I was out from 6:10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. today, taking part in a Christmas Bird Count on the Cochrane Reserve, north-west of Calgary. Not sure of the exact number of bird species we saw, but it was around 23. Just outside our count area at the end of the day, we saw a beautiful little Northern Pygmy-owl atop a tall Spruce tree. Thanks, Tony, for bringing your scope - what an amazing view we were able to get of this tiny, perfect owl! We called in at various farms and ranches and saw all sorts of things in addition to the birds. This little male Downy Woodpecker was one of the many birds we watched and counted. We have a similar day tomorrow, only starting around 7:10 a.m. (phew!), and in the Sheep River/Turner Valley area, south of the city. Then, the following morning, it is the New Year's Day Count in Fish Creek Park. The morning after that, I will HAVE to sleep in, LOL!

Tags:   Alberta Canada Cochrane Reserve Christmas Bird Count nature bird Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens Panasonic DMC-FZ18 Panasonic FZ18 FZ18 P1030431 FZ18 annkelliott AvianExcellence Talkaboutwildlife.ca

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This photo was taken on 4 February 2016, when I was on a birding walk with friends, in Weaselhead. Unfortunately, it was heavily overcast - though there was no sign of the sun, it wasn't that cold. Many of our temperatures this winter have been so ridiculously mild. Maybe a week ago, it soared to +16.4C on the one day, breaking a 90-year record for that date! Whatever happened to the -20Cs and -30Cs? Makes you wonder what our summer is going to be like!

The following is a list of the species seen:

FFCPPSoc. BIRDING, Weaselhead Natural Area, Calgary, 0915-1215, Thu, 04Feb2016. Heavy overcast, NW wind 15kph, -2 to 3°C. Combined results, 2 groups.

1. Bald Eagle-1ad
2. Downy Woodpecker-5
3. Hairy Woodpecker-2
4. Northern Flicker-1
5. Blue Jay-3+
6. Black-billed Magpie-3
7. Common Raven-5
8. Black-capped Chickadee-20
9. Boreal Chickadee-3
10. Red-breasted Nuthatch-1 heard
11. White-breasted Nuthatch-2
12. Bohemian Waxwing-1
13. Pine Grosbeak-40+
14. House Finch-8+
15. White-winged Crossbill-1
16. Common Redpoll-150
17. Pine Siskin-50
18. American Goldfinch-1

Coyote-1
Red Squirrel-8
White-tailed Deer-4+

"The active little Downy Woodpecker is a familiar sight at backyard feeders and in parks and woodlots, where it joins flocks of chickadees and nuthatches, barely outsizing them. An often acrobatic forager, this black-and-white woodpecker is at home on tiny branches or balancing on slender plant galls, sycamore seed balls, and suet feeders. Downies and their larger lookalike, the Hairy Woodpecker, are one of the first identification challenges that beginning bird watchers master." From AllAboutBirds.

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Downy_Woodpecker/id/

Tags:   Calgary Alberta Canada Weaselhead nature ornithology avian bird birds Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens male tree making a cavity side view bokeh outdoor winter 4 February 2016 FZ200 FZ200#3 annkelliott Anne Elliott

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This little male Downy Woodpecker was hanging around the feeders that people have put up on a few trees in one of the parks. The female was also there, along with a few Common Redpolls, a pair of Hairy Woodpeckers, Chickadees and White-breasted Nuthatches. And a beautiful Bald Eagle flew overhead.

Tags:   Calgary Alberta Canada wildlife birds nature ornithology Downy Woodpecker male Picoides pubescens

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After my disappointing drive across the city to Bowness Park around midday, and discovering that the beautiful hoarfrost had vanished in that part of the city, I called in at Burnsmead, Fish Creek Park. Here, I got a chance to take a few shots of Chickadees, Nuthatch and this little male Downy Woodpecker. I always appreciate that little bright patch of red!

Tags:   Calgary Alberta Canada Fish Creek Park Burnsmead nature bird Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens Panasonic DMC-FZ18 Panasonic FZ-18 FZ18 P1040979 FZ18 annkelliott AnimalPlanet

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Almost missed this shot, this male Downy Woodpecker was constantly on the move, but stopped for this brief second. Have to love those males, with their splash of red : ) Taken in Hull's Wood, Fish Creek Park, on 26 November 2012. It always amazes me how a photo of a bird that was way up on a tree, can make it look as if the bird was at eye level.

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Downy_Woodpecker/id

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downy_Woodpecker

Tags:   Calgary Alberta Canada Fish Creek Park Hull's Wood/Sikome area nature ornithology avian bird birds Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens Piciformes Picidae Picoides male adult back/side view black and white bokeh beauty in nature Panasonic DMC-FZ200 DMC-FZ200 FZ200 Lumix point-and-shoot P1060837 FZ200 annkelliott Anne Elliott beautiful_expression #GreatNature

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