under an Alberta sky June 5, 2026

This morning I spent a tad over three hours covering a bit short of fifteen kilometres hiking under a most gorgeous Alberta sky.  I started hiking at 5:44am from the parking lot at Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park which was a thirty minute drive from home.  It was the sky that captured my attention and held it for the entire hike. I am sharing various views witnessed while I wandered.

I ended up along the trail by the Bow River, the river was running high and fast. 

When I managed to veer my eyes away from the sky, many sights were to be seen.  A section of the park was closed due to calving season.  The trail followed along side a fence.  The Cows and their Calves were on the other side.  Here is a Mom and her big baby checking me out.  

Most calves were still asleep, anywhere and everywhere!

This coyote quickly dashed off into the dense bush a split second after I snapped this shot.

The Mother Ground Squirrel is in amongst her babies there somewhere!

Approximately two dozen deer were roaming about here and there under the gorgeous Alberta sky. Lots of birds decorated the sky, the trees and bushes. Many I heard but could not spot.  Lots took off as I focused in.  I had success with capturing photos of many Sparrows of various species. This Brewer's Blackbird stayed still long enough, as did.....

.....this Goldfinch.

The Sparrows I spotted!

Of course, I would not have these sweet sights to share 

if I had not wandered under this wonderful Alberta sky!

the aftermath June 3, 2026

It was go time!  Time to go see what transpired since Saturday night when the weather took a turn for the worse and did not let up until last evening. It was Carburn Park where I chose to go to witness the aftermath of the weather wrath.  I am opting to pass on sharing photos of how the area looked, it was not pretty. What I will focus on is a family of Common Goldeneyes, a Mom and her six ducklings. They told me a story! 

I believe I arrived while the Ducklings were still asleep. I saw Mom not far off swimming around.  As I approached the shore, the little ones began to stir.  Five were snuggled together on one log while the sixth, being confident and independent, sat on its own on another section of the log. That's the Goldeneye that I can relate to.   

The five siblings could not have been any closer together. 

The independent Duckling needed its space. 

As I snapped shots from beside a tree, where I stayed still, the Ducklings began to stretch and move about.   Mom was still not far off swimming about.  After waking, stretching, moving about, the little ones..... 

.....began to leave the coziness of being on the log, to stepping into the water to join Mom.

One by one they swam off yet these two stayed behind a little longer. One still wanting some cuddles, the other curious about its reflection. While the one Duckling looked into the water, the other Duckling slipped off the log and swam off to join the rest of its family. Once the lone little one looked up and realized the family swan away together, it had a few words to share! 

It worked its way off the log then scurried along to join Mom and its five siblings. 

I watched the Ducklings swim along the shore, in and out of the reeds, diving into the water, veering away from Mom, swimming circles, being left behind, Mom coming to collect those left behind, continuing to swim with no rhyme nor reason for direction, Mom chasing away adult ducks, the little ones just being littles ones spending all their energy, which clearly was exhausting Mom.  

Mom Goldeneye eventually gathered her Ducklings together leading them to a somewhat secluded spot with hopes they would have a morning nap. The little ones once again cuddled together, all the while watching Mom.....   

.....while she took some well deserved time to herself, yet still keeping an eye on her babies! I waited and watched for a short time to see the Ducklings staying put under the watchful eye of Mom.  

menacing May 31, 2026

It was dark and dreary, cold and windy! It was a menacing morning my friends who are near and far! The weather warnings were out and I was out! I knew today (Saturday) could be the last day to enjoyably be "out & about" until mid week. When I arrived at the parking lot for Dale Hodges Environmental Park and looked at the sky then looked at the river, it was the word "menacing" that came to mind.  Yes my friends, Mother Nature was showing her dark side!  

Today (Sunday), I tried to transpire that menacing look into a watercolour painting of a photo I captured while at Dale's park. The photo is under the painting. This was my third try! I first went with a straight interpretation, then I went the atmospheric route, yet it was a third try using the line & wash technique that I felt I had to be happy with.  Maybe I don't have "menace" in me, but it is a dark and dreary rendition.  I'm hopeless, I still included a heart! Can you spot it?   

