Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: East of Calgary

Here in Canada, it was our Thanksgiving weekend, with today, Monday 13 October 2014, being the official Thanksgiving Day. I wanted to wish all Canadians a Happy Thanksgiving, no matter what part of the world you are living in or serving in. We have so much to be thankful for every day, in this country! A special thank you to those service people and their families, who make so many sacrifices for the rest of us, too often the ultimate sacrifice. I am very thankful for what you all do for the rest of us. Have a happy, safe time, everyone! Some people choose to celebrate on the Sunday (yesterday) and others on the Monday (today). Yesterday, I had a lot to be thankful for, lol! For the first time in almost two years, I made myself drive east of the city on my own. Recently, I did drive all the way to Drumheller and the Badlands, but I had my youngest daughter with me. The weather was so beautiful again yesterday and, after six days of not going out with my camera, I was itching to go "somewhere". I had been worried all week, as my oldest daughter had developed a haematoma in her upper thigh and, though she had been to Emergency straight away, I wasn't sure if she was going to end up in the hospital at any time. A number of years ago, she had a massive, major blood vessel aneurysm in her leg, which left her bruised from her toes to the top of her thigh. It had meant a stay in the hospital that time and they weren't sure if it had damaged the main nerve in her leg (which would have meant she could no longer walk). It took her six months to recover from this. This time, thankfully, it was a smaller thing, though it will still take a few weeks for the haematoma to fully drain. I just didn't feel like going off anywhere, but yesterday, I thought it would do me good to get out in the sunshine and fresh air. Once my daughter's leg has healed, she can then go for new X-Rays in preparation for getting two knee replacement surgeries! Along highway 22X going east from the city, they spent so many months on major road construction, building the eastern part of a huge ring road around the city. This was one of the main reasons I hadn't driven out that way for so long, as the roads were one huge confusion. After yesterday, I can't see myself going out that way ever again, lol! Knowing that I had to concentrate really hard on all the endless, new road signs, I was fairly sure that, now that construction had more or less ended, all I would have to do was drive in a straight line. Well, somehow, I was in the wrong lane and, to my horror, I found myself heading north on the new ring road. All I could do was just keep driving, hoping I would eventually hit Glenmore Trail which would take me east of the city. Thankfully, that is exactly what happened. I did end up in a totally different area to the east, but ended up seeing two beautiful barns - this red one and a white one - because of it. Later in the afternoon, I ended up in the rough area I had originally planned on, thinking that the drive back to Calgary would be just one straight line on 22X. Finding my way to 22X brought me to two lovely finds - an old grain elevator that I didn't know about, and a Great Horned Owl (48x zoom and well cropped). How wrong I was about the return drive! Somehow, I found myself on Deerfoot Trail, heading south towards the Canada/US border (well, Okotoks might be a little less of an exaggeration, lol!). Nothing I could do, but just keep driving south until I was able to turn off at some familiar place - which happened to be The Saskatoon Farm : ) Fancy that, their restaurant was pretty much empty and I was just in time to enjoy their Quiche meal : )) And so, I eventually arrived back home, feeling both relieved - anyone with a driving phobia will understand! - and so happy and thankful for my various finds. HAPPY THANKSGIVING, everyone!

Much as I love a red barn, I thought this one was rather fine. Managed to find it on 18 January 2013, when I took my first ever drive quite a way east of Calgary. Those of you who know me, know I have battled a driving phobia for a few decades, so this was really pushing me way out of my comfort zone, to say the least! The previous evening, I had been on Google to try and find out very roughly how long it should take me to drive to the area I wanted to get to. On one website, I had noticed a photo of this barn and I thought it would give me a definite place to find. The day turned out to be a most unwanted "adventure". My car got stuck in snow and I couldn't get it free! After an hour and a half of trying to dig myself out in vain, I had to go to the nearest farm to ask for help!!!!! My Google Maps maps had said that this particular backroad went straight through - but it sure didn't! The farmer said that someone else had done it, when testing out his new vehicle, and had ended up in the creek ahead! Thank goodness I didn't get that far along! I felt SO bad asking this elderly man for help. In fact, when I got to his farm, no one answered the door, but just as I was leaving (feeling sick to the stomach, especially as I had no cell phone), he called out to me from across the farmyard. I asked him if there was a garage in Lyalta that would be able to come and get me out, but he said he would try to dig me out. I am SO thankful to this man!

