Inglewood July 17

On the 17th, I went to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary for a walk. You never know what you are going to see, and it was a good day for birds.  This female Belted Kingfisher flew into the lagoon and stopped close to the water's edge. She didn't fish, but quickly moved on.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1600, 1/400, f/13. July 17, 2023, 9:15 am. 

Close to the Colonel Walker House, a Baltimore Oriole flew across the pond and rested in one of the trees by the path. Before it left, I was able to watch it for quite a while and grab a couple of pictures. This one has a band on its right leg. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 554mm, ISO 1600, 1/250, f/14. July 17, 2023, 9:45 am. 

The flickers were making a lot of noise. This male Red-shafted Northern Flicker was one of the noisiest.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 400mm, ISO 1600, 1/100, f/13. July 17, 2023, 9:15 am. 

When walking along the Bow River, across from the Inglewood Golf Course, a pleasant gentleman asked if I could identify a hawk seen on the bank of the Golf Course. I was able to photograph the bird and then blow it up in the viewfinder so that we could identify it as a Red-tailed Hawk. There is nice detail along the right wing. It was a good sighting by the gentleman as the hawk was quite a ways away.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1600, 1/1600, f/14. July 17, 2023, 10:30 am. 

A group of one of my favourite birds landed on a close tree. The colours of the Cedar Waxwings are just amazing.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1600, 1/1000, f/14. July 17, 2023, 10:30 am. 

Although not quite as exotic, this Chipping Sparrow flew onto a lower branch and rested for a few moments. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1600, 1/500, f/14. July 17, 2023, 10:45 am. 

Very close to the Visitors' Centre, were two flowers worth photographing. The first is a Purple Prairie Clover and small pollinator. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 340mm, ISO 1600, 1/400, f/14. July 17, 2023, 10:50 am.

The second is a Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare). Although this identification is to be confirmed.   

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 340mm, ISO 1600, 1/400, f/14. July 17, 2023, 10:50 am.

Even very prickly subjects can be beautiful! 

Ralph Klein Park July15

Family recommended that I visit the park, so I went on the morning of the 15th and had a very enjoyable walk. Two "life birds" were added to my lifetime list, one a Common Yellowthroat was first heard and then spotted; but I didn't get a picture. It's too bad as it is such a pretty bird. Lucky enough I did get a picture of the other life bird, a White-faced Ibis. This photograph is a challenge because the Ibis is backlit as the sun was still low. Generally this makes the picture more of a silhouette with the colours and details missing. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1600, 1/250, f/13. July 15, 2023, 9:15 am. 

There were a lot of Savannah Sparrows flying from the grass to the small bushes.  Although common, I really enjoy these small pretty birds. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1600, 1/1250, f/13. July 15, 2023, 9:25 am.

There was quite a few groups of Lewis Flax next to the path, and near the North end of the park, there was some Fireweed, something I haven't seen a lot of around Calgary.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 200mm, ISO 1600, 1/1600, f/10. July 15, 2023, 9:50 am.

There was quite a number of Ruddy Ducks toward the North end of the wetlands. These pretty ducks are fully decked out, with rich burgundy bodies and blue bills. The breeding males have their tails straight up, and they are very aggressive toward other males. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1600, 1/1600, f/13. July 15, 2023, 10:05 am.

Toward the end of my walk, this Great Blue Heron was spotted quite a distance away; looking like an old man. There is a lot of smoke in Calgary, so this picture is also a challenge.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 554mm, ISO 1600, 1/1600, f/13. July 15, 2023, 10:15 am.

Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, July 13

On July 13th, I went with family to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. Towards the end of our walk, things got interesting. An Osprey was fishing along the Bow River, and we could watch it hover before it dove to the water after fish. It was truly amazing to watch. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 554mm, ISO 1600, 1/3200, f/12. July 13, 2023, 11:45 am.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 737mm, ISO 1600, 1/2500, f/13. July 13, 2023, 11:45 am.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, 800mm, ISO 1600, 1/3200, f/13. July 13, 2023, 11:50 am.

To add a little variety, the Purple prairie clovers (Dalea purpurea) were in bloom. I was able to catch a small bee like pollinator when I took this picture. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, 490mm, ISO 1600, 1/250, f/12. July 13, 2023, 11:55 am.

As we crossed the bridge by the visitors' centre, the kids were impressed with this Two-stripped grasshopper (Melanoplus bivittatus).

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, 642mm, ISO 1600, 1/320, f/13. July 13, 2023, 12:25 pm.

 

Next to the Visitors' Centre there was a patch of Common Gaillardia (Gaillardia aristata). I thought the adjacent stages of full bloom to waning bloom created an interesting contrast. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, 585mm, ISO 1600, 1/800, f/13. July 13, 2023, 12:25 pm.

Tapestry of Life

We just had Maria's Celebration of Life.  Maria had it exactly right. Instead of having one or two people tell stories or emcee the day, she asked for friends and family to come together, have coffee and cakes, and share stories. I learned so  much!

