On a drive yesterday, I stopped to take a few photos of some Longhorn cattle. After the last photo was taken, or so I thought, I made a quick check to see if they had turned out alright. Then, turning my head back towards the field, I had such a surprise, when I saw this face maybe ten feet away from my window and only a flimsy, barbed-wire fence between us. When it let out a huge, deep bellow, I thought it might be a good time to leave.

My destination yesterday afternoon, 24 August 2020, was McKinnon Flats. east of Calgary. Many years ago, a group of us had visited the area on a birding outing. There was just something about the place that made me feel a little uncomfortable, but, eventually, I knew I just had to go there. On a few other occasions, I had driven much of the same route, but had missed out on the pot-holed road going south. As for the narrow, switchback gravel road going down the cliffs, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had read a warning to not do the drive if the road was wet. Once there, I really, really hoped that no other vehicle would be coming in the opposite direction, as I knew there was no way I would be able to reverse either uphill or downhill. Luckily, I was the only vehicle on the "road" for long enough.

The temperature down in the valley was 31C when I got out of my car. It felt too hot to do anything more than just a short wander to see the old steel wheeled tractor and the stone wall remains of one of the old buildings that had once formed the LK Ranch. The Ranch lay against the north slope of the valley, with the Bow River just beyond a grassy area - a spot that is popular with fishermen.

I had also read about snakes there, but was rather thankful that none were to be seen. Found a few butterflies and an insect with beautiful wings that I think might be a Bee Fly. Some wildflowers were still in bloom, such as Blazingstar. If I had gone for a longer walk, maybe I would have discovered more. The heat, and feeling anxious to find out if my car would make it back up the gravel switchbacks to the cliff top, kept my visit short.

After my stop at McKinnon Flats, I drove some backroads on my way to the highway back home. As well as a group of Longhorn Cattle, I was happy to see a flock of European Starlings that landed briefly on fence posts. They may be "just" Starlings, but their feather patterns are beautiful.

A very brief stop at Weed Lake gave me the chance to take a few photos of the Black-necked Stilts. Another birder who arrived there at the same time as me, wondered the same thing - where were all the birds??

A very enjoyable few hours spent on a sunny day. A drive of only 128 km and just under five hours total, gave me a good variety of things to see and photograph. On the drive home, I could see signs that the smoke from B.C. and California wildfires was starting to reach us.

Tags:   Alberta Canada East of Calgary farm animal cattle Longhorn black and white close-up field grass outdoor summer 24 August 2020 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2020 © All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

Would any drive be complete without coming across an old barn or two? I'm not sure that I have ever seen this one before. Of course, nothing beats an old barn with the original wooden shingles still in place. However, it is good when a farmer installs a new roof, in order to protect the building.

My destination yesterday afternoon, 24 August 2020, was McKinnon Flats. east of Calgary. Many years ago, a group of us had visited the area on a birding outing. There was just something about the place that made me feel a little uncomfortable, but, eventually, I knew I just had to go there. On a few other occasions, I had driven much of the same route, but had missed out on the pot-holed road going south. As for the narrow, switchback gravel road going down the cliffs, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had read a warning to not do the drive if the road was wet. Once there, I really, really hoped that no other vehicle would be coming in the opposite direction, as I knew there was no way I would be able to reverse either uphill or downhill. Luckily, I was the only vehicle on the "road" for long enough.

The temperature down in the valley was 31C when I got out of my car. It felt too hot to do anything more than just a short wander to see the old steel wheeled tractor and the stone wall remains of one of the old buildings that had once formed the LK Ranch. The Ranch lay against the north slope of the valley, with the Bow River just beyond a grassy area - a spot that is popular with fishermen.

I had also read about snakes there, but was rather thankful that none were to be seen. Found a few butterflies and an insect with beautiful wings that I think might be a Bee Fly. Some wildflowers were still in bloom, such as Blazingstar. If I had gone for a longer walk, maybe I would have discovered more. The heat, and feeling anxious to find out if my car would make it back up the gravel switchbacks to the cliff top, kept my visit short.

After my stop at McKinnon Flats, I drove some backroads on my way to the highway back home. As well as a group of Longhorn Cattle, I was happy to see a flock of European Starlings that landed briefly on fence posts. They may be "just" Starlings, but their feather patterns are beautiful.

Another stop was to take a few photos of some Longhorn cattle. After the last photo was taken, or so I thought, I made a quick check to see if they had turned out alright. Then, turning my head back towards the field, I had such a surprise, when I saw a large, black face maybe ten feet away from my window and only a flimsy, barbed-wire fence between us. When it let out a huge, deep bellow, I thought it might be a good time to leave.

