Bird Highlights of 2009

 Since we are almost ready to step into 2010 I would like to look back

at some of the birding highlights of the past year.

This first bird the Eurasian Collared Dove was a lifer for us.

Photographing these birds was a definite highlight of JANUARY.

The Common Redpoll is  not a lifer,but still a joy to see.

In  FEBRUARY Jake got this shot.

MARCH gave us this almost pure white Snowy Owl.

No matter how often I see these,they always cause me to take a second look.

APRIL brought a brand new Canon 100-400mm lens,and this Black-capped Chickadee.

This was one of the very first pictures taken with the new lens.

In MAY we went to Delta Marsh,Manitoba and were able to capture this Dunlin.

The Dunlin was one of the reasons we went here,this is a life bird as well.

JUNE and a walk through one of our town parks,yielded this picture.

The Great-crested Flycatcher is one bird I was hoping to get a good shot of.

The Lark Sparrow was another bird which had eluded me as far as pictures were concerned.

In JULY I managed to get a few decent shots,this being one of them.

AUGUST yielded two more lifers for us.

The first was this Northern Mockingbird.

Secondly we were thrilled to be able to see and photograph the Say's Phoebe.

I'd say August was a good month for us.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is by no means an unusual bird,but always a thrill to see.

In SEPTEMBER we spent many hours at the English Gardens in Winnipeg,Manitoba.

The Hummers were very cooperative,and we were able to get many great pictures.

OCTOBER,and the birding begins to slow down,so we have to look for new ways to shoot the birds.

Jake and I spent quite some time watching and shooting the Blue Jays as they helped themselves to peanuts.

NOVEMBER gave us one more special bird.

We had seen the Red-bellied Woodpecker before,but this was our best chance to get some pictures.

This was also at the English Gardens in Winnipeg.

Now we are in DECEMBER and in southern Manitoba we see only the very hardy birds.

This Northern Flicker surprised me with a visit to our suet block.

We have seen him at the window fairly regularly since then.

OK I know this is not a bird,but I thought I would throw it in.

This picture was taken by my three year old granddaughter.

I think she did a good job,too bad the subject wasn't better.LOL

This will be my last post for 2009,so I pray that each one

of you will feel God's nearness in the coming year.

I see God in the majesty of His creation.

Winter Wonderland

 As we near the end of 2009 I have a few more before Christmas pictures to share.

The following pictures were all taken on December 24 at the Agriculture Research Station just a few blocks from our home.

These ornamental apples are wearing a hat of white.

I like how each branch has a dusting of snow.

I am not sure what these are called,but I liked how they looked.

This is the over all scene in the Research Station.

In front of this row of trees and shrubs are beautiful flower beds in summer.

A close up of this Blue Spruce with the snow.

These dried seed heads were on one of the shrubs.

I guess we'll have to wait a while before we can spread out that tablecloth and have a lunch here.

I might add Jake and I were walking through at least ankle deep snow.

I know that isn't very deep ,but still hard to walk in.

Just another close up of a leaf.

If you look closely,you can see the cabin in the background.

this is the same one which I had in the other picture.

The Research Station is a popular spot in summer,for picnic,family gatherings,

and even weddings.

Here is my version of snow cones.

On December 25 we got more snow and wind,so all of us have been digging out since then.

I guess with the snow it's all in the attitude,we can't change the weather so we make the best of it.

Be exalted,O God,above the heavens.

Psalm 108:5

Merry Christmas To All

Jake and I send this wish to all who take the time to read this blog.

Without you this blog would not exist,so we Thank-you for stopping by.

Christmas to me

Is a gift from above -

A gift of salvation

Born of God's love.

A Walk Down Memory Lane 20

 This being post number 20 in this series and  since we are almost at the end of another year,

this will be the last post in the series.

I have by no means shown all our slide scans,and will perhaps use them again in other posts.

I remind you again,that these are slide scans and all taken years ago.

Today  we will be all over the country,the Canadian Rockies,parts of the USA,

and in the backyard to see some birds.

Here we are at Bow Falls in the Canadian Rockies.

This is somewhere in the US. the flowers make a perfect frame for these mountains.

This is Lake Louise in Banff National Park,Alberta.

Here is a scene along the trail from Lake Louise to a tea house higher up the mountain.

Here are some other hikers along the same trail.

This small island is one of the most photographed places.It is Spirit Island in Maligne Lake,

in Jasper National Park,Alberta.

Another scene in the Canadian Rockies,this is at Moraine Lake in Banff.

Winter in the Rockies.

This is Steve once again posing for his Dad.

The White Sands in New Mexico.In the picture are my Mom,my Sister and myself.

Another pretty water falls along the road.

This is the unmistakable,Devil's Tower in Wyoming.

Here is a view of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

A picturesque view of the Grand Tetons in Wyoming.

Back in Canada we see the Athabasca Falls  in Jasper Park,Alberta.

This is the first chance ever for a picture of a Bald eagle.

Blue Jay coming in for a landing.

A Mallard churning up the water.

Baby goslings are so cute.

Many years ago we had a chance to photograph this Northern Cardinal,near Morden.

A male Eastern Bluebird.

The Wood Duck is our most colorful duck.

This was taken at Delta Marsh,Manitoba.

These are all Tree Swallows getting ready for migration.

An American Robin,still here in the winter.

Jake had the chance to feed this Baltimore Oriole.

That was a special moment.

Here we see a Killdeer doing the broken wing act.

We woke up one morning to see the above scene.This was in late May and it seemed

the Orioles had all found our feeding tree.We had as many as 14 at one time.

Here is a Ruby-throated Hummingbird sitting on it's nest.

We watched as the eggs hatched and the mother  feed the babies.

This picture was taken at a friends house west of Morden.

It has been a pleasure to share these slide scans with you.

Be exalted ,O God,above the heavens.

Psalm 108:5