https://www.ipernity.com/tag/293827/keyword/334294 https://cdn.ipernity.com/p/101/C3/7B/293827.buddy.jpg https://www.ipernity.com/tag/293827/keyword/334294 Thu, 17 Sep 2026 09:07:23 +0000 Thu, 17 Sep 2026 09:07:23 +0000 https://www.ipernity.com https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/49550108 tag:ipernity.com,2019-07-06,doc-49550108 Sat, 06 Jul 2019 17:34:45 +0000 2019-07-03T15:38:36-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/49550108"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/01/08/49550108.26baeb40.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Our weather forecast for today, 6 July 2019, from the Weather Network: <br /> <br /> "A multi-day severe storm threat looms for the Prairies. This weekend is ripe with storm risk, with Saturday's thunderstorms set to fire for the afternoon and evening, along with some tornado chance on the table for southern Alberta -- something visitors to the Calgary Stampede should keep an eye on." <br /> <br /> This morning, 6 July 2019, I am posting 7 more photos taken three days ago, on a drive south to Frank Lake. Yet again, when I checked the weather forecast, it said continuing rain for day after day after day. However, the sun was shining when I decided to drive south. The clouds were sufficiently photogenic for me to change my plans and, instead of calling in at the Saskatoon Farm, I drove straight to the Lake.<br /> <br /> The previous time I was at Frank Lake, there was one Coot, two Canada Geese, and a Red-winged and a Yellow-headed Blackbird. Two days ago, it was so much better! The Barn Swallows were there, having built their nest a few feet away from their previous nest site. The Eared Grebes had their tiny, adorable babies, sometimes riding on their back, other times swimming separately. Same thing with the Coots - some had very young babies; others had somewhat older youngsters. One Coot adult and baby were walking in thick mud, searching for food. They both looked such a mess, as if they had rolled in the mud. A pair of Western Grebes could be seen far in the distance.<br /> <br /> The sky began to change - the white clouds were taken over by rather menacing black ones and it became windy and the rain started. I really didn't want to drive back home on the very busy highway in pouring rain, but after waiting and hoping for it to end, I eventually had no choice but to risk it. As it turned out, there was hardly any traffic going north. <br /> <br /> It has been raining on and off for something like three weeks now, and everyone is tired of the rain. The famous 9-day Calgary Stampede runs from 5-14 July this year and rain during Stampede makes things so unpleasant! Judging by my Stampede photos posted on Flickr, I haven't been since 2013, when I went with my daughter - surely it hasn't been that long? I know I haven't been the last few years, as it was feeling just too much to deal with. Happy to be away from the huge masses of people and the sickening smell of grease, ha, ha! Of course, not going means not getting any mini-donuts, too. Happy Stampeding, everyone! May the sun shine ....</div> Coot baby following in Mom&#039;s footsteps <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/49550108"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/01/08/49550108.26baeb40.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Our weather forecast for today, 6 July 2019, from the Weather Network: <br /> <br /> "A multi-day severe storm threat looms for the Prairies. This weekend is ripe with storm risk, with Saturday's thunderstorms set to fire for the afternoon and evening, along with some tornado chance on the table for southern Alberta -- something visitors to the Calgary Stampede should keep an eye on." <br /> <br /> This morning, 6 July 2019, I am posting 7 more photos taken three days ago, on a drive south to Frank Lake. Yet again, when I checked the weather forecast, it said continuing rain for day after day after day. However, the sun was shining when I decided to drive south. The clouds were sufficiently photogenic for me to change my plans and, instead of calling in at the Saskatoon Farm, I drove straight to the Lake.<br /> <br /> The previous time I was at Frank Lake, there was one Coot, two Canada Geese, and a Red-winged and a Yellow-headed Blackbird. Two days ago, it was so much better! The Barn Swallows were there, having built their nest a few feet away from their previous nest site. The Eared Grebes had their tiny, adorable babies, sometimes riding on their back, other times swimming separately. Same thing with the Coots - some had very young babies; others had somewhat older youngsters. One Coot adult and baby were walking in thick mud, searching for food. They both looked such a mess, as if they had rolled in the mud. A pair of Western Grebes could be seen far in the distance.<br /> <br /> The sky began to change - the white clouds were taken over by rather menacing black ones and it became windy and the rain started. I really didn't want to drive back home on the very busy highway in pouring rain, but after waiting and hoping for it to end, I eventually had no choice but to risk it. As it turned out, there was hardly any traffic going north. <br /> <br /> It has been raining on and off for something like three weeks now, and everyone is tired of the rain. The famous 9-day Calgary Stampede runs from 5-14 July this year and rain during Stampede makes things so unpleasant! Judging by my Stampede photos posted on Flickr, I haven't been since 2013, when I went with my daughter - surely it hasn't been that long? I know I haven't been the last few years, as it was feeling just too much to deal with. Happy to be away from the huge masses of people and the sickening smell of grease, ha, ha! Of course, not going means not getting any mini-donuts, too. Happy Stampeding, everyone! May the sun shine ....</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/49550104 tag:ipernity.com,2019-07-06,doc-49550104 Sat, 06 Jul 2019 17:30:13 +0000 2019-07-03T17:08:51-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/49550104"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/01/04/49550104.3d19678f.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Our weather forecast for today, 6 July 2019, from the Weather Network: <br /> <br /> "A multi-day severe storm threat looms for the Prairies. This weekend is ripe with storm risk, with Saturday's thunderstorms set to fire for the afternoon and evening, along with some tornado chance on the table for southern Alberta -- something visitors to the Calgary Stampede should keep an eye on." <br /> <br /> This morning, 6 July 2019, I am posting 7 more photos taken three days ago, on a drive south to Frank Lake. Yet again, when I checked the weather forecast, it said continuing rain for day after day after day. However, the sun was shining when I decided to drive south. The clouds were sufficiently photogenic for me to change my plans and, instead of calling in at the Saskatoon Farm, I drove straight to the Lake.<br /> <br /> The previous time I was at Frank Lake, there was one Coot, two Canada Geese, and a Red-winged and a Yellow-headed Blackbird. Two days ago, it was so much better! The Barn Swallows were there, having built their nest a few feet away from their previous nest site. The Eared Grebes had their tiny, adorable babies, sometimes riding on their back, other times swimming separately. Same thing with the Coots - some had very young babies; others had somewhat older youngsters. One Coot adult and baby were walking in thick mud, searching for food. They both looked such a mess, as if they had rolled in the mud. A pair of Western Grebes could be seen far in the distance.<br /> <br /> The sky began to change - the white clouds were taken over by rather menacing black ones and it became windy and the rain started. I really didn't want to drive back home on the very busy highway in pouring rain, but after waiting and hoping for it to end, I eventually had no choice but to risk it. As it turned out, there was hardly any traffic going north. <br /> <br /> It has been raining on and off for something like three weeks now, and everyone is tired of the rain. The famous 9-day Calgary Stampede runs from 5-14 July this year and rain during Stampede makes things so unpleasant! Judging by my Stampede photos posted on Flickr, I haven't been since 2013, when I went with my daughter - surely it hasn't been that long? I know I haven't been the last few years, as it was feeling just too much to deal with. Happy to be away from the huge masses of people and the sickening smell of grease, ha, ha! Of course, not going means not getting any mini-donuts, too. Happy Stampeding, everyone! May the sun shine ....