Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Spruce View

Though this wildflower tends to be seen everywhere, I love seeing it. This flower head is still at the "tubular" stage, which I think is my favourite time to see them. Eventually, the tubes will split open. Photographed this one on our wonderful day of botanizing at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, Spruce View, Alberta.

When we were on a botanizing day trip to Medicine River Wildlife Centre, Spruce View, NW of Calgary on 27 July 2012, we came across this Red Clover that had a white flower instead of the usual dark pink. One of those rather uninspiring shots that I needed to add to my set for that location : )

Photographed on a great day of botanizing (plus a bit of canoeing!) at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, Spruce View, Alberta (NW of Calgary). Funny how it works sometimes - the best of a bunch of photos of this moth, and it happens to be on a most unphotogenic Fleabane flower, ha. There seem to have been a lot of these Police Car Moths this year. "This is a fairly large moth with a wingspan of up to 50 mm. The wings are jet black with large white patches between the black scaled veins. As well, there are two orange patches of hairs on either side of the thorax, right behind the head. It is this colour combination, that of an old style police car, that gives it its name. Larvae are hairy and black with yellow and blue markings. The Police Car Moth is found throughout the province in or near forested areas. Adults fly throughout July and early August." From www.royalalbertamuseum.ca "A common western North American species found from southern British Columbia across to western Manitoba and south to northern New Mexico. Adults are diurnal and are found nectaring on flowers. There are four other species in this genus, however this is the only one that occurs in Alberta. Wingspan is 46 - 50 mm; various habitats, but not on the prairies; caterpillar's diet is Lungwort." www.insectsofalberta.com/policecarmoth.htm

This macro photo of the very tiny seeds of Naked Mitrewort was taken on a day of botanizing at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, on 27 July 2012. The flowers of this plant are exquisite and extremely delicate and tiny. Like so many other wildflowers, this species is now at the seed stage. This plant is also called Bare-stemmed Mitrewort, Bishop's Cap, Common Mitrewort, Miterwort, and Northern Bishop's Cap. There are 5-8 tiny flowers on the upper half of the slender, flowering stems, 7-20cm high. Each exquisite flower has 5 greenish-yellow or white, snow-flake design petals, with ten stamens, 6mm (just under quarter of an inch) across.

I was thrilled to bits to see a tiny Tiger Beetle yesterday, when a few of us went north west of the city to the Medicine River Wildlife Centre for the day. We had a very enjoyable time hearing about and seeing the centre itself with some of the injured wildlife that are being cared for at the moment. We also botanized the land around the centre, recording all flora and fauna that we came across. Our interesting and passionate guide was Judy, and we really appreciated her spending so much time showing us around and coming on the walk with us. Thanks so much for a lovely day, Judy! One of the many things we found was this tiny Tiger Beetle. I'm not sure, but the closest I've come to for an ID is a Bronzed Tiger Beetle. A very heavily cropped image!

Though I have seen many American White Pelicans in the wild, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to photograph this one at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre the other day. We were lucky enough to spend the whole day there, botanizing and birding their forest and meadows. It is a great Centre, for injured and orphaned wildlife, rehabilitating and releasing whenever possible.

This is Otis the Great Horned Owl, a great wildlife ambassador, who lives at the Medicine River Wildlife Centre (north west of Calgary, and west of Innisfail). He is unable to be released because of injuries, so devotes his life to educating people. Taken indoors, which is never a strong point for me and my camera : )