Nikon Coolpix P900

Yesterday, 22 December 2018, was the very first Priddis Christmas Bird Count. We unofficially tallied 28 different species, 520 individuals. Twenty participants turned out for this Count, which was great. The most impressive part, though, was that a 15-year-old (in Grade 9) decided to organize a Count for this area. Great initiative - well done, Gavin! You certainly have a huge knowledge about birds. We split up into various groups and basically drove wherever we chose within the boundaries of the Count circle. The start time was 8:30 am and we ended roughly around 4:00 pm. This whole area is the area I usually drive to when I need to get out for just a few hours - which doesn't happen very often these days, unfortunately. That really needs to change next year, if possible. One of our stopping places was at Barb Castell's. She has a great collection of bird feeders in the garden on her acreage and has a good variety of birds coming to feed each day. Seeing Evening Grosbeaks was a real treat. Thanks so much, as always, Barb, for letting us invade your property : ) Always much appreciated. Ha, I discovered that taking photos through a window that has a fine netting over it, did not work, at least not with my camera. Just about managed to rescue a handful of the shots. When we all had to come inside to shoot, it did allow all the birds to fly down and feed, though. What a glorious, colourful sight. Evening Grosbeaks always make me smile, because the males, especially, tend to tilt their head and have such an angry look on their face. Sadly, their Status is Vulnerable. "The scientific name, Hesperiphona vespertinus, means “sound of the evening,” although the idea that they are mainly crepuscular is mistaken. They were apparently first named by French explorers who probably first observed them in the twilight hours. They should actually be called the Morning Grosbeak." The alternative scientific name is Coccothraustes vespertinaus. ornithology.com/the-evening-grosbeak/ With so many birders getting on in age, it is always a delight to see any young person who is passionate about our feathered friends. Hopefully, Gavin's success will encourage other youngsters to get involved.

Yesterday, 22 December 2018, was the very first Priddis Christmas Bird Count. We unofficially tallied 28 different species, 520 individuals. Twenty participants turned out for this Count, which was great. The most impressive part, though, was that a 15-year-old (in Grade 9) decided to organize a Count for this area. Great initiative - well done, Gavin! You certainly have a huge knowledge about birds. We split up into various groups and basically drove wherever we chose within the boundaries of the Count circle. The start time was 8:30 am and we ended roughly around 4:00 pm. This whole area is the area I usually drive to when I need to get out for just a few hours - which doesn't happen very often these days, unfortunately. That really needs to change next year, if possible. One of our stopping places was at Barb Castell's. She has a great collection of bird feeders in the garden on her acreage and has a good variety of birds coming to feed each day. Seeing Evening Grosbeaks was a real treat. Thanks so much, as always, Barb, for letting us invade your property : ) Always much appreciated. Ha, I discovered that taking photos through a window that has a fine netting over it, did not work, at least not with my camera. Just about managed to rescue a handful of the shots. When we all had to come inside to shoot, it did allow all the birds to fly down and feed, though. What a glorious, colourful sight. Evening Grosbeaks always make me smile, because the males, especially, tend to tilt their head and have such an angry look on their face. Sadly, their Status is Vulnerable. "The scientific name, Hesperiphona vespertinus, means “sound of the evening,” although the idea that they are mainly crepuscular is mistaken. They were apparently first named by French explorers who probably first observed them in the twilight hours. They should actually be called the Morning Grosbeak." The alternative scientific name is Coccothraustes vespertinaus. ornithology.com/the-evening-grosbeak/ With so many birders getting on in age, it is always a delight to see any young person who is passionate about our feathered friends. Hopefully, Gavin's success will encourage other youngsters to get involved.

