Short-eared Owl
A sweet face
Spikes of ice
Clark's Nutcracker / Nucifraga columbiana
Now THIS is winter!
Pine Grosbeak / Pinicola enucleator
Sheltering in the trees
Winter walk at Beaverdam Flats
"Canoe with three warriors", by Team Sakha from Ru…
Clark's Nutcracker
Modern charm
Pine Grosbeak / Pinicola enucleator
One of yesterday's treats
Just in time
Snow, snow and more snow
Winter beauty
A winter walk
Home of the Snowshoe Hare
Chateau Lake Louise and ice castle
Winter wonderland with a bonus
The best colour to see in winter
Hiding
Shepard Energy Centre, east of Calgary, Alberta
Common Redpoll / Acanthis flammea
Common Redpolls
The old and the new
Rough-legged Hawk
On a distant fence post
Winter on the prairies
Vole brains for her afternoon snack
Common Redpoll
The beauty of Lake Louise
A friendly face in Weaselhead
Common Redpoll in the forest
Sweet little poser
Downy Woodpecker
A fence without an owl
Pine Grosbeak / Pinicola enucleator
Wearing a heavy coat of hoar frost
Beware those icy fingers
A great winter for Pine Grosbeaks
Yesterday's treat
Dainty little Common Redpoll
Much better than a utility pole
Eurasian Collared-Dove / Streptopelia decaocto
Short-eared Owl
Pine Grosbeak
Taking the quieter road
On the hunt
Little Downy Woodpecker at work
Pretty good camouflage
Red Squirrel
Swivel-head
Dainty little Common Redpoll
Time for an old barn again
One year ago
A photographer's nightmare
The cross and the moon
'Superman, where are you now?'
Pine Grosbeak / Pinicola enucleator
Little country church
A quick glance
Sweet little garden ornament
Follow the fence line
Pine Grosbeak
Mystery rock
Fond memories of a popcan-sized owl
High wire act
Find the owl
Fenced in
Triple treat
A friendly visitor
Cosy little birdhouse
Avenue of trees at Baker Park
White beauty
Farm cat watching for farm mice
A different style
A tiny owl from the past
Pine Grosbeak in pretty light
Old barns in heavy frost
Christmas remnants
Little red barn on the prairie
Winter chill
Enjoying the morning sun
Hoping for food
Heritage tree from 1907, at Carburn Park
On a bitterly cold, hoar frosty day
A splash of much-needed red
The donkeys with reflector eyes
Desolate
A fine old barn
The gathering
So pretty against the snow
Farm friends
Pine Grosbeak female
Foothills and mountains
A typical pose for the White-breasted Nuthatch
Outlined in frost
Keeper of the farmyard
In the bleak midwinter
Pine Grosbeaks adding colour to our winter
Golden Eagle along the fenceline
Pine Grosbeak / Pinicola enucleator
A road less travelled
Each one different from the others
Guarding the barn
One of five White-tailed Deer
Pine Grosbeak / Pinicola enucleator
Fish Creek Park New Year's Day Bird Count
Northern Shrike / Lanius excubitor
At the end of the day
Winter colours
A touch of frost
A toothy smile
Remnant of the old days
Lovable, but shy
The rule of red
Hairy Woodpecker
Ice is nice
Eurasian Collared-Doves
With a view of the mountains and the prairies
Bohemian Waxwings
Long-billed ice bird
The beautiful Badlands of Alberta
Christmas is a fun time for a kitten
See also...
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159 visits
A winter day in southern Alberta
Some years, the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count for the town of Nanton is held late in December. Other years, it ends up being held early January, sometimes delayed because of really bad weather. The Count that took place two days ago, on 3 January 2016, was part of the 2015 Bird Count.
As you can see, the weather was bright and sunny for us this day. What you can't see was that it was very cold for the first part of the day, then warming up to a more pleasant cold later on! I think it was -21C when we started. On the January 2014 trip for the 2013 Count, on the hour-long drive south of Calgary, we hit -34C (-29.2F)!!!!! Again, this year, there was no or very little wind, which makes all the difference. Also, the only walking we had to do was when we called in at various farms.
We drove through such beautiful scenery when we were covering the SW quadrant of the Christmas Bird Count circle that centered on the town of Nanton, Alberta. A landscape over which the occasional Golden Eagle soars (we saw 5!) and in which some years - but definitely not this day! - numerous Sharp-tailed Grouse wander on the ground or perch in trees. I absolutely love this area SW of Nanton! Some of these backroads are extremely steep and almost look vertical when seen from a distance. Some years, the whole area is white, covered in deep snow, so that you can't tell where the roadside ends and the ditch begins. This Count, it wasn't too bad, thank goodness, though I might have felt differently if I had been one of the two drivers for our group! This year, my small group had 5 people, in two cars.
