Thought it would be fun to see what birds had returned to the river bottom now that spring 2019 is here. While it may say spring on the calendar the birds never got the message. There were a few of the regulars but not a lot of new comers. After it being so cold for so long I understand why there is not a hug influx of returning birds. If I was them I would be waiting down south till I knew that the warm weather was here to stay. I did see a couple Robins, a few Starlings and a Franklin Gull but that was it.
I love seeing the reflection in the water. Means the ice is melting!!!!
If you are like me you have driven through Fort MacLeod a number of times. Going or coming to Lethbridge from the Crowsnest Pass or Calgary it is a part of the drive. This post is from a few years back and as I was cleaning up the blog I could not resist to publish this one before summer arrives! Something to add to your summer adventures!
The Empress
Inside the Empress
The front of the Empress, Fort MacLeod
For many years the only reason we would stop in Fort MacLeod was for the ice cream shop next to the fort. During the summer a stop at the ice cream shop was a treat for the kids as we were heading home from a trip. Of course Dad did not mind the stop either. But a couple years ago I had a chance to do some photography of the Fort and the Empress Theater. I have to say the assignment opened my eyes to the photo opportunities around Fort MacLeod. It is worth the drive, or a stop, when passing through.
Tour the Empress theater opened my eyes to some of the history of the area. It is a great tour to take! The theater really is a part of the past and it is so well preserved. As part of the shoot I had the chance to wander around the place with a guide then on my own and it was amazing to see everything!!
The fort at Fort MacLeod
Flag raising
The Fort also has a lot of amazing displays. The museum relives the settlement of southern Alberta. A huge highlight of the stop is the Musical ride. It is a treat taking you back in time to when the Fort was a major player in southern Alberta and western Canada. Add to all this the fact that the Fort has a number of photo opportunities and a stop in Fort MacLeod is going to get you some fantastic photos.
Back in December I ordered a set of mud flaps for the White Turtle III. It was actually the van’s Christmas present. They arrived a week into the cold snap that we had and I was not going to try installing them at -30 or -50. So today all the ice and snow melted in the driveway and it was warm enough to install.
Sigma came out with another firmware update on March 14, 2019 for a number of their lenses. If you have a Sigma lens that uses the Sigma dock for updating the firmware, and your lens is on the update list, you should consider doing the update. The lens that caught my eye on the list was the 150-600. This is my favorite lens for wildlife and even some scenic images.
Yesterday I had the chance to install the update and then do some testing around Lethbridge. Today a trip to Waterton Lakes National Park to use the lens again and do more testing.
Spring is around the corner and house hunting season is upon us. I always know when spring is arriving when the screams start early in the morning and go till sunset. No it is not only my wife screaming at the predators eating her song birds. But the hawks coming back to stake out nesting sites. The screams start as soon as they arrive in the neighborhood and go till the eggs have been laid. Then once the young hatch the get back to screaming till the young are out of the nest.
I always keep and eye out for the Waxwings each winter, they are my winter friends. Making my day brighter with their amazing colors.
This winter I have been keeping my eyes open for the Waxwing invasion and nothing. They have been around town but not at my house. Then yesterday as I was working outside I heard all these birds calling but did not put one and one together as to what type of bird it was. I was in the garage when I looked out to see the sky darken with a massive flock. There must have been a couple hundred!!! They were on a neighbors roof drinking the runoff from the melting snow.
I worked my way into the house and grabbed a camera to get a couple pictures. They were really flighty, more so than usual for some reason. Could have been the strong winds making so much noise that they were on edge.
I love this picture as it looks like the one with the berry is giving a lesson to the other ones. “This is the berry we are having for supper”.
The color of the Waxwing blends in well with the plum tree
