https://www.ipernity.com/tag/293827/keyword/20476 https://cdn.ipernity.com/p/101/C3/7B/293827.buddy.jpg https://www.ipernity.com/tag/293827/keyword/20476 Sat, 26 Sep 2026 09:31:39 +0000 Sat, 26 Sep 2026 09:31:39 +0000 https://www.ipernity.com https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/47515722 tag:ipernity.com,2018-10-21,doc-47515722 Sun, 21 Oct 2018 04:15:51 +0000 2018-10-20T11:13:55-06:00 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/293827/47515722"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/57/22/47515722.9b6fe3da.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I don't see Wood Ducks all that often and usually, when I do see them, they are far away. The light wasn't as good as I would have liked this morning at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, especially first thing, so my photos are not as sharp as they could have been, but I'm still happy to get them. It was another beautiful day, with the temperature getting up to about 17C.<br /> <br /> "The Wood Duck is one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather; the elegant females have a distinctive profile and delicate white pattern around the eye. These birds live in wooded swamps, where they nest in holes in trees or in nest boxes put up around lake margins. They are one of the few duck species equipped with strong claws that can grip bark and perch on branches." From AllABoutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id</a><br /> <br /> It was another beautiful day on 20 October 2018, with the temperature getting up to about 17C. I joined a group of friends for a morning birding walk at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. Always an enjoyable walk and we saw some of the usual things, including a Great Blue Heron perched way off in the distance, a couple of the deer who live there, and quite a few Wood Ducks (seen in very poor light).<br /> <br /> After the walk, some of us drove over to the nearby Blackfoot Diner for lunch. Always fun to sit and chat. Thanks, Janet, for another enjoyable morning.</div> Wood Duck male <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/293827/47515722"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/57/22/47515722.9b6fe3da.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I don't see Wood Ducks all that often and usually, when I do see them, they are far away. The light wasn't as good as I would have liked this morning at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, especially first thing, so my photos are not as sharp as they could have been, but I'm still happy to get them. It was another beautiful day, with the temperature getting up to about 17C.<br /> <br /> "The Wood Duck is one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather; the elegant females have a distinctive profile and delicate white pattern around the eye. These birds live in wooded swamps, where they nest in holes in trees or in nest boxes put up around lake margins. They are one of the few duck species equipped with strong claws that can grip bark and perch on branches." From AllABoutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id</a><br /> <br /> It was another beautiful day on 20 October 2018, with the temperature getting up to about 17C. I joined a group of friends for a morning birding walk at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. Always an enjoyable walk and we saw some of the usual things, including a Great Blue Heron perched way off in the distance, a couple of the deer who live there, and quite a few Wood Ducks (seen in very poor light).<br /> <br /> After the walk, some of us drove over to the nearby Blackfoot Diner for lunch. Always fun to sit and chat. Thanks, Janet, for another enjoyable morning.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/47328888 tag:ipernity.com,2018-09-16,doc-47328888 Sun, 16 Sep 2018 03:43:03 +0000 2018-09-15T10:47:37-06:00 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/293827/47328888"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/88/88/47328888.2a871593.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Tonight, I have just added 8 extra photos of poor quality. They were taken during a walk with friends this morning, 15 September 2018, at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. I just wanted to add them to various albums for the record. <br /> <br /> The weather was so unpleasant today - cold (just a few degrees above freezing), misty and drizzling. Longjohns, gloves, two fleece jackets and a light shell were all needed. Some people were even wearing their thick, padded winter jackets. The atrocious light was useless for photography. However, I so rarely get to this location and so I wanted to add several sightings that were much appreciated, especially an American Mink that was spotted the far side of the lagoon, a few deer and a very distant Great Blue Heron. <br /> <br /> After our walk, some of us went for lunch at the Blackfoot Diner. It was cold enough outside to make it feel really good to be able to wrap our fingers round cups of hot coffee, <br /> <br /> Everyone here is really hoping that we will actually have an autumn this year. Quite a few of the trees have turned yellow, but we have had rain and snow this week and some of the leaves are already on the ground. This is SUMMER! What a crazy summer we have had this year - heat (including breaking an all-time record for here!), slightly cooler days in between, snow and rain accompanied by temperatures that are barely above freezing and windchills that have plunged below 0C. Oh, and weeks of very poor air quality because of the smoke that was blowing in from the Britisih Columbia wildfires. Just when we were thinking that fall has arrived early, along came the snow. Keeping fingers crossed that another week of crummy weather and hopefully fall will return, with much-needed sunshine and warmth.</div> On a cold summer day with mist and drizzle <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/293827/47328888"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/88/88/47328888.2a871593.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Tonight, I have just added 8 extra photos of poor quality. They were taken during a walk with friends this morning, 15 September 2018, at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. I just wanted to add them to various albums for the record. <br /> <br /> The weather was so unpleasant today - cold (just a few degrees above freezing), misty and drizzling. Longjohns, gloves, two fleece jackets and a light shell were all needed. Some people were even wearing their thick, padded winter jackets. The atrocious light was useless for photography. However, I so rarely get to this location and so I wanted to add several sightings that were much appreciated, especially an American Mink that was spotted the far side of the lagoon, a few deer and a very distant Great Blue Heron. <br /> <br /> After our walk, some of us went for lunch at the Blackfoot Diner. It was cold enough outside to make it feel really good to be able to wrap our fingers round cups of hot coffee, <br /> <br /> Everyone here is really hoping that we will actually have an autumn this year. Quite a few of the trees have turned yellow, but we have had rain and snow this week and some of the leaves are already on the ground. This is SUMMER! What a crazy summer we have had this year - heat (including breaking an all-time record for here!), slightly cooler days in between, snow and rain accompanied by temperatures that are barely above freezing and windchills that have plunged below 0C. Oh, and weeks of very poor air quality because of the smoke that was blowing in from the Britisih Columbia wildfires. Just when we were thinking that fall has arrived early, along came the snow. Keeping fingers crossed that another week of crummy weather and hopefully fall will return, with much-needed sunshine and warmth.