Wednesday, 1 June 2022: our temperature is 16°C (windchill 16°C) at 1:00 pm. Sunrise was at 5:27 am, and sunset is at 9:41 pm. Partly cloudy, with the sun trying to break through the cloud.

On Sunday, 29 May 2022, I took part in the annual May Species Count for the Calgary region. The count is on both weekend days, but I only went on the Sunday. The area covered by the four of us lies SW of Calgary and includes one of my favourite areas, so I always find this day interesting.

My alarm clocks were set for 4:30 am and I was out of the house just before 6:30 am. We used two cars and met at 7:00 am. I just had time to first check for any Wilson's Snipes near the meeting place. Only found one, unlike the five I found there last year. After checking out two or three very short roads, we went to a favourite private property, where I was able to get a few photos just about fit to post after being post-processed. Unfortunately, it was so early in the morning and the weather was unpleasant, including a few raindrops, making photography a real challenge. No sharp photos : ( A delight to see a Baltimore Oriole, my first of this year. How they love those oranges! This property has many bird feeders, each one numbered and on webcam. Two beautiful, friendly horses accompanied us when we went for a walk across the field.

We ended the day maybe mid-afternoon, on a high of seeing a Bobolink, a bird that is not easy to find. We heard four of them but I was able to get distant photos of just one of them, perched way out in a field. I look forward to the arrival of this species each year and this was the first.

After the Count, I drove several familiar roads on the way home, but saw practically nothing. I discovered one reason yesterday, 31 May, when I did a drive W and SW of the city. Road-resurfacing! On one of my 'usual' roads - my Wilson's Snipe road, sigh. One of the workmen warned me that I would not want to drive down there and make a mess of my car. However, on a different road yesterday, I was happy to see an American Kestrel perched on a high wire, a distant Common Loon, and a Solitary Sandpiper, all within a few minutes of each other.

A total of 65 species were found on Count day, though I did not see all of them. As always, a most enjoyable day! Thanks to the other three friends for their expert birding eyes, I see far more than I would on my own.

Tags:   Alberta Canada SW of Calgary May Species Count 2022 nature wildlife avian ornithology bird Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor male migration back/side view iridescence perched fence railing Castell Ranch private property field bokeh outdoor spring 29 May 2022 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott

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Wednesday, 1 June 2022: our temperature is 16°C (windchill 16°C) at 1:00 pm. Sunrise was at 5:27 am, and sunset is at 9:41 pm. Partly cloudy, with the sun trying to break through the cloud.

On Sunday, 29 May 2022, I took part in the annual May Species Count for the Calgary region. The count is on both weekend days, but I only went on the Sunday. The area covered by the four of us lies SW of Calgary and includes one of my favourite areas, so I always find this day interesting.

My alarm clocks were set for 4:30 am and I was out of the house just before 6:30 am. We used two cars and met at 7:00 am. I just had time to first check for any Wilson's Snipes near the meeting place. Only found one, unlike the five I found there last year. After checking out two or three very short roads, we went to a favourite private property, where I was able to get a few photos just about fit to post after being post-processed. Unfortunately, it was so early in the morning and the weather was unpleasant, including a few raindrops, making photography a real challenge. No sharp photos : ( A delight to see a Baltimore Oriole, my first of this year. How they love those oranges! This property has many bird feeders, each one numbered and on webcam. Two beautiful, friendly horses accompanied us when we went for a walk across the field.

We ended the day maybe mid-afternoon, on a high of seeing a Bobolink, a bird that is not easy to find. We heard four of them but I was able to get distant photos of just one of them, perched way out in a field. I look forward to the arrival of this species each year and this was the first.

After the Count, I drove several familiar roads on the way home, but saw practically nothing. I discovered one reason yesterday, 31 May, when I did a drive W and SW of the city. Road-resurfacing! On one of my 'usual' roads - my Wilson's Snipe road, sigh. One of the workmen warned me that I would not want to drive down there and make a mess of my car. However, on a different road yesterday, I was happy to see an American Kestrel perched on a high wire, a distant Common Loon, and a Solitary Sandpiper, all within a few minutes of each other.

A total of 65 species were found on Count day, though I did not see all of them. As always, a most enjoyable day! Thanks to the other three friends for their expert birding eyes, I see far more than I would on my own.

© All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, 1 June 2022: our temperature is 16°C (windchill 16°C) at 1:00 pm. Sunrise was at 5:27 am, and sunset is at 9:41 pm. Partly cloudy, with the sun trying to break through the cloud.

On Sunday, 29 May 2022, I took part in the annual May Species Count for the Calgary region. The count is on both weekend days, but I only went on the Sunday. The area covered by the four of us lies SW of Calgary and includes one of my favourite areas, so I always find this day interesting.

My alarm clocks were set for 4:30 am and I was out of the house just before 6:30 am. We used two cars and met at 7:00 am. I just had time to first check for any Wilson's Snipes near the meeting place. Only found one, unlike the five I found there last year. After checking out two or three very short roads, we went to a favourite private property, where I was able to get a few photos just about fit to post after being post-processed. Unfortunately, it was so early in the morning and the weather was unpleasant, including a few raindrops, making photography a real challenge. No sharp photos : ( A delight to see a Baltimore Oriole, my first of this year. How they love those oranges! This property has many bird feeders, each one numbered and on webcam. Two beautiful, friendly horses accompanied us when we went for a walk across the field.

