Not a common sight! These two beautiful Beagles are normally constantly on the go. They weren't resting after an exhausting walk - they were just tired of having to wait so long before the walk could get started : ) Maggie on the left is 8 years old and Ben is 7.
Poor lighting was a challenge in the forest yesterday, 21 August 2020, but, certainly for me, seeing a handsome Spruce Grouse male was the highlight of the morning. Thank you SO much, Angela, for pointing out where it had flown to, and for your kindness throughout the morning! It was so good to see you guys.
We were so lucky with the weather yesterday. It was sunny, but not as hot as it had been on many previous days. A small group of us met up for our first (socially-distanced) fungi foray of the year. Unfortunately, last winter was extremely cold and early summer was very wet. More recently, we have had very hot, dry weather. Unfortunately, these weather patterns seem to have resulted in very few fungi to be found, unlike last year, which was an absolutely amazing season for fungi. We still have September left, so maybe a few more mushrooms and other fungi will appear before the first snow arrives. Last year, 2019, our first snowfall was on 28 September.
Despite the lack of fungi, there were other things to catch our attention. As well as the Spruce Grouse male, we saw Butterflies (Mourning Cloaks and an Anglewing/Comma) and Bald-faced Hornets that were feeding on the sap from the holes/sapwells created by a Sapsucker on the trunk of one of the trees.
A few of the wildflowers we came across included Hooded ladies tresses and grass-of-Parnassus. There were lots of Asters everywhere, too.
After a most enjoyable morning with friends, I stopped at a different forested area, just to quickly check if there were any fungi. Last year, there were lots of beautiful ones (some of which I still haven't posted). However, practically nothing. other than several polypores - at least, so far. As I was driving into the parking lot, a female Mule Deer and her still-spotted fawn crossed the road in front of me. Always a joy to see.
Closer to home, I drove into Priddis and called in at Jane's Cafe/Water's Edge Pub to pick up a tub of their chili and a tub of mushroom soup. Both delicious.
Tags: Alberta Canada W of Calgary West Bragg Creek Fungi Foray animal dog dogs two Beagles male female Maggie Ben resting lying down waiting for walk to start outdoor summer 21 August 2020 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2020 © All Rights Reserved
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Poor lighting was a challenge in the forest yesterday, 21 August 2020, but, certainly for me, seeing a handsome Spruce Grouse male was the highlight of the morning. Thank you SO much, Angela, for pointing out where it had flown to, and for your kindness throughout the morning! It was so good to see you guys.
We were so lucky with the weather yesterday. It was sunny, but not as hot as it had been on many previous days. A small group of us met up for our first (socially-distanced) fungi foray of the year. Unfortunately, last winter was extremely cold and early summer was very wet. More recently, we have had very hot, dry weather. Unfortunately, these weather patterns seem to have resulted in very few fungi to be found, unlike last year, which was an absolutely amazing season for fungi. We still have September left, so maybe a few more mushrooms and other fungi will appear before the first snow arrives. Last year, 2019, our first snowfall was on 28 September.
Despite the lack of fungi, there were other things to catch our attention. As well as the Spruce Grouse male, we saw Butterflies (Mourning Cloaks and an Anglewing/Comma) and Bald-faced Hornets that were feeding on the sap from the holes/sapwells created by a Sapsucker on the trunk of one of the trees.
A few of the wildflowers we came across included Hooded ladies tresses and grass-of-Parnassus. There were lots of Asters everywhere, too.
After a most enjoyable morning with friends, I stopped at a different forested area, just to quickly check if there were any fungi. Last year, there were lots of beautiful ones (some of which I still haven't posted). However, practically nothing. other than several polypores - at least, so far. As I was driving into the parking lot, a female Mule Deer and her still-spotted fawn crossed the road in front of me. Always a joy to see.
Closer to home, I drove into Priddis and called in at Jane's Cafe/Water's Edge Pub to pick up a tub of their chili and a tub of mushroom soup. Both delicious.
Tags: Alberta Canada W of Calgary nature wildlife animal wild wild animal Mule Deer Odocoileus hemionus fawn spotted young walking crossing the road following unseen doe trees grass forest outdoor summer 21 August 2020 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2020 © All Rights Reserved
© All Rights Reserved
"Dolichovespula maculata is a eusocial wasp of the cosmopolitan family Vespidae. Its colloquial names include the bald-faced hornet, bald hornet, white-faced hornet, black jack, white-tailed hornet, white-ass hornet, spruce wasp, blackjacket, and bull wasp. This species is a yellowjacket wasp, not a true hornet (genus Vespa). Colonies contain 400 to 700 workers, the largest recorded colony size in its genus, Dolichovespula. It builds a characteristic large hanging paper nest up to 58 centimeters (23 in) in length. Workers aggressively defend their nest by repeatedly stinging invaders." From Wikipedia.
We watched these insects enjoying the Sapsucker holes, probably getting the sap. They also utilize chewed bark and wood during nest building, though I'm not sure when nest-building occurs.
Poor lighting was a challenge in the forest yesterday, 21 August 2020, but, certainly for me, seeing a handsome Spruce Grouse male was the highlight of the morning. Thank you SO much, Angela, for pointing out where it had flown to, and for your kindness throughout the morning! It was so good to see you guys.
We were so lucky with the weather yesterday. It was sunny, but not as hot as it had been on many previous days. A small group of us met up for our first (socially-distanced) fungi foray of the year. Unfortunately, last winter was extremely cold and early summer was very wet. More recently, we have had very hot, dry weather. Unfortunately, these weather patterns seem to have resulted in very few fungi to be found, unlike last year, which was an absolutely amazing season for fungi. We still have September left, so maybe a few more mushrooms and other fungi will appear before the first snow arrives. Last year, 2019, our first snowfall was on 28 September.
