Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: west of Millarville

These were such tiny mushrooms, seen on a pile of horse manure at the Handfield's 152-acre property, west of Millarville. We were lucky enough to get the chance to go back there and do a second botanizing trip! An amazing forest for fungi! It's always so much fun having one's lens (and nose!) an inch away from those mushrooms that grow on horse manure, LOL.

I seem to remember that someone once pointed out to me that a photo of similar tiny fungi that I had posted were, in fact, not Split Gill. Ever since then, I've never been sure which I'm looking at - so, if anyone sees that I've got the wrong ID, please let me know - thanks! Found these fungi on a botanizing day on Rod Handfield's property (a wonderful forest), 13 August 2010.

It feels a little strange to see and post a fungi photo, seeing as there have been so few this year. These were found at Rod Handfield's acreage, near Millarville (south west of Calgary) on 13th August.

Just too mentally exhausted to come up with some inspirational title for this photo, lol! I desperately need to get out for a walk but our deep freeze continues for yet another day. Last night, the windchill temperature got down to -36C, and even though the actual temperature has now soared to a comparatively balmy -17C (0F), it's not enough to entice me outdoors. Keep warm, everybody! Took this photo at Rod Handfield's place on August 17th.

I was amazed that this photo of a tiny Mayfly came out, as it is zoomed and heavily cropped. Thanks, David, for having yet another insect on your hand and being patient while I took a few shots : ) I had no idea till I saw this image that Mayflies have such a neat pattern on their bodies and wings. This one was seen at Janel Butler's farm, west of Millarville (which is southwest of Calgary) on 16th May.

When we were exploring and botanizing the beautiful acreage (south west of Calgary and west of Millarville) belonging to Janel Butler and her family four days ago, this teeny shell was noticed on the ground. It was temporarily placed on our botany list, and then returned to its original place. (Not my handwriting, by the way, ha). I am absolutely dead beat - and my feet are killing me and my hips are complaining that they were forced to climb a very steep hillside covered in very slippery grass, as part of our hike today, LOL! I left home at 7:30 a.m. and got home this evening around 9:00 p.m. Apart from three of us stopping to have some supper on the way home, we have been out walking the rolling prairie grasslands south west of the city, west of Nanton, hour after hour after hour ; ) We record every plant we come across, every bird, animal, insect, etc.. Every time we go out to botanize someone's acreage or do a botanizing hike in the foothills or mountains, it's a wonderful win/win situation. We get the amazing chance to see new places and new things, and the ranch/acreage owners are given a complete list of our findings. Not too warm today but dreadfully windy. I almost dread taking a look at my photos in case none of them are sharp enough. Photographing wildflowers in strong winds really doesn't work, LOL.

This is such a brilliant green Lichen and it almost glows : ) This beautiful specimen was found in the forested area of Janel Butler's farm a few days ago, when we botanized their acreage. "Wolf lichens are so named because of their common use as poisons for wolves and foxes in Europe centuries ago. The lichen, with its toxic vulpinic acid, was mixed with ground glass and meat, apparently a deadly combination. The lichen was also used as a source for making a yellow-coloured dye, which is not difficult to imagine." By Daniel Mosquin, on Botany Photo of the Day. www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/potd/2005/05/letharia_vulpin.php Went on a morning's walk at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary this morning. We saw one of the Harlequin Ducks sitting on a log in the middle of the river and the male Hooded Merganser was on the lagoon. I had really hoped the Merganser would be swimming in an area where I could get a close view and shot - out of luck again, LOL. Wasn't sure if my legs would work today, after our very long day of hiking yesterday, but I was glad I managed to get in a walk today.

One of the many Alpacas seen at Janel Butler's farm, west of Millarville (south west of Calgary), when we were fortunate enough to botanize the family's wonderful acreage nine days ago. Each Alpaca was different in looks, but they all moved "as one". "Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a domesticated species of South American camelid. It resembles a small llama in appearance. Alpacas are kept in herds that graze on the level heights of the Andes of southern Peru, northern Bolivia, Ecuador, and northern Chile at an altitude of 3,500 m (11,500 ft) to 5,000 m (16,000 ft) above sea-level, throughout the year. Alpacas are considerably smaller than llamas, and unlike llamas, alpacas were not bred to be beasts of burden but were bred specifically for their fiber. Alpaca fiber is used for making knitted and woven items, much as wool is. These items include blankets, sweaters, hats, gloves, scarves, a wide variety of textiles and ponchos in South America, and sweaters, socks, coats and bedding in other parts of the world. The fiber comes in more than 52 natural colors as classified in Peru, 12 as classified in Australia and 16 as classified in the United States.... Most alpacas do not like being grabbed. Some alpacas tolerate being stroked or petted anywhere on their bodies, although many do not like their feet, lower legs, and especially their abdomen touched or handled." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpaca

The cones on a Lodgepole Pine turn inwards on the branches, looking towards the trunk of the tree. Just a simple shot but, hey, I am always happy when I get a blurred background, LOL! This is the provincial tree of Alberta. These are female cones, and there are small prickles on the scales of female cones. "One of the most drought tolerant of our native conifers..... Cones are short cylindrical to egg-shaped, curved away from branches, 2 to 5 cm (1 to 2 in.) long, remain on trees for many years. Scales armed with a small prickle." www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex998 ? "The most common and abundant tree in the Rocky Mountains and foothill regions. Occurring on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains where it frequently forms dense even-aged stands as the result of fire. In areas adjacent to jack pine, the two species integrate." www.abtreegene.com/trees.html plantwatch.fanweb.ca/plant-information/lodgepole-pine/lod... We were out for a good part of the day today on a beautiful walk, north west of the city, in a huge Provincial Park that is yet not open to the public (and probably won't be for another 1-3 years?). It's called the Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park and is incredibly beautiful land. Will add a link to information about it when I get home this evening - I'm about to dash out down a few gravel backroads : ) I can't take one more step, so driving a car sounds just what I need. Rain and cloud are in the forecast for the next four days, and the sun that I saw ten minutes ago seems to have already disappeared. Better dash out while it is still dry.

We were delighted to see this male Evening Grosbeak and his mate yesterday, when we called in at the Handfield's property, west of Millarville. They were sitting in a tree of tangled branches but also flew down to the feeder. I prefer a natural setting to a feeder, but I think my better shots of the female were taken when she was at the feeder. And now I need to go and get myself ready to go with a friend north west of the city to the Water Valley area. This is where Sandhill Cranes have been reported recently, as well as Great Gray Owls and even a Barred Owl (or was it a Boreal???) Keeping my fingers crossed for the Cranes in particular ... but you know how it works, LOL. "The Evening Grosbeak is 18.5 cm long. The adult has a short black tail, black wings and a large pale bill. The adult male has a bright yellow forehead and body; its head is brown and there is a large white patch in the wing. The adult female is mainly olive-brown, greyer on the underparts and with white patches in the wings." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evening_Grosbeak

We saw this rather beautiful moth yesterday, when a handful of us went to record all the flora and fauna at Janel Butler's farm, west of Millarville, south west of Calgary. Haven't had a chance yet to try and identify this moth - and now I need to go and get myself ready to go with a friend north west of the city to the Water Valley area. This is where Sandhill Cranes have been reported recently, as well as Great Gray Owls and even a Barred Owl (or was it a Boreal???) Keeping my fingers crossed for the Cranes in particular ... but you know how it is, LOL.

Such a treat to have the chance to see a wonderful pair of Evening Grosbeaks a couple of days ago! After botanizing Janel Butler's farm, we called in at a beautiful private acreage belonging to the Handfields - they had so kindly allowed us to botanize their land last year). These two acreages are west of Millarville, south west of Calgary. I think this shot shows the female better than one that I took of her perched in a tree, so will post this photo first and then will add the other image soon. If I remember correctly, i've only ever had the chance once before to see these beautiful birds. Just look at the size of that beak, LOL! All the fresh air, heat and bright sunlight that I've been exposed to recently (plus huge lack of sleep!) just knock me out. Very bad when it comes to driving. "The Evening Grosbeak is a year-round Alberta resident, usually in the northern half of the Province, but may be found in the southern mountains and the Cypress Hills as well. This big-beaked bird is a common winter visitor to central and southern Alberta towns and cities. When not stuffing themselves at winter feeders, grosbeaks use their specialized beaks to crack the winged seeds of Manitoba maple (boxelder) and green ash trees. In spring, swelling buds of poplar and willow are relished, and in summer and fall, the birds gorge on the ripening berries of pincherry, Saskatoons and other juicy morsels." talkaboutwildlife.ca/profile/?s=346

Two of the small mushrooms we found on a repeat, full-day botanizing outing to a 152-acre private property west of Millarville (south of Calgary) on Monday. The forest here was absolutely amazing, including for fungi. What a fun time we had!

This was one of the many wonderful species of fungus that we discovered while botanizing the 152-acre property of Rod Handfield, south of Calgary, west of Millarville. Just loved the grooves and the light : )

A friend pointed out this beautiful specimen of Comb Tooth fungus when we were doing a repeat botanizing trip on the Handfield property, west of Millarville, south of Calgary. I had seen this kind of fungus before, but maybe only two or three times, so it was exciting to come across it again.

This mushroom was taken on 20th July at the Handfield's acreage, west of Millarville (southwest of Calgary).

This is one of several fungi that we came across while botanizing someone's acreage last week, south of the city and west of Millarville. It's either a short Spruce (?) needle or similar that was balancing on top of the cap. We are still getting hardly any rain - we need it desperately!