Best of February 2025

I hesitate to call this a 'best of' because I didn't take many pictures in February  --  it was just too cold to get out much with a camera.  My hands get very cold holding a full metal camera body. The last week did warm up, however, and I did take some pictures and get in a few walks.  My favourite picture of the month is a scenic shot taken from the top of Tom Campbell's Hill in East Calgary. This was taken and 5:59am and the lights make the cityscape look like a jewel. 

As the weather warmed up the Bow River started to break up in spots and I like this monochrome picture of the river and East Village.

On my morning walks I usually cross the Bow River in two different spots and the Elbow River once. This picture of the Inglewood Drive in is close to the Calgary Zoo bridge in East Calgary. I love that Dole Whip was a big enough deal - in the day - to have front and centre advertising on the roof of the diner.

The month wasn't completely devoid of animals. This White Tail Deer was photographed at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary.

It seems wrong to have a blog post without a picture of a bird, and the best bird of the month was another Red-breasted Nuthatch at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. Such a photogenic bird, especially when they perch long enough to get a photograph.

All pictures photo-edited with On1 Photoraw 2025

Best of January 2025

Calgary's winter has continued to be pretty mild. The sunsets also are coming early in the evening, so I have been able to photograph lots of sunsets.  My favourite bird picture of the month is this Red-breasted Nuthatch. I took this picture during one of my shifts at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. It's amazing that such small birds can survive our cold weather, but many stay with us the entire winter. 

My favourite scenic of the month is this sunset. This picture was taken from the top of Tom Campbell Hill in the Bridgeland area. The sun is setting behind the two towers and I love the glow of the sky and the silhouette of the mountains in the background. 

My computer has folders for Birds, Scenics, and Other. This Coyote picture was a favourite for the month. It is close to being "the picture", but the coyote's tail is matted and reduces the impact of the picture -- a bit. The coyote was seen on the Bow River in the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. 

The following four pictures are my almost favourites in each of the categories. First are two bird pictures. The first is a Great Horned Owl and the second is a mated pair of Hairy Woodpeckers. The woodpeckers are performing their mating dance when the picture was taken. Both bird pictures were taken at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary.

This sunset from the hill north of Bridgeland is one of my favourite scenic pictures from January.

These White tailed Deer deserve a place in my favourite pictures for the month.

All pictures photo-edited with On1 Photoraw 2025.

Best of Summer 2024

Over the summer I took a bit of a break from social media. I also wanted to leave the last post of Maria's paintings first online for a while. As the summer is ending, this post will include the best of my summer pictures. This Great Blue Heron is one of my favourites. This was taken at Frank Lake and the bird was backlit. I thought that I would just go with it and create a silhouette of the GBH in post-edit.

This Cedar Waxing was photographed at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and I love how the blurring of the background separates the waxwing and helps it to stand out. There was a lot of waiting until the waxwing moved around the tree and finally posed in the right spot. They are such a beautiful bird. 

This Cliff Swallow was photographed at Ralph Klein Park in SE Calgary. Despite being in the shade under the visitors' centre, the detail and colours really stand out. 

My favourite scenics of the summer include this picture of Saint Patrick's Island in downtown Calgary. I was co-leading a birding group for Nature Calgary and stopped to take this picture with my phone.

On one of my shifts as a volunteer steward at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, this Calgary Fire Department rescue boat was heading upstream. 

We have lived in Rundle since 1995 and I have taken many pictures of sunrises. This picture was taken during one of my morning walks. It is always good to have a camera with you.

While driving to a wedding and reception in Cranston this summer, I dropped off some donations at the Women in Need Society and swung by the ridge on 26th Street South East. The ride has some great views of the city skyline.

In my file system, I categorize pictures by subject. In a miscellaneous grouping, is this picture of a Boreal Chorus Frog taken this summer at Frank Lake.

Finishing off my summer favourites is this picture taken in Edson while attending a wedding. This horse is a year old and was born during the forest fires in Edson. She is aptly named Ember.

Those are some of my favourite summer photographs.

 

All pictures photo-edited with On1 Photo Raw 2024 

 

May Bird Count, May 25, 26, 2024

On Saturday and Sunday I participated in the May Bird Count. On Saturday I walked the Kinniburgh Pond and surrounding neighbourhood near Chestermere and on Sunday I drove the Priddis area and stopped once in a while to look for birds. My favourite pictures of the day were of some Sandhill Cranes (Antigone canadensis).

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 800mm, ISO 800, f/13, 1/640.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 800mm, ISO 640, f/13, 1/640. 

The prettiest birds of the day were a Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) and its partner.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 800mm, ISO 5000, f/13, 1/640.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 200mm, ISO 2500, f/10, 1/640.

Adding to my life-list of birds was an Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus). 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 710mm, ISO 2500, f/13, 1/500.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 473mm, ISO 25600, f/12, 1/640.

It certainly was a great day for seeing birds, but it was also a great drive in the countryside.

iPhone, metadata not available.

All pictures photo-edited with On1 Photo Raw 2024 

Shorebirds, May 14, 2024

On Tuesday and expert birder from Nature Calgary joined me and we drove the gravel backroads north and east of Chestermere looking for shorebirds. We finished off at Weed Lake in Langdon, Alberta. The water was very flat, and the clouds reflecting off the water looked like a soft cotton pillow.