A very brief stop at Weed Lake gave me the chance to take a few photos of the Black-necked Stilts. Another birder who arrived there at the same time as me, wondered the same thing - where were all the birds??

Another very enjoyable few hours spent on a sunny day. A drive of only 128 km gave me a good variety of things to see and photograph. On the drive home, I could see signs that the smoke from B.C. and California wildfires was starting to reach us.

Tags:   Alberta Canada East of Calgary backroad farm building old barn wood wooden weathered roof new protection trees field grass outdoor summer 24 August 2020 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2020 © All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

A quick stop at a place I rarely visit, Weed Lake, gave pretty well no photo opportunities yesterday afternoon. Where were all the birds? However, it was fun to watch this Black-necked Stilt and little duckling. Wherever the Stilt went, the duckling followed right behind. Then, all of a sudden, the duckling must have realized either that this was not Mom or that it had got left behind from the rest of the family. In a split second, it look off at terrific speed across the lake and joined several very distant ducks. Another birder had arrived there at the same as I did - nice to bump into you, John. We both agreed that there was a very obvious lack of birds.

My destination yesterday afternoon, 24 August 2020, was McKinnon Flats. east of Calgary. Many years ago, a group of us had visited the area on a birding outing. There was just something about the place that made me feel a little uncomfortable, but, eventually, I knew I just had to go there. On a few other occasions, I had driven much of the same route, but had missed out on the pot-holed road going south. As for the narrow, switchback gravel road going down the cliffs, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had read a warning to not do the drive if the road was wet. Once there, I really, really hoped that no other vehicle would be coming in the opposite direction, as I knew there was no way I would be able to reverse either uphill or downhill. Luckily, I was the only vehicle on the "road" for long enough.

The temperature down in the valley was 31C when I got out of my car. It felt too hot to do anything more than just a short wander to see the old steel wheeled tractor and the stone wall remains of one of the old buildings that had once formed the LK Ranch. The Ranch lay against the north slope of the valley, with the Bow River just beyond a grassy area - a spot that is popular with fishermen.

I had also read about snakes there, but was rather thankful that none were to be seen. Found a few butterflies and an insect with beautiful wings that I think might be a Bee Fly. Some wildflowers were still in bloom, such as Blazingstar. If I had gone for a longer walk, maybe I would have discovered more. The heat, and feeling anxious to find out if my car would make it back up the gravel switchbacks to the cliff top, kept my visit short.

After my stop at McKinnon Flats, I drove some backroads on my way to the highway back home. As well as a group of Longhorn Cattle, I was happy to see a flock of European Starlings that landed briefly on fence posts. They may be "just" Starlings, but their feather patterns are beautiful.

Another stop was to take a few photos of some Longhorn cattle. After the last photo was taken, or so I thought, I made a quick check to see if they had turned out alright. Then, turning my head back towards the field, I had such a surprise, when I saw a large, black face maybe ten feet away from my window and only a flimsy, barbed-wire fence between us. When it let out a huge, deep bellow, I thought it might be a good time to leave.

Another very enjoyable few hours spent on a sunny day. A drive of only 128 km gave me a good variety of things to see and photograph. On the drive home, I could see signs that the smoke from B.C. and California wildfires was starting to reach us.

Tags:   Alberta Canada East of Calgary Weed Lake nature wildlife avian ornithology bird two Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus friends water lake wading feeding duckling swimming outdoor summer 24 August 2020 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2020 © All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

ve6ab.blogspot.com/2010/04/lk-ranch.html

youtu.be/AaINuJmLIgQ

www.canadiancattlemen.ca/history/lachlin-mckinnon-the-pas...

Photos of the LK Ranch in 1916:
dygtyjqp7pi0m.cloudfront.net/i/22499/20863832_5.jpg?v=8D1...

My destination yesterday afternoon, 24 August 2020, was McKinnon Flats. east of Calgary. Many years ago, a group of us had visited the area on a birding outing. There was just something about the place that made me feel a little uncomfortable, but, eventually, I knew I just had to go there. On a few other occasions, I had driven much of the same route, but had missed out on the pot-holed road going south. As for the narrow, switchback gravel road going down the cliffs, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had read a warning to not do the drive if the road was wet. Once there, I really, really hoped that no other vehicle would be coming in the opposite direction, as I knew there was no way I would be able to reverse either uphill or downhill. Luckily, I was the only vehicle on the "road" for long enough. Actually, McKinnon Flats is going to be closed from 31 August 2020 onwards for road reconstruction, to make access down to the river safer.

