When I met up with my youngest daughter on Saturday (24 May 2014), she was clutching this beautiful bouquet of mixed Roses for my birthday (which was the next day). I photographed them yesterday, just in time, as today is so dismal and rainy, and it's so dark in my house.

We spent the morning SE of the city, checking a familiar spot or two, and we were lucky with certain birds, but not with others. A pair of Great Horned Owlets were where we had hoped they would still be, but I'm sure they will be fledging before long. I had hoped to find a White-faced Ibis to show my daughter – various friends had been seeing and photographing them from fairly close. We bumped into friend, Greg, at the birding blind, and I had just told him that I was hoping to find an Ibis. I had barely got the words out when Greg swung round and pointed way up, saying: “You mean, like that one?” I'm sure I would have missed it. So, at least my daughter saw one, even if just a distant bird. Thanks, Greg!

After driving along a few of the backroads, we then went to the Saskatoon Farm for a delicious lunch and to wander round the greenhouses and gift shop. A weekend day is perhaps not the best time to go – or should I say that a weekday would probably be quieter. So many people out enjoying a warm, sunny day. Thanks so much, Rachel, for such a great day spent with you, and thanks for everything else, too.