Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Snakeshead

This little male Downy Woodpecker was one of five that we saw on the Snakeshead (near Sundre, north of Calgary) Bird Count yesterday (part of the 109th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count). This little guy was at a feeder in someone's garden on a farm. My group of four people saw the following 16 species: Rock Pigeon-1 Downy Woodpecker-5 Hairy Woodpecker-1 Blue Jay-20 Black-billed Magpie-16 Common Raven-33 Black-capped Chickadee-67 Boreal Chickadee-6 Red-breasted Nuthatch-3 White-breasted Nuthatch-5 Brown Creeper-1 American Tree Sparrow-3 Dark-eyed Junco-1 Pine Grosbeak-17 Common Redpoll-9 House Sparrow-16 We travelled 97 km by car, 2 km by foot, 5 hrs by car, 1 hr by foot, 1 hr. feeder watching. Snow depth was 10-12" and the weather was sunny, -30C all morning, warming to -13C in pm. Light wsw wind. We also saw Coyote-1, Red Squirrel-2, Mule Deer-18. Also 2 Bald Eagles and 1 Rough-legged Hawk outside our territory.

Just a quick shot taken from a fast-moving car on our way home from spending the whole day on the Snakeshead Bird Count (near Sundre, north of Calgary) yesterday. This was part of the 109th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. I just liked the lighting and the long shadow of the barn. Not quite the composition I wanted, but the landscape flew past the window! We couldn't have stopped on the highway anyway, but I never ask people to stop so that I can take a photo. I just grab everything that I happen to get the chance for and feel very thankful for each and every shot that does turn out OK. I would drive people crazy and make them very annoyed, I'm sure, if I was always asking to take a photo, LOL! And understandly so!!! I need to add that some friends are extremely thoughtful and patient and do what they can to help me get a photo or two, which is unnecessary but greatly appreciated!

This is one of two absolutely gorgeous horses that we came across on our Audubon Christmas Bird Count in the Snakeshead area, near Sundre (north of Calgary), two days ago. The other horse was as similar colour but had just the "spot" on its forehead, whereas this one has the stripe, too. I couldn't believe the rich colour of their winter coats. Note the slightly ice-crystalled nose and whiskers - after all, it was -30C!

Brown Creepers are so difficult to photograph - they are tiny, very well camouflaged for climbing tree trunks, and they never stop moving, LOL! I quickly snapped this one on our 109th annual Audubon Bird Count in the Snakeshead area, NW of Calgary recently. I had spent too much time photographing a Downy Woodpecker on someone's feeder and then suddenly noticed this Creeper. I turned round to call to the three friends I was with, but no one was there. I was worried that they must all be waiting for me in the car, which was the other side of the farm house. I knew I'd better get photographic "proof" of this bird as it was the first one on this count. Sorry, Tony - I was in such a hurry that it never occurred to me that you could add this bird to your new Winter List - sorry you missed it, but hope you've seen one elsewhere since then : ) Oh, forgot to add that I've posted this photo, despite it being somewhat blurry and I didn't capture that long, curved beak, but I so rarely get photos of this species. At least it gives an idea of the beautiful feather pattern. These birds are uncommon year round in Alberta.