Old Man Pictures: Ralph Klein Park, Calgary, July 25, 2023

Yesterday I went for a walk with Nature Calgary . I really wanted to return to the park to see if the nesting Red Necked Grebe had any new ducklings. Rather then sequence the pictures in the order taken, I thought I would start with my favourite pictures from the day. The first has to be the Red Necked Grebe because, yes she did have ducklings, and yes they are so cute. The stripes on the neck of the duckling are amazing.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1600, 1/320, f/14. July 25, 2023, 9:15 am.

My next favourite shot is a little unusual, it is a Seven-spotted Lady Beetle. The contrasting colours of red and light green really make the photograph pop.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1600, 1/400, f/13. July 25, 2023, 9:35 am.

My third favourite was a Great Blue Heron hunting for minnows and frogs in the very still water of the wetlands. The reflection really adds to this photograph.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 539mm, ISO 1600, 1/1250, f/13. July 25, 2023, 10:25 am.

Additional photographs include the Heron striking into the water for a catch. Even with how streamlined the neck and beak are, quite a splash is made.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 723mm, ISO 1600, 1/1600, f/13. July 25, 2023, 10:25 am.

The next picture is a return to the Grebe. The duckling climbed onto the back of its nesting parent and popped its head out between the wings. "Use the Force Luke" (sorry).

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1600, 1/160, f/18. July 25, 2023, 9:20 am.

The sparrows can be difficult to identify, and I generally need a picture that I can take home and then compare to references. This is a Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella passerina).

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1600, 1/500, f/18. July 25, 2023, 9:55 am.

To round out the pictures, an Ornamental Orbweaver spider (Larinioides patagiatus) a Common Wood-nymph butterfly (Cercyonis pegala), a Great Pond Snail (Lymnaea stagnalis) with what might be a Typical Backswimmer on its shell, and the first picture of the day - a Killdeer.