Birds of Alberta 2

It is so rare for me to get a photo with a plain, blurry background, but it sure feels good when it does happen! Yes, I think this shot is a bit better balanced, too. The highest this photo got in Explore was #294 on 7th January 2007.

The afternoon light was bright at first and then the wind and storm clouds blew in - no storm, though, thankfully.

I think it's time that I see the Ivory-billed Woodpecker!! Wouldn't that make a great change from my usual little Downy Woodpeckers? Her head feathers are a little sleeker in this photo.

Usually, Magpies are really hard to get close to, but this afternoon, one was hanging around a feeder in the park. Even so, I didn't manage to get particularly good photos. Maybe it will be there next time I go for a walk in the same place. Famous last words!

I was really happy to see a few Common Redpolls on my walk this afternoon. Didn't do a very good job photographing these either - this is the best of three! I think she is such a pretty little bird, with the red dot on her forehead.

I think this is perhaps the closest I have been to a Magpie. This one was amazingly unbothered by my presence, or else so hungry it didn't care! The light was beginning to fade, unfortunately.

This male made up for missing the chance to get a photo of the female when two people and their unleashed dogs came down the hill and passed me. The dogs went crashing wildly through the trees and bushes, scaring off all the birds - which is exactly why they are supposed to be on a leash.

Oh, what a grey sky this afternoon! I had carefully planned my walk for today because the forecast was for sunshine. Snow is in the forecast for the day after tomorrow.

This Black-billed Magpie was quite eager to get to this feeder in the park this afternoon. This photo shows a bit of the irridescence in the wings and tail. These very noisy birds are everywhere and it's easy for people to forget how beautiful they are.