A beautiful, sunny day today, Saturday 27 April 2024. Just looked at the weather forecast for the next few days and found that after tomorrow, the next five out of six days are forecast to have snow/rain.

Yesterday, 26 April, I managed a short drive SE of Calgary. Thought I had better make the most of clear roads before the bad weather arrives. All familiar, much-travelled roads this time, around the Frank Lake area and while heading back home.

I bumped into a huge group of people who were on a special outing to Frank Lake, led by Greg Wagner, who takes care of the lake areas and does a tremendous job of recording every bird seen, all year round and for many years. Not just once a day, either! Yesterday, he was showing the participants the various viewing points around the lake and I happened to see the cars coming towards me along one of the roads. I turned around and caught up with them. They had just one more location to visit, but one had to drive on a rough, non-road to get there. I would have been almost the last person to get there if I had gone, with a long walk to get to the lake edge. I knew I couldn't do that, with painful sciatica or bursitis in my right side, so I continued on my own journey. Good to see you, Greg, even if for just a few moments.

A bit of information about Greg:
ebird.org/region/CA/post/greg-wagner-march-ebirder-of-the...

So many birds in the area are far, far away - and I still don't possess a pair of binoculars after about 18 years of birding! (By the way, the birding blind area at Frank Lake is still extremely flooded.) However, I was happy to spend a bit of time watching and taking a few photos of the closer birds on my way home. Mainly Yellow-headed and Red-winged Blackbirds, plus a few Coots and European Starlings. At one point, there was an absolute frenzy of a group of Starlings and both species of Blackbirds on the ground, all mixed together. I had to take a bit of video, through the windscreen so poor quality.

Tags:   Alberta Canada SE of Calgary Frank Lake & area video nature wildlife avian ornithology bird birds group gathering frenzy European Starlings Red-winged Blackbirds Yellow-headed Blackbirds on the ground gravel road grass outdoor spring 26 April 2024 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2024 © All Rights Reserved MVI_8968

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A touch of filter was added to this image in post-processing.

A beautiful, sunny day today, Saturday 27 April 2024. Just looked at the weather forecast for the next few days and found that after tomorrow, the next five out of six days are forecast to have snow/rain.

Yesterday, 26 April, I managed a short drive SE of Calgary. Thought I had better make the most of clear roads before the bad weather arrives. All familiar, much-travelled roads this time, around the Frank Lake area and while heading back home.

I bumped into a huge group of people who were on a special outing to Frank Lake, led by Greg Wagner, who takes care of the lake areas and does a tremendous job of recording every bird seen, all year round and for many years. Not just once a day, either! Yesterday, he was showing the participants the various viewing points around the lake and I happened to see the cars coming towards me along one of the roads. I turned around and caught up with them. They had just one more location to visit, but one had to drive on a rough, non-road to get there. I would have been almost the last person to get there if I had gone, with a long walk to get to the lake edge. I knew I couldn't do that, with painful sciatica or bursitis in my right side, so I continued on my own journey. Good to see you, Greg, even if for just a few moments.

A bit of information about Greg:
ebird.org/region/CA/post/greg-wagner-march-ebirder-of-the...

So many birds in the area are far, far away - and I still don't possess a pair of binoculars after about 18 years of birding! (By the way, the birding blind area at Frank Lake is still extremely flooded.) However, I was happy to spend a bit of time watching and taking a few photos of the closer birds on my way home. Mainly Yellow-headed and Red-winged Blackbirds, plus a few Coots and European Starlings. At one point, there was an absolute frenzy of a group of Starlings and both species of Blackbirds on the ground, all mixed together. I had to take a bit of video, through the windscreen so poor quality.

Tags:   Alberta Canada SE of Calgary building structure wood wooden barn old farm farmyard field grass spring outdoor 26 April 2024 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2024 © All Rights Reserved IMG_8952

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Just for the record.

Today, 29 April 2024, I managed to get out again, just in time for the snow that is expected for tonight, rain too. Also rain and snow for tomorrow and the next day, 1 May. Overcast, chilly wind, and a few raindrops today, during my drive. Just a fairly short trip SW of the city, but I was so happy to see several Mountain Bluebirds and a few American Robins, plus a couple of Swainson's (?) Hawks. Taken in poor light, so I need to lighten a photo to be sure of the hawk species. Of course, Red-winged Blackbirds everywhere made sure they were heard. A Canada Goose lying on her nest was a welcome sight.

I will post photos from today when I have edited them. This evening, I'm adding five more photos from my last drive, three days ago. It has been many months since I was able to get out this much, and it feels so good, even if not physically.

On 26 April 2024, I managed a short drive SE of Calgary. Thought I had better make the most of clear roads before the bad weather arrives. All familiar, much-travelled roads this time, around the Frank Lake area and while heading back home.