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/46487318 tag:ipernity.com,2018-04-07,doc-46487318 Sat, 07 Apr 2018 18:00:52 +0000 2017-08-22T18:56:24-06:00 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/293827/46487318"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/73/18/46487318.8f4379f4.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Normally, I don't go on any evening bird walks, but I had been meaning for ages to get over to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. It always feels like a long drive across the city, but I thought this particular bird walk, on 22 August 2017, would actually get me over there. I'm really glad I went, not just seeing friends, but also these two Wood Ducks that were reasonably close. I don't see Wood Ducks very often and usually, when I do see them, they are far away. The light wasn't as good as I would have liked, so my photos are not as sharp as they could have been, but I'm still happy to get them.<br /> <br /> "The Wood Duck is one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather; the elegant females have a distinctive profile and delicate white pattern around the eye. These birds live in wooded swamps, where they nest in holes in trees or in nest boxes put up around lake margins. They are one of the few duck species equipped with strong claws that can grip bark and perch on branches." From AllABoutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id</a><br /> <br /> We saw 24 species of bird, including 2 Great Blue Herons, 2 Bald Eagles, 1 Osprey, 1 Merlin, 8 Wood Ducks, and an American Goldfinch. Thanks, Janet, for a very enjoyable two and a half hour walk on such a beautiful evening!</div> Wood Ducks <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/293827/46487318"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/73/18/46487318.8f4379f4.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Normally, I don't go on any evening bird walks, but I had been meaning for ages to get over to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. It always feels like a long drive across the city, but I thought this particular bird walk, on 22 August 2017, would actually get me over there. I'm really glad I went, not just seeing friends, but also these two Wood Ducks that were reasonably close. I don't see Wood Ducks very often and usually, when I do see them, they are far away. The light wasn't as good as I would have liked, so my photos are not as sharp as they could have been, but I'm still happy to get them.<br /> <br /> "The Wood Duck is one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather; the elegant females have a distinctive profile and delicate white pattern around the eye. These birds live in wooded swamps, where they nest in holes in trees or in nest boxes put up around lake margins. They are one of the few duck species equipped with strong claws that can grip bark and perch on branches." From AllABoutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id</a><br /> <br /> We saw 24 species of bird, including 2 Great Blue Herons, 2 Bald Eagles, 1 Osprey, 1 Merlin, 8 Wood Ducks, and an American Goldfinch. Thanks, Janet, for a very enjoyable two and a half hour walk on such a beautiful evening!</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/45716884 tag:ipernity.com,2017-10-22,doc-45716884 Sun, 22 Oct 2017 15:37:46 +0000 2017-10-21T13:10:32-06:00 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/293827/45716884"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/68/84/45716884.b445ae0f.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Yesterday morning, 21 October 2017, I went to the Grand Re-opening of the Wild Bird Store here in the city. It is also their 20th Anniversary. Their new location is within my driving comfort zone, so I decided to go.<br /> <br /> The beautiful Swainsons's Hawk shown in my previous photo resides at the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation and accompanied Janis while she gave a talk. It is four years old, has a damaged wing, and serves as a Wildlife Ambassador. Apparently, it gets on well with people and therefore has the right kind of personality to be trained for this important work. Quite a vocal bird, too, as we found out. <br /> <br /> There were several other talks, one being given by Myrna Pearman from the Ellis Bird Farm and another by Chris Fisher. Both full of interesting information.<br /> <br /> Afterwards, I decided to keep driving north, and called in at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. I rarely go there, as it always seems a long way to drive, and I tend not to see many birds when I go on my own. I was happy, though, to see a number of beautiful Wood Ducks and one of the Great Horned Owls, so my visit felt worthwhile.</div> Wood Duck male <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/293827/45716884"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/68/84/45716884.b445ae0f.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Yesterday morning, 21 October 2017, I went to the Grand Re-opening of the Wild Bird Store here in the city. It is also their 20th Anniversary. Their new location is within my driving comfort zone, so I decided to go.<br /> <br /> The beautiful Swainsons's Hawk shown in my previous photo resides at the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation and accompanied Janis while she gave a talk. It is four years old, has a damaged wing, and serves as a Wildlife Ambassador. Apparently, it gets on well with people and therefore has the right kind of personality to be trained for this important work. Quite a vocal bird, too, as we found out. <br /> <br /> There were several other talks, one being given by Myrna Pearman from the Ellis Bird Farm and another by Chris Fisher. Both full of interesting information.<br /> <br /> Afterwards, I decided to keep driving north, and called in at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. I rarely go there, as it always seems a long way to drive, and I tend not to see many birds when I go on my own. I was happy, though, to see a number of beautiful Wood Ducks and one of the Great Horned Owls, so my visit felt worthwhile.