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Yesterday, 16 April 2021, was a beautiful, sunny day within the city. I joined nine friends to go for a birding walk in Fish Creek Park. Because of the pandemic, groups can only have 10 people and, of course, everyone has to wear a mask and social-distance. The area we covered was Lafarge Meadows, starting from the south end. It had been a long time since I last visited this area, partly because most birds are so, so far away. What you don't see in my two scenery photos is the river. It runs at the foot of the cliff, out of sight from where I was standing.
We were lucky to see this beautiful Red-winged Blackbird male, which posed nicely for us and within reasonable camera distance. Thanks, Darlene!
Another bird that I managed to photograph was a distant Northern Flicker. I had never noticed the two thin, black lines near the beak before. After checking Google Images, I discovered that some photos showed these lines clearly; others were more filled in with red. I wonder if it has anything to do with male/female, age, etc..
Talking of birds, I hope I won't flood my photostream with House Sparrow photos in the next little while. The pair that have nested maybe 3 or 4 feet from my front door, but out of sight, came back again this year. I keep forgetting to check and see what has happened to their nest, if anything, with the workmen repairing woodwork and stripping off all the siding. The birds are still here and they seem to be enjoying briefly landing on the scaffolding. The male knows if I'm there, and turns to stare at me through my very dirty window.
It did amuse me when our leader, Anne B, 'admitted' when we all first arrived at the meeting place, that what she was really hoping to find was a Prairie Crocus. Anne is a very keen, excellent birder and photographer, so her words made me smile. Well done, Anne, for finding two for us to enjoy. So glad you got your wish. These were the first ones I had seen this spring. This morning, I created a Flickr album for this wildflower species and found that the earliest Prairie Crocus I had seen (or at least photographed and posted on Flickr) was on 26 March 2008. I always remember a friend telling me years ago that he had found them on either 10 or 12 March one year.
After our enjoyable walk, I knew that I did not want to return home while the workmen were busy working, so I decided to drive southwards and call in at the Saskatoon Farm for lunch and then drive some backroads while the weather was still good, though very hazy out of the city. The temperature got up to PLUS 17C or 18C. Our weather forecast shows snow on four days in the coming week, starting with mixed precipitation tonight and snow tomorrow. There is no indoor dining at the Farm at the moment, just outdoors on the patio. A busy place everywhere while I was there.
From the Farm, I drove to Frank Lake, but there were so many people there, I quickly drove the gravel loop and left. The last couple of times I had been SE of the city, I tried to find a tiny, country church that I had seen a few years ago. I thought I knew where it was, but no luck. Yesterday, success, at last, but talk about getting lost!
Praktica BCA
Pentacon Prakticar MC 50mm f/1.8
Fujifilm Superia X-Tra 400, expired, 05/2012, shot at 200
Unicolor
Pakon F135
This photo was taken yesterday, 25 February 2016, when I called in at Fish Creek Park to see if I could get a better photo or two of the beautiful Varied Thrush that has been hanging around the area. The bird was there, but spent pretty much all its time deep within the conifer trees and a tangle of dark undergrowth. If the bird was on the ground and happened to move into slightly better light for a split second, it was mostly hidden by endless tiny branches. Most of the time, the view was far worse than in this photo : ) However, the Thrush did spend a few seconds on one of the mainly hidden fallen trees and two of us were lucky enough to see it without any branches in the way. Managed to get my best photos of this bird and will be posting one of them soon. When I say 'best', I mean that the bird was close and clear, but the light still wasn't good and the photos are rather grainy, unfortunately. Such a gorgeous bird and a real privilege to see it while it is here.
"The Varied Thrush’s simple, ringing song gives a voice to the quiet forests of the Pacific Northwest, with their towering conifers and wet understories of ferns, shrubs, and mosses. Catch a glimpse of this shy bird and you’ll see a handsome thrush with a slaty gray back and breast band set against burnt-orange breast and belly. Common in the Cascades, Northern Rockies, and Pacific Coast, Varied Thrushes forage for insects in summer and switch to berries and seeds in winter.
Varied Thrushes hop on the ground or low in shrubs and trees. They eat mainly insects and other arthropods in the summer and switch to nuts and fruit in fall and winter. On breeding territories, male Varied Thrushes sit on exposed perches to sing their haunting, trilling songs" From AllAboutBirds.
Yesterday, I made a car repair appointment (have to wait till 20 May!). Need my winter tires off but, more urgently, they need to look at why my car died the other day, east of the city, with a new, 3-month old battery. Exactly the same thing happened back in February, when the car died south of the city (with the old battery). The other day, I did eventually manage to get the car started, but it definitely should not have died the way it did. I daren't drive out of the city, because if it happens again, even if I am able to get my vehicle towed back to the city, the truck drivers are not allowed to have anyone in the cab with them, because of the virus. So, I would be totally stranded, standing there, out in the middle of nowhere, which I just can't risk! My sanity is dwindling - fast : )
Tuesday, 12 May 2020: our temperature just before noon is +7C (windchill +3C). Sunrise is at 5:49 am, and sunset is at 9:16 pm. Rather an overcast day so far.
Most days, I am having to post photos from my archives, as I have been basically staying home, away from everyone and everything (apart from food shopping and just a few short drives out of the city over the last couple of months). I'm adding the description from under a previously posted photo from the same trip.
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"On 11 July 2019, it turned out to be such a great day, with some much-appreciated sightings. I must have spent about 9 hours driving and almost every inch of my body ached like crazy at the end of it. Total distance driven was 461 km, leaving home at 8:45 am and arriving back home 12 hours later, at 8:45 pm. Now, each summer, I try and do two or three longer (for me) drives, to make sure I don't lose the courage to do this.
Weather-wise, it was a beautiful, sunny day, with plenty of white clouds Unlike when I did this drive in August 2018, there was no smoke from any wildfires, thank goodness.
It was a good day for Hawks, seeing some on the way south and a few on the way home. I did spot one Ferruginous Hawk, but it was perched on a very distant fence post. I'm also wondering if one of the 'hawks' was actually an immature Golden Eagle - seen in photo #4 posted this morning. (NOTE: yes, it was a Golden Eagle!). I saw it from a fair distance and I remember thinking what a large hawk it was. Stopping at an angle in the middle of the road, I managed to get one shot before it took off and a couple just as it was doing so.
A couple of Common Nighthawks also helped make my day. For several years, I had longed to see one of these unusual birds and, finally in 2017, I managed to find four of them. In 2018, I was able to find just one. These birds are 9½ inches from the tip of bill to the tip of tail. Very strange looking birds, and always a thrill to see one.
My actual destination on 11 July 2019 was the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre, near Lethbridge. I know some people feel that photographing birds that are not out in the wild is cheating. I kind of agree, though I think it's fine as long as someone says where a photo was taken.
This Centre is a wonderful place that rehabilitates and releases (whenever possible) various birds of prey - hawks, owls, Bald Eagles, Turkey Vultures, and Golden Eagles. Some of these birds act as Wildlife Ambassadors, too, including educating the public away from the Centre. Sometimes, a bird is used as a foster parent, too.
I love the changing scenery as one drives south, and my drive was timed perfectly to catch the golden Canola fields. Maybe half way, I pulled over to take a few photos of an old barn and there was a truck just pulling away. I thought the guy might have been taking photos, too. We got talking and one of the things we both said was that we had never seen a blue field of Flax Later in my drive, guess what I found : ) Looked beautiful, with blue on one side of the road and a field of yellow Canola on the opposite side.
This was definitely a rewarding day, full of sightings of all kinds. My favourite kind of day!"
Still a few insects around. This one was on a pebbled walking path at the lake. Kind enough to stay put while I got in position to get a shot from a different perspective.
Spotted Cucumber Beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata)
White Rock Lake, Dallas Texas
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
©2006 Kris Kros
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This almost didn't make the flickr page since most of my family members think it's so flat and not so interesting. I guess I'm still the head of the family and it's me who makes the decision. I need to go. My wife is around. ;-)
I will be releasing tomorrow the full shot of this truck.