I bumped into a huge group of people who were on a special outing to Frank Lake, led by Greg Wagner, who takes care of the lake areas and does a tremendous job of recording every bird seen, all year round and for many years. Not just once a day, either! Yesterday, he was showing the participants the various viewing points around the lake and I happened to see the cars coming towards me along one of the roads. I turned around and caught up with them. They had just one more location to visit, but one had to drive on a rough, non-road to get there. I would have been almost the last person to get there if I had gone, with a long walk to get to the lake edge. I knew I couldn't do that, with painful sciatica or bursitis in my right side, so I continued on my own journey. Good to see you, Greg, even if for just a few moments.

A bit of information about Greg:
ebird.org/region/CA/post/greg-wagner-march-ebirder-of-the...

So many birds in the area are far, far away - and I still don't possess a pair of binoculars after about 18 years of birding! (By the way, the birding blind area at Frank Lake is still extremely flooded.) However, I was happy to spend a bit of time watching and taking a few photos of the closer birds on my way home. Mainly Yellow-headed and Red-winged Blackbirds, plus a few Coots and European Starlings. At one point, there was an absolute frenzy of a group of Starlings and both species of Blackbirds on the ground, all mixed together. I had to take a bit of video, through the windscreen so poor quality.

© All Rights Reserved

A beautiful, sunny day today, Saturday 27 April 2024. Just looked at the weather forecast for the next few days and found that after tomorrow, the next five out of six days are forecast to have snow/rain.

Yesterday, 26 April, I managed a short drive SE of Calgary. Thought I had better make the most of clear roads before the bad weather arrives. All familiar, much-travelled roads this time, around the Frank Lake area and while heading back home.

I bumped into a huge group of people who were on a special outing to Frank Lake, led by Greg Wagner, who takes care of the lake areas and does a tremendous job of recording every bird seen, all year round and for many years. Not just once a day, either! Yesterday, he was showing the participants the various viewing points around the lake and I happened to see the cars coming towards me along one of the roads. I turned around and caught up with them. They had just one more location to visit, but one had to drive on a rough, non-road to get there. I would have been almost the last person to get there if I had gone, with a long walk to get to the lake edge. I knew I couldn't do that, with painful sciatica or bursitis in my right side, so I continued on my own journey. Good to see you, Greg, even if for just a few moments.

A bit of information about Greg:
ebird.org/region/CA/post/greg-wagner-march-ebirder-of-the...

So many birds in the area are far, far away - and I still don't possess a pair of binoculars after about 18 years of birding! (By the way, the birding blind area at Frank Lake is still extremely flooded.) However, I was happy to spend a bit of time watching and taking a few photos of the closer birds on my way home. Mainly Yellow-headed and Red-winged Blackbirds, plus a few Coots and European Starlings. At one point, there was an absolute frenzy of a group of Starlings and both species of Blackbirds on the ground, all mixed together. I had to take a bit of video, through the windscreen so poor quality.

Tags:   Alberta Canada SE of Calgary Frank Lake & area nature wildlife avian ornithology bird Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus male mid-call vocalizing side view perched fence post field bokeh outdoor spring 26 April 2024 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2024 © All Rights Reserved IMG_9035

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Today, 29 April 2024, I managed to get out again, just in time for the snow that is expected for tonight, rain too. Also rain and snow for tomorrow and the next day, 1 May. Overcast, chilly wind, and a few raindrops today, during my drive. Just a fairly short trip SW of the city, but I was so happy to see several Mountain Bluebirds and a few American Robins, plus a couple of Swainson's (?) Hawks. Taken in poor light, so I need to lighten a photo to be sure of the hawk species. Of course, Red-winged Blackbirds everywhere made sure they were heard. A Canada Goose lying on her nest was a welcome sight.

I will post photos from today when I have edited them. This evening, I'm adding five more photos from my last drive, three days ago. It has been many months since I was able to get out this much, and it feels so good, even if not physically.

On 26 April 2024, I managed a short drive SE of Calgary. Thought I had better make the most of clear roads before the bad weather arrives. All familiar, much-travelled roads this time, around the Frank Lake area and while heading back home.

I bumped into a huge group of people who were on a special outing to Frank Lake, led by Greg Wagner, who takes care of the lake areas and does a tremendous job of recording every bird seen, all year round and for many years. Not just once a day, either! Yesterday, he was showing the participants the various viewing points around the lake and I happened to see the cars coming towards me along one of the roads. I turned around and caught up with them. They had just one more location to visit, but one had to drive on a rough, non-road to get there. I would have been almost the last person to get there if I had gone, with a long walk to get to the lake edge. I knew I couldn't do that, with painful sciatica or bursitis in my right side, so I continued on my own journey. Good to see you, Greg, even if for just a few moments.

A bit of information about Greg:
ebird.org/region/CA/post/greg-wagner-march-ebirder-of-the...

So many birds in the area are far, far away - and I still don't possess a pair of binoculars after about 18 years of birding! (By the way, the birding blind area at Frank Lake is still extremely flooded.) However, I was happy to spend a bit of time watching and taking a few photos of the closer birds on my way home. Mainly Yellow-headed and Red-winged Blackbirds, plus a few Coots and European Starlings. At one point, there was an absolute frenzy of a group of Starlings and both species of Blackbirds on the ground, all mixed together. I had to take a bit of video, through the windscreen so poor quality.

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