An old, abandoned Chevrolet
Pine Grosbeak female or juvenile
Silky Scorpionweed / Phacelia sericea, Pocaterra C…
Old and the new
Janet and a tiny friend
Fungi on the Oilbird Cave trail
Asystasia gangetica, Trinidad
Oilbird, Asa Wright, Trinidad
View from the verandah, Asa Wright, Trinidad
Heliconia flowers, Trinidad
White-necked Jacobin, Trinidad
Yesterday's local walk
Juvenile Northern Goshawk, feeding
Winter beauty
Yellow Oriole, Trinidad
Tropical flower, Asa Wright, Trinidad
White-chested Emerald / Amazilia brevirostris, Tri…
Southern Lapwing / Vanellus chilensis, Trinidad
Red-breasted Meadowlark / Sturnella militaris, Tri…
Masked Cardinal, Trinidad
Saffron Finch / Sicalis flaveola, Trinidad
Dragonfly sp., Trinidad
Purple Honeycreeper, Asa Wright, Trinidad
Pine Grosbeak male feeding on berries
Yesterday's walk in Fish Creek Park
Heliconia, Trinidad
Miniature horses in a winter playground
Old barns in winter
Tropical flower, Trinidad - Begonia
Common Redpoll in falling snow
The end of an Artichoke
Heliconia sp. (chartacea?), Asa Wright, Trinidad
You never know where you'll see a Snowy Owl
Bananaquit, Trinidad
Two male Snowy Owls in the same field
Snowy Owl number 5
Two (Snowy Owls) for the price of one
Torch Ginger seedpod, Trinidad
A most welcome find
Clouds over the Prairies
A Snowy Owl makes all the difference
Torch Ginger, Asa Wright, Trinidad
White-necked Jacobin female, Trinidad
Golden Tegu, Asa Wright, Trinidad
White-necked Jacobin, Asa Wright, Trinidad
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A rare glimpse of a Steller's Jay


Posted only for the record - I think I have only ever seen a Steller's Jay about four times, and only in the mountains. This was the highlight of our group's Count.
On 27 December 2017, there were six of us (in the group I was in) taking part in the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count for the Sheep River/Priddis/Turner Valley area. Our time was spent travelling in two cars, driving the back roads SW of the city and calling in at various acreages/ farms. Thanks so much, Joe and Dave, for being the two drivers. This was so much appreciated! With brutally cold temperatures for days, and wind chills plunging to as low as -37C if not more, and lots of snow, we were thankful that only part of the day was spent out of the car!
I took part in this Count for 2015 and 2016, but had missed it for a few years before that. I believe I had only ever done it twice before that, a few years ago (December 2007 and December 30, 2008). This time, like last year, our area was in the centre of the count circle and I'm so glad I decided to go again.
A great stop was at Rod Handfield's place. Some of us go there very occasionally on botany trips and he always has the best mushrooms and other fungi growing in his forest in the fall. Rod and his wife have such a beautiful cabin there. Rod is always so wonderfully hospitable, and he had driven out to the cabin and had delicious coffee and baked goods ready for us! This was so much appreciated and enjoyed, and I know that I, for one, felt re-energized after this treat and being able to warm up in his home. As always, many thanks, Rod!
We met with nothing but pleasant landowners, so willing to allow us to wander their properties. One of them, Doug J, had the highlight of the day for us - a Steller's Jay! The status of the Steller's Jay in Alberta is "locally uncommon year-round". They are spotted most often in the Rocky Mountains. Waterton Lakes National Park seems to be the best area for these stunning birds.
Another welcome sighting was a group of 10 Wild Turkeys at a location where we have previously seen them. Pine Grosbeaks and Common Redpolls helped make the day enjoyable, too, along with the 'regulars', including Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Canada Geese, and three types of Chickadee. Everything seen in such spectacular scenery, too. I love this whole area and, thankfully, it is an area that I can drive to myself - but not in winter! Needless to say, I know I am very lucky.
By the way, we briefly stopped and looked down a hill to see one of the 'sets' for the TV series, "Heartland". This is a real-life farm, including the big, red barn. This is a family drama on CBC TV about a family dealing with the highs and lows of life on a horse ranch in the stunning the foothills of Alberta. I don't watch it often, but when I do, I love it, seeing the countryside so close to home. They use the old, red barn for some of the scenes, plus a replica of the barn's inside in a studio. Heartland is the longest running hour-long drama in Canadian television history, and is syndicated to countries around the world.
A short Blog article by one of the sons raised in real life on this farm that is used in Heartland:
www.cbc.ca/heartland/blog/a-bit-of-real-history-of-the-he...
youtu.be/7LEvpS4zd2E
On 27 December 2017, there were six of us (in the group I was in) taking part in the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count for the Sheep River/Priddis/Turner Valley area. Our time was spent travelling in two cars, driving the back roads SW of the city and calling in at various acreages/ farms. Thanks so much, Joe and Dave, for being the two drivers. This was so much appreciated! With brutally cold temperatures for days, and wind chills plunging to as low as -37C if not more, and lots of snow, we were thankful that only part of the day was spent out of the car!
I took part in this Count for 2015 and 2016, but had missed it for a few years before that. I believe I had only ever done it twice before that, a few years ago (December 2007 and December 30, 2008). This time, like last year, our area was in the centre of the count circle and I'm so glad I decided to go again.
A great stop was at Rod Handfield's place. Some of us go there very occasionally on botany trips and he always has the best mushrooms and other fungi growing in his forest in the fall. Rod and his wife have such a beautiful cabin there. Rod is always so wonderfully hospitable, and he had driven out to the cabin and had delicious coffee and baked goods ready for us! This was so much appreciated and enjoyed, and I know that I, for one, felt re-energized after this treat and being able to warm up in his home. As always, many thanks, Rod!
We met with nothing but pleasant landowners, so willing to allow us to wander their properties. One of them, Doug J, had the highlight of the day for us - a Steller's Jay! The status of the Steller's Jay in Alberta is "locally uncommon year-round". They are spotted most often in the Rocky Mountains. Waterton Lakes National Park seems to be the best area for these stunning birds.
Another welcome sighting was a group of 10 Wild Turkeys at a location where we have previously seen them. Pine Grosbeaks and Common Redpolls helped make the day enjoyable, too, along with the 'regulars', including Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Canada Geese, and three types of Chickadee. Everything seen in such spectacular scenery, too. I love this whole area and, thankfully, it is an area that I can drive to myself - but not in winter! Needless to say, I know I am very lucky.
By the way, we briefly stopped and looked down a hill to see one of the 'sets' for the TV series, "Heartland". This is a real-life farm, including the big, red barn. This is a family drama on CBC TV about a family dealing with the highs and lows of life on a horse ranch in the stunning the foothills of Alberta. I don't watch it often, but when I do, I love it, seeing the countryside so close to home. They use the old, red barn for some of the scenes, plus a replica of the barn's inside in a studio. Heartland is the longest running hour-long drama in Canadian television history, and is syndicated to countries around the world.
A short Blog article by one of the sons raised in real life on this farm that is used in Heartland:
www.cbc.ca/heartland/blog/a-bit-of-real-history-of-the-he...
youtu.be/7LEvpS4zd2E
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