Rod Handfield's

Such a treat to have the chance to see a wonderful pair of Evening Grosbeaks a couple of days ago! After botanizing Janel Butler's farm, we called in at a beautiful private acreage belonging to the Handfields - they had so kindly allowed us to botanize their land last year). These two acreages are west of Millarville, south west of Calgary. I think this shot shows the female better than one that I took of her perched in a tree, so will post this photo first and then will add the other image soon. If I remember correctly, i've only ever had the chance once before to see these beautiful birds. Just look at the size of that beak, LOL! All the fresh air, heat and bright sunlight that I've been exposed to recently (plus huge lack of sleep!) just knock me out. Very bad when it comes to driving. "The Evening Grosbeak is a year-round Alberta resident, usually in the northern half of the Province, but may be found in the southern mountains and the Cypress Hills as well. This big-beaked bird is a common winter visitor to central and southern Alberta towns and cities. When not stuffing themselves at winter feeders, grosbeaks use their specialized beaks to crack the winged seeds of Manitoba maple (boxelder) and green ash trees. In spring, swelling buds of poplar and willow are relished, and in summer and fall, the birds gorge on the ripening berries of pincherry, Saskatoons and other juicy morsels." talkaboutwildlife.ca/profile/?s=346

These common wildflowers, Tall Lungwort/Languid Ladies/Bluebell - and Dangling Damsels, according to one of my friends! - seem to grow everywhere, and I occasionally stop to shoot a little hanging cluster of the blue flowers and pink buds. This time, however, I was lucky enough to spot a Ladybug (pardon the pun, LOL)! Seen on someone's property near Millarville, south west of Calgary, when we went to botanize the area.

This mushroom was taken on 20th July at the Handfield's acreage, west of Millarville (southwest of Calgary).

A different shot of this pretty female Evening Grosbeak, seen at the Handfield's wonderful acreage, south west of Calgary, west of Millarville on 16th May. The other posted image was of this bird at a feeder, and showed more of the wing pattern. That's a pretty powerful beak, LOL! "The Evening Grosbeak is a year-round Alberta resident, usually in the northern half of the Province, but may be found in the southern mountains and the Cypress Hills as well. This big-beaked bird is a common winter visitor to central and southern Alberta towns and cities. When not stuffing themselves at winter feeders, grosbeaks use their specialized beaks to crack the winged seeds of Manitoba maple (boxelder) and green ash trees. In spring, swelling buds of poplar and willow are relished, and in summer and fall, the birds gorge on the ripening berries of pincherry, Saskatoons and other juicy morsels." talkaboutwildlife.ca/profile/?s=346

It's rather difficult to make a photogenic photo of these small, rare, red stems, but I did want a record of what a whole plant looks like, especially after posting the extremely enlarged photo below a few days ago. A friend came across a little cluster of these small, brilliant red stems on a walk in the forest. We weren't sure what they were at first, but then we came across another cluster that had several teeny flowers open. What a thrill to realize that these tiny, wild Orchids were the Spotted Coralroot. Thanks for finding these, David! The stems above were maybe 4"-6" tall, so perhaps you can imagine how tiny an individual flower is. Seen on someone's acreage west of Millarville (south of Calgary) the other day.

This is one of several fungi that we came across while botanizing someone's acreage last week, south of the city and west of Millarville. It's either a short Spruce (?) needle or similar that was balancing on top of the cap. We are still getting hardly any rain - we need it desperately!

It was a real treat to come across a few stems of this rare, wild orchid when we botanized someone's property two days ago, south west of the city, near Millarville. It has been sighted at about four locations in Calgary, but I don't know if the plant still appears in these places. This photo is a much enlarged view of just one of the several very small flowers that grow on each stem.

An absolutely useless photo as far as being to identify these mushrooms is concerned, but I just liked the sheen and sparkle of the two caps against the dark. Seen in the forest on someone's acreage, south of the city and near Millarville.

The light was shining through parts of this little fungus cup that was growing on someone's forested acreage, south of the city, that a handful of us went to botanize a few days ago. Love the grainy texture. As usual, I don't know any IDs, so if anyone is able to let me know, that would be great. Thanks!