Kruger Park Virtual Challenge Progress May 25, 2021

After covering ten kilometres at Glenbow Ranch today, I am now at the 75% completion point of my Kruger Park Virtual Challenge.  More about my visit to the Ranch later in this post, but first an update on making progress along this journey.  At 412 kms long, my intentions were for this challenge to carry me through the spring and most of the summer months.  Being antsy and having happy feet, my goal is now to reach the finish line before summer even starts on June 20th.    

My pacer (that red pin) is no where to be seen when I look back!!!

On May 14th this postcard popped into my mailbox and here I pass it on to you.  

At that time I thought it would be nice to have virtual views of animals to entertain me along the way.  

These are a few of the virtual views over the past number of kilometres.  I had to search almost above and beyond to see these beautiful sights. In the first photo there is actually an elephant on its own at the right under the tree down by the river.  This is the first virtual animal sighting! That being said, The Conqueror crew announced this version of the Kruger Park Virtual Challenge will be discontinued come September 1st and no more bib numbers will be sold.  They listened to the feedback from the participants about the boring road route, lack of pretty sights or animals, and only a small portion of the route is actually in Kruger Park.  They heard us and are taking action!    

My next progress report for this challenge will be whenever I reach the finish line!  

I have already been perusing the other challenges offered, dreaming of where I might like to venture next.   

Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park

Deja-vu, I better get busy being "out & bout" before we are rained on again!  The window wasn't wide so I did not want to go far.  A visit to Glenbow Ranch would fit the timeframe.  I knew it would be one of those days where the views that were up close would be the focus.  It was all cloud cover beyond that.     

The majority of sparrow shots in my previous posts had to be re-identified.  I updated them with the correct name.  While they are easy to spy, they are complicated to ID, I am learning all about that.  I found a chart that was posted in a group I belong to.  It shows simplified, elementary-like shapes & colours of sparrow types which is ideal for beginner birders like me.  Very, very closely comparing colour schemes on the head, I am certain this time I got these right!      

These were the only spring babies I saw today!  

It was a nice surprise to see some crocuses were still looking healthy and in full bloom.  I tried to focus on getting crisp and clear images showing the rain drops.  I came upon one area that was covered in shooting stars and that was an even nicer surprise.  I did get down and dusty and a tad damp capturing these photographs.   With all this rain and then the sun to come, the wildflower season should soon spring to life!   

Carburn Park to Fish Creek Park May 23, 2021

Today's forecast told me you better get out early!  I did exactly that hitting the pathway around Carburn Park and then all the way to Fish Creek Park and back.  I went with hopes of coming home feeling more fulfilled than I did from yesterday's 15km walk.  Saturday's top sightings were deer chasing a coyote through Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and also a goose biting a man's leg.  While this morning's weather was more favourable I hoped the sights would be too.

The colours at the park are perking up!

I aimed for the dirt path that follows the river and enjoyed the sights of the ducks performing their morning rituals and the sounds of the birds that I could yet not see.  When I arrived back at the pond I took a minute to admire a Female Common Goldeneye perched on a log.  She eyed me with a piercing eye.  At the time I did not notice the fluff underneath her.  Then just like that, she took off into the water and so did her three ducklings that were underneath her.  They were entertaining and such a sweet sight to see!

Songs were coming from everywhere.  These are a few of the sparrows I spotted: top left - Song Sparrow, bottom two - Clay-Coloured Sparrows.  The top right bird may be a Male Tennessee Warbler.  Thank you to my "bird nerd" friend for assisting me with sparrow identification.   I still wonder when our world gets back to some kind of normal, will I remain having this new found "bird nerd" identity I have been embracing!

It was a beautiful morning to meander the dirt trails along the Bow River at Fish Creek Park.  

Duck sightings were plentiful this morning. I know for sure the Male Common Goldeneye from the round white cheek patch.  I have no doubt in identifying the Male Wood Duck, they are so colourful and to me they look like a plastic toy.  I am learning about the Wigeons and I can say this is an American Wigeon, noticing the green swipe running back from the eye.  The bottom two ducks are a couple and stuck together the entire time.  They are the Female & Male Common Mergansers.   

I think people were on the same page as me and knew to be "out & about" early.  

While the paved paths became very busy, the dirt trails were not. 

