False eyes and real eyes
Unidentified fungus
Turkey Vulture talons
Female Kestrel
Well-protected
A distant shot from my archives
Kananaskis - a winter wonderland
Northern Hawk Owl with woodland bokeh
Aloe Vera / Aloe Barbadensis Miller, Blue Waters I…
Batteaux Bay, from Blue Waters Inn, Tobago
Tropical Mockingbird, Blue Waters Inn, Tobago
Crab on the pier at Blue Waters Inn, Tobago
Batteaux Bay at Blue Waters Inn, Tobago
Ruddy Turnstone / Arenaria interpres, Blue Waters…
Allamanda, Blue Waters Inn, Tobago
Frank's Glass-bottomed boat, Blue Waters Inn, Tob…
Blue-gray Tanager / Thraupis episcopus, Tobago
Tropical tree, Blue Waters Inn, Tobago
Blue Waters Inn, Tobago
Rufous-vented chachalaca / Ortalis ruficauda, Toba…
Blue Waters Inn, Tobago
Shiny Cowbird / Molothrus bonariensis, Tobago
Giant seedpod of the Flame Tree, Blue Waters Inn,…
Pinedrops
Arethusa Cirque trail, Kananaskis
Chocolate chip lichen / Solorina crocea
Boreal Chickadee
Invasive Goat's-beard and Baby's breath
Crested Wheatgrass / Agropyron cristatum
01 Barred Owl
02 Bald Eagle in late afternoon sun
03 A gift in August
Northern Pygmy-owl
Strawberries and cream fungus / Hydnellum peckii
Mountain Chickadee
Always glad to see a Snowy
Meerkat deep in thought
Showing off its gills
Lovable Llama
Meadow Vole for a late lunch
Farm cat
Wild Bergamot
Bark patterns on a cut log
Greenish sky beneath a Chinook Arch
Colour among the mosses and lichens
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One of my favourite views
We are back into serious winter weather again! This morning, 7 March 2017, the temperature is -14C (windchill -23C), with snow forecast for tonight and the next four days. Apparently, March is our snowiest month.
I was looking at a folder of winter photos taken just over a year ago, on 3 January 2016, during a Nanton Christmas Bird Count. Thought I'd post another shot taken along this particular road, as this is one of my favourite views.
Some years, the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count for the town of Nanton is held late in December. Other years, it ends up being held early January, sometimes delayed because of really bad weather. The Count that took place on 3 January 2016, was part of the 2015 Bird Count.
As you can see, the weather was bright and sunny for us this day. What you can't see was that it was very cold for the first part of the day, then warming up to a more pleasant cold later on! I think it was -21C when we started. On the January 2014 trip for the 2013 Count, on the hour-long drive south of Calgary, we hit -34C (-29.2F)!!!!! Again, this year, there was no or very little wind, which makes all the difference. Also, the only walking we had to do was when we called in at various farms and acreages.
We drove through such beautiful scenery when we were covering the SW quadrant of the Christmas Bird Count circle that centered on the town of Nanton. A landscape over which the occasional Golden Eagle soars (we saw 5!) and in which some years - but definitely not this day! - numerous Sharp-tailed Grouse wander on the ground or perch in trees.
I think the highlight of the day, certainly for me, were all the beautiful Pine Grosbeaks that we saw. We had been told about a farm family who had lots of these Grosbeaks at their feeders, and we are so glad that we arranged to call in. We also saw a Gray Jay there, to add to our species list. My small group of 4 friends and myself, travelling in two cars, did see 5 Golden Eagles, too, which was a thrill, but they were way off in the distance and I couldn't get any closer photos
I absolutely love this area SW of Nanton! Some of these backroads (not this one) are extremely steep and almost look vertical when seen from a distance. Some years, the whole area is white, covered in deep snow, so that you can't tell where the roadside ends and the ditch begins. This Count, it wasn't too bad, thank goodness, though I might have felt differently if I had been one of the two drivers for our group!
