We are having continued hot weather, which always knocks me out! Today, it is supposed to get up to 28C (to feel like 30C). My place is feeling like an oven (no air-conditioning) after the last few hot days, and this is expected to continue for a few more days. A Heat Warning is still in effect and there is also a Severe Thunderstorm Watch.

No matter how many times I see one of these owls and no matter how many hundreds/thousands of photos I've taken of them, each owl is as exciting as the very first. I don't remember seeing a Great Gray Owl SW of the city since our May Species Count in 2014.

Before early 2016, the most 'recent' Great Grays that I had seen and photographed was one that was a rare visitor to the city - found in Fish Creek Park for a while and my last photos of it were taken on 18 February 2014. There was also a Great Gray at Griffith Woods, Calgary, and some of my photos were taken on 10 February 2014. Saw another owl on our May Species Count SW of the city on 25 May 2014. Many of my 'best' sightings and photos of Great Grays were taken NW of Calgary, the last dates being 28 March 2013 and 5 May 2013. So, after 25 May 2014 .... nothing until early 2016, NW of the city. Until 8 days ago!!

I decided that for once, I would go out in an evening to look for one of these magnificent birds of prey. Unfortunately, heavy black clouds were already starting to build, with patches of blue sky still showing. Once I hit the main highway, the rain started and continued till I got back home. I was determined to go and check out the various places where I had seen these owls just a few years ago. The two separate owls I found were not far from previous sightings - one along the main road and the other was flying over a distant field. Both were focused on hunting. The first owl flew from post to post, searching for prey. Not a place I particularly wanted to stop, as a number of cars did drive by - had my blinkers turned on. Almost the whole time, I was sitting in my car, with rain pouring in through the open passenger window - but, hey, it's for an OWL! I did get out for maybe three or so minutes, as I know from too much experience that many shots taken from inside my car don't come out. Must have looked rather silly, standing in the rain, to people going by, lol.

Feeling so happy, I decided to drive again along a different area, just to check one last time before going home. That's when I noticed a large bird way off in the distance, flying over a field. I was amazed when it eventually flew to a tree within camera reach and then even more surprised when it flew to a fairly close fence post, which is when I took this shot. Fully zoomed, Focal Length (35mm format) - 1200 mm. The owls looked rather wet and a little wind-blown in most of my photos, but, needless to say, I went home feeling thrilled to bits. I don't remember ever seeing an owl shake the rain off its feathers just like a dog shakes off water.

"Although the Great Gray Owl is the tallest American owl with the largest wingspan, it is just a ball of feathers. It preys on small mammals and has relatively small feet. Both the Great Horned and Snowy owls weigh half again as much, and have larger feet and talons. The oldest recorded Great Gray Owl was at least 18 years, 9 months old and lived in Alberta." From AllABoutBirds.

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Gray_Owl/lifehistory

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Grey_Owl

Tags:   Alberta Canada SW of Calgary nature ornithology avian bird birds bird of prey owl Great Gray Owl Great Grey Owl Strix nebulosa Strigiformes Strigidae Strix perched fence post side/front view close-up portrait in the rain hunting grass field bokeh outdoor spring 30 May 2016 FZ200 FZ200#3 annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2016 © All Rights Reserved Explore interestingness#165 explore2016June08

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My thoughts are with all the people of Fort McMurray, Alberta, who are being devastated by a massive wildfire at the moment. Everyone in the city is fleeing, leaving everything behind.

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/fort-mcmurray-fire-social...

