https://www.ipernity.com/tag/293827/keyword/243015 https://cdn.ipernity.com/p/101/C3/7B/293827.buddy.jpg https://www.ipernity.com/tag/293827/keyword/243015 Mon, 25 May 2026 23:16:02 +0000 Mon, 25 May 2026 23:16:02 +0000 https://www.ipernity.com https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/48171416 tag:ipernity.com,2019-02-23,doc-48171416 Sat, 23 Feb 2019 05:53:22 +0000 2018-05-18T11:57:42-07:00 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/293827/48171416"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/14/16/48171416.9ec4792a.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Added another 9 images late tonight, all of migrating Snow Geese at Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area, Quebec. Had hoped to edit more than this today, but didn't have time. They were all taken on 18 May 2018, Day 12 of our holiday in Ontario and Quebec, This was our final day in Quebec, before flying back to Calgary early morning the next day, 19 May 2018.<br /> <br /> Sorry, everyone, I must be driving you all crazy! I am posting SO many images, but the end is in sight - yes, thank goodness. Less than a week and I should be done. I honestly don't know how some people go on lots of holidays like this and take thousands of photos and still seem to manage to take a lot shorter time to post them than I have (i.e. nine months). Actually I thought it was even longer than that. I have a deadline for getting all these finished, and it looks like I might meet my deadline after all. Thank you all for your patience!<br /> <br /> Day 12 will have photos of some of the 50,000 Snow Geese seen at an amazing Wildlife Area closer to Quebec City. Normally, I rarely see Snow Geese and only far, far away. We also got the chance to photograph a handful of barns, which was much enjoyed. <br /> <br /> We stopped at a few places on the long drive between Tadoussac and Quebec City, including Baie-des-Rochers, and Port-au-Persil briefly so that we could take a photos or two of the beautiful old church, Chapelle McLaren, with the St. Lawrence River in the distance. I managed to grab several rapid, drive-by shots of a few barns, which was great. How i would love a holiday just for old barns : ) <br /> <br /> A really special place we visited closer to Quebec City was the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area. Here, we saw an estimated 50,000 Snow Geese, on land, on water, and flying, turning the sky white. This was the first time I have ever been so close to Snow Geese. Some of them waddled within just a few feet of us while we were having a picnic lunch. We went on a walk there and saw some interesting bird species, incluing one tiny Ruby-throated Hummingbird.</div> Day 12, migrating Snow Geese, Cap Tourmente <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/293827/48171416"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/14/16/48171416.9ec4792a.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Added another 9 images late tonight, all of migrating Snow Geese at Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area, Quebec. Had hoped to edit more than this today, but didn't have time. They were all taken on 18 May 2018, Day 12 of our holiday in Ontario and Quebec, This was our final day in Quebec, before flying back to Calgary early morning the next day, 19 May 2018.<br /> <br /> Sorry, everyone, I must be driving you all crazy! I am posting SO many images, but the end is in sight - yes, thank goodness. Less than a week and I should be done. I honestly don't know how some people go on lots of holidays like this and take thousands of photos and still seem to manage to take a lot shorter time to post them than I have (i.e. nine months). Actually I thought it was even longer than that. I have a deadline for getting all these finished, and it looks like I might meet my deadline after all. Thank you all for your patience!<br /> <br /> Day 12 will have photos of some of the 50,000 Snow Geese seen at an amazing Wildlife Area closer to Quebec City. Normally, I rarely see Snow Geese and only far, far away. We also got the chance to photograph a handful of barns, which was much enjoyed. <br /> <br /> We stopped at a few places on the long drive between Tadoussac and Quebec City, including Baie-des-Rochers, and Port-au-Persil briefly so that we could take a photos or two of the beautiful old church, Chapelle McLaren, with the St. Lawrence River in the distance. I managed to grab several rapid, drive-by shots of a few barns, which was great. How i would love a holiday just for old barns : ) <br /> <br /> A really special place we visited closer to Quebec City was the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area. Here, we saw an estimated 50,000 Snow Geese, on land, on water, and flying, turning the sky white. This was the first time I have ever been so close to Snow Geese. Some of them waddled within just a few feet of us while we were having a picnic lunch. We went on a walk there and saw some interesting bird species, incluing one tiny Ruby-throated Hummingbird.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/48171278 tag:ipernity.com,2019-02-21,doc-48171278 Thu, 21 Feb 2019 05:35:28 +0000 2018-05-18T11:58:03-07:00 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/293827/48171278"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/12/78/48171278.8da61df7.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Sorry, everyone, I must be driving you all crazy! I am posting SO many images, but the end is in sight - yes, thank goodness. Less than a week and I should be done. I honestly don't know how some people go on lots of holidays like this and take thousands of photos and still seem to manage to take a lot shorter time to post them than I have (i.e. nine months). Actually I thought it was even longer than that. I have a deadline for getting all these finished, and it looks like I might meet my deadline after all. Thank you all for your patience!<br /> <br /> Tonight, I posted 12 more photos taken on 18 May 2018, Day 12 of our holiday in Ontario and Quebec, This was our final day in Quebec, before flying back to Calgary early morning the next day, 19 May 2018.<br /> <br /> Day 12 will have photos of some of the 50,000 Snow Geese seen at an amazing Wildlife Area closer to Quebec City. We also got the chance to photograph a handful of barns, which was much enjoyed. <br /> <br /> We stopped at a few places on the long drive between Tadoussac and Quebec City, including Baie-des-Rochers, and Port-au-Persil briefly so that we could take a photos or two of the beautiful old church, Chapelle McLaren, with the St. Lawrence River in the distance. I managed to grab several rapid, drive-by shots of a few barns, which was great. How i would love a holiday just for old barns : ) <br /> <br /> A really special place we visited closer to Quebec City was the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area. Here, we saw an estimated 50,000 Snow Geese, on land, on water, and flying, turning the sky white. This was the first time I have ever been so close to Snow Geese. Some of them waddled within just a few feet of us while we were having a picnic lunch. We went on a walk there and saw some interesting bird species, incluing one tiny Hummingbird.</div> Day 12, Snow Geese, Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area <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/293827/48171278"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/12/78/48171278.8da61df7.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Sorry, everyone, I must be driving you all crazy! I am posting SO many images, but the end is in sight - yes, thank goodness. Less than a week and I should be done. I honestly don't know how some people go on lots of holidays like this and take thousands of photos and still seem to manage to take a lot shorter time to post them than I have (i.e. nine months). Actually I thought it was even longer than that. I have a deadline for getting all these finished, and it looks like I might meet my deadline after all. Thank you all for your patience!<br /> <br /> Tonight, I posted 12 more photos taken on 18 May 2018, Day 12 of our holiday in Ontario and Quebec, This was our final day in Quebec, before flying back to Calgary early morning the next day, 19 May 2018.<br /> <br /> Day 12 will have photos of some of the 50,000 Snow Geese seen at an amazing Wildlife Area closer to Quebec City. We also got the chance to photograph a handful of barns, which was much enjoyed. <br /> <br /> We stopped at a few places on the long drive between Tadoussac and Quebec City, including Baie-des-Rochers, and Port-au-Persil briefly so that we could take a photos or two of the beautiful old church, Chapelle McLaren, with the St. Lawrence River in the distance. I managed to grab several rapid, drive-by shots of a few barns, which was great. How i would love a holiday just for old barns : ) <br /> <br /> A really special place we visited closer to Quebec City was the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area. Here, we saw an estimated 50,000 Snow Geese, on land, on water, and flying, turning the sky white. This was the first time I have ever been so close to Snow Geese. Some of them waddled within just a few feet of us while we were having a picnic lunch. We went on a walk there and saw some interesting bird species, incluing one tiny Hummingbird.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/48018884 tag:ipernity.com,2019-01-21,doc-48018884 Mon, 21 Jan 2019 05:25:16 +0000 2018-05-14T12:31:40-07:00 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/293827/48018884"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/88/84/48018884.d416c7a4.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">The 10 images posted tonight were all taken on the morning of 14 May 2018, Day 8 of our two-week holiday in Point Pelee (Ontario) and Tadoussac (Quebec). Thankfully, I have reached a few much larger birds, which were a pleasure to see and photograph after struggling to get any shots of the small birds that we had just been seeing. However, those small birds were a real treat, especially the beautiful Lapland Longspurs. Though we do get them in Alberta, I have never seen one here. Most likely, I will never see one again, hence the distant shots that I have uploaded. I still have to track more or less where we saw these particular Snow Geese. The photo of a mass of distant Snow Geese was taken about 50 minutes after the shot of the Great Blue Heron, so the last few photos I have just uploaded were taken in the early afternoon. We get Snow Geese in Alberta, but on the few occasions that I have seen them, they have been far, far away.<br /> <br /> "Watching huge flocks of Snow Geese swirl down from the sky, amid a cacophony of honking, is a little like standing inside a snow globe. These loud, white-and-black geese can cover the ground in a snowy blanket as they eat their way across fallow cornfields or wetlands. Among them, you might see a dark form with a white head—a color variant called the “Blue Goose.” Snow Geese have skyrocketed in numbers and are now among the most abundant waterfowl on the continent.<br /> <br /> The Snow Goose is a white-bodied goose with black wingtips that are barely visible on the ground but noticeable in flight. The pink bill has a dark line along it, often called a "grinning patch" or "black lips." You may also see dark morph Snow Geese, or "Blue Geese," with a white face, dark brown body, and white under the tail.<br /> <br /> Snow Geese don’t like to travel without the company of another couple dozen geese and can form flocks of several hundred thousand. Family groups forage together on wintering grounds, digging up roots and tubers from muddy fields and marshes. In flight, they are steady on the wing with even wingbeats." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snow_Goose/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snow_Goose/id</a></div> Day 8, Snow Goose / Anser caerulescens <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/293827/48018884"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/88/84/48018884.d416c7a4.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">The 10 images posted tonight were all taken on the morning of 14 May 2018, Day 8 of our two-week holiday in Point Pelee (Ontario) and Tadoussac (Quebec). Thankfully, I have reached a few much larger birds, which were a pleasure to see and photograph after struggling to get any shots of the small birds that we had just been seeing. However, those small birds were a real treat, especially the beautiful Lapland Longspurs. Though we do get them in Alberta, I have never seen one here. Most likely, I will never see one again, hence the distant shots that I have uploaded. I still have to track more or less where we saw these particular Snow Geese. The photo of a mass of distant Snow Geese was taken about 50 minutes after the shot of the Great Blue Heron, so the last few photos I have just uploaded were taken in the early afternoon. We get Snow Geese in Alberta, but on the few occasions that I have seen them, they have been far, far away.<br /> <br /> "Watching huge flocks of Snow Geese swirl down from the sky, amid a cacophony of honking, is a little like standing inside a snow globe. These loud, white-and-black geese can cover the ground in a snowy blanket as they eat their way across fallow cornfields or wetlands. Among them, you might see a dark form with a white head—a color variant called the “Blue Goose.” Snow Geese have skyrocketed in numbers and are now among the most abundant waterfowl on the continent.<br /> <br /> The Snow Goose is a white-bodied goose with black wingtips that are barely visible on the ground but noticeable in flight. The pink bill has a dark line along it, often called a "grinning patch" or "black lips." You may also see dark morph Snow Geese, or "Blue Geese," with a white face, dark brown body, and white under the tail.<br /> <br /> Snow Geese don’t like to travel without the company of another couple dozen geese and can form flocks of several hundred thousand. Family groups forage together on wintering grounds, digging up roots and tubers from muddy fields and marshes. In flight, they are steady on the wing with even wingbeats." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snow_Goose/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snow_Goose/id</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/48018880 tag:ipernity.com,2019-01-21,doc-48018880 Mon, 21 Jan 2019 05:24:26 +0000 2018-05-14T11:42:17-07:00 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/293827/48018880"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/88/80/48018880.0e906f45.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">The 10 images posted tonight were all taken on the morning of 14 May 2018, Day 8 of our two-week holiday in Point Pelee (Ontario) and Tadoussac (Quebec). Thankfully, I have reached a few much larger birds, which were a pleasure to see and photograph after struggling to get any shots of the small birds that we had just been seeing. However, those small birds were a real treat, especially the beautiful Lapland Longspurs. Though we do get them in Alberta, I have never seen one here. Most likely, I will never see one again, hence the distant shots that I have uploaded. I still have to track more or less where we saw these particular Snow Geese. The photo of a mass of distant Snow Geese was taken about 50 minutes after the shot of the Great Blue Heron, so the last few photos I have just uploaded were taken in the early afternoon. We get Snow Geese in Alberta, but on the few occasions that I have seen them, they have been far, far away.<br /> <br /> "Watching huge flocks of Snow Geese swirl down from the sky, amid a cacophony of honking, is a little like standing inside a snow globe. These loud, white-and-black geese can cover the ground in a snowy blanket as they eat their way across fallow cornfields or wetlands. Among them, you might see a dark form with a white head—a color variant called the “Blue Goose.” Snow Geese have skyrocketed in numbers and are now among the most abundant waterfowl on the continent.<br /> <br /> The Snow Goose is a white-bodied goose with black wingtips that are barely visible on the ground but noticeable in flight. The pink bill has a dark line along it, often called a "grinning patch" or "black lips." You may also see dark morph Snow Geese, or "Blue Geese," with a white face, dark brown body, and white under the tail.<br /> <br /> Snow Geese don’t like to travel without the company of another couple dozen geese and can form flocks of several hundred thousand. Family groups forage together on wintering grounds, digging up roots and tubers from muddy fields and marshes. In flight, they are steady on the wing with even wingbeats." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snow_Goose/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snow_Goose/id</a></div> Day 8, Snow Geese <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/293827/48018880"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/88/80/48018880.0e906f45.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">The 10 images posted tonight were all taken on the morning of 14 May 2018, Day 8 of our two-week holiday in Point Pelee (Ontario) and Tadoussac (Quebec). Thankfully, I have reached a few much larger birds, which were a pleasure to see and photograph after struggling to get any shots of the small birds that we had just been seeing. However, those small birds were a real treat, especially the beautiful Lapland Longspurs. Though we do get them in Alberta, I have never seen one here. Most likely, I will never see one again, hence the distant shots that I have uploaded. I still have to track more or less where we saw these particular Snow Geese. The photo of a mass of distant Snow Geese was taken about 50 minutes after the shot of the Great Blue Heron, so the last few photos I have just uploaded were taken in the early afternoon. We get Snow Geese in Alberta, but on the few occasions that I have seen them, they have been far, far away.<br /> <br /> "Watching huge flocks of Snow Geese swirl down from the sky, amid a cacophony of honking, is a little like standing inside a snow globe. These loud, white-and-black geese can cover the ground in a snowy blanket as they eat their way across fallow cornfields or wetlands. Among them, you might see a dark form with a white head—a color variant called the “Blue Goose.” Snow Geese have skyrocketed in numbers and are now among the most abundant waterfowl on the continent.<br /> <br /> The Snow Goose is a white-bodied goose with black wingtips that are barely visible on the ground but noticeable in flight. The pink bill has a dark line along it, often called a "grinning patch" or "black lips." You may also see dark morph Snow Geese, or "Blue Geese," with a white face, dark brown body, and white under the tail.<br /> <br /> Snow Geese don’t like to travel without the company of another couple dozen geese and can form flocks of several hundred thousand. Family groups forage together on wintering grounds, digging up roots and tubers from muddy fields and marshes. In flight, they are steady on the wing with even wingbeats." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snow_Goose/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snow_Goose/id</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/48018874 tag:ipernity.com,2019-01-21,doc-48018874 Mon, 21 Jan 2019 05:23:41 +0000 2018-05-14T11:46:02-07:00 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/293827/48018874"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/88/74/48018874.4bd056ec.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">The 10 images posted tonight were all taken on the morning of 14 May 2018, Day 8 of our two-week holiday in Point Pelee (Ontario) and Tadoussac (Quebec). Thankfully, I have reached a few much larger birds, which were a pleasure to see and photograph after struggling to get any shots of the small birds that we had just been seeing. However, those small birds were a real treat, especially the beautiful Lapland Longspurs. Though we do get them in Alberta, I have never seen one here. Most likely, I will never see one again, hence the distant shots that I have uploaded. I still have to track more or less where we saw these particular Snow Geese. The photo of a mass of distant Snow Geese was taken about 50 minutes after the shot of the Great Blue Heron, so the last few photos I have just uploaded were taken in the early afternoon. We get Snow Geese in Alberta, but on the few occasions that I have seen them, they have been far, far away.<br /> <br /> "Watching huge flocks of Snow Geese swirl down from the sky, amid a cacophony of honking, is a little like standing inside a snow globe. These loud, white-and-black geese can cover the ground in a snowy blanket as they eat their way across fallow cornfields or wetlands. Among them, you might see a dark form with a white head—a color variant called the “Blue Goose.” Snow Geese have skyrocketed in numbers and are now among the most abundant waterfowl on the continent.<br /> <br /> The Snow Goose is a white-bodied goose with black wingtips that are barely visible on the ground but noticeable in flight. The pink bill has a dark line along it, often called a "grinning patch" or "black lips." You may also see dark morph Snow Geese, or "Blue Geese," with a white face, dark brown body, and white under the tail.<br /> <br /> Snow Geese don’t like to travel without the company of another couple dozen geese and can form flocks of several hundred thousand. Family groups forage together on wintering grounds, digging up roots and tubers from muddy fields and marshes. In flight, they are steady on the wing with even wingbeats." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snow_Goose/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snow_Goose/id</a></div> Day 8, Snow Goose <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/293827/48018874"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/88/74/48018874.4bd056ec.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">The 10 images posted tonight were all taken on the morning of 14 May 2018, Day 8 of our two-week holiday in Point Pelee (Ontario) and Tadoussac (Quebec). Thankfully, I have reached a few much larger birds, which were a pleasure to see and photograph after struggling to get any shots of the small birds that we had just been seeing. However, those small birds were a real treat, especially the beautiful Lapland Longspurs. Though we do get them in Alberta, I have never seen one here. Most likely, I will never see one again, hence the distant shots that I have uploaded. I still have to track more or less where we saw these particular Snow Geese. The photo of a mass of distant Snow Geese was taken about 50 minutes after the shot of the Great Blue Heron, so the last few photos I have just uploaded were taken in the early afternoon. We get Snow Geese in Alberta, but on the few occasions that I have seen them, they have been far, far away.<br /> <br /> "Watching huge flocks of Snow Geese swirl down from the sky, amid a cacophony of honking, is a little like standing inside a snow globe. These loud, white-and-black geese can cover the ground in a snowy blanket as they eat their way across fallow cornfields or wetlands. Among them, you might see a dark form with a white head—a color variant called the “Blue Goose.” Snow Geese have skyrocketed in numbers and are now among the most abundant waterfowl on the continent.<br /> <br /> The Snow Goose is a white-bodied goose with black wingtips that are barely visible on the ground but noticeable in flight. The pink bill has a dark line along it, often called a "grinning patch" or "black lips." You may also see dark morph Snow Geese, or "Blue Geese," with a white face, dark brown body, and white under the tail.<br /> <br /> Snow Geese don’t like to travel without the company of another couple dozen geese and can form flocks of several hundred thousand. Family groups forage together on wintering grounds, digging up roots and tubers from muddy fields and marshes. In flight, they are steady on the wing with even wingbeats." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snow_Goose/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snow_Goose/id</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/48018854 tag:ipernity.com,2019-01-21,doc-48018854 Mon, 21 Jan 2019 05:22:57 +0000 2018-05-14T11:41:34-07:00 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/293827/48018854"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/88/54/48018854.e2479c7c.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">The 10 images posted tonight were all taken on the morning of 14 May 2018, Day 8 of our two-week holiday in Point Pelee (Ontario) and Tadoussac (Quebec). Thankfully, I have reached a few much larger birds, which were a pleasure to see and photograph after struggling to get any shots of the small birds that we had just been seeing. However, those small birds were a real treat, especially the beautiful Lapland Longspurs. Though we do get them in Alberta, I have never seen one here. Most likely, I will never see one again, hence the distant shots that I have uploaded. I still have to track more or less where we saw these particular Snow Geese. The photo of a mass of distant Snow Geese was taken about 50 minutes after the shot of the Great Blue Heron, so the last few photos I have just uploaded were taken in the early afternoon. We get Snow Geese in Alberta, but on the few occasions that I have seen them, they have been far, far away.<br /> <br /> "Watching huge flocks of Snow Geese swirl down from the sky, amid a cacophony of honking, is a little like standing inside a snow globe. These loud, white-and-black geese can cover the ground in a snowy blanket as they eat their way across fallow cornfields or wetlands. Among them, you might see a dark form with a white head—a color variant called the “Blue Goose.” Snow Geese have skyrocketed in numbers and are now among the most abundant waterfowl on the continent.<br /> <br /> The Snow Goose is a white-bodied goose with black wingtips that are barely visible on the ground but noticeable in flight. The pink bill has a dark line along it, often called a "grinning patch" or "black lips." You may also see dark morph Snow Geese, or "Blue Geese," with a white face, dark brown body, and white under the tail.<br /> <br /> Snow Geese don’t like to travel without the company of another couple dozen geese and can form flocks of several hundred thousand. Family groups forage together on wintering grounds, digging up roots and tubers from muddy fields and marshes. In flight, they are steady on the wing with even wingbeats." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snow_Goose/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snow_Goose/id</a></div> Day 8, Snow Geese <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/293827/48018854"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/88/54/48018854.e2479c7c.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">The 10 images posted tonight were all taken on the morning of 14 May 2018, Day 8 of our two-week holiday in Point Pelee (Ontario) and Tadoussac (Quebec). Thankfully, I have reached a few much larger birds, which were a pleasure to see and photograph after struggling to get any shots of the small birds that we had just been seeing. However, those small birds were a real treat, especially the beautiful Lapland Longspurs. Though we do get them in Alberta, I have never seen one here. Most likely, I will never see one again, hence the distant shots that I have uploaded. I still have to track more or less where we saw these particular Snow Geese. The photo of a mass of distant Snow Geese was taken about 50 minutes after the shot of the Great Blue Heron, so the last few photos I have just uploaded were taken in the early afternoon. We get Snow Geese in Alberta, but on the few occasions that I have seen them, they have been far, far away.<br /> <br /> "Watching huge flocks of Snow Geese swirl down from the sky, amid a cacophony of honking, is a little like standing inside a snow globe. These loud, white-and-black geese can cover the ground in a snowy blanket as they eat their way across fallow cornfields or wetlands. Among them, you might see a dark form with a white head—a color variant called the “Blue Goose.” Snow Geese have skyrocketed in numbers and are now among the most abundant waterfowl on the continent.<br /> <br /> The Snow Goose is a white-bodied goose with black wingtips that are barely visible on the ground but noticeable in flight. The pink bill has a dark line along it, often called a "grinning patch" or "black lips." You may also see dark morph Snow Geese, or "Blue Geese," with a white face, dark brown body, and white under the tail.<br /> <br /> Snow Geese don’t like to travel without the company of another couple dozen geese and can form flocks of several hundred thousand. Family groups forage together on wintering grounds, digging up roots and tubers from muddy fields and marshes. In flight, they are steady on the wing with even wingbeats." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snow_Goose/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snow_Goose/id</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/47438552 tag:ipernity.com,2018-10-07,doc-47438552 Sun, 07 Oct 2018 15:38:56 +0000 2018-10-06T13:29:10-06:00 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/293827/47438552"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/85/52/47438552.6aa050d8.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Yesterday, 6 October 2018, I joined a few birding friends for another day out east of the city. The weather was beautiful, and so different from the trip that was held about a week earlier. As usual, on these bird trips, every bird was far, far away, but I was able to zoom in on these Greater White-fronted Geese. Always a joy to see them when they migrate. The "white-fronted" refers to the patch of white around the bill.<br /> <br /> Another bird I was happy to see was a Thayer's Gull. I was thinking that I had never seen one before, or at least not ot get a photo. However, I have just checked my photostream and discovered a photo of a juvenile that I took on 25 March 2018. The Thayer's Gull is now called an Iceland Gull. "The darker-winged “Thayer’s” gull of the west used to be considered a different species; the two were lumped in 2017."<br /> <br /> Like many people, I just don't "do" Gulls. A lack of interest in them does seem to be fairly widespread, Yesterday, however, our leader, Terry Korolyk, who is a Gull expert (along with tremendous knowledge on hybrids and all birds/wildlife), found several huge flocks of various Gulls at different locations, along with other bird species, including a few more Rusty Blackbirds (whose numbers are declining). A delight to see a few distant Swans, a Wilson's Snipe, Yellowlegs and an assortment of other shorebirds.<br /> <br /> Thank you, Terry, for yet another enjoyable and interesting trip. Thank you, also, for the ride.</div> Greater White-fronted Geese / Larus glaucoides <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/293827/47438552"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/85/52/47438552.6aa050d8.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Yesterday, 6 October 2018, I joined a few birding friends for another day out east of the city. The weather was beautiful, and so different from the trip that was held about a week earlier. As usual, on these bird trips, every bird was far, far away, but I was able to zoom in on these Greater White-fronted Geese. Always a joy to see them when they migrate. The "white-fronted" refers to the patch of white around the bill.<br /> <br /> Another bird I was happy to see was a Thayer's Gull. I was thinking that I had never seen one before, or at least not ot get a photo. However, I have just checked my photostream and discovered a photo of a juvenile that I took on 25 March 2018. The Thayer's Gull is now called an Iceland Gull. "The darker-winged “Thayer’s” gull of the west used to be considered a different species; the two were lumped in 2017."<br /> <br /> Like many people, I just don't "do" Gulls. A lack of interest in them does seem to be fairly widespread, Yesterday, however, our leader, Terry Korolyk, who is a Gull expert (along with tremendous knowledge on hybrids and all birds/wildlife), found several huge flocks of various Gulls at different locations, along with other bird species, including a few more Rusty Blackbirds (whose numbers are declining). A delight to see a few distant Swans, a Wilson's Snipe, Yellowlegs and an assortment of other shorebirds.<br /> <br /> Thank you, Terry, for yet another enjoyable and interesting trip. Thank you, also, for the ride.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/44786250 tag:ipernity.com,2017-05-12,doc-44786250 Fri, 12 May 2017 17:43:29 +0000 2017-05-11T15:40:34-06:00 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/293827/44786250"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/62/50/44786250.9f12c035.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">The last 7 images that I have just uploaded were taken yesterday afternoon, 11 May 2017, at a pond in Calgary. This Canada Goose came near me, not the other way round. Much as I would rather not interrupt my Trinidad photos, I did want to post these local birds and plants, otherwise I might forget. Sorry that I have added so many photos, and at such a fast rate! Seeing my calendar filling up rather quickly, I know that I will be getting various chances to take photos, and it would help greatly if I can get my holiday photos finished. <br /> <br /> This morning, I finished the last few photos taken at Manzaniila Beach, Trinidad. From there, we drove the Nariva Swamp area, which is mainly agricultural habitats with some wetlands. Some good birding there and I will be posting various new species. Also, at least a couple of plants that we enjoyed seeing, especially the Sacred Lotus. This is one of my favourite things to photograph in the Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo.</div> Up close and personal <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/293827/44786250"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/62/50/44786250.9f12c035.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">The last 7 images that I have just uploaded were taken yesterday afternoon, 11 May 2017, at a pond in Calgary. This Canada Goose came near me, not the other way round. Much as I would rather not interrupt my Trinidad photos, I did want to post these local birds and plants, otherwise I might forget. Sorry that I have added so many photos, and at such a fast rate! Seeing my calendar filling up rather quickly, I know that I will be getting various chances to take photos, and it would help greatly if I can get my holiday photos finished. <br /> <br /> This morning, I finished the last few photos taken at Manzaniila Beach, Trinidad. From there, we drove the Nariva Swamp area, which is mainly agricultural habitats with some wetlands. Some good birding there and I will be posting various new species. Also, at least a couple of plants that we enjoyed seeing, especially the Sacred Lotus. This is one of my favourite things to photograph in the Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/43485860 tag:ipernity.com,2016-10-20,doc-43485860 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 11:54:36 +0000 2016-04-10T16:57:26-06:00 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/293827/43485860"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/58/60/43485860.b14c3700.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">They are beautiful, even if they are "just" everyday Canada Geese. This photo was taken at a wetland in SW Calgary on 10 April 2016, when I called in for just a very quick visit. The weather forecast had been for mainly sunny, but the day turned out to be mainly cloudy with a bit of sun. That made me cancel my plans to do a longer drive somewhere, which left me longing to get out with my camera. So, Canada Geese it is : ) <br /> <br /> "A familiar and widespread goose with a black head and neck, white chinstrap, light tan to cream breast and brown back. Has increased in urban and suburban areas in recent years; just a decade or two after people intentionally introduced or reintroduced “giant” Canada Geese to various areas, they are often considered pests." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/canada_goose/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/canada_goose/id</a></div> Leisurely swim <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/293827/43485860"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/58/60/43485860.b14c3700.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">They are beautiful, even if they are "just" everyday Canada Geese. This photo was taken at a wetland in SW Calgary on 10 April 2016, when I called in for just a very quick visit. The weather forecast had been for mainly sunny, but the day turned out to be mainly cloudy with a bit of sun. That made me cancel my plans to do a longer drive somewhere, which left me longing to get out with my camera. So, Canada Geese it is : ) <br /> <br /> "A familiar and widespread goose with a black head and neck, white chinstrap, light tan to cream breast and brown back. Has increased in urban and suburban areas in recent years; just a decade or two after people intentionally introduced or reintroduced “giant” Canada Geese to various areas, they are often considered pests." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/canada_goose/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/canada_goose/id</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/42071380 tag:ipernity.com,2016-05-27,doc-42071380 Fri, 27 May 2016 12:19:08 +0000 2016-04-10T16:49:27-06:00 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/293827/42071380"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/13/80/42071380.2ec1571e.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">S/he's beautiful, even if s/he is "just" an everyday Canada Goose. This photo was taken at a wetland in SW Calgary on 10 April 2016, when I called in for just a very quick visit. The weather forecast had been for mainly sunny, but the day turned out to be mainly cloudy with a bit of sun. That made me cancel my plans to do a longer drive somewhere, which left me longing to get out with my camera. So, Mr or Mrs. Canada Goose it is : ) <br /> <br /> "A familiar and widespread goose with a black head and neck, white chinstrap, light tan to cream breast and brown back. Has increased in urban and suburban areas in recent years; just a decade or two after people intentionally introduced or reintroduced “giant” Canada Geese to various areas, they are often considered pests." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/canada_goose/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/canada_goose/id</a></div> Canada Goose <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/293827/42071380"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/13/80/42071380.2ec1571e.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">S/he's beautiful, even if s/he is "just" an everyday Canada Goose. This photo was taken at a wetland in SW Calgary on 10 April 2016, when I called in for just a very quick visit. The weather forecast had been for mainly sunny, but the day turned out to be mainly cloudy with a bit of sun. That made me cancel my plans to do a longer drive somewhere, which left me longing to get out with my camera. So, Mr or Mrs. Canada Goose it is : ) <br /> <br /> "A familiar and widespread goose with a black head and neck, white chinstrap, light tan to cream breast and brown back. Has increased in urban and suburban areas in recent years; just a decade or two after people intentionally introduced or reintroduced “giant” Canada Geese to various areas, they are often considered pests." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/canada_goose/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/canada_goose/id</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/41604348 tag:ipernity.com,2016-04-15,doc-41604348 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 17:36:36 +0000 2016-04-14T12:08:39-06:00 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/293827/41604348"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/48/41604348.5fb9b5fb.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This photo was taken yesterday morning, 14 April 2016, when I was on a walk with friends in Carburn Park. I almost didn't bother to go on this walk, as it was such a gloomy, overcast morning, along with an occasional bit of light drizzle. I love to see water droplets on a bird's feathers, and this Canada Goose was close enough for a photo in the drizzle. Ducks and Geese preen and rub oil from a gland at the base of their tail all over their feathers. Water really does "roll off a duck's (Goose's) back", as the old saying goes. <br /> <br /> We used to see lots of goslings at this park several years ago, but people started to complain about the mess that Geese made on the ground. This resulted, sadly, in the Goose eggs being 'oiled', to make sure no goslings were hatched.<br /> <br /> "A familiar and widespread goose with a black head and neck, white chinstrap, light tan to cream breast and brown back. Has increased in urban and suburban areas in recent years; just a decade or two after people intentionally introduced or reintroduced “giant” Canada Geese to various areas, they are often considered pests." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/canada_goose/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/canada_goose/id</a><br /> <br /> The large group divided into three smaller groups, and each group didn't necessarily see every species on our main leader's final list. The list is long, but it might just give someone an idea of what is being seen at that park at the moment. Also helps to jog my own memory.<br /> <br /> "FFCPPSoc. Spring Birding, Carburn Park, Calgary, 0915-1215, Thu 14Apr2016. Cloudy, light sprinkle, N wind 15 kph. 4 – 8°C. Combined results of three groups.<br /> <br /> Canada Goose-70 <br /> Wood Duck-2 <br /> American Wigeon-8 <br /> Mallard-50 <br /> GREEN-WINGED TEAL-5 <br /> Common Goldeneye-40 <br /> Common Merganser-128 <br /> OSPREY-1 <br /> Bald Eagle-2 ad.. <br /> Sharp-shinned Hawk-1 <br /> COOPER’S HAWK-1 <br /> RED-TAILED HAWK-3+ <br /> Merlin-1 <br /> FRANKLIN’S GULL-15 <br /> Ring-billed Gull-30+ <br /> California Gull-1 <br /> Herring Gull-6+ <br /> Rock Pigeon-1 <br /> Downy Woodpecker-8 <br /> Hairy Woodpecker-1, excavating nest cavity <br /> Northern Flicker-12 <br /> Black-billed Magpie-10 <br /> American Crow-2 <br /> Common Raven-2 <br /> TREE SWALLOW-2500+ <br /> NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW-1 <br /> Black-capped Chickadee-8. <br /> Red-breasted Nuthatch-4, excavating nest. <br /> White-breasted Nuthatch-1 <br /> RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET-3 <br /> American Robin-60 <br /> European Starling-100+ <br /> Bohemian Waxwing-10 <br /> SONG SPARROW-2 <br /> Dark-eyed Junco-2 <br /> Red-winged Blackbird-3 <br /> House Finch-3 <br /> RED CROSSBILL-4+ <br /> White-winged Crossbill-1+ <br /> Pine Siskin-2 <br /> House Sparrow-12<br /> <br /> Eastern Gray Squirrel-3<br /> Muskrat-2<br /> JUMPING MOUSE sp.-1"</div> Raindrops on the back of a Canada Goose <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/293827/41604348"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/48/41604348.5fb9b5fb.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This photo was taken yesterday morning, 14 April 2016, when I was on a walk with friends in Carburn Park. I almost didn't bother to go on this walk, as it was such a gloomy, overcast morning, along with an occasional bit of light drizzle. I love to see water droplets on a bird's feathers, and this Canada Goose was close enough for a photo in the drizzle. Ducks and Geese preen and rub oil from a gland at the base of their tail all over their feathers. Water really does "roll off a duck's (Goose's) back", as the old saying goes. <br /> <br /> We used to see lots of goslings at this park several years ago, but people started to complain about the mess that Geese made on the ground. This resulted, sadly, in the Goose eggs being 'oiled', to make sure no goslings were hatched.<br /> <br /> "A familiar and widespread goose with a black head and neck, white chinstrap, light tan to cream breast and brown back. Has increased in urban and suburban areas in recent years; just a decade or two after people intentionally introduced or reintroduced “giant” Canada Geese to various areas, they are often considered pests." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/canada_goose/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/canada_goose/id</a><br /> <br /> The large group divided into three smaller groups, and each group didn't necessarily see every species on our main leader's final list. The list is long, but it might just give someone an idea of what is being seen at that park at the moment. Also helps to jog my own memory.<br /> <br /> "FFCPPSoc. Spring Birding, Carburn Park, Calgary, 0915-1215, Thu 14Apr2016. Cloudy, light sprinkle, N wind 15 kph. 4 – 8°C. Combined results of three groups.<br /> <br /> Canada Goose-70 <br /> Wood Duck-2 <br /> American Wigeon-8 <br /> Mallard-50 <br /> GREEN-WINGED TEAL-5 <br /> Common Goldeneye-40 <br /> Common Merganser-128 <br /> OSPREY-1 <br /> Bald Eagle-2 ad.. <br /> Sharp-shinned Hawk-1 <br /> COOPER’S HAWK-1 <br /> RED-TAILED HAWK-3+ <br /> Merlin-1 <br /> FRANKLIN’S GULL-15 <br /> Ring-billed Gull-30+ <br /> California Gull-1 <br /> Herring Gull-6+ <br /> Rock Pigeon-1 <br /> Downy Woodpecker-8 <br /> Hairy Woodpecker-1, excavating nest cavity <br /> Northern Flicker-12 <br /> Black-billed Magpie-10 <br /> American Crow-2 <br /> Common Raven-2 <br /> TREE SWALLOW-2500+ <br /> NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW-1 <br /> Black-capped Chickadee-8. <br /> Red-breasted Nuthatch-4, excavating nest. <br /> White-breasted Nuthatch-1 <br /> RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET-3 <br /> American Robin-60 <br /> European Starling-100+ <br /> Bohemian Waxwing-10 <br /> SONG SPARROW-2 <br /> Dark-eyed Junco-2 <br /> Red-winged Blackbird-3 <br /> House Finch-3 <br /> RED CROSSBILL-4+ <br /> White-winged Crossbill-1+ <br /> Pine Siskin-2 <br /> House Sparrow-12<br /> <br /> Eastern Gray Squirrel-3<br /> Muskrat-2<br /> JUMPING MOUSE sp.-1"</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/38121124 tag:ipernity.com,2015-05-12,doc-38121124 Tue, 12 May 2015 16:25:06 +0000 2015-05-07T16:36:51-06:00 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/293827/38121124"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/11/24/38121124.9b848efb.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Wish I'd got the head in focus, too, but I still like this Canada Goose's wing feathers folded back so neatly. This bird was obviously used to being fed by local people and their children, but of course it was out of luck from me : ) This species is native to Alberta.<br /> <br /> "A familiar and widespread goose with a black head and neck, white chinstrap, light tan to cream breast and brown back. Has increased in urban and suburban areas in recent years; just a decade or two after people intentionally introduced or reintroduced “giant” Canada Geese to various areas, they are often considered pests." From AllABoutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/canada_goose/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/canada_goose/id</a><br /> <br /> "Extremely successful at living in human-altered areas, Canada geese have proven able to establish breeding colonies in urban and cultivated areas, which provide food and few natural predators, and are well known as a common park species. Their success has led to them sometimes being considered a pest species because of their depredation of crops and issues with their noise, droppings, aggressive territorial behaviour, and habit of begging for food, especially in their introduced range. Canada geese are also among the most commonly hunted waterfowl in North America." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_goose" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_goose</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/kids/animal-facts/canada_goose.asp" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.canadiangeographic.ca/kids/animal-facts/canada_goose.asp</a><br /> <br /> Five days ago, on 7 May 2015, I joined friends to go on a birding walk at the south end LaFarge Meadows, accessed off 194th Ave. The weather was beautiful, though the temperature was only 7C-11C, and the birds were so far away. I did manage to get a distant shot of two of the three Trumpeter Swans (both juveniles) that were near the river. A Bald Eagle flew overhead and a Great Blue Heron flew in the far distance. A little Savannah Sparrow posed in a small tree for us and a Muskrat was seen in the large pond by the river. <br /> <br /> After the walk, I decided to call in at a wetland in SW Calgary, hoping that at least a few of the birds would be close enough for photos. I met a delightful, enthusiastic and knowledgeable photographer/birder while I was there, and she showed me the area accessed from a point that I had never tried before. I had hoped to maybe see a Common Grackle at this wetland, as I had seen photos taken there by other people, and sure enough, there was one down near the water's edge. Just managed to get one lucky shot before the bird flew off. Many people don't like Grackles, but I see them so rarely and I think they are beautiful birds.<br /> <br /> A few duck species and other birds were seen, including Ruddy Duck, Lesser Scaup, and Mallards (of course). Also Coots, a pair of Grebes, and a few Yellow-headed and Red-winged Blackbirds.<br /> <br /> WHY PHOTOGRAPHERS (& others) GET SUCH A BAD NAME! Shown on The Weather Network.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.theweathernetwork.com/videos/Gallery/all/video_gallery/scary-family-of-bears-chase-park-tourists/sharevideo/4227579675001" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.theweathernetwork.com/videos/Gallery/all/video_galler...</a></div> Feed me <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/293827/38121124"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/11/24/38121124.9b848efb.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Wish I'd got the head in focus, too, but I still like this Canada Goose's wing feathers folded back so neatly. This bird was obviously used to being fed by local people and their children, but of course it was out of luck from me : ) This species is native to Alberta.<br /> <br /> "A familiar and widespread goose with a black head and neck, white chinstrap, light tan to cream breast and brown back. Has increased in urban and suburban areas in recent years; just a decade or two after people intentionally introduced or reintroduced “giant” Canada Geese to various areas, they are often considered pests." From AllABoutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/canada_goose/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/canada_goose/id</a><br /> <br /> "Extremely successful at living in human-altered areas, Canada geese have proven able to establish breeding colonies in urban and cultivated areas, which provide food and few natural predators, and are well known as a common park species. Their success has led to them sometimes being considered a pest species because of their depredation of crops and issues with their noise, droppings, aggressive territorial behaviour, and habit of begging for food, especially in their introduced range. Canada geese are also among the most commonly hunted waterfowl in North America." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_goose" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_goose</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/kids/animal-facts/canada_goose.asp" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.canadiangeographic.ca/kids/animal-facts/canada_goose.asp</a><br /> <br /> Five days ago, on 7 May 2015, I joined friends to go on a birding walk at the south end LaFarge Meadows, accessed off 194th Ave. The weather was beautiful, though the temperature was only 7C-11C, and the birds were so far away. I did manage to get a distant shot of two of the three Trumpeter Swans (both juveniles) that were near the river. A Bald Eagle flew overhead and a Great Blue Heron flew in the far distance. A little Savannah Sparrow posed in a small tree for us and a Muskrat was seen in the large pond by the river. <br /> <br /> After the walk, I decided to call in at a wetland in SW Calgary, hoping that at least a few of the birds would be close enough for photos. I met a delightful, enthusiastic and knowledgeable photographer/birder while I was there, and she showed me the area accessed from a point that I had never tried before. I had hoped to maybe see a Common Grackle at this wetland, as I had seen photos taken there by other people, and sure enough, there was one down near the water's edge. Just managed to get one lucky shot before the bird flew off. Many people don't like Grackles, but I see them so rarely and I think they are beautiful birds.<br /> <br /> A few duck species and other birds were seen, including Ruddy Duck, Lesser Scaup, and Mallards (of course). Also Coots, a pair of Grebes, and a few Yellow-headed and Red-winged Blackbirds.<br /> <br /> WHY PHOTOGRAPHERS (& others) GET SUCH A BAD NAME! Shown on The Weather Network.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.theweathernetwork.com/videos/Gallery/all/video_gallery/scary-family-of-bears-chase-park-tourists/sharevideo/4227579675001" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.theweathernetwork.com/videos/Gallery/all/video_galler...</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/23292359 tag:ipernity.com,2008-04-18,doc-23292359 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 22:09:56 +0000 2008-04-15T10:56:44-06:00 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/293827/23292359"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/133/23/59/23292359.c169cf37.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">"Just" a Canada Goose, but, hey, I'm not getting to see all that many birds in the wild at the moment. Even this Goose was wandering round the Zoo gardens!</div> Tucked in <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/293827/23292359"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/133/23/59/23292359.c169cf37.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">"Just" a Canada Goose, but, hey, I'm not getting to see all that many birds in the wild at the moment. Even this Goose was wandering round the Zoo gardens!</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/23292355 tag:ipernity.com,2008-02-20,doc-23292355 Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:19:14 +0000 2008-02-19T11:17:41-06:00 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/293827/23292355"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/133/23/55/23292355.932aad78.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="181" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">These two Canada Geese were standing high up on the railway bridge over the Bow River this morning. Perhaps not the wisest thing to do with so many Bald Eagles in the area. It almost felt like spring, apart from the icy paths in the park, LOL.</div> Risky business <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/293827/23292355"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/133/23/55/23292355.932aad78.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="181" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">These two Canada Geese were standing high up on the railway bridge over the Bow River this morning. Perhaps not the wisest thing to do with so many Bald Eagles in the area. It almost felt like spring, apart from the icy paths in the park, LOL.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/22629151 tag:ipernity.com,2008-04-14,doc-22629151 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:26:27 +0000 2008-04-12T09:54:45-06:00 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/293827/22629151"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/132/91/51/22629151.50f14790.240.jpg?r2" width="238" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I liked the reflections in this photo. For some reason, the lagoon at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary often creates beautiful reflection patterns. I don't like the position of the Canada Goose - and if only it had been a glorious Wood Duck instead, LOL!</div> Morning reflections <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/293827/22629151"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/132/91/51/22629151.50f14790.240.jpg?r2" width="238" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I liked the reflections in this photo. For some reason, the lagoon at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary often creates beautiful reflection patterns. I don't like the position of the Canada Goose - and if only it had been a glorious Wood Duck instead, LOL!</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/22611491 tag:ipernity.com,2012-04-30,doc-22611491 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:18:49 +0000 2012-04-22T08:46:29-06:00 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/293827/22611491"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/132/14/91/22611491.bb0598f6.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="181" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I blew out the white feathers, but at least I managed to capture the texture in the black feathers : ) Taken at Bridlewood Wetland on April 22nd.</div> "Just" a Canada Goose <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/293827/22611491"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/132/14/91/22611491.bb0598f6.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="181" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I blew out the white feathers, but at least I managed to capture the texture in the black feathers : ) Taken at Bridlewood Wetland on April 22nd.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/22599355 tag:ipernity.com,2010-05-19,doc-22599355 Wed, 19 May 2010 17:20:43 +0000 2010-05-18T13:52:47-06:00 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/293827/22599355"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/132/93/55/22599355.2e649ed4.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I was so disappointed when I found that the Canada Goose eggs at Carburn Park had been oiled, as we used to see lots of these little goslings there. However, a visit to the Zoo yesterday resulted in seeing these little cuties and a few siblings : ) Gotta dash, as I have my volunteer shift this afternoon and I am running so late!</div> Two little cuties <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/293827/22599355"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/132/93/55/22599355.2e649ed4.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I was so disappointed when I found that the Canada Goose eggs at Carburn Park had been oiled, as we used to see lots of these little goslings there. However, a visit to the Zoo yesterday resulted in seeing these little cuties and a few siblings : ) Gotta dash, as I have my volunteer shift this afternoon and I am running so late!</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/22479633 tag:ipernity.com,2010-01-02,doc-22479633 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 23:54:59 +0000 2008-05-03T11:04:04-06:00 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/293827/22479633"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/115/96/33/22479633.ff4c7c96.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Gosh, I took this photo of Canada Goose goslings way back on 3rd May last year, at Carburn Park. I kept coming across it, but never got round to checking whether I had already uploaded it to my Flickr photostream. Apparently, I hadn't, and so here it is : ) If we can just get the next three months behind us, spring won't be all that far away ... sigh. Sounds so good!</div> My thoughts turn to spring <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/293827/22479633"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/115/96/33/22479633.ff4c7c96.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Gosh, I took this photo of Canada Goose goslings way back on 3rd May last year, at Carburn Park. I kept coming across it, but never got round to checking whether I had already uploaded it to my Flickr photostream. Apparently, I hadn't, and so here it is : ) If we can just get the next three months behind us, spring won't be all that far away ... sigh. Sounds so good!</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/22479617 tag:ipernity.com,2010-01-06,doc-22479617 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:28:02 +0000 2010-01-05T12:04:21-06:00 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/293827/22479617"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/115/96/17/22479617.bda3024e.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">LOL, a terrible photo, but I don't have a Snow Goose in my Birds of Alberta Sets. There have been very recent reports of a Snow Goose being seen here in the city. No sign of it when a few of us went looking in the afternoon of New Year's Day. However, this morning, we were thrilled to bits to see it along the edge of the Bow River, tucked in among many Canada Geese. For a second or two, it got to its feet and I was able to get this lucky shot before it turned itself into just another "bump" at the edge of the water. Apparently, there were also two juvenile Snow Geese at its side, presumably the bird behind the adult, to the left, and the bird immediately to its right. All these birds were at the FAR side of the wide river (as usual), hence a very distant view : )<br /> <br /> This morning was pretty cold, -14C, and it was snowing lightly and very low light. We could hardly believe the birds we saw within two and a half hours, though - just amazing! <br /> <br /> Snow Goose-1 (ad)ult, 2 (juv)enile <br /> Canada Goose-500 <br /> Mallard-50 <br /> Green-winged Teal-1 (f)emale<br /> Bufflehead-10 <br /> Common Goldeneye-60 <br /> Barrow's Goldeneye-2 <br /> Common Merganser-4 <br /> Ring-necked Pheasant-1 (m)ale <br /> Bald Eagle-2, possibly 3 or 4. Two, 1 ad./1 juv. seen flying together, then two sightings of singles. <br /> Northern Goshawk-1 <br /> Merlin-1 f, in hot pursuit of a small finch. <br /> Rock Pigeon-4 <br /> Great Horned Owl-1 <br /> Northern Flicker-1 <br /> Black-billed Magpie-12 <br /> Common Raven-6 <br /> Black-capped Chickadee-12 <br /> House Finch-20 <br /> Common Redpoll-40<br /> <br /> Straight afterwards, I called in at Sikome to say Hi to the pair of Great Horned Owls that were in their usual tree. No sign of the Porcupine today, though.</div> The elusive Snow Goose <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/293827/22479617"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/115/96/17/22479617.bda3024e.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">LOL, a terrible photo, but I don't have a Snow Goose in my Birds of Alberta Sets. There have been very recent reports of a Snow Goose being seen here in the city. No sign of it when a few of us went looking in the afternoon of New Year's Day. However, this morning, we were thrilled to bits to see it along the edge of the Bow River, tucked in among many Canada Geese. For a second or two, it got to its feet and I was able to get this lucky shot before it turned itself into just another "bump" at the edge of the water. Apparently, there were also two juvenile Snow Geese at its side, presumably the bird behind the adult, to the left, and the bird immediately to its right. All these birds were at the FAR side of the wide river (as usual), hence a very distant view : )<br /> <br /> This morning was pretty cold, -14C, and it was snowing lightly and very low light. We could hardly believe the birds we saw within two and a half hours, though - just amazing! <br /> <br /> Snow Goose-1 (ad)ult, 2 (juv)enile <br /> Canada Goose-500 <br /> Mallard-50 <br /> Green-winged Teal-1 (f)emale<br /> Bufflehead-10 <br /> Common Goldeneye-60 <br /> Barrow's Goldeneye-2 <br /> Common Merganser-4 <br /> Ring-necked Pheasant-1 (m)ale <br /> Bald Eagle-2, possibly 3 or 4. Two, 1 ad./1 juv. seen flying together, then two sightings of singles. <br /> Northern Goshawk-1 <br /> Merlin-1 f, in hot pursuit of a small finch. <br /> Rock Pigeon-4 <br /> Great Horned Owl-1 <br /> Northern Flicker-1 <br /> Black-billed Magpie-12 <br /> Common Raven-6 <br /> Black-capped Chickadee-12 <br /> House Finch-20 <br /> Common Redpoll-40<br /> <br /> Straight afterwards, I called in at Sikome to say Hi to the pair of Great Horned Owls that were in their usual tree. No sign of the Porcupine today, though.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/22476675 tag:ipernity.com,2009-05-17,doc-22476675 Sun, 17 May 2009 23:53:41 +0000 2009-05-16T13:40:25-06:00 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/293827/22476675"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/129/66/75/22476675.43d89526.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I saw this whole huddle (?) of adorable Canada Goose goslings yesterday, when I went with Ron (Flickrite Ronaldok) down to the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre near Lethbridge in southern Alberta. They were hanging out with Mom and Dad near one of the ponds at the Centre. We'd been watching several goslings and then suddenly Mom stood up and revealed this tightly packed bundle of downy feathers : )</div> Bundle of joy <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/293827/22476675"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/129/66/75/22476675.43d89526.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I saw this whole huddle (?) of adorable Canada Goose goslings yesterday, when I went with Ron (Flickrite Ronaldok) down to the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre near Lethbridge in southern Alberta. They were hanging out with Mom and Dad near one of the ponds at the Centre. We'd been watching several goslings and then suddenly Mom stood up and revealed this tightly packed bundle of downy feathers : )</div> Anne Elliott