Pearce Estates & St Patrick's Island August 31, 2021

My wish for today, this last day of August, was to surpass the 100km mark on my latest virtual challenge and to see some pretty sights along with a bird or two.  My plan along the way was to check out the larch location and begin the watch. Although what I remember from last year, the larches change colour later in the city than they do in the mountains. 

I merged into the rush hour migration heading south on Deerfoot yet veered off in short order.  Gloves plus an extra upper layer were needed as I hit the trail from Pearce Estates and headed into the forest.  The sun was up and reached a point where it cast that golden glow over the tree tops.  While weaving through the trees, I happened upon the larch location.  The larches are bare on top with the bottom portion being a healthy vibrant green.

a morning reflection 

While some of the colour is from seasonal change, 

most is the morning golden glow.

early autumn hues

Success was accomplished with seeing pretty sights and a bird or two or three or four!  This photo puts in perspective the size of a Black-Capped Chickadee. I noticed some seeds sitting on a bench so gathered up a few, put my hand out and in a matter of a few seconds along came some takers.  This one grabbed a seed and sat for a few seconds before flying off.  

White-Breasted Nuthatch

Osprey in the nest at St Patrick's Island

Solitary Sandpiper

When I arrived back at my car and checked the distance covered, I knew I was well over the 100km mark on the challenge.  My wishes were granted and it's now time to say good-bye August!

getting my urban fix

When I'm looking for a few hours to fill, I go about getting my urban fix!

 It's been interesting and fun lately with lots of new sightings.  

On this day I did not have to go far!  While sitting at my computer, I had a strange feeling someone was looking over my shoulder.  In the trees right outside the window sat a Blue Jay!  I ran for my camera and this is what I captured through the window.  There is a saying "if the Blue Jay is bald it must be August".  Well, as you can see the Blue Jay is bald!  

It's that time of year where the colours turn to shades of autumn!  It was not that long ago that I strolled through Confluence Park but in that time, the foliage has taken on a new look.  The reds and golds are popping.  It will soon be time to begin watching the section of larch trees in this Park.  

In an open section outside of the Birth Forest, I spotted what looked like a Robin but something was off.  I was able to slowly approach the bird while it watched me and I knew I was seeing something I never saw before.  After doing my homework once I got home, I can confirm this is a Say's Phoebe. I "lifer" for me!

Four hawks have taken up residence in the area where there is construction.  This is one of the hawks resting and in flight.  Hawks for me are as challenging to ID as Sparrows are.  I watched the four for quite some time as they played around in the wind currents.  I wondered were they a family as they appeared to be different sizes.

 

Visiting the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary has become a weekly thing, I am sensing maybe going there has become an addition.  If so, at least it is a healthy one.  It was a cold start to the morning yet the birds and ducks were out & about.   A layer of fog hung over the open water which I thought looked so pretty.  They say the birds have already started migrating south so there will be fewer and fewer sightings each time I visit from here on in.  

These are a few of what I spotted on this day.  The resident Blue Heron is still perching about. I believe that is a Wren in the bottom left photo.   After showing others who were visiting here this morning, the hawk photo, and a lady checking her guide, then referring to my bird book when I got home, seeing this Merlin was another "lifer" for me.  

Powderface Ridge East August 29, 2021

Now that we are closing in on the end of August, I panicked a bit when I realized there will not be many more days when we can wear shorts! Today would be a day to don them.  It's Sunday and not my favourite day to head to the mountains with the weekend warriors, but I went!  I went early!  It was very quiet yet I was not alone.  I  knew others were in the vicinity but I could see no one.

What I could see along the trail up to Powderface Ridge East were the last of the summer wildflowers!  

By the time I broke out into the open, it was warm.  

I removed my gloves and jacket, pulled out my sunglasses and eyed the view behind me.  

The ground cover has taken on the shades of August's end.  

The sun was reaching for the tree top.

I was reaching for the top of that hill in the middle.

The sky was bluer than blue and the sun so bright.  My eyes deceived me at times today through my sunglasses or through my naked eye.  I spotted this bird thinking what an unusual pattern on its belly.  After snapping a shot then viewing that snapped shot up close on my camera, I saw that unusual pattern was a cone. 

lots of sparrows flying about

As I approached the summit, two people began their departure from it.  I knew I would own this space for a short while as I could see someone coming along the trail which is that thin brown line at bottom right.  I settled in getting comfy on my sit-upon.  I had some snacks to savour and then realized it will soon be time to pack tea instead of chilled water.  It was cold this morning here at the summit.  In a bit, a solo fellow joined me and we chatted for a half hour.  After that, I went on my way and let him enjoy some ownership.