The temperature down in the valley was 31C when I got out of my car. It felt too hot to do anything more than just a short wander to see the old steel wheeled tractor and the stone wall remains of one of the old buildings that had once formed the LK Ranch. The Ranch lay against the north slope of the valley, with the Bow River just beyond a grassy area - a spot that is popular with fishermen.

I had also read about snakes there, but was rather thankful that none were to be seen. Found a few butterflies and an insect with beautiful wings that I think might be a Bee Fly. Some wildflowers were still in bloom, such as Blazingstar. If I had gone for a longer walk, maybe I would have discovered more. The heat, and feeling anxious to find out if my car would make it back up the gravel switchbacks to the cliff top, kept my visit short.

After my stop at McKinnon Flats, I drove some backroads on my way to the highway back home. As well as a group of Longhorn Cattle, I was happy to see a flock of European Starlings that landed briefly on fence posts. They may be "just" Starlings, but their feather patterns are beautiful.

Another stop was to take a few photos of some Longhorn cattle. After the last photo was taken, or so I thought, I made a quick check to see if they had turned out alright. Then, turning my head back towards the field, I had such a surprise, when I saw a large, black face maybe ten feet away from my window and only a flimsy, barbed-wire fence between us. When it let out a huge, deep bellow, I thought it might be a good time to leave.

A very brief stop at Weed Lake gave me the chance to take a few photos of the Black-necked Stilts. Another birder who arrived there at the same time as me, wondered the same thing - where were all the birds??

Another very enjoyable few hours spent on a sunny day. A drive of only 128 km gave me a good variety of things to see and photograph. On the drive home, I could see signs that the smoke from B.C. and California wildfires was starting to reach us.

Tags:   Alberta Canada East of Calgary McKinnon Flats The LK Ranch Lachlan McKinnon stone walls of barn are all that remains tractor old rusty steel wheeled tractor display hill cliff grass trees plants outdoor summer 24 August 2020 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2020 © All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

My destination yesterday afternoon, 24 August 2020, was McKinnon Flats. east of Calgary. Many years ago, a group of us had visited the area on a birding outing. There was just something about the place that made me feel a little uncomfortable, but, eventually, I knew I just had to go there. On a few other occasions, I had driven much of the same route, but had missed out on the pot-holed road going south. As for the narrow, switchback gravel road going down the cliffs, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had read a warning to not do the drive if the road was wet. Once there, I really, really hoped that no other vehicle would be coming in the opposite direction, as I knew there was no way I would be able to reverse either uphill or downhill. Luckily, I was the only vehicle on the "road" for long enough.

The temperature down in the valley was 31C when I got out of my car. It felt too hot to do anything more than just a short wander to see the old steel wheeled tractor and the stone wall remains of one of the old buildings that had once formed the LK Ranch. The Ranch lay against the north slope of the valley, with the Bow River just beyond a grassy area - a spot that is popular with fishermen.

I had also read about snakes there, but was rather thankful that none were to be seen. Found a few butterflies and an insect with beautiful wings that I think might be a Bee Fly. Some wildflowers were still in bloom, such as Blazingstar. If I had gone for a longer walk, maybe I would have discovered more. The heat, and feeling anxious to find out if my car would make it back up the gravel switchbacks to the cliff top, kept my visit short.

After my stop at McKinnon Flats, I drove some backroads on my way to the highway back home. As well as a group of Longhorn Cattle, I was happy to see a flock of European Starlings that landed briefly on fence posts. They may be "just" Starlings, but their feather patterns are beautiful.

Another stop was to take a few photos of some Longhorn cattle. After the last photo was taken, or so I thought, I made a quick check to see if they had turned out alright. Then, turning my head back towards the field, I had such a surprise, when I saw a large, black face maybe ten feet away from my window and only a flimsy, barbed-wire fence between us. When it let out a huge, deep bellow, I thought it might be a good time to leave.

A very brief stop at Weed Lake gave me the chance to take a few photos of the Black-necked Stilts. Another birder who arrived there at the same time as me, wondered the same thing - where were all the birds??

Another very enjoyable few hours spent on a sunny day. A drive of only 128 km gave me a good variety of things to see and photograph. On the drive home, I could see signs that the smoke from B.C. and California wildfires was starting to reach us.

Tags:   Alberta Canada East of Calgary nature wildlife avian ornithology bird Starling European Starling Sturnus vulgaris front/side view perched fence post farm field bokeh outdoor summer 24 August 2020 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2020 © All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved