A group of eight of us drove south of Calgary on 18 December 2012, to take part in the annual High River Christmas Bird Count. We covered all the backroads in the SE quadrant of the huge circle around the town. One of the places we stopped at was Frank Lake, a very popular place for birders. This photo was taken, looking towards the sun, giving what I thought was quite a nice effect. Have to admit that while the others were scanning the lake for any sign of wildlife, I was enjoying myself taking scenic shots and ice-crystals : ) I've marked this shot on my map, but placed it in the middle of Frank lake, as I'm not sure just where we were.
We started our search at around 8:30 a.m. and returned to the meeting place around 5:00 p.m., when we handed in our results and stayed for a delicious potluck supper. Thanks so much to the local birders who organized this most enjoyable ending to a long day!
Our small group's sightings for the day:
Mallard 9 in am at Frank Lake; 7 seen flying there in late pm.
Common Goldeneye-4
Bald Eagle-4 ad.
Northern Goshawk-2 ad.
Rough-legged Hawk-1
Merlin-2
Gray Partridge-12
Sharp-tailed Grouse-5
Rock Pigeon-26
Great Horned Owl-5
Snowy Owl-1 (seen 3 times).
Downy Woodpecker-1 m.
Black-billed Magpie-34
Common Raven-8
Northern Shrike-1
American Tree Sparrow-3
Snow Bunting-807
Common Redpoll-925
Hoary Redpoll-1
House Sparrow-245
Tags: Alberta Canada south of Calgary Frank Lake High River Bird Count nature seasons winter scenic landscape scenery people birders reflection snow frost lake water Explore interestingness#482 explore2012December21
© All Rights Reserved
A photo taken on a quick drive through Parkland after I had been on a three-hour walk in the Bow Valley Ranche and Hull's Wood area of Fish Creek Park. Everywhere was a winter wonderland, with everything covered with hoar frost. Taken on 29 November 2012.
© All Rights Reserved
This is one of the many features of Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, US. Taken on the second day of an amazing week's trip from Calgary with friends, Linda and Tony, from England.
"This 37-foot (11-m) hot spring cone marks the northern portion of Mammoth Hot Springs. Liberty Cap was named in 1871 by the Hayden Survey party because of its marked resemblance to the peaked caps worn during the French Revolution. Its unusual formation was created by a hot spring whose plumbing remained open and in one location for a long time. Its internal pressure was sufficient to raise the water to a great height, allowing mineral deposits to build continuously for perhaps hundreds of years."
mms.nps.gov/yell/features/mammothtour/librtcap.htm
© All Rights Reserved
Can't remember which side of the Canada/US border this quick shot was taken, from a moving car. Gives an idea of the kind of scenery in that area. Taken on 11 September 2012, the first day of a week's holiday in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.
"The peak is easily seen from Montana and Alberta due to the rapid 5,000 foot (1,524 m) altitude gain over the Great Plains which are immediately east of the mountain. Despite the mountain's being mostly in Montana, the distinctive eastern face quickly becomes hidden as one travels south into Montana, but remains very easy to see on clear days over much of southern Alberta. Hence, many businesses in the area (notably Lethbridge) have "Chief Mountain" in their name.
Chief Mountain is an example of a klippe. It consists of a Precambrian block which rests directly above much younger Cretaceous gray shales. The surrounding portion of the thrust sheet has been removed by erosion leaving behind this isolated block of Proterozoic rock." From Wikipedia.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Mountain
Tags: US USA America Montana near Canada-US border scenery landscape rural rural scene fields hay bales hills mountains Chief Mountain klippe
© All Rights Reserved
Posting just before going off on my second annual Christmas Bird Count, which takes place within Calgary today. My tiny group of four people covers part of the NE/SE of the city. Can barely keep my eyes open - I have become so bad at time management and ended up getting just a couple of hours sleep the last two nights. Yesterday's count, the Banff/Canmore Count, was a long day, with eight hours of walking in the town of Canmore, near Banff, mostly covering both sides of the creek there and then along the edge of the Bow River. I added a list of the birds we saw to yesterday's last uploaded photo. I always enjoy this count, as we are surrounded by spectacular scenery - and I always hope to see a wild European Rabbit or two, as well as a small, spindly tree that is near the edge of the Bow River, that someone decorates each Christmas. Later in the day, we saw some unusual and beautiful clouds - possibly Lenticular (lens-shaped)? You can see part of these in the image above.
Tags: Explore interestingness#337 explore2012December17
© All Rights Reserved