At the edge of the Glenmore Reservoir

Yesterday started off rather chilly, but it was a beautiful day. You can't see the distant Rocky Mountains in this photo, but they are visible from other viewpoints. Looking at this image, I have to remind myself that this is right in the city. Went for a three-hour walk with friends along the edge of the Glenmore Reservoir, to see what birds were around. Very few, but we were able to find the two juvenile Surf Scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) swimming close to several yachts that were moored. The Surf Scoter is a large sea duck, for those unfamiliar with the name. They were a long way off - I've only ever seen this species once before - in exactly the same place.

"In November, 2007, an oil spill in San Francisco harbour oiled and killed thousands of birds including many Surf Scoters. About 40 per cent of the birds affected were from this species. Scientists said that while the species is not endangered it has declined 50 to 70 per cent over the past 40 years and this spill could decrease populations since most of the affected birds are healthy adults." From Wikipedia. Here in Calgary, the report of a Surf Scoter adds a little excitement to the birding community : )

The paved path that goes around the Reservoir is 11 kms long and is part of the Calgary city pathway system. The south west part of the path goes through Weaselhead, which is always a beautiful area to bike or walk.

Anyone else having problems with Flickr this morning (11:15 a.m.)? Almost everything I try to do ends up being Timed Out. (All seems to be OK now - Flickr was having "technical difficulties").