Two days ago, on 2 May 2016, I was incredibly fortunate to be able to witness about 30 (?) of these Grouse, mainly male with just a handful of females, displaying at their "lek" or communal dancing ground. On this particular day, five of us went to see this. There had been a couple of possible chances for me to get out there, but these had fallen through. Then, out of the blue, friend Dorothy phoned me a few days ago, asking if I had been able to get to the lek yet. She said that if I hadn't been, that her husband Stephen would be willing to drive me there! This was such a wonderful surprise, though anyone who really knows this couple already knows what amazingly kind and generous people they are. I was so happy to get this unexpected chance and the three of us had a great morning, in good weather and in good company. Two young men also went, making their own way there. Delightful guys, highly respectful of not only the Grouse, but also of us, constantly moving form their seats to allow us to get our turn, and vice versa - there are only three tiny windows from which to shoot. They could so easily have left the 'hide/blind ahead of us when the Grouse had all left, but instead they waited till we were all packed up and then made sure that we were all able to safely get over the very awkward stile at the fence line. Having been out there last year, on 13 April 2015, I knew of this problem and had bought a three-step step ladder a few weeks ago, just in case I was able to go sometime this spring. This made so much difference, thank goodness, especially as I was really tired after staying up all night in order to leave at a very unearthly hour of the morning.

So glad we had a nice, sunny day - the day I went a year ago, the weather was overcast and not good for photos. This year, I got to see the Grouse in beautiful sunrise light, too. Of course, the 'problem' of clumps of tall grass was exactly the same this year, lol, keeping the birds somewhat hidden, but every once in a while, a bird would come out into the open. Most of the time, they were quite distant, but we were very lucky that several did give us a closer view. This photo was taken fully zoomed - Focal Length (35mm format) - 1200 mm - so it's better to see it at this size and not the larger size. Such magnificent birds, with their yellow 'eyebrows', purple patch (which is revealed when the males are dancing) below the side of the neck on the males, and glorious feather pattern. Their dance display to attract the females is so fascinating to watch.

Just after we got back to our cars, another car came along the road and stopped to talk with us. It turned out that this gentleman was indirectly connected to the lek. He voiced his huge concern at how many people had been out there this spring, feeling that this was not good for the Grouse. He said that hopefully no more people would be going, so that the Grouse would be undisturbed in their mating. We agreed with him and thought that maybe people should not be allowed to visit every year, but perhaps every two or three years. I will pass on his words and great concern to our Naturalist leader who organizes these visits.

After we left the lek, we travelled a few nearby backroads, hoping to see a Western Meadowlark. We saw 10! It had been so funny, while we sat in the blind at the lek, a Meadowlark was somewhere nearby and sang for us for about four hours! When we at last emerged into the sunlight, there was no sign of it anywhere. We did manage to get a few distant shots of two or three of them.

Thank you so much, Stephen and Dorothy, for offering to take me - so very kind and thoughtful of you, as always! The stop for having our sandwiches was great and the muffins you brought along with you ended the morning very nicely.

If you have time, the following 2:30 minute YouTube video by the Alberta Conservation Association is very good for showing the action of these birds. There are several still shots first and then the video starts. Pretty amazing! The birds remind me of a child's wind-up toy : )

youtu.be/vRUVIU4UfYo

I came across an excellent brochure (pdf file) about Sharp-tailed Grouse on the Internet and will use some of the information from it, instead of using my own words to describe what goes on at a lek. I had seen females of this species before, on Christmas Bird Counts, but not a male and not at breeding time.

www.ab-conservation.com/downloads/educational_materials/b...

"Sharp-tailed grouse perform spring courtship displays on communal “dancing grounds” called leks. Here, males compete for breeding opportunities by displaying their "dancing” ability to females. Most activity on the lek occurs in the early morning just before sunrise and for a few hours afterwards. The males’ energetic display includes fluttering wings, rapid foot stomping and spinning in tight circles - reminiscent of wind-up toys. The most dominant males court females with low cooing sounds and by strutting around them with inflated air sacs on their neck and fanned tail feathers. It is nearly a winner-take-all form of competition, as only a few of the males are selected as mates by the females.

Leks are found in areas with dry open ground, where dancing activity keeps the vegetation well-trampled. Leks are used over several weeks beginning in late March and are often used for years, even decades. They are an important part of sharp-tailed grouse life, and the loss of suitable lek habitat can be a limiting factor for sharp-tailed grouse in Alberta.

