Birds of Alberta 2

These Cliff Swallows (and maybe 100 others!) were so busy collecting mud of the right consistency to continue building their many nests under a metal bridge where I love going for walks. They constantly flutter their wings. They are locally common from May to August.

"My" young Great Horned Owl allowed me to get sufficiently close to it the other day that didn't really need to crop the original photo but decided to shave off just a tiny bit at the top. Reminder to self - "The Great Horned Owl is among the most formidable of Alberta's raptors"! Someone told me the other day that he had heard that a GHO "attack" feels like being hit over the head with a two-by-four with nails in it" (or words to that effect). The two adults sitting in nearby trees both appeared to be relaxed, often with eyes closed. Even so, the thought is ALWAYS in my mind - and I wouldn't want to stress out the birds at all, anyway! Road works have been going on for many weeks just a few feet away from where these owls live, so they are accustomed to noise and humans. I'm amazed that they have stayed, but SO glad that they are still there. Does anyone know if there is any way to tell if this is a young male or female?

"My" young Great Horned Owl in a local park. Usually, its eyes are on me, but I caught it gazing out into the world beyond its small grove of trees.