68th Street Wetlands, September 25, 2023

On Monday morning I went for a walk around the 68th Street Wetlands (Calgary--Rotary/Mattamy Wetlands (68 Street SE)). On the way to the wetlands, I passed a tree with a large Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) perched in the branches. This was on the east side of Chestermere Lake. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 300mm, ISO 1250, 1/1250, f/13. Sept 25, 2023, 9:50 am.

There continues to be a reduced number of shorebirds in the area now and I only saw a few Greater Yellowlegs. The trees are well into their Fall colours now and some of the views were beautiful. These trees border a pretty little stream that wanders along the east side of the wetlands. 

Olympus M5ii, 14-150mm, 150mm, ISO 250, 1/80, f/11. Sept 25, 2023, 11:35 am.

Next to the stream were a couple of juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax). They do camouflage quite well in the trees, and I spent a bit of time looking with the binoculars before I found this one. It shouldn't be long before these juveniles join the migration to Mexico for the winter. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1250, 1/320, f/13. Sept 25, 2023, 11:30 am.

There were over a dozen Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus) on the ponds. This is more of these waterfowl in one day than I have seen all year. These are quite a hansom small duck. This species of waterfowl is quite interesting and allaboutbirds.org has quite a bit of information on them. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1250, 1/1000, f/13. Sept 25, 2023, 11:50 am.

It also seems like there are fewer American White Pelicans and Canada Geese right now, but these Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) were coming in for a landing on the pond. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 508mm, ISO 1250, 1/160, f/13. Sept 25, 2023, 10:40 am.

All pictures photo-edited with On1 Photo Raw 2023.

Johnson Island, September 22, 2023

On Friday a fellow birder and I went to Johnson Island (right across from the Carseland Weir). I wanted to see if the Fall colours were fully on display. It is close, but the full colours aren't here yet. It would be good to check back in a few days. The view from the top of the hill was still worth while!

Olympus M5ii, 14-150mm, 14mm, ISO 250, 1/125, f/13. Sept 22, 2023, 9:15 am.

This picture follows the hillside. It should be a nice spot in a few more days. Maybe the reds will come out a little more. We don't get a lot of reds in Alberta.

Olympus M5ii, 14-150mm, 29mm, ISO 250, 1/250, f/11. Sept 22, 2023, 9:30 am.

Down in the wetlands some of the Aspen and Poplar trees are starting to turn, but there is still a lot of green.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 200mm, ISO 1250, 1/500, f/13. Sept 22, 2023, 11:00 am.

There were fewer American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) on the water, but I was able to photograph this one coming in to land - it looks like fun.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 340mm, ISO 1250, 1/1600, f/12. Sept 22, 2023, 10:05 am.

The pelicans offer a nice contrast to the shore, and the cattle make it typically Alberta! They are so graceful in the air (the Pelicans, not the cattle). 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 248mm, ISO 1250, 1/1250, f/11. Sept 22, 2023, 10:05 am.

Although a long way away, I was able to photograph this American Kestrel (Falco sparverius). I have seen it there before but haven't been able to get a photograph. This is a very small Falcon, about the size of a Merlin. These are amazingly pretty Falcons, and the light wasn't quite right to catch the colours. 

 Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1250, 1/640, f/13. Sept 22, 2023, 9:40 am.

When we first got there, this female Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) dove into the water and came up with quite a large fish for her size and had trouble swallowing it. She wasn't going to let it go though and kept bashing it on the rocks to stop it from wiggling. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1250, 1/500, f/13. Sept 22, 2023, 9:45 am. 

There were quite a few White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys) that morning and I was able to get a photograph that shows off the crown quite well. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 200mm, ISO 1250, 1/400, f/13. Sept 22, 2023, 10:20 am.

These a quite a pretty sparrow and we believe that the next picture shows one adult and two juveniles. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 554mm, ISO 1250, 1/400, f/13. Sept 22, 2023, 10:20 am.

The two juveniles were not impressed with each other as they competed for food. These were chest bumping and trying to look intimidating. Ah, families! Actually, when I look at this it is almost like a bird looking into a mirror.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1250, 1/500, f/13. Sept 22, 2023, 10:20 am.

It has been a good year when you aren't excited about seeing one more Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), but it is nice to photograph one that isn't perched on a tree. This one flew in just after we arrived. It was still quite chilly, which may explain why it fluffed all its feathers. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1250, 1/500, f/13. Sept 22, 2023, 9:25 am.

All pictures photo-edited with On1 Photo Raw 2023.

 

Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Calgary, September 16, 2023

Saturday found me back at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary in SE Calgary, one of my favourite places to go birding or for a walk. It was a beautiful day and in the morning the sun was hitting the birds just right. This male Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) just sparkled! During the summer their colours were not as bright, but with Fall approaching the colours of coming back and that makes this my favourite picture of the day.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1250, 1/400, f/13. Sept 16, 2023, 10:10 am.

The last three walks at Inglewood I have been finding a Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus). Previously it was on a branch behind the tree and facing away from the camera. It was the same this morning. The owl was on a higher branch, but it was asleep and facing away from the camera. I checked on her three times during two hours and the last time she woke up and looked my way. It was about a five-minute opportunity before she turned around and went back to sleep. It was a good opportunity to capture a photograph.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 490mm, ISO 1250, 1/50, f/12. Sept 16, 2023, 9:45 am.