</div> Coot juvenile <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/49550104"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/01/04/49550104.3d19678f.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Our weather forecast for today, 6 July 2019, from the Weather Network: <br /> <br /> "A multi-day severe storm threat looms for the Prairies. This weekend is ripe with storm risk, with Saturday's thunderstorms set to fire for the afternoon and evening, along with some tornado chance on the table for southern Alberta -- something visitors to the Calgary Stampede should keep an eye on." <br /> <br /> This morning, 6 July 2019, I am posting 7 more photos taken three days ago, on a drive south to Frank Lake. Yet again, when I checked the weather forecast, it said continuing rain for day after day after day. However, the sun was shining when I decided to drive south. The clouds were sufficiently photogenic for me to change my plans and, instead of calling in at the Saskatoon Farm, I drove straight to the Lake.<br /> <br /> The previous time I was at Frank Lake, there was one Coot, two Canada Geese, and a Red-winged and a Yellow-headed Blackbird. Two days ago, it was so much better! The Barn Swallows were there, having built their nest a few feet away from their previous nest site. The Eared Grebes had their tiny, adorable babies, sometimes riding on their back, other times swimming separately. Same thing with the Coots - some had very young babies; others had somewhat older youngsters. One Coot adult and baby were walking in thick mud, searching for food. They both looked such a mess, as if they had rolled in the mud. A pair of Western Grebes could be seen far in the distance.<br /> <br /> The sky began to change - the white clouds were taken over by rather menacing black ones and it became windy and the rain started. I really didn't want to drive back home on the very busy highway in pouring rain, but after waiting and hoping for it to end, I eventually had no choice but to risk it. As it turned out, there was hardly any traffic going north. <br /> <br /> It has been raining on and off for something like three weeks now, and everyone is tired of the rain. The famous 9-day Calgary Stampede runs from 5-14 July this year and rain during Stampede makes things so unpleasant! Judging by my Stampede photos posted on Flickr, I haven't been since 2013, when I went with my daughter - surely it hasn't been that long? I know I haven't been the last few years, as it was feeling just too much to deal with. Happy to be away from the huge masses of people and the sickening smell of grease, ha, ha! Of course, not going means not getting any mini-donuts, too. Happy Stampeding, everyone! May the sun shine ....</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/49513168 tag:ipernity.com,2019-06-30,doc-49513168 Sun, 30 Jun 2019 06:57:15 +0000 2019-06-26T16:20:57-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/49513168"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/31/68/49513168.94f157c5.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Tonight, I am all up-to-date again, apart from the rest of my Texas trip images. These 17 images were taken on a quick visit to a wetland within the city. I never seem to get there at a good time of day, meaning that there were not all that many ducks nearby, and the edge of the wetland was in shadow. <br /> <br /> I saw enough to make the trip worthwhile, though. Common Grackles are birds I love to see and photograph and the one in my photos caught a tiny fish. Two or three tiny Coot babies were out for a swim, and I managed to rescue a couple of photos that really should have been deleted.<br /> <br /> While I was standing there, a couple and their daughter came by and asked if I knew what the bird was that was hanging out in the shade of the bushes by the water. They didn't think it was a Great Blue Heron because its neck was so short. It took me a while to find the bird and, when I zoomed in, I was able to confirm that it was a Black-crowned Night-Heron. <br /> <br /> Our weather has been ridiculously mixed recently, from sunshine to storms and flooding. The clouds were quite spectacular when I was at the wetland.</div> Coot on nest <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/49513168"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/31/68/49513168.94f157c5.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Tonight, I am all up-to-date again, apart from the rest of my Texas trip images. These 17 images were taken on a quick visit to a wetland within the city. I never seem to get there at a good time of day, meaning that there were not all that many ducks nearby, and the edge of the wetland was in shadow. <br /> <br /> I saw enough to make the trip worthwhile, though. Common Grackles are birds I love to see and photograph and the one in my photos caught a tiny fish. Two or three tiny Coot babies were out for a swim, and I managed to rescue a couple of photos that really should have been deleted.<br /> <br /> While I was standing there, a couple and their daughter came by and asked if I knew what the bird was that was hanging out in the shade of the bushes by the water. They didn't think it was a Great Blue Heron because its neck was so short. It took me a while to find the bird and, when I zoomed in, I was able to confirm that it was a Black-crowned Night-Heron. <br /> <br /> Our weather has been ridiculously mixed recently, from sunshine to storms and flooding. The clouds were quite spectacular when I was at the wetland.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/49513166 tag:ipernity.com,2019-06-30,doc-49513166 Sun, 30 Jun 2019 06:56:21 +0000 2019-06-26T17:33:24-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/49513166"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/31/66/49513166.ea6172a9.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Tonight, I am all up-to-date again, apart from the rest of my Texas trip images. These 17 images were taken on a quick visit to a wetland within the city. I never seem to get there at a good time of day, meaning that there were not all that many ducks nearby, and the edge of the wetland was in shadow. <br /> <br /> I saw enough to make the trip worthwhile, though. Common Grackles are birds I love to see and photograph and the one in my photos caught a tiny fish. Two or three tiny Coot babies were out for a swim, and I managed to rescue a couple of photos that really should have been deleted.<br /> <br /> While I was standing there, a couple and their daughter came by and asked if I knew what the bird was that was hanging out in the shade of the bushes by the water. They didn't think it was a Great Blue Heron because its neck was so short. It took me a while to find the bird and, when I zoomed in, I was able to confirm that it was a Black-crowned Night-Heron. <br /> <br /> Our weather has been ridiculously mixed recently, from sunshine to storms and flooding. The clouds were quite spectacular when I was at the wetland.</div> Coot & baby <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/49513166"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/31/66/49513166.ea6172a9.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Tonight, I am all up-to-date again, apart from the rest of my Texas trip images. These 17 images were taken on a quick visit to a wetland within the city. I never seem to get there at a good time of day, meaning that there were not all that many ducks nearby, and the edge of the wetland was in shadow. <br /> <br /> I saw enough to make the trip worthwhile, though. Common Grackles are birds I love to see and photograph and the one in my photos caught a tiny fish. Two or three tiny Coot babies were out for a swim, and I managed to rescue a couple of photos that really should have been deleted.