Weather-wise this May long weekend is offering up what it typically does giving us rain, snow, wind, cold. Where there are clear open windows of opportunity then it is time to wander!  

 

Dale Hodges Park for the ducks (birds too) May 21, 2021

 'Tis the season for goslings and ducklings and such and those were what I went searching for at Dale Hodges Park today.  What I found instead were ducks of a variety that I had not seen before.  Or maybe I did see them but not being a duck expert thought them to be just plain ducks. The wetlands were alive and my searching success today was with ducks and not babies.

one of the trails to wander along that connects the platforms

I saw one duckling, it looked lost, all alone with no siblings to be seen nor parents anywhere.  In contrast to that, the Yellow Headed Blackbirds were in abundance and were on a mission chasing away the Red Winged Blackbirds from where ever they were perched.  I believe these are Song Sparrows after comparing them to what are shown in my bird book.

another trail to follow

The birds and ducks were busy this morning and nothing was staying still for any length of time.  I am learning to be trigger happy and just snap, snap, snap.  Some birds and ducks I am able to now recognize immediately yet others like the Sandpipers it is necessary to refer to my bird book. 

These are a few of the beautiful wetland sights that were presented at the Dale Hodges Park.  It was a perfect time of day to be here seeing the blue sky scattered with puffy fluffy white clouds, bird songs filled the air and reflections filled the ponds.   

Another work week has come to an end!  These are my kind of work weeks kicking Monday off with this kind of work and ending the work week on a Friday that looked like today did.  Now we are into a long weekend but for me that does not mean a bonus day off work!

urban nature walks

Fish Creek Provincial Park

Our intentions were to head off in a direction we had not been before but that did not turn out to be the type of path we wanted.   Yet we did discover a new little pond we had not seen before which was being visited by a variety of ducks and birds.   We then aimed for a trail we had meandered along before but missed a turn off somewhere along the way and ended up in an area new to both of us.  This was a wetlands being enjoyed by many bird and duck species.  We saw an American Coot with the white bill, a male Yellow-Headed Blackbird, a Red-Winged Blackbird and a Cormorant.  One place we did know for sure how to get to was Annie's Cafe for a sweet speciality beverage to top off our visit!     

Bowness & Bowmont Parks

We were in for another nice day to be "out & about" seeking nature in the city.  We opted to meet at Bowness Park and work our way around there then head towards Bowmont Park.   It was when we arrived at Bowmont that we noticed this is a happening place today.  The blossoms and buds are exploding with color and the grass is already looking like a carpet of green.  We heard birds, saw ducks, dodged dogs all the while catching up on lifes' happenings. BUT, what captured our attention for about thirty minutes and making it a highlight of our day was how a Mother Duck cared for her babies!    

finding fulfilment enjoying springtime in the city

Powderface East Ridge & Forgetmenot Pond May 17, 2021

Before heading out past that gate along Route 66 which opened at 8:00am on Saturday , I let the weekend warriors wander there. Come Monday when they all went about their work week, I went west beyond the open gate to hike up to Powderface East Ridge which I know as Sunrise Hill.  

The route gets your heart pumping right from the car door.  It was not long after hitting the trail that I needed to delayer, it was warm & muggy.  I made a business of just getting up the dry trail, into the trees, through the snow and then when I popped out into the open, I began to "remember to breathe".

 

From here on up, the trail was snow free and dry.  I watched for crocuses but I believe it is still early season for those on this slope.  I kept looking behind me to see the mountain views get bigger.  I liked the smooth wavy division between the cloud and the blue sky. 

someone picked the bark to create the heart

a gray jay (aka whisky jack)

I reached the pass between Sunrise Hill and the steep slope up to the main drag of Powderface East Ridge. Some snow remained here but it was easy to circumnavigate it.  The cloud formation wrapped around to here, where it met up with the blue sky .

creating extensions to the Inukshuk

looks under the weather but is actually full of life

high enough that Banded Peak is now visible

I reached the summit!  I picked a rock in the shape of a mountain to include as a prop.  That's the Little Elbow River far below me in the middle.  That little blue circle in the lower middle right is Forgetmenot Pond.

snack time

I savoured a lengthy visit on the summit.  I noticed others far below following the trail to the pass below.  I took a little more time before packing up and beginning the descent.  We met along the way and exchanged pleasantries. This was the view in front of me as I descended. 

looking back up at the summit of Sunrise Hill

Before reaching my car, I met a few others who were on their way up.  We all picked a perfect day to make our way up into this gorgeous area.  There was still  more beauty to see!  I changed my footwear then hopped in my car and drove over to Forgetmenot Pond.   

