Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: fencepost

Yesterday evening, 10 June 2015, was only what I would call a "magical" evening! Normally, I never go out in the evening - usually just too tired and there are all sorts of things needing to be done on my computer. However, having driven SW of the city the previous day and noticing a baby Mountain Bluebird poking its head out of its nesting box, I knew that any time now that it and its siblings would be suddenly gone. It wouldn't surprise me if they fledge today, which means that another drive will have to be done to check. I have been out far more than usual the past 10 days or so and actually look forward to a day when I don't end up doing the drive. It was early evening when I left home yesterday, after a volunteer shift and a haircut. Really, I was just going to check on the Bluebirds and was not expecting to see all that much else.That's how the evening started, but as the evening progressed, the world seemed to come alive with bird song and activity. It has been a long, long time since I've experienced that. Though my trip was mainly just to check on the Bluebirds, I was also lucky to see an American Robin sitting on a barbed-wire fence just a couple of feet away from a brilliant blue male Bluebird. Talk about colour! They were way down the road, so I was only able to get a very distant shot. Also saw a number of Snipe that I love photographing. When I reached the point where I was going to turn around and head for home, I saw yet another Snipe perched on a fence. Just a few feet from it, on the same fence, was a beautiful Swainson's Hawk! After posing for a while, both birds took off, with the Hawk in hot pursuit of the Snipe. I couldn't see how the chase ended, but hopefully the world is not missing a Snipe today. Closer to home, I suddenly spotted a beautiful female Moose at a small wetland, right before I turned on to the main highway. Not sure if it's because I took my first photos of her from inside the car, across the passenger seat, but most were blurry. Eventually, she left and started walking along the road away from the highway. I crawled along, watching her way in the distance. She kept walking from side to side of the road and then stopped to lick some salt off the road, bending her front knees in what looked a very awkward move : ) Driving back to the highway, I stopped to watch three or four young White-tailed Deer having fun at the wetland. One would occasionally stamp one of its front legs in the water and then bound away a few feet. Funny to watch and so good to see it playing so happily. So, it was quite the evening, to say the least! I drove all the way home with a big smile on my face. And now I have to dash and get ready to meet a few birding friends for a morning walk.

Unusual to see Snow Buntings actually perched - usually, they are flying fast in a large flock over weedy fields and stubble. Taken east of Calgary on 7 December 2012. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snow_Bunting/id en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_Bunting

... at least for a short while. Had a great day two days ago, when Flickr friends, Ron and Trish, invited me to go with them to look for Snowy Owls NE and E of the city. No luck with the Snowy Owls, but I was thrilled to bits that we saw at least 35 Rough-legged Hawks to the E and S of the city! Here is one of them, sitting on a fence post just long enough to get a quick shot. Most of the Hawks were really skittish, but I managed to get a few half-decent shots of a handful of them. Unlike Ron and Trish, I don't go for in-flight shots - just can't do it with my little point-and-shoot, though I really should practice : ) Much as I love close shots (of anything), I rather liked seeing this Hawk in its beautiful surroundings. How lucky we are to live in this province! www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rough-legged_Hawk/id

I was SO lucky to get this shot the other day! I was driving through Fish Creek Park and was about to turn into the parking lot, when this beautiful Eastern Kingbird flew and landed on a fencepost near the road. Managed a couple of shots before it flew off. These birds can display aggressive behaviour towards intruders who happen to venture near their nest. "It is widely distributed in southern Alberta in the southern grasslands, aspen parkland, and southern boreal forest. The Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) is a neotropical migrant that winters in South America. It is found wherever it can hunt flying insects, preferring open sites such as woodland edges, and riparian habitat. Their diet is flying insects, supplemented by fruit in winter." talkaboutwildlife.ca/profile/?s=205

This beautiful female posed for me when I came across this slough on a drive south of Highway 22X yesterday. However, can anyone tell me if this is a female Mallard or a female of a different species? Would appreciate any help - thanks!

This photo does not do justice to the thick clouds of bugs we had to endure closer to the water at Frank Lake today! This particular Yellow-headed Blackbird was a more orange-yellow than usual.