Helmeted Guineafowl / Numida meleagris

There seemed to be no sign of the smoke from the wildfires in B.C. and Alberta yesterday, 24 July 2017, so I made the most of it and went for an afternoon drive SE of the city. First, I wanted to call in at the Saskatoon Farm and find a few colourful flowers to photograph and then I wanted to check on birds at Frank Lake - a good job I don't make lists of what I see, as this bird list would have been ridiculously short!

The Saskatoon Farm was absolutely packed! It is U-pick season at the moment and this is obviously extremely popular. I had a fairly quick wander around, including taking a photo or two of the unusual-looking Helmeted Guineafowl. I love their black and white, polka dot body feather pattern.

From there, I drove the short distance to Frank Lake, which was totally deserted - no people, practically no birds, either. Where are they all? I've had such bad luck at Frank Lake this year on the few times I have been there. Three White-faced Ibis and a juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron flew over, and I did see a Marsh Wren and a Yellow-headed Blackbird. Is the season already coming to a close? I had driven there the previous day, too, and there was not much to see, though I was lucky to have a Western Grebe swim briefly near the blind. It was 34C (93.2F) at the lake that day!

From the blind, I drove all the way round the lake area, hoping to find a field or two of Canola. Afterwards, one of the further roads had me passing the tiny church at Dinton. I always stop and take a few photos.