Oops, I totally forgot to post these five photos, taken on Sunday, 26 May 2024, when we were doing the May Species Count. Not brilliant images, but posting them for the record.

Hopefully, I can get started today on editing a few photos taken yesterday, 1 June.

May Species Count, 26 May 2024, SW of Calgary.

Really bad photo quality for all my images from this year's Count, mainly thanks to the gloomy, rainy weather. Posting photos from this year's May Species Count, anyway, just for the record.

On 26 May 2024, I took part in yet another annual May Species Count in Calgary/Alberta. There were just the three of us in my group. Each year, I look forward to this day, especially as my group's count is in one of my main birding areas.

Leaving home at 6:30 am so that I could reach the meeting place early and drive to look for Wilson's Snipes before we went to other locations. I saw three - later in the morning, we only saw one.

For the rest of the day, we drove main roads and back roads, searching for as many species as we could find. Then, all the lists from all the different groups that took part are recorded on ebird. Only one Great Gray Owl was listed - the one that my daughter and I had seen two days earlier in my group's area. Luckily, it was able to be included as 'Count Week' in the final list for Calgary/Alberta.

On Count day, my little group had two very special sightings - a pair of beautiful Sandhill Cranes feeding in a field, and our first Bobolink (male) of the year.

Can't believe how lucky I have been in the last few days!

Tags:   Alberta Canada SW of Calgary May Species Count 2024 nature wildlife avian ornithology Sandhill Crane Antigone canadensis one of a pair field feeding eating side view farmland stubble outdoor spring 26 May 2024 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott IMG_0434

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May Species Count, 26 May 2024, SW of Calgary.

Will have to add description tomorrow or the next day ....

On 26 May 2024, I took part in yet another annual May Species Count in Calgary/Alberta. There were just the three of us in my group. Each year, I look forward to this day, especially as my group's count is in one of my main birding areas.

Leaving home at 6:30 am so that I could reach the meeting place early and drive to look for Wilson's Snipes before we went to other locations. I saw three - later in the morning, we only saw one.

For the rest of the day, we drove main roads and back roads, searching for as many species as we could find. Then, all the lists from all the different groups that took part are recorded on ebird. Only one Great Gray Owl was listed - the one that my daughter and I had seen two days earlier in my group's area. Luckily, it was able to be included in the final list for Calgary/Alberta.

On Count day, my little group had two very special sightings - a pair of beautiful Sandhill Cranes feeding in a field, and our first Bobolink (male) of the year.

Can't believe how lucky I have been in the last few days!

Tags:   Alberta Canada SW of Calgary nature wildlife avian ornithology bird Wilson's Snipe Gallinago delicata side view perched fence post field bokeh outdoor 26 May 2024 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott IMG_0244

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Firecracker Plant / Mexican Cigar Plant /Cuphea ignea, at Barb's acreage.

May Species Count, 26 May 2024, SW of Calgary.

On 26 May 2024, I took part in yet another annual May Species Count in Calgary/Alberta. There were just the three of us in my group. Each year, I look forward to this day, especially as my group's count is in one of my main birding areas.

Leaving home at 6:30 am so that I could reach the meeting place early and drive to look for Wilson's Snipes before we went to other locations. I saw three - later in the morning, we only saw one.

For the rest of the day, we drove main roads and back roads, searching for as many species as we could find. Then, all the lists from all the different groups that took part are recorded on ebird. Only one Great Gray Owl was listed - the one that my daughter and I had seen two days earlier in my group's area. Luckily, it was able to be included in the final list for Calgary/Alberta.

On Count day, my little group had two very special sightings - a pair of beautiful Sandhill Cranes feeding in a field, and our first Bobolink (male) of the year.

Can't believe how lucky I have been in the last few days!

© All Rights Reserved

Oops, I totally forgot to post these five photos, taken on Sunday, 26 May 2024, when we were doing the May Species Count. Not brilliant images, but posting them for the record.

Hopefully, I can get started today on editing a few photos taken yesterday, 1 June.

May Species Count, 26 May 2024, SW of Calgary.

Really bad photo quality for all my images from this year's Count, mainly thanks to the gloomy, rainy weather. Posting photos from this year's May Species Count, anyway, just for the record.

On 26 May 2024, I took part in yet another annual May Species Count in Calgary/Alberta. There were just the three of us in my group. Each year, I look forward to this day, especially as my group's count is in one of my main birding areas.

Leaving home at 6:30 am so that I could reach the meeting place early and drive to look for Wilson's Snipes before we went to other locations. I saw three - later in the morning, we only saw one.

For the rest of the day, we drove main roads and back roads, searching for as many species as we could find. Then, all the lists from all the different groups that took part are recorded on ebird. Only one Great Gray Owl was listed - the one that my daughter and I had seen two days earlier in my group's area. Luckily, it was able to be included as 'Count Week' in the final list for Calgary/Alberta.

On Count day, my little group had two very special sightings - a pair of beautiful Sandhill Cranes feeding in a field, and our first Bobolink (male) of the year.

Can't believe how lucky I have been in the last few days!

Tags:   Alberta Canada SW of Calgary May Species Count 2024 nature wildlife avian ornithology American Robin Turdus migratorius male back/side view perched fence post field outdoor spring 26 May 2024 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott IMG_0261

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May Species Count, 26 May 2024, SW of Calgary.

Really bad photo quality for these five photos, mainly thanks to the gloomy, rainy weather. Posting photos from this year's May Species Count, anyway, just for the record.

Will have to add description tomorrow or the next day ....

On 26 May 2024, I took part in yet another annual May Species Count in Calgary/Alberta. There were just the three of us in my group. Each year, I look forward to this day, especially as my group's count is in one of my main birding areas.

Leaving home at 6:30 am so that I could reach the meeting place early and drive to look for Wilson's Snipes before we went to other locations. I saw three - later in the morning, we only saw one.

For the rest of the day, we drove main roads and back roads, searching for as many species as we could find. Then, all the lists from all the different groups that took part are recorded on ebird. Only one Great Gray Owl was listed - the one that my daughter and I had seen two days earlier in my group's area. Luckily, it was able to be included in the final list for Calgary/Alberta.

On Count day, my little group had two very special sightings - a pair of beautiful Sandhill Cranes feeding in a field, and our first Bobolink (male) of the year.

Can't believe how lucky I have been in the last few days!

© All Rights Reserved