Victoria Weekend 2023

When this cloudy city seems empty
With everyone catching some Zs
Or still asleep in campers or tents
Away from forest fires and fears,
To Elliston Park I go with my lens
Where the lake is just as empty
Except for two silent mergansers.

 
Among the dandelions, a northern flicker,
On green, green grass, blackbirds and robins,
One showing off his fat, wiggling catch.
Up the trees, cheery red-winged blackbirds.

 
Across the sleeping street, wetland
With a cacophony of songs and calls,
Squeaks, croaks and whistles,
Squawks, grunts and clicks.
 

From yellow-headed blackbirds
Like acrobats on poles and tattered cattails,

From house finches up fences and bare trees,

From coots and geese munching in the marsh,

While the lone stiff-tailed duck keeps watch,
From grackles in trance-like gaze at the clouds
Praying to Anthus, Garuda, Horus, Kukulcan,
Or Troth, to put out Alberta’s raging wildfires.   
MLJ/20/05/2023/LongVictoriaWeekend

 Merganser Robin

Northern Flicker

 American Coot

 Stiff-Tailed Duck

 Sparrow

 Canada Geese

 Common Grackle Female Blackbird

 Red-Winged Blackbird

 Yellow-Headed Blackbird