Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Christmas Bird Count 2012

I love it when ice crystals form a layer on top of the snow - so delicate and beautiful. I always feel a little guilty if I have to walk on it. Took this photo on 18 December 2012, when a group of us took part in the High River Christmas Bird Count (about a half hour drive S of Calgary). If I remember correctly, this was out at Frank Lake, which was one of the areas we covered.

Common Redpolls are such dainty little birds, that come to Calgary in large numbers some years, but not in others. This was a good year for them. Photographed this little lady during the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count in and around Nanton on 30 December 2012. A very distant shot to the top of this tree.

One of the beautiful cats that we saw during the annual Cochrane Wildlife Reserve Christmas Bird Count (N of Calgary) on 28 December 2012. Only three of us covered this particular area, east of Highway 22 (the Cowboy Trail). There are not that many chances to take photos of birds on these counts - so many are very distant - but I always look forward to seeing farm cats and dogs and beautiful scenery.

We saw this distant feeder at one of the farms we called in at during the annual High River Christmas Bird Count, on 18 December 2012. I always think Common Redpolls must be one of the daintiest little birds, and so pretty.

Whenever I see a Great Horned Owl with its eyes wide open like this, it makes me think of my favourite Licorice Allsorts candies - those large, round, yellow ones with the black licorice centre : ) One of the first places three of us called in at, during the annual Nanton Christmas Bird Count, had a pair of Great Horned Owls in the Spruce trees in their farmyard. One flew to a different tree and all we could see was a bit of movement through the branches. The owl in my photo stayed where it was for a short while, giving me a chance for a few shots, and then flew over to join the other one. Ha, most of my photos were very blurry - not sure what happened there! Thankfully, two or three came out OK, otherwise I would have been so disappointed, as it really was an exceptionally beautiful owl. I had a weird experience when I was in this farmyard - can't remember if I was trying to focus my camera on the owl or some other bird, but suddenly there was a furry face between my hands and touching my face and camera! A black and white cat had leapt at my clothes and appeared right against my face!! Talk about making me jump, ha! I've marked this image as Nanton on my map - it was taken somewhere SW of the town (i.e. Area D), but I don't know the exact location - just in case anyone is not familiar with where Nanton is.. "Each individual count is performed in a "count circle" with a diameter of 15 miles or 24 kilometres. At least ten volunteers, including a compiler to manage things, count in each circle. They break up into small parties and follow assigned routes, which change little from year to year, counting every bird they see. In most count circles, some people also watch feeders instead of following routes. Counts can be held on any day from December 14 to January 5 inclusive." From Wikipedia.

This fine old barn was on the property of one of the farmers that we called in to see during the annual Nanton Christmas Bird Count, on 30 December 2012. Three of us covered the SW quadrant of the Count circle that was centred on the town of Nanton, which is south of Calgary.

Saw several of these Llamas when three of us did the Cochrane Wildlife Reserve Christmas Bird Count the day before yesterday, 28 December 2012. Our long day consisted of driving along all the backroads east of Highway 22/Cowboy Trail, roughly across from the Water Valley area. We also call in at a number of farms to ask the owners what birds they have been getting recently. Couldn't get any closer - Llamas spit! Off to the Nanton Bird Count for the whole of today, south of Calgary.

One of the first places three of us called in at, during the annual Nanton Christmas Bird Count, had a pair of Great Horned Owls in the Spruce trees near their house. One flew to a different tree and all we could see was a bit of movement through the branches. The owl in my photo stayed where it was for a short while, giving me a chance for a few shots, and then flew over to join the other one. Ha, most of my photos were very blurry - not sure what happened there! Thankfully, three or four came out OK, otherwise I would have been so disappointed, as it really was an exceptionally beautiful owl. I had a weird experience when I was in this farmyard - can't remember if I was trying to focus my camera on the owl or some other bird, but suddenly there was a furry face between my hands and touching my face and camera! A black and white cat had leapt at my clothes and appeared right against my face!! Talk about making me jump, ha! Got the local 20th Annual Fish Creek Park New Year's Day Bird Count this morning - all walking, unfortunately. Later - results for the small group I was with, covering Bebo Grove eastwards as far as Bridge 7: Canada Goose-1250 Sharp-shinned Hawk-1 Downy Woodpecker-5 Hairy Woodpecker-1 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER-1 (female) Pileated Woodpecker-1, flying W from Bebo Grove at 8:30am. Black-billed Magpie-4 Common Raven-26 Black-capped Chickadee-24 Boreal Chickadee-1 Red-breasted Nuthatch-8 White-breasted Nuthatch-1 Golden-crowned Kinglet-2 Townsend's Solitaire-2 Bohemian Waxwing-150 Red Crossbill-25 Common Redpoll-50 HAPPY NEW YEAR, everyone!

Took this photo from the car when we called in at one of several farms during the annual Cochrane Wildlife Reserve Christmas Bird Count (NW of Calgary), on 28 December 2012. Needless to say, a beautiful Great Horned Owl sitting in one of the windows would have been a real bonus, lol. I think I've done five 2012 Christmas Counts now - feels like a lot more, ha! - with just another two to do. The killer for me is having to set my alarm clocks for around 4:00 a.m. and ending up getting maybe a couple of hours sleep the night before each one. However, I really enjoy taking part in these annual Audubon Counts, and we have been so lucky with the weather this year. Of course, I now have hundreds of photos to go through, edit, and get passed on to a pile of birding people. I'm also almost out of space on my computer, so I really need to start backing-up more old files so they can be deleted. By the way, this is the 113th Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count, so it has been going on for more than a century! Yesterday's Count was in and around Nanton, SW of Calgary. I was picked up at 6:45 a.m. and eventually got home around 8:15 p.m.. Three of us covered the SW quadrant of the huge circle that centred on the town of Nanton. The scenery is breathtaking, different around every corner. I absolutely love this area of Alberta! The day ended with a wonderfully welcoming evening, hosted by the Truch family! So much work had gone into preparing a delicious supper, that was thoroughly enjoyed - and most definitely appreciated!! - by everyone from several small groups that covered different quadrants of the Count circle. There really is nothing like getting together to chat and eat a wonderful meal at the end of a long day of birding : ) In case anyone is interested, the birds that the three of us saw are (thanks, Tony, for e-mailing the final total!): Rough-legged Hawk 5 Golden Eagle 2 Great Horned Owl 2 Sharp-tailed Grouse 77 Pigeon 80 Northern Flicker 2 Northern Shrike 1 Magpie 74 Raven 31 Black-capped Chickadee 8 American Tree Sparrow 2 Pine Grosbeak 8 Common Redpoll 175 House Sparrow 134 For information on the history, locations, numbers of counts and particpants, etc. in North America: birds.audubon.org/history-christmas-bird-count

Oops, I cropped this a bit too much when I was trying to get the feather details as close as possible, so the image isn't as sharp as it should be. My small group of three saw 77 of these Sharp-tailed Grouse during our day of birding for the Nanton Christmas Bird Count on 30 December 2012.. Sometimes, we saw just a single bird, other times quite a few perched in a tree. I think there were 17 in one of the trees. I only see this species when I'm on this Count.