<br /> <br /> While I was standing there, a couple and their daughter came by and asked if I knew what the bird was that was hanging out in the shade of the bushes by the water. They didn't think it was a Great Blue Heron because its neck was so short. It took me a while to find the bird and, when I zoomed in, I was able to confirm that it was a Black-crowned Night-Heron. <br /> <br /> Our weather has been ridiculously mixed recently, from sunshine to storms and flooding. The clouds were quite spectacular when I was at the wetland.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/49513164 tag:ipernity.com,2019-06-30,doc-49513164 Sun, 30 Jun 2019 06:55:42 +0000 2019-06-26T16:22:13-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/49513164"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/31/64/49513164.2ec964c3.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Tonight, I am all up-to-date again, apart from the rest of my Texas trip images. These 17 images were taken on a quick visit to a wetland within the city. I never seem to get there at a good time of day, meaning that there were not all that many ducks nearby, and the edge of the wetland was in shadow. <br /> <br /> I saw enough to make the trip worthwhile, though. Common Grackles are birds I love to see and photograph and the one in my photos caught a tiny fish. Two or three tiny Coot babies were out for a swim, and I managed to rescue a couple of photos that really should have been deleted.<br /> <br /> While I was standing there, a couple and their daughter came by and asked if I knew what the bird was that was hanging out in the shade of the bushes by the water. They didn't think it was a Great Blue Heron because its neck was so short. It took me a while to find the bird and, when I zoomed in, I was able to confirm that it was a Black-crowned Night-Heron. <br /> <br /> Our weather has been ridiculously mixed recently, from sunshine to storms and flooding. The clouds were quite spectacular when I was at the wetland.</div> Coot on nest <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/49513164"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/31/64/49513164.2ec964c3.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Tonight, I am all up-to-date again, apart from the rest of my Texas trip images. These 17 images were taken on a quick visit to a wetland within the city. I never seem to get there at a good time of day, meaning that there were not all that many ducks nearby, and the edge of the wetland was in shadow. <br /> <br /> I saw enough to make the trip worthwhile, though. Common Grackles are birds I love to see and photograph and the one in my photos caught a tiny fish. Two or three tiny Coot babies were out for a swim, and I managed to rescue a couple of photos that really should have been deleted.<br /> <br /> While I was standing there, a couple and their daughter came by and asked if I knew what the bird was that was hanging out in the shade of the bushes by the water. They didn't think it was a Great Blue Heron because its neck was so short. It took me a while to find the bird and, when I zoomed in, I was able to confirm that it was a Black-crowned Night-Heron. <br /> <br /> Our weather has been ridiculously mixed recently, from sunshine to storms and flooding. The clouds were quite spectacular when I was at the wetland.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/49513060 tag:ipernity.com,2019-06-30,doc-49513060 Sun, 30 Jun 2019 06:50:00 +0000 2019-06-26T17:35:04-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/49513060"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/30/60/49513060.1a6bdb07.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Tonight, I am all up-to-date again, apart from the rest of my Texas trip images. These 17 images were taken on a quick visit to a wetland within the city. I never seem to get there at a good time of day, meaning that there were not all that many ducks nearby, and the edge of the wetland was in shadow. <br /> <br /> I saw enough to make the trip worthwhile, though. Common Grackles are birds I love to see and photograph and the one in my photos caught a tiny fish. Two or three tiny Coot babies were out for a swim, and I managed to rescue a couple of photos that really should have been deleted.<br /> <br /> While I was standing there, a couple and their daughter came by and asked if I knew what the bird was that was hanging out in the shade of the bushes by the water. They didn't think it was a Great Blue Heron because its neck was so short. It took me a while to find the bird and, when I zoomed in, I was able to confirm that it was a Black-crowned Night-Heron. <br /> <br /> Our weather has been ridiculously mixed recently, from sunshine to storms and flooding. The clouds were quite spectacular when I was at the wetland.</div> Coot babies <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/49513060"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/30/60/49513060.1a6bdb07.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Tonight, I am all up-to-date again, apart from the rest of my Texas trip images. These 17 images were taken on a quick visit to a wetland within the city. I never seem to get there at a good time of day, meaning that there were not all that many ducks nearby, and the edge of the wetland was in shadow. <br /> <br /> I saw enough to make the trip worthwhile, though. Common Grackles are birds I love to see and photograph and the one in my photos caught a tiny fish. Two or three tiny Coot babies were out for a swim, and I managed to rescue a couple of photos that really should have been deleted.<br /> <br /> While I was standing there, a couple and their daughter came by and asked if I knew what the bird was that was hanging out in the shade of the bushes by the water. They didn't think it was a Great Blue Heron because its neck was so short. It took me a while to find the bird and, when I zoomed in, I was able to confirm that it was a Black-crowned Night-Heron. <br /> <br /> Our weather has been ridiculously mixed recently, from sunshine to storms and flooding. The clouds were quite spectacular when I was at the wetland.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/49513046 tag:ipernity.com,2019-06-30,doc-49513046 Sun, 30 Jun 2019 06:40:20 +0000 2019-06-26T17:35:52-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/49513046"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/30/46/49513046.b507e26a.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Tonight, I am all up-to-date again, apart from the rest of my Texas trip images. These 17 images were taken on a quick visit to a wetland within the city. I never seem to get there at a good time of day, meaning that there were not all that many ducks nearby, and the edge of the wetland was in shadow. <br /> <br /> I saw enough to make the trip worthwhile, though. Common Grackles are birds I love to see and photograph and the one in my photos caught a tiny fish. Two or three tiny Coot babies were out for a swim, and I managed to rescue a couple of photos that really should have been deleted.<br /> <br /> While I was standing there, a couple and their daughter came by and asked if I knew what the bird was that was hanging out in the shade of the bushes by the water. They didn't think it was a Great Blue Heron because its neck was so short. It took me a while to find the bird and, when I zoomed in, I was able to confirm that it was a Black-crowned Night-Heron. <br /> <br /> Our weather has been ridiculously mixed recently, from sunshine to storms and flooding. The clouds were quite spectacular when I was at the wetland.</div> Coot and baby <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/49513046"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/30/46/49513046.b507e26a.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Tonight, I am all up-to-date again, apart from the rest of my Texas trip images. These 17 images were taken on a quick visit to a wetland within the city. I never seem to get there at a good time of day, meaning that there were not all that many ducks nearby, and the edge of the wetland was in shadow. <br /> <br /> I saw enough to make the trip worthwhile, though. Common Grackles are birds I love to see and photograph and the one in my photos caught a tiny fish. Two or three tiny Coot babies were out for a swim, and I managed to rescue a couple of photos that really should have been deleted.