Trusting Red-breasted Nuthatch

Not MY hand, of course!

Tuesday, 18 October 2016, and the temperature is 0°C (windchill -3°C) and it snowed again overnight. As dreary as can be outside, though the sun is supposed to come out this afternoon.

This little male Red-breasted Nuthatch flew down to our leader's hand during a walk in South Glenmore Park, on 13 October 2016. A rather grainy image, as it was taken in the poor light of the forest on a very gloomy day. Like the Black-capped Chickadees, some Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches and, to a much lesser extent, Boreal Chickadees and Downy Woodpeckers will fly to your hand in certain natural areas. It just depends on how used to humans the birds are.

On this day, we walked from the sailing club west towards Weaselhead. When I walk in this area, it's usually for the fresh air and exercise. As far as the birds are concerned, everything tends to be over on the far side of the Glenmore Reservoir. It's no fun at all trying to photograph birds that are barely visible with the naked eye! On this day, some of those very distant specks turned out to be Surf Scoters and Western Grebes.

The first part of our walk was along the rough trail near the edge of the water, and on our return walk, we used the main, paved path. It was during the latter half of the walk that we spotted something moving in the tall grasses. Really, all you could see at first was a pair of ears. It could easily have been someone's dog, but when a little more of it showed through the grass, we could see it was a beautiful Coyote. Lovely colouring and looking very healthy. I had to zoom right in and the light was awful, but I managed to get a shot or two.

I will add our leader's list of species seen:

S. Glenmore Reservoir, SW Calgary, 0915-1200, Thu13Oct2016. Completely overcast, calm -1 to 1°C

1. American Wigeon-1+
2. Mallard-25
3. Ring-necked Duck-6+
4. Scaup sp.-10+
5. Surf Scoter-9+
6. Bufflehead-20
7. Common Goldeneye-15
8. Common Merganser-3
9. Horned Grebe-50+
10. Red-necked Grebe-1
11. Eared Grebe-2
12. Western Grebe-15
13. Sharp-shinned Hawk-1
14. American Coot-50+
15. Bonaparte’s Gull-7
16. Herring Gull?-3
17. Downy Woodpecker-21
18. Northern Flicker-2
19. Blue Jay-2
20. Black-billed Magpie-10
21. American Crow-4
22. Common Raven-3
23. Black-capped Chickadee-30
24. Red-breasted Nuthatch-3
25. Brown Creeper-2
26. Hermit Thrush?-2

Red Squirrel 4
Coyote 1

After the walk, friend Sandy invited a couple of us back to her place for lunch. Very enjoyable and much-appreciated - thanks, Sandy!