Wednesday, 2 September 2020: the temperature at 11:00 am is 10C (windchill 7C), and it has rained a little this morning. Sunrise is at 6:52 am and sunset is at 8:17 pm.

This week is the first week of our fall birding course. I was determined to go on the first walk, as I so often miss the first outings each session. Actually, I miss most of the walks each session. So, yesterday, 1 September 2020, a group of us met at Carburn Park and split into smaller groups. Everyone wore a mask. My alarms were set for 6:00 am and I did hear them. Unfortunately, I fell asleep again and woke up two and a quarter hours later. Panic! Half an hour later, I was in my car and, amazingly, I arrived there just in time.

Carburn Park is well known for being a good birding area, including for Warblers during migration. I rarely get over there, but my intention is good. Yesterday, only three species of Warbler were seen - Yellow, Yellow-rumped and Wilson's.

The four Wood Ducks were perhaps the highlight for me. They were, I believe, the first ones I had seen this year. Going for drives instead of walks results in missing many birds, but I do get some great birds on my drives, that I wouldn't see on walks in the city.

We were fortunate to see a Great Horned Owl, too. People don't always find one - they are very well-camouflaged in amongst the trees. No chance for a decent shot, but I am posting a photo for the record.

At one of the places we stopped to check out the birds on the river, I noticed a large Darner dragonfly fly in and land on someone's shirt. Luckily, it stayed there long enough for me to take a photo or two.

It felt so good to catch up with long-time friends in the safest way possible. During all the summer months, I had only been on two local walks, one of which was very disappointing safety-wise. I decided to be safe rather than sorry.

Tags:   Calgary Alberta Canada Carburn Park nature wildlife avian ornithology bird waterfowl duck Wood Duck Aix sponsa colour colourful standing log water lagoon outdoor summer 1 September 2020 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2020 © All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, 2 September 2020: the temperature at 11:00 am is 10C (windchill 7C), and it has rained a little this morning. Sunrise is at 6:52 am and sunset is at 8:17 pm.

This week is the first week of our fall birding course. I was determined to go on the first walk, as I so often miss the first outings each session. Actually, I miss most of the walks each session. So, yesterday, 1 September 2020, a group of us met at Carburn Park and split into smaller groups. Everyone wore a mask. My alarms were set for 6:00 am and I did hear them. Unfortunately, I fell asleep again and woke up two and a quarter hours later. Panic! Half an hour later, I was in my car and, amazingly, I arrived there just in time.

Carburn Park is well known for being a good birding area, including for Warblers during migration. I rarely get over there, but my intention is good. Yesterday, only three species of Warbler were seen - Yellow, Yellow-rumped and Wilson's.

The four Wood Ducks were perhaps the highlight for me. They were, I believe, the first ones I had seen this year. Going for drives instead of walks results in missing many birds, but I do get some great birds on my drives, that I wouldn't see on walks in the city.

We were fortunate to see a Great Horned Owl, too. People don't always find one - they are very well-camouflaged in amongst the trees. No chance for a decent shot, but I am posting a photo for the record.

At one of the places we stopped to check out the birds on the river, I noticed a large Darner dragonfly fly in and land on someone's shirt. Luckily, it stayed there long enough for me to take a photo or two.

It felt so good to catch up with long-time friends in the safest way possible. During all the summer months, I had only been on two local walks, one of which was very disappointing safety-wise. I decided to be safe rather than sorry.

Tags:   Calgary Alberta Canada Carburn Park nature wildlife avian ornithology bird Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum juvenile young perched branch sky outdoor summer 1 September 2020 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2020 © All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, 2 September 2020: the temperature at 11:00 am is 10C (windchill 7C), and it has rained a little this morning. Sunrise is at 6:52 am and sunset is at 8:17 pm.

This week is the first week of our fall birding course. I was determined to go on the first walk, as I so often miss the first outings each session. Actually, I miss most of the walks each session. So, yesterday, 1 September 2020, a group of us met at Carburn Park and split into smaller groups. Everyone wore a mask. My alarms were set for 6:00 am and I did hear them. Unfortunately, I fell asleep again and woke up two and a quarter hours later. Panic! Half an hour later, I was in my car and, amazingly, I arrived there just in time.

Carburn Park is well known for being a good birding area, including for Warblers during migration. I rarely get over there, but my intention is good. Yesterday, only three species of Warbler were seen - Yellow, Yellow-rumped and Wilson's.