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/45488292 tag:ipernity.com,2017-09-10,doc-45488292 Sun, 10 Sep 2017 16:52:25 +0000 2017-09-09T10:41:22-06:00 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/293827/45488292"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/82/92/45488292.a5d236af.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Yesterday morning, I joined several friends for a morning's walk at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary in Calgary. This juvenile Wood Duck was one of several Wood Ducks we saw. Such beautiful colours in their feathers. I will add our leader's report in a comment box below. Thanks for a very enjoyable walk, Janet! A Great Horned Owl was a welcome sight, too, though it was in a very awkward place to photograph, so I may not post a photo. At the Sanctuary, people must stay on the path. There are various deer trails or places where Beavers have dragged logs to the lagoon. These are not 'paths' for visitors to walk along. Our leader is a steward at the Sanctuary and she explained about staying on the path to a young woman who was ignoring the rules. However, this woman took no notice and stayed where she was, wanting to take photos. Ignorant.<br /> <br /> "The Wood Duck is one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather; the elegant females have a distinctive profile and delicate white pattern around the eye. These birds live in wooded swamps, where they nest in holes in trees or in nest boxes put up around lake margins. They are one of the few duck species equipped with strong claws that can grip bark and perch on branches." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id</a><br /> <br /> "The Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and Nature Centre have been providing migratory birds with a place to rest their wings since 1929. That's more than 80 years of conservation!<br /> <br /> To date, 270 species of birds, 21 species of mammals and 347 species of plants have been recorded at the Sanctuary and Nature Centre by members of the public, volunteers and staff.<br /> <br /> In 1883, Colonel James Walker settled the land that is now occupied by the sanctuary. In 1910, the current brick house - then named Inglewood - was built, and the surrounding area was named for the most prominent property in the area.<br /> <br /> From 1929 to 1952, several Chinese families leased land from Colonel Walker and established market gardens to serve the needs of a growing city. These highly productive gardens were used to grow vegetables and bedding plants, and represent an early example of urban agriculture and horticulture in the city. As part of the engagement process for Bend in Bow, it was discovered the descendants of one of the families, the Koo family, still reside in Calgary.<br /> <br /> Colonel Walker's son, Selby, applied to the Federal government in 1929 to have 59 acres on the west side of the Bow River be designated as a Federal Migratory Bird Sanctuary. His request was granted and the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary was born.<br /> <br /> When Selby died in 1953, Ed Jefferies acquired the property and leased it to the Alberta Fish & Game Association. In 1970, The City of Calgary purchased the property and has been managing it as a natural reserve ever since.<br /> <br /> The sanctuary's Nature Centre was built in 1996 and grassland restoration projects began in that same year.<br /> The Colonel Walker House is currently used by Parks staff and volunteers as a classroom and office."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Pages/Locations/SE-parks/Inglewood-Bird-Sanctuary.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Pages/Locations/SE-parks/Inglew...</a></div> Wood Duck 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/293827/45488292"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/82/92/45488292.a5d236af.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Yesterday morning, I joined several friends for a morning's walk at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary in Calgary. This juvenile Wood Duck was one of several Wood Ducks we saw. Such beautiful colours in their feathers. I will add our leader's report in a comment box below. Thanks for a very enjoyable walk, Janet! A Great Horned Owl was a welcome sight, too, though it was in a very awkward place to photograph, so I may not post a photo. At the Sanctuary, people must stay on the path. There are various deer trails or places where Beavers have dragged logs to the lagoon. These are not 'paths' for visitors to walk along. Our leader is a steward at the Sanctuary and she explained about staying on the path to a young woman who was ignoring the rules. However, this woman took no notice and stayed where she was, wanting to take photos. Ignorant.<br /> <br /> "The Wood Duck is one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather; the elegant females have a distinctive profile and delicate white pattern around the eye. These birds live in wooded swamps, where they nest in holes in trees or in nest boxes put up around lake margins. They are one of the few duck species equipped with strong claws that can grip bark and perch on branches." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id</a><br /> <br /> "The Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and Nature Centre have been providing migratory birds with a place to rest their wings since 1929. That's more than 80 years of conservation!<br /> <br /> To date, 270 species of birds, 21 species of mammals and 347 species of plants have been recorded at the Sanctuary and Nature Centre by members of the public, volunteers and staff.<br /> <br /> In 1883, Colonel James Walker settled the land that is now occupied by the sanctuary. In 1910, the current brick house - then named Inglewood - was built, and the surrounding area was named for the most prominent property in the area.<br /> <br /> From 1929 to 1952, several Chinese families leased land from Colonel Walker and established market gardens to serve the needs of a growing city. These highly productive gardens were used to grow vegetables and bedding plants, and represent an early example of urban agriculture and horticulture in the city. As part of the engagement process for Bend in Bow, it was discovered the descendants of one of the families, the Koo family, still reside in Calgary.<br /> <br /> Colonel Walker's son, Selby, applied to the Federal government in 1929 to have 59 acres on the west side of the Bow River be designated as a Federal Migratory Bird Sanctuary. His request was granted and the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary was born.<br /> <br /> When Selby died in 1953, Ed Jefferies acquired the property and leased it to the Alberta Fish & Game Association. In 1970, The City of Calgary purchased the property and has been managing it as a natural reserve ever since.<br /> <br /> The sanctuary's Nature Centre was built in 1996 and grassland restoration projects began in that same year.<br /> The Colonel Walker House is currently used by Parks staff and volunteers as a classroom and office."