Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: residential

This is one of 36 wild European Rabbits that our small group of four found at one location in Drumheller yesterday. Our territory (section of the huge circle) for the Horseshoe Canyon/Drumheller Bird Count was on the north side of the Red Deer River, including the Tyrrell Museum area. This is Dinosaur country, the wonderful Badlands of Alberta! We drove some of the residential alleys looking for birds at feeders as well as in trees, and walked along the edge of the river at McMullen Island (it only becomes an island when the river level rises). The Red Deer River was completely frozen; 12 inches of snow cover. The day started off cloudy, clearing to beautiful sunshine, calm and a temperature of -14C soaring to 6C (yes, that's +6C!). Left my house at 5:40 a.m. and got home maybe 7:45 p.m. (?) Total kms-73; Total kms by car-68; Total kms on foot-5. Total hours-7; Total by car-4.5; Total on foot-2hrs; In cafe-0.5 hrs.. Just in case anyone is interested in what species the four of us found, this is the list for the day: Rock Pigeon-1 Eurasian Collared Dove-24 Great Horned Owl-1 Snowy Owl-1 Downy Woodpecker-5, Hairy Woodpecker-4 Northern Flicker-4 Pileated Woodpecker-1 Blue Jay-4 Black-billed Magpie-38 Black-capped Chickadee-17 White-breasted Nuthatch 3. Bohemian Waxwing-96 White-winged Crossbill-2 Common Redpoll-139 House Sparrow-42 We actually saw a total of six Snowy Owls; one on our territory; one each about 2 miles E and W of Horseshoe Canyon on Hwy 9, and three others on Hwys 9 and 72, outside of the Christmas Bird Count area. As far as photos for the day is concerned, all I managed bird-wise was a Eurasian Collared Dove, a Red Crossbill and maybe a couple of Snowy Owl photos. However, the scenery covered in snow was beautiful (and, as usual, my photos don't even begin to do it justice). This Count was the last one I am doing for the 2012/2013 annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count season. There is another one going on today, but 5th January is the final day. I am SOOOO tired and pretty useless for anything now, after the last three weeks of Bird Counts : )

This was one of the 36 wild European Rabbits that we saw in Drumheller, Alberta, on 4 January 2013. Four of us drove east of the city to the Badlands (land of the dinosaurs) and spent the day taking part in the annual Horseshoe Canyon/Drumheller Christmas Bird Count. Our territory was the N side of the Red Deer River, including the Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology area. Was just reading a discussion on photographing Snowy Owls - people's idea of what birding etiquette is definitely varies from one person to another. This YouTube video was included - can't believe that some photographers will go to this length to photograph already stressed-out birds that have come down from the north! youtu.be/E0_gzY2k7P0 We had a few inches of fresh snow overnight and it's still snowing this afternoon. Judging by the very white sky, it looks like there is plenty more snow to fall. It's -10C, windchill -18C, but tomorrow is supposed to fall to -19C. Could be worse!