When I arrived at the parking lot, my initial feeling was disappointment.  The road to get here only opened at 8:00am on Saturday and now it was noon on Monday.  Already there was garbage everywhere.  Picnic people left their bags of garbage at the picnic sites where wildlife got into it.  It was also scattered around the garbage bins and on the grassy spaces around the Pond.  Another thing I saw which I don't even know is permitted in a Provincial Park was someone dug up a section of grass on the bank of the Pond and planted pansies.  I wonder will the $90.00/year or $15.00/day Conservation Fee that comes into effect on June 1st remedy there being a mess.  Will they hire people other than the regular maintenance people to pick up all the garbage?

Forgetmenot Pond itself was beautiful!  I love this place at this time of year when there is still ice in the water and the mountains peaks are still topped with winter white.  This is a creek which leads to the Pond.

I look forward to returning to Forgetmenot Pond, 

putting my feet up and staying awhile.   

Carburn to Beaverdam Flats May 14, 2021

With this gorgeous weather we have been gifted, I am sleeping with my bedroom window open.  This morning I woke to birds chirping yet it was still dark.  My clock said 4:02am! So, I was up with the birds!  I wanted to add distance to my Kruger Challenge but did not want to exit the city with the multitudes of others who do so now on Fridays.  A quick short drive down The Deerfoot gets me to Carburn Park where I can go for kilometres on end.    

I aimed for trails down by the Bow River first to see what I could see and this was what I saw!  The Bald Eagle was on the other side of the river. Thankfully I had my big camera with the big zoom.  

There was enough distance including a fence and a steep slope between me and the Canada Geese family that made it safe for me to watch them for quite some time.  On this visit I saw two families, both from a safe distance.

The American White Pelicans have arrived!

Some of the other sightings I saw include:  a male and female Tree Swallow, a female Downy Woodpecker, and I believe a White-Crowned Sparrow and a Chipping Sparrow.  I find some sparrows hard to identify if I don't get a photo from a good angle or if the lighting is different and shows them in various shades of greys and browns.    

some of the pathways I enjoyed

Inglewood Bird Sanctuary May 13, 2021

It was a very quiet (people-wise) morning at The Sanctuary, yet loud otherwise thank-you to the Canada Geese!  A few days prior Calgary was declared one of the top four bird friendly cities in Canada and the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary plays a big part in that.  I like this place for bird viewing but I also enjoy the area for the scenery and other wildlife.  It was breakfast time for the deer as I arrived for this morning's visit.

Just like that, the goslings have arrived!  The parents were fiercely & aggresively protective which meant I put my zoom lens into action to capture any photos of the babies.  I saw four separate families and I assume that number will grow over the next number of days.  I got myself into a pickle on this visit!  After returning from strolling the pathway down by the river I was denied access by the protective parents to crossing the bridge back to the west side.  I patiently waited and waited but the geese were going no where.  I retreated expecting to return to the river pathway but a short distance along I was denied access to carrying on any further.  Once again I waited patiently but the protective parents stood their ground.  I resorted to bushwhacking through The Sanctuary to get out of the pickle I was in!         

I made it back to the main pathway on the west side and remained there walking back and forth for the rest of my visit.  I wondered did this have anything to do with why it was quiet (people-wise) or were all the birders down at Fish Creek Park searching for that unusual woodpecker that showed up there  the other day.  

I carried on with enjoying the scenery and watching the bird and duck activity. 

This is a female Common Merganser.   

pretty pathway

a male Downy Woodpecker

a male Wood Duck

this is a stretch of the pathway I was free to wander along

two female and one male Common Goldeneyes creating a kerfuffle 

I believe this is a Chipppig Sparrow!

The Robin is looking all matchy-matchy with the bench!

Well that was quite the visit this time!  

I wonder how long the adult geese will behave this way?  

I wonder should I stay away for the next little while?