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Pages/Locations/SE-parks/Inglewood-Bird-Sanctuary.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Pages/Locations/SE-parks/Inglew...</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/45487606 tag:ipernity.com,2017-09-10,doc-45487606 Sun, 10 Sep 2017 16:50:51 +0000 2017-09-09T10:50:53-06:00 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/293827/45487606"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/76/06/45487606.6cf9fd52.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Yesterday morning, 9 September 2017, I joined several friends for a morning's bird walk at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary in Calgary. I will add our leader's report in a comment box below. Thanks for a very enjoyable walk, Janet, followed by lunch at the nearby Blackfoot Truckstop Diner! <br /> <br /> At the Sanctuary, people must stay on the path. There are various deer trails or places where Beavers have dragged logs to the lagoon. These are not 'paths' for visitors to walk along. Our leader is a steward at the Sanctuary and she explained about staying on the path to a young woman who was ignoring the rules. However, this woman took no notice and stayed where she was, wanting to take photos. Ignorant.<br /> <br /> "The Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and Nature Centre have been providing migratory birds with a place to rest their wings since 1929. That's more than 80 years of conservation!<br /> <br /> To date, 270 species of birds, 21 species of mammals and 347 species of plants have been recorded at the Sanctuary and Nature Centre by members of the public, volunteers and staff.<br /> <br /> In 1883, Colonel James Walker settled the land that is now occupied by the sanctuary. In 1910, the current brick house - then named Inglewood - was built, and the surrounding area was named for the most prominent property in the area.<br /> <br /> From 1929 to 1952, several Chinese families leased land from Colonel Walker and established market gardens to serve the needs of a growing city. These highly productive gardens were used to grow vegetables and bedding plants, and represent an early example of urban agriculture and horticulture in the city. As part of the engagement process for Bend in Bow, it was discovered the descendants of one of the families, the Koo family, still reside in Calgary.<br /> <br /> Colonel Walker's son, Selby, applied to the Federal government in 1929 to have 59 acres on the west side of the Bow River be designated as a Federal Migratory Bird Sanctuary. His request was granted and the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary was born.<br /> <br /> When Selby died in 1953, Ed Jefferies acquired the property and leased it to the Alberta Fish & Game Association. In 1970, The City of Calgary purchased the property and has been managing it as a natural reserve ever since.<br /> <br /> The sanctuary's Nature Centre was built in 1996 and grassland restoration projects began in that same year.<br /> The Colonel Walker House is currently used by Parks staff and volunteers as a classroom and office."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Pages/Locations/SE-parks/Inglewood-Bird-Sanctuary.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Pages/Locations/SE-parks/Inglew...</a></div> Walker House, Inglewood Bird Sanctuary <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/293827/45487606"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/76/06/45487606.6cf9fd52.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Yesterday morning, 9 September 2017, I joined several friends for a morning's bird walk at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary in Calgary. I will add our leader's report in a comment box below. Thanks for a very enjoyable walk, Janet, followed by lunch at the nearby Blackfoot Truckstop Diner! <br /> <br /> At the Sanctuary, people must stay on the path. There are various deer trails or places where Beavers have dragged logs to the lagoon. These are not 'paths' for visitors to walk along. Our leader is a steward at the Sanctuary and she explained about staying on the path to a young woman who was ignoring the rules. However, this woman took no notice and stayed where she was, wanting to take photos. Ignorant.<br /> <br /> "The Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and Nature Centre have been providing migratory birds with a place to rest their wings since 1929. That's more than 80 years of conservation!<br /> <br /> To date, 270 species of birds, 21 species of mammals and 347 species of plants have been recorded at the Sanctuary and Nature Centre by members of the public, volunteers and staff.<br /> <br /> In 1883, Colonel James Walker settled the land that is now occupied by the sanctuary. In 1910, the current brick house - then named Inglewood - was built, and the surrounding area was named for the most prominent property in the area.<br /> <br /> From 1929 to 1952, several Chinese families leased land from Colonel Walker and established market gardens to serve the needs of a growing city. These highly productive gardens were used to grow vegetables and bedding plants, and represent an early example of urban agriculture and horticulture in the city. As part of the engagement process for Bend in Bow, it was discovered the descendants of one of the families, the Koo family, still reside in Calgary.<br /> <br /> Colonel Walker's son, Selby, applied to the Federal government in 1929 to have 59 acres on the west side of the Bow River be designated as a Federal Migratory Bird Sanctuary. His request was granted and the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary was born.<br /> <br /> When Selby died in 1953, Ed Jefferies acquired the property and leased it to the Alberta Fish & Game Association. In 1970, The City of Calgary purchased the property and has been managing it as a natural reserve ever since.<br /> <br /> The sanctuary's Nature Centre was built in 1996 and grassland restoration projects began in that same year.<br /> The Colonel Walker House is currently used by Parks staff and volunteers as a classroom and office."<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Pages/Locations/SE-parks/Inglewood-Bird-Sanctuary.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Pages/Locations/SE-parks/Inglew...</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/45451852 tag:ipernity.com,2017-09-04,doc-45451852 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 15:34:15 +0000 2017-08-22T18:56:35-06:00 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/293827/45451852"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/18/52/45451852.f9be4995.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">For members of the ipernity website, this update is from 1 September 2017. I have the same almost 14,000 photos there as I have on Flickr.