Pine Grosbeak in winter sunshine
Following the fenceline
Beautiful farm cat
Canada's new National Bird - the Gray Jay
Christmas star
Beauty in the final stage
Happy Christmas, everyone!
Snowman who loves Amanitas
Mountain Chickadee on Donna's hand
TV's "Heartland" series location
Yesterday's treat
Red's the best in winter
Gray Jay - Canada's new National bird
Winter on the farm
A beautiful start to a day
I love Llamas
A welcome sight on a Christmas Bird Count
Sunrise colour over the mountain peaks
Open wide - big yawn
New Year's Day Bird Count
A splash of colour on a snowy day
Mountain Chickadee
A well looked after barn
Nanton Christmas Bird Count
Gray Jay
Winter walking
'Barn' Owl, alias Great Horned Owl
Colour for winter
Snow turns something ordinary into beautiful
Same tiny Northern Pygmy-owl
Downy Woodpecker and bokeh
Textures
Our beautiful Alberta
A change from a Black-capped Chickadee
Way, way up
Barn with a mural
Don't you spit!
Afternoon light on the foothills
Northern Shrike / Lanius excubitor
Woolly and warm
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Mailbox or birdhouse?
Northern Pygmy-owl
Continuing the hunt
Sleeping in the sunshine
Down by the river on a frosty morning
Ferocious hunter, but looking cute
Jazzing up the old silos - with Pacman
Modern - but I like it
Great Gray Owl in early morning sunlight
Sharp-tailed Grouse - not my main photo!
Winter on the prairies
Sleepy Great Horned Owl
Filtered
Better than nothing - this is NOT my main photo!
The peace of a prairie farm - my main photo today
Sharp-tailed Grouse
The size of a popcan
The beautiful mountains of Alberta
Yesterday's treat
Dark-eyed beauty
Northern Hawk Owl from 2016
Two of a family of three
The barn cat gang
Pine Grosbeaks
Gray Jay - Canada's new National Bird
Pretty Mama cat
A blast from the past
Successful hunting
McDougall Memorial United Church
Still standing
An old barn in winter
Charcoal effect
Roof shingles galore
A day in the mountains
Old barn in winter
Northern Hawk Owl
Varied Thrush
Surveying its territory
Fence post with a difference
Blackie Grain Terminal, Alberta
Blowing in the wind
Built with love
A life left behind
From days gone by
One of my few Snowy Owls of 2016
Perched on a broken tree trunk
Rolling hills and distant peaks
A sky filled with clouds
Remembering a winter day
Dainty little Common Redpoll
Got my eyes on you
One of a pair
One of my favourite barns
Mountain view on an owl-less day
Davisburg Community Church, Alberta
A quick glance
Farmyard scene on the prairie
Hunting for Meadow Voles
Remembering the snow
A local Great Horned Owl
Ice carving at Lake Louise
01 Varied Thrush / Ixoreus naevius
03 Short-eared Owl / Asio flammeus
Natural beauty
McDougall Memorial United Church
Great Gray Owl with its catch
And they call this winter (in Alberta)?
Pine Grosbeak enjoying the sun
Sunlight on distant peaks
A cluster of red barns
McDougall Memorial United Church
Little church in the valley
Well camouflaged, except for those eyes
A view through the bushes
Smiling in the snow
Yesterday's treat - a Great Gray Owl
Narrow strip of light
Feasting on cone seeds
Watchful eye
Beautiful bird, but grainy and blurry photo : (
Little forest muncher
A fine old barn
Snowy Owl - just close enough
A most challenging bird
See also...
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Winter on the farm
I photographed this old barn later in the day on last year's Christmas Bird Count for the town of Nanton. The light was beginning to fade and the barn was mainly in shadow. I can't remember just where we were, but maybe we will call in at the same place on the Count that is coming up later in December 2016.
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. The Count on 3 January 2016 was part of the 2015 Bird Count.
I think the gorgeous Pine Grosbeaks that we saw were the highlight of the day for me. We had been told about a farm family who had lots of these Grosbeaks at their feeders, and we are so glad that we arranged to call 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 thrill, but they were way off in the distance and I couldn't get any even remotely close photos.
The weather was bright and sunny for us this day. What you can't see is that it was very cold for the first part of the day, then warming up to a pleasant cold later on! I think it was -21C when we started. Two years ago, on the trip in January (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/acreages.
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 and in which some years - but definitely not on this day! - numerous Sharp-tailed Grouse wander on the ground or perch in trees. Unlike some years, we saw only a handful of very distant Grouse, perched on a group of hay bales.
I absolutely love this area SW of Nanton! Some of the 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!
Around lunch time, we returned to the Truch family's home as we were 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 the next Count, in about two and a half weeks' time!
I will add the list of species seen, in a comment box below.
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. The Count on 3 January 2016 was part of the 2015 Bird Count.
I think the gorgeous Pine Grosbeaks that we saw were the highlight of the day for me. We had been told about a farm family who had lots of these Grosbeaks at their feeders, and we are so glad that we arranged to call 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 thrill, but they were way off in the distance and I couldn't get any even remotely close photos.
The weather was bright and sunny for us this day. What you can't see is that it was very cold for the first part of the day, then warming up to a pleasant cold later on! I think it was -21C when we started. Two years ago, on the trip in January (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/acreages.
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 and in which some years - but definitely not on this day! - numerous Sharp-tailed Grouse wander on the ground or perch in trees. Unlike some years, we saw only a handful of very distant Grouse, perched on a group of hay bales.
I absolutely love this area SW of Nanton! Some of the 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!
Around lunch time, we returned to the Truch family's home as we were 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 the next Count, in about two and a half weeks' time!
I will add the list of species seen, in a comment box below.
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