Not my best post on Mexico trip, but I’m composing this
as I’m running out the door for 12 days in Hawaii. All the posts you’ve been seeing for the last 12 days were all pre-scheduled.
I’m uncertain of my media access on the trip so I apologize if I don’t readily monitor things here. See you soon.
bring it on home to me / by Playing for Change / 2017
The American White Pelican
There are about 7 kinds of pelicans on this planet.
(there’s 19 on Pluto) (joke)
4 are overseas and the rest are in the Americas. The Pelicans see here in Alberta are the American White Pelican.
Carseland Provincial Park. Alberta
The first time I saw these Pelicans up here
was in Montana many years ago.
I figured this was an anomaly or they were
on their way to Tibet (joke)?
Fact is, they seem to have nesting colony’s here in Canada
and Winter in Mexico. (Smart birds!)
Wikipedia says they don’t nest here in Alberta.
I’m no expert, but they sure look like they’re nesting here?
That knob develops on their bill before the breeding season.
But maybe they’re just passing through?
These Cormorants (above) – also normally considered and Sea Bird –
are hanging out here too.
OK … that’s it for the Pelicans.
Hope you enjoyed.
YUP, we get pelicans in Alberta. Though I’d normally think of pelicans as being Sea Birds they’ve been around here for a long time. Pelicans go anywhere there’s fish.
And we’ve got fish.
So when Rose and I heard about some Pelicans hanging out at a dam in Wyndham Carseland Provincial Park, East of Calgary
we headed out … cameras in hand.
It’s about a hour’s drive South East of Calgary to the Park. In this beautiful valley:
One of many beautiful river valleys carved out by the Bow River.
Plenty to do here:
Yet like many of Alberta Provincial Parks it seems little used and almost unknown?
This is the Dam / Weir where the pelicans like to fish.
Weir: Definition: a dam in a stream or river to raise the water level or divert its flow.
In this case the diversion is for irrigation canals.
Weirs can be dangerous.
Be aware.
We spotted the pelicans at the canal spillway on the far side.
With no telephoto lens we decide to head over to the other side.
On the other side we see more warning signs.
People have obviously died here.
But we’re going to get our pelicans shots
even if it kills us.
And there they were … completely heedless of the warning signs about swimming in the weir.
You’re Nobody ’till Somebody Loves You / Dean Martin / 1964
Like I said, I get ‘stuck’ at times.
Bet there’s no toilet paper either.
Some posts just won’t come together.
And rather that just throw something on the board
I keep working on it until it’s right.
SO …..
Right now I’m working on a post about Pelicans.
Yup.
We got Pelicans here in Alberta and we heard about
some hanging out at a nearby park.
I’m calling that Rumors of Pelicans.
We got some good shots.
The second post I’m working on is another post
about our Mexico trip.
It’s not coming together swiftly either.
The Essence of Now / by It’s a Beautiful Day / 1970 After a while the days start to run together. As they should.
But who wants to worry about Time when you’re on Holiday?
Coati in a tree …
Not me.
I just want to smell the … Roses?
And look at the birds …
Enjoy the ocean …
How sweet it is !
“You said something?”
There were about 5 cenote pools on the resort. You could tell that people were once allowed to swim in them, but this had mostly been stopped except for one central lagoon.
Too bad, because on a hot day that water is awesome.
Years back I saw a pure white Heron in a marsh outside of town.
Pure white. It was beautiful!
I knew this was rare because in all my years in Alberta
I had never seen one before – or since.
But what was that bird???
I thought it might be an Egret, but Egrets don’t range up this far.
Upon much investigation I think I’ve finally solved the mystery.
Wikipedia says this: “The Great Blue Heron is found throughout most of North America …”
And it is known that Great Blue Herons can sometimes be white!!!
That’s right. Pure white.
The above images are of a white Great Blue Heron I found on the internet
and aGreat Blue Heron that I photographed in Calgary last week.
I stitched the two photos together so show that it is indeed the same bird.
Amazing!!
Here’s the other pics we shot at the pond.
Rose first spotted the Heron flying across the pond
and I snapped a quick shot.
We watched where he landed and …
… were able to get a couple of decent shots.
He agreeably posed for us.
Great Blue Heron and friends.
Then he headed off.
There’s a big unresolved debate as to whether the white Great Blue Herons are a “morph” or an entirely different species.
I can only show and tell my own experience.
They look identical except for their color.
That’s all I know …
Except that they are beautiful to see.
In the days of camera film that would cost a small fortune, but with todays wonder of digital photography you can just fire away and you’re bound to hit something occasionally.
Don’t see this everyday in Calgary …
We end up throwing a ton of pics away – (some were plainly awful) – and hope to end up with something of interest?
“ECO” – plants and animals – was the big thing at the Resort Spider Monkey lounging in a tree Peacock Hen … not all the animals here are native Unusual looking ducks Not sure why there were so many statues of Buddha around? Chickens and Doves
Most don’t do much damage, but on occasion
can destroy crops, houses, cars … you name it.
This one damaged the garden out back,
but only because it lasted about half an hour.
Otherwise the hail was small – pea size we call this.
Can be golf ball size or larger …
Michael Nesmith
December 30, 1942 – December 10, 2021
I swear I just heard this on the news a couple of days ago? Have I been in a Time Warp or something? And I’m certain a few dozen people more notable to History and Arts have passed in the time being, but I always liked this guy. He was a legitimate Artist, Musician, and Songwriter.
Michael Nesmith
Silver Moon / Michael Nesmith / 1970
Of course, Mike had once been a member of the Monkees – who I despised in those times as a commercial Group that was fabricated to fleece Teenyboppers. There’s some truth in that, but it prevented me from appreciating
anything they did. The years have fortunately softened me in MANY, MANY ways however, (thank GOD) and I can now go back and amend some of the prejudices of my youth. One of those prejudices is that I can now appreciate
some of the songs they did. ?