I believe this was my first drive out to Kananaskis this year. Late last September 2020 and late November were my last visits. Normally, I would have gone earlier in the summer, but we had smoke from the wildfires, which blocked out the mountains. There are certain mountain peaks that I love to see each time I go, so I waited.

Yesterday, 13 September 2021, was so enjoyable, with all sorts of things to see and appreciate. I had hoped to leave home much earlier than I did, but I still had time to get to the places I really wanted to see. The sun was shining, the sky was blue.

One of my destinations was to check on any little Pikas that might happen to be around. I think I heard three different ones, but only got a few photos of one of them. As long as I see one I am happy. They are so hard to see, especially with aging eyes.

The Larch trees hadn't really started turning yellow yet. I had the feeling that it might still be too early, but I wanted to make sure that I got at least one trip out there before the snow arrives. Last September 2020, we had a snowstorm on 28 or 29 September!

At one place I stopped, I decided to park in a rough parking area instead of just turning my car around and stopping right by the road. Walking a few steps and avoiding the many small rocks that were scattered, I suddenly stopped in my tracks, completely in awe. There, in front of me, was a wonderful display of Shaggy Mane mushrooms, all at different stages! After photographing pretty well every one, I walked maybe 20 feet further and there was another patch of them. I so rarely see these beautiful fungi and when I do, there is either just one, maybe two. Yesterday, there must have been around 50 in total.

This was not a birding trip, but I did see about eight hawks, one Common Raven and a Magpie or two. When I do this drive, it is to see the spectacular scenery that we are so lucky to have, and to spend just a little time with the Pikas.

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The display is in memory of the many victims of Canada's residential schools. Similar displays have also been created at other locations. Canada had 146 residential schools. At least 25 of them were in Alberta.

calgary.ctvnews.ca/hundreds-of-teddy-bears-placed-in-supp...

Taken through the windshield before the hawk flew.

I believe this was my first drive out to Kananaskis this year. Late last September 2020 and late November were my last visits. Normally, I would have gone earlier in the summer, but we had smoke from the wildfires, which blocked out the mountains. There are certain mountain peaks that I love to see each time I go, so I waited.

Yesterday, 13 September 2021, was so enjoyable, with all sorts of things to see and appreciate. I had hoped to leave home much earlier than I did, but I still had time to get to the places I really wanted to see. The sun was shining, the sky was blue.

One of my destinations was to check on any little Pikas/Rock Rabbits that might happen to be around. I think I heard three different ones, but only got a few photos of one of them. As long as I see one I am happy. They are so hard to see, being the same colouring as the rocks, especially with aging eyes.

The Larch trees hadn't really started turning yellow yet. I had the feeling that it might still be too early, but I wanted to make sure that I got at least one trip out there before the snow arrives. Last September, we had a snowstorm on 28 or 29 September!

At one place I stopped, I decided to park in a rough parking area instead of just turning my car around and stopping right by the road. Walking a few steps and avoiding the many small rocks that were scattered, I suddenly stopped in my tracks, completely in awe. There, in front of me, was a wonderful display of Shaggy Mane mushrooms, all at different stages! After photographing pretty well every one, I walked maybe 20 feet further and there was another patch of them. I so rarely see these beautiful fungi and when I do, there is either just one, maybe two. Yesterday, there must have been around 50 in total.

This was not a birding trip, but I did see about eight hawks, one Common Raven and a Magpie or two. When I do this drive, it is to see the spectacular scenery that we are so lucky to have, and to spend just a little time with the Pikas.

© All Rights Reserved

I believe this was my first drive out to Kananaskis this year. Late last September 2020 and late November were my last visits. Normally, I would have gone earlier in the summer, but we had smoke from the wildfires, which blocked out the mountains. There are certain mountain peaks that I love to see each time I go, so I waited.

Yesterday, 13 September 2021, was so enjoyable, with all sorts of things to see and appreciate. I had hoped to leave home much earlier than I did, but I still had time to get to the places I really wanted to see. The sun was shining, the sky was blue.

One of my destinations was to check on any little Pikas/Rock Rabbits that might happen to be around. I think I heard three different ones, but only got a few photos of one of them. As long as I see one I am happy. They are so hard to see, being the same colouring as the rocks, especially with aging eyes.

The Larch trees hadn't really started turning yellow yet. I had the feeling that it might still be too early, but I wanted to make sure that I got at least one trip out there before the snow arrives. Last September, we had a snowstorm on 28 or 29 September!

At one place I stopped, I decided to park in a rough parking area instead of just turning my car around and stopping right by the road. Walking a few steps and avoiding the many small rocks that were scattered, I suddenly stopped in my tracks, completely in awe. There, in front of me, was a wonderful display of Shaggy Mane mushrooms, all at different stages! After photographing pretty well every one, I walked maybe 20 feet further and there was another patch of them. I so rarely see these beautiful fungi and when I do, there is either just one, maybe two. Yesterday, there must have been around 50 in total.

