Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: adults

Two days ago, 26 April 2015, I spent the day with a fair-sized group of friends, at Frank Lake. The weather was beautiful and, for once, not windy. Frank Lake and the surrounding area is one of my favourite places to spend a day or half a day. On a trip like this one, there are a lot of the birds that I don't see, as I don't use binoculars. Also, my interest is not to see as many species as possible, but to hopefully come across a few birds close enough to photograph. Fortunately, at the bird blind/hide, this pair of Eared Grebes was within camera range. Every once in a while, they stayed still for a few seconds before continuing their constant swimming and diving. The light was such that, much of the time, you couldn't tell that they had red eyes - and really it's the eyes (and the golden "ear" feathers) that add so much beauty to these birds. The eyes always make me think of red buttons : ) This Grebe is the most abundant Grebe in the world, and it occurs on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eared_Grebe/id en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-necked_grebe I will add the final list of the 51 species seen, complied by our Leader, Tony Timmons. Probably not of much interest to most people, but it does help my memory. Many thanks, as always, Tony, for a very successful and most enjoyable day! Really appreciate your giving up a precious weekend day to take us out there. "The birds put on a spectacular show for the 19 participants on the Frank Lake trip today. We tallied 51 species. (Anne's note: on this trip one year ago, we found 53 species.) Expected species were present in pretty good numbers; most noteworthy being American Avocet (200+) and White-faced Ibis (120). Thousands of ducks were on the Lake. Thanks to Dan Parliament and Al Borgardt for scoping birds and sharing sightings with the group. Before the start of the trip, Rose Painter spotted two Long-billed Curlew near Blackie. Later in the day, we searched for the birds without success. Eared Grebe 250 Western Grebe 20 Double-crested Cormorant 25 Black-crowned Night Heron 1 White-faced Ibis 120 Canada Goose Swan sp. 12 Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Blue-winged Teal Cinnamon Teal Green-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Hooded Merganser 2 f. Ruddy Duck Northern Harrier 3 Swainson's Hawk 3 Gray Partridge 4 American Coot Killdeer 5 Black-necked Stilt 10 American Avocet 200+ Greater Yellowlegs 5 Lesser Yellowlegs 17 Franklin's Gull 1000 Bonaparte's Gull 10 Ring-billed Gull 5 California Gull 20 Rock Pigeon Great Horned Owl ( 3 ad. + 3 owlets ) Black-billed Magpie American Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow 60 Bank Swallow 1 Marsh Wren 4 American Robin European Starling Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark 5 Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird 1 House Sparrow Tony Timmons"

I don't know how Don managed to catch both adult Tree Swallows (and banded them) - and I don't think he knew, either. I think I heard him say that it was the first time it had ever happened in the 30 years he has been a Mountain Bluebird Monitor, lol. Several of us went with Don around his route that's SW of Calgary, on 24 June 2013. This is an outing that I look forward to each year. There were two trips this year and I enjoyed both of them.

This is the pair of Great Horned Owls that lives down at Sikome, in Fish Creek Park. I've been "following" them for several years now - always a joy to see. They weren't in their usual winter tree, but in another one close by. Even so, they were not easy to spot from so far away, hidden deep within the snow-covered branches of this Spruce tree. Often, you find these owls closer to the trunk, which makes it even more difficult to find them. They really do have amazing camouflage. Yesterday was an absolute winter wonderland, despite being cold (-11C, windchill -18C) and lacking the sun. Hoar frost covered every tiny twig and blade of dried grass, and it was snowing all day long. Today is an even more overcast, grey day with more snow falling, useless for photos, so maybe I can get on with all my overseas Christmas letters and cards!

... meaning not the quality of the image but that a few of us had a wonderful day yesterday, searching for and watching a pair of Northern Hawk Owls NW of the city. The weather was perfect, sunny and blue skies, and the Owls were pretty co-operative : ) I was out for nine hours, something like three of them were spent on travelling to and from the location, the other six hours were spent watching the Owls either very high up in trees or lower and quite close to us. Northern Hawk Owls have no fear of humans, which can make for wonderful watching - IF you can find them in the first place. When I visted the area on Sunday afternoon, I went alone and stayed for a much shorter time. Having company makes the difference, both for the trip and once arrived. Thanks so much, Phil, for inviting me to go along - and thanks to various other friends who arrived close to when we did. Usually, the more eyes the better, when it comes to finding birds. I was also told yesterday that Wolves had been heard in the area and that there were Cougar tracks in the snow. So glad I didn't know this on Sunday - but now, of course, I'll be very nervous if/when I go alone, lol! I had hoped that the snow would gradually melt, as it was very deep - again up to my knees in many places - and the sort of snow that is crisp and crunchy on the surface, hiding deep, powdery snow beneath. My least favourite ground to walk on, as you never know if the next step will send you plunging down through the top layer. It's so difficult to get up on your own once you are kneeling down in deep snow. You put your hand out to help push yourself up, and of course your arm disappears. This morning, I discovered that it's snowing, which will hide the treacherous holes and ice out there - nasty! By the way, this image was taken when one of the Owls was perched on the upper, short branch and the lower Owl flew in with a gift of a Meadow Vole (mouse?). I think the upper Owl is the female. The male did try giving the Vole to his mate, but the branch was too short for him to be able to land. In the end, he ate it himself, ha. By the end of the day, I was exhausted - no strength in my legs at all, and so much pain . Standing in one spot, with one's head tilted upwards for a long time, is a killer, as is trudging backwards and forwards through deep snow. So worth it, though, ha!! The Northern Hawk Owl is a medium-sized owl, about 35 centimetres (14 inches) long. It is rare to uncommon in Alberta, year round. Apparently, it is one of Alberta's most sought-after birds. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Hawk_Owl/id/ac en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Hawk-Owl

..... hanging out on a local pond. I love the way the male Mallards have those curled, black feathers at the tail.