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Published: July 30th 2021
Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak
A particularly melodic song2021 June 18
On a perfect day, seven members of the C group met at the Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area, a new location for some walkers. Eventually walking 9 km, we first chose the Aspen Trail, which led us into a woodland filled with bird song. Most of the birds stayed well hidden in the waving aspens that shaded our trail. One song was so beautiful that we all halted, magically catching sight of the bird trilling his mating call. To our delight he ignored us, posing unconsciously for photos, albeit at a great distance. Some research later identified it as a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Wild flowers abounded, engaging our memories as we tried to match names to blooms. Many were LWFs, an acronym Wendy revealed as “little white flowers”. Yellow arnica sparkled in the grass. A look through a flower book told us that the prolific purple geraniums are named “Sticky Geraniums” and the white ones are called just “White Geraniums”. Pink Wild Roses grew in patches. On one burst of Yellow Pea flowers was a tiny black beetle sporting four bright yellow spots. The bees preferred dandelions.
At the height of the
Paradise Trail, we stepped out of the woods at the West Side Lookout and gasped at a spectacular scene of Western Alberta beauty. Grassy hills dipped into groves of rich trees, which ascended into foothills, underscoring the shining mountains on the horizon. Whipped into frothy white, the clouds danced across a bright blue sky in the light breezes that kept us cool. Swinging slowly away from the magnificent views, we followed the grassland meandering of the Fescue Trail, bright in the mid-day sun, to a welcome pool of shade, perfect for lunch.
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Isabel Gibson
non-member comment
Another new-to-me park
:-) The scenes are SO different from any of the countryside around Ottawa. (Mind you, like Calgary, the scenery is different depending which direction you go from the city.) Great shots of flowers and bugs. I especially like the colour-coordinated pest. And your shot of the mountains, foreground fence and all, is lovely.