Male sharp-tailed grouse gather on the lek in late March. In April the females arrive, sparking increased displaying by the males. Peak attendance by females on the lek occurs between mid to late April in much of Alberta. Once they have selected a male, hens breed once and then seek out a place to nest, usually in late April to early May.

Leks are an integral part of the lifecycle of prairie grouse. Active leks should never be approached, as any disturbance to the birds may disrupt breeding activities and result in the abandonment of the lek. The locations of active and historical leks are of great interest to grouse biologists.

Native North Americans called the sharp-tailed grouse “Fire Bird” because of their reliance on fires to keep their habitat open in wooded areas. Suppression of natural fire in parkland and boreal areas reduces the amount of open grassland available to sharp-tailed grouse.

Sharp-tailed grouse were an important food source for native North Americans and they continue to be a popular game bird for hunters today.

In Alberta, the sharp-tailed grouse is listed as “Sensitive.”
While exact population numbers are not known, there is a feeling that sharp-tailed grouse have decreased significantly in numbers over the past 40 years. This trend is supported by lek counts, hunter surveys, aerial counts and Breeding Bird Survey data. Declining numbers are the result of a reduction in the quality and quantity of sharp-tailed grouse habitat, particularly the loss of quality nesting and brood-rearing habitat." From www.ab-conservation.com.

www.ab-conservation.com/downloads/report_series/Use-Habit...

Tags:   Alberta Canada nature ornithology avian bird birds wild wildlife Grouse lek Sharp-tailed Grouse Tympanuchus phasianellus male communal dancing ground side view listed in Alberta as Sensitive declining numbers medium-sized prairie grouse Fire Bird feathers pattern IUCN Status: Least Concern grassland outdoor spring 2 May 2016 FZ200 FZ200#3 annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2016 © All Rights Reserved

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Position one of these Great Gray Owls right in front of a tree trunk and you will discover how amazing the camouflage is. Yesterday, I stood so that the owl was nicely framed by these two trees. It was along the edge of the forest, quite a distance away, and out of the sun - the colour of the feathers tends to look different when in the shade (a much darker brown).

"Although the Great Gray Owl is the tallest American owl with the largest wingspan, it is just a ball of feathers. It preys on small mammals and has relatively small feet. Both the Great Horned and Snowy owls weigh half again as much, and have larger feet and talons. The oldest recorded Great Gray Owl was at least 18 years, 9 months old and lived in Alberta." From AllABoutBirds.

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Gray_Owl/lifehistory

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Grey_Owl

It had been a week since I had last seen one of these owls, so I decided to drive there yesterday morning and see if one could be seen. When I arrived, three people had already found one - apparently, it had been sitting on a fence post moments before, but flew off into the far line of trees just as I was slowly arriving. Much as I am delighted to see an owl anywhere, along the edge of the trees is my least favourite place, as the owl is then in the shade.

After a while, I decided to drive further along the road to see if there were any other owls to be seen, and when I returned, the handful of people were photographing one sitting on a fence post. I just managed to get three or four rather useless shots before it flew off to the forest.

Tags:   Alberta Canada NW of Calgary nature ornithology avian bird birds bird of prey owl Great Gray Owl Great Grey Owl Strix nebulosa Strigiformes Strigidae Strix distant perched front view tree trees broken tree trunk forest hunting outdoor early spring 2 April 2016 FZ200 FZ200#3 annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2016 © All Rights Reserved Excellence AvianExcellence Explore interestingness#144 explore2016April04

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Some years, the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count for Nanton is held late in December. Other years, it ends up being held early January. The Count on 3 January 2016 was part of the 2015 Bird Count.