We ended the day maybe mid-afternoon, on a high of seeing a Bobolink, a bird that is not easy to find. We heard four of them but I was able to get distant photos of just one of them, perched way out in a field. I look forward to the arrival of this species each year and this was the first.

After the Count, I drove several familiar roads on the way home, but saw practically nothing. I discovered one reason yesterday, 31 May, when I did a drive W and SW of the city. Road-resurfacing! On one of my 'usual' roads - my Wilson's Snipe road, sigh. One of the workmen warned me that I would not want to drive down there and make a mess of my car. However, on a different road yesterday, I was happy to see an American Kestrel perched on a high wire, a distant Common Loon, and a Solitary Sandpiper, all within a few minutes of each other.

A total of 65 species were found on Count day, though I did not see all of them. As always, a most enjoyable day! Thanks to the other three friends for their expert birding eyes, I see far more than I would on my own.

© All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, 1 June 2022: our temperature is 16°C (windchill 16°C) at 1:00 pm. Sunrise was at 5:27 am, and sunset is at 9:41 pm. Partly cloudy, with the sun trying to break through the cloud.

On Sunday, 29 May 2022, I took part in the annual May Species Count for the Calgary region. The count is on both weekend days, but I only went on the Sunday. The area covered by the four of us lies SW of Calgary and includes one of my favourite areas, so I always find this day interesting.

My alarm clocks were set for 4:30 am and I was out of the house just before 6:30 am. We used two cars and met at 7:00 am. I just had time to first check for any Wilson's Snipes near the meeting place. Only found one, unlike the five I found there last year. After checking out two or three very short roads, we went to a favourite private property, where I was able to get a few photos just about fit to post after being post-processed. Unfortunately, it was so early in the morning and the weather was unpleasant, including a few raindrops, making photography a real challenge. No sharp photos : ( A delight to see a Baltimore Oriole, my first of this year. How they love those oranges! This property has many bird feeders, each one numbered and on webcam. Two beautiful, friendly horses accompanied us when we went for a walk across the field.

We ended the day maybe mid-afternoon, on a high of seeing a Bobolink, a bird that is not easy to find. We heard four of them but I was able to get distant photos of just one of them, perched way out in a field. I look forward to the arrival of this species each year and this was the first.

After the Count, I drove several familiar roads on the way home, but saw practically nothing. I discovered one reason yesterday, 31 May, when I did a drive W and SW of the city. Road-resurfacing! On one of my 'usual' roads - my Wilson's Snipe road, sigh. One of the workmen warned me that I would not want to drive down there and make a mess of my car. However, on a different road yesterday, I was happy to see an American Kestrel perched on a high wire, a distant Common Loon, and a Solitary Sandpiper, all within a few minutes of each other.

A total of 65 species were found on Count day, though I did not see all of them. As always, a most enjoyable day! Thanks to the other three friends for their expert birding eyes, I see far more than I would on my own.

Tags:   Alberta Canada SW of Calgary May Species Count 2022 nature wildlife avian ornithology bird Wilson's Snipe Gallinago delicata migration side view standing small wooden bridge in a field bokeh outdoor 29 May 2022 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott

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Wednesday, 1 June 2022: our temperature is 16°C (windchill 16°C) at 1:00 pm. Sunrise was at 5:27 am, and sunset is at 9:41 pm. Partly cloudy, with the sun trying to break through the cloud.

On Sunday, 29 May 2022, I took part in the annual May Species Count for the Calgary region. The count is on both weekend days, but I only went on the Sunday. The area covered by the four of us lies SW of Calgary and includes one of my favourite areas, so I always find this day interesting.

My alarm clocks were set for 4:30 am and I was out of the house just before 6:30 am. We used two cars and met at 7:00 am. I just had time to first check for any Wilson's Snipes near the meeting place. Only found one, unlike the five I found there last year. After checking out two or three very short roads, we went to a favourite private property, where I was able to get a few photos just about fit to post after being post-processed. Unfortunately, it was so early in the morning and the weather was unpleasant, including a few raindrops, making photography a real challenge. No sharp photos : ( A delight to see a Baltimore Oriole, my first of this year. How they love those oranges! This property has many bird feeders, each one numbered and on webcam. Two beautiful, friendly horses accompanied us when we went for a walk across the field.

We ended the day maybe mid-afternoon, on a high of seeing a Bobolink, a bird that is not easy to find. We heard four of them but I was able to get distant photos of just one of them, perched way out in a field. I look forward to the arrival of this species each year and this was the first.

After the Count, I drove several familiar roads on the way home, but saw practically nothing. I discovered one reason yesterday, 31 May, when I did a drive W and SW of the city. Road-resurfacing! On one of my 'usual' roads - my Wilson's Snipe road, sigh. One of the workmen warned me that I would not want to drive down there and make a mess of my car. However, on a different road yesterday, I was happy to see an American Kestrel perched on a high wire, a distant Common Loon, and a Solitary Sandpiper, all within a few minutes of each other.

A total of 65 species were found on Count day, though I did not see all of them. As always, a most enjoyable day! Thanks to the other three friends for their expert birding eyes, I see far more than I would on my own.

Tags:   Alberta Canada SW of Calgary May Species Count 2022 nature wildlife avian ornithology bird Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula male migration side view feeding fruit orange fence Castell Ranch private property outdoor 29 May 2022 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott

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