<br /> <br /> "Dear Members,<br /> <br /> We are thrilled to announce that we are about to take the last steps of IMA's take-over of the Ipernity platform and service. IMA is now handling the financial aspects of the site. IMA made the first payment to Amazon Web Services for August and will continue to pay the operating costs to ensure the site runs without interruption. This is a major accomplishment in the transition from Ipernity S.A. to IMA.<br /> <br /> However, technical issues such as renewal options still need to be resolved due to software/coding issues. These issues are currently being addressed with the objective of a quick resolution....."<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.ipernity.com/blog/team/4675826" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.ipernity.com/blog/team/4675826</a><br /> <br /> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /> <br /> Normally, I don't go on any evening bird walks, but I had been meaning for ages to get over to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. It always feels like a long drive across the city, but I thought this particular bird walk on 22 August 2017, would actually get me over there. I'm really glad I went, not just seeing friends, but also these two Wood Ducks that were reasonably close. I don't see Wood Ducks very often and usually, when I do see them, they are far away. <br /> <br /> "The Wood Duck is one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather; the elegant females have a distinctive profile and delicate white pattern around the eye. These birds live in wooded swamps, where they nest in holes in trees or in nest boxes put up around lake margins. They are one of the few duck species equipped with strong claws that can grip bark and perch on branches." From AllABoutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id</a><br /> <br /> We saw 24 species of bird, including 2 Great Blue Herons, 2 Bald Eagles, 1 Osprey, 1 Merlin, 8 Wood Ducks, and an American Goldfinch. I will add the complete list that Andrew Hart compiled, in a comment box below. Thanks, Andrew! Thanks, too, Janet, for a very enjoyable two and a half hour walk on such a beautiful evening!</div> Wood Ducks <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/293827/45451852"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/18/52/45451852.f9be4995.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">For members of the ipernity website, this update is from 1 September 2017. I have the same almost 14,000 photos there as I have on Flickr.<br /> <br /> "Dear Members,<br /> <br /> We are thrilled to announce that we are about to take the last steps of IMA's take-over of the Ipernity platform and service. IMA is now handling the financial aspects of the site. IMA made the first payment to Amazon Web Services for August and will continue to pay the operating costs to ensure the site runs without interruption. This is a major accomplishment in the transition from Ipernity S.A. to IMA.<br /> <br /> However, technical issues such as renewal options still need to be resolved due to software/coding issues. These issues are currently being addressed with the objective of a quick resolution....."<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.ipernity.com/blog/team/4675826" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.ipernity.com/blog/team/4675826</a><br /> <br /> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /> <br /> Normally, I don't go on any evening bird walks, but I had been meaning for ages to get over to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. It always feels like a long drive across the city, but I thought this particular bird walk on 22 August 2017, would actually get me over there. I'm really glad I went, not just seeing friends, but also these two Wood Ducks that were reasonably close. I don't see Wood Ducks very often and usually, when I do see them, they are far away. <br /> <br /> "The Wood Duck is one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather; the elegant females have a distinctive profile and delicate white pattern around the eye. These birds live in wooded swamps, where they nest in holes in trees or in nest boxes put up around lake margins. They are one of the few duck species equipped with strong claws that can grip bark and perch on branches." From AllABoutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id</a><br /> <br /> We saw 24 species of bird, including 2 Great Blue Herons, 2 Bald Eagles, 1 Osprey, 1 Merlin, 8 Wood Ducks, and an American Goldfinch. I will add the complete list that Andrew Hart compiled, in a comment box below. Thanks, Andrew! Thanks, too, Janet, for a very enjoyable two and a half hour walk on such a beautiful evening!</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/45374916 tag:ipernity.com,2017-08-23,doc-45374916 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 18:51:54 +0000 2017-08-22T18:56:51-06:00 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/293827/45374916"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/49/16/45374916.d5dc51b8.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Normally, I don't go on any evening bird walks, but I had been meaning for ages to get over to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. It always feels like a long drive across the city, but I thought this particular bird walk yesterday evening, 22 August 2017, would actually get me over there. I'm really glad I went, not just seeing friends, but also these two Wood Ducks that were reasonably close. I don't see Wood Ducks very often and usually, when I do see them, they are far away. The light wasn't as good as I would have liked, so my photos are not as sharp as they could have been, but I'm still happy to get them.<br /> <br /> "The Wood Duck is one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather; the elegant females have a distinctive profile and delicate white pattern around the eye. These birds live in wooded swamps, where they nest in holes in trees or in nest boxes put up around lake margins. They are one of the few duck species equipped with strong claws that can grip bark and perch on branches." From AllABoutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id</a><br /> <br /> We saw 24 species of bird, including 2 Great Blue Herons, 2 Bald Eagles, 1 Osprey, 1 Merlin, 8 Wood Ducks, and an American Goldfinch. I will add the complete list that Andrew Hart compiled, in a comment box below. Thanks, Andrew! Thanks, too, Janet, for a very enjoyable two and a half hour walk on such a beautiful evening!</div> Handsome Wood Ducks <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/293827/45374916"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/49/16/45374916.d5dc51b8.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Normally, I don't go on any evening bird walks, but I had been meaning for ages to get over to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. It always feels like a long drive across the city, but I thought this particular bird walk yesterday evening, 22 August 2017, would actually get me over there. I'm really glad I went, not just seeing friends, but also these two Wood Ducks that were reasonably close. I don't see Wood Ducks very often and usually, when I do see them, they are far away. The light wasn't as good as I would have liked, so my photos are not as sharp as they could have been, but I'm still happy to get them.