Horsethief Canyon, Drumheller

Our territory (section of the huge circle) for the Horseshoe Canyon/Drumheller Bird Count was on the north side of the Red Deer River, including the Tyrrell Museum and nearby farmland. We also stopped briefly at this overlook at Horsethief Canyon, which is 16 km from Drumheller, just past the Royal Tyrrell Museum on North Dinosaur Trail (Highway 838). About an inch and a half down from the top left corner, you can just make out a line of trees and the frozen river. Can you imagine how easy it would be to get lost down there? This is dinosaur country, the wonderful Badlands of Alberta! Earlier in the day, we drove some of the residential alleys looking for birds at feeders as well as in trees, and walked along the edge of the river at McMullen Island (it only becomes an island when the river level rises). The Red Deer River was completely frozen; 12 inches of snow cover. The day started off cloudy, clearing to beautiful sunshine, calm and a temperature of -14C soaring to 6C (yes, that's +6C!). Left my house at 5:40 a.m. and got home maybe 7:45 p.m. (?) Total kms-73; Total kms by car-68; Total kms on foot-5. Total hours-7; Total by car-4.5; Total on foot-2hrs; In cafe-0.5 hrs.. Just in case anyone is interested in what species the four of us found, this is the list for the day:

Rock Pigeon-1
Eurasian Collared Dove-24
Great Horned Owl-1
Snowy Owl-1
Downy Woodpecker-5,
Hairy Woodpecker-4
Northern Flicker-4
Pileated Woodpecker-1
Blue Jay-4
Black-billed Magpie-38
Black-capped Chickadee-17
White-breasted Nuthatch 3.
Bohemian Waxwing-96
White-winged Crossbill-2
Common Redpoll-139
House Sparrow-42

We actually saw a total of six Snowy Owls, but only one actually in our Count area. As far as photos for the day are concerned, all I managed bird-wise was a Eurasian Collared Dove, a Red Crossbill and a couple of Snowy Owl photos. However, the scenery covered in snow was beautiful (and, as usual, my photos don't even begin to do it justice). It looks so different in the winter.