Still adding a few more images from my archives. If I wrote a description under a previously posted photo taken on the same day, I will add it under this afternoon's posts.
This photo of a beautiful female Snowy Owl was taken during a visit to the Calgary Zoo, on 30 March 2009. Had to visit the Red Pandas, too.
""When I was watching the Red Pandas at the Calgary Zoo the other day (30 March 2009), a family (of humans!) came into the enclosure, perhaps as part of a behind-the-scenes tour? It was interesting to see how the animals interacted with the people, who were giving them pieces of fruit to eat. These are such popular residents of the Zoo. Zoo staff are keeping their fingers crossed that there might be babies soon."
Tags: Calgary Alberta Canada Calgary Zoo nature avian ornithology bird bird of prey owl Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus female front/side view captivity zoo close-up outdoor enclosure 30 March 2009 Panasonic Lumix FZ28 annkelliott Anne Elliott P1020244
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Sunday, 3 May 2020: our temperature just before 6:00 am is +4C (windchill +4C). Sunrise is at 6:04 am, and sunset is at 9:02 pm. Normally, I am not up at this unearthly hour, but I couldn't sleep. It is supposed to get up to 14C later today, cloudy with sunny breaks. Like yesterday, I am not going anywhere (except, hopefully, back to bed!), as I prefer to not add one more person out there, for when those who have to work all week get a chance to go out, if they choose. I just feel that the rest of us are fortunate enough to have the luxury to choose from five other days, if we have to go out.
Like many people, I am having to post photos from my archives as I have been basically staying home, away from everyone and everything (apart from food shopping and maybe three or four short drives out of the city over the last few weeks).
I can't add any information about the crisis the whole world is in right now, as Flickr has threatened to terminate my account. This is because I was adding information about the present situation in the descriptions under the photos I am posting from my archives! I still don't understand why this was "wrong" and I have not heard back from Flickr after I sent an Appeal email to them. When I post archive photos, I add the descriptions from previously posted photos, taken on the same outings, to remind myself of where I went and what I saw. Stay safe and well, everyone!
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"This photo was taken at the Calgary Zoo on 26 June 2018. My visit only covered about half the Zoo, as I usually spend a lot of time in the Conservatory, enjoying the plants and tropical butterflies. My daughter had taken a photo of a gigantic lily pad, Victoria Water Lily / Victoria amazonica, and I really wanted to see it. There were three or four of them in a tiny pool. I love the pattern on the underside of the upturned edge of each lily pad, I didn't see a huge variety of butterfly species that day, but there were enough to keep me happily clicking.
My intention had not been to visit the Panda family, as I was sure there would be an extremely long line-up. However, I was able to just walk in, which was great. How lucky we are to have these four amazing animals visit our Zoo. They were in an inside enclosure, full of plants - and Bamboo, of course. I'm not sure how many hours a day these animals sleep, but two of the three that could be seen slept for part of the time I was there. Had to smile at the very uncomfortable positions in which they slept. There was no glass in front of one of the Pandas, but two other Pandas, including the one in the previous photo, were in a glassed-in part of the enclosure. Almost impossible to get photos without the reflections of the crowds of people.
The Bactrian Camel had recently given birth to a baby, named Gobi - such a cute little thing, that they have named Gobi. No sign of the Red Pandas when I passed their enclosure. One of the birds I love to see - though these birds tend to hide! - is the amazing Himalayan Monal. The male, especially, takes my breath away each time I see it.
A few hours well spent happily clicking. Hopefully, it won't be almost three years before my next visit, though the west entrance does close each winter. It felt so good to once again be back in a place full of colour and interest."
Tags: Calgary Alberta Canada Calgary Zoo nature insect butterfly tropical Common Mormon? Papilio polytes?
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Adding another five images from my archives. If I wrote a description under a previously posted photo taken on the same day, I will add it under this morning's posts.
Winter returned, but it is now a sunny Spring day! More snow is forecast for the next two days, though, adding to the snow that is already on the ground. Can't go anywhere, anyway, as excruciating pain that may be caused by the sciatic nerve (?) or bursitis (?) on the right side of my body is making it almost impossible to walk even a few steps indoors. One thing after another after another after another .... Last time I went out was 22 February 2024.
