Listening

This Great Gray Owl, seen in Fish Creek Park on 17 February 2014, was such a treat. Normally, we never even get this species of owl within the city at all, but 2014 has been different, with the sighting of this individual plus another Great Gray Owl seen at Griffith Woods, which I was also lucky enough to see and photograph. They are such amazing owls to watch, especially when they are hunting. Their focus and concentration is superb. Other than an occasional glance in our direction, the owl completely ignored us - you see this with Great Gray Owls everywhere, as they are quite tolerant, for the most part, of people. This owl was high in a tree, though it looks like it was very close and more or less at eye level.

We are back to snow again today, after recent brutally cold weather without snow. It's -15C as I type (windchill -24C), but tomorrow, it is supposed to get up to 3C by the afternoon. How good that will feel! I might be going out, the first time I will have left the house for any reason in 10 days! Cabin fever set in a few days ago : )

Flickr very kindly posted this image on their photostream on 7 March 2014, with the following description. I had no idea that Flickr ever did this. Much appreciated!!

"Listening" by Anne Elliot, Flickr photographer spotlight for March 7, 2014. We're happy to feature this Great Gray Owl, taken by Anne Elliot in Fish Creek Park, Alberta, Canada. Elliot's photography chronicles the vast Alberta landscape and the animals that populate it. Learn more about Anne's owl photo here and be sure to follow her to see more of her images.

www.flickr.com/photos/flickr/

www.flickr.com/photos/flickr/12984139293/