... I was losing hope that we were going to see this owl after hours of birding an area outside of Calgary this past Summer. It was getting dark and soon we were going to loose the sun.... when we finally got lucky and found an owl hunting... This owl was wild and free, outside an urban area and was not baited... it was a lifer for me as we do not have these birds on Vancouver Island... Truly a fascinating bird to watch.... Many, many, many thanks to our friend Geoff who accompanied us in that birding expedition.
Tags: Great-gray Owl Wild and Free Lifer Bokeh Bird Hunting No bait The longest night Solstice
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I know, it is unreasonable and unsustainable... just wishful thinking. This adorable little creature was photographed in Highwood Pass, Kananaskis last Summer. Here is some info about them en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pika
When we left the area, my husband checked my camera bag to ensure I had not snitched one from the area to take home :)
Tags: Wild and Free Pika All I want for Christmas flower power no bait
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When I think of my preferred photographic moments of 2017, it is not difficult to select this image of a yellow-warbler chick waiting to be fed by the parents at the base of an hollow tree. So small and so resilient, firmly gripping the bark of the tree, almost as a statement indicating that he was holding to life, no matter what. I kept my distance from the scene as I did not want the parents to stop feeding their chick but also, in order to prevent drawing the attention of the surrounding predators. This bird was so close to the ground and so tiny, I felt he could easily be snitched.
Tags: Retrospective 2017 Little Devil Wild and Free Yellow Warbler Chick Preferred Photographic Moments Birding Calgary
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A really handsome and attractive bird... a bird that we are unlikely to encounter on Vancouver Island but much more easier to photograph in Saskatchewan and Alberta. I have also seen it in the Winter in Arizona.
Tags: American Avocet American Avocet Depth of Field Wild and Free Bokeh rare encounter Birding Calgary
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Seen in the Calgary area last Summer. Love these birds, wish we could have them at home... perhaps we can trade a few Canada Geese in exchange of some of these...
Tags: white pelican Wild and Free Bokeh depth of Field Birding Calgary
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