Ghost Reservoir
Prince of Wales Hotel, Waterton
A favourite view, Waterton Lakes National Park
Beautiful Peyto Lake
Heading into the mountains
Clouds over Chain Lakes
Two of my favourite things
Another see-through barn
Wide open spaces
Kananaskis, through the windshield
Gravel and dust - a favourite road
Storm over Canola
Forgetmenot Pond, Kananaskis
Forgetmenot Pond
Beautiful Alberta - prairie, foothills and mountai…
A sunrise sky that lasted till sunset
Dazzling sunlight on distant peaks
A white world
Walking in a winter wonderland
Autumn in Alberta
The beauty of erosion
Alberta foothills in the fall
Cattle drive in the mountains of Kananaskis, Alber…
The charred remains of McDougall Memorial United C…
Lenticular (?) clouds over the mountains
Kananaskis before the snowstorm
Waterton Lake from the townsite - before the fire
Road through Kananaskis
Our precious Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta…
A favourite road
Wide angle on the Bighorn Sheep ridge
The beauty of our mountains
Clouds over the mountains
Vanishing landscape
Alberta foothills in smoke haze
Smoke from the British Columbia wildfires reaches…
A view from Red Rock Canyon, Waterton
Cameron Lake, Waterton Lakes National Park
A different view from Maskinonge lookout, Waterton
Upper Waterton Lake, seen from the town
Maskinonge Lake, Waterton Lakes National Park
Elbow Falls, Kananaskis
Elbow Falls, Kananaskis
Forgetmenot Pond, Kananaskis
A hazy view with Dandelions
Alberta's beautiful foothills and mountains
Kananaskis - a winter wonderland
Upper Kananaskis Lake
Stubble pattern
Lying on a bed of hoarfrost
The beautiful mountains of Alberta
Winter in Kananaskis
Afternoon light on the foothills
Our beautiful Alberta
Nanton Christmas Bird Count
Sunrise colour over the mountain peaks
TV's "Heartland" series location
Before the snow
Jagged little peaks
A lone Larch in fall colour
Before winter officially arrives
Plateau Mountain, Kananaskis
A favourite mountain slope
Just like winter
A few craggy peaks
And here comes the snow
Before the snow came
One spectacular fall day
Reflecting the sun at 'golden hour'
Running free
Freedom
Magic hour
Two winters ago
02 Hidden in the clouds
Gap Lake
A patterned sky
When fall colours are just a memory
See also...
Sheep River Christmas Bird Counts, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Sheep River Christmas Bird Counts, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
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Glorious scenery for a Christmas Bird Count!
The three photos posted this morning were taken yesterday, 27 December 2017, when six of us (in the group I was in) took part in the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count for the Sheep River/Priddis/Turner Valley area. Our time was spent travelling in two cars, driving the back roads SW of the city and calling in at various acreages/ farms. Thanks so much, Joe and Dave, for being the two drivers. This was so much appreciated! With brutally cold temperatures for days, and wind chills plunging to as low as -37C, and lots of snow, we were thankful that only part of the day was spent out of the car! Last night, we had more snow, so I will need to clear off my car before tomorrow's Bird Count way north of the city. Not a good forecast for tomorrow - overcast with more snow.
Another three or four days of this bitter weather and things are forecast to warm up, thank goodness.
I took part in this Count for 2015 and 2016, but had missed it for a few years before that. I believe I had only ever done it twice before that, a few years ago (December 2007 and December 30, 2008). This time, like last year, our area was in the centre of the count circle and I'm so glad I decided to go again.
A great stop was at Rod Handfield's place. Some of us go there very occasionally on botany trips and he always has the best mushrooms and other fungi growing in his forest in the fall. Rod and his wife have such a beautiful cabin there. Rod is always so wonderfully hospitable, and yesterday, he had driven out to the cabin and had delicious coffee and baked goods ready for us! This was so much appreciated and enjoyed, and I know that I, for one, felt re-energized after this treat and being able to warm up in his home. As always, many thanks, Rod!
We met with nothing but pleasant landowners, so willing to allow us to wander their properties. One of them, Doug J, had the highlight of the day for us - a Steller's Jay! The status of the Steller's Jay in Alberta is "locally uncommon year-round". They are spotted most often in the Rocky Mountains. Waterton Lakes National Park seems to be the best area for these stunning birds.
Another welcome sighting was a group of 10 Wild Turkeys at a location where we have previously seen them. Pine Grosbeaks and Common Redpolls helped make the day enjoyable, too, along with the 'regulars', including Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Canada Geese, and three types of Chickadee. Everything seen in such spectacular scenery, too. I love this whole area and, thankfully, it is an area that I can drive to myself. Needless to say, I know I am very lucky. By the way, we briefly stopped and looked down a hill to see one of the 'sets' for the TV series, "Heartland". This is a real-life farm, including the big, red barn.
Another three or four days of this bitter weather and things are forecast to warm up, thank goodness.
I took part in this Count for 2015 and 2016, but had missed it for a few years before that. I believe I had only ever done it twice before that, a few years ago (December 2007 and December 30, 2008). This time, like last year, our area was in the centre of the count circle and I'm so glad I decided to go again.
A great stop was at Rod Handfield's place. Some of us go there very occasionally on botany trips and he always has the best mushrooms and other fungi growing in his forest in the fall. Rod and his wife have such a beautiful cabin there. Rod is always so wonderfully hospitable, and yesterday, he had driven out to the cabin and had delicious coffee and baked goods ready for us! This was so much appreciated and enjoyed, and I know that I, for one, felt re-energized after this treat and being able to warm up in his home. As always, many thanks, Rod!
We met with nothing but pleasant landowners, so willing to allow us to wander their properties. One of them, Doug J, had the highlight of the day for us - a Steller's Jay! The status of the Steller's Jay in Alberta is "locally uncommon year-round". They are spotted most often in the Rocky Mountains. Waterton Lakes National Park seems to be the best area for these stunning birds.
Another welcome sighting was a group of 10 Wild Turkeys at a location where we have previously seen them. Pine Grosbeaks and Common Redpolls helped make the day enjoyable, too, along with the 'regulars', including Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Canada Geese, and three types of Chickadee. Everything seen in such spectacular scenery, too. I love this whole area and, thankfully, it is an area that I can drive to myself. Needless to say, I know I am very lucky. By the way, we briefly stopped and looked down a hill to see one of the 'sets' for the TV series, "Heartland". This is a real-life farm, including the big, red barn.
Cheryl Kelly (cher12861 on flickr), Yves Saulnier, Pam J, neira-Dan have particularly liked this photo
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