Wednesday, 16 March 2022: our temperature is 8°C (windchill 5°C) at 5:30 pm. Sunrise is at 7:48 am, and sunset is at 7:42 pm. Sunny with cloud.
Yesterday, 15 March 2022, my daughter and I were finally able to get together and drive E and NE of Calgary. Time is running out for a chance to see a Snowy Owl and, while I had already managed to find three Snowy Owls in a different direction from the city, my daughter had not yet had the chance to see one this winter. I knew it was more likely to see an owl yesterday, as my daughter is so good at spotting things. She did well, finding two extremely distant Snowies (I could only see one of them), and two Great Horned Owls.
As well as looking for any wildlife, we stopped to take a few photos of several old barns that I/we had seen before. The total day's drive was 368 km, so I was exhausted by the time I got home. I made the mistake of ending up on the road that goes through Chestermere, which I have avoided for years.
Tags: Alberta Canada NE of Calgary rural rural scene field farm fence building structure wood wooden old weathered barn trees outdoor winter 15 March 2022 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2022 © All Rights Reserved
© All Rights Reserved
Wednesday, 16 March 2022: our temperature is 8°C (windchill 5°C) at 5:30 pm. Sunrise is at 7:48 am, and sunset is at 7:42 pm. Sunny with cloud.
Yesterday, 15 March 2022, my daughter and I were finally able to get together and drive E and NE of Calgary. Time is running out for a chance to see a Snowy Owl and, while I had already managed to find three Snowy Owls in a different direction from the city, my daughter had not yet had the chance to see one this winter. I knew it was more likely to see an owl yesterday, as my daughter is so good at spotting things. She did well, finding two extremely distant Snowies (I could only see one of them), and two Great Horned Owls.
As well as looking for any wildlife, we stopped to take a few photos of several old barns that I/we had seen before. The total day's drive was 368 km, so I was exhausted by the time I got home. I made the mistake of ending up on the road that goes through Chestermere, which I have avoided for years.
Each year, the farmer who owns this barn allows the graduating class from the local high school to decorate this old building in any way they wish. A fun idea and it certainly adds a splash of colour. I was absolutely fascinated to read a little bit of history from someone who was a contact of mine on Flickr a few years ago. Her Grandmother was apparently born in this house/barn. It was later converted to a granary and now, of course, has become the canvas for local students.
Tags: Alberta Canada NE of Calgary scenery landscape rural rural scene field colour colourful building old house barn shed granary the Grad Barn decorated names students from local high school graduating class changes each year colours colors fun outdoor winter 15 March 2022 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2022 © All Rights Reserved
© All Rights Reserved
Thursday, 17 March 2022:
I received the following email today from one of my birding friends. I have signed the petition and made a donation, Frank Lake is such an important location! In fact, I was driving in that area just this afternoon, as well as a few days ago. The idea of a solar farm being built there is a shock.
"Hello Friends:
A 1550 acre Solar Farm is proposed to be established on the boundary of Frank Lake.
Frank Lake is located on a major Bird Migration Flyway. That is why Frank Lake has been designed an IBA* (Important Bird Area).
Birds become confused when sunlight reflects off a large area (1500 acres) of solar panels. The sunlit panels look like water and the birds come crashing down on the panels.
This solar farm will also take valuable agricultural land out of production while at the same time threatening the birds that use Frank Lake as a stopping off spot during migration or breeding grounds.
The province does need alternative sources of energy, but this is the wrong location.
I just signed the petition "Frank Lake Threatened by Foothills Solar Project" and wanted to see if you could help by adding your name.
Our goal is to reach 500 signatures and we need more support. You can read more and sign the petition here:
chng.it/xQ42s7jPpT
Please share this link with people you feel will want to know about this threat to Frank Lake.
* Important Bird Areas (IBAs) are sites that support specific groups of birds: threatened birds, large groups of birds, and birds restricted by range or by habitat.
IBAs range in size from very tiny patches of habitat to large tracts of land or water. They may encompass private or public land, and they may or may not overlap partially or entirely with legally protected sites."
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Wednesday, 16 March 2022: our temperature is 8°C (windchill 5°C) at 5:30 pm. Sunrise is at 7:48 am, and sunset is at 7:42 pm. Sunny with cloud.
I needed to add a touch of filter in post-processing.
Yesterday, 15 March 2022, my daughter and I were finally able to get together and drive E and NE of Calgary. Time is running out for a chance to see a Snowy Owl and, while I had already managed to find three Snowy Owls in a different direction from the city, my daughter had not yet had the chance to see one this winter. I knew it was more likely to see an owl yesterday, as my daughter is so good at spotting things. She did well, finding two extremely distant Snowies (I could only see one of them), and two Great Horned Owls (which were both far, far away; too far for proper photos).
As well as looking for any wildlife, we stopped to take a few photos of several old barns that I/we had seen before. The total day's drive was 368 km, so I was exhausted by the time I got home. Also, I made the mistake of ending up on the road that goes through Chestermere, which I have avoided for years.
Tags: Alberta Canada NE of Calgary nature wildlife avian ornithology bird bird of prey owl Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus male very distant side view on the ground field stubble snow outdoor winter 15 March 2022 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2022 © All Rights Reserved
© All Rights Reserved
Wednesday, 16 March 2022: our temperature is 8°C (windchill 5°C) at 5:30 pm. Sunrise is at 7:48 am, and sunset is at 7:42 pm. Sunny with cloud.
Yesterday, 15 March 2022, my daughter and I were finally able to get together and drive E and NE of Calgary. Time is running out for a chance to see a Snowy Owl and, while I had already managed to find three Snowy Owls in a different direction from the city, my daughter had not yet had the chance to see one this winter. I knew it was more likely to see an owl yesterday, as my daughter is so good at spotting things. She did well, finding two extremely distant Snowies (I could only see one of them), and two Great Horned Owls.
As well as looking for any wildlife, we stopped to take a few photos of several old barns that I/we had seen before. The total day's drive was 368 km, so I was exhausted by the time I got home. I made the mistake of ending up on the road that goes through Chestermere, which I have avoided for years.
Tags: Alberta Canada NE of Calgary building barn two farmyard old outdoor winter 15 March 2022 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott
© All Rights Reserved
HAPPY SPRING, EVERYONE!
Sunday, 20 March 2022: our temperature is 0°C (windchill -7°C) at 1:00 pm. Sunrise is at 7:39 am, and sunset is at 7:49 pm. We had a tiny bit of snow last night/this morning.
Tonight's five photos were all taken on 15 March 2022, when my daughter and I went E and NE of Calgary.
On 15 March 2022, my daughter and I were finally able to get together and drive E and NE of Calgary. Time is running out for a chance to see a Snowy Owl and, while I had already managed to find three Snowy Owls in a different direction from the city, my daughter had not yet had the chance to see one this winter. I knew it was more likely to see an owl yesterday, as my daughter is so good at spotting things. She did well, finding two extremely distant Snowies (I could only see one of them), and two Great Horned Owls.
As well as looking for any wildlife, we stopped to take a few photos of several old barns that I/we had seen before. The total day's drive was 368 km, so I was exhausted by the time I got home. Also, I made the mistake of ending up on the road that goes through Chestermere, which I have avoided for years.
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