This was taken on 5 October 2013, when I was out on a birding trip east of the city with a group of friends. Several of these beautiful pink Shrubby Cinquefoil bushes were growing in a flowerbed near the edge of Chestermere Lake. Usually, we see yellow Shrubby Cinquefoil, growing wild and in gardens, but I thought this pink variety was so pretty with its warm, sunlight glow.

Last Saturday, 16 February 2013, several of us spent the morning with owl-bander, Richard Chamberland, who was down in Calgary and had invited us to join him to go and look for a particular Northern Hawk Owl SW of the city and to then see if we could find a Snowy Owl to band. There was no sign of the Hawk Owl and we only had time to find one Snowy, which unfortunately was way across a field and didn't come close enough. Richard had to be elsewhere at noon, but three friends and I continued to drive the backroads east of the city, finding this beautiful female. She had such dark markings - couldn't have been more beautiful. This is the same owl I posted two days ago. That photo was taken when she had flown to a very tall, wooden pole at the edge of the road. An overcast day, so not the best light. Thanks for this opportunity, everyone!

Taken on 4 January 2013, when four of us travelled a long way east of Calgary to take part in the Horseshoe Canyon/Drumheller Christmas Bird Count. This is part of the Badlands area of Alberta, land of the dinosaurs. Our territory was N of the Red Deer River, on the NE part of the count circle, and included the Tyrrell Museum. At noon, we stopped at the Museum to eat our lunch and I was able to catch this huge dinosaur. We had driven past a short while before, when the icicles were quite a bit longer, but I couldn't take any photos because my lens had a thin layer of ice on it. If you ever get the chance to visit this Museum, you will find it to be superb. www.google.com/search?num=10&hl=en&site=&tbm=...

Much as I love a red barn, I thought this one was rather fine. Managed to find it yesterday afternoon, when I took my first ever drive quite a way east of Calgary. Those of you who know me, know I have battled a driving phobia for a few decades, so this was really pushing me out of my comfort zone, to say the least! The previous evening, I had been on Google to try and find out very roughly how long it should take me to drive to the area I wanted to get to. On one website, I had noticed a photo of this barn and I thought it would give me a definite place to find. More about what turned out to be a most unwanted "adventure" when I get back from a walk this morning. Later: yesterday, I made myself drive quite a way east of Calgary for the very first time. Those who know me, know that I have battled a driving phobia most of my life. The last few years, I have longed to be able to drive eastwards, to see if I could find a Snowy Owl. So, finally, yesterday was THE day! I had gone to Google Maps, enlarged and printed 12 pages of maps and taped them together, so I was quite well prepared. The night before, I had tried to find out how far Lyalta was from Calgary, and on one website, there was a photo of a rather nice barn. Decided to make that my first destination point and I was successful. Driving a few roads near Lyalta, I thought I would try one last road before heading back towards Calgary. Well, guess who got herself stuck in snow and took an hour and a half to try and dig herself out in vain and had to go to the nearest farm to ask for help!!!!! My Google Maps maps said that this particular backroad went straight through - but it sure didn't! The farmer said that someone else had done it, when testing out his new vehicle, and had ended up in the creek ahead! Thank goodness I didn't get that far along! I felt SO bad asking this elderly man for help. In fact, when I got to his farm, no one answered the door, but just as I was leaving (feeling sick to the stomach, especially as I have no cell phone), he called out to me from across the farmyard. I asked him if there was a garage in Lyalta that would be able to come and get me out, but he said he would try to dig me out. I am so thankful to this man! Needless to say, I thought I'd better stick to the paved roads for the rest of my time out there! Not a single Snowy Owl, of course. Felt totally shattered when I got home, and still today, ha. However, I did it! It might be the very last time I ever try it, but I did it. (Though this barn was not in Lyalta, I've marked Lyalta on my map, more to remind myself where I drove to, than anything else).

