Fish Creek Park 3

Another photo of the rare to uncommon tiny Northern Pygmy-owl that I was lucky enough to photograph on Tuesday around noon. Sorry, but I will probably end up posting a number of photos of this fascinating and beautifully detailed little owl. Absolutely priceless! Note the heart pattern on its breast, specially for Valentine's Day today!

Much of its time was spent in this tall, upright position. What a long, lean animal! Wow, just noticed that this made Explore #4 today, 28th December 2006!! Thanks everyone - very much appreciated! "Counting its tail, a large Long-tailed Weasel male, the largest of the three species in Canada, stretches nearly half a metre (20 in) in length, yet can slip into a hole just 3 cm (1.25 in) across. This enables it to enter small rodent tunnels used by mice and voles. In summer, it enters ground squirrels burrows in search of its favourite food. Average males measure 406 mm (16 in), their tail is 135 mm (5.25) long and they weigh 225 g (12.6 oz). Males are approximately 25 per cent larger than females, which on average weigh only 102 g (5.7 oz). When winter approaches, within 30 days it grows a coat of white, giving it perfect camouflage against the snow -- all except for the tip of its tail, which stays black. A hungry predator, such as a hawk or owl, aims for that black tip, enabling the weasel to escape. Towards spring, between late February and April, in only 25 days, it reverses the process, acquiring the cinnamon-brown topcoat it will use all summer. This includes brown feet, unlike the other two species which retain white feet. The underside is usually buff-coloured." (Taken from the weaselhead.org website).

These really are spectacular birds! Love the orange moustache that matches the wings.

For some strange reason, the Chickadees were easier to photograph this afternoon. A female White-tailed Deer and her two young ones were hanging around nearby, feeding amongst the bushes. Happy Feathery Friday, everyone! The highest this photo got in Explore was #29 on 14th January 2007.

I really am making the most of trying to get photos of the Brown Creepers I've been seeing recently. Sorry if you are already bored to death of seeing uninspiring, drab images of these tiny birds, LOL!

Took several photos of this little female White-breasted Nuthatch late yesterday afternoon, after my episode with the bunch of flowers.

Another composition of the beautiful Red-sided Garter Snake that we saw on Monday during our Snake Monitoring.

I don't get many Chickadee photos with a blue background, so wanted to include this photo as a welcome change from all the dull, gey/brown backgrounds that I usually get. Saw this little guy when I called in to see two of "my" Great Horned Owls this afternoon.

I find these stems of dried Black Henbane seedpods absolutely fascinating! Love the spike-tipped sepals that surrounded the fruit. This plant is pulled here, as it is an unwanted plant, spreading a huge number of seeds.