Swainson's Hawk take-off

I am falling behind with editing and posting photos from several outings, not to mention still having almost two weeks' worth of photos to go through from our trip to Ontario and Quebec. Tonight, I decided to post a few shots from our annual Bluebird route evening outing with Don Stiles.

Yesterday evening, 28 June 2018, a group of us met at 6:30 pm and went SW of the city with Don, who has been a dedicated Mountain Bluebird Monitor for somewhere around 40 years! It was getting on for 10:00 pm when I finally arrived home.

I'm adding a link to a CTV News article from 12 August 2015, about Don and his son, Andrew. Also a link to Andrew's birdhouse-building blog. Two great guys : )

calgary.ctvnews.ca/calgary-birdman-proves-conservation-is...

calgarybirdman.blogspot.ca/

andychurch.org/bird-men-stiles-helping-save-mountain-blue...

andrewstilescalgary.blogspot.ca/

This drive is an annual trip along Don’s Bluebird Route. We get the chance to see Mountain Bluebirds, Tree Swallows and Wrens nesting in various wooden nesting boxes along the country roads. Some boxes have eggs in the nest, others have tiny babies all packed tightly together. I have seen them before on several other trips with Don and have photos in my Mountain Bluebird album.

Along the route, we saw a few other bird species, including this beautiful Swainson's Hawk. It took off just as I clicked, and I didn't think I caught it in time. However, I did get this slightly blown-out capture.

Many thanks, as always, Don, for letting us come along with you. It is an evening I look forward to every year, and I could tell how much everyone enjoyed themselves. We appreciate how much time over the many years that you have spent taking care of these wonderful little blue birds. They bring such joy to people each spring.

Added next morning - a few of us took part in a bio-blitz yesterday, 29 June 2018, at the Rusty Bucket ranch, near Bragg Creek, west of the city.. My next few photos will be from this outing,