 Olympus OMD E-M5 Markii, 14-42mm, 42mm, ISO 200, f/11, 1/640.

There was a lot of water next to the back roads, and we found some Wilson's Phalaropes (Phalaropus tricolor) among the cattails.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 415mm, ISO 1600, f/12, 1/800.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 490mm, ISO 1600, f/12, 1/800.

We didn't see a large number of shorebirds but we did see a good variety.  This is a picture of a Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) and its cousin, and Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla).

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 800mm, ISO 1600, f/13, 1/800.

The middle bird in this photo is a Short-billed dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus).

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 437mm, ISO 1000, f/12, 1/800.

This Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) seems like a good place to end the shore bird pictures.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 800mm, ISO 1250, f/13, 1/800.

As we drove along we also came upon this Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) on a power pole.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 800mm, ISO 1000, f/13, 1/800.

All pictures photo-edited with On1 Photo Raw 2024 

68th Street Wetlands, May 13, 2024

On our wedding anniversary I went to the 68th Street Wetlands to go for a walk and enjoy the birds. I thought this Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) would be good on a coffee mug for my more challenging days.

 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 800mm, ISO 12800, f/13, 1/1250.

A pair of Horned Grebes (Podiceps auritus) were performing a mating ritual and it was quite amazing to watch. I was very lucky to be able to take a picture of them running on the water.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 800mm, ISO 8000, f/13, 1/1250.

The Willets (Tringa semipalmata) were also getting into the act. This male Willet was dancing by itself though, trying to attract attention.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 710mm, ISO 2000, f/13, 1/640.

On the way to the wetlands, I passed a house that has installed a Purple Martin (Progne subis) "condo" and it has attracted just the right quality of tenants.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 800mm, ISO 10000, f/13, 1/500.

All pictures photo-edited with On1 Photo Raw 2024 

Carburn Park, May 10, 2024

Carburn Park is aways a good place to go for a walk and see some wildlife. It is one of the best birding areas of the City of Calgary. 

 Olympus OMD E-M5 Mark ii, 14-42mm, 14mm, ISO 200, f/11, 1/125.

The biggest surprise of the day was that the porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) was out of its nest and was down by the trail on the west side of the park.

 Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 800mm, ISO 1000, f/13, 1/320.

 Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 300mm, ISO 640, f/12, 1/320.

Carburn is also one of the best places to see Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), and this one was across the Bow River from the park.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 800mm, ISO 640, f/13, 1/1000.

Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) may be common, but they are beautiful when the sun hits them.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 800mm, ISO 3200, f/13, 1/320.

As I was leaving the park, I saw this Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus). The colours are unusual as this is its first full year and it doesn't have full colours.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 437mm, ISO 2000, f/12, 1/320.

All pictures photo-edited with On1 Photo Raw 2024 

Calgary Zoo, April 29, 2024

Monday was supposed to be our last warm day for a while, so before the snow started to fall I visited the Calgary Zoo.  I bought a membership, made a donation, and packed up my camera and headed to the zoo. You get a lot closer to animals at the zoo and I did not need my large birding lens. I kept backing away in order to try to get more of the animal in the picture.  The most photogenic animal at the zoo has to be the Red Panda. If going to the zoo puts a smile on your face then the trip is well worth while.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 642mm, ISO 4000, f/13, 1/500.

Driving the backroads around Calgary you don't get very close to Snowy Owls, so it was nice to see this Snowy Owl on my second round through the Canadian Wilds part of the zoo. Both these pictures were taken through a wire fence and yet turned out okay.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 800mm, ISO 1600, f/13, 1/320.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 400mm, ISO 2500, f/12, 1/320.

When going to the zoo I always walk the Canadian Wild first and was nice to be able to take pictures of Rocky Mountain Sheep, Mountain Goats and Wolves.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 456mm, ISO 3200, f/12, 1/400.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 200mm, ISO 400, f/10, 1/320.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 400mm, ISO 5000, f/12, 1/500.

The pictures of the Canadian Wild finished off with a Grizzly bear, Cougar and Polar Bear. It is unusual to catch the Cougar out of its sunny spot and there was only a brief opportunity to take a picture. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 280mm, ISO 1000, f/11, 1/320.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 200mm, ISO 500, f/10, 1/320.

The Polar Bear is our most recent addition to the zoo, and it has a wonderfully large area to roam. Such a contrast to the cages when I was a child! The first picture was taken through a window and the second from a small opening where there is no fence or window. It is a long way away, and I had a tiny moment to take the picture as the bear wandered through.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 200mm, ISO 1250, f/10, 1/400.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 800mm, ISO 1600, f/13, 1/400.

It is always amazing to watch the Siberian Tigers. They are such a large majestic animal. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 340mm, ISO 2500, f/12, 1/500.

Flamingos always add to the colour of the day.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 571mm, ISO 1600, f/12, 1/500.

The Penguins are so personable and the Peacocks are such colourful birds; I ended my trip to the zoo with these pictures.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 200mm, ISO 3200, f/10, 1/1000.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 524mm, ISO 640, f/12, 1/500.

All pictures photo-edited with On1 Photo Raw 2024