Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: length 15–20 cm (6–8 in)

A beautiful female Mountain Bluebird, seen along one of the gravel backroads SW of Calgary, on 24 May 2010. Another photo from my archives that I had put aside a few weeks ago - before my arms became extremely painful from too much mouse-clicking. Today, at least I will get a break for a while, as I have to find a few things to do away from home. They are going to be cleaning and removing all the loose gravel from my parking lot sometime during the day and so everyone has to move their car to the street before 9:00 a.m.. However, I discovered at the Annual Meeting a few days ago that one has to have a special parking pass in order to park on the street now. Well, after three phone calls yesterday and getting no help from anyone in Byelaw, I gave up and so will have to stay away from home for the day. Unfortunately, it is a gloomy day with more rain expected, so I will go and get my Taxes done first : ) 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.birds.cornell.edu/allaboutbirds/studying/feathers/col... www.jstor.org/discover/pgs/index?id=10.2307/4077277&i...

A photo from my archives, I hasten to say : ) A little female Mountain Bluebird from May 24th last year, taken south west of the city.

This little female Mountain Bluebird was very co-operative yesterday afternoon, when I headed west of the city straight after doing our Snake Monitoring. Her mate came near only once, but kept his distance the rest of the time except when three or four Tree Swallows tried to attack, hoping to get the nesting box from the Bluebirds. The bluebirds were ready to defend their box - she's a feisty little lady! Had to smile when her mate brought her two gifts - fat, juicy larvae of some sort! A nice bit of courtship behaviour : ) This image even looks OK in large size, if you happen to have time to take a peek : ) Was out on a walk at Votier's Flats in Fish Creek Park all this morning, seeing what birds were around. Nice to see a high nest containing baby Ravens, as well as seeing an American Goldfinch, Purple Finches, etc., etc. I'll be out all evening today, too, and am already almost falling asleep at my computer (it's only 1:45 p.m.), LOL! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OMG, just discovered it's SNOWING!!! Just four days before June starts. There is a snowstorm warning in effect. Major snowstorms in May are NOT unusual here, though - just frustrating : ) Spent a bit of time with this sweet pair of Mountain Bluebirds, south west of the city. I'm so glad I went when I did, as we are having heavy rain today and in the forecast. This little lady gave me some chances for reasonably close photos, though the bright blue male tended to be further away. A minute before this shot, the male had just flown across the road to this fence post to give his mate a fat, juicy larva of some kind : ) Their nesting box was very close by and at regular intervals they had to defend their box against three or four Tree Swallows who kept swooping down low. It always fascinates me the fact that Mountain Bluebirds actually have no blue pigment in their feathers - it's all about the light. 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.birds.cornell.edu/allaboutbirds/studying/feathers/col... "In Alberta, they are most readily seen along roadsides in the foothill country near Calgary where bluebird enthusiasts provide, maintain and monitor nestboxes. Autumn migration is an extended affair. Flocks assemble in mid August and most have departed by late September. Usually, however, there are some that linger to late October and sometimes into November." talkaboutwildlife.ca/profile/?s=238

Another shot of this little female Mountain Bluebird, seen along one of the gravel backroads south west of the city. Though you can only see a faint hint of blue on her feathers, I always think the texture of her breast feathers is pretty. I was so lucky that she "posed" for me, just a few feet from the nesting box that she and her mate were trying to defend from some Tree Swallows who wanted to take it over.