Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Carduelis

In Alberta, American Goldfinches are common from late May to September and a few might overwinter, which is what this male must have done. He is in almost full breeding plumage. A few friends and I saw it yesterday morning, when we went on a birding walk down in the Weaselhead. I wasn't sure I wanted to go, as it was snowing, just like the previous day, too. The temperature was -3°C to 1°C. However, I am glad I did go, otherwise I would have missed this welcome splash of colour. After walking as far as the main metal bridge, we then drove through the park, stopping at one place to look over the Glenmore Reservoir from North Glenmore Park. The second stop was at the Crowchild Stormwater Pond. The total bird count list for the morning, recorded by leader, Gus Yaki, is as follows: Canada Goose-24 Swan sp.-2, seen before starting. Wood Duck-1+ m. Mallard-36 Bufflehead-6 Common Goldeneye-6 Hooded Merganser-1m. Merlin-1, seen at parking lot before start. Killdeer-2 Gull sp-20+ Herring Gull-1+ Downy Woodpecker-2+ Hairy Woodpecker-2 Northern Flicker-3 Black-billed Magpie-12 American Crow-14+ Common Raven-3 Black-capped Chickadee-10+ Red-breasted Nuthatch-1 American Robin-2 American Tree Sparrow-6+ Dark-eyed Junco-2 Common Redpoll?-1 American Goldfinch-1 m. now almost in full breeding plumage. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch/id en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Goldfinch After the birding walk, I decided to drive just a short distance further to see if I could find any Prairie Crocuses. I wasn't sure if they would be completely covered in snow. Fortunately, I found a few, but they were not in the best condition. Also, the hillside was wet and very slippery, so I was glad when I had taken several very quick shots and could leave.

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.

This, and a number of other, Common Redpolls were feeding on the ground in someone's yard along one of the backroads SW of Nanton, Alberta. Taken on 30 December 2012, when three of us drove all the backroads in the SW quadrant of the circle for the annual Audubon Nanton Christmas Bird Count. It was such a great day, in such beautiful scenery. "As energetic as their electric zapping call notes would suggest, Common Redpolls are active foragers that travel in busy flocks. Look for them feeding on catkins in birch trees or visiting feeders in winter. These small finches of the arctic tundra and boreal forest migrate erratically, and they occasionally show up in large numbers as far south as the central U.S. During such irruption years, redpolls often congregate at bird feeders (particularly thistle or nyjer seed), allowing delightfully close looks." www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Redpoll/id

When friends, Dorothy and Stephen, invited me to go with them on a spur-of-the-moment drive east of the city on 7 December 2012, the main thing we were searching for was a Snowy Owl. Before we saw our first Snowy of this winter, we saw several flocks of Snow Buntings and Common Redpolls. They were flying at top speed over the fields and backroads, but we were lucky a couple of times when some of them landed on the snow-covered stubble near the edge of the road or on a barbed-wire fence. You can barely see the deep red "dot" on this female's forehead, but in better light, it looks so pretty. Luckily, we found four Snowy Owls. The first Owl was perched on an electricity power line, way down the road and unfortunately was mobbed by a whole flock of small birds (Snow Buntings or Common Redpolls) making it fly way off across a field, before we could slowly approach. The second one was so far away, sitting on the ground in a huge field that was a mix of snow and golden stubble. I just happened to notice the tiniest white speck - probably not far off a kilometre away? - with my naked eyes. We pulled over and, sure enough, it was a Snowy. I might post a photo I took, using 48 times zoom and then heavily cropped, to give an idea, for those who have never been on a Snowy Owl search, just how difficult these birds can be to find : ) The third Owl was perched on the usual, ugly, power pole, but at least it was closer : ) The fourth owl, seen on our way back home, must have been a young one, as it was so curious about us. It just had a young look to it and really was quite cute to watch. These Snowy Owls were simply amazing to see, as always. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Redpoll www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Redpoll/id

One of the tiny Common Redpolls that friends, Dorothy and Stephen, and I saw when we went for a drive east of the city on 7 December 2012. The main thing we were searching for was a Snowy Owl. Before we saw our first Snowy of this winter, we saw several flocks of Snow Buntings and Common Redpolls. They were flying at top speed over the fields and backroads, but we were lucky a couple of times when some of them landed on the snow-covered stubble near the edge of the road or on a barbed-wire fence. You can barely see the deep red "dot" on this female's forehead, but in better light, it looks so pretty. Ha, she looks like she really didn't want her photo taken!

Took a short drive SW of Calgary a couple of days ago, just to get out, but without doing a long drive. I was hoping that I might just come across a Great Gray Owl - gosh, those birds are addictive, lol! No owls, though, but I did come across a pair of fairly cooperative Mountain Bluebirds, which is always a treat, and a pair of very uncooperative American Goldfinches : ) The Goldfinches flew a couple of times to near where the Bluebirds had their nest and I just managed to get this very quick, distant shot of the male. I love it when the fields are full of Dandelions! They make such a pretty backdrop for this colourful bird and also for the bright blue Bluebirds. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch/id en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Goldfinch

These small, attractive birds are amongst my favourites. They are just so dainty and so pretty with the red spot in their forehead (poll). Taken at one of the feeders that are in Weaselhead, on March 24th. I would imagine that they have all left by now, hopefully to return next winter. This seems to have been a good winter for seeing them here, though they are never easy to photograph - I just lucked out with this one and several other shots. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Redpoll/id en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Redpoll If you are a birder (especially if you have been birding for a while), you might get some laughs from the YouTube video below. I have watched it a few times already and it still makes me laugh - it's just so TRUE! Thanks for the link, Bonnie, and to Randy who sent it to you : ) Sh*t Birders Say youtu.be/NaX7i1Q7-Rw

Managed to get a photo or two of the Common Redpolls when I was at Carburn Park yesterday. There are plenty of these pretty little birds in the city this year. Out for the day today .... Does anyone know that this is a female Common Redpoll for sure and not a Hoary Redpoll? Guess I should have thought of asking this sooner, not when everyone had already commented! www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Redpoll/lifehistory/ac I uploaded today's photos really early this morning, before meeting Flickr friends Ron and Trish at Carburn Park. Trish had never seen a tiny Northern Saw-whet Owl, so that was the most important thing to do today! After that was very successfully accomplished, Ron drove us around the beautiful backroads NE and E of the city for a few hours, looking for Snowy Owls! I should mention that on two separate days, he had found a total on each day of 18 of these majestic, breathtaking birds of prey, so I was feeling really confident. Ron did what he does best - finding birds!! Even though I have seen him do this on several occasions, I still don't know how he does it. Anyway, he found a total of 12 Snowy Owls for us today! The forecast was for cloudy periods - well, all we had was cloud all the time, so I really wasn't at all hopeful that my photos would turn out. Amazingly, they seem to be OK, though I haven't looked at them properly. A bit of brightening will no doubt show up all the flaws - but, we'll see : ) I really do want to add something here - I have come across so many people (many of whom I have not met before) the last few days, while standing watching the Northern Saw-whet Owl, who have told me that they look at my photos on Flickr. I can't thank you all individually, but really want to say Thank You! for taking the time to do this. I greatly appreciate it - and it's very humbling. Later: totally unrelated, but I came across this link for a short video showing some baby Sloths being given a bath at the The Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica. The link was posted by gzebear on the HEGPS (Hornby Eagle Group Projects Society) forum website. Talk about cute!! www.slothsanctuary.com/sloth-rescue/