Around lunch time, we returned to the Truch family's place as we happened to be very nearby, and ate our lunch in the warmth of their cosy home.
After driving (being driven, for me, which is always pure luxury) the backroads from about 8:00 a.m. till around 3:30 p.m., we returned to the wonderful home of the Truch family. Not only do Bill and Leah Truch and their son, Mike, always welcome everyone with open arms, they also provide a much-appreciated breakfast snack for us and then, at the end of the day, a delicious supper. Have to say that I love travelling these scenic backroads, but I also really enjoy getting together with everyone afterwards. This is one of my favourite Bird Counts, and perhaps the most favourite.
Just before leaving for Calgary at the end of the day, we were shown the family's Llamas, two Donkeys, Peacocks, and several tiny white Quail. I should have taken photos of these animals when it was daylight.
Thanks so much for doing all the driving, Tony and Andrew, and thanks, Leah, Bill and Mike for all the effort and time you put into your warm welcome! It was another well-organized Count, Mike, as usual - thanks.
I was looking at a folder of winter photos taken just over a year ago, on 3 January 2016, during a Nanton Christmas Bird Count. Thought I'd post another shot taken along this particular road, as this is one of my favourite views.
Some years, the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count for the town of Nanton is held late in December. Other years, it ends up being held early January, sometimes delayed because of really bad weather. The Count that took place on 3 January 2016, was part of the 2015 Bird Count.
As you can see, the weather was bright and sunny for us this day. What you can't see was that it was very cold for the first part of the day, then warming up to a more pleasant cold later on! I think it was -21C when we started. On the January 2014 trip for the 2013 Count, on the hour-long drive south of Calgary, we hit -34C (-29.2F)!!!!! Again, this year, there was no or very little wind, which makes all the difference. Also, the only walking we had to do was when we called in at various farms and acreages.
We drove through such beautiful scenery when we were covering the SW quadrant of the Christmas Bird Count circle that centered on the town of Nanton. A landscape over which the occasional Golden Eagle soars (we saw 5!) and in which some years - but definitely not this day! - numerous Sharp-tailed Grouse wander on the ground or perch in trees.
I think the highlight of the day, certainly for me, were all the beautiful Pine Grosbeaks that we saw. We had been told about a farm family who had lots of these Grosbeaks at their feeders, and we are so glad that we arranged to call in. We also saw a Gray Jay there, to add to our species list. My small group of 4 friends and myself, travelling in two cars, did see 5 Golden Eagles, too, which was a thrill, but they were way off in the distance and I couldn't get any closer photos
I absolutely love this area SW of Nanton! Some of these backroads (not this one) are extremely steep and almost look vertical when seen from a distance. Some years, the whole area is white, covered in deep snow, so that you can't tell where the roadside ends and the ditch begins. This Count, it wasn't too bad, thank goodness, though I might have felt differently if I had been one of the two drivers for our group!
Around lunch time, we returned to the Truch family's place as we happened to be very nearby, and ate our lunch in the warmth of their cosy home.
After driving (being driven, for me, which is always pure luxury) the backroads from about 8:00 a.m. till around 3:30 p.m., we returned to the wonderful home of the Truch family. Not only do Bill and Leah Truch and their son, Mike, always welcome everyone with open arms, they also provide a much-appreciated breakfast snack for us and then, at the end of the day, a delicious supper. Have to say that I love travelling these scenic backroads, but I also really enjoy getting together with everyone afterwards. This is one of my favourite Bird Counts, and perhaps the most favourite.
Just before leaving for Calgary at the end of the day, we were shown the family's Llamas, two Donkeys, Peacocks, and several tiny white Quail. I should have taken photos of these animals when it was daylight.
Thanks so much for doing all the driving, Tony and Andrew, and thanks, Leah, Bill and Mike for all the effort and time you put into your warm welcome! It was another well-organized Count, Mike, as usual - thanks.
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