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

I was thrilled to bits to see a tiny Tiger Beetle yesterday, when a few of us went north west of the city to the Medicine River Wildlife Centre for the day. We had a very enjoyable time hearing about and seeing the centre itself with some of the injured wildlife that are being cared for at the moment. We also botanized the land around the centre, recording all flora and fauna that we came across. Our interesting and passionate guide was Judy, and we really appreciated her spending so much time showing us around and coming on the walk with us. Thanks so much for a lovely day, Judy! One of the many things we found was this tiny Tiger Beetle. I'm not sure, but the closest I've come to for an ID is a Bronzed Tiger Beetle. A very heavily cropped image!

I hope Flickr can Fix the lowercase F problem very soon, which has returned this morning! Grrr.... The Drummond's Thistle is a spectacular thistle species, with a low-to-the-ground rosette of leaves and large Flowerheads. It was a delight to Find several oF these growing on the land surrounding the Medicine River WildliFe Centre, when we spent the day botanizing the forest and meadows there on 4th July. In Calgary, the only place where these native Thistles have been found is Weaselhead.

This beautiful Barred Owl is one of the many injured birds being cared for at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, north west of Calgary and west of Innisfail. We were so lucky to be able to spend the day on 4th July botanizing the forest and meadows of the area. I still haven't seen this species of owl in the wild. Some of you may be having the same problems again with trying to type a description under your images. Every time a lowercase f is typed, you are sent straight to "on black" and you lose all your typing. Hope they fix this again soon! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barred_Owl ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Though I have seen many American White Pelicans in the wild, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to photograph this one at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre the other day. We were lucky enough to spend the whole day there, botanizing and birding their forest and meadows. It is a great Centre, for injured and orphaned wildlife, rehabilitating and releasing whenever possible.

These are just three of the 15 Great Horned Owls that are being rehabilitated at the moment at the Mediicine River Wildlife Centre, north west of Calgary, and west of Innisfail. We spent the day there on 4th July, botanizing their forest and meadows, as well as seeing some of the wildlife that had been brought to the Centre because of injury or being orphaned. The 15 owls were in a huge, almost barn-like enclosure (but without solid walls at the sides) outdoors in the forest. Some were at each end of the enclosure while we were inside, and occasionally one would fly to the opposite end. I do hope that every single owl recovers well and will be able to be released. "All birds admitted to MRWC must prove that they are avid flyers before their release into the wild." Taken from the MRWC's calendar.

No idea at all what kind of tiny Moth this is, but wanted to add it to my set of Insects of Alberta. Seen while we were botanizing the beautiful forest and meadows at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre (north west of Calgary and west of Innisfail) the other day.

This is Otis the Great Horned Owl, a great wildlife ambassador, who lives at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre (north west of Calgary, and west of Innisfail). He is unable to be released because of injuries, so devotes his life to educating people. Taken indoors, which is never a strong point for me and my camera : )

We have been seeing lots of these plants recently, outside the city, on various botanizing trips. This particular plant was growing on the land around the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, north west of Calgary and west of Innisfail. We have seen this species in the city at Shannon Terrace, Fish Creek Park, but we don't usually see it in other places. It is called 'Wild Lily-of-the-valley' because its leaves resemble those of Lily-of-the-valley, Convallaria majalis, a European species.