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
Swainson's Hawk juvenile
American Goldfinch eating Sunflower seeds
Wood Ducks
Beauty of an old barn, Alberta
The Saskatoon Farm
Four in a row
Our precious Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta…
Swainson's Hawk
Lasting beauty
An old grain elevator with character
A fine old barn
Old tractor, Pioneer Acres
Lichen on the rocks at Rock Glacier
Sweet young owl
Pine Coulee Reservoir, Alberta
Pretty little Hummer, Asa Wright, Trinidad - immat…
Beautiful Mule Deer doe
Masterwort / Astrantia major
Common Raven keeping watch
Northern Pygmy-owl
Meadow Vole for a late lunch
Great Gray Owl, focused
Entrance to a ranch
Mandrill
Burrowing Owl
Peacefully waiting
Just needed colour
Northern Hawk Owl
Sleepy Great Horned Owl
Great Gray Owl in early morning sunlight
Northern Pygmy-owl
Turkey Vulture preening
A touch of blue
'Barn' Owl, alias Great Horned Owl
Yesterday's treat
That majestic look
Two's company
Following the fenceline
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
See also...
Sheep River Christmas Bird Counts, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Sheep River Christmas Bird Counts, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
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False eyes and real eyes
We are back into serious winter weather again! This morning, 7 March 2017, the temperature is -14C (windchill -23C), with snow forecast for tonight and the next four days. Apparently, March is our snowiest month.
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. This side pose shows one of the false eyes on the back of the owl's head. The two large, dark spots that look like eyes serve a purpose.
"This Northern Pygmy-Owl appears to have eyes in the back of its head. But why? One theory is that large false eyes may create the illusion that the owl is much bigger than its 6 and 3/4-inch size. A more current theory is that the false eyes help protect the pygmy-owl's true eyes. Small birds will mob this diurnal owl, even striking it, directing some attacks at its eyes. If the large false eyes can take the brunt of these attacks, little harm will come to the Pygmy-Owl's vulnerable true eyes." From birdnote.org.
birdnote.org/show/pygmy-owls-false-eyes
"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 very 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!
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. This side pose shows one of the false eyes on the back of the owl's head. The two large, dark spots that look like eyes serve a purpose.
"This Northern Pygmy-Owl appears to have eyes in the back of its head. But why? One theory is that large false eyes may create the illusion that the owl is much bigger than its 6 and 3/4-inch size. A more current theory is that the false eyes help protect the pygmy-owl's true eyes. Small birds will mob this diurnal owl, even striking it, directing some attacks at its eyes. If the large false eyes can take the brunt of these attacks, little harm will come to the Pygmy-Owl's vulnerable true eyes." From birdnote.org.
birdnote.org/show/pygmy-owls-false-eyes
"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 very 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!
, * ઇઉ *, Bruno Suignard, ROL/Photo and 5 other people have particularly liked this photo
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I have friends rurally near Aberdeen SK... they got snow and 50mph winds yesterday.
Congrats on Explore.
Please read: www.ipernity.com/group/2260604/discuss/186760
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