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 

 

Wild Flowers at Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park

On Thursday June 6, 2024 I took a guided, golf-cart tour of the Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park. This was a birding field trip. The scenery and the wild flowers captured my attention. The first picture was taken from the top of the hill by the start of the Tiger Lily Trail.

 Olympus OMD E-M5 Markii, 14-42mm, 31mm, ISO200, 1/320, F14.

The colour of the Bow River always catches my eye.

 Olympus OMD E-M5 Markii, 14-42mm, 14mm, ISO200, 1/320, F11.

The first wild flower is the Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum).

 Olympus OM1, 100-400mm + MC20, 200mm, ISO640, 1/400, F10.

The Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana) blossoms appear quite delicate.

Olympus OM1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO1250, 1/400, F13.

These blossoms are  Field Chickweed (Cerastium arvense). 

Olympus OM1, 100-400mm + MC20, 415mm, ISO640, 1/640, F12.

The blues of the Wax-leaf Beardtongue (Penstemon nitidus) are quite saturated.

Olympus OM1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO800, 1/640, F13.

The Cutleaf Anemone (Anemone multifida) are a tiny wildflower, but the colours are very rich.

Olympus OM1, 100-400mm + MC20, 200mm, ISO2000, 1/1000, F10.

The final wild flower of the day was this Lewis Flax (Linum lewisii).

Olympus OM1, 100-400mm + MC20, 200mm, ISO800, 1/1000, F10.

After the tour, I walked the Tiger Lily loop and found this Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) watching me from the trees.

Olympus OM1, 100-400mm + MC20, 524mm, ISO4000, 1/500, F12.

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.

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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 

Magnificent Beast!, May 03, 2024

On Friday I drove west of Balzac and eventually found my way to Woodland Road. Along the way I came across a couple of heavy horses and was able to spend time admiring this magnificent beast as it was framed in the background by some aspen trees. My experience with heavy horses is that they have such quiet power. I love how the background emphasises the subject. 

 Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 524mm, ISO 2500, f/12, 1/320.

The Bearspaw area is a little behind us weather wise and the crocuses are now in full bloom. 

Olympus E-M5 MarkII, 30mm, ISO 400, f/13, 1/80.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm plus MC20, 200mm, ISO 800, f/10, 1/500.

All pictures photo-edited with On1 Photo Raw 2024