<br /> <br /> While I was standing there, a couple and their daughter came by and asked if I knew what the bird was that was hanging out in the shade of the bushes by the water. They didn't think it was a Great Blue Heron because its neck was so short. It took me a while to find the bird and, when I zoomed in, I was able to confirm that it was a Black-crowned Night-Heron. <br /> <br /> Our weather has been ridiculously mixed recently, from sunshine to storms and flooding. The clouds were quite spectacular when I was at the wetland.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/47172898 tag:ipernity.com,2018-08-19,doc-47172898 Sun, 19 Aug 2018 15:51:49 +0000 2018-08-16T14:03:56-06:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/47172898"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/28/98/47172898.12d3a0ac.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">The weather alert for poor air quality continues, though this morning is low risk, unlike the extremely poor air quality the last few days (10 and 10+). This changes all the time. Our temperature is only 7C at 10:00 am! Looks like we could have rain tonight, which would be wonderful if it happens. Hoping rain is in the forecast for British Columbia and down in the States, too, to help with fighting the endless, devastating wildfires! I don't plan on leaving the house today, though, so I thought I would add a few more photos.<br /> <br /> Three days ago, on 16 August 2018, I was invited to go with a friend to visit a mutual friend down in Turner Valley and see the birds that come to her beautiful back garden. Only small, this area has been so thoughtfully and beautifully laid out, encouraging all sorts of birds and other wildlife to visit. She is so fortunate that a wildlife corridor is just beyond her deck and garden. Totally unexpectedly, Jackie made us a delicious cheese bun sandwich for lunch that included tomatoes she has grown herself on her deck, along with cold, refreshing lemonade. Thank you so much, Jackie, for your kindness, as always! <br /> <br /> Pam, I really appreciate your invite to go with you, and thanks so much for driving a few new back roads and a stop at Frank Lake. I don't know where all the birds were, but there were so few at the Lake and most of those were far, far out. It was a real treat, though, to start off our morning with a beautiful Swainson's Hawk that was perched on a metal fence railing, and to end our day with several (was it three?) American White Pelicans in flight and then landing on a pond in the city. We were lucky that one of them was still on the water by the time we had parked and walked to the pond.<br /> <br /> Despite the thick blanket of smoke everywhere and the dreadful air quality, the faint landscape that surrounded us was eerily beautiful. It will feel almost strange to see our beautiful foothills and mountains once again, when the wildfire smoke finally comes to an end.</div> American Coot <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/47172898"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/28/98/47172898.12d3a0ac.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">The weather alert for poor air quality continues, though this morning is low risk, unlike the extremely poor air quality the last few days (10 and 10+). This changes all the time. Our temperature is only 7C at 10:00 am! Looks like we could have rain tonight, which would be wonderful if it happens. Hoping rain is in the forecast for British Columbia and down in the States, too, to help with fighting the endless, devastating wildfires! I don't plan on leaving the house today, though, so I thought I would add a few more photos.<br /> <br /> Three days ago, on 16 August 2018, I was invited to go with a friend to visit a mutual friend down in Turner Valley and see the birds that come to her beautiful back garden. Only small, this area has been so thoughtfully and beautifully laid out, encouraging all sorts of birds and other wildlife to visit. She is so fortunate that a wildlife corridor is just beyond her deck and garden. Totally unexpectedly, Jackie made us a delicious cheese bun sandwich for lunch that included tomatoes she has grown herself on her deck, along with cold, refreshing lemonade. Thank you so much, Jackie, for your kindness, as always! <br /> <br /> Pam, I really appreciate your invite to go with you, and thanks so much for driving a few new back roads and a stop at Frank Lake. I don't know where all the birds were, but there were so few at the Lake and most of those were far, far out. It was a real treat, though, to start off our morning with a beautiful Swainson's Hawk that was perched on a metal fence railing, and to end our day with several (was it three?) American White Pelicans in flight and then landing on a pond in the city. We were lucky that one of them was still on the water by the time we had parked and walked to the pond.<br /> <br /> Despite the thick blanket of smoke everywhere and the dreadful air quality, the faint landscape that surrounded us was eerily beautiful. It will feel almost strange to see our beautiful foothills and mountains once again, when the wildfire smoke finally comes to an end.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/47172688 tag:ipernity.com,2018-08-19,doc-47172688 Sun, 19 Aug 2018 01:52:01 +0000 2018-08-16T14:04:35-06:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/47172688"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/26/88/47172688.8183203f.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description"></div> American Coot <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/47172688"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/26/88/47172688.8183203f.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description"></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/45835782 tag:ipernity.com,2017-11-12,doc-45835782 Sun, 12 Nov 2017 14:44:27 +0000 2017-09-12T12:30:16-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/45835782"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/57/82/45835782.f173810f.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">In the afternoon of 12 September 2017, I just needed a short break from watching TV footage of all the devastation caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in south-east U.S.. Decided to dash down to a wetland in SW Calgary, hoping to see a few birds. Half a dozen Coots and a Mallard were all I saw, but I was happy to catch a Cabbage White butterfly perched on (invasive) Creeping Thistle. <br /> <br /> "The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id</a></div> Couple of Coots / Fulica americana <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/45835782"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/57/82/45835782.f173810f.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">In the afternoon of 12 September 2017, I just needed a short break from watching TV footage of all the devastation caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in south-east U.S.. Decided to dash down to a wetland in SW Calgary, hoping to see a few birds. Half a dozen Coots and a Mallard were all I saw, but I was happy to catch a Cabbage White butterfly perched on (invasive) Creeping Thistle. <br /> <br /> "The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/45499318 tag:ipernity.com,2017-09-13,doc-45499318 Wed, 13 Sep 2017 17:33:36 +0000 2017-09-12T12:36:28-06:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/45499318"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/93/18/45499318.b8835b55.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Yesterday afternoon, 12 September 2017, I just needed a short break from watching TV footage of all the devastation caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in south-east U.S.. Decided to dash down to a wetland in SW Calgary, hoping to see a few birds. Half a dozen Coots and a Mallard were all I saw, but I was happy to catch a Cabbage White butterfly perched on (invasive) Creeping Thistle. <br /> <br /> "The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id</a></div> Juvenile American Coot <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/45499318"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/93/18/45499318.b8835b55.