Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: food in beak

I really didn't feel like finding photos or editing them last night, but noticed this one that was ready to post. I have so many Mountain Bluebird photos on my computer, so try to slip one in every once in a while : ) That day, 12 June 2013, this pair of Bluebirds, seen SW of the city, let me take many photos of them, with and without food collected for their babies. Not sure if this female has a small spider in her bill. I found it fascinating to see the different kinds of insects that they caught, and each time they returned with something new, they would perch on the barbed-wire fence near the nesting box and give me a few wonderful poses. In Bluebirds, the blue colour is produced by the structure of the feather - there is no blue pigment. "Tiny air pockets in the barbs of feathers can scatter incoming light, resulting in a specific, non-iridescent color. Blue colors in feathers are almost always produced in this manner. Examples include the blue feathers of Bluebirds, Indigo Buntings, Blue Jay's and Steller's Jays." www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mountain_Bluebird/id www.jstor.org/discover/pgs/index?id=10.2307/4077277&i...

Six days ago, on 6 June 2015, my place was beginning to get uncomfortably warm inside. That meant I needed air-conditioning and the only place to find it was in my car. So, off I went along the backroads SW of the city. I wasn't expecting to see anything different, but there were certain birds that I was certain I would see - birds that I really enjoy photographing. I really do need to drive somewhere different, but this drive is just a fairly short drive and fits nicely into an afternoon or early evening. The "usual" included Mountain Bluebirds, and this male (head feathers ruffled a little by the slight breeze) obliged, bringing a fat, hairy caterpillar for his babies. Dad seems to bring the larger, heavier insects, especially Grasshoppers, while Mom tends to choose lighter, more delicate ones. Funny how the nearby Tree Swallows will sometimes "tease" their Bluebird neighbours by flying and landing very near the Bluebird nesting box. Out of nowhere, the brilliant flash of blue of the male flies at top speed to chase the Tree Swallows away. Yesterday, I noticed the female Bluebird landed just a couple of feet from the Tree Swallow nesting box and just sat there with a Swallow on either side of her. No idea why she did this, as it annoyed the Swallows, and of course she was chased away. In Bluebirds, the blue colour is produced by the structure of the feather - there is no blue pigment. "Tiny air pockets in the barbs of feathers can scatter incoming light, resulting in a specific, non-iridescent color. Blue colors in feathers are almost always produced in this manner. Examples include the blue feathers of Bluebirds, Indigo Buntings, Blue Jay's and Steller's Jays." www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mountain_Bluebird/id www.jstor.org/discover/pgs/index?id=10.2307/4077277&i... Other sightings on my drive included the usual Tree Swallows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Black Terns, a pair of Cinnamon Teal glowing in the bright sunlight, a distant Coot feeding her little ones, a Pied-billed Grebe who was annoying an adult Coot who kept racing across the top of the water to chase the Grebe further away. My final sighting was a Coyote in a field of Dandelions. By the time I had pulled over and raised my camera, it was already heading off in the opposite direction, stopping once to look back as Coyotes tend to do. I almost forgot to mention the highlight of my drive! Not far from home, I noticed a Canada Goose in the distance, standing in the grasses right at the edge of the road. I thought it might just step out in front of me, so I stopped in my lane on this fairly busy road and turned on my hazard flashers. Sure enough, it did exactly what I was suspecting - and it was followed by its family of half a dozen or so goslings walking in a very disciplined single file, with Mom/Dad bringing up the rear. Fortunately, the cars coming behind me in the other lane also slowed down and stopped till everyone was safely to the other side. May sound silly, but I find it such an amazing, humbling experience when this happens : )

Another shot from the archives, taken on 12 June 2013, on a drive SW of Calgary. The Mountain Bluebirds have arrived back in Alberta, but it will be a while before that have all built their nests and had their young. Last night, I was looking for a photo that had colour, to post this morning, and came across this one. Last summer, I took so many photos of Bluebirds, especially this pair, and have so far only posted very few. This female caught rather an interesting, fancy looking meal for her babies. I found it fascinating to see the different kinds of insects that they caught, and each time they returned with something new, they would perch on the barbed-wire fence near the nesting box and give me a few wonderful poses : ) In Bluebirds, the blue colour is produced by the structure of the feather - there is no blue pigment. "Tiny air pockets in the barbs of feathers can scatter incoming light, resulting in a specific, non-iridescent color. Blue colors in feathers are almost always produced in this manner. Examples include the blue feathers of Bluebirds, Indigo Buntings, Blue Jay's and Steller's Jays." www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mountain_Bluebird/id www.jstor.org/discover/pgs/index?id=10.2307/4077277&i...

HAPPY EASTER to everyone who celebrates! From the archives, taken on 12 June 2013, on a drive SW of Calgary. The Mountain Bluebirds have arrived back in Alberta, but it will be a while before that have all built their nests and had their young. Last night, I was looking for a photo that had colour, to post this morning, and came across this one. Last summer, I took so many photos of Bluebirds and most remain unposted. Not quite sure what this Dad had caught for his babies, but it doesn't look particularly appetizing - to a human : ) In Bluebirds, the blue colour is produced by the structure of the feather - there is no blue pigment. "Tiny air pockets in the barbs of feathers can scatter incoming light, resulting in a specific, non-iridescent color. Blue colors in feathers are almost always produced in this manner. Examples include the blue feathers of Bluebirds, Indigo Buntings, Blue Jay's and Steller's Jays." www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mountain_Bluebird/id www.jstor.org/discover/pgs/index?id=10.2307/4077277&i... I have an excruciatingly painful right arm and shoulder, partly from too much mouse clicking thanks to all the extra clicking that is necessary with the new Flickr format, plus all the many extra clicks needed when working with images using Windows 7. I really, really don't like Windows 7. I seem to remember turning my arm in a strange way a few days ago, too, while either putting on or taking off a jacket. Suspect I may have pulled something. Doing more driving than usual a few days ago, when I took my daughter down to the Frank Lake area for the day, probably didn't help, either. I know I should be resting my arms, but I know that's not going to happen - I really must cut back, though, to give my arms a chance to improve somewhat. Lol, I could only photograph birds below a certain height yesterday, as I can barely lift my right arm high enough to hold my camera up to my eye : (

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