Sunday, June 12, 2022

Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park June 12, 2022

Taking into consideration the rain that is in the forecast for the coming week, I made sure to make the most of today while the sun shone.  I went on a wildflower chase at The Ranch where not only did I find wildflowers but also gorgeous scenery, clouds galore and birds.  The sun was already up when I arrived even though when I arrived it was very very early.  
a wild rose which is the official flower of Alberta
While I captured shots of many colourful wildflowers, I have a few of the yellow ones to share here.
female Mountain Bluebird
Brewer's Blackbird
Savannah Sparrow
The sky appeared big today!  
There was loads going on up there and it was quite a show to watch!
it was a slow climb for this deer
an explosion of clouds over the rolling hills
view to the west

I am experiencing "Blogger's Block" so the words are few!  
I hope to get my MoJo back soon!



Saturday, June 11, 2022

being nurtured by nature

Over the past couple of weeks, I have spent many hours covering loads of kilometres at Confluence Park being nurtured by nature!  After a cup of coffee but before breakfast, after checking emails but before seeing the news, after brushing my teeth but before washing my face, I headed off to see what I could see! A few mornings I arrived before sunrise and other days, I showed up as the sun showed up!  

It's baby season and my hopes were to spot a baby coyote or two. I keep looking but have had no success with that.  I wondered on this morning was this adult guarding a den or was it just being curious and nosy.  

After watching a display put on by this beaver, I deemed it best to leave the area.  When I arrived creek-side, I saw it slip off the mud slope into the water and franticly swim back and forth slapping its tail in the water which made a loud noise and a large splash.  It was something I never saw nor heard before.  I knew I had a lesson to learn here, so after doing some homework, I learned it was sending out a warning.  Maybe it was protecting a baby! 

On this morning not that long after sunrise, a rustle in the bush was made by this fawn!  It came out of the bush onto the pavement and began to follow me as I walked.  It was the size of a minute!!!  It appeared to be new at walking.  I knew this was not where it should be so I walked into the grass...
...and it followed me there and then into some taller grass.  I snapped this photo just before it settled down here.  It was so small, it would probably fit into my two hands.  I  left the area yet kept checking back to make sure it stayed put and it did.  Later someone told me it may have thought I was a doe! This was something I never experienced before.
I knew I had a lesson to learn here, so after doing some homework, I learned that when a fawn is a week or two old, the mother leaves it alone for about 95% of the time during the day and only comes back when it is feeding time.  The Mom teaches her baby to hide in the bush, to stay put laying flat with its legs, head and ears flush to the ground.  The next day I went back out of curiosity!  I found the fawn in an area not too far from where I saw it the day prior.  It was doing what it was taught to do!  I zoomed in to see it laying in the bush with its legs, head and ears flush to the ground.   
Each of these times I did see a doe that was a distance away and keeping an eye on me.  I have gone back twice since, but have not seen the fawn but have seen the doe each time, she watched me from a distance.  I pray the fawn is still doing what it was taught to do and just doing a better job at hiding!  I will continue to keep an eye out for the fawn! 

The early mornings are the best at the park!  
Those golden moments during that special hour brings this place to life!
spring blooms
The crocuses have mostly lived out their best life by now!  
On this day I was fortunate enough to spot one that was at its prime!
The only other people that I come across are savouring the moments it takes them to bike through the park on their way to work!  They see scenes like this and how wonderful is this to greet you on a work day!  
The tree tops are in full bloom!  
They appear more red than any red I have ever seen on these trees in the birth forest!

I have never seen mallards in this pond, it has always been a male and female American Wigeon couple.  On this morning when I first arrived, the ducklings were swimming about with no adult supervision at all.  Later when I came back, the ducklings were closely hanging out with a male and female Mallard pair while the Wigeons swam close by.  I may have a lesson to learn here!  

Grey Catbird
Northern Flicker
Barn Swallow
Male Mallard 
American Robin (this photo is all about the shadow)
Yellow Warbler
Clay-ColouredSparrow
House Finch

I have been wondering!  Is there more going on over at that Park or am I just open to "Remember to Breathe" at a greater level?  