When first arriving by the lagoon I always check to see if a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) is perched on the trees. On this morning one was perched up there and happened to yawn just as I took its picture. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1250, 1/400, f/20. Sept 16, 2023, 8:20 am.

The tongue is amazing, check out the close-up!

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1250, 1/400, f/20. Sept 16, 2023, 8:20 am.

All pictures photo-edited with On1 Photo Raw 2023.

68th Street Wetlands, September 15th, 2023

On Friday I walked the 68th Street Wetlands in SE Calgary.  On ebird.org  this is noted in the hotspots section as Calgary--Rotary/Mattamy Wetlands (68 Street SE). There seemed to be a much smaller variety of shorebirds; perhaps migration has started for many of them. There were lots of Pelicans and Cormorants. One of my favourite pictures of the day was of this Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum). It is common to see these birds perched with their wings outstretched. This is due to them having less preen oil on their feathers than other water fowl and they must dry out their feathers (allaboutbirds.org). 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 400mm, ISO 1250, 1/640, f/12. Sept 15, 2023, 9:40 am.

Gadwalls (Mareca strepera) are noted for being pretty bland compared to other male birds. I think this male looks pretty cute with the slightly punked up hair and the creative pattern of feathers on its chest. This couple were pretty talkative and you could hear them across the pond. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 772mm, ISO 1250, 1/800, f/13. Sept 15, 2023, 9:25 am.

Parts of the wetlands were very still, and this Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) has quite the reflection as it prepares to grab a morsel from the mud.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1250, 1/1250, f/13. Sept 15, 2023, 10:25 am.

During my walk along the East part of the wetlands I saw at least four juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons. They are such a different colour from the full adult. They can camouflage pretty well in the trees. 

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 1250, 1/250, f/13. Sept 15, 2023, 10:00 am.

All pictures photo-edited with On1 Photo Raw 2023.

Bridgeland Walk, September 12, 2023

On Tuesday I walked along the Bridgeland Hill, where the old General Hospital used to be and above Memorial Drive on Meredith Road NE.  There was a pretty view across from downtown, just in front of Saint Vladimir's Uranian Orthodox Sobor.  From this view you get a real appreciation of how the downtown has vertically shot past the Calgary Tower. Although taking pictures with both a camera and my phone, for this view the phone captured the best shot.

iPhone 14, 6mm, ISO 50, 1/3831, f/1.5. Sept 12, 2023, 10:40 am.

For fun I stood behind the arches that are in front of Saint Vladimir's and took a picture towards downtown.

Olympus M5ii, 14-150mm, 14mm, ISO 250, 1/2000, f/4. Sept 12, 2023, 10:50 am.

The Saddledome is still part of the Calgary Skyline; I wonder for how much longer.

Olympus M5ii, 14-150mm, 60mm, ISO 250, 1/1250, f/5.5. Sept 12, 2023, 10:20 am.

At right angles from the Saddledome picture is a view of the Centre Street Bridge and the river. Calgary does have a pretty downtown.

Olympus M5ii, 14-150mm, 34mm, ISO 250, 1/500, f/8. Sept 12, 2023, 10:45 am.

All pictures photo-edited with On1 Photo Raw 2023.

Mallard Point, September 9, 2023

Saturday was Maria's birthday. I sang happy birthday to her even though she is gone. Such an emotional day and I needed to get out of the house. Nature Calgary held a field trip at Mallard Point in SE Calgary, just off of Canyon Meadows Drive.  Arriving a little early I was able to photograph a person fly fishing. He had waded a long way out from the shore; the water must be pretty shallow there.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 437mm, ISO 1250, 1/640, f/16. Sept 09, 2023, 8:50 am.

The Osprey were very active. One perched right above us by the river and watched the water for fish - it also watched us pretty closely.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 280mm, ISO 1250, 1/1600, f/11. Sept 09, 2023, 9:40 am.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 437mm, ISO 1250, 1/1250, f/12. Sept 09, 2023, 9:50 am.

While we were watching the Osprey, it dove to the water and picked up a fish.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 400mm, ISO 1250, 1/800, f/12. Sept 09, 2023, 10:15 am.

All pictures photo-edited with On1 Photo Raw 2023.

Tom Campbell's Hill, Calgary, September 11, 2023

On Monday I split up my walk between the Inglewood Migratory Bird Sanctuary and Tom Campbell's Hill.  I had never been up the hill before and I was interested in what the view was like. On Monday there was just enough clouds to make the view interesting. The skyline really lends itself to the panorama format. This picture is from the Kevin Conroy Lookout. The hill is also one of the few places where a nice picture of the Calgary Tower is attainable, and people aren't everywhere. Phones have wide angle lenses and lend themselves to this type of panorama. 

iPhone 14, 5.7mm, ISO 50, 1/4630, f/1.5. Sept 11, 2023, 11:15 am.

A little bit north of the lookout, this picture frames the Calgary Tower in an interesting way. It is nice to see the Calgary Tower highlighted instead of being overwhelmed by the buildings close by. I remember when the Husky Tower was being built and when it was the tallest building in Calgary and one of the tallest in Canada.

Olympus M5ii, 14-150mm, 52mm, ISO 250, 1/125, f/18. Sept 11, 2023, 11:10 am.

All pictures photo-edited with On1 Photo Raw 2023.