Once again, under the bright blue sky and sunshine, my eyes deceived me.  I saw flitty movement in the far off tree and assumed a bird.  My thought was quickly capture a photo and make an ID later.  Identification was easy on this little brown job, a chipmunk!  

Deja-vu, once again my eyes deceived me under the bright blue sky and blazing sun!  

I saw brown movement on a far off grassy slope.  

Just a deer!

With it just being a deer over on that grassy slope, I decided to add a little distance so headed over there.  

shades of late August

I love our mountain playground!

While making my descent, I met dozens and dozens and dozens of hikers heading up.  

Everyone was out to enjoy these end of August gifts of bright blue sky and blazing sun!  

Comfort Camping Wyndham Carseland Provincial Park August 24-26, 2021

When I spotted the Comfort Camping sites at Wyndham Carseland Provincial Park on August 18th, I knew I wanted to stay in one at this location. I did comfort camp before at Dinosaur Provincial Park so I knew what I would be in for.  I checked the website and there was vacancy so I booked two nights.  T'was nice to go mid week as it was very quiet and the weather was ideal to boot.   The sites sit close to the Bow River with just a pathway and line of trees in between.  This was my home away from home for two nights!

For health and safety reasons due to the way our world is, I had to bring my own bedding and cookware.  That's a queen size bed, there is a futon to the left which opens to double size.  I used it as a sofa.  There is electricity with lots of outlets.  Two lamps are provided as you can see on either side of the bed, there is a fridge, coffee maker, kettle, electric heater, fan, table and four chairs.  There are two Adirondack chairs on the covered deck, a fire pit, picnic table and a bar-b-q.   

view from the front

It takes a couple of minutes to walk to the open fields.  

With coffee in hand that's where I headed each morning to see the sun rise.

The Bow River was a minute away. 

With wine glass in hand, that's where I went to sit on a log and watch the sun set.

The fire ban and fire restrictions were lifted for this County and Provincial Park.

I put many kilometres on my walking shoes, strolling the trails and along the river's edge.  

These are some of the sights I saw while "out & about" at The Park.    

Another reason I wanted to come back to Wyndham Carseland Provincial Park was to play out being a bird nerd.  The Cormorants and Pelicans were in abundance.  I heard an owl in the middle of the night and one morning while walking the hiking trail, I saw this juvenile American Bald Eagle high on a tree just off the trail.  

There were many Yellow Warblers!  This one stayed awhile on the branch.  

So, the Grey Catbird sounds just like a cat! 

Did I hear the Grey Catbird or did I hear the grey cat!  

a few of the other birds I saw

I thoroughly enjoyed the entire time I spent here Comfort Camping.  I was so fortunate with lots of sunshine and bright blue sky.  The days were warm enough and the nights cold enough that I needed to turn the heater on when I woke in the morning.  This place is quiet through the week but my understanding is, it is full on weekends.  While it is not far from the city, I felt like I was a world away!  The Comfort Camping season here ends shortly. I'm happy to have experienced it this summer!

Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area August 24, 2021

Before heading off to Comfort Camp for two nights, I stopped by Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area for a hike.  I had been only once before back in February of 2013.  At that time in my life, this was not my kind of place and for that reason I never returned.   I needed some place to spend a few hours before checking into my home away from home.  While this is not near the Campground, I still thought I would go out of the way a bit and give this place another try.  Different season!  Different weather!  Different me! Different opinion!  

It now costs $10.00 to park for the day or you can buy a yearly pass.  I went for the day price.  There was a large group starting to hike at the same time I was. I made an adjustment to my plan of attack so I would not be caught up in their group.   The weather was gorgeous with lots of blue sky filled with those fluffy puffy white clouds that I love so much. 

The trails were tree-lined in places, wound through meadows, 

had lots of little ups and downs, 

and the whole place was greener than green.

view along the way

tree-lined trail

from the Rolling Hills to the Foothills to the Rocky Mountains

my lunch spot

a Cedar Waxwing dining in its lunch spot

a bear shaped rock to go with the sign

a few Woodpeckers were pecking about

taking in the vast vista 

a  lone flower in the middle of the trail

I hiked a big loop around the Conservation Area.  Near the end of the hike, I had to work my way back up to the top before hiking back down again to the trail that lead to the parking lot.  I was already getting excited thinking about having this kind of weather for my Comfort Camping trip.  

Once back at my car, I geared down, then hopped in and drove away for my unique nights stay!