<br /> <br /> "The Wood Duck is one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather; the elegant females have a distinctive profile and delicate white pattern around the eye. These birds live in wooded swamps, where they nest in holes in trees or in nest boxes put up around lake margins. They are one of the few duck species equipped with strong claws that can grip bark and perch on branches." From AllABoutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id</a><br /> <br /> We saw 24 species of bird, including 2 Great Blue Herons, 2 Bald Eagles, 1 Osprey, 1 Merlin, 8 Wood Ducks, and an American Goldfinch. I will add the complete list that Andrew Hart compiled, in a comment box below. Thanks, Andrew! Thanks, too, Janet, for a very enjoyable two and a half hour walk on such a beautiful evening!</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/43835830 tag:ipernity.com,2016-11-20,doc-43835830 Sun, 20 Nov 2016 13:58:58 +0000 2016-11-19T12:00:19-07:00 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/293827/43835830"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/58/30/43835830.392717bf.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">"An adult muskrat is about 40 to 60 cm (16 to 24 inches) long, almost half of that tail, and weighs from 0.7 to 1.8 kg (1.5 to 4 lb). Muskrats are much smaller than beavers (Castor canadensis), with whom they often share their habitat." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muskrat" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muskrat</a><br /> <br /> This photo was taken yesterday at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. It was yet another cold, very overcast day and I almost didn't go. However, I had not been out of the house for several days in a row and just needed to get out somewhere. The lighting was atrocious, though this photo came out reasonably OK. The next photo, of a Great Horned Owl, is really bad quality, but I wanted to post it just for the record.<br /> <br /> Many thanks for the morning walk, Janet and Bernie, and for lunch at the Blackfoot Diner/Truckstop. Just what was needed after a cold walk. I will add their final list of species in a comment box below.</div> Muskrat ripples <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/293827/43835830"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/58/30/43835830.392717bf.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">"An adult muskrat is about 40 to 60 cm (16 to 24 inches) long, almost half of that tail, and weighs from 0.7 to 1.8 kg (1.5 to 4 lb). Muskrats are much smaller than beavers (Castor canadensis), with whom they often share their habitat." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muskrat" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muskrat</a><br /> <br /> This photo was taken yesterday at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. It was yet another cold, very overcast day and I almost didn't go. However, I had not been out of the house for several days in a row and just needed to get out somewhere. The lighting was atrocious, though this photo came out reasonably OK. The next photo, of a Great Horned Owl, is really bad quality, but I wanted to post it just for the record.<br /> <br /> Many thanks for the morning walk, Janet and Bernie, and for lunch at the Blackfoot Diner/Truckstop. Just what was needed after a cold walk. I will add their final list of species in a comment box below.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40382584 tag:ipernity.com,2015-11-16,doc-40382584 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 13:52:58 +0000 2015-09-27T07:42:06-07:00 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/293827/40382584"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/25/84/40382584.061e9814.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Today would have been my older daughter's birthday - wish I could say Happy Birthday to her. Needed some bright, cheery colour - also because it snowed last night. Decided I needed to be out for a while, so I went with a group of friends to Weaselhead for a long walk. Not a whole lot to be seen, though some Red-winged Crossbills flew to a tree not too far away. Also just made out a little Snowshoe Hare hiding in a tangle of bushes - white fur, white snow.<br /> <br /> This photo was taken at our meeting place, Carburn Park, on 27 September 2015, when I joined friends on a most enjoyable day of birding east of the city. <br /> <br /> Below, I have added Howard Heffler's report of the day's sightings, adding that, as usual, there were some species that I didn't see myself. <br /> <br /> We were all delighted to see a huge swarm of Greater White-fronted Geese fly over the wetland at Marsland Basin. In the far distance, we could see a second huge gathering of them, but these didn't fly towards us. People were seeing several Snow Geese mixed in with the flock, but I only spotted them when I had downloaded my photos to my computer. <br /> <br /> It was also nice to see one of the four Badgers in the family that lives on a property adjacent to our friend Lynn's land. On a previous visit, I had been lucky enough to see three of these Badgers. These are so rarely seen.<br /> <br /> "We had 12 people show up for a beautiful day to explore the sloughs east of Calgary. This included a lovely young family visiting from Lac la Biche. It was a bit chilly for the first two stops at the slough on Glenmore Trail and RR 284 and at Chestermere Lake. We then went directly to Marsland Basin when we spent much of our time. Although Lynn and Sue were not at home, we explored their property and listed 38 bird species and had a good look at one member of the badger family that lives on the adjacent property. By now the sun was up, we were all warm and there were a few passerines to add to the waterfowl. A highlight was an estimated 5000 Greater White-fronted Geese flying over. From there we went to the south side of Eagle Lake where we saw a distant murmuration of an (estimated) 10,000 European Starlings. Even from a distance this is a moving sight. Cattleland Slough did not add anything new to the list so we headed for home. Thanks to everyone for their sharp eyes and to Andrew Hart for his listing skills on eBird. The list below includes birds seen by the group and includes birds seen while driving and even the Downy Woodpecker in the Carburn parking lot. The numbers reported are the (best guess) of totals from all sightings. Errors of omission or commission rest with the author….