On 15 May 2021, i finally did a long drive that I had wanted to do the last few years, but never really been brave enough to do it. So glad I made myself do this, and it was a great day.
Much of the driving was on backroads that had a thick layer of loose, chunky gravel, making driving very unpleasant. It tends to push the wheels towards the side of the road, so one has to concentrate on trying to drive in a straight line. My arms and wrists ached like crazy from gripping the steering wheel, so I had hoped to finish my descriptions today. However, I have had to get all sorts of things done today because I know the repairmen may be taking out all my windows and putting them back, along with new frames, this week. I will have to be home, as they will need to have access to my place. After checking the weather forecast this evening, I see we are supposed to have two sunny days, followed by five days that have rain in the forecast. Hopefully, they won't do this window work if it rains! It has now been six weeks that they have been replacing all sorts of wooden beams outside and adding two (?) layers of whatever material they use, before they eventually install new siding.
So, the day before yesterday, it looked a good day to go for a long drive to take my mind off all the work that has to be done. The forecast looked good, though it made no mention of the haze which made scenic shots useless. It felt so good to see quite a few birds for a change. The highlight of my day was briefly seeing a Swainson's Hawk perched on a fence post. I took a couple of shots, which had to be through my windshield. The hawk put its head down and that is when I realized that it had a snake held in its talons. It took a couple of pecks at the snake while I was watching (and taking a few seconds of video), and then off it flew. I wonder if it had a nest with babies in it nearby.
Another highlight for me, was to come across a beautiful female Merlin, also perched on a fence post. It had been quite a while since I last saw a Merlin.
At the beginning of my drive, I would have liked to call in for breakfast at the Saskatoon Farm, but I knew it would be really busy on a Saturday. Likewise at the end of the day, I would have liked to call in at Frank Lake, but I always try and avoid busy places. Makes no sense when someone has the weekdays in which to visit places like city parks. Some people are still working, so I prefer to usually leave the parks for them.
I did call in at one of my favourite sloughs on the way home and enjoyed watching quite a few White-faced Ibis feeding and preening. So peaceful in a place with no other cars or people.
Of course, no day would be complete without spotting an old barn or two. These included one of my absolute favourite barns, photographed and posted previously, too.
Tags: Alberta Canada S of Calgary nature wildlife ornithology avian bird falcon bird of prey Merlin Falco columbarius female side view close-up field bokeh outdoor spring 15 May 2021 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2021 © All Rights Reserved
© All Rights Reserved
On 15 May 2021, i finally did a long drive that I had wanted to do the last few years, but never really been brave enough to do it. So glad I made myself do this, and it was a great day.
Much of the driving was on backroads that had a thick layer of loose, chunky gravel, making driving very unpleasant. It tends to push the wheels towards the side of the road, so one has to concentrate on trying to drive in a straight line. My arms and wrists ached like crazy from gripping the steering wheel, so I had hoped to finish my descriptions today. However, I have had to get all sorts of things done today because I know the repairmen may be taking out all my windows and putting them back, along with new frames, this week. I will have to be home, as they will need to have access to my place. After checking the weather forecast this evening, I see we are supposed to have two sunny days, followed by five days that have rain in the forecast. Hopefully, they won't do this window work if it rains! It has now been six weeks that they have been replacing all sorts of wooden beams outside and adding two (?) layers of whatever material they use, before they eventually install new siding.
So, the day before yesterday, it looked a good day to go for a long drive to take my mind off all the work that has to be done. The forecast looked good, though it made no mention of the haze which made scenic shots useless. It felt so good to see quite a few birds for a change. The highlight of my day was briefly seeing a Swainson's Hawk perched on a fence post. I took a couple of shots, which had to be through my windshield. The hawk put its head down and that is when I realized that it had a snake held in its talons. It took a couple of pecks at the snake while I was watching (and taking a few seconds of video), and then off it flew. I wonder if it had a nest with babies in it nearby.
Another highlight for me, was to come across a beautiful female Merlin, also perched on a fence post. It had been quite a while since I last saw a Merlin.
