Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: interestingness#243

Can anyone tell me if this is "just" a regular Pigeon or a Carrier or Homing Pigeon? Or maybe you can only tell it's a Carrier Pigeon if you see a metal band on its leg? Whichever it is, it looked quite beautiful, sitting with its feathers puffed up, on a large garbage container. Noticed it when I went with a friend to Bow Lake, Banff National Park, on 29 August 2013.

This is the pair of Great Horned Owls that lives down at Sikome, in Fish Creek Park. I've been "following" them for several years now - always a joy to see. They weren't in their usual winter tree, but in another one close by. Even so, they were not easy to spot from so far away, hidden deep within the snow-covered branches of this Spruce tree. Often, you find these owls closer to the trunk, which makes it even more difficult to find them. They really do have amazing camouflage. Yesterday was an absolute winter wonderland, despite being cold (-11C, windchill -18C) and lacking the sun. Hoar frost covered every tiny twig and blade of dried grass, and it was snowing all day long. Today is an even more overcast, grey day with more snow falling, useless for photos, so maybe I can get on with all my overseas Christmas letters and cards!