Sunday 8 July 2012

Family Day Out

We all set off for Cochrane and visited the Glenbow Ranch Provincal Park.  The day was very hot - over 30 degrees and the walking steep through grassland and small woods.  Birds were surprisingly easy to find with House Wren, Warbling Vireo, Chipping Sparrow and Clay-coloured Sparrow all being found.  Best of all a splendid Vesper Sparrow sang from a fence post.

Vesper Sparrow
After a cool drink we moved on to downtown Cochrane for an ice cream.  There was an amazing long queue but efficient staff soon got us served and we were able to reflect on the historic "wild west" buildings.

Cochrane
Beryl and I pressed on after the rest of the family had returned to have another go in the Great Grey Owl territory.  Passing a lake we noted Canvasback, Red-necked Grebe and 2 Double-crested Cormorants.  Again no sign of owls but we stopped to see an American Badger a new mammal for us but sadly we could not get a photograph.

Barn Swallow


Finally we stopped to look at 2 Barn Swallows and reflect how much more colourful they are than the European race.

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