This was some of the scenery three of us drove through on 30 December 2012, when we were covering the SW quadrant of the huge Christmas Bird Count circle that centered on the town of Nanton, Alberta. A landscape over which the occasional Golden Eagle soars and in which numerous Sharp-tailed Grouse wander on the ground or perch in trees. I absolutely love this area SW of Nanton!

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I was so thrilled yesterday to get any photo at all of a Grey Partridge. These birds are uncommon year-round in Alberta. Having seen other people's images, I knew that these birds are beautifully coloured and longed to be able to photograph one - finally! Saw these on the Nanton Bird Count, south of Calgary. It is about a 45-minute drive from the city limits of Calgary on primary Highway #2 and just 2 1/2 hours from the American border. We noticed these birds in a field and I took a few shots sitting in the vehicle on the far side of the road, in the back passenger side seat. Wasn't expecting to get any photos fit to use, especially as the light was low (it was snowing) - LOL, the story of my life! However, with a heavy crop and some brightening, this is what I saw : ). The diameter of the "circle" around Nanton which is covered by the Count is (if I remember correctly) 25 kilometers. The four of us covered the NW quadrant of this circle, between 08:25am and 4:40pm. Distance travelled was 109 km by car and 2 km on foot.. Hours by car-6:15 and hours on foot-2.

Just in case anyone is interested, species seen are as follows:
Rough-legged Hawk-2
GOLDEN EAGLE-1ad.
PRAIRIE FALCON-2
Gray Partridge-41
SHARP-TAILED GROUSE-53 + 17 off our territory.
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE-6, in two different locations.
Rock Pigeon-71
GREAT HORNED OWL-9, this number must be some kind of a record.
Snowy Owl-1,juv. f.
Downy Woodpecker-1
Horned Lark-123
Black-billed Magpie-185
Common Raven-30
Bohemian Waxwing-9
European Starling-16
American Tree Sparrow-1
Snow Bunting-90
Common Redpoll-16
House Sparrow-635
MAMMALS- Coyote-1, Mule Deer-20, Moose-2

Tags:   Alberta Canada Nanton south of Calgary Nanton Bird Count nature fauna wild Partridge Gray Partridge Perdix perdix uncommon year-round Panasonic DMC-FZ18 FZ18 Lumix P1430314 FZ18 annkelliott NaturesFinest Explore interestingness#339 explore2008December30

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Not the most beautiful foreground, but there was still something that appealed to me in this quick shot from a moving vehicle, including the sunlight shining on the snow-covered fields. Taken on the way home from our day out on Sunday, doing a Bird Count in the Nanton area, south of the city.

Tags:   Alberta Canada Nanton south of Calgary nature scenery landscape hills sunset sky clouds farm buildings rural Panasonic DMC-FZ18 FZ18 Lumix P1430381 FZ18 annkelliott

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Taken from the back passenger side seat,on the far side of the road to where this beautiful Rough-legged Hawk was perched : ). Definitely cropped, but I was still happy to get it : ). This was seen on Sunday, while doing a Christmas Bird Count in the Nanton area, south of Calgary.

Tags:   Alberta Canada Nanton south of Calgary Bird Count nature ornithology fauna bird birds Bird of prey raptor Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus wild Arctic-nesting Buteo Panasonic DMC-FZ18 FZ18 Lumix P1430277 FZ18 annkelliott

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Five days ago, during the 109th annual Audubon Bird Count (in the Nanton area, south of Calgary), we passed about six goats near the roadside. Each one was completely different. I thought these little brown eyes looked like buttons, each with two "holes" for the thread to pass through : )

Tags:   Alberta Canada Nanton area Bird Count nature farm animal goat mammal Panasonic DMC-FZ18 FZ18 Lumix P1430323 FZ18 annkelliott

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