At the beginning of my drive, I would have liked to call in for breakfast at the Saskatoon Farm, but I knew it would be really busy on a Saturday. Likewise at the end of the day, I would have liked to call in at Frank Lake, but I always try and avoid busy places. Makes no sense when someone has the weekdays in which to visit places like city parks. Some people are still working, so I prefer to usually leave the parks for them.
I did call in at one of my favourite sloughs on the way home and enjoyed watching quite a few White-faced Ibis feeding and preening. So peaceful in a place with no other cars or people.
Of course, no day would be complete without spotting an old barn or two. These included one of my absolute favourite barns, photographed and posted previously, too.
Tags: Alberta Canada S of Calgary video nature wildlife ornithology avian bird bird of prey raptor hawk Swainson's Hawk Buteo swainsoni adult front/side view standing fence post snake prey snake held in talons maybe food for babies? field bokeh outdoor spring 15 May 2021 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2021 © All Rights Reserved
© All Rights Reserved
On 15 May 2021, i finally did a long drive that I had wanted to do the last few years, but never really been brave enough to do it. So glad I made myself do this, and it was a great day.
Much of the driving was on backroads that had a thick layer of loose, chunky gravel, making driving very unpleasant. It tends to push the wheels towards the side of the road, so one has to concentrate on trying to drive in a straight line. My arms and wrists ached like crazy from gripping the steering wheel, so I had hoped to finish my descriptions today. However, I have had to get all sorts of things done today because I know the repairmen may be taking out all my windows and putting them back, along with new frames, this week. I will have to be home, as they will need to have access to my place. After checking the weather forecast this evening, I see we are supposed to have two sunny days, followed by five days that have rain in the forecast. Hopefully, they won't do this window work if it rains! It has now been six weeks that they have been replacing all sorts of wooden beams outside and adding two (?) layers of whatever material they use, before they eventually install new siding.
So, the day before yesterday, it looked a good day to go for a long drive to take my mind off all the work that has to be done. The forecast looked good, though it made no mention of the haze which made scenic shots useless. It felt so good to see quite a few birds for a change. The highlight of my day was briefly seeing a Swainson's Hawk perched on a fence post. I took a couple of shots, which had to be through my windshield. The hawk put its head down and that is when I realized that it had a snake held in its talons. It took a couple of pecks at the snake while I was watching (and taking a few seconds of video), and then off it flew. I wonder if it had a nest with babies in it nearby.
Another highlight for me, was to come across a beautiful female Merlin, also perched on a fence post. It had been quite a while since I last saw a Merlin.
At the beginning of my drive, I would have liked to call in for breakfast at the Saskatoon Farm, but I knew it would be really busy on a Saturday. Likewise at the end of the day, I would have liked to call in at Frank Lake, but I always try and avoid busy places. Makes no sense when someone has the weekdays in which to visit places like city parks. Some people are still working, so I prefer to usually leave the parks for them.
I did call in at one of my favourite sloughs on the way home and enjoyed watching quite a few White-faced Ibis feeding and preening. So peaceful in a place with no other cars or people.
Of course, no day would be complete without spotting an old barn or two. These included one of my absolute favourite barns, photographed and posted previously, too.
Tags: Alberta Canada SE of Calgary nature wildlife ornithology avian White-faced Ibis iridescence
© All Rights Reserved
On 15 May 2021, i finally did a long drive that I had wanted to do the last few years, but never really been brave enough to do it. So glad I made myself do this, and it was a great day.
Much of the driving was on backroads that had a thick layer of loose, chunky gravel, making driving very unpleasant. It tends to push the wheels towards the side of the road, so one has to concentrate on trying to drive in a straight line. My arms and wrists ached like crazy from gripping the steering wheel, so I had hoped to finish my descriptions today. However, I have had to get all sorts of things done today because I know the repairmen may be taking out all my windows and putting them back, along with new frames, this week. I will have to be home, as they will need to have access to my place. After checking the weather forecast this evening, I see we are supposed to have two sunny days, followed by five days that have rain in the forecast. Hopefully, they won't do this window work if it rains! It has now been six weeks that they have been replacing all sorts of wooden beams outside and adding two (?) layers of whatever material they use, before they eventually install new siding.
