Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: faces

Again, all three photos posted today were taken the day before yesterday, 20 August 2016, when I went with friend, Pam, for a long day out in Kananaskis (the mountain area of the Rocky Mountains that is closest to Calgary). What a great day we had, seeing so many different things in such beautiful scenery. We met up in the city at 7:00 am and drove southwards through Millarville and took the back way from Turner Valley to Highway 40. This is exactly the route that I had planned to go when I was all set to take my daughter on 4 August. Then my car's muffler and catalytic converter died and I haven't been able to go on any long drives at all. Nothing further than maybe five or ten minutes from home, with a vehicle that sounds dreadful with its loud, broken muffler noise and the loudest rattle that sounds as if the bottom of my car is about to fall off. Before we left the town of Turner Valley (on Highway 22), we called in for a few minutes at friend Jackie's garden to see if there were any interesting birds at all her feeders. We only saw Pine Siskins, but no doubt all sorts of other species would arrive for her during the day. The first thing we saw after Jackie's was a Swainson's Hawk perched on a fence, with a beautiful view of the distant mountains. Our first stop along Highway 40, which is the highway that goes right through Kananaskis, giving spectacular scenic views every inch of the way, was at Highwood House. This small store/gas station, at such a convenient location, is known for its Hummingbird feeders. We were lucky enough to see either one or maybe two of these teeny birds, and I did manage to get one blurry shot, just for the record. Continuing on our way north, we eventually came to Rock Glacier where we happily watched one or two little Pikas darting all over the massive scree slope, busily collecting plants to store and dry in their "caves", ready for the winter months. I will add more information about these very small animals when I post a photo of one of them. Already have lots of information under previously posted Pika images. These are such difficult creatures to photograph - only six or seven inches long and the same colour as the surrounding mountain of broken rock. Our next destination, after bumping into friend Kerri who was photographing the PIkas, was Buller's Pond, near Spray Lakes along the Spray Lakes/Smith-Dorrien road. I don't remember ever stopping there before and we were so glad we called in. Just before we got there, we took a drive up the mountainside road to Mt. Shark and gazed at the mountain scene before our eyes when we reached the highest parking lot. I have been up here maybe two or three times before, but in winter time. Soon, we arrived at Buller Pond, which is a lovely pond/lake, where we saw masses of small, green, jelly-like 'blobs' floating near the edge of the water. I tried to identify these late last night, but couldn't find anything that looked exactly the same. So, I'm not sure yet if they are insect eggs or maybe even salamander eggs. It was here that, while walking through the trees near the edge of the pond, I suddenly gasped and couldn't believe my eyes. There was a beautiful Spruce Grouse perched on a tree stump, with a second one lying at the base of the stump. Such a beautiful sight! I quietly called Pam to come and see what I had just found and we spent some time watching them. These two birds, with their gorgeous feathers, showed no sign of moving, allowing us plenty of time to take photos. Eventually, I saw yet another one of them moving around on the ground nearby, and then a fourth one. So, it seems that it was a mother and her three young ones. What an absolute treat to come across these spectacular birds and to be given time to really enjoy them. Once back on Highway 40, we started driving south on Highway 40, heading for home. We just couldn't resist calling in again at Rock Glacier, where I was able to get closer and perhaps better photos of one of the Pikas. Then, fifteen minutes later, we saw several cars pulled over at the sides of the highway. Could it finally be a bear? Unfortunately, no, it wasn't, but instead we saw a group of four Bighorn Sheep, three standing at the edge of the road and a fourth standing in the road as if to let us know that she owned the road and had right of way. However, she didn't move. Can't remember if it was this female or one of the others that started walking along the edge in the direction of our vehicle. She walked with determination and I was taken off guard when she came level with my window and I got a quick shot. Her focus, however, was on a photographer who was out of his car and had walked towards her, then crouched down to photograph her as she got closer and closer to him. She stopped just a matter of maybe six feet from him - we drove off now that the road was clear, so I've no idea if anything happened between the Sheep and the photographer, but he was doing everything that a photographer (or anyone) should not be doing! Thank you so much, Pam, for enabling me to get out to the mountains! It was such a fun, enjoyable day, in beautiful weather, spectacular scenery, and much-enjoyed company!

We had the chance to call in at the Royal Tyrrell Museum, Drumheller, Alberta, for lunch when we were spending the day taking part in the Horseshoe Canyon/Drumheller Christmas Bird Count. Just inside the main entrance is a long, fascinating mural. I will add in a comment box below a previously posted photo, taken from further away and showing one end of this artwork. "The Story of Life is a ceramic mural by Canadian artist Lorraine Malach, located just inside the entrance to the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, Alberta, Canada. The mural consists of ten panels, each four feet wide and eight feet high; ten tons of clay were used. It depicts life forms from the Precambrian to the Cretaceous, as told by human-based figures. After the death of Lorraine Malach in 2003, the two remaining pieces were fired in a kiln and the mural was completed by Janet Grabner." From Wikipedia. www.timelessspirit.com/MAY05/aboutthecover.shtml en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Story_of_Life en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Tyrrell_Museum_of_Palaeontology www.tyrrellmuseum.com/exhibits.htm I will add our leader's report from our trip on 23 December 2015, to the Badlands of Alberta (land of the dinosaurs). Three of us travelled from Calgary to Drumheller very early in the morning, where we met up with two people from Drumheller. It was the annual Audubon Horseshoe Canyon Christmas Bird Count and our group of 5 people covered Territory #7 of the count circle, which included a walk along the river. We stopped to eat our lunch at the Tyrrell Museum - plus delicious Sweet Potato fries bought at the Museum : ) Later in the day, from 2:00 pm till 4:00 pm, we also covered an extra, different area, Territory #4. On our second territory, we saw one male Snowy Owl that was just a tiny white speck in the distance. Later, on the drive back to Calgary in fading light, we passed a Snowy Owl sitting on a power pole, but we didn't stop, especially as it was not on our territory. I had left home at 5:45 am to allow plenty of time to get to our meeting place, and I arrived back home at the end of the day around 6:30 pm. I had ended up not going to bed at all the previous night! When I saw that I would need to get up in two hours or so, I knew that it would be most likely that I would sleep right through my two alarm clocks and kitchen timer and miss the Count. Needless to say, I was very tired by the time I got home, but so happy that I had the chance to be out in such a fascinating landscape for a day. I didn't take a lot of photos, as I knew it was a birding day, not a photography day, though Phil had told me to say if I wanted to stop for a photo : ) Unfortunately, at two of the best locations, the owners were not home, so we didn't walk around their yards where there were so many things to photograph : ( "Horseshoe Canyon CBC, Territory #7, N of Red Deer River, including Royal Tyrrell Museum. 0830-1230, Wed. 23 Dec.2015. Sunny, light west wind, -22 to -15°C. Early morning light fog. Red Deer River 99.99% frozen. 6cm snow on ground. Bald Eagle-1 ad. Rock Pigeon-4 Eurasian Collared-Dove-3 Downy Woodpecker-1 Northern Flicker-1 Horned Lark?-1, heard flying over by Phil Quinn. Blue Jay-2 Black-billed Magpie-37 Common Raven-2 Black-capped Chickadee-22. ALSO ONE HEARD SINGING "SPRING'S HERE." White-breasted Nuthatch-1 Bohemian Waxwing-270 Pine Grosbeak-10 House Finch-12 White-winged Crossbill-5 Common Redpoll-303 PINE SISKIN-65 House Sparrow-13 Coyote-1 Mule Deer- 4 Total party kms by car: 65 ; Total party kms on foot: 3. Total party hours by car: 4 ; Total party hours on foot: 1. -------------------------------------------- Horseshoe Canyon CBC, Territory #4. Eastern pie-shaped Section. 1400-1600, Wed. 23 Dec.2015. Sunny, North wind-10kph. -17°C. Northern Goshawk-1 Rock Pigeon-19 Snowy Owl-1 m. Black-billed Magpie-13 Common Raven-3 Common Redpoll-258 House Sparrow-16 Mule Deer-5 Total party kms by car: 56 ; Total party kms on foot: 0. Total party hours by car: 2 ; Total party hours on foot: 0" A most enjoyable day, as I knew it would be! Thanks for taking over most of the driving, Phil, getting us safely there and back.

Just realized I had better upload this Happy Birthday card to my brother in England today, as I don't know when he will get to the Library in the next few days, to check on his e-mail and on Flickr! I deliberately chose an image that has nothing to do with Christmas, as his birthday is so close to Christmas - on 28th December. John, I thought you might find this small part of a mural quite interesting, seeing as you have always been highly artistic! It is just inside the entrance way at the Royal Tyrrell Museum (the incredible Dinosaur museum) in Drumheller, east of Calgary. Have a happy day! www.traveldrumheller.com/royal-tyrrell-museum.html