Mountain Bluebird male

Newly uploaded photos are not being seen this morning, 8 June - people have reported it on the Help Forum.

8 June 2019 - we have been getting wet and windy weather. Yesterday, when I checked the forecast, the temperature was only 3C (windchill -2C!). Snow was falling in the mountains yesterday and places like Canmore and Banff looked like winter wonderlands. Light flurries were even reported in the northwest corner of Calgary. Our crazy weather!

Three days ago, on 5 June, I was so relieved that I was all caught up with my recent photos, leaving me with just the last few days of our 13-day birding trip to South Texas to sort through, edit and post. Then I happened to check the weather forecast and discovered that we were in for a few days of rain. That settled it, I knew I had better go for a short drive, and ended up going to my 'usual' places.

Some of the birds I saw and was able to photograph included a Wilson's Snipe, a Black Tern on a fence post, a Mountain Bluebird pair against a field of yellow, Red-winged Blackbird male and female, and a female American Goldfinch who was hanging out with the Bluebirds. I tried three or four short videos while trying to lean across from the driver's seat towards the passenger seat. Unfortunately, I couldn't keep myself steady, so the videos do bounce around far too much. Also, I find the red button on both cameras in a rather awkward place. I think I must have been already zoomed in when I started taking each video. I started taking a video or two on our South Texas trip and still haven't read up how to take video. I need to find out if videos are always this shape (so wide and not very high) and I need to think about whether to turn off the sound - I had hoped to catch the Snipe making its call, but all I got was the sound of my hazard lights clicking non-stop! Anyway, I'm posting them on Flickr so that I at least know where to find them if I ever want them.

By the time I got out SW of the city, a few dark clouds were rolling in and it was windy. I remember the wind slightly ruffling the Snipe's feathers, but some of the other birds were having a hard time keeping their balance, especially the Tern.

Though these birds didn't come with the excitement of being lifers for me, I get just as much enjoyment from finding and taking photos of these birds that I have seen before, many times over the years. Which is just as well, as I so rarely see a new bird species, except for when I am fortunate enough to go on special trip like the one to South Texas. It also feels good to be able to share a few 'better' photos, when I post so many that are just record shots : )