Yesterday, I was so excited because I thought that maybe I had photographed a new (to me) species of Ladybug, on a botanizing day trip to Keith Logan's, about 2 miles south of Water Valley. Unfortunately, this little guy is still a native Two-spotted Ladybug, despite looking more like a "Four-spotted" one, if there was such a thing.

Thanks to Corey Husic at BugGuide website for confirming that this is in fact "just" a Two-spotted Ladybug.

Also, according to the book, "Bugs of Alberta", "Two-spotted Ladybugs are amazingly variable. Most have two black spots on a red background, while others have four spots or two red shoulder parches on a black background."

Tags:   Alberta Canada southern Alberta NW of Calgary Water Valley area Keith Logan's place nature insect beetle Ladybug Two-spotted Ladybug Adalia bipunctata leaf macro close-up square crop Panasonic DMC-FZ40 DMC-FZ40 FZ40 Lumix point-and-shoot P1080425 FZ40 annkelliott beautiful_expression NaturesFinest SuperEco

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I just thought this was a nice mix of lichens (no doubt very common ones) growing on this dead wood. Seen at Keith and Sandy Logan's acreage near Bottrel, north west of Cochrane (which is north west of Calgary). We spent a good part of Friday recording the plants, birds, insects, etc. that we saw there.

Tags:   Alberta Canada southern Alberta Keith & Sandy Logan's near Bottrel north west of Cochrane nature Lichens log botany image photo digital color image horizontal Panasonic DMC-FZ35 FZ35 Lumix point-and-shoot P1010765 FZ35 annkelliott beautiful_expression

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Happy Father's Day, everyone!

I think the song of the White-throated Sparrow is one of the most beautiful of bird songs. Seems such a loud voice from just a little bird, too : ) Feeder shots are definitely not my favourite, but I just had to take a few shots when a few of us were at Keith Logan's beautiful acreage out near Water valley, NW of Calgary, on June 17th. Though I hear the Sparrow's song often, it is very rare that I actually see the bird, so I was happy to get this.

Yesterday's day trip out east of Calgary to see Piping Plovers was cancelled because of bad weather. Today's day trip to Medicine River Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre also didn't happen. I had been longing to go back there for a whole year, but I was the only person (plus the leader) to turn up at the meeting place early this morning and I never go if I'm the only one. So, instead, I walked around Inglebird Bird Sanctuary, called in at Bridlewood and a slough on 22X, and then went in search of Mountain Bluebirds (the few I saw were so far away, but I did see the Snipe - again). Got caught in the rain whilst photographing the Snipe - again, ha.

Tags:   Alberta Canada NW of Calgary NW of Cochrane Keith Logan's property nature ornithology avian bird birds Sparrow White-throated Sparrow side view feeding feeder

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If I remember correctly, this Cow Parsnip seed may have been about one third of an inch long. Thought it had an interesting surface texture. Photographed on Keith Logan's property on June 17th.

Tags:   Alberta Canada southern Alberta Keith Logan's property nature plant seed Cow Parsnip Heracleum maximum Heracleum genus Apiaceae native macro close-up square crop Panasonic DMC-FZ40 DMC-FZ40 FZ40 Lumix point-and-shoot P1080432 FZ40 annkelliott © Anne Elliott 2011 © All Rights Reserved

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A rather blurry image of this little Junco, but I don't have one in my Birds of Alberta Sets. Photographed at Keith Logan's property on June 17th.

Tags:   Alberta Canada southern Alberta Keith Logan's nature ornitholgy avian bird birds wild Junco Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis side view feeder bokeh feeding seed square crop Panasonic DMC-FZ40 DMC-FZ40 FZ40 Lumix point-and-shoot P1080472 FZ40 annkelliott

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