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Yesterday afternoon, 12 September 2017, I just needed a short break from watching TV footage of all the devastation caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in south-east U.S.. Decided to dash down to a wetland in SW Calgary, hoping to see a few birds. Half a dozen Coots and a Mallard were all I saw, but I was happy to catch a Cabbage White butterfly perched on (invasive) Creeping Thistle. <br /> <br /> "The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/44989760 tag:ipernity.com,2017-06-18,doc-44989760 Sun, 18 Jun 2017 14:52:23 +0000 2017-06-17T15:43:00-06:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/44989760"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/97/60/44989760.66009e9c.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Happy Father's Day, everyone!<br /> <br /> Back to posting after missing yesterday. I was so absolutely tired the previous evening, that I just didn't manage to find and edit photos to post early yesterday morning. I know part of the reason is lack of sleep, but I have felt overwhelmingly tired since getting back from Trinidad & Tobago. I need to get more sleep and then see if that helps. If not, I guess it is always possible that I picked up something during our trip.<br /> <br /> This little family of Coots was seen yesterday, 17 June 2017, when five of us went east of the city for the day, to visit our friend, Shirley, at her seasonal trailer. These birds were so far away, so I wasn't able to get a closer photo. The colourful babies showed up OK, though. Such funny little things - so ugly, that they are cute.<br /> <br /> "The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coot" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coot</a><br /> <br /> Most of our birding was done at and near Shirley's trailer site, including seeing a wonderful Great Horned Owl family, two Killdeer and their nests, a Baltimore Oriole, and (finally!) a Brown Thrasher. I had hoped for several years to see one of these birds, so it was a real treat to see a 'lifer'. It was far away and so high up, but I managed to get a couple of shots just for the record. <br /> <br /> We were so happy to be able to see the Great Horned Owl family - three owlets and both adults. There had been a fourth owlet, but it died recently. When I was posting a photo of two of the owlets this morning, I realized that one youngster was clutching a small bird in its talons! <br /> <br /> As we were walking around the grounds, two ladies stopped us and showed us some baby birds that they had had to remove from the engine of their vehicle, as they needed to drive. They wondered if we knew what kind of birds they were, but we were unable to help. I posted a photo of them this morning, just in case someone can ID them. The ladies had a bird house that they were going to put the babies into, hoping that the parents would hear them calling and be able to continue feeding them.<br /> <br /> Thank you so much, Shirley, for inviting us all out to visit you while you were there for the weekend! It was such a pleasure to see some of "your" birds that you enjoy so much. Such a great variety of species! Wow, what a lunch we had, sitting at a table under the Tree Swallow tree, with a very vocal American Robin just a few feet away and a pair of busy Tree Swallows flying back and forth with food for their babies. How DO birds manage to sing non-stop like this Robin?! Hot chili made by Shirley, and a whole array of delicious salads and desserts left me feeling full till the early evening.<br /> <br /> Many thanks, Anne B, for picking up three of us and for driving us east across the prairies. Hugely appreciated!</div> American Coot and &#039;cootlings&#039; <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/44989760"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/97/60/44989760.66009e9c.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Happy Father's Day, everyone!<br /> <br /> Back to posting after missing yesterday. I was so absolutely tired the previous evening, that I just didn't manage to find and edit photos to post early yesterday morning. I know part of the reason is lack of sleep, but I have felt overwhelmingly tired since getting back from Trinidad & Tobago. I need to get more sleep and then see if that helps. If not, I guess it is always possible that I picked up something during our trip.<br /> <br /> This little family of Coots was seen yesterday, 17 June 2017, when five of us went east of the city for the day, to visit our friend, Shirley, at her seasonal trailer. These birds were so far away, so I wasn't able to get a closer photo. The colourful babies showed up OK, though. Such funny little things - so ugly, that they are cute.<br /> <br /> "The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coot" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coot</a><br /> <br /> Most of our birding was done at and near Shirley's trailer site, including seeing a wonderful Great Horned Owl family, two Killdeer and their nests, a Baltimore Oriole, and (finally!) a Brown Thrasher. I had hoped for several years to see one of these birds, so it was a real treat to see a 'lifer'. It was far away and so high up, but I managed to get a couple of shots just for the record. <br /> <br /> We were so happy to be able to see the Great Horned Owl family - three owlets and both adults. There had been a fourth owlet, but it died recently. When I was posting a photo of two of the owlets this morning, I realized that one youngster was clutching a small bird in its talons! <br /> <br /> As we were walking around the grounds, two ladies stopped us and showed us some baby birds that they had had to remove from the engine of their vehicle, as they needed to drive. They wondered if we knew what kind of birds they were, but we were unable to help. I posted a photo of them this morning, just in case someone can ID them. The ladies had a bird house that they were going to put the babies into, hoping that the parents would hear them calling and be able to continue feeding them.<br /> <br /> Thank you so much, Shirley, for inviting us all out to visit you while you were there for the weekend! It was such a pleasure to see some of "your" birds that you enjoy so much. Such a great variety of species! Wow, what a lunch we had, sitting at a table under the Tree Swallow tree, with a very vocal American Robin just a few feet away and a pair of busy Tree Swallows flying back and forth with food for their babies. How DO birds manage to sing non-stop like this Robin?! Hot chili made by Shirley, and a whole array of delicious salads and desserts left me feeling full till the early evening.<br /> <br /> Many thanks, Anne B, for picking up three of us and for driving us east across the prairies. Hugely appreciated!</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/44904756 tag:ipernity.com,2017-06-03,doc-44904756 Sat, 03 Jun 2017 16:21:41 +0000 2017-05-27T18:06:41-06:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/44904756"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/47/56/44904756.116bb860.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This photo of an American Coot was taken in the evening of 27 May 2017, when a group of us (13?) got together at Frank Lake for a celebration of spring. The water level was quite high. Great company and great picnic food. Even a few birds to photograph : ) Sunshine, too, until it was time to go home, when the heavens opened and down came the rain, accompanied by streaks of lightning. Thanks, Brenda, for organizing this event that went so smoothly and was most enjoyable!<br /> <br /> "The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coot" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coot</a><br /> <br /> "Frank Lake, found 50 km southeast of Calgary near High River, Alberta, is a productive wetland important to hundreds of bird species. Once completely dry, this wetland has been saved from drainage and drought through a progressive partnership between industry, government and Ducks Unlimited. It is now listed as one of 597 Important Bird Areas in Canada."