I think the gorgeous Pine Grosbeaks were the highlight of the day for me. We had been told about a farm family who had lots of Grosbeaks at their feeders, and we are so glad that we called in. We also saw a Gray Jay there, to add to our species list. My small group of 4 friends and myself, travelling in two cars, did see 5 Golden Eagles, too, which was a real thrill, but they were way off in the distance and I couldn't get any close photos. Most of the time, the Grosbeaks were at the feeders, but, much as I prefer to not have feeder shots, I was still happy to get the chance to photograph these birds up close.
Around lunch time, we returned to the Truch family's place as we were very nearby, and ate our lunch in the warmth of their cosy home.
After driving (being driven, for me, which is always pure luxury) the backroads from about 8:00 a.m. till around 3:30 p.m., we returned to the wonderful home of the Truch family. Not only do Bill and Leah Truch and their son, Mike, always welcome everyone with open arms, they also provide a much-appreciated breakfast snack for us and then, at the end of the day, a delicious supper. Have to say that I love travelling these scenic backroads, but I also really enjoy getting together with everyone afterwards. This is one of my favourite Bird Counts, and perhaps the most favourite.
Just before leaving for Calgary at the end of the day, we were shown the family's Llamas, two Donkeys, Peacocks, and several tiny white Quail. I should have taken photos of these animals when it was daylight - but maybe I can do it next year.
Thanks so much for doing all the driving, Tony and Andrew, and thanks, Leah, Bill and Mike for all the effort and time you put into your warm welcome! It was another well-organized Count, Mike, as usual - thanks. Can't wait for next Christmas!
As you can see, the weather was bright and sunny for us this day. What you can't see was that it was very cold for the first part of the day, then warming up to a more pleasant cold later on! I think it was -21C when we started. On the January 2014 trip for the 2013 Count, on the hour-long drive south of Calgary, we hit -34C (-29.2F)!!!!! Again, this year, there was no or very little wind, which makes all the difference. Also, the only walking we had to do was when we called in at various farms.
We drove through such beautiful scenery when we were covering the SW quadrant of the Christmas Bird Count circle that centered on the town of Nanton, Alberta. A landscape over which the occasional Golden Eagle soars (we saw 5!) and in which some years - but definitely not this day! - numerous Sharp-tailed Grouse wander on the ground or perch in trees. I absolutely love this area SW of Nanton! Some of these backroads are extremely steep and almost look vertical when seen from a distance. Some years, the whole area is white, covered in deep snow, so that you can't tell where the roadside ends and the ditch begins. This Count, it wasn't too bad, thank goodness, though I might have felt differently if I had been one of the two drivers for our group! This year, my small group had 5 people, in two cars.
I think the gorgeous Pine Grosbeaks were the highlight of the day for me. We had been told about a farm family who had lots of Grosbeaks at their feeders, and we are so glad that we called in. We also saw a Gray Jay there, to add to our species list. My small group of 4 friends and myself, travelling in two cars, did see 5 Golden Eagles, too, which was a real thrill, but they were way off in the distance and I couldn't get any close photos. Most of the time, the Grosbeaks were at the feeders, but, much as I prefer to not have feeder shots, I was still happy to get the chance to photograph these birds up close.
Around lunch time, we returned to the Truch family's place as we were very nearby, and ate our lunch in the warmth of their cosy home.
After driving (being driven, for me, which is always pure luxury) the backroads from about 8:00 a.m. till around 3:30 p.m., we returned to the wonderful home of the Truch family. Not only do Bill and Leah Truch and their son, Mike, always welcome everyone with open arms, they also provide a much-appreciated breakfast snack for us and then, at the end of the day, a delicious supper. Have to say that I love travelling these scenic backroads, but I also really enjoy getting together with everyone afterwards. This is one of my favourite Bird Counts, and perhaps the most favourite.
Just before leaving for Calgary at the end of the day, we were shown the family's Llamas, two Donkeys, Peacocks, and several tiny white Quail. I should have taken photos of these animals when it was daylight - but maybe I can do it next year.
Thanks so much for doing all the driving, Tony and Andrew, and thanks, Leah, Bill and Mike for all the effort and time you put into your warm welcome! It was another well-organized Count, Mike, as usual - thanks. Can't wait for next Christmas!
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