April 17, 18 and 19... My trip to Calgary, Alberta

I have been trying to get up to Calgary for a few months and finally got there this past week. A friend was supposed to go with me and she chose the dates, which I thought was pretty funny as I went the exact 3 days last year. Anyways she couldn't come but I went by myself anyways and had a lot of fun.

DAY 1

I was picked up on Wednesday at 7am by my shuttle, and was visiting with family by noon. We saw a lot of wildlife on the way down... 4 antelope, 1 coyote, several hawks, large flocks of pelicans, tundra swans and snow geese, and then a ton of ducks, Canada geese and about 30 crows or ravens. And a few gophers when we entered the city!

DAY 2

I left my family's apartment at 9am, and hopped the city bus, and went downtown. I got on the c-train and went to the Calgary tower. I had decided the night before that I wanted to go to the top. I have wanted to do that since I was 9 years old lol and finally I got the guts to do it.

It was not as scary as I thought. And it was such a beautiful view. The mountains were so clear.

Pictures on the wall of the tower being built!

Blueprints for the tower!

 525 feet in the air!

Want to stand on the glass ? I sure didn't lol

Lego Calgary Tower Replica

After the Calgary Tower I hopped back on the c-train and headed to the zoo. 

The Penguins - Some were even outside!

Aviary filled with owls and at least 1 hawk. I had no idea this existed last year. Wow. What a beautiful place.

And as soon as I left there and crossed the bridge, I saw this hawk in the wild, in a tree over the river. I think it might be a cooper's Hawk, but I am not sure yet.

Next I went to the butterfly gardens. 

A few random birds and ducks... 

chickadee

Male Mallard Duck

Female Mallard Duck

Canada Goose

Male House Sparrows

Female House Sparrows

Crow

Northern Flicker Woodpecker. I also saw a Downy Woodpecker and a Red-breasted Nuthatch at the zoo!

And I saw a squirrel, I haven't seen a squirrel in so many years so was happy to see him!

 Then I took myself to a nearby mall and had some lunch at Wendy's and popped in a few stores. Then I went back to the zoo. First I watched tons of seagulls enjoying the water. It was such a beautiful day!

Then I went back to the zoo to see a few more animals!

Tigers - 3 of them are 1 year old cubs!

Elephants - there were 3 females and 1 male (not pictured)

2 Giraffes (My favorites), they were the same height but seemed like they were younger than the one I saw last year. Beautiful!

The water area is where the Hippos are usually swimming, they were out of the water this time though!

Hippos

Meerkats - There were something like 7-10 of them or more. And they went wild when they dumped crickets in their area lol So sweet!

Red River Hogs and a 3 or 4 hoglets, about a few days old according to a zoo employee! 

A few animals I saw in between the others, forget where lol

Stork

Porcupines

Lions - 2 Males, 2 Females

Zebras

Mountain Goat ?

After all that I was exhausted and I found my way back to the c-train. I got a little lost downtown for about 1/2 an hour. I couldn't find the right bus stop lol... finally I got home close to 6pm.

DAY 3

I was picked up at 1pm and it was about 6pm when I arrived home. I had a lot of fun visiting my family and enjoying Calgary, but was so glad to get home to my own bed lol

Flock of Tundra Swans, the only wildlife we saw on the way home!

Driving over one of my favorites bridges here!