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.ducks.ca/places/alberta/frank-lake/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.ducks.ca/places/alberta/frank-lake/</a></div> American Coot <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/44904756"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/47/56/44904756.116bb860.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This photo of an American Coot was taken in the evening of 27 May 2017, when a group of us (13?) got together at Frank Lake for a celebration of spring. The water level was quite high. Great company and great picnic food. Even a few birds to photograph : ) Sunshine, too, until it was time to go home, when the heavens opened and down came the rain, accompanied by streaks of lightning. Thanks, Brenda, for organizing this event that went so smoothly and was most enjoyable!<br /> <br /> "The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coot" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coot</a><br /> <br /> "Frank Lake, found 50 km southeast of Calgary near High River, Alberta, is a productive wetland important to hundreds of bird species. Once completely dry, this wetland has been saved from drainage and drought through a progressive partnership between industry, government and Ducks Unlimited. It is now listed as one of 597 Important Bird Areas in Canada."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.ducks.ca/places/alberta/frank-lake/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.ducks.ca/places/alberta/frank-lake/</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/42449650 tag:ipernity.com,2016-07-08,doc-42449650 Fri, 08 Jul 2016 15:28:22 +0000 2016-07-05T14:45:23-06:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/42449650"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/96/50/42449650.dcce9bbe.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Three days ago, on 5 July 2016, I finally drove SE of the city to the Frank Lake area. I have missed almost all the shore birds this year and knew that if I didn't go very soon, they would all have left. <br /> <br /> As it was, I saw very few birds of any kind. I drove straight to the blind/hide at Frank Lake, where everything was quiet, other than a few Coots with their teenage kids, several Ruddy Ducks including a female lying on her nest, a Marsh Wren that I could hear but not see, a couple of Red-winged Blackbirds, maybe three White-faced Ibis flying by, a few Tree Swallows and a rather handsome Barn Swallow. Also, as soon as I had left the blind and taken a few steps down the boardwalk, I was totally taken by surprise by a Black-crowned Night Heron that flew overhead, being chased by a small shorebird. The Heron was letting out a very loud 'hoarse scream' that sounded almost human-like. Just managed to get a rapid shot of the Heron before it flew out of camera view, posted yesterday just for my own record. I so rarely see a Night Heron, though I did see and photograph a beautiful juvenile that was hanging out at Lafarge Meadows in Fish Creek Park last year (2015). There was another adult Coot just off to the left of this photo and the two were face to face with wings raised and tails flared. They do this when they are interacting with one another. Gives a good look at the white of the undertail when this happens.<br /> <br /> "The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coot" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coot</a><br /> <br /> From the blind area at Frank Lake, I drove eastwards and eventually came to Mossleigh, where I stopped at the three grain elevators to take photos. On the way, I stopped to photograph an old homestead, which I have usually seen and photographed in winter. <br /> <br /> The light was really bad, with massive storm clouds overhead. The weather forecast was for a risk of thunderstorms, though fortunately there was just a tiny bit of short-lived rain. The past week, there have been tornadoes north and south of us, but there was no Tornado Warning in effect yesterday. A great kind of sky when a few of the fields were turning bright yellow from the Canola crops. However, a real challenge for my camera, which recently developed another problem - when I am trying to focus on something, it goes in and out of focus rapidly and 'shudders', making it most unpleasant to view as well as making it very difficult to see what I'm taking. This is not the usual difficulty of getting the camera to focus. Then, yesterday, when I very slightly tipped the camera upwards, once I had focused on say a field of Canola, the lower half of the viewfinder suddenly went so dark I couldn't really see anything. Such a pain, especially as I absolutely have to have a working camera for the whole of this weekend! As it is, I always take almost all my photos on the sunset setting, because the regular settings give me totally washed out images that have little detail - just not usable. Amazes me that any of my photos turn out, ha.<br /> <br /> A few hours later, it was time to return home after several very enjoyable hours out. More of a cloud, scenery and old barn trip than a birding trip, but those of you who know me, know I love photographing all of the above.</div> American Coot interactive display <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/42449650"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/96/50/42449650.dcce9bbe.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Three days ago, on 5 July 2016, I finally drove SE of the city to the Frank Lake area. I have missed almost all the shore birds this year and knew that if I didn't go very soon, they would all have left. <br /> <br /> As it was, I saw very few birds of any kind. I drove straight to the blind/hide at Frank Lake, where everything was quiet, other than a few Coots with their teenage kids, several Ruddy Ducks including a female lying on her nest, a Marsh Wren that I could hear but not see, a couple of Red-winged Blackbirds, maybe three White-faced Ibis flying by, a few Tree Swallows and a rather handsome Barn Swallow. Also, as soon as I had left the blind and taken a few steps down the boardwalk, I was totally taken by surprise by a Black-crowned Night Heron that flew overhead, being chased by a small shorebird. The Heron was letting out a very loud 'hoarse scream' that sounded almost human-like. Just managed to get a rapid shot of the Heron before it flew out of camera view, posted yesterday just for my own record. I so rarely see a Night Heron, though I did see and photograph a beautiful juvenile that was hanging out at Lafarge Meadows in Fish Creek Park last year (2015). There was another adult Coot just off to the left of this photo and the two were face to face with wings raised and tails flared. They do this when they are interacting with one another. Gives a good look at the white of the undertail when this happens.<br /> <br /> "The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coot" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coot</a><br /> <br /> From the blind area at Frank Lake, I drove eastwards and eventually came to Mossleigh, where I stopped at the three grain elevators to take photos. On the way, I stopped to photograph an old homestead, which I have usually seen and photographed in winter. <br /> <br /> The light was really bad, with massive storm clouds overhead. The weather forecast was for a risk of thunderstorms, though fortunately there was just a tiny bit of short-lived rain. The past week, there have been tornadoes north and south of us, but there was no Tornado Warning in effect yesterday. A great kind of sky when a few of the fields were turning bright yellow from the Canola crops. However, a real challenge for my camera, which recently developed another problem - when I am trying to focus on something, it goes in and out of focus rapidly and 'shudders', making it most unpleasant to view as well as making it very difficult to see what I'm taking. This is not the usual difficulty of getting the camera to focus. Then, yesterday, when I very slightly tipped the camera upwards, once I had focused on say a field of Canola, the lower half of the viewfinder suddenly went so dark I couldn't really see anything. Such a pain, especially as I absolutely have to have a working camera for the whole of this weekend! As it is, I always take almost all my photos on the sunset setting, because the regular settings give me totally washed out images that have little detail - just not usable. Amazes me that any of my photos turn out, ha.