Osprey on the hunt
Shingled/Scaly Hedgehog fungus / Sarcodon imbricat…
A brief close encounter
Hiding in the shadows
Two winters ago
Hungry little Chipmunk
One spectacular fall day
Love those little Pika feet
Mushroom at Rock Glacier
Red beauty on a scree slope
Before the snow came
Before the snow
Pika pose
Winter in Kananaskis
Moose from the archives
It's Pika time - again
Moose in the mountains
Upper Kananaskis Lake
Colour among the mosses and lichens
Strawberries and cream fungus / Hydnellum peckii
Chocolate chip lichen / Solorina crocea
Arethusa Cirque trail, Kananaskis
Kananaskis - a winter wonderland
Forgetmenot Pond, Kananaskis
Shooting stars / Dodecatheon sp. (and Dandelions)
American Dipper / Cinclus mexicanus
White-crowned Sparrow / Zonotrichia leucophrys
Elbow Falls, Kananaskis
Tall Lungwort
Elbow Falls, Kananaskis
(Yellow?) Morel mushroom
Forgetmenot Pond, Kananaskis
Forgetmenot Pond, Kananaskis
A splash of much-needed colour
Arnica sp.
Star-flowered Solomon's Seal / Maianthemum stellat…
Clouds over the mountains
The beauty of our mountains
Small and fast .... and adorable
Keeping watch over the herd
Wide angle on the Bighorn Sheep ridge
Waiting for the herd to descend
Painted Lady
A favourite road
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel in a Pika's cave
Scenery along Highway 40, Kananaskis
On the way down
Pika, on a windy day
Farm in the foothills
Road through Kananaskis
Lichen on the rocks at Rock Glacier
Ah, those glorious Larches in their fall colours
Things are not always what they seem
Kananaskis before the snowstorm
Heading for the mountains on a hazy morning
Cattle drive in the mountains of Kananaskis, Alber…
A mountain meadow, Kananaskis, Alberta
Bighorn Sheep, mom and youngster
A view from Quarry Lake, Canmore
When the storm moved in
Bighorn Sheep on the slope
Town of Canmore, Alberta
A drive through Kananaskis
A beauty from mushroom season
01 The glory of fall
02 Hidden in the clouds
3 Nature's artwork
Elbow Falls, Kananaskis
The beauty of fall
A patterned sky
Sometimes it's wildlife, sometimes it's .... cows
When fall colours are just a memory
Peninsular area, Lower Kananaskis Lake
It's that little guy (gal) again
Peninsular area, Lower Kananaskis Lake
Mid-squeak!
Hiding between the rocks
The beauty of Kananaskis along Highway 40
Light-coloured Pika
Spruce Grouse, adult female
Our beautiful foothills on an overcast day
Push!
Lichen at Rock Glacier
The long road south
Between a rock and a hard place
Lichens and moss at Rock Glacier
Lower Kananaskis Lake at Peninsular
Quite a typical view
A brief moment of rest
Peninsular, Lower Kananaskis Lake
Chipmunk with a yummy snack
A brief moment's rest
Young Spruce Grouse
Mushroom in a wonderfully lush setting
Looking beautiful
One of my favourite meadows
A gathering of female Bighorn Sheep
Northern Gentian
Young Spruce Grouse
Northern Willowherb / Epilobium ciliatum
A bright splash of blue in August
Bighorn Sheep - she's a beauty
Mt. Buller, Buller Pond, Kananaskis
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
The cutest little furball
Female Spruce Grouse with one of her young
Tiny Hummingbird at Highwood House
A view from Mt. Shark
Unexpected closeness
Above the tree line
Green jelly mass on Buller Pond
Strawberries and Cream fungus / Hydnellum peckii
A joy to behold
Slightly patterned
Treasures of the forest floor
Unidentified fungus
Wind-blown Osprey
Mt Lorette Ponds, Kananaskis
Paintbrush - green flowers, red bracts
Strawberries and cream fungus / Hydnellum peckii
Osprey take-off
Now they can't see me
Kalm's Lobelia / Lobelia kalmii
Fleabane
Willow Flycatcher
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170 visits
Growing in the cracks
I'm not sure if this plant is Bearberry/Kinnikinnik, but whatever it is, it looked so pretty growing out of the cracks between the rocks of the scree/talus slope at Rock Glacier, Kananaskis.
