Great Horned Owl, sleeping after a night of hunting

This was my MAIN photo today, but apparently did not show as the main one for everyone - thanks for letting me know, Bonnie!

Oops, slept through three very loud alarm clocks and a kitchen timer for an hour!!! Will have to add all info later, as I'm hoping to find my friends for birding. Think I'm going to be too late, though. Sigh ....

Two days ago, the weather was beautiful and I was able to get out for a walk in Fish Creek Park with birding friends. We started off at the Boat Launch, checking the Bow River for any waterfowl, then walked to the first storm water pond. From there, we walked down the path by the river, where, among other things, we spotted a little male Tree Swallow working at his nest cavity. Also a Black-capped Chickadee doing exactly the same thing. At one point, we heard a rustling in the dead leaves on the ground and then caught sight of a Meadow Vole. We even heard one litte squeak : )

Our last stop on our walk was to check on the pair of Great Horned Owls. Dad was sleeping in a tree not far from the nest tree and Mom was on the nest. We couldn't see any young ones.

"With its long, earlike tufts, intimidating yellow-eyed stare, and deep hooting voice, the Great Horned Owl is the quintessential owl of storybooks. This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals even larger than itself, but it also dines on daintier fare such as tiny scorpions, mice, and frogs. It’s one of the most common owls in North America, equally at home in deserts, wetlands, forests, grasslands, backyards, cities, and almost any other semi-open habitat between the Arctic and the tropics.

Great Horned Owls are nocturnal. You may see them at dusk sitting on fence posts or tree limbs at the edges of open areas, or flying across roads or fields with stiff, deep beats of their rounded wings. Their call is a deep, stuttering series of four to five hoots." From AllAboutBirds.

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Horned_Owl/id

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_horned_owl

The Balsam Poplar trees were full of bright red (male) catkins - they always look so beautiful, especially when seen against a blue sky. We saw one flower on our walk - yellow, and I think it was Silverweed, if I remember correctly. When I returned home later, I was welcomed by another yellow flower - my first Dandelion of the season : ) I happen to be one of those people who love Dandelions.

After the bird walk, I had intended going straight home, but on the spur of the moment, I turned on to the small road leading down to Bankside (still in Fish Creek Park). Sometimes, I get the feeling that I am meant to go somewhere, that there is a reason, and usually it ends up with my seeing something beautiful. Well, that day, the 'something' was a gorgeous male Ring-necked Pheasant! On the drive to the parking lot, I had already seen another male, but the second one ended up crossing the path, giving a much closer view. As soon as I got out of my car, I recognized a lady in the distance - it was friend, Shirley, who had already spotted this bird. A fisherman mentioned it to us, as well. After watching the very well-hidden bird, we were treated to a clear view when it walked across the path ahead of us. Such a spectacular bird!

I will add the list of species seen on the first walk, compiled by our leaders:

Spring Birding, Boat Launch, FCPP, Calgary, 0915-1215, Thu07Apr2016. Sunny, calm, 3 – 15°C. Combined results of three groups.

Canada Goose-20
American Wigeon-2
Mallard-20
Common Goldeneye-10
Common Merganser-5
RED-TAILED HAWK-1
WILSON’S SNIPE-1
FRANKLIN’S GULL-5
Ring-billed Gull-15+
Rock Pigeon-2
Great Horned Owl-2
Downy Woodpecker-6
Hairy Woodpecker-2
Northern Flicker-7+
Black-billed Magpie-3
Common Raven-3
TREE SWALLOW-3. One male was excavating nest-hole
Black-capped Chickadee-10,One pair were excavating nest-hole
White-breasted Nuthatch-2+
American Robin-4
European Starling-40+
SONG SPARROW-2+
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD-3 m.

Meadow Vole-1
Muskrat-2