<br /> <br /> A few hours later, it was time to return home after several very enjoyable hours out. More of a cloud, scenery and old barn trip than a birding trip, but those of you who know me, know I love photographing all of the above.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40613948 tag:ipernity.com,2015-12-15,doc-40613948 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 11:10:01 +0000 2015-07-07T16:19:09-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40613948"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/39/48/40613948.0eab8b48.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A photo from 7 July 2015, taken at a wetland area in SW Calgary, when I called in for just an hour after a doctor's appointment. Not the greatest shot, but I don't usually see Coots this close, and it gives a reasonable view of a young one's head. Baby Coots are such ugly little things that they are cute, ha. <br /> <br /> "The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id</a></div> Baby Coot <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40613948"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/39/48/40613948.0eab8b48.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A photo from 7 July 2015, taken at a wetland area in SW Calgary, when I called in for just an hour after a doctor's appointment. Not the greatest shot, but I don't usually see Coots this close, and it gives a reasonable view of a young one's head. Baby Coots are such ugly little things that they are cute, ha. <br /> <br /> "The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40589354 tag:ipernity.com,2015-12-12,doc-40589354 Sat, 12 Dec 2015 18:35:00 +0000 2015-07-07T16:17:20-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40589354"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/93/54/40589354.f7ae45e2.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A photo from 7 July 2015, taken at a wetland area in SW Calgary, when I called in for just an hour after a doctor's appointment. Not the greatest shot, but I don't usually see Coots this close, and it gives a reasonable view of a young one's head. Baby Coots are such ugly little things that they are cute, ha. Love the way they flap their tiny wings when they are being fed. I don't know if this is Mom or Dad, but s/he was doing a great job of collecting water plants to feed to the babies.<br /> <br /> "The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id</a></div> Being a good mother <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40589354"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/93/54/40589354.f7ae45e2.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A photo from 7 July 2015, taken at a wetland area in SW Calgary, when I called in for just an hour after a doctor's appointment. Not the greatest shot, but I don't usually see Coots this close, and it gives a reasonable view of a young one's head. Baby Coots are such ugly little things that they are cute, ha. Love the way they flap their tiny wings when they are being fed. I don't know if this is Mom or Dad, but s/he was doing a great job of collecting water plants to feed to the babies.<br /> <br /> "The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40296806 tag:ipernity.com,2015-11-06,doc-40296806 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 17:29:27 +0000 2015-07-07T16:17:37-07:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40296806"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/68/06/40296806.2ae220ed.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A photo from 7 July 2015, taken at a wetland area in SW Calgary, when I called in for just an hour after a doctor's appointment. Baby Coots are such ugly little things that they are cute, ha. Love the way they flap those tiny wings when they are being fed. I don't know if this is Mom or Dad, but s/he was doing a great job of collecting water plants to feed to the babies.<br /> <br /> "The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id</a></div> Feeding time excitement <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40296806"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/68/06/40296806.2ae220ed.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A photo from 7 July 2015, taken at a wetland area in SW Calgary, when I called in for just an hour after a doctor's appointment. Baby Coots are such ugly little things that they are cute, ha. Love the way they flap those tiny wings when they are being fed. I don't know if this is Mom or Dad, but s/he was doing a great job of collecting water plants to feed to the babies.<br /> <br /> "The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/38557602 tag:ipernity.com,2015-06-06,doc-38557602 Sat, 06 Jun 2015 17:06:03 +0000 2015-06-05T17:43:38-06:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/38557602"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/76/02/38557602.3b944aac.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">The light was so harsh when I arrived at a wetland in SW Calgary rather late yesterday afternoon, 5 June 2015. There didn't seem to be a lot of birds in sight and just the usual ones, so I didn't stay long. No sign of any young ones yet with the Red-necked Grebe, lying on her distant nest. <br /> <br /> From the wetland, I drove a few of the backroads south of the city, seeing familiar birds that I often photograph, but always happy for the opportunity to shoot again. One hillside had numerous white-spotted baby Elk - raised on a ranch, but still so cute to see, despite not being wild. Three Mourning Doves were perched on a high wire in their usual spot. A herd of gorgeous Long-horn cattle and their cute youngsters were in a field that I passed, but again, the afternoon sun was just too harsh for photos. Stopped to photograph a pair of Mountain Bluebirds - there were flashes of blue along many of the backroads. A Snipe standing on a fence post in a different place completed my afternoon.<br /> <br /> I did catch this Coot feeding its little one way off in the distance at one of the wetlands. Better than nothing, though. The babies are so ugly they are cute! <br /> <br /> "The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id</a><br /> <br /> The temperature this afternoon is supposed to get up to 25C and the next two days 28C and 29C. My place becomes an oven in such temperatures, so I'll have to get in my car and go for some drives, thankful for the air-conditioning. There is rain in the forecast for a lot of the coming days starting on 9 June, though of course the weather forecast can always change.</div> Snack time for baby Coot <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/38557602"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/76/02/38557602.3b944aac.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">The light was so harsh when I arrived at a wetland in SW Calgary rather late yesterday afternoon, 5 June 2015. There didn't seem to be a lot of birds in sight and just the usual ones, so I didn't stay long. No sign of any young ones yet with the Red-necked Grebe, lying on her distant nest. <br /> <br /> From the wetland, I drove a few of the backroads south of the city, seeing familiar birds that I often photograph, but always happy for the opportunity to shoot again. One hillside had numerous white-spotted baby Elk - raised on a ranch, but still so cute to see, despite not being wild. Three Mourning Doves were perched on a high wire in their usual spot. A herd of gorgeous Long-horn cattle and their cute youngsters were in a field that I passed, but again, the afternoon sun was just too harsh for photos. Stopped to photograph a pair of Mountain Bluebirds - there were flashes of blue along many of the backroads. A Snipe standing on a fence post in a different place completed my afternoon.