Frank Lake & area

Two Eared Grebes seen from the wooden hide at Frank Lake. These birds are uncommon to common in Alberta from April to October. Though my photos are distant, I hadn't been able to get this close before.

Saw this Bull Thistle down at Frank Lake in August 2006.

A group of us went down south of Calgary to Frank Lake for a few hours yesterday afternoon. This is a very popular location with birders and photographers. The highlight for me was seeing several White-faced Ibis. Made a very pleasant outing in great weather. Thanks, Dan, for arranging and leading this "extra" trip!

This Darner dragonfly was out at Frank Lake a couple of years ago. I posted another photo of it a while ago, taken looking at it head on, but this close-up shows the intricate details of the back. They really are spectacular, aren' t they, when seen close?

Such beautiful birds! I love the gold ear tufts and the red eyes. I cropped the previous photo to see the details a little closer.

Not on MY hand! Someone else was willing to hold this small Boreal Chorus Frog so that I could take a photo.

"Birds of Alberta" book: Male Cinnamon Teals, unlike most male ducks, often stay with their mates through most of the incubation period. Males have sometimes even been seen accompanying their mates and her brood."

Went with a friend south and east of the city yesterday, to Frank Lake and then east to the Shepard area. The wind was terrible - strong and cold! Not a lot of birds in these locations, both of which are very popular with birders. We saw plenty of open water on the various sloughs/ponds, but a good many of the birds were Northern Shovelers. We saw quite a few Tundra and Trumpeter Swans, which is always a treat. These are Trumpeters in this photo. They are dazzling white when the sun shines on them.

Another shot of the rather orangy-yellow Blackbird in a more usual setting - cattails.