Two's company
That majestic look
Yesterday's treat
'Barn' Owl, alias Great Horned Owl
A touch of blue
Turkey Vulture preening
Northern Pygmy-owl
Great Gray Owl in early morning sunlight
Sleepy Great Horned Owl
Northern Hawk Owl
Just needed colour
Peacefully waiting
Burrowing Owl
Mandrill
Entrance to a ranch
Great Gray Owl, focused
Meadow Vole for a late lunch
Northern Pygmy-owl
False eyes and real eyes
Aloe Vera / Aloe Barbadensis Miller, Blue Waters I…
Trinidad Motmot / Momotus bahamensis, Tobago
It's hard work, but someone's got to do it
Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Tobago, Day 2
Purple Honeycreeper / Cyanerpes caeruleus, Asa Wri…
Green Honeycreeper male, Asa Wright Nature Centre,…
Crested Oropendola / Psarocolius decumanus, Asa Wr…
Cacao tree (chocolate!), on way to Brasso Seco, Tr…
Wilson's Snipe
Hummingbird wings
Nariva Swamp afternoon, Trinidad, Day 6
Yellow Oriole / Icterus nigrogularis, Nariva Swamp…
Lotus seedpod, Nariva Swamp afternoon, Trinidad
Hairy Woodpecker / Picoides villosus
Springtime colour
Shooting stars / Dodecatheon sp. (and Dandelions)
Masked Cardinal / Paroaria nigrogenis, Trinidad
Collecting food for his babies
Watching the watchers
Purple Honeycreeper male, Asa Wright Nature Centre…
Lilium martagon - the beauty of a Lily
I LOVE Canola
A lucky find
Wildflower meadow, Waterton
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Blonde curls
Red-winged Blackbird
Nemophila sp.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird female
Celosia sp.
American Robin with food for his babies
Forever cute
Here comes dessert!
Common Nighthawk
Evening Grosbeak
Who can resist a Burrowing Owl?
I fell in love ....
Curious
Crested Oropendola, Asa Wright Nature Centre, Trin…
Small and fast .... and adorable
Handsome Wood Ducks
Blue-gray Tanager / Thraupis episcopus, Asa Wright…
A filtered Poppy
Yellowlegs
Joy for a deep-freeze day
With a twinkle in its eye
Peekaboo - whooo are yooo?
Black eyes and beaks are a give-away
Happy Thanksgiving to all Americans, everywhere!
Gray Jay - Canada's new National Bird
A brief close encounter
Waiting for me
A gleam in the eye
01 The glory of fall
Deadly duo - Amanita muscaria
It's that little guy (gal) again
An odd colour in nature
Young Spruce Grouse
Sharp-tailed Grouse / Tympanuchus phasianellus
Hiding in the Canola field
I think he caught a beautiful Tiger Moth : )
Busy parent
Hoverfly on European Pasque Flower
Black-capped Chickadee on Judy's hand
Strange but beautiful
Great Gray Owl - breathtaking
Tall Lungwort / Mertensia paniculata
On the hunt
Sweet little poser
Rough-legged Hawk
One of yesterday's treats
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Following the fenceline
I'm posting my 'daily three' at the unearthly hour of 3:15 am on 12 December 2016, as I just could not get to sleep - most unusual for me. I guess they will be buried under all the photos posted at a more reasonable time.
I was looking at a folder of winter photos taken almost a year ago, during a Nanton Christmas Bird Count. Thought I'd post this one, showing the kind of scenery we will be travelling soon. It will be interesting to find out how much snow there is on the ground this year.
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 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 and 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. 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 think tthe highlight of the day, certainly for me, were all the beautiful Pine Grosbeaks that we saw. 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 close photos
I absolutely love this area SW of Nanton! Some of these backroads (not this one) 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 place as we happened to be 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 this year's Christmas Count, in about two and a half weeks' time!
I was looking at a folder of winter photos taken almost a year ago, during a Nanton Christmas Bird Count. Thought I'd post this one, showing the kind of scenery we will be travelling soon. It will be interesting to find out how much snow there is on the ground this year.
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 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 and 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. 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 think tthe highlight of the day, certainly for me, were all the beautiful Pine Grosbeaks that we saw. 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 close photos
I absolutely love this area SW of Nanton! Some of these backroads (not this one) 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 place as we happened to be 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 this year's Christmas Count, in about two and a half weeks' time!
Yves Saulnier, Pam J, zweitevonlinks have particularly liked this photo
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