I think these gorgeous Pine Grosbeaks, this one a male, were the highlight of the day for me. We had been told about a farm family who had lots of these Grosbeaks at their feeders, and we are so glad that we called in. We also saw a Gray Jay there, to add to our species list. My small group of 4 friends and myself, travelling in two cars, did see 5 Golden Eagles, too, which was a thrill, but they were way off in the distance and I couldn't get any close photos like this one of a Grosbeak : )

"One of the larger members of its family, the Pine Grosbeak is a bird of the boreal forests, found across northern Eurasia and North America, and south into the mountains of western Canada and the United States. A large, unwary finch, it makes periodic winter irruptions into southern Canada and northern United States. It is the largest and rarest of the "winter finches." From AllAboutBirds.

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pine_Grosbeak/id

As you can see, the weather was bright and sunny for us yesterday. What you can't see was that it was very cold for the first part of the day, then warming up to a pleasant cold later on! I think it was -21C when we started. On last year's trip in January (for the 2013 Count, but delayed), on the hour-long drive south of Calgary, we hit -34C (-29.2F)!!!!! Again, this year, there was no or very little wind, which makes all the difference. The only walking we had to do was when we called in at various farms and homesteads.

I love the scenery for this Count. A landscape over which the occasional Golden Eagle soars and in which some years - but definitely not yesterday! - numerous Sharp-tailed Grouse wander on the ground or perch in trees. Unlike some years, we saw only a handful of very distant Grouse, perched on a group of hay bales. I absolutely love this area SW of Nanton! Some of the backroads are extremely steep and almost look vertical when seen from a distance. Some years, the whole area is white, covered in deep snow, so that you can't tell where the roadside ends and the ditch begins. Yesterday wasn't too bad, thank goodness, though I might have felt differently if I had been one of the two drivers!

Around lunch time, we returned to the Truch family's home as we were very nearby, and ate our lunch in the warmth of their cosy home.

After driving (being driven, for me, which is always pure luxury) the backroads from about 8:00 a.m. till around 3:30 p.m., we returned to the wonderful home of the Truch family. Not only do Bill and Leah Truch and their son, Mike, always welcome everyone with open arms, they also provide a much-appreciated breakfast snack for us and then, at the end of the day, a delicious supper. Have to say that I love travelling these scenic backroads, but I also really enjoy getting together with everyone afterwards. One of my favourite Bird Counts, and perhaps the most favourite. Just before leaving for Calgary at the end of the day, we were shown the family's Llamas, two Donkeys, Peacocks, and several tiny white Quail. I should have taken photos of these animals when it was daylight - but maybe I can do it next year.

Thanks so much for doing all the driving, Tony and Andrew, and thanks, Leah, Bill and Mike for all the effort and time you put into your warm welcome! It was another well-organized Count, Mike, as usual - thanks. Can't wait for next Christmas!

List of species seen by our small group and sent in to eBird by Andrew Hart:

Nanton general area
Jan 3, 2016
8:45 AM
Traveling
113.00 km
360 Minutes
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: -14 to +1 deg C sunny. Nanton CBC area D

32 Sharp-tailed Grouse
5 Golden Eagle
1 Bald Eagle
12 Rough-legged Hawk
50 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
2 Eurasian Collared-Dove
8 Downy Woodpecker
1 Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)
3 Northern Shrike
4 Gray Jay
100 Black-billed Magpie
28 Common Raven
16 Black-capped Chickadee
4 European Starling
2 American Tree Sparrow
105 Pine Grosbeak -- First 60 In a yard with feeders. Balance seen elsewhere along route. Another 35 in a yard off Williams Coulee.
3 White-winged Crossbill
220 Common Redpoll
4 Hoary Redpoll
40 House Sparrow

Number of Species: 20

Tags:   Alberta Canada S of Calgary Nanton Nanton area Christmas Bird Count 2015 SW quadrant of Count circle farmyard nature ornithology avian bird Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator Family: Fringillidae male red front/side view bright colour colourful perched branch curved bokeh outdoor winter 3 January 2016 FZ200 FZ200#3 annkelliott Anne Elliott

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I think these gorgeous Pine Grosbeaks were the highlight of the day for me, five days ago. We had been told about a farm family who had lots of these Grosbeaks at their feeders, and we are so glad that we called in. We also saw a Gray Jay there, to add to our species list. My small group of 4 friends and myself, travelling in two cars, did see 5 Golden Eagles, too, which was a real thrill, but they were way off in the distance and I couldn't get any close photos like this one : ) Much as I prefer to not have feeder shots, I was still happy to get the chance to photograph these birds up close.