<br /> <br /> I did catch this Coot feeding its little one way off in the distance at one of the wetlands. Better than nothing, though. The babies are so ugly they are cute! <br /> <br /> "The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id</a><br /> <br /> The temperature this afternoon is supposed to get up to 25C and the next two days 28C and 29C. My place becomes an oven in such temperatures, so I'll have to get in my car and go for some drives, thankful for the air-conditioning. There is rain in the forecast for a lot of the coming days starting on 9 June, though of course the weather forecast can always change.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/37949820 tag:ipernity.com,2015-04-27,doc-37949820 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 17:08:46 +0000 2015-04-26T10:10:37-06:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/37949820"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/98/20/37949820.ebe4becb.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">"The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coot" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coot</a><br /> <br /> Yesterday, 26 April 2015, was spent with a fair-sized group of friends, driving out to Frank Lake. The weather was beautiful and, for once, not windy. Frank Lake and the surrounding area is one of my favourite places to spend a day or half a day. <br /> <br /> On a trip like the one yesterday, there are a lot of the birds that I don't see, as I don't use binoculars, and my interest is not to see as many species as possible, but to hopefully come across a few birds close enough to photograph.<br /> <br /> I will add the final list of the 51 species seen, complied by our Leader, Tony Timmons. Probably not of much interest to most people, but it does help my memory. Many thanks, as always, Tony, for a very successful and most enjoyable day! Really appreciate your giving up a precious weekend day to take us out there.<br /> <br /> "The birds put on a spectacular show for the 19 participants on the Frank Lake trip today. We tallied 51 species.<br /> <br /> Expected species were present in pretty good numbers; most noteworthy being American Avocet (200+) and White-faced Ibis (120). Thousands of ducks were on the Lake.<br /> <br /> Thanks to Dan Parliament and Al Borgardt for scoping birds and sharing sightings with the group.<br /> <br /> Before the start of the trip, Rose Painter spotted two Long-billed Curlew near Blackie. Later in the day, we searched for the birds without success.<br /> <br /> Eared Grebe 250<br /> Western Grebe 20<br /> Double-crested Cormorant 25<br /> Black-crowned Night Heron 1<br /> White-faced Ibis 120<br /> Canada Goose<br /> Swan sp. 12<br /> Gadwall<br /> American Wigeon<br /> Mallard<br /> Blue-winged Teal<br /> Cinnamon Teal<br /> Green-winged Teal<br /> Northern Shoveler<br /> Northern Pintail<br /> Canvasback<br /> Redhead<br /> Ring-necked Duck<br /> Lesser Scaup<br /> Bufflehead<br /> Common Goldeneye<br /> Hooded Merganser 2 f.<br /> Ruddy Duck<br /> Northern Harrier 3<br /> Swainson's Hawk 3<br /> Gray Partridge 4<br /> American Coot<br /> Killdeer 5<br /> Black-necked Stilt 10<br /> American Avocet 200+<br /> Greater Yellowlegs 5<br /> Lesser Yellowlegs 17<br /> Franklin's Gull 1000<br /> Bonaparte's Gull 10<br /> Ring-billed Gull 5<br /> California Gull 20<br /> Rock Pigeon<br /> Great Horned Owl ( 3 ad. + 3 owlets )<br /> Black-billed Magpie<br /> American Crow<br /> Common Raven<br /> Tree Swallow 60<br /> Bank Swallow 1<br /> Marsh Wren 4<br /> American Robin<br /> European Starling<br /> Red-winged Blackbird<br /> Western Meadowlark 5<br /> Yellow-headed Blackbird<br /> Brewer's Blackbird 1<br /> House Sparrow<br /> <br /> Tony Timmons"</div> American Coot <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/37949820"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/98/20/37949820.ebe4becb.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">"The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coot" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coot</a><br /> <br /> Yesterday, 26 April 2015, was spent with a fair-sized group of friends, driving out to Frank Lake. The weather was beautiful and, for once, not windy. Frank Lake and the surrounding area is one of my favourite places to spend a day or half a day. <br /> <br /> On a trip like the one yesterday, there are a lot of the birds that I don't see, as I don't use binoculars, and my interest is not to see as many species as possible, but to hopefully come across a few birds close enough to photograph.<br /> <br /> I will add the final list of the 51 species seen, complied by our Leader, Tony Timmons. Probably not of much interest to most people, but it does help my memory. Many thanks, as always, Tony, for a very successful and most enjoyable day! Really appreciate your giving up a precious weekend day to take us out there.<br /> <br /> "The birds put on a spectacular show for the 19 participants on the Frank Lake trip today. We tallied 51 species.<br /> <br /> Expected species were present in pretty good numbers; most noteworthy being American Avocet (200+) and White-faced Ibis (120). Thousands of ducks were on the Lake.<br /> <br /> Thanks to Dan Parliament and Al Borgardt for scoping birds and sharing sightings with the group.<br /> <br /> Before the start of the trip, Rose Painter spotted two Long-billed Curlew near Blackie. Later in the day, we searched for the birds without success.<br /> <br /> Eared Grebe 250<br /> Western Grebe 20<br /> Double-crested Cormorant 25<br /> Black-crowned Night Heron 1<br /> White-faced Ibis 120<br /> Canada Goose<br /> Swan sp. 12<br /> Gadwall<br /> American Wigeon<br /> Mallard<br /> Blue-winged Teal<br /> Cinnamon Teal<br /> Green-winged Teal<br /> Northern Shoveler<br /> Northern Pintail<br /> Canvasback<br /> Redhead<br /> Ring-necked Duck<br /> Lesser Scaup<br /> Bufflehead<br /> Common Goldeneye<br /> Hooded Merganser 2 f.<br /> Ruddy Duck<br /> Northern Harrier 3<br /> Swainson's Hawk 3<br /> Gray Partridge 4<br /> American Coot<br /> Killdeer 5<br /> Black-necked Stilt 10<br /> American Avocet 200+<br /> Greater Yellowlegs 5<br /> Lesser Yellowlegs 17<br /> Franklin's Gull 1000<br /> Bonaparte's Gull 10<br /> Ring-billed Gull 5<br /> California Gull 20<br /> Rock Pigeon<br /> Great Horned Owl ( 3 ad. + 3 owlets )<br /> Black-billed Magpie<br /> American Crow<br /> Common Raven<br /> Tree Swallow 60<br /> Bank Swallow 1<br /> Marsh Wren 4<br /> American Robin<br /> European Starling<br /> Red-winged Blackbird<br /> Western Meadowlark 5<br /> Yellow-headed Blackbird<br /> Brewer's Blackbird 1<br /> House Sparrow<br /> <br /> Tony Timmons"</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/37949400 tag:ipernity.com,2015-04-23,doc-37949400 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 12:41:39 +0000 2014-07-12T16:00:35-06:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/37949400"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/94/00/37949400.65255efc.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">On 12 July 2014, I went on a drive SE of the city, to Frank Lake and surrounding backroads. While at the blind (hide), this adult Coot walked right past me, giving a chance to see its huge feet and the rather beautiful feathers on its back. From a distance, these birds appear to be plain black.<br /> <br /> "The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coot" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coot</a></div> A close look at a Coot <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/293827">Anne Elliott</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/37949400"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/94/00/37949400.65255efc.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">On 12 July 2014, I went on a drive SE of the city, to Frank Lake and surrounding backroads. While at the blind (hide), this adult Coot walked right past me, giving a chance to see its huge feet and the rather beautiful feathers on its back. From a distance, these birds appear to be plain black.<br /> <br /> "The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/id</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coot" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coot</a></div> Anne Elliott