This photo of a Barred Owl was taken on a visit to the Calgary Zoo, on 6 October 2014. I always love to see the dark eyes of this species.
Tags: Calgary Alberta Canada Calgary Zoo nature avian ornithology bird bird of prey owl Barred Owl Strix varia close-up looking over its shoulder dark eyes perched tree enclosure outdoor 6 October 2014 Panasonic Lumix FZ200 annkelliott Anne Elliott P1160349
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I finally got as far as the Calgary Zoo, on 12 September 2019. The last time I was there was on 26 June 2018 and the time before that had been 6 October 2015. I used to go several times a year, but the long gap from 2015 to 2018 was because of major road construction and a bridge replacement right by the Zoo. Anyway, it felt good to be back there a few weeks ago. .
My visit only covered a small area of the Zoo, as I usually spend a lot of time in the Conservatory, enjoying the plants and tropical butterflies. I did call in to see the Giant Pandas one last time before they leave the Zoo after their five-year visit. How lucky we have been to have these four amazing animals visit our Zoo. They were in an inside enclosure, full of plants - and Bamboo, of course. The Zoo had another Panda visit way back in 1988, but they only stayed for seven months. The Conservation Status of the Giant Panda is Vulnerable, with fewer than 1,800 giant pandas left in the wild.
A few hours well spent, happily clicking. Hopefully, it won't be so long before my next visit, though the west entrance does close each winter, and the north entrance is out of my driving comfort zone. It felt so good to once again be back in a place full of colour and interest. It also feels good to have some colourful photos to post this morning, following our three-day snow storm. I reckoned there must have been about 10 inches of snow on top of my fence and, sure enough, 10.6 inches (27 cm) of snow was recorded. Further south, in Waterton, they received 37.4 inches (95 cm) of the white stuff. No more snow in the forecast for the next little while, and the sun is shining today. Unfortunately, my computer is just about out of room, so a massive back-up of photo files and a lot of deleting from my hard drive is what is urgently needed.
Tags: Calgary Alberta Canada Calgary Zoo ENMAX Conservatory plant flora nature flower Spathiphyllum wallisii white tropical macro close-up indoor
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I just had to end today's uploads with something bright and colourful. This gorgeous, red Hibiscus was from my visit to the Calgary Zoo, on 12 September 2019.
Today, 4 November 2019, is an overcast day, with a temperature of -1C (windchill -5C). No sign of the sun, but at least it has stopped snowing, at least for now. Same kind of day as yesterday, when I decided to join 10 friends for an afternoon birding walk in Fish Creek Park. I think this was the very first walk I have done this 12-week birding session, and I missed seeing friends. It was cold, and rather quiet bird-wise. However, we were all happy to see a pair of Great Horned Owls - they make any walk worthwhile, no matter how many times one has seen one before. The second owl was too well-hidden to get even a half decent photo.
The other bonus for me was coming across a display of fungus growing on a fallen log. Not that I need any more fungus photos, as I took a few thousand fungi photos this fall. Eventually, I will get back to editing and posting more of them.
While we were walking near the river, we noticed a plume of dense, black smoke rising from just south of Highway 22X, in the southeast community of Legacy. Apparently, it was a two-house fire, needing several fire trucks.
One of the photos posted this morning shows the old Jobber's House in Fish Creek Park, near the Visitor Centre, with the red barn/shed in the distance. This building was built in 1918.
"A group of volunteers is hoping it can save and renovate a century-old house in Fish Creek provincial park.
It's known as The Jobber's House, named for the man who lived there when the Bow Valley Ranch was a going concern and he was the guy who did all the odd jobs around the farm.
The executive director of Friends of Fish Creek, Nic Blanchet, said the farmhouse has sat empty since the 1950s when the last occupants moved out."
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/fish-creek-heritage-house-...
Tags: Calgary Alberta Canada Calgary Zoo nature plant flora flower red large Hibiscus indoor 12 September 2019 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2019 © All Rights Reserved
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