Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Bird of Prey Centre

A photo of this Bald Eagle from deep down in my archives, taken on 16 May 2009, at the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre (near Lethbridge). I came across it while juggling and deleting more photos last night, in readiness for all my data being transferred to a new computer tomorrow (all being well). Guessing it will be about three days before it will be ready to set up at home. Just in time before I have very minor surgery (local anaesthetic and nothing to do with the pain I always have, unfortunately)) on my back, which means I wouldn't be able to carry two heavy hard drives or crawl under my computer desk trying to work out what cord plugs into what, lol. Rather close timing for my liking, but it should all work out OK.

I loved the chance to get some close shots of a little Burrowing Owl and all sorts of other Birds of Prey on two recent trips down south, to the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre. I know it's not the same as seeing birds in the wild, but it does give one the opportunity to really see what each bird looks like. I have never seen a Burrowing Owl in the wild - but it's something I would love to do.

The "surprised" expression on a Long-eared Owl's face always makes me smile : ) It is rare to see one of these here in the wild - have only seen either two or three. The one in my photo lives at the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre, near Lethbridge, southern Alberta, along with many other injured species. Taken through a chain link cage wall, hence the faded areas.

This tiny Northern Saw-whet Owl with an injured or amputated wing looked so "sad" when I saw it at the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre on 16th May. I've only ever seen one of these owls in the wild, a few years ago. They like forested areas, including many wooded parks and ravines in the city, but they are heard more than seen.

Took this photo at the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre down towards the US border, July 2007, so had to dig deep into my archives for this one. Now, if only I could get this close a shot of a Bald Eagle in the wild : )

I took this photo on 23rd May last year (2008), but wasn't sure whether to post it or not. Now I'm feeling the need for some colours that are different from all the greens and yellows and beiges that have been in so many of my recent forest shots. This blossom tree was growing down south of us, at the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre, near Lethbridge.

Too many fungi (OK, Machel and Doug - you know I'm not serious, ha) , too many flowers .... I need a bird! This handsome, spectacular Bald Eagle lives at The Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre in southern Alberta, near Lethbridge. The Centre is a wonderful place that rescues and tries to rehabilitate injured birds of prey. Those that are able to be released are released and those that are injured too severely are kept and used in an educational way. I often see Bald Eagles in the wild, but never this close : )

This is a photo from earlier this year, taken at the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre, near Lethbridge, southern Alberta. The Centre is a wonderful place that rescues and tries to rehabilitate injured birds of prey. Those that are able to be released are released and those that are injured too severely are kept and used in an educational way. Reckoned it was way more than time that I posted a photo of a bird, LOL! Once winter arrives, that is when I take most of my bird photos - in the spring and summer, botany tends to take over : )

There were six adults and dozens of tiny goslings when we went to the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre yesterday (I was very lucky to go there last Saturday, too, thanks to Ron!) This photo shows just a few of the MANY : ) There are several ponds at the Centre and wild Pelicans and the usual assortment of ducks and birds have discovered these areas.

To be honest, I really don't know what my little point-and-shoot is capable of when it comes to taking in-flight shots. All I know is that I don't usually bother to even try, as photos really don't turn out. However, I was just lucky with this shot of a gorgeous American White Pelican that just happened to fly overhead. I was sitting watching a Harris's Hawk do a flight training demonstration at the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre just over a week ago and caught sight of this guy.

I don't usually take photos of blossom, but the flowers on this tree at the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre were such a gorgeous colour yesterday, that I just had to take shot : )

I was really happy to see this male Western Tanager while at the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre (near Lethbridge, southern Alberta) three days ago. They are such beautifully bright, colorful birds. I had been lucky enough to see one recently in the garden of friends (thanks, Phil and Jen), but the photo above turned out sharper.

I have only ever seen a Turkey Vulture in the city on two occasions, both times flying very, very high. The Coaldale Birds of Prey Centre, near Lethbridge in southern Alberta, gives people the chance to see one of these amazing birds fairly close. The head of a Turkey Vulture is naked, so that there are no feathers to get dirty when they are feeding on rotting carcasses. Over the last few years, we have seen three or four of these birds flying very high overhead within the city of Calgary, too, which was a thrill.

A strange looking Owl, whether seen head-on or sideways. We don't get Barn Owls here in Alberta, so it was a thrill to see several at the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre, near Lethbridge, southern Alberta. I even had the chance to have one perched on my hand : )

As you will no doubt guess, this close shot of a female Merlin was not taken in the wild, LOL! It was photographed at the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre, near Lethbridge, southern Alberta, on the second of two consecutive Saturdays this month. Had to take it through a chain link fence, which is partly why there are areas of the image that are pale. I do see Merlins in the wild, but had no idea that they looked quite like this. A beautiful bird of prey.

A gorgeous Great Horned Owl seen at the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre yesterday. I actually had this beautiful bird sit on my hand - the most amazing feeling! I was also lucky enough to hold a tiny Burrowing Owl. It is so much fun photographing the birds at this Centre, but of course there is nothing like photographing them in the wild. We seem to have SO many Great Horned Owls in Calgary, LOL! No wonder it was chosen as the Provincial Bird.

I saw this whole huddle (?) of adorable Canada Goose goslings yesterday, when I went with Ron (Flickrite Ronaldok) down to the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre near Lethbridge in southern Alberta. They were hanging out with Mom and Dad near one of the ponds at the Centre. We'd been watching several goslings and then suddenly Mom stood up and revealed this tightly packed bundle of downy feathers : )

I LOVE owls - but for some reason, the Barn Owl freaks me out, LOL! Just something about its face. Maybe it says the same about me, ha, ha! This Barn Owl resides at the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre for injured birds, about 10 minutes past Lethbridge in southern Alberta. Takes just over two hours to drive there. We don't get Barn Owls in the wild here, so it is a great chance to see them down at the Coaldale centre.