Yesterday, 22 December 2018, was the very first Priddis Christmas Bird Count. We unofficially tallied 28 different species, 520 individuals. Twenty participants turned out for this Count, which was great. The most impressive part, though, was that a 15-year-old (in Grade 9) decided to organize a Count for this area. Great initiative - well done, Gavin! You certainly have a huge knowledge about birds. We split up into various groups and basically drove wherever we chose within the boundaries of the Count circle. The start time was 8:30 am and we ended roughly around 4:00 pm. This whole area is the area I usually drive to when I need to get out for just a few hours - which doesn't happen very often these days, unfortunately. That really needs to change next year, if possible. One of our stopping places was at Barb Castell's. She has a great collection of bird feeders in the garden on her acreage and has a good variety of birds coming to feed each day. Seeing Evening Grosbeaks was a real treat. Thanks so much, as always, Barb, for letting us invade your property : ) Always much appreciated. Ha, I discovered that taking photos through a window that has a fine netting over it, did not work, at least not with my camera. Just about managed to rescue a handful of the shots. When we all had to come inside to shoot, it did allow all the birds to fly down and feed, though. What a glorious, colourful sight. Evening Grosbeaks always make me smile, because the males, especially, tend to tilt their head and have such an angry look on their face. Sadly, their Status is Vulnerable. "The scientific name, Hesperiphona vespertinus, means “sound of the evening,” although the idea that they are mainly crepuscular is mistaken. They were apparently first named by French explorers who probably first observed them in the twilight hours. They should actually be called the Morning Grosbeak." The alternative scientific name is Coccothraustes vespertinaus. ornithology.com/the-evening-grosbeak/ With so many birders getting on in age, it is always a delight to see any young person who is passionate about our feathered friends. Hopefully, Gavin's success will encourage other youngsters to get involved.

Yesterday, 22 December 2018, was the very first Priddis Christmas Bird Count. We unofficially tallied 28 different species, 520 individuals. Twenty participants turned out for this Count, which was great. The most impressive part, though, was that a 15-year-old (in Grade 9) decided to organize a Count for this area. Great initiative - well done, Gavin! You certainly have a huge knowledge about birds. We split up into various groups and basically drove wherever we chose within the boundaries of the Count circle. The start time was 8:30 am and we ended roughly around 4:00 pm. This whole area is the area I usually drive to when I need to get out for just a few hours - which doesn't happen very often these days, unfortunately. That really needs to change next year, if possible. One of our stopping places was at Barb Castell's. She has a great collection of bird feeders in the garden on her acreage and has a good variety of birds coming to feed each day. Seeing Evening Grosbeaks was a real treat. Thanks so much, as always, Barb, for letting us invade your property : ) Always much appreciated. Ha, I discovered that taking photos through a window that has a fine netting over it, did not work, at least not with my camera. Just about managed to rescue a handful of the shots. When we all had to come inside to shoot, it did allow all the birds to fly down and feed, though. What a glorious, colourful sight. Evening Grosbeaks always make me smile, because the males, especially, tend to tilt their head and have such an angry look on their face. Sadly, their Status is Vulnerable. "The scientific name, Hesperiphona vespertinus, means “sound of the evening,” although the idea that they are mainly crepuscular is mistaken. They were apparently first named by French explorers who probably first observed them in the twilight hours. They should actually be called the Morning Grosbeak." The alternative scientific name is Coccothraustes vespertinaus. ornithology.com/the-evening-grosbeak/ With so many birders getting on in age, it is always a delight to see any young person who is passionate about our feathered friends. Hopefully, Gavin's success will encourage other youngsters to get involved.

Yesterday, 22 December 2018, was the very first Priddis Christmas Bird Count. We unofficially tallied 28 different species, 520 individuals. Twenty participants turned out for this Count, which was great. The most impressive part, though, was that a 15-year-old (in Grade 9) decided to organize a Count for this area. Great initiative - well done, Gavin! You certainly have a huge knowledge about birds. We split up into various groups and basically drove wherever we chose within the boundaries of the Count circle. The start time was 8:30 am and we ended roughly around 4:00 pm. This whole area is the area I usually drive to when I need to get out for just a few hours - which doesn't happen very often these days, unfortunately. That really needs to change next year, if possible. One of our stopping places was at Barb Castell's. She has a great collection of bird feeders in the garden on her acreage and has a good variety of birds coming to feed each day. Seeing Evening Grosbeaks was a real treat. Thanks so much, as always, Barb, for letting us invade your property : ) Always much appreciated. Ha, I discovered that taking photos through a window that has a fine netting over it, did not work, at least not with my camera. Just about managed to rescue a handful of the shots. When we all had to come inside to shoot, it did allow all the birds to fly down and feed, though. What a glorious, colourful sight. Evening Grosbeaks always make me smile, because the males, especially, tend to tilt their head and have such an angry look on their face. Sadly, their Status is Vulnerable. "The scientific name, Hesperiphona vespertinus, means “sound of the evening,” although the idea that they are mainly crepuscular is mistaken. They were apparently first named by French explorers who probably first observed them in the twilight hours. They should actually be called the Morning Grosbeak." The alternative scientific name is Coccothraustes vespertinaus. ornithology.com/the-evening-grosbeak/ With so many birders getting on in age, it is always a delight to see any young person who is passionate about our feathered friends. Hopefully, Gavin's success will encourage other youngsters to get involved.

