Our weather has the hiccups. Last Friday was 30C (90F), the weekend was 14C (58F) and raining. Today is supposed to be 90C again. Suffice it to say, we didn’t go camping, but it was World Cup weekend anyway. Let me take this moment to say, yet again, I TOLD you Spain was going to win! That’s my TEAM!!!
OK, enough crowing. Even though we didn’t go to the lake, I still have random pictures and stories I haven’t shared.
About 20 feet from our trailer is this huge nest. We’ve never had these visitors in the trailer (or we’d be moving), or even seen them close to our camp sight. The other thing I’ve noticed is that even with the large numbers of birds walking around on the grass, none of them are eating these ants. I have a sneaking suspicion the ants will be flying soon – maybe that’s what the birds are waiting for.
Walking around the campground, I never know what’s going to strike my fancy and demand I take its picture. This likely looks like something anyone of sane mind would pass right on by, but it struck a chord. In the mysterious way my mind works, I looked at this and thought “Goose Poop and Buttercups” is probably the best title I’ve ever heard for a book on the Canadian prairies. Now if only I had time to write it…
As anyone with a digital camera knows, loading your photos onto your computer often brings some surprises. When I uploaded this photo, I really wished I had taken more pictures of this subject – notice the five legs on that cow?-:)
I place the blame squarely on the fantastic nature photographers I follow on twitter, but I spend an inordinate amount of time trying to take pictures of birds in flight. Probably because it’s so hard – I luvs a challenge! Capturing a White Pelican in flight is hardly difficult, as these huge birds (up to 9 ft wingspan) float so lazily overhead even a complete newbie could manage it. I like this photo anyway – notice the breeding bump on his upper mandible?
I still have bird photos that haven’t seen the light of day on the blog, like this little Clay-coloured Sparrow. I really should have kept count of how many unsuccessful shots I took in order to get this handsome fellow.
Two of the most common bird species out at the lake are Western Kingbirds and Blue-winged teal. So common, in fact, that I believe I’ve actually stopped taking pictures of them. Ditto Eastern Kingbirds, Killdeer and Red-winged blackbirds.
Next weekend will also be a non-camping weekend, as we’re heading north 800 km (500 m) to the Boreal homeland for a 90th birthday celebration. I still have material for another blog post, but it will be just a bit different. My co-campers and I will be back at the lake after that. I sincerely hope flying ants don’t take the place of all the moths we rescued last time we were out there. If they’ve invaded the trailer, I can guarantee it’s going to be a very, very short camping trip. As in about five minutes….