Some years, the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count for the town of Nanton is held late in December. Other years, it ends up being held early January, sometimes delayed because of really bad weather. The Count that took place on 3 January 2016, was part of the 2015 Bird Count.

As you can see, the weather was bright and sunny for us this day. What you can't see was that it was very cold for the first part of the day, then warming up to a more pleasant cold later on! I think it was -21C when we started. Two year's ago, on the trip in January (for the 2013 Count, but delayed), on the hour-long drive south of Calgary, we hit -34C (-29.2F)!!!!! Again, this year, there was no or very little wind, which makes all the difference. Also, the only walking we had to do was when we called in at various farms.

We drove through such beautiful scenery when we were covering the SW quadrant of the Christmas Bird Count circle that centered on the town of Nanton, Alberta. A landscape over which the occasional Golden Eagle soars (my small group saw 5!) and in which some years - but definitely not on this day! - numerous Sharp-tailed Grouse wander on the ground or perch in trees. I absolutely love this area SW of Nanton! Some of these backroads are extremely steep and almost look vertical when seen from a distance. Some years, the whole area is white, covered in deep snow, so that you can't tell where the roadside ends and the ditch begins. This Count, it wasn't too bad, thank goodness, though I might have felt differently if I had been one of the two drivers for our group!

Around lunch time, we returned to the Truch family's place as we were very nearby, and ate our lunch in the warmth of their cosy home.

After driving (being driven, for me, which is always pure luxury) the backroads from about 8:00 a.m. till around 3:30 p.m., we returned to the wonderful home of the Truch family. Not only do Bill and Leah Truch and their son, Mike, always welcome everyone with open arms, they also provide a much-appreciated breakfast snack for us and then, at the end of the day, a delicious supper. Have to say that I love travelling these scenic backroads, but I also really enjoy getting together with everyone afterwards. This is one of my favourite Bird Counts, and perhaps the most favourite.

Just before leaving for Calgary at the end of the day, we were shown the family's Llamas, two Donkeys, Peacocks, and several tiny white Quail. I should have taken photos of these animals when it was daylight - but maybe I can do it next year.

Thanks so much for doing all the driving, Tony and Andrew, and thanks, Leah, Bill and Mike for all the effort and time you put into your warm welcome! It was another well-organized Count, Mike, as usual - thanks. Can't wait for next Christmas!

List of species seen by our small group, from Andrew Hart:

Nanton general area
Jan 3, 2016
8:45 AM
Traveling
113.00 km
360 Minutes
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: -14 to +1 deg C sunny. Nanton CBC area D

32 Sharp-tailed Grouse
5 Golden Eagle
1 Bald Eagle
12 Rough-legged Hawk
50 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
2 Eurasian Collared-Dove
8 Downy Woodpecker
1 Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)
3 Northern Shrike
4 Gray Jay
100 Black-billed Magpie
28 Common Raven
16 Black-capped Chickadee
4 European Starling
2 American Tree Sparrow
105 Pine Grosbeak -- First 60 In a yard with feeders. Balance seen elsewhere along route. Another 35 in a yard off Williams Coulee.
3 White-winged Crossbill
220 Common Redpoll
4 Hoary Redpoll
40 House Sparrow

Number of Species: 20

Tags:   Alberta Canada S of Calgary Nanton Nanton area Christmas Bird Count 2015 SW quadrant of Count circle farmyard acreage nature ornithology avian bird Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator Family: Fringillidae male red back/side view bright colour colourful on the ground snow snow-covered feeding seeds outdoor winter 3 January 2016 FZ200 FZ200#3 annkelliott Anne Elliott © All Rights Reserved © Anne Elliott 2016

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