Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Raptor

I was so lucky this morning to see two Northern Pygmy-owls (rare to uncommon), one at each of two different locations in the park. I started out with my usual group, but ended up staying at the second location with several photographers that I had met up with. The birds were high up and quite a distance away, but I am posting my photos because the two birds are in different surroundings compared to various previous images of these teeny owls. Remember that they are only the size of a popcan, so when they are far away, that blob of brown is VERY small, LOL! Often, I can't really even see which way the bird is facing, so it is rather hit and miss as far as photos are concerned.

This is one of three Bald Eagles at the Calgary Zoo. On my last visit a few days ago, all three birds were more active than when I usually see them. Such beautiful feathers!

This is one of the three majestic Bald Eagles that live at the Calgary Zoo. They are in a separate enclosure from the Hawks and Owls and this enclosure is not open to people. Knowing how powerful that beak is, this is understandable! Usually, these Eagles are right away from the chain link fence and partly hidden by tree branches, but I was a little luckier this day. Occasionally, one will come and bathe in a tiny creek right next to the fence - I've had this happen two or three times and it's quite a feeling to be just a few inches away from one of these magnificent birds. I often see them in the wild, but can only get very distant photos. The Hawks and Owls at the Zoo tend to be injured birds, so I'm assuming that these Bald Eagles have also suffered injuries that would prevent them from surviving in the wild.

Yet another photo of the female Snowy Owl at the Calgary Zoo. She seems to be spending a lot of time partly hidden by tree branches and ground plants, but she briefly made herself more visible this time.

When I was last at the Calgary Zoo, one of the three magnificent Bald Eagles took a bath in the tiny stream that runs about three feet in from the fence. This is the second time that I've witnessed a Bald Eagle bathing - quite a long, drawn-out performance. Took a lot of photos, including a few from the back. I just love Bald Eagle feathers and, at bath time, the details really stand out.

I was so lucky this morning to see two Northern Pygmy-owls (rare to uncommon), one at each of two different locations in the park. I started out with my usual group, but ended up staying at the second location with several photographers that I had met up with. The birds were high up and quite a distance away, but I am posting my photos because the two birds are in different surroundings compared to various previous images of these teeny owls. Remember that they are only the size of a popcan, so when they are far away, that blob of brown is VERY small, LOL! Often, I can't really even see which way the bird is facing, so it is rather hit and miss as far as photos are concerned. In this photo, a blurry Northern Pygmy-owl has just swooped down low to catch its prey. I suspect that my camera focussed more on that blade of grass that just happened to end up being in front of the flying bird : )

This photo of a Bald Eagle was taken about a year ago at the Calgary Zoo, on a snowy day. I seem to be posting so many archived images at the moment, but I was getting tired - and thought you, too, might be getting rather fed up - of seeing winter landscapes and ice formations, lol. The last time I got over to the Zoo, I was shocked to see that the huge wire enclosure had been removed and the Bald Eagles and Golden Eagle were nowhere to be seen. A Zoo staff member happened to be near by and she told me that the Zoo no longer had these magnificent birds of prey. So very disappointing. It has been a beautiful day today, quite warm. However, 5-10 cm of snow are expected overnight tonight to tomorrow overnight. Our snow was melting beautifully today - nicely in time for when a new snowfall arrives. This tends to happen over and over again in the month of March. I was planning to go for a drive outside the city tomorrow - until I saw the forecast. I've lost count of the number of times this has happened, lol.

These Snowy Owls are such amazing birds. This was one of several that three of us saw yesterday, out east of the city in the Brooks area. We were under a Chinook cloud bank the whole day, so the light was really bad. This was the first owl we found and it turned out to be the only semi-co-operative one of the bunch. The rest flew as soon as the driver starting reversing the car back to the fence post that we had passed. Despite the lack of much in the way of photo opportunties, it was a thrill to see these magnificent raptors! There have been an unusually high number of Snowy Owls seen in perhaps the last couple of weeks. The highest number reported by one person was 28, seen within a mile area.

I was finally able to see the two young Great Gray Owls at the Zoo the other day. I saw them when they were very tiny, but then the aviary in which they live was closed to the public for a few weeks, due to maintenance problems. It was very obvious which were the two immature owls, as they still had quite a lot of downy feathers (not really noticeable in this particular photo). Both were in different trees close to the narrow path that goes through the aviary. This is one of my favourite parts of the Zoo, being able to see a Snowy Owl, several Great Gray Owls, a Barred Owl and (if you can find it) a Long-eared Owl. No barriers between the birds and you, which is an amazing feeling.

I decided to drive westwards from the city towards the mountains this afternoon. Though the day started off rather chilly, I discovered that the temperature was warming up nicely. Hardly a sign of snow on the mountains peaks at this eastern edge of the Rockies and just a handful of tiny patches of snow at my destination. Snow will arrive in the city any time now, so I thought this would probably be my last drive westwards till next year. I like to turn off the main Highway 22X along some of the gravel side roads. Endless formations of Canada Geese were flying in the distance and I thought I'd try a few in-flight shots, which I hardly ever try. However, my thoughts turned to this gorgeous Rough-legged Hawk instead. As soon as I had taken a number of shots and watched it fly from tree to tree and circle the fields, I started walking back to my car. I caught a quick glimpse of what looked like some kind of small raptor, probably a Falcon, dive into the field at my side. That, of course, is when two vehicles came speeding along the rough road, churning up a dust storm. I was really lucky when the bird flew up to an electricity pole and I was able to get two blurry, in-flight ID shots. I'll have to check, but I think it might have been a Prairie Falcon, which would be nice.

I spent all morning walking at Strathcone Park Ravine and then on the way home I did a long walk all afternoon in Weaselhead Natural Area. This morning, we were lucky enough to see a Great Horned Owl being harrassed by a group of Crows. Then, just as I started my second walk, there were two Bald Eagles circling high overhead. As I walked along by the river, I noticed a beautiful Osprey perched in a tree on the far bank. Then, just as I started leaving the parking lot later, this Swainson's Hawk flew and landed on a light pole. I brought my car to a stop in the middle of the road near the pole and managed to get this quick shot before it flew away and a car was approaching behind me. So, as you can see, I've had a great Raptor day today : ). Lucky me!

I very occasionally try and get an in-flight shot, but I should have learned by now that there's little point. However, I'm hoping that there is just enough detail in this distant, cropped photo to show the ID. Seen circling over the wheat fields along 69th St. off Highway 22X today. Rebecca, it never occurred to me that it might be an Osprey - I'm used to seeing those along the creeks or the river. Later: a superb local birder let me know that this is a Red-tailed Hawk. Thanks for the ID, Tony!

This Swainson's Hawk was flying in circles overhead as we walked in a new (for me) area a couple of days ago, close to the Max Bell Arena. It did land, but chose a perhaps photogenic, but not natural, perch : ). Could this be an immature Swainson's?

Not exactly the tastiest looking snack but, to an owl, it must look and taste good : ). I just happened to be lucky with this shot, as the light was not good and blades of grass were getting in the way. This female Snowy Owl has been at the Calgary Zoo for years and shares the enclosure with her mate and a Peregrine Falcon and a couple of Tawny Owls.

This is NOT one of "my" owlets, though a friend has seen one of "mine" out of the nest and on a nearby branch. Today, when I went down to check, I found both owlets back in the nest, LOL. The owl in this photo was seen yesterday on a drive with a friend to the Frank Lake area. A second owlet could be seen up on the nest. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this gorgeous ball of fluff!

Could this be the Red-tailed Hawk, seen in the Hawk aviary at the Calgary Zoo? I have always been confused between two of the injured hawks that share this home.

Seen having a bath in a small stream at the Calgary Zoo. Such a majestic bird. Nancy, we did it again! Quite a much-photographed bird of prey!

We saw a number of Bald Eagles (7+, all immature) on our walk along the Bow River at Beaverdam Flats this morning, including this juvenile. I can really see why some people (who are not birders) think they have seen a Golden Eagle. Such massive birds. It takes about five years for a Bald Eagle to develop the white head feathers. Wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of those huge talons or that very powerful bill!