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
Non-wild horses in a wild landscape
Northern Hawk Owl
Meadow Vole for a tasty snack
Atop a utility pole
A backward glance
Winter in the Nanton, Alberta, area
Northern Hawk Owl
Lying on a bed of hoarfrost
Snowy Owl along the fenceline
The old-fashioned way
With a little filtered help
Northern Hawk Owl
Winter textures
Winner with its prey
A highlight of a bird count
Mountain Chickadee / Poecile gambeli
Quietly watching, always alert
Great Gray Owl from 2013
Dreaming of spring
Peacefully waiting
Such a beautiful owl
Perch with a good view
Guardian of the path
Eyes fixed on supper
Entrance to a ranch
Cattle drive
A view from the Porcupine Hills
Old times remembered
Cattle drive - and a few old barns and sheds
Stubble pattern
Northern Hawk Owl
Skull on a fence post
Logging piles in the Porcupine Hills
Greenish sky beneath a Chinook Arch
Bark patterns on a cut log
Farm cat
Meadow Vole for a late lunch
Lovable Llama
Always glad to see a Snowy
Mountain Chickadee
Northern Pygmy-owl
Woolly and warm
Northern Shrike / Lanius excubitor
Afternoon light on the foothills
Don't you spit!
Barn with a mural
Way, way up
A change from a Black-capped Chickadee
Our beautiful Alberta
Textures
Downy Woodpecker and bokeh
Same tiny Northern Pygmy-owl
Snow turns something ordinary into beautiful
Colour for winter
'Barn' Owl, alias Great Horned Owl
Winter walking
Gray Jay
Nanton Christmas Bird Count
A well looked after barn
Mountain Chickadee
A splash of colour on a snowy day
New Year's Day Bird Count
Open wide - big yawn
Sunrise colour over the mountain peaks
A welcome sight on a Christmas Bird Count
I love Llamas
A beautiful start to a day
Winter on the farm
Gray Jay - Canada's new National bird
Red's the best in winter
Yesterday's treat
TV's "Heartland" series location
Mountain Chickadee on Donna's hand
Snowman who loves Amanitas
Happy Christmas, everyone!
Beauty in the final stage
Christmas star
Canada's new National Bird - the Gray Jay
Beautiful farm cat
Following the fenceline
Pine Grosbeak in winter sunshine
Winter on the farm
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
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Sharp-tailed Grouse
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 for 2016 was held on 30 December. Nanton is roughly 98 km / 61 miles S of Calgary.
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 and in which, some years, numerous Sharp-tailed Grouse wander on the ground or perch in trees. Unfortunately, Sharp-tailed Grouse numbers are dwindling in Alberta.
Actually, there are not many chances to take photos of birds on many of these Counts, but those of you who know me well know that I love taking scenic shots, old barns, and anything else beautiful and/or interesting.
Last year, the highlight for me was seeing Pine Grosbeaks nice and close. This Count, I think the highlights were the stunning winter scenery, and a Great Horned Owl. This Sharp-tailed Grouse was also a treat. Exactly like on the Count two years ago (2014), there was a Grouse just where we pulled into the same farmyard.
I absolutely love this area SW of Nanton! Some of these 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 of 7 people (in two cars)!
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 (though I've never driven them myself), but I also really enjoy getting together with everyone afterwards. This is one of my favourite Bird Counts, and perhaps the most favourite.
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 wonderfully warm welcome! It was another well-organized Count, Mike, as usual - thank you!
I will add Andrew Hart's eBird report for this trip, in a comment box below.
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 and in which, some years, numerous Sharp-tailed Grouse wander on the ground or perch in trees. Unfortunately, Sharp-tailed Grouse numbers are dwindling in Alberta.
Actually, there are not many chances to take photos of birds on many of these Counts, but those of you who know me well know that I love taking scenic shots, old barns, and anything else beautiful and/or interesting.
Last year, the highlight for me was seeing Pine Grosbeaks nice and close. This Count, I think the highlights were the stunning winter scenery, and a Great Horned Owl. This Sharp-tailed Grouse was also a treat. Exactly like on the Count two years ago (2014), there was a Grouse just where we pulled into the same farmyard.
I absolutely love this area SW of Nanton! Some of these 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 of 7 people (in two cars)!
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 (though I've never driven them myself), but I also really enjoy getting together with everyone afterwards. This is one of my favourite Bird Counts, and perhaps the most favourite.
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 wonderfully warm welcome! It was another well-organized Count, Mike, as usual - thank you!
I will add Andrew Hart's eBird report for this trip, in a comment box below.
ROL/Photo, Malik Raoulda have particularly liked this photo
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