Yay - I finally have Internet again!!! Was without it yesterday evening and night up till maybe 20 minutes ago (it's about 10:45 a.m. now). After my continuous computer problems the last 3+ weeks, I was beginning to think that this was yet another one, ha! I don't need any more stress!!! In the end, after trying the usual things, I phoned Shaw and found a recorded message saying that they were experiencing technical difficulties. I was so relieved - though it still made for a "strange" evening and night having no access to the Net. So, instead, I sat for hours and backed up more of my photo folders, really concerned and feeling more and more convinced that there was something deep-seatedly wrong with my computer - and now, this morning, I can barely lift my arms upwards. Looks like I will be living in my pjs and going with hair uncombed for the rest of the day, ha! Remember what life was like before the invention of computers, lol?? Does anyone have a spare day of relaxation that they would be willing to donate to a worthy cause (i.e. "moi")?
Oh, and this is Common Burdock, photographed at Mallard Point, Fish Creek Park, on September 25th. Though it is an invasive weed, I find the plant quite attractive.
"The prickly heads of these plants (burrs) are noted for easily catching on to fur and clothing (being the inspiration for Velcro), thus providing an excellent mechanism for seed dispersal." From Wikipedia.
Tags: Calgary Alberta Canada southern Alberta Fish Creek Park Mallard Point nature plant flora weed invasive Burdock Common Burdock Arctium minus burrs prickly the inspiration for Velcro light bokeh beauty in nature macro close-up square crop Panasonic DMC-FZ35 DMC-FZ35 FZ35 Lumix point-and-shoot P1190560 FZ35 annkelliott
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Yes, winter drags on and on and on .... Then, I see something beautiful that only winter can create, and my spirits are lifted once again : ). This is where I was walking this morning for about three hours (temperature started off around -9C and rose to around -1C). I had never crossed the bridge at Mallard Point, in Fish Creek Park, and walked quite a way south along the eastern side of the Bow River. Later on this walk, the path climbs up the cliff and you get a beautiful (zoomed) view over part of Fish Creek Park (somewhere around Bankside) with the Rocky Mountains in the distance. Saw two Ring-necked Pheasants, a Northern Goshawk, a Pileated Woodpecker and all the usual ducks and Chickadees, and so on. Also watched about five or six White-tailed Deer cross the water. Forecast for the next three days (at least) is for SNOW - again : (
Tags: Calgary Alberta Canada Fish Creek Park Bow River east side of river south from Mallard Point scenery landscape view outdoors seasons winter snow mountains river trees peaks image photography photo picture nature winter wonderland scenic horizontal no people Panasonic DMC-FZ28 FZ28 Lumix P1000308 FZ28 annkelliott
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I do have to laugh when I see my various photos of this tiny Northern Pygmy-owl. It looks as if I am standing just below it, when in fact this little guy was perched on a very distant branch! So far away that I couldn't usually see which way its head was pointing. Just took lots of photos, hoping that it would be pointing my way in at least a few of the shots. And of course, it really doesn't have a tinge of green and purple in its feathers - just nasty chromatic aberation from pointing my camera up towards a totally overcast sky, lol. However, isn't it cute? Seen down in Fish Creek Park at Bebo Grove on February 21st. It was the weirdest thing, because I was walking along the path heading for my car, when I just stopped suddenly in my tracks, and when I turned to my right, there in the far distance sat a familiar little "ball", looking very much like a small wasp's nest on a branch.
Tags: Calgary Alberta Canada southern Alberta Fish Creek Park Bebo Grove nature bird birds bird of prey raptor owl Northern Pygmy-owl Glaucidium californicum adult branch perched perching front view square crop beauty in nature Panasonic DMC-FZ40 DMC-FZ40 FZ40 Lumix point-and-shoot P1010157 FZ40 annkelliott The Nature Conservancy
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Look at the size of those talons, LOL! I've just noticed that it looks like blood on his feathers, so presumably he had eaten something recently. Love his Licorice Allsorts eyes. Usually when I see this adult male, his eyes are tightly shut and he doesn't move. This afternoon, he actually moved a few times, to do a bit of preening and to glance around.This is one of "my" Great Horned Owls, i.e. down at Sikome in Fish Creek Park. His mate was perched on the same branch, off to the right. Weather was beautiful today and I just couldn't stay at home. We know that the weather will change for the worse and perhaps then I won't mind staying indoors.
Tags: Calgary Alberta Canada Fish Creek Park Sikome nature ornithology bird birds raptor bird of prey Owl Great Horned Owl adult male Bubo virginianus Panasonic DMC-FZ18 FZ18 Lumix P1430566 FZ18 annkelliott VosPlusBellesPhotos
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Not sure when I took this photo, but it was with my old Olympus C750 UZ camera, when the date wasn't working. Found at Bebo Grove, Fish Creek Park. LOL, at least I got one edge reasonably sharp!
Tags: Calgary Alberta Canada Fish Creek Park Bebo Grove nature fungus fungi mushroom botany yellow macro close-up outdoors image photograph color image square square format colorful forest Olympus C750 UZ Olympus C750UZ P1010078 C750 UZ annkelliott Searchthebest
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