Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Gray Jay

A week ago, on 27 December 2016, nine of us took part in the annual Sheep River/Priddis/Turner Valley Christmas Bird Count. Our time was spent travelling by car, driving the backroads SW of the city and calling in at several farms and acreages. I took part in this Count last year but had missed it for a few years before that. I believe I had only ever done it once before (December 2007?), a few years ago, and that time I was with friends covering a different section of the count circle. I remember it as being very slow and extremely unrewarding, This time, like last year, our area was in the centre of the count circle and I'm so glad I decided to go again. A great stop was at Rod Handfield's place. Some of us go there on botany trips and he always has the best mushrooms and other fungi growing in his forest in the fall. Rod and his wife have such a beautiful cabin there. A Gray Jay gave us a few photo opportunities, which was appreciated. Not the best lighting, but usually these birds are difficult to photograph, so it was nice to see one this close. Rod is always so delightfully hospitable!! After two years, nearly 50,000 votes and thousands of public and expert comments, the Gray Jay is the bird that has finally been chosen as the National Bird of Canada. For all the reasons this bird was chosen, see the link below. www.canadiangeographic.ca/article/meet-our-national-bird-... www.calgaryherald.com/news/national/98hardy+intelligent+g... Thanks so much, Donna, for driving half of us - so much appreciated! This also meant that we were lucky enough to see two tiny Northern Pygmy-owls after the Count, too. A beautiful sunny day really helped - not all that cold (for Alberta!). A lot of snow everywhere (almost 8"), but that was OK, as we did so little walking. A great day! I will add the list of species seen, in a comment box below.

It's that time of year when life becomes crazy, with very early mornings, long days and the exciting search for birds. Yes, it's the time of Audubon Christmas Bird Counts. Two days ago, on 27 December 2016, nine of us took part in the annual Sheep River/Priddis/Turner Valley Christmas Bird Count. Our time was spent travelling by car, driving the backroads SW of the city and calling in at several farms. I took part in this Count last year but had missed it for a few years before that. I believe I had only ever done it once before (December 2007?), a few years ago, and that time I was with friends covering a different section of the count circle. I remember it as being very slow and extremely unrewarding, This time, like last year, our area was in the centre of the count circle and I'm so glad I decided to go again. A great stop was at Rod Handfield's place. Some of us go there on botany trips and he always has the best mushrooms and other fungi growing in his forest in the fall. Rod and his wife have such a beautiful cabin there. A Gray Jay gave us a few photo opportunities, which was appreciated. Not the best lighting, but usually these birds are difficult to photograph, so it was nice to see one this close. Rod is always so delightfully hospitable!! After two years, nearly 50,000 votes and thousands of public and expert comments, the Gray Jay is the bird that has finally been chosen as the National Bird of Canada. For all the reasons this bird was chosen, see the link below. www.canadiangeographic.ca/article/meet-our-national-bird-... www.calgaryherald.com/news/national/98hardy+intelligent+g... Thanks so much, Donna, for driving half of us - so much appreciated! This also meant that we were lucky enough to see two tiny Northern Pygmy-owls after the Count, too. A beautiful sunny day really helped - not all that cold (for Alberta!). A lot of snow everywhere (almost 8"), but that was OK, as we did so little walking. A great day! Yesterday, I had a nice, leisurely day, before having to set my alarms for 4:15 am this morning. I woke up after only an hour's sleep and, as my alarms were going to go off in another hour, I didn't dare risk going back to bed in case I slept right through all alarms. Never a good thing for a dreadful night owl who gets to bed around 2:00 am! I will add the list of species seen, in a comment box below.

Today, 23 December 2016, we are having a heavily overcast day and the snow is steadily falling. Just noticed that there is a Snowfall Warning in effect. The temperature is -6C (windchill -11C). I don't think I need to go out, though, unless to the mailbox. Wish the old days were still here, when the mailman actually put mail in the mailbox right by your front door, instead of everyone having to use community boxes. I had my Christmas yesterday, 22 December, with my daughter. We drove south of the city to the Saskatoon Farm and had a delicious breakfast. She is in so much pain that we can't go for a drive to look for Snowy Owls or old barns. She has an appointment next month and is more than ready to take the absolute earliest date for her surgery. On the way to drop her off at home, we called in at the Glamorgan Bakery - a well-known bakery that we have used for the last few decades. It always feels good to see their traditional cookies, Cheese Buns, cakes and pies. Thanks, Rachel, for a lovely few hours spent together - the best Christmas gift possible. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After two years, nearly 50,000 votes and thousands of public and expert comments, the Gray Jay is the bird that has finally been chosen as the National Bird of Canada. For all the reasons this bird was chosen, see the link below. www.canadiangeographic.ca/article/meet-our-national-bird-... www.calgaryherald.com/news/national/98hardy+intelligent+g... This photo was taken three years ago, on 15 December 2013, when friends and I drove out to Kananaskis and along the Smith-Dorrien-Spray Trail. They were really hoping to see Moose that day. For me, seeing anything from scenery to maybe a bird or two, is more than enough to keep me happy : ) The only birds we saw were a couple of Ravens and two (or was it three?) Gray Jays (seen in the photo above) and a beautiful male Spruce Grouse. The latter was down on the road when we first saw it in the distance, eating gravel to help its digestive system. Wouldn't you know it, just at that moment, a vehicle came from the opposite direction around a corner, and the bird flew up into a tree and "hid" behind a tangle of branches. You know how that goes - any birder / photographer will have had many similar experiences. I was able to take photos, but nothing too brilliant. Just thrilled to see the Grouse, though, especially a male. There was a lot of snow on the ground out there, though not on the trees. The road itself had been ploughed, which made driving easier. In one spot, the snow plough must have ploughed a little closer to the snowbank along the edge of the road and then drifting snow had been blown on top. Our front wheels started out in snow that was maybe an inch deep, but the deeper snow pulled the car closer and closer to the snowbank - and into the ditch we went!! We were only driving slowly, thank goodness. The snow came well up my side of the car and there was no way I could open the door and get out. Within just a matter of minutes, on this quiet mountain road where we had seen little traffic all day, several cars all came at once. Everyone stopped, discussed the situation, and within a very short time, one of them attached a rope and had us pulled out of the ditch. To say we were very thankful and grateful is an understatement! Can't thank all those people enough for rescuing us - it was later in the day and I knew that light would be fading, and I had visions of us having to spend a very cold night in the car! So, it felt wonderful to once again be on solid ground! For years, I have read about how dangerous this gravel road is, especially in bad weather, but I'd never pictured ending up in a snowbank and ditch, lol. This was just one moment of bad luck. One that thankfully ended safely, so we were able to laugh about it afterwards. Reported by CBC News on 21 December 2013: "December (2013) SNOWFALL in Calgary has broken a 112-year record according to the city. The City made the announcement in a tweet Saturday morning after weeks of on-and-off heavy snowfall left many residents complaining about the lack of snow removal in parts of Calgary. "A total of 43.8 cm of snow has fallen in Calgary this month. We haven’t seen this much snow in 112 years!" tweeted the City."

After two years, nearly 50,000 votes and thousands of public and expert comments, the Gray Jay is the bird that has finally been chosen as the National Bird of Canada. For all the reasons this bird was chosen, see the link below. www.canadiangeographic.ca/article/meet-our-national-bird-... www.calgaryherald.com/news/national/98hardy+intelligent+g... This photo was taken nearly three years ago, on 15 December 2013, when friends and I drove out to Kananaskis and along the Smith-Dorrien-Spray Trail. They were really hoping to see Moose that day. For me, seeing anything from scenery to maybe a bird or two, is more than enough to keep me happy : ) The only birds we saw were a couple of Ravens and two (or was it three?) Gray Jays (seen in the photo above) and a beautiful male Spruce Grouse. The latter was down on the road when we first saw it in the distance, eating gravel to help its digestive system. Wouldn't you know it, just at that moment, a vehicle came from the opposite direction around a corner, and the bird flew up into a tree and "hid" behind a tangle of branches. You know how that goes - any birder / photographer will have had many similar experiences. Was able to take photos, but nothing too brilliant. Just thrilled to see the Grouse, especially a male. There was a lot of snow on the ground out there, though not on the trees. The road itself had been ploughed, which made driving easier. In one spot, the snow plough must have ploughed a little closer to the snowbank along the edge of the road and then drifting snow had been blown on top. Our front wheels started out in snow that was maybe an inch deep, but the deeper snow pulled the car closer and closer to the snowbank - and into the ditch we went!! We were only driving slowly, thank goodness. The snow came well up my side of the car and there was no way I could get out. Within just a matter of minutes, on this quiet mountain road where we had seen little traffic all day, several cars all came at once. Everyone stopped, discussed the situation, and within a very short time, one of them attached a rope and had us pulled out of the ditch. To say we were very thankful and grateful is an understatement! Can't thank all those people enough for rescuing us - it was later in the day and I knew that light would be fading, and I had visions of us having to spend a very cold night in the car! So, it felt wonderful to once again be on solid ground! For years, I have read about how dangerous this gravel road is, especially in bad weather, but I'd never pictured ending up in a snowbank and ditch, lol. This was just one moment of bad luck. One that thankfully ended safely, so we were able to laugh about it afterwards. Reported by CBC News on 21 December 2013: "December (2013) SNOWFALL in Calgary has broken a 112-year record according to the city. The City made the announcement in a tweet Saturday morning after weeks of on-and-off heavy snowfall left many residents complaining about the lack of snow removal in parts of Calgary. "A total of 43.8 cm of snow has fallen in Calgary this month. We haven’t seen this much snow in 112 years!" tweeted the City."

For those of you who visit my photostream regularly (thank you so much!), please just ignore the description below, that is a repeat of what I wrote under my previously posted Gray Jay photos from the same day! I usually do repeat descriptions, to jog my own memory : ) On 15 December 2013, friends Cathy and Terry and I drove out to Kananaskis and along the Smith-Dorrien-Spray Trail. They were really hoping to see Moose that day. For me, seeing anything from scenery to maybe a bird or two, is more than enough to keep me happy : ) The only birds we saw were a couple of Ravens and two (or was it three?) Gray Jays (seen in the photo above) and a beautiful male Spruce Grouse. We don't get Gray Jays in the city anymore - the last two I saw were down in Weaselhead, maybe five years ago. The Spruce Grouse was down on the road when we first saw it in the distance, eating gravel to help its digestive system. Wouldn't you know it, just at that moment, a vehicle came from the opposite direction around a corner, and the bird flew up into a tree and "hid" behind a tangle of branches. You know how that goes - any birder / photographer will have had many similar experiences. Was able to take photos, but nothing too brilliant. Just thrilled to see the Grouse, especially a male. There was a lot of snow on the ground out there, though not on the trees. The road itself had been ploughed, which made driving easier. In one spot, the snow plough must have ploughed a little closer to the snowbank along the edge of the road and then drifting snow had been blown on top. Our front wheels started out in snow that was maybe an inch deep, but the deeper snow pulled the car closer and closer to the snowbank - and into the ditch we went!! We were only driving slowly, thank goodness. The snow came well up my side of the car and there was no way I could get out. Within just a matter of minutes, on this quiet mountain road where we had seen little traffic all day, several cars all came at once. Everyone stopped, discussed the situation, and within a very short time, one of them attached a rope and had us pulled out of the ditch. To say we were very thankful and grateful is an understatement! Can't thank all those people enough for rescuing us - it was later in the day and I knew that light would be fading, and I had visions of us having to spend a very cold night in the car! So, it felt wonderful to once again be on solid ground! For years, I have read about how dangerous this gravel road is, especially in bad weather, but I'd never pictured ending up in a snowbank and ditch, lol. Both Terry and Cathy are excellent drivers, so I always feel totally safe being driven by them - this was just one moment of bad luck. One that thankfully ended safely, so we were able to laugh about it afterwards. Thanks, guys, for a lovely day in beautiful scenery! Reported by CBC News on 21 December 2013: "December (2013) SNOWFALL in Calgary has broken a 112-year record according to the city. The City made the announcement in a tweet Saturday morning after weeks of on-and-off heavy snowfall left many residents complaining about the lack of snow removal in parts of Calgary. "A total of 43.8 cm of snow has fallen in Calgary this month. We haven’t seen this much snow in 112 years!" tweeted the City." www.flickr.com/photos/annkelliott/12325161474

On 15 December 2013, friends Cathy and Terry and I drove out to Kananaskis and along the Smith-Dorrien-Spray Trail. They were really hoping to see Moose that day. For me, seeing anything from scenery to maybe a bird or two, is more than enough to keep me happy : ) The only birds we saw were a couple of Ravens and two (or was it three?) Gray Jays (seen in the photo above) and a beautiful male Spruce Grouse. The latter was down on the road when we first saw it in the distance, eating gravel to help its digestive system. Wouldn't you know it, just at that moment, a vehicle came from the opposite direction around a corner, and the bird flew up into a tree and "hid" behind a tangle of branches. You know how that goes - any birder / photographer will have had many similar experiences. Was able to take photos, but nothing too brilliant. Just thrilled to see the Grouse, especially a male. There was a lot of snow on the ground out there, though not on the trees. The road itself had been ploughed, which made driving easier. In one spot, the snow plough must have ploughed a little closer to the snowbank along the edge of the road and then drifting snow had been blown on top. Our front wheels started out in snow that was maybe an inch deep, but the deeper snow pulled the car closer and closer to the snowbank - and into the ditch we went!! We were only driving slowly, thank goodness. The snow came well up my side of the car and there was no way I could get out. Within just a matter of minutes, on this quiet mountain road where we had seen little traffic all day, several cars all came at once. Everyone stopped, discussed the situation, and within a very short time, one of them attached a rope and had us pulled out of the ditch. To say we were very thankful and grateful is an understatement! Can't thank all those people enough for rescuing us - it was later in the day and I knew that light would be fading, and I had visions of us having to spend a very cold night in the car! So, it felt wonderful to once again be on solid ground! For years, I have read about how dangerous this gravel road is, especially in bad weather, but I'd never pictured ending up in a snowbank and ditch, lol. Both Terry and Cathy are excellent drivers, so I always feel totally safe being driven by them - this was just one moment of bad luck. One that thankfully ended safely, so we were able to laugh about it afterwards. Thanks, guys, for a lovely day in beautiful scenery! Reported by CBC News on 21 December 2013: "December (2013) SNOWFALL in Calgary has broken a 112-year record according to the city. The City made the announcement in a tweet Saturday morning after weeks of on-and-off heavy snowfall left many residents complaining about the lack of snow removal in parts of Calgary. "A total of 43.8 cm of snow has fallen in Calgary this month. We haven’t seen this much snow in 112 years!" tweeted the City."

HAPPY NEW YEAR, everyone!! I want to wish my family and each and every one of my "local" friends, my long-time overseas friends, and my Flickr friends a very happy, healthy and safe New Year! It's hard to believe, isn't it, that 14 years have passed since all the fuss about the year 2000? Thank you all for your friendship and encouragement, and for letting me share my photos with you - SO much appreciated! I'm looking forward to another year of seeing where you have been and what beautiful things in nature you have discovered! On 15 December 2013, friends Cathy and Terry and I drove out to Kananaskis and along the Smith-Dorrien-Spray Trail. They were really hoping to see Moose. For me, seeing anything from scenery to maybe a bird or two, is more than enough to keep me happy : ) The only birds we saw were a couple of Ravens and two (or was it three?) Gray Jays (seen in the photo above) and a beautiful male Spruce Grouse. The latter was down on the road when we first saw it in the distance, eating gravel to help its digestive system. Wouldn't you know it, just at that moment, a vehicle came from the opposite direction around a corner, and the bird flew up into a tree and "hid" behind a tangle of branches. You know how that goes - any birder / photographer will have had many similar experiences. Was able to take photos, but nothing too brilliant. Just thrilled to see the Grouse, especially a male. There was a lot of snow on the ground out there, though not on the trees. The road itself had been ploughed, which made driving easier. In one spot, the snow plough must have ploughed a little closer to the snowbank along the edge of the road and then drifting snow had been blown on top. Our front wheels started out in snow that was maybe an inch deep, but the deeper snow pulled the car closer and closer to the snowbank - and into the ditch we went!! We were only driving slowly, thank goodness. The snow came well up my side of the car and there was no way I could get out. Within just a matter of minutes, on this quiet mountain road where we had seen little traffic all day, several cars all came at once. Everyone stopped, discussed the situation, and within a very short time, one of them attached a rope and had us pulled out of the ditch. To say we were very thankful and grateful is an understatement! Can't thank all those people enough for rescuing us - it was later in the day and I knew that light would be fading, and I had visions of us having to spend a very cold night in the car! So, it felt wonderful to once again be on solid ground! For years, I have read about how dangerous this gravel road is, especially in bad weather, but I'd never pictured ending up in a snowbank, lol. Both Terry and Cathy are excellent drivers, so I always feel totally safe being driven by them - this was just one moment of bad luck. One that thankfully ended safely, so we were able to laugh about it afterwards. Thanks, guys, for a lovely day in beautiful scenery! This morning, it's the annual Fish Creek Park New Year's Day Bird Count, so I need to dash and start getting ready to go out. It snowed again last night, so everywhere should look beautiful - except my car, which will once again have to be cleared of snow. Hopefully, it won't be too cold out there. Reported by CBC News on 21 December 2013: "December SNOWFALL in Calgary has broken a 112-year record according to the city. The City made the announcement in a tweet Saturday morning after weeks of on-and-off heavy snowfall left many residents complaining about the lack of snow removal in parts of Calgary. "A total of 43.8 cm of snow has fallen in Calgary this month. We haven’t seen this much snow in 112 years!" tweeted the City." www.flickr.com/photos/annkelliott/11685439545

Gotta dash, as an unexpected trip has just come up - will finish my descriptions later, when I get back. Continuing late evening: fifteen minutes before my alarm clock was due to go off this morning - set because I needed to get all sorts of things done today - my phone rings. Friend Phil said he was going to take a drive south of the city and did I want to come. Did I WANT to come, lol? A while later, I met up with him and our friend Rob, and off we went to the High River area for a few hours. Sightings included a Short-eared Owl sitting on a fence post and a Long-eared Owl, and a few Horned Larks. I think I can "rescue" one of my Short-eared Owl photos so that it's OK to post. I could tell at the time that all my photos, taken from inside the car, just were not coming out properly. This sometimes happens and I'm never quite sure why. The light wasn't quite right for my point-and-shoot and maybe there was still some heat rising from the vehicle, despite it being turned off. It was a great sighting, though. Perhaps the best that I've ever had of this species of Owl. Thanks a lot for the invitation, Phil - always much appreciated! On my way home from our meeting place, I drove all the way to the Glamorgan Bakery, getting there shortly before it closed. I only go there once a year, to buy the same delicious things, including their cheese buns, for which they are well known : ) I even posted the last half dozen of my overseas Christmas cards and letters today - they will arrive so late, but I am so relieved that they are finally done.

A really poor photo of this Gray Jay that came to check me out - or rather, to see if I had any food to share. However, I so rarely get to see Gray Jays, so wanted to keep this one. I was having my sandwich lunch, sitting by Forgetmenot Pond (end of Elbow Falls Trail, Highway 66, Kananaskis). Unfortunately, all I had left to share were a couple of very sticky crumbs from a granola bar.

When I was out in the mountains yesterday with friends at the Golden Eagle Migration area near Mt. Lorette, two or three of these curious Gray Jays flew down to check us out. A lot of low cloud and low light, so my photos aren't as good as I wish they had been, but it was so nice to actually see a bird reasonably close, unlike the Golden Eagles, which were little more than very distant specks. The Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) is also called "Camp Robber", "Canada Jay" and "Whiskeyjack". "The Gray Jay, Perisoreus canadensis, is a member of the crow and jay family (Corvidae) found in the boreal forests across North America north to the tree-line and in subalpine forests of the Rocky Mountains south to New Mexico and Arizona.... To the delight of modern campers, many individual Gray Jays quickly learn that we can be an excellent source of food, even coming to the hand for bread, raisins, or cheese." From Wikipedia.