Pam, wishing you, your hubby and your three furry companions a wonderful, relaxed, peaceful Christmas Day! Absolutely loved your Christmas card that you posted - very clever and beautiful. I'm sure everyone loved it and was impressed at your skill. I can only begin to imagine how much effort went into creating it. Will be thinking of you. Adding this very quickly this evening (Christmas Eve), as I am holding my breath that my computer won't freeze any moment. Pretty well impossible to use - it lasted just 10 minutes this morning. Technician was unable to replicate the problem I'm having, and could find nothing wrong to fix. So annoying! Anyway, I send my Christmas wishes to each of you and hope that tomorrow will be a happy day for you, whether you spend it with family/friends or quietly by yourself. If you don't celebrate Christmas, I hope your day will be good, anyway. To my daughter - sorry, I just had to use this little snowman before giving it to you : )

A quick posting before my computer freezes! This is one of my absolute favourite Christmas ornaments, given to me by my daughter for Christmas in 2014. It stands maybe 2" tall and is just so cute. She knows so well how crazy I am about mushrooms : ) The only little snowman I have ever seen holding a mushroom of any kind. This bright red one is the poisonous/hallucinogenetic Fly Agaric/Amanita muscaria. Happy Christmas Day, everyone! Ha, this is funny - yesterday evening, I Googled NORAD to check where in the world Santa had reached. Immediately, I got the Blue Screen of Death - thank you Santa for my early Christmas present. Strangely, though, my computer didn't freeze for the next few hours, unlike this morning, Christmas Day. For many people, Christmas is a very difficult time, for various reasons. My thoughts are with them and, as always, with those who for one reason or another will spend Christmas alone. To those of you who don't celebrate Christmas, I hope you have a happy day, anyway. Merry Christmas, happy day!

This is "just" a regular Black-capped Chickadee, but our leader on the High River Christmas Bird Count was not expecting a Chickadeee on this Count. As my computer has not shut down for a while this evening, I thought I would make the most of it and post a few more photos. WIsh I knew what makes it freeze and have to be turned off over and over again. Anyway, the five photos that I posted this evening were all taken on 18 December 2018, when I took part in the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count for the town of High River, south of Calgary. As usual, my lens turned to anything else that caught my eye, Including old barns, old cars, and farm cats. The weather was beautiful for us, which makes the difference. No snow on the ground either, which makes our searches so much easier. The Count last year had awful weather with a dreadful snow storm blowing in while we were having a Potluck supper. I was just so thankful that I wasn't the one driving back to Calgary in the dark and the blowing snow. What we birding people do for the sake of citizen science, ha! This year, we were unable to book the usual community centre for a Potluck supper afterwards, which was such a shame. It always makes a great ending to a long day of birding when we can get together afterwards and eat and chat.

As my computer has not shut down for a while this evening, I thought I would make the most of it and post a few more photos. WIsh I knew what makes it freeze and have to be turned off over and over again. Anyway, the five photos that I posted this evening were all taken on 18 December 2018, when I took part in the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count for the town of High River, south of Calgary. As usual, my lens turned to anything else that caught my eye, Including old barns, old cars, and farm cats. The weather was beautiful for us, which makes the difference. No snow on the ground either, which makes our searches so much easier. The Count last year had awful weather with a dreadful snow storm blowing in while we were having a Potluck supper. I was just so thankful that I wasn't the one driving back to Calgary in the dark and the blowing snow. What we birding people do for the sake of citizen science, ha! This year, we were unable to book the usual community centre for a Potluck supper afterwards, which was such a shame. It always makes a great ending to a long day of birding when we can get together afterwards and eat and chat.