Each of us, whether husband, lover, care giver, daughter, son, sister, brother, in-law, cousin, friend, doctor, fellow volunteer or fellow artist doesn't know the full story. By everyone sharing, each person got to add more colour and threads to the tapestry that is Maria's life. Such a rich tapestry, such a rich life!

Love you sweetie!

Nikon CoolPix S3600, 36mm, ISO160, 1/250, f/6.6, 7:30 am, June 10, 2015. Fort St. John, B.C.

Canon EOS Rebel SL1, 18-55mm, 18mm, ISO100, 1/125, f/7.1, 7:35 am, Aug 30, 2015. Columbus, Missouri.

To paraphrase Ernest Hemingway:

Everyone has two deaths, when they are buried in the ground and the last time someone says their name. In some ways people can be immortal.

Bow River Float Trip

Yesterday a friend and I floated the Bow River downriver from Calgary. This trip fulfilled a promise that I made to Maria, to take my friend on a Bow River float. We entered the water at McKinnon Flats and floated for a good six hours. We went with local guide Jason Nobel from Bow River Fly Fishing.  Jason is really a good guy: great knowledge of the river and a wonderful ability to read the water in such a way we found ourselves in quiet spots with water moving quickly past us on both sides as we almost stayed still. 

My birding camera and lens was left at home and I took an older camera that I wouldn't stress over if I happened to fall in (not a low likelihood). The weather prediction was 30% chance of rain in the morning and 60% chance of rain in the afternoon with thunderstorms.  Despite the forecast we had great weather all day. 

It was a little smokey during the start of the day. 

Canon EOS M-10, 15-45mm, 37mm, ISO800, 1/2500, f11, 1:35pm.

Close to 4:00 pm we started to hear thunder and see thunderclouds on the distance. The best scenic of the day came at that time.

Canon EOS M-10, 15-45mm, 15mm, ISO800, 1/2500, f11, 3:55pm.

It was amazing how much the landscape changed as we went downstream. 

Canon EOS M-10, 15-45mm, 45mm, ISO800, 1/2000, f11, 4:40pm.

Canon EOS M-10, 15-45mm, 45mm, ISO800, 1/2000, f11, 12:46pm.

This last picture is right before we left the water at the boat dock.

Canon EOS M-10, 15-45mm, 15mm, ISO800, 1/3200, f11, 4:50pm.

There were very different views and cloud formations depending on which direction you looked. 

Yes, fish were caught by my friend, but that is his story to tell. 

And no, I did not fall in!

Celebration of Life

Above is a snapshot of a life well lived.  If you enlarge it you can see: 

    - Maria’s picture from 2020 Christmas. She was not feeling well and had lost a lot of weight. I was afraid for her. 

    - our first camper that she loved so much. 

    - her balloon ride to celebrate her birthday. She was doing really well then. 

    - AVCA thank you cards. The fronts are personalized with pictures of our trips. Not everyone knows of her remarkable achievements. 

    - a picture with her two siblings, Maria is on the right with the blond curly hair. Such a cutie!

    - a picture of my sweetie with James Bond, Roger Moore. How do you compete with that!

    - a picture when we were first dating, with our motorcycle gear on. 

    - our wedding photo. Such a happy day, such a beautiful bride. So many good adventures to come. 

    - her accordion trophy that reads “1st Prize, Saskatchewan Music Festival 1965. She never threw that trophy out and would proudly tell the grandchildren "Yes, best in the Music Festival". 

    - a picture from that music festival. 

    - and a picture of our family (not shown) as Maria was so proud of the kids and grandkids! She loved every moment spent with family. 

I will take these to the Celebration on Saturday (July 08, 2023). It will be nice to hear the heartwarming stories of friends and family. 

Inglewood July 02

Calgary dropped its heat wave last night. And this mornings walk at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary was terrific. I saw a little bit of everything - over 16 species in all.  These American Harebells (Campanula alaskana) were on the path on the way to the Bow River on the North side of the park. 

 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1600, 1/250, f/12. July 02, 2023, 9:15 am.

On leaving the Bow River side, this Mule Deer doe (Odocoileus hemionus) was munching close to the path. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1600, 1/250, f/11. July 02, 2023, 9:35 am.

Towards the South side of the park, crossing one of the small bridges, I noticed a couple of Osprey (Pandion haliaetus). One had grabbed a fish from the Bow and the other was trying to share rather than do its own fishing. Unfortunately they were a ways away and flying directly away from me, but you can see the fish in its talons.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1600, 1/2500, f/12. July 02, 2023, 9:50 am.

Towards the end of my walk, I came across a Red Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) in the trees. As I was taking its picture, it regurgitated a pellet of undigestible substances (usually bone and feathers). It is an unusual picture, and does look a little gross. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1600, 1/400, f/11. July 02, 2023, 10:00 am.

A couple of less gross poses were also captured. There were a lot of prey species of birds in the tree and they were taking turns dive-bombing the hawk, attempting to encourage it to go elsewhere. An American Robin is caught by the camera as it sped by the hawk. They wouldn't want to fly too slow, the hawk is very quick. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1600, 1/1000, f/11. July 02, 2023, 10:05 am.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1600, 1/400, f/13. July 02, 2023, 10:05 am.