The four Wood Ducks were perhaps the highlight for me. They were, I believe, the first ones I had seen this year. Going for drives instead of walks results in missing many birds, but I do get some great birds on my drives, that I wouldn't see on walks in the city.

We were fortunate to see a Great Horned Owl, too. People don't always find one - they are very well-camouflaged in amongst the trees. No chance for a decent shot, but I am posting a photo for the record.

At one of the places we stopped to check out the birds on the river, I noticed a large Darner dragonfly fly in and land on someone's shirt. Luckily, it stayed there long enough for me to take a photo or two.

It felt so good to catch up with long-time friends in the safest way possible. During all the summer months, I had only been on two local walks, one of which was very disappointing safety-wise. I decided to be safe rather than sorry.

Tags:   Calgary Alberta Canada Carburn Park nature wildlife avian ornithology bird Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler perched tree branch back/side view outdoor summer 1 September 2020 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2020 © All Rights Reserved unidentified

© All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, 2 September 2020: the temperature at 11:00 am is 10C (windchill 7C), and it has rained a little this morning. Sunrise is at 6:52 am and sunset is at 8:17 pm.

This week is the first week of our fall birding course. I was determined to go on the first walk, as I so often miss the first outings each session. Actually, I miss most of the walks each session. So, yesterday, 1 September 2020, a group of us met at Carburn Park and split into smaller groups. Everyone wore a mask. My alarms were set for 6:00 am and I did hear them. Unfortunately, I fell asleep again and woke up two and a quarter hours later. Panic! Half an hour later, I was in my car and, amazingly, I arrived there just in time.

Carburn Park is well known for being a good birding area, including for Warblers during migration. I rarely get over there, but my intention is good. Yesterday, only three species of Warbler were seen - Yellow, Yellow-rumped and Wilson's.

The four Wood Ducks were perhaps the highlight for me. They were, I believe, the first ones I had seen this year. Going for drives instead of walks results in missing many birds, but I do get some great birds on my drives, that I wouldn't see on walks in the city.

We were fortunate to see a Great Horned Owl, too. People don't always find one - they are very well-camouflaged in amongst the trees. No chance for a decent shot, but I am posting a photo for the record.

At one of the places we stopped to check out the birds on the river, I noticed a large Darner dragonfly fly in and land on someone's shirt. Luckily, it stayed there long enough for me to take a photo or two.

It felt so good to catch up with long-time friends in the safest way possible. During all the summer months, I had only been on two local walks, one of which was very disappointing safety-wise. I decided to be safe rather than sorry.

Tags:   Calgary Alberta Canada Carburn Park nature wildlife avian ornithology bird Raven Common Raven Corvus corax Corvidae front/side view perched branch tree foliage outdoor summer 1 September 2020 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2020 © All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, 2 September 2020: the temperature at 11:00 am is 10C (windchill 7C), and it has rained a little this morning. Sunrise is at 6:52 am and sunset is at 8:17 pm.

This week is the first week of our fall birding course. I was determined to go on the first walk, as I so often miss the first outings each session. Actually, I miss most of the walks each session. So, yesterday, 1 September 2020, a group of us met at Carburn Park and split into smaller groups. Everyone wore a mask. My alarms were set for 6:00 am and I did hear them. Unfortunately, I fell asleep again and woke up two and a quarter hours later. Panic! Half an hour later, I was in my car and, amazingly, I arrived there just in time.

Carburn Park is well known for being a good birding area, including for Warblers during migration. I rarely get over there, but my intention is good. Yesterday, only three species of Warbler were seen - Yellow, Yellow-rumped and Wilson's.

The four Wood Ducks were perhaps the highlight for me. They were, I believe, the first ones I had seen this year. Going for drives instead of walks results in missing many birds, but I do get some great birds on my drives, that I wouldn't see on walks in the city.

We were fortunate to see a Great Horned Owl, too. People don't always find one - they are very well-camouflaged in amongst the trees. No chance for a decent shot, but I am posting a photo for the record.

At one of the places we stopped to check out the birds on the river, I noticed a large Darner dragonfly fly in and land on someone's shirt. Luckily, it stayed there long enough for me to take a photo or two.

It felt so good to catch up with long-time friends in the safest way possible. During all the summer months, I had only been on two local walks, one of which was very disappointing safety-wise. I decided to be safe rather than sorry.

Tags:   Calgary Alberta Canada Carburn Park nature wildlife avian ornithology bird bird of prey owl Great Horned Owl adult perched tree branch foliage well-hidden outdoor summer 1 September 2020 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2020 © All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved