Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: explore2014March07

Echinacea are one of my favourite flowers, no matter what stage they are at. The flower centre is so spectacular. This one was photographed (macro) at Reader Rock Garden on 10 September 2013.

These are winter backroads that I never, ever drive on, lol! In fact, it has been so long since I drove outside the city, that I can't even remember. As you can imagine, it's so difficult or impossible to know just where the road ends and the ditch begins along some of the roads. However, Tony, driving just a small car, did brilliantly! This is another winter scene taken on 5 January 2014, when three of us spent a whole day driving in such conditions and worse, searching for birds to add to our list for the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. We covered one quadrant of the large circle around the town of Nanton. As you can see, the weather was bright and sunny for us that day. What you can't see was that it was brutally cold that day! On the hour-long drive south of Calgary, we hit -34C (-29.2F)!!!!! It did eventually warm up a few degrees and thankfully, there was no or very little wind, which makes all the difference. The only walking we had to do was when we called in at various farms and homesteads. One backroad in particular had too much snow on it, so we had to leave that one out. Also, there was just too much snow in many of the farmyards, so we weren't able to check out all the trees and bushes as thoroughly as we would like to have done. I absolutely love the scenery on this Count. Not sure where all the Hawks and Owls were hiding that day, but we did see 2 Golden Eagles and 2 Bald Eagles, plus various smaller species. After driving (being driven, for me, which was pure luxury) the backroads from about 8:00 a.m. till around 4:00 p.m., we returned to the wonderful home of the Truch family. Not only do Bill and Leah Truch and their son, Mike, always welcome everyone with open arms, they also provide a much-appreciated breakfast snack for us and then, at the end of the day, a delicious supper. Have to say that I love travelling these scenic backroads, but I also really enjoy getting together with everyone afterwards to thoroughly enjoy a delicious supper. This is one of my favourite Bird Counts and perhaps the most favourite. Thanks so much for doing all the driving, Tony, and thanks, Leah, Bill and Mike for all the effort and time you put into your warm welcome! Can't wait for next Christmas!

This Great Gray Owl, seen in Fish Creek Park on 17 February 2014, was such a treat. Normally, we never even get this species of owl within the city at all, but 2014 has been different, with the sighting of this individual plus another Great Gray Owl seen at Griffith Woods, which I was also lucky enough to see and photograph. They are such amazing owls to watch, especially when they are hunting. Their focus and concentration is superb. Other than an occasional glance in our direction, the owl completely ignored us - you see this with Great Gray Owls everywhere, as they are quite tolerant, for the most part, of people. This owl was high in a tree, though it looks like it was very close and more or less at eye level. We are back to snow again today, after recent brutally cold weather without snow. It's -15C as I type (windchill -24C), but tomorrow, it is supposed to get up to 3C by the afternoon. How good that will feel! I might be going out, the first time I will have left the house for any reason in 10 days! Cabin fever set in a few days ago : ) Flickr very kindly posted this image on their photostream on 7 March 2014, with the following description. I had no idea that Flickr ever did this. Much appreciated!! "Listening" by Anne Elliot, Flickr photographer spotlight for March 7, 2014. We're happy to feature this Great Gray Owl, taken by Anne Elliot in Fish Creek Park, Alberta, Canada. Elliot's photography chronicles the vast Alberta landscape and the animals that populate it. Learn more about Anne's owl photo here and be sure to follow her to see more of her images. www.flickr.com/photos/flickr/ www.flickr.com/photos/flickr/12984139293/