Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area

A beautiful little mid-day hike at Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area nicely preceded yet another afternoon rainstorm. Thank you, Val, Oliver and Cathy. It was a beautiful exploration of fescue, aspens, wild flowers, powerful skies, butterflies and conversation.

We started off with a little visit inside of the tipi.

Photo Credit: Kath and Oliver taken by Val Vine

Off to the open spaces…heading for Mountain views through the natural grasses. The wild Lupines were electric blue.

Photo Credit: Close Ups of Lupines by Cathy Szata

Then through the Aspen Grove we went. Butterflies and more wild flowers and Oliver hiding in the tall grass.

Photo Credit for the next three images: Cathy Szata I really do appreciate getting into the photographs somehow, Cath. Thank you.

Last evening, before my pond walk with Max, I headed west and south to the Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area. We will be taking our grade threes on a field trip to the location and in order to be fully prepared, a session is required for all instructors. I attended with friends and colleagues, Jenn and Emily. Lots of laughs and beautiful sunshine were shared. Having a brand new camera meant that my head was sometimes out of range once we were outdoors. But certainly I learned a lot about the conservation area from Maureen, the presenting educator, while we were inside. (I have to say that the three yellow finches at the feeder located right outside the classroom were a little bit of a distraction.) From their website, this.

“Sandy Cross is the son of A.E. Cross (one of the Calgary Stampede’s “Big Four”) and Helen Rothney Macleod. Sandy started purchasing land south of Calgary in 1945 for what would become Rothney Farm and eventually the Cross Conservation Area. In 1987, Sandy and his wife Ann donated nearly 2,000 acres of their land to the Province of Alberta. At the time, it was the largest private land donation in Canadian history and was operated by the Nature Conservancy of Canada.”

The land is spectacular and the approach that is taken in regards the sustaining the ecosystems is, by my standard, fabulous. What a beautiful start to Thursday evening!

Cookies, juice, friendship and nature…it never gets better than that!

From the Conservation Area, I swung home and picked up Max. The sun was beginning to set and the birds seemed to be very active at Frank’s Flats. I played a little with my camera and while they certainly aren’t perfectly focused, I will never forget my encounter with the male Black-crowned Night Heron and his mate. Beautiful call…huge wing span…and a circle on the blue sky before alighting onto the brush below. I also had a visit with the osprey…trying to capture the front of the male, but shooting into sunshine.

This far away. Mrs. Kept low in the nest at the neighbouring platform....but, as I drove passed on 22X coming home, I saw her tending her eggs and sorting things out.

This far away. Mrs. kept low in the nest at the neighbouring platform….but, as I drove past on 22X, I saw her tending her eggs and sorting things out.