Great Blue Herons

This has been a good year for watching Herons. They are coming out of the swamps and feeding on the gravel bars. I won't repost the previous shots, but will post the new ones.

They are one of my favourite birds. Regal, majestic and quiet.  My goal this year is to get more in flight shots. They are hard to come by as they tend to fly away, not towards me.

One of my favourites!

This is the best I could do so far. The day was a little cloudy and early in the morning so the shutter speed was not what I wanted

May 9,2020, Out and About

There were lots of birds out this morning on the walk

American Wigeon

Northern Shoveller

Common Loon

Song Sparrow

Great Blue Heron

Common Merganser

Hooded Merganser

They Continue to Come!

A lot of the migratory birds are back, just to get hit with a major snow storm!

Common Goldeneye

Northern Shoveller

Great Blue Heron

Common Merganser

Common Merganser Pair

Common Merganser Drake

Great Blue Heron

Bits and Pieces

You may have noticed my new header picture. It is about the only "bright" thing to happen in the last three weeks. Note the Teddy Bear. Daphne is spoiled! We have had rain, rain and more rain for three weeks. The gardens are stalled out, or drowned. The walks have been limited to paved paths and the photo opportunities almost nil.

I guess that is my whine for the day!

I did manage to get a picture or two of a Great Blue Heron in a marsh at Rotary Park. The marsh is now flooded and the Athabasca River is up to flood level. (Did I mention we have had rain?)

 The Goslings are about the size of their mother now.

 This woodpecker kind of looked waterlogged.

 I did catch up with a Solitary Sandpiper sitting on a log.

 Same Sand Piper different view.

Think dry, and warm!

Bits and Pieces

Things have been pretty quiet around the area lately. I couldn't find much in the way of wildlife other than Daphne. The grass is getting long enough that she is having trouble finding rabbits.

Before

She is still loving a swim on a hot day! Wet, she looks like a drowned rat.

After

 I caught up with a great Blue Heron. one of my favourite birds.

 For a skinny, road runner type bird, she has a large wingspan.

The Marbled Godwits are back in the fields rooting for food in the mud.

 The Killdeers are showing up again.

 Alas, our wrens have now left their nests. Hopefully they will be back next year!

Saturday outing

The Monsoons let up for a bit and I was able to get out for a few hours. It is amazing how fast the wildflowers have bloomed given all the water. The Wild Roses are still going strong.

 The Heartleaf Anica is appearing

 The Indian Paintbrush is also out. Its early for this.

 There are also lots of Streamside Bluebells

 Meanwhile the Tree Swallows are still attempting to nest.

My friends the Great Blue Herons are also now in the swamps

Life is good in the boonies!

Bits and Pieces

The wild flowers are starting to come out. The Wood Lily is now out in all its glory.

Unfortunately, the flowers do not last long

The Indian Paintbrush is just starting to show


 They are an unusual plant and quite distinctive.





The Common Marsh Bedstraw is rather delicate and unique.

Then, there is the Bumblebee on a Red Clover blossom.

A Great Blue Heron was enjoying a tranquil hot day!

Another Heron, almost invisible in the marsh grass

The Canola plants are starting to bloom out. They were previously known as Rapeseed plants, but I guess the name needed changing.

There are no signs of any baby Osprey yet, but the Missus is very vigilant