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
02 Bald Eagle in late afternoon sun
01 Barred Owl
Mailbox or birdhouse?
Sharp-tailed Grouse
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
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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220 visits
Northern Pygmy-owl
This morning, I'm only posting two photos, not my usual "daily three" - ran out of time and energy late last night to look for a third image.
On 27 December 2016, nine of us took part in the annual Audubon 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 twice before that, a few years ago (December 2007 and December 30, 2008). 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.
On 27 December 2016, nine of us took part in the annual Audubon 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 twice before that, a few years ago (December 2007 and December 30, 2008). 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.
Malik Raoulda, , have particularly liked this photo
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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
www.ipernity.com/group/oiseaux_monde
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