3 days 3 locations 3 eights

As soon as I hit the trails at birding locations then hear those chirps & tweets, I immediately feel transported from reality and embraced by the nurturing from nature.  I wanted to find a way to interpret that through a watercolour painting.  I expressed that feeling I feel by painting a spring forest before the buds grow into leaves, allowing for the sights and sounds of birds to be clearly seen and heard.  As I wander down the trail I leave the noise in the world far behind! This creation will represent a month in my 2026 Calendar.  

3    3    3

Three recent "out & about" birding activities were at three different locations and each of those three times I made sure to cover at least eight kilometres.  The importance of covering distance is not the norm for birders but I like to multi task and get in a good urban hike paired with chasing the birds.  I may have more luck with bird spotting if I wandered about like a true birder! My style though is fulfilling for me!  

1 - Griffith Woods Park:  I recently discovered that getting to this park in Discovery Ridge would be a quick and easy drive on the new ring road even during rush hour.  On this morning I hit that road to go discover what this park was all about.  For awhile now I have been checking out the bird sightings for this location and what others were seeing was the draw for me.  Another draw is being able to venture down towards a water's edge.  I wandered about for the distance I planned on, yet my bird spotting was not as fortunate as it had been for others.  I will return to this newly discovered location to spend more time wandering through the woods.  

Red-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

Black-capped Chickadee

2 - Carburn Park:  One thing about visiting this Park is that because I have been so many times, I know where to look for what hangs out here. Before investing time in chasing the birds, I always venture down to the River.  Being by water will always soothe my soul, it's in my blood! I was fortunate to see the Great Horned Owl again, the Trumpeter Swans, hundreds of Ducks of various species and the Buck with his lady friends. The two Bald Eagles were not home but I did spot one further down the River perched high on a tree.  Reports say the two Bald Eagles continue to build up their old nest and are beginning to mate.  

female House Finch

Bald Eagle

male Downy Woodpecker

3 - Bebo Grove: This area in Fish Creek Provincial Park was new to me for chasing birds.  I hiked along the main trail once in 2020 when our world changed.  On that day back then, I legally entered the Park via a friend's close-by residence location.  Fast forward to this day, it is a free for all to wander wherever.  I spent most of this recent morning meandering through the woods on trails that were close to the frozen creek.  My bird spotting luck was not the best, I paid quite a bit of attention to the scenery surrounding me and savouring the spring like weather.  I did hear many birds as their songs filled the forest.

Pileated Woodpecker

Squirrel

White-breasted Nuthatch