Way, way up
Northern Pygmy-owl
Ferocious hunter, but looking cute
The size of a popcan
Northern Pygmy-owl
False eyes and real eyes
Yesterday's absolute treat - the size of your fist…
Popcan-sized Northern Pygmy-owl, from January 2015
Another surprise on another gloomy day
It's the little guy/gal again
I spy with my little eye
Northern Pygmy-owl
Northern Pygmy-owl - from the archives
Northern Pygmy-owl - from the archives
Yesterday's treat
A distant Northern Pygmy-owl
A blast from the past
Northern Pygmy-owl, one year ago
One year ago
Vole brains for her afternoon snack
Fond memories of a popcan-sized owl
A tiny owl from the past
Nature Calgary 2016 calendar
Puffed up for warmth
Northern Pygmy-owl from January
Did anyone see what I caught?
Northern Pygmy-owl on snowy branch
Eyes like Licorice Allsorts
Popcan-sized cutie
A backwards glance
Northern Pygmy-owl
Northern Pygmy-owl
Looks a long way down from up here
Northern Pygmy-owl
Tiny, bright-eyed Northern Pygmy-owl
Transformation of a preening owl
Hiding in a cavity
A surprise to all
The sacrifice made by Meadow Voles
Close watch
Getting ready to dive
High on the hill
Two of a kind
On a fence post, but no Vole
Northern Pygmy-owl with snack
Coughing up a pellet
A good stretch of the legs and wing
Northern Pygmy-owl from January
Tiny predator with prey
Just a different perch
Way, way up
It's mine!
Irresistibly cute
Like finding a needle in a haystack
Yesterday's well-earned treat
Temporarily puffed after preening
A ferocious hunter, popcan-size
A tiny, ferocious hunter
False eyes
My sincere thanks
Every creature has to eat
Looking for its next meal
How cute can you get?
Concentration
Precious
Northern Pygmy-owl with Meadow Vole
What do I see?
Those piercing eyes
Well-fed Northern Pygmy-owl
Northern Pygmy-owl
Just for the record
Little cutie from the archives
Northern Pygmy-owl
Northern Pygmy-owl
Northern Pygmy-owl
Northern Pygmy-owl
See also...
Sheep River Christmas Bird Counts, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Sheep River Christmas Bird Counts, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Keywords
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Same tiny Northern Pygmy-owl
On 27 December 2016, nine of us took part in the annual Sheep River/Priddis/Turner Valley Christmas Bird Count. This gorgeous little popcan-sized or fist-sized Northern Pygmy-owl was actually not seen on the Count, unfortunately, but afterwards, when three of us decided to keep driving a few extra roads on the way home. One other friend happened to drive along this particular road on her way home and so was lucky enough to share the enjoyment with us. Also, Joe Harley and his wife, Carolyn, happened to be driving along the same road. Joe, with his powerful camera, joined us to capture this beautiful bird that gave us a wonderful chance to take a few photos. We had also seen a second owl in the same area (presumably a pair), but one of them flew off into the trees and disappeared.
"The Northern Pygmy-Owl may be tiny, but it’s a ferocious hunter with a taste for songbirds. These owls are mostly dark brown and white, with long tails, smoothly rounded heads, and piercing yellow eyes. They hunt during the day by sitting quietly and surprising their prey. As a defensive measure, songbirds often gather to mob sitting owls until they fly away. Mobbing songbirds can help you find these unobtrusive owls, as can listening for their call, a high-pitched series of toots." From AllAboutBirds. They also love Meadow Voles.
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Pygmy-Owl/id
"Carolyn Harley loves to perform as a solo artist; as the husband/wife duo HARLEY & HARLEY with her husband Joe (who took up playing bass in self defense in his 50’s!!); as THE CAROLYN HARLEY TRIO with long time friend Robb Mann on guitar and mando; as COPPER JUNCTION, a four piece band that features country/bluegrass music with the addition of Craig West on fiddle; and as CAROLYN HARLEY & THE DAVIDSONS (a play on the motorcycle!!) which is the same four musicians playing a wide range of styles."
www.carolynharley.com/home
Our time all day was spent travelling by car, driving the backroads SW of the city and calling in at several acreages/farms. I took part in this Count last year but had missed it for a few years before that. I believe I had only ever done it once before, a few years ago, and that time I was with friends covering a different section of the count circle. I remember it as being very slow and extremely unrewarding, This time, like last year, our area was in the centre of the count circle and I'm so glad I decided to go again.
