These 2 baby ducks were on the Bow River - can one of my knowledgeable bird friends please tell me what they are?

I searched the internet I wasn't successful in identifying them since the adults look so different from the immatures.

Wasn't sure if they were ruddy ducks, harlequins, or maybe they aren't even ducks at all...geese?

So much smoke in Alberta from BC forest fires I have had to stay inside for 2 days.

On the long weekend we had friends here from New York City - and we hiked up to the Plain of the Six Glaciers. very beautiful.

Up near the top - this was a big hike for me in terms of altitude and up- it was about 14 kilometres I think round-trip.

Lake Louise Hotel in the far distance - on the way back from the climb.

Morraine Lake, Lake Louise again, and Gladioli.

What could be more Canadian than a Mountie in Banff?

We had wonderful guests all through July and it made me realize something. I miss the people I love - all across the country - and beyond - and I love Banff (and it is a great adventure living here and we feel very blessed) but I do really miss family and friends.

A miscellany of images from the last few weeks.

a sample of the flower photos I hope to use to make more photo cards. Gladioli in detail.

Another double rainbow, this time on the edge of Tunnel Mountain.

Snow on Cascade earlier this month.

A family of geese with four goslings well camouflaged on the rock.

Two images from the Grizzly exhibit at the musuem. A skull & a small stuffed grizzly - look at the claws! And finally,

Rundle Mountain cast in golden sun in the evening

Rainbow on Mount Rundle

Tonight - two Rainbows.

One climbed across Rundle and as if out the out of the peak and across the sky.

The other is faintly visible in the last picture in the sky behind Rundle as the one on the Mountains has faded but is still visible.

Charley's Theatre Dept. BBQ Lake Minnewanka, Banff

Fortunately we did not have to eat gravel like the big-horned sheep.

We had a lovely evening with burgers, and sausages on the grill,

games of soccer with Santi

and beautiful scenery...even sunshine.

I have decided I am Santi's

"Pawpararazzi" always taking pictures of her.

The pictures you don't see

The pictures you don't see are of the hummingbird feeder with the rufous hummingbirds.

We have had 6 weeks of cold wet weather and I was so worried about how the hummingbirds would make it - so I bought a hummingbird feeder and the nectar and within a day we had several hummingbirds find the feeder and now every day from dawn till at least 9:30 pm we have them coming to the balcony.

The rufous hummingbird is bronze, and coppery coloured and absolutely beautiful. Quite different from the ruby throated variety which is what I was used to seeing.

I also planted my window boxes and bought a beautiful hanging basket for our balcony.

The first two pictures are from the annual car show that was here this weekend (and a sunny day! until it rained).

The red car I took a picture of for our friend Gordon because I thought it was a British Wolsley - which is what one of his antique cars is - the other being a 1952 (?) MG - but it turns out this is a Pontiac - what do I know.

The trucks I took the photo for my brother Bob.

The lilacs aren't even out here & it is late June.

The last picture is Santi saying "Don't tease me Charley - give me the cookie NOW"

pictures from the past few weeks

Grey for the entire month of May and early June - the past weekend

glorious, hot and sunny, now thunderstorms today.

Picture

1) nest of baby birds in a hanging basket at the greenhouse nursery where I went to buy plants

they say there is a nest every year and the fledglings hatch and fly away

2 & 3)

flowering crab(?) and mock orange blossoms against a blue! sky

4) one of a flock of Bohemian Waxwings in my friends backyard

5 -7) grey and Mount Rundle with a cloud spouting of its peak in a funnel

8) Killdeer at Vermillion Lakes

9) Calypso Orchids at Johnson Lake we saw dozens of clumps of these tiny fragile beauties

10) Loon on the nest on a tiny island in Johnson Lake

11)Red-wing Blackbird

12) reflection

13) surreal looking trees at Warner Stables with horse & rider (great birding spot in the marsh there - that's where the sora is)

14) baby mallard in that marsh

15) Northern Shoveller, male, in that marsh

16) grey - there was lots of it

17) the dappled section of grass is where the cougar killed the deer - that building (yes, just inches from the spot) is where Kathy, Charley and I all work - just so you don't think I am exaggerating when I say...near our offices.