Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Black-billed Magpie

We have been under a heat warning recently, and yesterday's temperature got up to either 31C or 32C. It was just unbearable in my place and I needed to get out for a short drive and be in the air-conditioning of my car. We have also been having rain on some days, which was desperately needed. As I headed out west yesterday, I could see that I was heading towards a grey sky and, sure enough, the rain started. Not the best sort of day for photos, but I managed to get a few to keep me happy. All of the roads were my usual roads, though the views from them all had smoke haze. I'm not sure which wildfires this smoke is coming from - down in the US, or British Columbia, or from fires in our own province? I haven't noticed a smokey smell, though. Last summer, 2017, was dreadful for smoke and heat. This young Magpie was one of several in a family along one of the backroads. Love its fluffy feathers. It only rested on this fence post for a few seconds. Other than a few of the usual birds, such as Brewer's Blackbirds, Cedar Waxwings and Eastern Kingbirds, the only bird that was different was a Wilson's Snipe that was at the far water's edge of a large pond. Too far for even remotely decent photos, but it made a change to see a Snipe on the ground and not on a fence post.

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

Yes, it's "just" a Magpie, but ....they are still beautiful birds, especially when the wing feathers catch the sunlight. Usually, they just look black and white birds. Although these birds are seen everywhere, within the city and outside, I find they are surprisingly difficult birds to photograph. This one was seen at the Reader Rock Garden on 4 September 2013.

The Bald Eagle and the Ravens feeding on a Canada Goose, make the Black-billed Magpie look quite small. We were so lucky to see all this activity on 31 January 2013, the far side of the Bow River at Carburn Park. We saw 11 Bald Eagles in this spot and in nearby trees, and there may well have been more in the area. If only human beings of different races could always get along together this well ....

This beautiful Coyote was outside the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, way, way off in the distance in the Inglewood Wildlands (i.e. just a huge expanse of wild, grassy land). When I met up with friends early yesterday morning, for a three-hour walk at the Sanctuary, we were so lucky to see this sight from the parking lot. The animal chose to stand on top of this monument (not the right word, but can't think what the other word is, ha) which has some interesting designs on the stones. One beautiful sighting is always enough for me and I would have been happy to have gone home straight after this - well, to the Zoo, actually, as it is only a very short drive from the Sanctuary, and that is where I went after our long walk. Spring Break is coming up very soon, and that will not be a good time to visit the Zoo, ha. "The Inglewood Wildlands was acquired by Petro-Canada in 1985. A former Gulf Oil refinery, the Wildlands began as an extensive environmental clean-up project in order to protect the Bow river and surrounding habitats and has since grown into a river valley mosaic of grasslands, shrubs, and riparian woods. Since the clean-up began in 1978, more than 1.5 million litres of sub-surface oil have been removed. In 1992, along with the clean-up, the development of the site as a wilderness habitat and educational vehicle began to take shape. With the help of Petro-Canada, eight Calgary Rotary clubs, Ducks Unlimited Canada, The City of Calgary, and the Inglewood Community, the Inglewood Wildlands has developed into a 78-acre sanctuary where both young and old can gather to experience the original river valley while learning how environmental protection and sustainability are important aspects to a sound future." www.api.org/Environment-Health-and-Safety/Environmental-P... A cute bit of video (taken from Kelly-Sue) about a Banker who catches a dozen tiny ducklings as each one jumps from a high ledge. Mom then leads them off to the nearest water. www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video?... "HOLD YOUR CLICKS A MOMENT PLEASE ........" I'm seeing very few photos from my contacts on my home page today. Or maybe hardly anyone is posting photos at the moment? I don't think that's the case, though. Also, the views stats are all messed up again (not just for me), on 13th, 14th March as well as today. Flickr knows about this glitch and is supposedly working on fixing it.

Not exactly the best photo of a Magpie, but there is still something I like about it, including the fact that it reminds me of a very cold photo walk on Monday (-27C, windchill -36C). Magpies that I come across don't usually sit still, but this poor, fluffed up one looked almost like it was frozen to the branch. Seen at Sikome, Fish Creek Park, on 16th January, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-billed_Magpie

Though these birds look black and white, they have beautiful irridescence in their feathers. Photographed at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary on June 19th. Even though these birds are everywhere, they are so difficult to photograph. I was so lucky that this one flew to a low bush by the edge of the lagoon at the Sanctuary, so the water gave a decent background and I was able to get the closest shot yet of a Magpie. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-billed_Magpie

We saw several baby Magpies on our walk this morning - you can tell which are the young, as they have short tails, unlike the adults. Balancing on a thin branch requires a bit of learned skill, but I managed to get a quick shot of a partially spread wing in the meantime.

The sun was shining just right on this Magpie this morning, showing off the beautiful, irridescent feathers.

Thought the water of the lagoon looked a little like painted, corrugated metal this morning. After a drive just east of the city, I decided I would do a short walk at the meeting place and this Magpie was exploring the water's edge.

Took this photo towards the end of April 2005, so I guess it was too early in the year to be "Feed Me" time, but must have been "Hi, Honey" time. Gives a bit of an idea of how beautiful Magpies are when their wings are spread.

A couple of Magpies were hanging around with the Chickadees this afternoon, so aren't you lucky, LOL? More Magpie photos. Some angles really aren't the best - like this one:)!

Magpies are usually difficult to get close to, but I was lucky this particular afternoon. The late afternoon sun picked up on the irridescence.

Couldn't decide which of these two photos I preferred, so I posted both. Not sure if there is a slight injury near the beak. These Magpies watch where the Chickadees hide all the seeds!

This Black-billed Magpie was quite eager to get to this feeder in the park this afternoon. This photo shows a bit of the irridescence in the wings and tail. These very noisy birds are everywhere and it's easy for people to forget how beautiful they are.

Oh, what a grey sky this afternoon! I had carefully planned my walk for today because the forecast was for sunshine. Snow is in the forecast for the day after tomorrow.

I think this is perhaps the closest I have been to a Magpie. This one was amazingly unbothered by my presence, or else so hungry it didn't care! The light was beginning to fade, unfortunately.

Usually, Magpies are really hard to get close to, but this afternoon, one was hanging around a feeder in the park. Even so, I didn't manage to get particularly good photos. Maybe it will be there next time I go for a walk in the same place. Famous last words!