Mallard Point : Fish Creek Provincial Park October 19, 2024

After today's "out & about",  I have now reached my goal of covering 2024 kms in the year 2024!  There will be no stopping me though because I want to cover more kilometres this year than I did last year.  In 2022 my goal was 2022 kms and I did 2065 kms;  in 2023 my goal was 2023 kms and I did 2086 kms.  In 2024 my goal is 2024 kms and I did ???? ! As each year passes and I'm a year older, I am feeling I can do even more!  The elevation gain may have dwindled but the distance certainly has not.

I covered the kilometres today at Fish Creek Provincial Park from the Mallard Point location. I arrived for sunrise and waited on the shore of the Creek for the dawning of a beautiful new day.  My intentions were to firstly make sure I covered the distance I needed, savour the autumn shades and I hoped I would be lucky enough to see some birds.  

 A split second in time during Golden Hour looked like this!

I veered away from the main trail and wandered along a path that followed close to Fish Creek. 

Many more leaves now lay on the ground.  

Further along, the path ascends up a small ridge where the views were grandeur.  

The snow capped mountain peaks are framed by the two trees.

marshmallow clouds with a beautiful blue sky

reds and reflections are candy for my eye

I can name that tune in one beat!  

I heard it then I saw the Belted Kingfisher!  

My intention was to snap a shot of the trees,

so I aimed and focused! 

Then a Bald Eagle did a fly by,

right in front of my eye!

Common Goldeneye

American Wigeon

It was 40 years ago this weekend that I said farewell to Nova Scotia and moved to Calgary to make my millions!  It was a beautiful autumn day in the plus mid teens when I left.  I arrived in Calgary to a couple of feet of snow and a minus double digit celsius temperature.  I cried saying "What have I gotten myself into?"  Now when the temperatures drop and the snow flies, I don't cry, I look forward to embracing the season! 

The Black-capped Chickadees know how to survive Calgary's winters!  We have rain/snow in the forecast for Monday!  I'm ready and so are the Chickadees!  In recognition of that, this is my watercolour painting.  A few years ago when I was into sketching with coloured pencils, I drew a few birds dressed in winter attire.  Now it was time to try my hand at a painting.   

This was my reference photo.  

I snapped this shot in January of 2022 at Wyndham Carseland.