This Mountain Bluebird's mate is in my previous photo.

Sunday, 12 June 2022: our temperature is 14°C (windchill 13°C) around 10:00 am. Sunrise was at 5:21 am, and sunset is at 9:50 pm. Partly cloudy.

"Severe storm risk ahead of major rainfall, flood potential for the Prairies. The Prairies are going to be stuck in a stormy pattern heading into this week, with Sunday featuring a risk for severe weather while western areas are bracing for potential flooding with extreme rainfall through Wednesday. Some areas in Alberta could see 75-100+ mm of rain by the time the storm departs. While the region sorely needs rain, this will likely be too much for the dry ground to absorb in a short period of time, so flooding is likely. Cooler temperatures will allow hefty snowfall totals to fall at higher elevations, with locations above 1200-1300 m at risk for seeing accumulating snow for the duration of the storm." From The Weather Network. 100 mm of rain = 3.9370079 inches.

A landscaper was supposed to come sometime yesterday, to fix a few places in my backyard which were not done properly months ago. Had a phone call midday letting me know that a number of their staff are sick, so someone will come next week, on Monday. Unfortunately, yesterday was the last nice day before 4 days of rain. Decided to go for a short drive in the afternoon, just to my usual area, and took four of the five photos I am posting. Photo #5 was taken the day before, on 9 June. We are going to be getting SO much rain for the next few days! Snow in the mountains, too.

I'm not getting much variety in the bird species I am seeing, but I still enjoy photographing the ones I do see. I more or less repeated the drives I have been doing recently. Saw a Bobolink for the third time this spring, though still only from a distance. The Mountain Bluebirds are all so busy gathering insects for their babies. Such a special time of year.

Tags:   Alberta Canada SW of Calgary nature wildlife avian ornithology bird Mountain Bluebird Sialia currucoides male front/side view perched fence post field bokeh outdoor spring 10 June 2022 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2022 © All Rights Reserved thrush species

© All Rights Reserved

"The Bobolink’s common name originates from a poem written by William Cullen Bryant back in the late 19th century. William wrote about a bird he then called Robert of Lincoln. This name was shorten to Bob of Lincoln, and finally became the name it has today: Bob o’Link. The poem was written on account of the bird’s striking appearance." From Nature Canada.

Sunday, 12 June 2022: our temperature is 14°C (windchill 13°C) around 10:00 am. Sunrise was at 5:21 am, and sunset is at 9:50 pm. Partly cloudy.

"Severe storm risk ahead of major rainfall, flood potential for the Prairies. The Prairies are going to be stuck in a stormy pattern heading into this week, with Sunday featuring a risk for severe weather while western areas are bracing for potential flooding with extreme rainfall through Wednesday. Some areas in Alberta could see 75-100+ mm of rain by the time the storm departs. While the region sorely needs rain, this will likely be too much for the dry ground to absorb in a short period of time, so flooding is likely. Cooler temperatures will allow hefty snowfall totals to fall at higher elevations, with locations above 1200-1300 m at risk for seeing accumulating snow for the duration of the storm." From The Weather Network.

A landscaper was supposed to come sometime yesterday, to fix a few places in my tiny backyard which were not done properly months ago. Had a phone call midday letting me know that a number of their staff are sick, so someone will come next week, on Monday. Unfortunately, yesterday was the last nice day before 4 days of rain. Decided to go for a short drive in the afternoon, just to my usual area, and took four of the five photos I am posting. Photo #5 was taken the day before, on 9 June.

I'm not getting much variety in the bird species I am seeing, but I still enjoy photographing the ones I do see. I more or less repeated the drives I have been doing recently. Saw a Bobolink for the third time this spring, though still only from a distance. Their STATUS in 2015 was Sensitive. The Mountain Bluebirds are all so busy gathering insects for their babies. Such a special time of year.

Tags:   Alberta Canada SW of Calgary nature wildlife avian ornithology bird Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus male back/side view perched barbed-wire fence field bokeh outdoor spring 10 June 2022 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2022 © All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

Sunday, 12 June 2022: our temperature is 14°C (windchill 13°C) around 10:00 am. Sunrise was at 5:21 am, and sunset is at 9:50 pm. Partly cloudy.

"Severe storm risk ahead of major rainfall, flood potential for the Prairies. The Prairies are going to be stuck in a stormy pattern heading into this week, with Sunday featuring a risk for severe weather while western areas are bracing for potential flooding with extreme rainfall through Wednesday. Some areas in Alberta could see 75-100+ mm of rain by the time the storm departs. While the region sorely needs rain, this will likely be too much for the dry ground to absorb in a short period of time, so flooding is likely. Cooler temperatures will allow hefty snowfall totals to fall at higher elevations, with locations above 1200-1300 m at risk for seeing accumulating snow for the duration of the storm." From The Weather Network.

A landscaper was supposed to come sometime yesterday, to fix a few places in my backyard which were not done properly months ago. Had a phone call midday letting me know that a number of their staff are sick, so someone will come next week, on Monday. Unfortunately, yesterday was the last nice day before 4 days of rain. Decided to go for a short drive in the afternoon, just to my usual area, and took four of the five photos I am posting. Photo #5 was taken the day before, on 9 June.

I'm not getting much variety in the bird species I am seeing, but I still enjoy photographing the ones I do see. I more or less repeated the drives I have been doing recently. Saw a Bobolink for the third time this spring, though still only from a distance. The Mountain Bluebirds are all so busy gathering insects for their babies. Such a special time of year.

Tags:   Alberta Canada SW of Calgary nature wildlife avian ornithology bird Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus back/side view perched railing metal rust rusty field bokeh outdoor spring 10 June 2022 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2022 © All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

Sunday, 12 June 2022: our temperature is 14°C (windchill 13°C) around 10:00 am. Sunrise was at 5:21 am, and sunset is at 9:50 pm. Partly cloudy.

"Severe storm risk ahead of major rainfall, flood potential for the Prairies. The Prairies are going to be stuck in a stormy pattern heading into this week, with Sunday featuring a risk for severe weather while western areas are bracing for potential flooding with extreme rainfall through Wednesday. Some areas in Alberta could see 75-100+ mm of rain by the time the storm departs. While the region sorely needs rain, this will likely be too much for the dry ground to absorb in a short period of time, so flooding is likely. Cooler temperatures will allow hefty snowfall totals to fall at higher elevations, with locations above 1200-1300 m at risk for seeing accumulating snow for the duration of the storm." From The Weather Network.

A landscaper was supposed to come sometime yesterday, to fix a few places in my backyard which were not done properly months ago. Had a phone call midday letting me know that a number of their staff are sick, so someone will come next week, on Monday. Unfortunately, yesterday was the last nice day before 4 days of rain. Decided to go for a short drive in the afternoon, just to my usual area, and took four of the five photos I am posting. Photo #5 was taken the day before, on 9 June.

I'm not getting much variety in the bird species I am seeing, but I still enjoy photographing the ones I do see. I more or less repeated the drives I have been doing recently. Saw a Bobolink for the third time this spring, though still only from a distance. The Mountain Bluebirds are all so busy gathering insects for their babies. Such a special time of year.

Tags:   Alberta Canada SW of Calgary nature wildlife avian ornithology bird Mountain Bluebird Sialia currucoides female front view insects in beak caterpillars food for her babies perched barbed-wire field bokeh outdoor spring 10 June 2022 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2022 © All Rights Reserved thrush species

© All Rights Reserved

Once again, I am back to posting a few old photos from my archives, except for the Mountain Bluebird. If I wrote a description under another photo taken on the same outing, I will add it here.

"This day was the last nice day before 4 days of rain. Decided to go for a short drive in the afternoon, just to my usual area. We are going to be getting SO much rain for the next few days! Snow in the mountains, too.

I'm not getting much variety in the bird species I am seeing, but I still enjoy photographing the ones I do see. I more or less repeated the drives I have been doing recently. Saw a Bobolink for the third time this spring, though still only from a distance. The Mountain Bluebirds are all so busy gathering insects for their babies. Such a special time of year."

Tags:   Alberta Canada SW of Calgary nature wildlife avian ornithology bird Mountain Bluebird Sialia currucoides male front/side view thrush species perched fence post field bokeh outdoor spring 10 June 2022 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2022 © All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved