This is just to let my loyal readers know that after returning from a 10-day holiday in Alberta a few days ago, I’m back and beginning to blog again! I still have a couple of entries to post from before I went away and hope to get those up soon so I can share my stories and photos from Elk Island and Jasper National Parks with you! I will be back-dating my entries for a while until I can catch up.
In the meantime, here’s something to whet your appetite:
Pyramid Mountain, Jasper National Park
The Pathless Wood 
Supremely jealous!
Hopefully you’ll enjoy the photos when I get some more up!
Woohoo! Welcome back.
I’m curious to see your species list. Did you find any American Dippers?
We’ve had very dry conditions here of late, so lots of extensive mud flats at Shirley’s Bay and elsewhere. You might want to get out shorebirding sometime soon!
Hi Suzanne,
I haven’t completed my final tally of birds yet, but I didn’t get American Dipper (though it was on my “Most Wanted” list). I did get Mountain Chickadee and Clark’s Nutcracker in Jasper, though, and Yellow-headed Blackbird, Eared Grebe, California Gull, Swainson’s Hawk and Black-billed Magpie elsewhere for a total of 7 lifers.
I didn’t get many shorebirds out west – Killdeer, Wilson’s Snipe, Semipalmated Sandpiper and a dowitcher were the only ones. Can’t wait to see what’s around here in Ottawa!
Dipper eluded me too on my visit to the west, despite carefully checking every mountain stream I walked (or drove) by. Perhaps they’re easier to find in migration.
Looking forward to the photos!
Also, I know you’ll be busy blogging away, but if you have a chance, could you hazard a guess as to what this dragonfly has in his legs?
Just looked at your photo…..I have no idea what that is! I thought it was part of the leaf but the leaf doesn’t seem to be torn or curled up, so perhaps it is a pupa. If you’re still a member of Ottawa Odes, why not put a link to your photo there and see what the others think?