Sunflower beauty
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
House Wren
Before and after the petals fall
Franklins and the farmer
Eastern Kingbird
Small Blue sp.
Bleeding hearts
Lichen from the Whaleback hills
A touch of England
Red-winged Blackbird female
Western Tent Caterpillar - one of many
Convergent Ladybug / Hippodamia convergens
Love these little guys
Snack time for baby Coot
Shades of orange
When black isn't really black
Coyote in a field of dandelions
A little blossom flower
Collecting supper for her babies
Well, hello, little Chickadee
Spiny Rose Gall
A lovely splash of colour
Western Tent caterpillars - a tight community
At the start of our climb
Arrowleaf Balsamroot with Crab Spider
Impressive view at the Whaleback
Young Richardson's Ground Squirrel
Moth and lichen
Evening Grosbeak male
Purple Iris
Nearing its end
Showing off his colours
Delicate blossom
Cemetery wildlife
American Goldfinch
Sunlit moss
American Avocet
One of three
Before they go to seed
Sun halo
Glorious splash of colour
Arrow-leaved Coltsfoot / Petasites sagittatus
Female Red-winged Blackbird / Agelaius phoeniceus
Evening Grosbeaks / Coccothraustes vespertinus
See also...
Keywords
Authorizations, license
-
Visible by: Everyone -
All rights reserved
-
165 visits
Black-billed Magpie


The Black-billed Magpie tends to look like a black and white bird from a distance, but when the light catches it in just the right way, the iridescent colours show very nicely. They can be seen everywhere, and lots of them. They are usually accompanied by a comment such as "It's just a Magpie", lol. However, they really are beautiful birds, especially in the sunlight.
On 27 May 2015, I had a volunteer shift and afterwards, as the sun was shining, I called in at the Reader Rock Garden. There was rain in the forecast so I thought I'd better make the most of the blue sky while I could. Alberta is bone dry everywhere, with wildfires especially further north. So, much as I really dislike the rain, we desperately need it.
From the Garden, I drove through the adjoining Union Cemetery and then another nearby cemetery, and then called in at a wetland in SW Calgary, where I got a quick shot of this Magpie.
"Black-billed Magpies are familiar and entertaining birds of western North America. They sit on fenceposts and road signs or flap across rangelands, their white wing patches flashing and their very long tails trailing behind them. This large, flashy relative of jays and crows is a social creature, gathering in numbers to feed at carrion. They’re also vocal birds and keep up a regular stream of raucous or querulous calls." From AllAboutBirds.
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-billed_Magpie/lifehistory
On 27 May 2015, I had a volunteer shift and afterwards, as the sun was shining, I called in at the Reader Rock Garden. There was rain in the forecast so I thought I'd better make the most of the blue sky while I could. Alberta is bone dry everywhere, with wildfires especially further north. So, much as I really dislike the rain, we desperately need it.
From the Garden, I drove through the adjoining Union Cemetery and then another nearby cemetery, and then called in at a wetland in SW Calgary, where I got a quick shot of this Magpie.
"Black-billed Magpies are familiar and entertaining birds of western North America. They sit on fenceposts and road signs or flap across rangelands, their white wing patches flashing and their very long tails trailing behind them. This large, flashy relative of jays and crows is a social creature, gathering in numbers to feed at carrion. They’re also vocal birds and keep up a regular stream of raucous or querulous calls." From AllAboutBirds.
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-billed_Magpie/lifehistory
- Keyboard shortcuts:
Jump to top
RSS feed- Latest comments - Subscribe to the comment feeds of this photo
- ipernity © 2007-2025
- Help & Contact
|
Club news
|
About ipernity
|
History |
ipernity Club & Prices |
Guide of good conduct
Donate | Group guidelines | Privacy policy | Terms of use | Statutes | In memoria -
Facebook
Twitter
Sign-in to write a comment.