Thursday, June 9, 2022

Bow Valley Park Trails June 9, 2022

A spring-time hike along these trails in Bow Valley Provincial Park was a first for me!  It is typically winter when I wander here.  With wildflowers blooming, my hope was to experience a variety of sightings.  As it turned out, it was a tad early for a profusion but the wildflower season has begun.  Hiking began under a gorgeous sky with a short sleeve shirt and light layer overtop temperature.  From the trailhead a tease was presented by a peek through the trees to the mountains peaks.

The lake was low yet the river was running high.  There is a higher snow pack in the mountains this year and we are waiting for a warm stretch for the melting to truly start.   Many mountain locations are still not accessible, reservations have been cancelled by the Parks and avalanche warnings are in place.
following a trail through the forest and where we began to see wildflowers
a creek that leads out to the Bow River
These are a few of the wildflowers that I had success with capturing clear photos.  Over the eleven kilometres that we covered, there was only one paintbrush (the red flower).  There were a few other varieties that I took photos of but they did not turn out.  I am feeling I need to head out on my own one day soon so I can take tonnes of time to get down and be one with the ground to get wildflower photos.
We arrived at the Bow River and picked this to be our lunch spot.  
While the river looks calm, it was running high and wild.   
The majority of wildflowers were spotted during the morning hours.  The afternoon hours offered up more time in the forest, meadow views and lakeside hiking.  It warmed up as the hours went on and a breeze picked up too.
a gorgeous meadow

I would like to go back here in another week or so when the wildflowers should be more plentiful.  The only thing is, there are many, many other hiking areas that will present the same scenario of pretty views with wildflowers galore!



Thursday, June 2, 2022

High Noon Hills June 2, 2022

wild & western
hills & horses

It's been just short of ten years since I made a trek around the High Noon Hills so when a plan was put out there to hit those hills, I jumped on board.  The hike started in the foothills south west of Calgary at the Sheep River Ranger Station.   The beginning of the trail is a little more than a klick away but starting from here worked best for us.
view after reaching the trail head and beginning the climb
After getting a little high on a hill, we had this view further west.  While there is still much snow in the mountains to melt, it is very dry in the foothills with a fire rating of high.  
in some sections the hills were carpeted with wildflowers
One of the two crocuses I spied along the way.  
There were thousands of shooting stars!
along come the others
Around every corner and at the top of every hill, there was a sight to see!
on top of one of the High Noon Hills with the Sheep River below me
Further along on the hills and as noon approached at High Noon Hills, we found a perfect spot to settle for a lengthy lunch.  This was our view! While dining, I saw movement come out from behind the trees. It was a lady on a horse with another horse beside her.  They stopped in the middle of the meadow.
I zoomed in to see she was looking our way while stopped amongst a field of pink wildflowers.
I could see at one point she pulled out her camera and was aiming the lens in our direction. 
After lunch, we aimed back in the direction we came from but then veered off onto another trail.  We did a little bit of route finding while working our way down towards the river.  We crossed a creek section then climbed back up the other side.  We aimed for the ridge line at the top of the steep slope and followed it to where it headed off into wide open sections.
Mother Nature's wood frame of the mountain scene!
This was the wide open section we reached and from here we followed the trail over another hill then out to the road.  We crossed the road then aimed for the forest having just a little over a kilometre to get back to the Ranger Station.

Out exploring these High Noon Hills felt like being in the middle of a western show.  The lady showing up on her horse in the middle of the meadow was such a fitting sight to see.  The wildflowers were so pretty giving the feel that the hills were alive!  


 

Wednesday, June 1, 2022

"Aussie Coastal Bushwalk" Conquer 2022 Virtual Challenge Progress June 1, 2022

It's time for a progress report on this virtual challenge that has fallen by the way side in a way!  While I am still tracking my distance and recording it on the map, I have not been looking into and learning about the places I virtually pass by.  To the end of June 1st, I have covered 900.4 kms of the 2022 kms.  I have no doubt I will reach and surpass the half way point by mid year.  The first map shows the entire length of the challenge from orange star to orange star.    


This map shows a close up of the distance I covered so far.

I have this on the wall next to my computer where I cannot miss it.  It helps to keep me accountable.  The orange tack shows my current location.  In short order I will pass through Newcastle and then Sydney will be my next goal to reach.  

I will not give up on conquering 2022 by covering 2022 kms before midnight on December 31st 2022.  For now, the history and geography lessons will not be happening though.  The end of summer might be a good time for the next progress report and maybe get back to the schooling!