Great Horned Owl
Great Gray Owl in early morning sunlight
Winter on the prairies
Sleepy Great Horned Owl
Better than nothing - this is NOT my main photo!
The size of a popcan
Yesterday's treat
Dark-eyed beauty
Northern Hawk Owl from 2016
Two of a family of three
Northern Hawk Owl
Meadow Vole for a tasty snack
Atop a utility pole
A backward glance
Northern Hawk Owl
Snowy Owl along the fenceline
Northern Hawk Owl
Winner with its prey
Quietly watching, always alert
Great Gray Owl from 2013
Peacefully waiting
Such a beautiful owl
Perch with a good view
Burrowing Owl
Eyes fixed on supper
Great Gray Owl, focused
Northern Hawk Owl
Meadow Vole for a late lunch
Always glad to see a Snowy
Northern Pygmy-owl
02 Bald Eagle in late afternoon sun
01 Barred Owl
False eyes and real eyes
Turkey Vulture talons
Female Kestrel
A distant shot from my archives
Northern Hawk Owl with woodland bokeh
Great Horned Owl and owlet
Mom and her babies
Yesterday's treat!
Watching the watchers
One of three young owls
Great Horned Owl male
A lucky find
Swainson's Hawk / Buteo swainsoni
Anyone have a comb?
Who can resist a Burrowing Owl?
I fell in love ....
Time for a nap
Curious
Cooling down
Flight training with a Red-tailed Hawk
Talk about baby fluff!
Barn Owl
Spiked hairdo
Short-eared Owl
Sleepy Short-eared Owl
You looking at me, lady?
Swainson's Hawk juvenile
Swainson's Hawk juvenile
Juvenile Swainson's Hawk
Swainson's Hawk
Sweet young owl
Continuing the hunt
Northern Pygmy-owl
Snowy Owl in rehab
Turkey Vulture preening
Way, way up
Same tiny Northern Pygmy-owl
'Barn' Owl, alias Great Horned Owl
A welcome sight on a Christmas Bird Count
Yesterday's treat
Poor quality, but of interest
Barn Owl
That majestic look
Ever watchful
Snowy Owl harassed by Snow Buntings
Harris's Hawk
With a twinkle in its eye
Shooting in the rain
Peekaboo - whooo are yooo?
Time for an afternoon nap
Great Horned Owl male
A watchful eye
A distant Northern Pygmy-owl
Happy Thanksgiving to all Americans, everywhere!
Great Horned Owl - posting just for the record
First day of fledging
A bewildering world for a fallen owlet
Merlin removing dragonfly's wings
Long-eared Owl
A blast from the past
Osprey on the hunt
Ferruginous Hawk
Peregrine Falcon talons
Waiting for me
A gleam in the eye
Rough-legged Hawk on a hay bale
Sweet little thing
Up close and personal with a Turkey Vulture
Swainson's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel - or is it a Merlin?
Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk
Gotta love those Golden Eagle feathers
Regal
Merlin eating a dragonfly
Osprey - stuffed and on display
Such a handsome bird
Merlin on the hunt
Merlin
Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk / Buteo jamaicensis
Barn Owl / Tyto alba
Look into my eyes
Eye contact
Merlin
Long-eared Owl
Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk portrait
Bald Eagle portrait
Turkey Vulture
Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk
Predator with prey
Swainson's Hawk female, dark-phase
Swainson's Hawk male, light phase
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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Ferocious hunter, but looking cute
This morning, I'm only posting one photo, not my usual "daily three" - ran out of time and energy late last night to look for others. Also hoping to get an earlier start to my day..
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.
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