Osprey nest

Waterton park, I loved the way the lake mirrored the mountain top. This was an evening shot.

Here are the osprey we saw on our way to and at the Waterton Reservoir. This one was on a platform at the damn flexing its wings, I believe it is a young one as it feathers were mottled black an white.

It surprised me to see an osprey perched in the plains, though I do realize that the birds will fly about 15 miles to water from their nesting site. This adult stayed near the nesting platform but when we stopped the vehicle but its mate flew off towards Payne Lake to the south. There may have been a young in the nest though we did not see one. I have noticed on previous siting of osprey that the young will duck down into the nest making them un-noticeable from the ground if the parents start to call out. This spot was on a secondary highway south of the reservoir.

flickers and canyons

Such a nice pose. Throughout our travels we came across many flicker families. They show wonderful flashes of bright yellow or reddish under-wings as they fly. Near Drumheller I photographed a yellow-shafted flicker and this fella who is a red-shafted flicker was flying with the family pack in Taber enjoying the cottonwoods by the river. The male red-shafted sports a red mustache while the yellow-shafted sports a black one. This was how the egg broke into the pan. To me it looks like a heart, although my daughter says it looks like a bum, all a matter of perspective I guess. MMM homemade hash-browns in the open mountain air, nothing tastes better.
Mountain in Waterton Parks. I like the composition. We only camped one night in the park as you pay a fee per person to enter the park then you pay the camping fee on top. Personally the girl at the main gate was a "nasty prejudicial type" so her reception into the park did nothing to encourage us to want to stay there. Thank goodness the fella at the campground was a joyful friendly sort otherwise we may not have even stayed the night. The following night we drove back to Mountainview to camp at Payne Lake, there the campground personnel were wonderful. The following day we set off north towards the Waterton reservoir and were gifted with two separate osprey platforms with osprey. You will have to check back to see photos of the osprey as they will be posted another day.
Red Rock Canyon in Waterton Park, the rock looks quite colorful where wet, kinda wished for a bit of a rain sprinkle to set off the colors. The following photo is a close up of the rock color when wet. An artists palette of color. Camping sure gives me a lot of inspiration, everything is so much more colorful when one cooks and eats outdoors. I am sure glad my legs held out to do some gentle walking on the river-side trails. I sure wish I had the strength in my knees to hike up and down hill, but alas, my knees just are not strong enough to hold.

Alberta Deer set up shady mens club

Old memories of a not so distant past lie abandoned throughout the plains.
Here are a few interesting shot taken on our camping trip. We stopped to photograph an old timber barn and received a pleasant surprise. Out of the barn came this small 3 point buck who quickly bolted around the corner. Inside the barn we noticed a large 3 point buck and a large 4 point buck. Of course in my excitement I forgot I had the camera on manual and started shooting without making the necessary adjustments, at least I got a few images that show the one large buck still inside. And luck would have it the smaller buck came back around the corner to take a second look at the heat crazed photographer before ambling off with a young doe who had been resting nearby in the shade of a small shed.
A young osprey on nest near the Waterton reservoir.
Small black bear that crossed the road in front of the van, I had the telephoto lens on so captured a good portrait. Gerald got a good full figure shot of the bear from his window as it ventured toward us. It looks bigger in my photo than it was, in fact he was quite a small bear, maybe a yearling?

A portrait of a church, from a church. Dorthy Alberta. This little community near Drumheller is renovating the churches, I only went in the one as the other was too musty smelling and gave me the creeps. There was also an old log cabin with an outhouse out back. I asked Gerald if he checked it out to see if it was in working order but he said "no" that he only photographed it from outside (the big chicken, lol).

camping round Alberta.

I said I would post some more camping round Alberta shots, so here are a few more from the Drumheller area, enjoy!It always amazes me how little soil is needed to grow flowers in Creations garden.

Sunset over the old train tressel.

Setting sun smiling on the tourist hoodoos. I am glad we went in the evening as by 10am the next morning the place was swarming with people.

Flicker in cottonwood tree at the Kokepelli campsite, they don't allow any music or singing in the campsite other than what the birds bring. I must admit it was real nice to hear birdsong in the morning and the evening. This by far was the cleanest well kept campsite of the whole trip.

This crazy creature was hot-footing it across the sandstone cliffs, boy could it move.

Drumheller

I have not blogged recently as I have been off on another road-trip gathering reference material for future pantings, boy oh boy am I going to be busy this winter. Camped at Drumheller, Mountainview, Waterton, Okatoks, Kananaskis and Gull Lake. So to start off I am posting some photos from the Drumheller area, stay tuned as I will post a few more each day.The tourist Hoodoos at sunset.

Hoodoos along the 11 Bridges road, Wayne

Rock color at the suspension Bridge.

Doves, they were plentiful in the Drumheller area.

This antelope was grazing at the side of the road north of Drumheller.

road trippin

A goofy looking western tanger that was captured on an evening walk. 
Canada geese enjoying the rain and other strange ducks doing likewise. These were captured on a rainy-day road-trip a few months back.


I love road trips. Thank goodness my endlessly patient chauffeur who has to stop numerous times so that I can get out and stretch to prevent myself from getting into much pain is such a dear-heart that takes all in stride. I could not ask for a better roadie. 

One more for the upcoming exhibition at The Kings University College in Edmonton this Sept.

Well all birds cannot be pretty but all birds are pretty interesting. So here is my latest sweet lil'bird to awe and amuse. Its not a local Alberta bird but he captured my attention recently and being endeared I had to immortalize him with a portrait.This painting as yet needs a title, got any good ideas? 

I was out at a farm photographing goats when this fella set to screaming and running back an forth the breast of the field like a maniacal sentry warning every creature for miles that a stranger was about. This adorable fella is a Guinea Fowl which is native to Africa yet held in captivity in many countries. I believe farmers keep them as live warning sirens to scare off foxes and coyotes and I read that they love to eat ticks, now thats a bonus. May everyone have a great day and a wonderful weekend.