Despite the lack of fungi, there were other things to catch our attention. As well as the Spruce Grouse male, we saw Butterflies (Mourning Cloaks and an Anglewing/Comma) and Bald-faced Hornets that were feeding on the sap from the holes/sapwells created by a Sapsucker on the trunk of one of the trees.
A few of the wildflowers we came across included Hooded ladies tresses and grass-of-Parnassus. There were lots of Asters everywhere, too.
After a most enjoyable morning with friends, I stopped at a different forested area, just to quickly check if there were any fungi. Last year, there were lots of beautiful ones (some of which I still haven't posted). However, practically nothing. other than several polypores - at least, so far. As I was driving into the parking lot, a female Mule Deer and her still-spotted fawn crossed the road in front of me. Always a joy to see.
Closer to home, I drove into Priddis and called in at Jane's Cafe/Water's Edge Pub to pick up a tub of their chili and a tub of mushroom soup. Both delicious.
Tags: Alberta Canada W of Calgary West Bragg Creek nature wildlife insect Bald-faced Hornet Dolichovespula maculata not a true Hornet Yellowjacket wasp species two Sapsucker holes sapwells tree trunk forest bokeh outdoor summer 21 August 2020 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2020 © All Rights Reserved
© All Rights Reserved
This was just a tiny fungus and could so easily have been missed had not our leader let out a yell of joy at his find! Such a gorgeous colour.
Poor lighting was a challenge in the forest yesterday, 21 August 2020, but, certainly for me, seeing a handsome Spruce Grouse male was the highlight of the morning. Thank you SO much, Angela, for pointing out where it had flown to, and for your kindness throughout the morning! It was so good to see you guys.
We were so lucky with the weather yesterday. It was sunny, but not as hot as it had been on many previous days. A small group of us met up for our first (socially-distanced) fungi foray of the year. Unfortunately, last winter was extremely cold and early summer was very wet. More recently, we have had very hot, dry weather. Unfortunately, these weather patterns seem to have resulted in very few fungi to be found, unlike last year, which was an absolutely amazing season for fungi. We still have September left, so maybe a few more mushrooms and other fungi will appear before the first snow arrives. Last year, 2019, our first snowfall was on 28 September.
Despite the lack of fungi, there were other things to catch our attention. As well as the Spruce Grouse male, we saw Butterflies (Mourning Cloaks and an Anglewing/Comma) and Bald-faced Hornets that were feeding on the sap from the holes/sapwells created by a Sapsucker on the trunk of one of the trees.
A few of the wildflowers we came across included Hooded ladies tresses and grass-of-Parnassus. There were lots of Asters everywhere, too.
After a most enjoyable morning with friends, I stopped at a different forested area, just to quickly check if there were any fungi. Last year, there were lots of beautiful ones (some of which I still haven't posted). However, practically nothing. other than several polypores - at least, so far. As I was driving into the parking lot, a female Mule Deer and her still-spotted fawn crossed the road in front of me. Always a joy to see.
Closer to home, I drove into Priddis and called in at Jane's Cafe/Water's Edge Pub to pick up a tub of their chili and a tub of mushroom soup. Both delicious.
Tags: Alberta Canada W of Calgary West Bragg Creek nature mycology fungus mushroom small red cap Conical Waxcap Hygrocybe conica plants forest outdoor summer 21 August 2020 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2020 © All Rights Reserved
© All Rights Reserved
Poor lighting was a challenge in the forest yesterday, 21 August 2020, but, certainly for me, seeing this handsome Spruce Grouse male was the highlight of the morning. Thank you SO much, Angela, for pointing out where it had flown to, and for your kindness throughout the morning! It was so good to see you guys.
We were so lucky with the weather yesterday. It was sunny, but not as hot as it had been on many previous days. A small group of us met up for our first (socially-distanced) fungi foray of the year. Unfortunately, last winter was extremely cold and early summer was very wet. More recently, we have had very hot, dry weather. Unfortunately, these weather patterns seem to have resulted in very few fungi to be found, unlike last year, which was an absolutely amazing season for fungi. We still have September left, so maybe a few more mushrooms and other fungi will appear before the first snow arrives. Last year, 2019, our first snowfall was on 28 September.
Despite the lack of fungi, there were other things to catch our attention. As well as the Spruce Grouse male, we saw Butterflies (Mourning Cloaks and an Anglewing/Comma) and Bald-faced Hornets that were feeding on the sap from the holes/sapwells created by a Sapsucker on the trunk of one of the trees.
A few of the wildflowers we came across included Hooded ladies tresses and grass-of-Parnassus. There were lots of Asters everywhere, too.
After a most enjoyable morning with friends, I stopped at a different forested area, just to quickly check if there were any fungi. Last year, there were lots of beautiful ones (some of which I still haven't posted). However, practically nothing. other than several polypores - at least, so far. As I was driving into the parking lot, a female Mule Deer and her still-spotted fawn crossed the road in front of me. Always a joy to see.
Closer to home, I drove into Priddis and called in at Jane's Cafe/Water's Edge Pub to pick up a tub of their chili and a tub of mushroom soup. Both delicious.
Tags: Alberta Canada W of Calgary West Bragg Creek nature wildlife avian ornithology bird grouse Spruce Grouse Falcipennis canadensis male side view perched tree branch forest outdoor summer 21 August 2020 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2020 © All Rights Reserved
© All Rights Reserved