I was so happy when we came across this Wilson's Snipe a few days ago, at a location where I had taken many photos of it/them the last few years. When I drove past there last week, there was no sign of a Snipe, which was disappointing, as I love to photograph them.

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/wilsons_snipe/lifehistory

Sunday, 25 May 2014, was the annual May Species Count, and it went really well. There were seven people in my group and we travelled in two vehicles, covering a large area SW of Calgary and W of Priddis. The Count lasted from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the weather was mostly clear but clouded up by noon, with a short shower while we were having lunch at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park. Heavy clouds for the rest of the day, calm, 9-18°C, with 88km travelled by car. 69 bird species were found, plus 15 White-tailed Deer and two Moose. Most species were seen from far away, but I did manage to get just a few photos of several of the species. A good day : ) Thanks for driving Rob and myself, Phil! Much appreciated!

Each year on this Count, a highlight is calling in to see the much sought-after Evening Grosbeaks at Barb Castell's acreage. They didn't let us down, and even gave us some chances to get a few photos. Feeder photos are not my favourite, but we were also able to catch them in the trees, too. After the Count ended, it was pointed out that we could return to the city by one of two different routes. If we had chosen the other route, we would have missed the other highlight of the day - a Great Gray Owl! It didn't stay around for more than a few minutes, as it was busy hunting, but we did manage to get a handful of shots. We also saw a Ring-necked Pheasant in a field, just within camera range.

I will add the list (compiled by the Count leader, Gus Yaki), of the 69 bird species seen, for my own memory. It probably won't be of much interest to most of you : ) I should add that I didn't see every single one of these species.

Canada Goose-60 ad/30 juv.
Gadwall-3
Mallard-19
Blue-winged Teal-16
Cinnamon Teal-2
Northern Shoveler-10
Green-winged Teal-6
Redhead-2
Ring-necked Duck-9
Lesser Scaup-19
Bufflehead-10
Barrow's Goldeneye-2
Ruddy Duck-10
Ring-necked Pheasant-1 heard.
Common Loon-1
Pied-billed Grebe-1
Great Blue Heron-1
Swainson's Hawk-1
Red-tailed Hawk-7
Sora-5
American Coot-6
Killdeer-3
Spotted Sandpiper-3
Wilson's Snipe-10
Wilson's Phalarope-5
Black Tern-22
Mourning Dove-1
Great Gray Owl-2
Red-naped Sapsucker-1
Downy Woodpecker-1
Northern Flicker-1
Western Wood-Pewee-2
Least Flycatcher-7
Eastern Phoebe-1
Eastern Kingbird-4
Warbling Vireo-1
Blue Jay-7
Black-billed Magpie-8
American Crow-7
Common Raven-6
Tree Swallow-213
Barn Swallow-4
Black-capped Chickadee-12
Mountain Chickadee-5
Boreal Chickadee-2
White-breasted Nuthatch-1
House Wren-7
Ruby-crowned Kinglet-5
Mountain Bluebird-24
American Robin-12
Gray Catbird-2
European Starling-7
Tennessee Warbler-6
Yellow Warbler-3
Northern Waterthrush-1
Chipping Sparrow-9
Clay-colored Sparrow-26
Savannah Sparrow-3
Song Sparrow-2
Dark-eyed Junco-3
Red-winged Blackbird-164
Brewer's Blackbird-11
Common Grackle-8
Brown-headed Cowbird-9
Baltimore Oriole-1
Purple Finch-2
American Goldfinch-1
Evening Grosbeak-15
House Sparrow-4

Red Squirrel-4
Richardson's Ground Squirrel-1
Columbian Ground Squirrel-1
Meadow Vole-1
White-tailed Deer-15
Moose-2

Tags:   Alberta Canada SW of Calgary May Species Count 2014 nature ornithology avian bird birds Snipe Wilson's Snipe Gallinago gallinago shorebird adult side view perched fence post bokeh wetland Explore interestingness#377 explore2014May29 annkelliott Anne Elliott Panasonic DMC-FZ200 FZ200 Lumix point-and-shoot

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I took so many photos of this Raven - but nearly every time I clicked the shutter, it would turn its head away. Managed to get a handful of shots to keep, though, and this is one of them. These birds are always so fascinating to watch, especially knowing that they are very smart. This one was, of course, looking for food - which it didn't get, I should add! When I see Ravens within the city, they are usually flying overhead or perched near the top of a very tall tree. Out in the mountains, they have, unfortunately, learned to follow people and like to hang out at stopping points., which does make it easier to take photos.

Taken on 15 May 2014, during a two day trip to the Canadian Rockies with friends, Cathy and Terry.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_raven

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Raven/id?utm_source=Co...

Later: was out doing my volunteer shift today, so I haven't been on Flickr for much of the time. Checked My Contacts' photos just now, and there are hardly any posted. I wonder if there is Flickr problem somewhere, or if people just aren't posting much now that spring/summer is here.

Tags:   Canada W of Calgary Rocky Mountains Canadian Rockies nature ornithology avian bird birds Raven Common Raven Corvus corax large all-black passerine Corvid Corvidae intelligent smart close-up wingspan of 100 to 150 cm (40 to 59 in) head shot side view bokeh Explore explore2014June05 interestingness#112 Anne Elliott FZ200 Lumix point-and-shoot Wildscreen Arkive

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I believe this is the first Purple Finch that I've ever seen, so despite the fact that this is a really bad photo, I wanted to add it to my Birds of Alberta 9 album.

This colourful little bird was seen through a chain link fence at Barb Castell's property. It gave us just a couple of quick chances for a photo. Taken on 25 May 2014, when a small group of seven of us covered the roads SW of Calgary, and W of Priddis, for the annual May Species Count. Barb has such a great garden with feeders and we look forward each year to visiting her on our count. Evening Grosbeaks are almost a guarantee there, at certain times of the year, so we really appreciate Barb letting us come and see them. Total of 69 bird species were seen on this Count day.

"The Purple Finch is the bird that Roger Tory Peterson famously described as a “sparrow dipped in raspberry juice.” For many of us, they’re irregular winter visitors to our feeders, although these chunky, big-beaked finches do breed in northern North America and the West Coast. Separating them from House Finches requires a careful look, but the reward is a delicately colored, cleaner version of that red finch. Look for them in forests, too, where you’re likely to hear their warbling song from the highest parts of the trees." From AllAboutBirds.

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/purple_finch/id?utm_source=Co...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_finch

Tags:   Alberta Canada SW of Calgary May Species Count 2014 Barb Castell's property nature ornithology avian bird birds Finch Purple Finch Haemorhous purpureus Fringillidae male passerine migratory feeding on ground

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Came across this photo taken back on 27 April 2014, that I hadn't posted before. Not the greatest shot, but too cute to get buried on my hard drive. Taken in Fish Creek Park just a few days before these two Great Horned Owlets fledged. We were surprised because, compared to last year's owlets, these new ones did very little wing practice while still at the top of the nesting tree.

Posting later than usual today, around 11:30 a.m.). Overslept again (till 11:30 a.m.) thanks to the muscle relaxant pills I'm having to take as part of the treatment for inflammation (and hopefully not a tear!) of the rotator cuffs in my shoulders. I'm already taking only half the dose my doctor prescribed, as I just can't function on the full dose.

Tags:   Calgary Alberta Canada Fish Creek Park nature ornithology avian bird birds bird of prey owl Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus owlet two young perched rim of nesting tree wing exercise a few days before fledging Explore interestingness#377 explore2014June06 annkelliott Anne Elliott FZ200 Lumix

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25 May 2014 was the annual May Species Count, which went really well. There were seven people in my group and we travelled in two vehicles, covering a large area SW of Calgary and W of Priddis. The Count lasted from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the weather was mostly clear but clouded up by noon, with a short shower while we were having lunch at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park. Heavy clouds for the rest of the day, calm, 9-18°C, with 88km travelled by car. 69 bird species were found, plus 15 White-tailed Deer and two Moose. A good day! Thanks for the ride, Phil! Much appreciated!

Each year on this Count, a highlight is calling in to see the much sought-after Evening Grosbeaks at Barb Castell's acreage. They didn't let us down, and even gave us some chances to get a few photos. They were a fair distance away and seemed to be constantly on the move, so I didn't get any photos that were particularly good. However, when it comes to Evening Grosbeaks, I'll take anything I can get : )

After the Count ended, it was pointed out that we could return to the city by one of two different routes. If we had chosen the other route, we would have missed the other highlight of the day - a Great Gray Owl! It didn't stay around for long, as it was busy hunting, but we did manage to get a handful of quick shots. We also saw a Ring-necked Pheasant in a field, just within camera range.

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/evening_grosbeak/id

Tags:   Alberta Canada SW of Calgary not far from Priddis Barb Castell's property nature ornithology avian bird birds Evening Grosbeak Coccothraustes vespertinus Fringillidae Carduelinae migratory male side/underneath view tree branches Explore explore2014June06 dropped before Scouted screen shot taken annkelliott Anne Elliott

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