On 20 August 2016, I went with friend, Pam, for a long day out in Kananaskis (the mountain area of the Rocky Mountains that is closest to Calgary). What a great day we had, seeing so many different things in such beautiful scenery.
We met up in the city at 7:00 am and drove southwards through Millarville and took the back way from Turner Valley to Highway 40. This is exactly the route that I had planned to go when I was all set to take my daughter on 4 August. Then my 17-year-old car's muffler and catalytic converter died and I hadn't been able to do any long drives at all. Nothing further than maybe five or ten minutes from home, with a vehicle that sounded dreadful with its loud, broken muffler noise and the loudest rattle that sounded as if the bottom of my car was about to fall off. Thank goodness, that is now all past.
Before we left the town of Turner Valley (on Highway 22), we called in for a few minutes at friend Jackie's garden to see if there were any interesting birds at all her feeders. We only saw Pine Siskins, but no doubt all sorts of other species would arrive for her during the day.
Our first stop along Highway 40, which is the highway that goes right through Kananaskis, giving spectacular scenic views every inch of the way, was at Highwood House. This small store/gas station, at such a convenient location, is known for its Hummingbird feeders. We were lucky enough to see either one or maybe two of these teeny birds, and I did manage to get one slightly blurry shot, just for the record. I thought they would all have left by fairly late August. It's important to check online to see what dates Highwood House is open!
Continuing on our way north, we eventually came to Rock Glacier where we happily watched one or two little Pikas darting all over the massive scree (talus?) slope, busily collecting plants to store and dry in their "caves", ready for the winter months. I have added more information about these very small animals under various, previously posted photos of them. These are such difficult creatures to photograph - only six or seven inches long and more or less the same colour as the surrounding mountainside of broken rock.
Our next destination, after bumping into friend Kerri who was photographing the PIkas, was Buller Pond, near Spray Lakes along the Spray Lakes/Smith-Dorrien road. I don't remember ever going there before and we were so glad we called in. Just before we got there, we took a drive up the mountainside road to Mt. Shark and gazed at the mountain scene before our eyes when we reached the highest parking lot. I have been up here maybe two or three times before, but in winter time.
Soon, we arrived at Buller Pond, which is a lovely pond/lake, where we saw masses of small, green, jelly-like 'blobs' floating near the edge of the water. I finally found out what I think is the correct ID for them - Ophrydium versatile.
It was here that, while walking through the trees near the edge of the pond, I suddenly gasped and couldn't believe my eyes. There was a beautiful Spruce Grouse perched on a log, with a second one lying on the ground. Such a beautiful sight! I quietly called Pam to come and see what I had just found and we spent some time watching them. These two birds, with their gorgeous feathers, showed no sign of moving, allowing us plenty of time to take photos. Eventually, I saw yet another one of them moving around on the ground nearby, and then a fourth one. So, it seems that it was a mother and her three young ones. What an absolute treat to come across these spectacular birds and to be given time to really enjoy them.
Once back on Highway 40, we started driving southwards, heading for home. We just couldn't resist calling in again at Rock Glacier, where I was able to get closer and slightly better photos of one of the Pikas. Then, fifteen minutes later on the highway, we saw several cars pulled over at the sides of the highway. Could it finally be a bear? Unfortunately, no, it wasn't, but instead we saw a group of five Bighorn Sheep, four at the edge of the road and a fifth standing in the road as if to let us know that she owned the road and had right of way. One of the Sheep started walking along the edge in the direction of our vehicle. She walked with determination, her focus on a photographer who was out of his car and walking towards her, then crouched down to photograph her as she got closer and closer to him. She stopped just a matter of maybe six feet from him - we drove off now that the road was clear, so I've no idea if anything happened between the Sheep and the photographer, but he was doing everything that a photographer (or anyone) should not be doing.