Not sure why I am always drawn towards icicles, lol. Found these ones on 4 January 2013, when four of us took part in the annual Audubon Horseshoe Canyon/Drumheller Christmas Bird Count. I've got to dash and get ready for a bird walk this morning - will tell you about my "adventure" from yesterday when I get back. A most unwanted adventure! Later: yesterday, I made myself drive quite a way east of Calgary for the very first time. Those who know me, know that I have battled a driving phobia most of my life. The last few years, I have longed to be able to drive eastwards, to see if I could find a Snowy Owl. So, finally, yesterday was THE day! I had gone to Google Maps, enlarged and printed 12 pages of maps and taped them together, so I was quite well prepared. The night before, I had tried to find out how far Lyalta was from Calgary, and on one website, there was a photo of a rather nice barn. Decided to make that my first destination point and I was successful. Driving a few roads near Lyalta, I thought I would try one last road before heading back towards Calgary. Well, guess who got herself stuck in snow and took an hour and a half to try and dig herself out in vain and had to go to the nearest farm to ask for help!!!!! My Google Maps maps said that this particular backroad went straight through - but it sure didn't! The farmer said that someone else had done it, when testing out his new vehicle, and had ended up plunging into the creek ahead! Thank goodness I didn't get that far along! I felt SO bad asking this elderly man for help. In fact, when I got to his farm, no one answered the door, but just as I was leaving (feeling sick to the stomach, especially as I have no cell phone), he called out to me from across the farmyard. I asked him if there was a garage in Lyalta that would be able to come and get me out, but he said he would try to dig me out. I am so thankful to this man! Needless to say, I thought I'd better stick to the paved roads for the rest of my time out there! Not a single Snowy Owl, of course. Felt totally shattered when I got home, and still today, ha. However, I did it! It might be the very last time I ever try it, but I did it. Anyone else finding Flickr is rather weird today? It's almost as if it has "stuck" and nothing is happening : )

Photographed this Yellow-headed Blackbird east of the city when I spent a few hours driving the side roads with a friend. Always nice to see these birds with the stunning, bright yellow head.

Took this photo from a car window on a drive east of the city to look for birds on some of the sloughs (wetlands). I don't get many chances to photograph Red-winged Blackbirds, so am posting this despite its being a messy photo.

Another of the very distant photos I took the other day of one of the four Short-eared Owls found east of Calgary. Wasn't sure whether to post this photo but I like the sky colouring! Also, I'm not likely to get a close photo of one of these birds, other than the one seen at the Calgary Zoo.

A friend very kindly invited me to go with him yesterday afternoon in search of Snowy Owls and Short-eared Owls. He found us one Snowy Owl and four Short-eared Owls east of the city, near Langdon, at Weed Lake. The latter spent most of the time flying low over the field, searching for food. Occasionally, one would perch on a distant fence post or on top of a very tall pole - key words here are "distant" and "tall"! I managed to get about four OK photos that were very distant and so are heavily cropped. Good enough for ID purposes, though, and for memories of such a great sighting. I really hope all these birds survive, as they sometimes swooped down low across the road when a vehicle was approaching, they were so intent on their hunt.

This is a female Snowy Owl (adult males are pure white but females have this heavy, dark brown barring). My friend found it for us east of Calgary, in the Langdon area, yesterday afternoon, along with four Short-eared Owls a little further on. I feel rather bad, as I didn't do the greatest job of photographing this owl after all the trouble my friend went to in finding it (light was a little dim for my point-and-shoot, I suspect). They are such spectacular birds and they just take your breath away! This photo is almost identical to photos taken by other people. Almost always sitting on one of these poles! My photo when the owl was looking straight at us came out a little blurred, so I thought I'd post this less spectacular pose but at least it's a little more pleasant on the eyes! The same friend found a beautiful, pure white male Snowy Owl last winter and I posted a photo of that one a while ago.