A great stop was at Rod Handfield's place. Some of us go there occasionally on botany trips and he always has the best mushrooms and other fungi growing in his forest. Rod and his wife have such a beautiful cabin there. A Gray Jay gave us a few photo opportunities, which was appreciated. Rod is always so delightfully hospitable!!
Thanks so much, Donna, for driving half of us - so much appreciated! This also meant that we were lucky enough to see this owl after the Count, too. A beautiful sunny day really helped - not all that cold (for Alberta!). A lot of snow everywhere (almost 8"), but that was OK, as we did so little walking. A great day!
I will add the list of species seen, in a comment box below.
"The Northern Pygmy-Owl may be tiny, but it’s a ferocious hunter with a taste for songbirds. These owls are mostly dark brown and white, with long tails, smoothly rounded heads, and piercing yellow eyes. They hunt during the day by sitting quietly and surprising their prey. As a defensive measure, songbirds often gather to mob sitting owls until they fly away. Mobbing songbirds can help you find these unobtrusive owls, as can listening for their call, a high-pitched series of toots." From AllAboutBirds. They also love Meadow Voles.
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Pygmy-Owl/id
"Carolyn Harley loves to perform as a solo artist; as the husband/wife duo HARLEY & HARLEY with her husband Joe (who took up playing bass in self defense in his 50’s!!); as THE CAROLYN HARLEY TRIO with long time friend Robb Mann on guitar and mando; as COPPER JUNCTION, a four piece band that features country/bluegrass music with the addition of Craig West on fiddle; and as CAROLYN HARLEY & THE DAVIDSONS (a play on the motorcycle!!) which is the same four musicians playing a wide range of styles."
www.carolynharley.com/home
Our time all day was spent travelling by car, driving the backroads SW of the city and calling in at several acreages/farms. I took part in this Count last year but had missed it for a few years before that. I believe I had only ever done it once before, a few years ago, and that time I was with friends covering a different section of the count circle. I remember it as being very slow and extremely unrewarding, This time, like last year, our area was in the centre of the count circle and I'm so glad I decided to go again.
A great stop was at Rod Handfield's place. Some of us go there occasionally on botany trips and he always has the best mushrooms and other fungi growing in his forest. Rod and his wife have such a beautiful cabin there. A Gray Jay gave us a few photo opportunities, which was appreciated. Rod is always so delightfully hospitable!!
Thanks so much, Donna, for driving half of us - so much appreciated! This also meant that we were lucky enough to see this owl after the Count, too. A beautiful sunny day really helped - not all that cold (for Alberta!). A lot of snow everywhere (almost 8"), but that was OK, as we did so little walking. A great day!
I will add the list of species seen, in a comment box below.
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Rough-legged Hawk-1 (1 seen flying over Millarville Gen. Store, 8:30am; 3 along Hwy 22, N of Millarville, but may have been out of circle.
Downy Woodpecker-3
Hairy Woodpecker-1
Gray Jay-8
Blue Jay-10
Black-billed Magpie-13
Common Raven-11
Black-capped Chickadee-78
Mountain Chickadee-43
Boreal Chickadee-7
Red-breasted Nuthatch-4
White-breasted Nuthatch-4
Snow Bunting-14
Pine Grosbeak-6, seen by Mr/Mrs Kenbrick, 344002 320 St this morning.
Red Squirrel-3
Moose-1
Total party kms by car-80; total party kms on foot-2
Total party hours by car-5.5; total party hours on foot-1.5
All water bodies ice-covered; 20 cm of fresh snow.
Weather, mostly clear, calm, -17 to -2°C
Admired in ~ I ♥ Nature
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