Feasting on cone seeds

A week ago, on 22 February 2016, I went on a birding walk at the Bow Valley Ranch, Sikome & Hull's Wood areas in Fish Creek Park. This little Red Squirrel was welcome on this rather birdless day. We had split into two groups, and the list is a combined list from both. My group didn't see the Pheasant or Shrike (i.e the two best sightings!).

FFCPPSoc. Birding, FC Hq & Sikome, FCPP, Calgary, 0915-1200, Mon22Feb2016. Sunny, N. wind 15kph -2 to 6°C. Two groups;

1. Canada Goose- 500
2. Mallard-100
3. Common Goldeneye-30
4. Bufflehead-10
5. Ring-necked Pheasant-1 m
6. Bald Eagle-2 (1ad/1juv).
7. Great Horned Owl-2, pair nesting.
8. Downy Woodpecker-10
9. Hairy Woodpecker-1
10. Northern Flicker-15
11. Northern Shrike-1
12. Blue Jay-1+
13. Black-billed Magpie-6
14. Common Raven-7Black-capped Chickadee-25
15. Black-capped Chickadee-15
16. Red-breasted Nuthatch-3
17. White-breasted Nuthatch-5
18. European Starling-5
19. House Finch-2
20. White-winged Crossbill-8
21. Pine Siskin-4
22. House Sparrow-3

Eastern Gray Squirrel-3

After going home for lunch, I then called in at Fish Creek Park again, but at a different location of the park. I was really hoping to see the Varied Thrush again and hopefully get a few much better photos. I passed a couple that I recognized and asked them if they had seen the Thrush and they told me that, yes,it was there. Well, do you think I could find it, lol?! Of course not! Also had a most interesting chat with another couple down there, whom I had never met before - Mike and Cheryl. So nice to meet you both.

From Fish Creek Park, I finally went and washed my absolutely filthy car. A few months of driving through muddy slush in the city and on the gravel backroads out of the city, you couldn't tell what colour my vehicle was.