This was not a birding trip, but I did see about eight hawks, one Common Raven and a Magpie or two. When I do this drive, it is to see the spectacular scenery that we are so lucky to have, and to spend just a little time with the Pikas.

Tags:   Alberta Canada SW of Calgary Kananaskis nature mycology fungus fungi mushroom mushrooms Shaggy Mane two side by side grass outdoor summer 13 September 2021 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott

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Taken through the windshield before the hawk flew.

I believe this was my first drive out to Kananaskis this year. Late last September 2020 and late November were my last visits. Normally, I would have gone earlier in the summer, but we had smoke from the wildfires, which blocked out the mountains. There are certain mountain peaks that I love to see each time I go, so I waited.

Yesterday, 13 September 2021, was so enjoyable, with all sorts of things to see and appreciate. I had hoped to leave home much earlier than I did, but I still had time to get to the places I really wanted to see. The sun was shining, the sky was blue.

One of my destinations was to check on any little Pikas/Rock Rabbits that might happen to be around. I think I heard three different ones, but only got a few photos of one of them. As long as I see one I am happy. They are so hard to see, being the same colouring as the rocks, especially with aging eyes.

The Larch trees hadn't really started turning yellow yet. I had the feeling that it might still be too early, but I wanted to make sure that I got at least one trip out there before the snow arrives. Last September, we had a snowstorm on 28 or 29 September!

At one place I stopped, I decided to park in a rough parking area instead of just turning my car around and stopping right by the road. Walking a few steps and avoiding the many small rocks that were scattered, I suddenly stopped in my tracks, completely in awe. There, in front of me, was a wonderful display of Shaggy Mane mushrooms, all at different stages! After photographing pretty well every one, I walked maybe 20 feet further and there was another patch of them. I so rarely see these beautiful fungi and when I do, there is either just one, maybe two. Yesterday, there must have been around 50 in total.

This was not a birding trip, but I did see about eight hawks, one Common Raven and a Magpie or two. When I do this drive, it is to see the spectacular scenery that we are so lucky to have, and to spend just a little time with the Pikas.

Tags:   Prairie Falcon

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These little Pikas/Rock Rabbits are only 6-9 inches long and are usually seen far away, running backwards and forwards over the scree (talus) slope that they call home. Very occasionally, one happens to come somewhat closer, usually for just a quick moment.

"The American Pika is a generalist herbivore. It eats a large variety of green plants, including different kinds of grasses, sedges, thistles and fireweed. Although pikas can meet their water demands from the vegetation they eat, they do drink water if it is available in their environment. Pikas have two different ways of foraging: they directly consume food (feeding) or they cache food in haypiles to use for a food source in the winter (haying). The pika feeds throughout the year while haying is limited to the summer months. Since they do not hibernate, pikas have greater energy demands than other montane mammals. In addition, they also make 13 trips per hour to collect vegetation when haying, up to a little over 100 trips per day." From Wikipedia.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_pika

A couple of short YouTube videos in case anyone wants to hear and see these absolutely cute creatures:

youtu.be/US_Hy_eGPtg

youtu.be/OQ2IgcjVIfc

I believe this was my first drive out to Kananaskis this year. Late last September 2020 and late November were my last visits. Normally, I would have gone earlier in the summer, but we had smoke from the wildfires, which blocked out the mountains. There are certain mountain peaks that I love to see each time I go, so I waited.

Yesterday, 13 September 2021, was so enjoyable, with all sorts of things to see and appreciate. I had hoped to leave home much earlier than I did, but I still had time to get to the places I really wanted to see. The sun was shining, the sky was blue.

One of my destinations was to check on any little Pikas that might happen to be around. I think I heard three different ones, but only got a few photos of one of them. As long as I see one I am happy. They are so hard to see, especially with aging eyes.

The Larch trees hadn't really started turning yellow yet. I had the feeling that it might still be too early, but I wanted to make sure that I got at least one trip out there before the snow arrives. Last September, we had a snowstorm on 28 or 29 September!

At one place I stopped, I decided to park in a rough parking area instead of just turning my car around and stopping right by the road. Walking a few steps and avoiding the many small rocks that were scattered, I suddenly stopped in my tracks, completely in awe. There, in front of me, was a wonderful display of Shaggy Mane mushrooms, all at different stages! After photographing pretty well every one, I walked maybe 20 feet further and there was another patch of them. I so rarely see these beautiful fungi and when I do, there is either just one, maybe two. Yesterday, there must have been around 50 in total.

This was not a birding trip, but I did see about eight hawks, one Common Raven and a Magpie or two. When I do this drive, it is to see the spectacular scenery that we are so lucky to have, and to spend just a little time with the Pikas. Total drive was 334 km.

Tags:   Alberta Canada SW of Calgary Kananaskis nature wildlife animal wild animal Pika American Pika Ochotona princeps rocks scree talus outdoor summer 13 September 2021 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 annkelliott Anne Elliott

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