One of my few Snowy Owls of 2016
From days gone by
Popular with the Aphids
A life left behind
Built with love
Blowing in the wind
Blackie Grain Terminal, Alberta
Fence post with a difference
Surveying its territory
One of the first of the season
Passing the time
Floral beauty
The return of the Swans
Bubbles at Frank Lake
A close landing
Branch treasures
Varied Thrush
Ice patterns
Elk siblings or friends
Pink Sundae / Salvia viridis
Great Gray Owl - breathtaking
Mural in Blackie, Alberta
Delicate Damselfly
Rolling hills and distant peaks
A sky filled with clouds
Remembering a winter day
Tropical - cultivar of Tillandsia ionantha?
Dainty little Common Redpoll
Got my eyes on you
'Hiding' in the grass
Himalayan Blue Poppy
One of a pair
Siberian Squill
A little corner of Reader Rock Garden
One of my favourite barns
Mountain view on an owl-less day
Davisburg Community Church, Alberta
A quick glance
Farmyard scene on the prairie
Stavely, Alberta, grain elevator
The Famous Five from a distance
Datura flower?
Just a splash of colour
Hunting for Meadow Voles
Wild Blue Columbine / Aquilegia brevistyla
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Perched on a broken tree trunk


All three photos posted today were taken the day before yesterday, 15 March 2016. I drove NW of Calgary again, hoping that maybe one of the Great Gray Owls might just be seen. When I arrived, a car was pulled over at the side of the road and the occupants were photographing an owl. It was hidden from my view by a group of bushes and I only saw it when it flew over to the distant trees. This particular photo was taken a bit later, after watching the owl hunt for a while. I am sure I would never have spotted the owl in this setting, as it was a long way away and the owl blended in with its surroundings.
I hadn't been sure whether to do such a long drive that day (roughly 250 km round trip) as the weather forecast wasn't exactly the best. Just after I left home, a few snowflakes fell for maybe five minutes, but not enough to settle. When I got closer to my destination, the roads were snow-covered and not very pleasant to drive on. However, I'm glad I did decide to go, as I did get to see this owl on several different trees while it hunted. Eventually, it flew off into the forest and didn't return.
"Although the Great Gray Owl is the tallest American owl with the largest wingspan, it is just a ball of feathers. It preys on small mammals and has relatively small feet. Both the Great Horned and Snowy owls weigh half again as much, and have larger feet and talons. The oldest recorded Great Gray Owl was at least 18 years, 9 months old and lived in Alberta." From AllAboutBirds.
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Gray_Owl/lifehistory
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_grey_owl
Last night, we had some proper snow - March does tend to be the snowiest month here. The temperature is -1C early this afternoon and the sun is trying to burst through the overcast sky.
I hadn't been sure whether to do such a long drive that day (roughly 250 km round trip) as the weather forecast wasn't exactly the best. Just after I left home, a few snowflakes fell for maybe five minutes, but not enough to settle. When I got closer to my destination, the roads were snow-covered and not very pleasant to drive on. However, I'm glad I did decide to go, as I did get to see this owl on several different trees while it hunted. Eventually, it flew off into the forest and didn't return.
"Although the Great Gray Owl is the tallest American owl with the largest wingspan, it is just a ball of feathers. It preys on small mammals and has relatively small feet. Both the Great Horned and Snowy owls weigh half again as much, and have larger feet and talons. The oldest recorded Great Gray Owl was at least 18 years, 9 months old and lived in Alberta." From AllAboutBirds.
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Gray_Owl/lifehistory
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_grey_owl
Last night, we had some proper snow - March does tend to be the snowiest month here. The temperature is -1C early this afternoon and the sun is trying to burst through the overcast sky.
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