So, the day before yesterday, it looked a good day to go for a long drive to take my mind off all the work that has to be done. The forecast looked good, though it made no mention of the haze which made scenic shots useless. It felt so good to see quite a few birds for a change. The highlight of my day was briefly seeing a Swainson's Hawk perched on a fence post. I took a couple of shots, which had to be through my windshield. The hawk put its head down and that is when I realized that it had a snake held in its talons. It took a couple of pecks at the snake while I was watching (and taking a few seconds of video), and then off it flew. I wonder if it had a nest with babies in it nearby.
Another highlight for me, was to come across a beautiful female Merlin, also perched on a fence post. It had been quite a while since I last saw a Merlin.
At the beginning of my drive, I would have liked to call in for breakfast at the Saskatoon Farm, but I knew it would be really busy on a Saturday. Likewise at the end of the day, I would have liked to call in at Frank Lake, but I always try and avoid busy places. Makes no sense when someone has the weekdays in which to visit places like city parks. Some people are still working, so I prefer to usually leave the parks for them.
I did call in at one of my favourite sloughs on the way home and enjoyed watching quite a few White-faced Ibis feeding and preening. So peaceful in a place with no other cars or people.
Of course, no day would be complete without spotting an old barn or two. These included one of my absolute favourite barns, photographed and posted previously, too.
Tags: Alberta Canada S of Calgary nature wildlife ornithology avian bird Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta adult back/side view perched fence post field bokeh outdoor spring 15 May 2021 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2021 © All Rights Reserved
© All Rights Reserved
A really bad photo, taken through the windshield, giving it a greenish tinge. I tried to rescue it the best I could, but wanted to post it, as this is not something I usually see.
On 15 May 2021, i finally did a long drive that I had wanted to do the last few years, but never really been brave enough to do it. So glad I made myself do this, and it was a great day.
Much of the driving was on backroads that had a thick layer of loose, chunky gravel, making driving very unpleasant. It tends to push the wheels towards the side of the road, so one has to concentrate on trying to drive in a straight line. My arms and wrists ached like crazy from gripping the steering wheel, so I had hoped to finish my descriptions today. However, I have had to get all sorts of things done today because I know the repairmen may be taking out all my windows and putting them back, along with new frames, this week. I will have to be home, as they will need to have access to my place. After checking the weather forecast this evening, I see we are supposed to have two sunny days, followed by five days that have rain in the forecast. Hopefully, they won't do this window work if it rains! It has now been six weeks that they have been replacing all sorts of wooden beams outside and adding two (?) layers of whatever material they use, before they eventually install new siding.
So, the day before yesterday, it looked a good day to go for a long drive to take my mind off all the work that has to be done. The forecast looked good, though it made no mention of the haze which made scenic shots useless. It felt so good to see quite a few birds for a change. The highlight of my day was briefly seeing a Swainson's Hawk perched on a fence post. I took a couple of shots, which had to be through my windshield. The hawk put its head down and that is when I realized that it had a snake held in its talons. It took a couple of pecks at the snake while I was watching (and taking a few seconds of video), and then off it flew. I wonder if it had a nest with babies in it nearby.
Another highlight for me, was to come across a beautiful female Merlin, also perched on a fence post. It had been quite a while since I last saw a Merlin.
At the beginning of my drive, I would have liked to call in for breakfast at the Saskatoon Farm, but I knew it would be really busy on a Saturday. Likewise at the end of the day, I would have liked to call in at Frank Lake, but I always try and avoid busy places. Makes no sense when someone has the weekdays in which to visit places like city parks. Some people are still working, so I prefer to usually leave the parks for them.
I did call in at one of my favourite sloughs on the way home and enjoyed watching quite a few White-faced Ibis feeding and preening. So peaceful in a place with no other cars or people.
Of course, no day would be complete without spotting an old barn or two. These included one of my absolute favourite barns, photographed and posted previously, too.
Tags: Alberta Canada S of Calgary nature wildlife ornithology avian bird bird of prey raptor hawk Swainson's Hawk Buteo swainsoni adult front/side view standing fence post snake prey snake in beak maybe food for babies? field bokeh outdoor spring 15 May 2021 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2021 © All Rights Reserved
© All Rights Reserved