<br /> <br /> Greater White-fronted Goose - 5000<br /> Snow Goose - 8<br /> Canada Goose - 100<br /> Gadwall - 74<br /> American Wigeon - 7<br /> Mallard - 44<br /> Blue-winged Teal - 4<br /> Northern Shoveler - 22<br /> Northern Pintail - 71<br /> Green-winged Teal - 110<br /> Canvasback - 8<br /> Redhead - 6<br /> Ring-necked Duck - 8<br /> Lesser Scaup - 150<br /> Bufflehead - 38<br /> Common Goldeneye - 12<br /> Barrow's Goldeneye - 4<br /> Ruddy Duck - 24<br /> Gray Partridge - 12<br /> Horned Grebe - 21<br /> Eared Grebe - 9<br /> Northern Harrier - 1<br /> Bald Eagle - 2<br /> Red-tailed Hawk - 3<br /> Swainson's Hawk - 1<br /> American Coot - 390<br /> Greater Yellowlegs - 2<br /> Lesser Yellowlegs - 22<br /> Long-billed Dowitcher - 3<br /> Bonaparte's Gull - 36<br /> Franklin's Gull - 42<br /> Ring-billed Gull - 185<br /> Rock Pigeon - 4<br /> Downy Woodpecker - 1<br /> Northern Flicker - 1<br /> Black-billed Magpie - 7<br /> American Crow - 24<br /> Common Raven - 1<br /> Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1<br /> Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2<br /> American Robin - 2<br /> European Starling - 10000<br /> Yellow-rumped Warbler - 8<br /> Wilson's Warbler - 3<br /> Dark-eyed Junco - 5<br /> Savannah Sparrow - 2<br /> Red-winged Blackbird - 8<br /> Yellow-headed Blackbird - 1<br /> Western Meadowlark - 2<br /> Brewer's Blackbird - 2<br /> Common Grackle - 1<br /> Brown-headed Cowbird - 10<br /> American Goldfinch - 1<br /> House Sparrow - 20<br /> <br /> TOTAL: 54 species <br /> Howard Heffler"<br /> <br /> Thanks so much, Dan and Cindy, for driving Darlene and myself there and back! We both greatly appreciated it! Many thanks, too, to Lynn and her partner, for telling everyone to come out to their home and wetland as often as we like - the more often, the better : ) A reminder to anyone going out there, to please sign the small notebook kept in a plastic tub on one of the outdoor tables overlooking the wetland. If Lynn or Sue are anywhere to be seen when you visit, do introduce yourselves.</div> Fall reflections at Carburn Park <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/293827/40382584"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/25/84/40382584.061e9814.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Today would have been my older daughter's birthday - wish I could say Happy Birthday to her. Needed some bright, cheery colour - also because it snowed last night. Decided I needed to be out for a while, so I went with a group of friends to Weaselhead for a long walk. Not a whole lot to be seen, though some Red-winged Crossbills flew to a tree not too far away. Also just made out a little Snowshoe Hare hiding in a tangle of bushes - white fur, white snow.<br /> <br /> This photo was taken at our meeting place, Carburn Park, on 27 September 2015, when I joined friends on a most enjoyable day of birding east of the city. <br /> <br /> Below, I have added Howard Heffler's report of the day's sightings, adding that, as usual, there were some species that I didn't see myself. <br /> <br /> We were all delighted to see a huge swarm of Greater White-fronted Geese fly over the wetland at Marsland Basin. In the far distance, we could see a second huge gathering of them, but these didn't fly towards us. People were seeing several Snow Geese mixed in with the flock, but I only spotted them when I had downloaded my photos to my computer. <br /> <br /> It was also nice to see one of the four Badgers in the family that lives on a property adjacent to our friend Lynn's land. On a previous visit, I had been lucky enough to see three of these Badgers. These are so rarely seen.<br /> <br /> "We had 12 people show up for a beautiful day to explore the sloughs east of Calgary. This included a lovely young family visiting from Lac la Biche. It was a bit chilly for the first two stops at the slough on Glenmore Trail and RR 284 and at Chestermere Lake. We then went directly to Marsland Basin when we spent much of our time. Although Lynn and Sue were not at home, we explored their property and listed 38 bird species and had a good look at one member of the badger family that lives on the adjacent property. By now the sun was up, we were all warm and there were a few passerines to add to the waterfowl. A highlight was an estimated 5000 Greater White-fronted Geese flying over. From there we went to the south side of Eagle Lake where we saw a distant murmuration of an (estimated) 10,000 European Starlings. Even from a distance this is a moving sight. Cattleland Slough did not add anything new to the list so we headed for home. Thanks to everyone for their sharp eyes and to Andrew Hart for his listing skills on eBird. The list below includes birds seen by the group and includes birds seen while driving and even the Downy Woodpecker in the Carburn parking lot. The numbers reported are the (best guess) of totals from all sightings. Errors of omission or commission rest with the author….<br /> <br /> Greater White-fronted Goose - 5000<br /> Snow Goose - 8<br /> Canada Goose - 100<br /> Gadwall - 74<br /> American Wigeon - 7<br /> Mallard - 44<br /> Blue-winged Teal - 4<br /> Northern Shoveler - 22<br /> Northern Pintail - 71<br /> Green-winged Teal - 110<br /> Canvasback - 8<br /> Redhead - 6<br /> Ring-necked Duck - 8<br /> Lesser Scaup - 150<br /> Bufflehead - 38<br /> Common Goldeneye - 12<br /> Barrow's Goldeneye - 4<br /> Ruddy Duck - 24<br /> Gray Partridge - 12<br /> Horned Grebe - 21<br /> Eared Grebe - 9<br /> Northern Harrier - 1<br /> Bald Eagle - 2<br /> Red-tailed Hawk - 3<br /> Swainson's Hawk - 1<br /> American Coot - 390<br /> Greater Yellowlegs - 2<br /> Lesser Yellowlegs - 22<br /> Long-billed Dowitcher - 3<br /> Bonaparte's Gull - 36<br /> Franklin's Gull - 42<br /> Ring-billed Gull - 185<br /> Rock Pigeon - 4<br /> Downy Woodpecker - 1<br /> Northern Flicker - 1<br /> Black-billed Magpie - 7<br /> American Crow - 24<br /> Common Raven - 1<br /> Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1<br /> Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2<br /> American Robin - 2<br /> European Starling - 10000<br /> Yellow-rumped Warbler - 8<br /> Wilson's Warbler - 3<br /> Dark-eyed Junco - 5<br /> Savannah Sparrow - 2<br /> Red-winged Blackbird - 8<br /> Yellow-headed Blackbird - 1<br /> Western Meadowlark - 2<br /> Brewer's Blackbird - 2<br /> Common Grackle - 1<br /> Brown-headed Cowbird - 10<br /> American Goldfinch - 1<br /> House Sparrow - 20<br /> <br /> TOTAL: 54 species <br /> Howard Heffler"<br /> <br /> Thanks so much, Dan and Cindy, for driving Darlene and myself there and back! We both greatly appreciated it! Many thanks, too, to Lynn and her partner, for telling everyone to come out to their home and wetland as often as we like - the more often, the better : ) A reminder to anyone going out there, to please sign the small notebook kept in a plastic tub on one of the outdoor tables overlooking the wetland. If Lynn or Sue are anywhere to be seen when you visit, do introduce yourselves.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/40158982 tag:ipernity.com,2015-10-25,doc-40158982 Sun, 25 Oct 2015 13:23:31 +0000 2015-10-24T09:42:12-06:00 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/293827/40158982"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/89/82/40158982.ca779a5c.