One day closer to spring

This image was taken last year, on 23 May 2015. The main focus of the trip we went on was someone's property SW of Calgary, a place that we always call in at when we take part in the May Species Count. The Count wasn't till the following weekend, so this visit was an extra one - and extra long, too, which was pure delight! I think we spent something like two hours, watching especially Barb's feeder area for some of the birds that had been showing up. We are always thrilled to bits to see the Evening Grosbeaks and the Baltimore Orioles - the first male Oriole to arrive at Barb's was on 15 May.
Though I'm not keen on feeder photos, I still take them, as well as when the birds are in the nearby trees. The Evening Grosbeaks came often to the feeders, giving us the chance to at least get closer shots. All the bird species were very fast-moving, so gave us a challenge for two hours. The Goldfinch and the Pine Siskins also were quick, but not totally impossible to photograph.

After our time at Barb's, we went to Brown-Lowery Provincial Park, mainly to look for Calypso Orchids, which we did find. This is where I took this photo of Willow catkins. Some people continued walking the trails, others returned home. I did part of the walk, but then went back to where the cars were parked and wandered through the forest around the parking lot. Tennessee Warblers sang continuously but were almost impossible to see. I was happy to find one single Coltsfoot plant - love the tight cluster of white flowers at the top of a tall stem.

From Brown-Lowery, we started our journey home, stopping at a couple of wetlands on the way.

I will add the list compiled by Andrew Hart, who kindly drove three of us around for the morning and early afternoon and then sent us his list that he submitted to ebird. Many thanks for both the ride and the final list, Andrew!

"Here is the elist of Birds seen at B. Castell's S of Priddis; Plummers & Priddis Valley Rd.; and Brown-Lowery PP, 23May2015. 24 participants

Number of Checklists: 3
Number of Species: 46

Checklists included in this summary:
(1): CA-AB-Priddis. Barb Castell
Date: May 23, 2015, 7:34 AM
(2): CA-Priddis Valley road
Date: May 23, 2015, 9:53 AM
(3): Brown-Lowery Provincial Park
Date: May 23, 2015, 10:28 AM

2 Canada Goose -- (1)
2 American Wigeon -- (1)
1 Mallard -- (1)
3 Blue-winged Teal -- (1)
3 Northern Shoveler -- (1),(2)
3 Green-winged Teal -- (1)
4 Lesser Scaup -- (1)
2 Common Goldeneye -- (1)
1 Swainson's Hawk -- (1)
1 Red-tailed Hawk -- (2)
4 Sora -- (2)
1 Spotted Sandpiper -- (1)
2 Wilson's Snipe -- (1)
7 Wilson's Phalarope -- (2)
1 Mourning Dove -- (1)
1 Rufous Hummingbird -- (1)
1 Red-naped Sapsucker -- (1)
2 Downy Woodpecker -- (1)
1 Hairy Woodpecker -- (1)
2 Least Flycatcher -- (2)
1 Eastern Kingbird -- (2)
1 Blue Jay -- (1)
3 Black-billed Magpie -- (1)
2 American Crow -- (1)
2 Common Raven -- (2)
11 Tree Swallow -- (1),(2)
1 Barn Swallow -- (2)
6 Black-capped Chickadee -- (1),(3)
3 House Wren -- (1),(2)
2 Golden-crowned Kinglet -- (3)
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet -- (2),(3)
9 Mountain Bluebird -- (1),(2)
6 American Robin -- (1),(2),(3)
4 Tennessee Warbler -- (3)
2 Yellow Warbler -- (1),(2)
8 Clay-colored Sparrow -- (1),(2)
6 Savannah Sparrow -- (1),(2)
1 Lincoln's Sparrow -- (1)
1 White-throated Sparrow -- (1)
1 Dark-eyed Junco -- (3)
23 Red-winged Blackbird -- (1),(2)
3 Brown-headed Cowbird -- (1)
1 Baltimore Oriole -- (1)
17 Pine Siskin -- (1),(3)
5 American Goldfinch -- (1)
5 Evening Grosbeak -- (1),(3)"