Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: my back yard

There were two of these American Crows sitting on my back fence two days ago, 1 August 2016, making a whole lot of noise. Not sure, but I think both were juveniles. Or maybe not, as I've just read the information below, saying that "when Crows molt, the old feathers can appear brownish..." Caught this one just as it was ruffling up all its beautiful feathers. Grabbed my camera just in time to get two or three shots and off they flew. Local Crows used to nest in my neighbour's Spruce tree, but the last few years they have been nesting somewhere else. "American Crows are familiar over much of the continent: large, intelligent, all-black birds with hoarse, cawing voices. They are common sights in treetops, fields, and roadsides, and in habitats ranging from open woods and empty beaches to town centers. They usually feed on the ground and eat almost anything – typically earthworms, insects and other small animals, seeds, and fruit but also garbage, carrion, and chicks they rob from nests. Their flight style is unique, a patient, methodical flapping that is rarely broken up with glides. American Crows are all black, even the legs and bill. When crows molt, the old feathers can appear brownish or scaly compared to the glossy new feathers." From AllAboutBirds. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Crow/id Monday was mostly a quiet day at home - it was a long weekend and I didn't really want to be doing a longish drive with a lot of traffic on the roads. Late in the afternoon, I did get out to see a pair of Swainson's Hawks and also drove to a local Osprey family, that I think has three youngsters still on the nest. Seeing the Hawks was quite an experience - I was dive-bombed three times in the two minutes maximum that I was there! A friend had told me about this family, but didn't have the same experience as me! Yesterday and today, I have been without my vehicle, because it suddenly developed a really bad, noisy muffler problem. It was going to be a major expense ($4,660) to repair/replace the various parts and I have just heard back that one part is no longer available. To find one would mean being without my car for two weeks! So, I think I will collect the car and just drive within the few roads by me (groceries, etc.) with an extremely noisy vehicle. It looks like I will have to buy a new car - something that I have been thinking about the last few years, as the car is now over 17 years old. Not something I wanted to do on the spur of the moment like this, though. Unfortunately, I will have to cancel my plans to take my daughter to the mountains tomorrow. For years and years I have longed to drive there myself and finally plucked up courage to go with my daughter to help me navigate.

Just a delicate damselfly that happened to fly into my back yard and land on my fence. Came across this old photo last night when I was looking through a folder of images to maybe post to Flickr. I really need to go through my more recent photos and will do so after a quick break from Northern Pygmy-owl and old barn photos : ) It's only -4C (windchill -8C) this morning, 1 March 2015, so I might just go for a bird walk with friends. Looks like the forecast is for some snow tonight, so I know I should make the most of the sunshine today. So far, next week is looking pretty good weather-wise.

"Just" a tiny Seven-spotted Ladybug, seen in my back garden on 19 June 2014. "The Seven-spotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata) is probably our most familiar Lady Beetle, being found in gardens, parks and natural areas across the continent. It wasn't always this way though - this, large, attractive beetle was brought over in the 1950's from Europe to the eastern US to supplement the aphid-eating prowess of the native lady beetles. This hardy alien has since spread across the continent. There is concern that this alien lady beetle is causing a decline in some native lady beetle species, particularly of the once common Transverse Lady Beetle. Are the robust Seven-spots out-competing the natives, eating the eggs of the natives, spreading disease or hybridizing with natives? No one knows for sure, but it is another cautionary example of the dangers of introducing alien species. One thing that ecologically conscientious gardeners can do is to refrain from buying alien species as biological controls and purchase native ones instead." From talkaboutwildlife.ca (no longer available). "The Seven-spotted Ladybird Beetle was brought in from Europe in the hope that it would help control populations of pests like aphids. It is doubtful that it has made any real difference, but what has happened is some of our native species have suffered a decline in populations since the Seven-spotted was introduced, perhaps because the Seven-spotted outcompetes them. Two-spotted Ladybird Beetles are the ones that most often turn up in people's homes in winter. Perhaps the best solution to ensure the beetles survive is to take them to a greenhouse that uses biocontrol." www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/natural/insects/bugsfaq/ladybir.. . John Acorn's book, "Ladybugs of Alberta", covers all 75 species of ladybugs found here in Alberta.