crawled on to my hand and wouldn't return to a petal until after I had taken two or three shots, and then it immediately moved out of sight. I was so happy to find that it was a different kind of Ladybug, though I had seen one a few years ago - still have to check the ID, but I believe it was a Convergent Ladybug.
Part way through the day, I stayed behind while the rest of the group climbed to a higher ridge, and I explored the lower ground. It was a place where I knew I wouldn't get lost - but I did have to wait till at least some of the others returned a few hours (?) later, as others were needed to create an opening to climb though the barbed-wire fence again : ) I found plenty to photograph and it was quite a feeling to be so high up with such an amazing view all around, and to be alone up there. While I sat to eat lunch on a rocky outcrop with a couple of trees, a tiny Sparrow (of some kind) came to visit a couple of times and sing for me. Also, there were maybe half a dozen Brewer's Blackbirds that stayed around the area for much of the time, flying or perched on low bushes. A truly magical time.
The rest of the group had a great time, too, and saw Parry's Townsendia flowers and lots of Balsamroot in bloom. Fortunately, I had seen the Townsendia before on a brutal hike to Picklejar Lakes several years ago. Two years ago, I had also seen hillsides at the Whaleback covered in the bright yellow Balsamroot flowers. I did manage to find several plants huddled together lower down, so was happy to get a few photos of these bright and cheery flowers. As usual, their large leaves and beautiful flowers had been well-nibbled by the caterpillars that live on them.
Altogether, a wonderful day in an incredibly beautiful place with great company! Many thanks, Robin and Cedric, for giving me a ride there and back - appreciated it SO much! And Sandy, if you happen to read this, I guess I have to thank you for not letting me know that you wouldn't be going, lol!
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