Thank you so much, Pam, for enabling me to get out to the mountains! It was such a fun, enjoyable day, in beautiful weather, spectacular scenery, and much-enjoyed company!
On 20 August 2016, I went with friend, Pam, for a long day out in Kananaskis (the mountain area of the Rocky Mountains that is closest to Calgary). What a great day we had, seeing so many different things in such beautiful scenery.
We met up in the city at 7:00 am and drove southwards through Millarville and took the back way from Turner Valley to Highway 40. This is exactly the route that I had planned to go when I was all set to take my daughter on 4 August. Then my 17-year-old car's muffler and catalytic converter died and I hadn't been able to do any long drives at all. Nothing further than maybe five or ten minutes from home, with a vehicle that sounded dreadful with its loud, broken muffler noise and the loudest rattle that sounded as if the bottom of my car was about to fall off. Thank goodness, that is now all past.
Before we left the town of Turner Valley (on Highway 22), we called in for a few minutes at friend Jackie's garden to see if there were any interesting birds at all her feeders. We only saw Pine Siskins, but no doubt all sorts of other species would arrive for her during the day.
Our first stop along Highway 40, which is the highway that goes right through Kananaskis, giving spectacular scenic views every inch of the way, was at Highwood House. This small store/gas station, at such a convenient location, is known for its Hummingbird feeders. We were lucky enough to see either one or maybe two of these teeny birds, and I did manage to get one slightly blurry shot, just for the record. I thought they would all have left by fairly late August. It's important to check online to see what dates Highwood House is open!
Continuing on our way north, we eventually came to Rock Glacier where we happily watched one or two little Pikas darting all over the massive scree (talus?) slope, busily collecting plants to store and dry in their "caves", ready for the winter months. I have added more information about these very small animals under various, previously posted photos of them. These are such difficult creatures to photograph - only six or seven inches long and more or less the same colour as the surrounding mountainside of broken rock.
Our next destination, after bumping into friend Kerri who was photographing the PIkas, was Buller Pond, near Spray Lakes along the Spray Lakes/Smith-Dorrien road. I don't remember ever going there before and we were so glad we called in. Just before we got there, we took a drive up the mountainside road to Mt. Shark and gazed at the mountain scene before our eyes when we reached the highest parking lot. I have been up here maybe two or three times before, but in winter time.
Soon, we arrived at Buller Pond, which is a lovely pond/lake, where we saw masses of small, green, jelly-like 'blobs' floating near the edge of the water. I finally found out what I think is the correct ID for them - Ophrydium versatile.
It was here that, while walking through the trees near the edge of the pond, I suddenly gasped and couldn't believe my eyes. There was a beautiful Spruce Grouse perched on a log, with a second one lying on the ground. Such a beautiful sight! I quietly called Pam to come and see what I had just found and we spent some time watching them. These two birds, with their gorgeous feathers, showed no sign of moving, allowing us plenty of time to take photos. Eventually, I saw yet another one of them moving around on the ground nearby, and then a fourth one. So, it seems that it was a mother and her three young ones. What an absolute treat to come across these spectacular birds and to be given time to really enjoy them.
Once back on Highway 40, we started driving southwards, heading for home. We just couldn't resist calling in again at Rock Glacier, where I was able to get closer and slightly better photos of one of the Pikas. Then, fifteen minutes later on the highway, we saw several cars pulled over at the sides of the highway. Could it finally be a bear? Unfortunately, no, it wasn't, but instead we saw a group of five Bighorn Sheep, four at the edge of the road and a fifth standing in the road as if to let us know that she owned the road and had right of way. One of the Sheep started walking along the edge in the direction of our vehicle. She walked with determination, her focus on a photographer who was out of his car and walking towards her, then crouched down to photograph her as she got closer and closer to him. She stopped just a matter of maybe six feet from him - we drove off now that the road was clear, so I've no idea if anything happened between the Sheep and the photographer, but he was doing everything that a photographer (or anyone) should not be doing.
Thank you so much, Pam, for enabling me to get out to the mountains! It was such a fun, enjoyable day, in beautiful weather, spectacular scenery, and much-enjoyed company!
Anne H has particularly liked this photo
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