Yes my friends, this is what faced me while I faced it head on!

The Bow River overflowed the rocky shore.  

menacing is overtaking the blue

view to the west

Well my friends, through all the dark and dreary, I found that yellow optimism, lots of it! The Yellow Warblers have been difficult to spot when the sun shines bright on the green leaves, today was a different story, all yellows stood out! 

more yellow 

 a Yellow-headed Blackbird

yellow shining brightly

Goldfinch

yellow is golden

Mallard Mom and her Ducklings

yellow galore

these two Canada Geese parents have their wings full

Through all that bright yellow my friends, there appeared some menacing looks!

male Common Grackle

I had to chuckle at what my bird book said about Common Grackles.  While strolling through Dale's Park, I was sneezing, wheezing, whipping my eyes and nose. It was the perfect location for allergy symptoms to kick in. 

Killdeer

the name alone sounds menacing

female & male Ring-necked Ducks

the  males will bite and wing strike during mating season

I came away with much more than I shared here but I have to draw the line somewhere.  I hope through all of Mother Nature's menacing, the wildlife can find shelter and be safe.  And you my local friends, be safe!

optimism May 28, 2026

 

In every which way, I like to look on the bright side!  At times being optimistic takes work yet worth it to get to that state of mind.  It can be a mind game getting to that state, that's a game I will always choose to play. The Yellow Warblers have migrated to the city in full force.  When I hear them and then see them, I can't help but smile. When googling to learn a little more about the Yellow Warbler, I found out they symbolize "bright optimism". 

On this morning, I ventured to Nose Creek at Confluence Park with hopes of seeing Yellow Warblers.  Once again I went early to beat the heat and was joined on the pathways by many others. Right at the get-go, I forgot I was also supposed to put lots of kilometres on my walking shoes. The chorus this morning was a distraction, a distraction I was happy to get caught up in. 

male House Finch

male Red-winged Blackbird

Common Grackle

Goldfinch

Grey Catbird

Barn Swallow

I was already in a state of being cheer-filled, 

when I saw the Yellow Warbler, my happiness was magnified! 

out of curiosity, this is a Chipping Sparrow, being curious

As I write this post, night is falling and we are still in the midst of a heat wave. It is due to be gone by the morning, being replaced with a rainfall and flood warning over the next few days. This was the earliest ever I arrived at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, once again to beat the heat. How early do I have to go to these parks to be the first these days! I joined many others already walking the trails.    

Family swims were in full swing!  I knew I would see Goslings yet I was optimistic I would see other ducklings of some sort.  These Canada Geese parents and their Goslings were looking for a grassy area, they swam towards where I was standing, so I snapped my shots then moved on to give them the space.

This female Mallard and her Ducklings were swimming in a very tight group. For the first time ever, I saw a male Mallard continuously grab at the Ducklings. I was not sure what that was all about so did some homework when I got home.  There are a few reasons the male was displaying that behaviour.   

The female Wood Duck was in the reeds with about eight Ducklings. I watched for awhile while she watched her babies swim about.  Every now and then one ventured out far enough that I could get a somewhat clear shot. 

The female Common Goldeneye and her Ducklings swam for quite a distance.  

The waterways are running fast and high and lagoons are full. Water was released from the local reservoir to make room for the rain, snow melt and water which will come from the mountain areas, which is also under a rainfall/flood warning, over the next few days.  I stood on the bridge and watched the Goslings and Parents navigate the area.  I have never seen so many Goslings all together. They came in all different sizes, how do they even know which Adult they belong to.  They kept coming and coming and coming.  Even though the video ends at sixteen seconds, the Goslings kept coming. 

the water running high and fast

the Lagoon is full

When I got home and looked at my photos, I thought about how will all these Babies whether the weather over the next few days. I am optimistic their Parents have been teaching them well and will take great care of them. The Babies:  Goldeneye Duckling, Mallard Duckling, Gosling, Wood Duck Duckling.