Wednesday, 13 January 2021: our temperature is 0C (windchill -9C) at 11:00 am. Sunrise is at 8:34 am, and sunset is at 4:55 pm. We had rain overnight and today is very windy and overcast. We are under a wind warning, with wind 67 km/h and gusts of 87 km/h. Snow is forecast for this afternoon.

I have seen this individual once before, on 1 December 2020, and it is still hanging out in one of our city parks. This time, we saw it for just a moment or two and then off it flew upstream and out of sight. Posting this poor quality image just for the record.

"Long-tailed Duck – Regular in very small numbers in fall, especially on Glenmore Reservoir; also on the Bow River, e.g. Carseland Weir." From Nature Calgary.

"The breeding habitat of the Long-tailed Duck is in tundra pools and marshes, but also along sea coasts and in large mountain lakes in the North Atlantic region, Alaska, northern Canada, northern Europe, and Russia. The nest is located on the ground near water; it is built using vegetation and lined with down. They are migratory and winter along the eastern and western coasts of North America, on the Great Lakes, coastal northern Europe and Asia, with stragglers to the Black Sea. The most important wintering area is the Baltic Sea, where a total of about 4.5 million gather.

The long-tailed duck is gregarious, forming large flocks in winter and during migration. They feed by diving for mollusks, crustaceans and some small fish. Although they usually feed close to the surface, they are capable of diving to depths of 60 m (200 ft). According to the Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds they can dive to 80 fathoms (146 meters or 480 feet). They are the only ducks that use their wings to dive, which gives them the ability to dive much deeper than other ducks." From Wikipedia.

Yesterday, 12 January 2021, the weather was an improvement on today's weather, but the light was vey poor for photography. A group of birders met at Carburn Park and divided into small groups of 10 participants or less, all wearing masks. The quote below gives the permission to continue with the birding groups.

"The input that we received from the province sees us as an outdoor recreational activity (not a social gathering), which allows us to continue, but we must comply with the protocols as set out by Alberta Health and the Friends of Fish Creek."

I have to admit that I really did not feel comfortable yesterday morning, for the whole time. A woman was angry with us when we were still in the parking lot, quoting "social gathering" was not allowed. Being in a group of walkers somehow just didn't feel completely right.

The park was absolutely packed with dog walkers, cyclists, people wearing no masks and walking fast and not by themselves, and people who visit this park very frequently. This was a weekday, not even a weekend day. I would guess that this location is packed daily. It is a park that I rarely go to (maybe three times last year) and I would feel guilty if I went there very often, just adding to the already overuse at such a risky time, much as I would like to go a little more often.

When we returned to the parking lot at the end of the walk, a man working at the park was telling us that complaints had been made about our groups. My discomfort was obviously shared by other park visitors. We are all in such a sad, complicated time.

Tags:   Calgary Alberta Canada Carburn Park nature wildlife avian ornithology bird duck waterfowl Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis male ongoing bird front/side view swimming water river rapids constantly diving outdoor winter 12 January 2021 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott

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Wednesday, 13 January 2021: our temperature is 0C (windchill -9C) at 11:00 am. Sunrise is at 8:34 am, and sunset is at 4:55 pm. We had rain overnight and today is very windy and overcast. We are under a wind warning, with wind 67 km/h and gusts of 87 km/h. Snow is forecast for this afternoon.

Yesterday, 12 January 2021, the weather was an improvement on today's weather, but the light was vey poor for photography. A group of birders met at Carburn Park and divided into small groups of 10 participants or less, all wearing masks. The quote below gives the permission to continue with the birding groups.

"The input that we received from the province sees us as an outdoor recreational activity (not a social gathering), which allows us to continue, but we must comply with the protocols as set out by Alberta Health and the Friends of Fish Creek."

I have to admit that I really did not feel comfortable yesterday morning, for the whole time. A woman was angry with us when we were still in the parking lot, quoting "social gathering" was not allowed. Being in a group of walkers somehow just didn't feel completely right.

The park was absolutely packed with dog walkers, cyclists, people wearing no masks and walking fast and not by themselves, and people who visit this park very frequently. This was a weekday, not even a weekend day. I would guess that this location is packed daily. It is a park that I rarely go to (maybe three times last year) and I would feel guilty if I went there very often, just adding to the already overuse at such a risky time, much as I would like to go a little more often.

When we returned to the parking lot at the end of the walk, a man working at the park was telling us that complaints had been made about our groups. My discomfort was obviously shared by other park visitors. We are all in such a sad, complicated time.

© All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, 13 January 2021: our temperature is 0C (windchill -9C) at 11:00 am. Sunrise is at 8:34 am, and sunset is at 4:55 pm. We had rain overnight and today is very windy and overcast. We are under a wind warning, with wind 67 km/h and gusts of 87 km/h. Snow is forecast for this afternoon.