It started off with hail, but has now changed to rain this morning - just when the guys have started taking out all the windows in my building, ha! My turn should be on Tuesday - yay! We came across this Gray Jay lying near the edge of the path at Upper Lake, Kananaskis, on 8 July 2012. At first we thought it was dead, but when we stood and watched, we realized it was still alive. Feeling sorry for the poor suffering bird, we got a surprise when it gradually pulled its wings closer and flew up into the nearest tree and proceeded to preen. We had wondered if it might be a young one who had stunned itself by flying into a nearby sign, but apparently Gray Jays (and other kinds of Jay) do this sunbathing : ) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_Jay www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Gray_Jay/id

More often than not, I don't see any sign of Gray Jays (Perisoreus canadensis) when I drive west of the city to the beginning of the mountains, to Forgetmenot Pond, Kananaskis. However, I was lucky to have this one join me at my picnic table on October 13th, even though I had to part with some of my Granola Bar : ) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_Jay

Not the best lighting as this Gray Jay was in among the branches, but just about fit to post : ) Photographed at Forgetmenot Pond on October 13th, when I drove west from the city towards the mountains. The whole drive is though beautiful scenery, so I am really lucky to have this close by.

A couple of these Gray Jays (alias Whiskey Jack or Camp Robber) flew over to where I had stopped for lunch at Forgetmenot Pond, Elbow Falls Trail, on August 16th. I knew it was safer to give them a couple of pieces of my sandwhich rather than risk them swooping down and stealing the whole thing, lol. I don't often get to see these birds, so it's always a treat to see them.

I'm running late with posting today : ) Spent a couple of hours this afternoon shooting Coots. Yes, Coots - but it felt SO good to finally see any kind of bird close enough to photograph it. And I like Coots, LOL. Also saw Scaup, Ruddy Ducks, Northern Shovelers, Yellow-headed and Red-winged Blackbirds (too far away) and the usual Canada Geese, Mallards, etc.. On the way home, I called in to see the family of Great Horned Owls in Fish Creek Park - a relief to see three little fuzzy heads sticking up above the edge of the cavity. Our recent rain, snow and very strong winds had not harmed these little guys, thank goodness. This photo of a Gray Jay was taken in dense forest in dreadful light, but I managed to brighten it enough to post it. I don't usually get the chance to photograph these birds, and certainly not on a friend's (David) hand. Taken last September in West Bragg Creek. That's MY granola bar that it flew down for, LOL. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_Jay

Not a good shot, by any means, but thought it might be interesting to see for those of you who aren't familiar with Gray Jays. This one landed on a friend's hand deep within dark forest in the Bragg Creek park. Terrible lighting, of course, LOL. "The Gray Jay, Perisoreus canadensis, is a member of the crow and jay family (Corvidae) found in the boreal forests across North America north to the tree-line and in subalpine forests of the Rocky Mountains south to New Mexico and Arizona.... To the delight of modern campers, many individual Gray Jays quickly learn that we can be an excellent source of food, even coming to the hand for bread, raisins, or cheese." From Wikipedia.

Three of these Gray Jays flew to near the entrance to Brown-Lowery Provincial Park, a few minutes after I started walking the trail. I was hoping to find a few photogenic fungi this afternoon - fairly successful, but it was so warm and muggy there. The biggest "excitement", when my heart stopped beating for a moment, was catching sight of a large Moose passing through the forest!

Not a great photo, but I so rarely get to see a Gray Jay. This one was seen on the Sheep River/Turner Valley Christmas Bird Count, south of Calgary, on 31st December. "There is no other bird in Alberta that can equal the Gray Jay for boldness.... They are well known to anyone who camps or picnics in the mountains or the boreal forest." From Birds of Alberta by Fisher and Acorn. These birds are bold enough to fly down and even take a sandwich out of some unsuspecting person's hand! Also called "Camp Robbers" and "Whiskey Jacks".