Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: AdorableCritters

One of my least favourite recent shots of this tiny Northern Pygmy-owl - they are the size of a popcan or a person's fist! However, despite the messy background, it does show the feather patterns - and a beak that has changed colour after a recent snack of Meadow Vole : ) I hope they've been able to find enough food the last few days, while we've been in a very unpleasant deep-freeze. Frozen meals are fine when you have a microwave, LOL. All my photos of this little bird of prey were taken in Fish Creek Park and are heavily cropped. If anyone is interested, I have 32 shots of these tiny, rare to uncommon in Alberta owls in my Northern Pygmy-owl Set. www.flickr.com/photos/annkelliott/sets/72157625428490406/... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Pygmy-owl For those of you who THINK you had cold weather today, read this, LOL!!!! Apparently, here in Calgary, we were the second coldest place on earth this morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I noticed this link on my son's Facebook page just now. www.calgaryherald.com/technology/Calgary+coldest+place+Ea...

I almost felt sorry for this little Black-tailed Prairie Dog - he just seemed to be staring out over the great expanse of sunlit snow, as if wondering what the dickens he was doing out of hibernation THIS early : )

This is a typical view of one of these Black-tailed Prairie Dogs that reside at the Calgary Zoo. Amazing how they can live on thin bits of "greens" and yet end up so rotund, lol! "In Canada, Richardson’s ground squirrels are ubiquitous throughout the mixed-grass and fescue prairies of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, whereas Black-tailed prairie dogs are found only in the vicinity of Grasslands National Park in Saskatchewan." From www.albertapcf.org . en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-tailed_prairie_dog Some of you might be interested in this link to an article about an "Ice Age plant revived after 30,000 years in frozen burrow | CTV News". Thanks for sending me this link, Gerry (altamons)! www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/SciTech/20120220/Ice-Age-plant-resurre...

I saw this whole huddle (?) of adorable Canada Goose goslings yesterday, when I went with Ron (Flickrite Ronaldok) down to the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre near Lethbridge in southern Alberta. They were hanging out with Mom and Dad near one of the ponds at the Centre. We'd been watching several goslings and then suddenly Mom stood up and revealed this tightly packed bundle of downy feathers : )

When I was watching the Red Pandas at the Calgary Zoo the other day, a family (of humans!) came into the enclosure, perhaps as part of a behind-the-scenes tour? It was interesting to see how the animals interacted with the people, who were giving them pieces of fruit to eat. These are such popular residents of the Zoo : ) Zoo staff are keeping their fingers crossed that there might be babies soon : )

Took very few photos this morning on a walk at North Glenmore Park and down into Weaselhead. This little Red Squirrel was the subject in most of the photos. Love his little hands : )

A little Black-capped Chickadee that lives in Fish Creek Park in the Bow Valley Ranch area. Still has little specks of snow around its beak from finding food in the snow. These little birds will land on your outstretched hand even if you are just pointing something out to someone. They will also land on your head, shoulder, arm, even cling to your jean leg - and on one's camera. LOL, Doug - I know what you are thinking!

Another photo of these first Canada Goose goslings that I have seen this year. So cute, and they always seem to have individual personalities even at just a few days old.

This Madagascar Giant Day Gecko is so breathtaking, with its beautiful colours and amazing patterns and textures. Seen at the Calgary Zoo.