American Coot / Fulica americana, and baby

            On 12 July 2024, I just couldn't take the heat in my home anymore.  With four fans going, it was still stifling indoors.  So, all I could do was climb into my car and drive!  A few minutes later, just when I was on the main highway heading south, an orange light came on, on my dashboard.  Time to get a service.  I knew I had a few more miles to safely cover, so I decided to go SE of the city, partly to stop in at Frank Lake, and then drive a few back roads in the area.  This time, I walked just a little way to get a closer look at the American White Pelicans and take a few photos.  Also walked the short boardwalk that leads to the birding blind.  All I saw was a couple of American Coots, one with two babies.  So happy I saw them before they grew any larger, as they are so 'ugly' that they are very cute when tiny.  Got a quick glimpse of a Sora on the boardwalk - hadn't seen one for a long time.

At the lake, I also saw something strange, lying next to a small boulder covered in lichen.  It was black and white and, from a distance, looked like it had a texture that looked much like fur.   I didn't want to approach it or gently prod it, in case it was alive, just sleeping.  Looked like a non-native rabbit.  When I put a photo on Google Lens, it identified it as a rabbit.  I wonder if someone released a pet rabbit into the area, either alive or dead.  

From the lake, I drove several gravel roads to see what I could find.  The usual Vesper Sparrows, Brewer's Blackbirds (that looked beautiful against the yellow Canola fields), a Swainson's Hawk that was busy preening on the roof of a shed, a Western Meadowlark, and a Richardson's Ground Squirrel happily sitting on top of a hay stack.  A few old barns are always welcome.

Our heat continues, with temperatures high under the heat dome.  It is supposed to continue for maybe 10 more days. 
Managed to get my car serviced yesterday, so that I can escape into my car's air-conditioning, hopefully soon.  Feel bad for everyone dealing with much higher temperatures, especially down south in the US.

Taken on: July 12, 2024

Tags:

Alberta

Canada

Frank Lake

nature

wildlife

avian

ornithology

bird

Coot

American Coot

Fulica americana

adult

1 of 2 babies

swimming

feeding

lake

water

outdoor

summer

12 July 2024

Canon

SX60

Canon SX60

Powershot

annkelliott

Anne Elliott

IMG_3357 « less

Sets appears in: • A drive to Frank Lake area & beyond, 12 July 2024 • Canon SX60, No.2 more » • Frank Lake & area • Birds of Alberta 11 « less

Groups appears in: • Birds • Walking In Nature more » • Bird Lovers • PHOTOGRAPHERS OF CANADA • NATUREPIX • Birds , Birds Birds • Bird Fanatics! (No Limits) • Unlimited Birds • *I Love Birds* • All things beautiful in Nature (no humans or man made objects) • Nature, wildlife, and the great outdoors • The Nature Conservancy • N A T U R E [no limits] • BIRDS ARE BEAUTIFUL. • Birds Photos - Check out the new discussions! • Birding In The Wild • The Birds Of Flickr • Birdshare • Birds of the world/ Oiseaux du monde • Canon SX30 / SX40 / SX50 / SX60 / SX70 • Any kind of wildlife/nature • Canon SX40 to SX70 and other Canon SX Bridge Cameras • The Wonder of Waterbirds « less

Camera: Canon PowerShot SX60 HS, f/6.3, 1/500 sec, 206.6mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
Lens:	3.8-247.0 mm
Aperture:	f/6.3
Exposure Time:	0.002 sec (1/500)
Focal Length:	206.6mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Center-weighted average
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Elements 12.0 Windows
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