Yesterday, 12 January 2021, the weather was an improvement on today's weather, but the light was vey poor for photography. A group of birders met at Carburn Park and divided into small groups of 10 participants or less, all wearing masks. The quote below gives the permission to continue with the birding groups.

"The input that we received from the province sees us as an outdoor recreational activity (not a social gathering), which allows us to continue, but we must comply with the protocols as set out by Alberta Health and the Friends of Fish Creek."

I have to admit that I really did not feel comfortable yesterday morning, for the whole time. A woman was angry with us when we were still in the parking lot, quoting "social gathering" was not allowed. Being in a group of walkers somehow just didn't feel completely right.

The park was absolutely packed with dog walkers, cyclists, people wearing no masks and walking fast and not by themselves, and people who visit this park very frequently. This was a weekday, not even a weekend day. I would guess that this location is packed daily. It is a park that I rarely go to (maybe three times last year) and I would feel guilty if I went there very often, just adding to the already overuse at such a risky time, much as I would like to go a little more often.

When we returned to the parking lot at the end of the walk, a man working at the park was telling us that complaints had been made about our groups. My discomfort was obviously shared by other park visitors. We are all in such a sad, complicated time.

Tags:   Calgary Alberta Canada Carburn Park nature wildlife animal wild wild animal deer White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus front/side view trees snow outdoor winter 12 January 2021 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2021 © All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, 13 January 2021: our temperature is 0C (windchill -9C) at 11:00 am. Sunrise is at 8:34 am, and sunset is at 4:55 pm. We had rain overnight and today is very windy and overcast. We are under a wind warning, with wind 67 km/h and gusts of 87 km/h. Snow is forecast for this afternoon.

Yesterday, 12 January 2021, the weather was an improvement on today's weather, but the light was vey poor for photography. A group of birders met at Carburn Park and divided into small groups of 10 participants or less, all wearing masks. The quote below gives the permission to continue with the birding groups.

"The input that we received from the province sees us as an outdoor recreational activity (not a social gathering), which allows us to continue, but we must comply with the protocols as set out by Alberta Health and the Friends of Fish Creek."

I have to admit that I really did not feel comfortable yesterday morning, for the whole time. A woman was angry with us when we were still in the parking lot, quoting "social gathering" was not allowed. Being in a group of walkers somehow just didn't feel completely right.

The park was absolutely packed with dog walkers, cyclists, people wearing no masks and walking fast and not by themselves, and people who visit this park very frequently. This was a weekday, not even a weekend day. I would guess that this location is packed daily. It is a park that I rarely go to (maybe three times last year) and I would feel guilty if I went there very often, just adding to the already overuse at such a risky time, much as I would like to go a little more often.

When we returned to the parking lot at the end of the walk, a man working at the park was telling us that complaints had been made about our groups. My discomfort was obviously shared by other park visitors. We are all in such a sad, complicated time.

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Thursday, 14 January 2021: our temperature is 0C (windchill -6C) at noon. Sunrise is at 8:34 am, and sunset is at 4:57 pm. A sunny day.

Wednesday, 13 January 2021: our temperature is 0C (windchill -9C) at 11:00 am. Sunrise is at 8:34 am, and sunset is at 4:55 pm. We had rain overnight and today is very windy and overcast. We are under a wind warning, with wind 67 km/h and gusts of 87 km/h. Snow is forecast for this afternoon.

Yesterday, 12 January 2021, the weather was an improvement on today's weather, but the light was vey poor for photography. A group of birders met at Carburn Park and divided into small groups of 10 participants or less, all wearing masks. The quote below gives the permission to continue with the birding groups.

"The input that we received from the province sees us as an outdoor recreational activity (not a social gathering), which allows us to continue, but we must comply with the protocols as set out by Alberta Health and the Friends of Fish Creek."

I have to admit that I really did not feel comfortable that morning, for the whole time. A woman was angry with us when we were still in the parking lot, quoting "social gathering" was not allowed. Being in a group of walkers somehow just didn't feel completely right.

The park was absolutely packed with dog walkers, cyclists, people wearing no masks and walking fast and not by themselves, and people who visit this park very frequently. This was a weekday, not even a weekend day. I would guess that this location is packed daily. It is a park that I rarely go to (maybe three times last year) and I would feel guilty if I went there very often, just adding to the already overuse at such a risky time, much as I would like to go a little more often.

When we returned to the parking lot at the end of the walk, a man working at the park was telling us that complaints had been made about our groups. My discomfort was obviously shared by other park visitors. We are all in such a sad, complicated time. (Added 19 January: apparently, there were five different complaints made!)

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