Calgary Parklands - Carburn Park

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Winter sunlight filtered through the tall poplars of Carburn Park. The sheen on the far edges of the swiftly flowing Bow River revealed ducks and geese floating, dipping and walking on thin ice. Easily punching through the crusty snow with our boots, our group lined up on the shore to watch the antics of the birds basking in warm winds.

Traipsing through the woods on well-trodden paths, we came to a tree selected by a porcupine for being well out of the way of predators and the curious. Curled into the fork of the trunk and a large branch, it occasionally opened its eyes to check if we were gone or not. Our leaving was precipitated by a couple of young deer, attracted to the birdseed offered by hand. Really, the bird seed was for the chick-a-dees, but the deer had a snack, too - placed on the path, not by hand!

The Park extended into the Bow River Pathway, where it meandered past the low islands and ice sheets that were providing winter habitat for non-migrating birds – even some robins! A Downy Woodpecker flashed his red cap at us and disappeared around the tree trunk. With a good imagination and strong eyes, an eagle was spotted far away. Returning to the Park, we passed the natural oval skating rink where people were gliding leisurely around the trees.

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Photos

Happy ducks
Bow River

Porcupine comfortable up a tree
Unusual face-forward view

Grasses in the morning light
Bow River

Swans on the Bow River
A most unexpected sight!

Swans and ducks on the Bow River
Nice day for a walk on the thin ice

Chick-a-dee
Safe snack

Whitetailed deer
No fear in the park

Downy Woodpecker
There's a bug in there somewhere.

Chick-a-dee
All fluffed up for warmth

Common Goldeneye
Sailing along quietly

Mallards
Bobbing on the swells

Canada Goose
At home in the snow

Snow makes humps and bumps of the rock
Bow River

Comments

[Isabel Gibson]

Calgary has done some wonderful work, making the river valleys accessible for recreation. I love your shot of grasses in the morning light.

[beentouring]

Grasses in the morning
Thanks, I like the grasses in this photo too. I often take photos of grasses, but they don't always convey what I saw.

[Larry Parnes]

Calgary
Great pictures. Our daughter, her husband and their two boys were in Lake Louise in early March. They had a great time there. Looked like there was more snow than in your pictures. We have white tailed deer in out local park where we take daily walks.

[beentouring]

Calgary snow
Especially this year, the mountains have had lots of snow, and Calgary has had hardly any. Glad your daughter's family enjoyed Lake Louise.