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This photo was also taken yesterday, 24 October 2015, when I went on a walk with a small group of birding friends. It was around 2C when we started our walk and it was cold. Can’t believe I was wearing two fleece jackets and a fleece vest, light jacket, jeans and long-johns, woollen hat and two pairs of gloves! I always like this view, from one of the small bridges, looking along the lagoon towards the historic Colonel Walker House, built in 1910. This building is currently used by Parks staff and volunteers as a classroom and office.<br /> <br /> “The Colonel James Walker House is an early twentieth century, two-storey building constructed of red bricks and featuring sandstone trim, a low hipped roof and a wide verandah on the south and west sides. It is located on 0.98 hectares of land backing onto a lagoon on the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary in the Inglewood district of Calgary. The original brick carriage house adjacent to the building is also included in the designation.” From historicplaces.ca.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=5137" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=5137</a><br /> <br /> I will add the list of species seen, thanks to our leaders, Janet and Bernie. Thanks, both of you, for a most enjoyable walk in beautiful sunshine. We were especially lucky to see the Red Crossbills, Great Blue Heron, Common Redpolls and a very distant Porcupine sitting very high up in a tall tree. It was great going for lunch at the Blackfoot Truckstop Diner afterwards, too.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.blackfootdiner.ca/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.blackfootdiner.ca/</a><br /> <br /> Inglewood Sanctuary, Calgary. 9-11:15 a.m. Sat. Oct 24/15. Sun/cloud mix, light North wind, 2 to 5C.<br /> <br /> 1. Double-crested Cormorant - 1<br /> 2. Great Blue Heron - 1<br /> 3. Wood Duck - 13<br /> 4. Mallard - 15<br /> 5. Hooded Merganser - 1<br /> 6. Rough-legged Hawk - 1<br /> 7. Bald Eagle - 1<br /> 8. Ring-billed Gull - 20<br /> 9. Feral Pigeon - 1<br /> 10. Northern Flicker - 2<br /> 11. Downy Woodpecker - 1<br /> 12. Black-billed Magpie - 10<br /> 13. American Crow - 4<br /> 14. Black-capped Chickadee - 10<br /> 15. White-breasted Nuthatch - 2<br /> 16. Red-breasted Nuthatch - 2<br /> 17. European Starling - 20<br /> 18. RED CROSSBILL - 25<br /> 19. COMMON REDPOLL - 4<br /> <br /> Mule Deer - 7<br /> Porcupine - 1<br /> Eastern Gray Squirrel – 2</div> Colonel Walker House, Inglewood Bird Sanctuary <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/293827/40158982"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/89/82/40158982.ca779a5c.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This photo was also taken yesterday, 24 October 2015, when I went on a walk with a small group of birding friends. It was around 2C when we started our walk and it was cold. Can’t believe I was wearing two fleece jackets and a fleece vest, light jacket, jeans and long-johns, woollen hat and two pairs of gloves! I always like this view, from one of the small bridges, looking along the lagoon towards the historic Colonel Walker House, built in 1910. This building is currently used by Parks staff and volunteers as a classroom and office.<br /> <br /> “The Colonel James Walker House is an early twentieth century, two-storey building constructed of red bricks and featuring sandstone trim, a low hipped roof and a wide verandah on the south and west sides. It is located on 0.98 hectares of land backing onto a lagoon on the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary in the Inglewood district of Calgary. The original brick carriage house adjacent to the building is also included in the designation.” From historicplaces.ca.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=5137" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=5137</a><br /> <br /> I will add the list of species seen, thanks to our leaders, Janet and Bernie. Thanks, both of you, for a most enjoyable walk in beautiful sunshine. We were especially lucky to see the Red Crossbills, Great Blue Heron, Common Redpolls and a very distant Porcupine sitting very high up in a tall tree. It was great going for lunch at the Blackfoot Truckstop Diner afterwards, too.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.blackfootdiner.ca/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.blackfootdiner.ca/</a><br /> <br /> Inglewood Sanctuary, Calgary. 9-11:15 a.m. Sat. Oct 24/15. Sun/cloud mix, light North wind, 2 to 5C.<br /> <br /> 1. Double-crested Cormorant - 1<br /> 2. Great Blue Heron - 1<br /> 3. Wood Duck - 13<br /> 4. Mallard - 15<br /> 5. Hooded Merganser - 1<br /> 6. Rough-legged Hawk - 1<br /> 7. Bald Eagle - 1<br /> 8. Ring-billed Gull - 20<br /> 9. Feral Pigeon - 1<br /> 10. Northern Flicker - 2<br /> 11. Downy Woodpecker - 1<br /> 12. Black-billed Magpie - 10<br /> 13. American Crow - 4<br /> 14. Black-capped Chickadee - 10<br /> 15. White-breasted Nuthatch - 2<br /> 16. Red-breasted Nuthatch - 2<br /> 17. European Starling - 20<br /> 18. RED CROSSBILL - 25<br /> 19. COMMON REDPOLL - 4<br /> <br /> Mule Deer - 7<br /> Porcupine - 1<br /> Eastern Gray Squirrel – 2</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/39819514 tag:ipernity.com,2015-09-28,doc-39819514 Mon, 28 Sep 2015 15:26:35 +0000 2015-09-26T09:34:04-06:00 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/293827/39819514"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/95/14/39819514.86030b8b.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This photo was taken a couple of days ago, on 26 September 2015. In the morning, I joined a group of friends for a three-hour stroll at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. The temperature was between 8C and 13C and it was overcast until we were about to leave, when the sun finally struggled out from behind the clouds. I had been meaning to get over to the Sanctuary, but just hadn't had the time, so thought this trip would get me out there. The fall colours and reflections are always beautiful, though the sun would have helped. <br /> <br /> I think the highlight for me was seeing this pair of gorgeous Wood Ducks, Usually I see them far, far away, but this pair was reasonably close. <br /> <br /> "The Wood Duck is one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather; the elegant females have a distinctive profile and delicate white pattern around the eye. These birds live in wooded swamps, where they nest in holes in trees or in nest boxes put up around lake margins. They are one of the few duck species equipped with strong claws that can grip bark and perch on branches." From AllABoutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id</a><br /> <br /> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_duck" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_duck</a><br /> <br /> I will add Janet and Bernie's list from our walk, with thanks for a very enjoyable morning!<br /> <br /> 1. Pied-billed Grebe - 1<br /> 2. Double-crested Cormorant - 12<br /> 3. Great Blue Heron - 1<br /> 4. Canada Goose - 24<br /> 5. Wood Duck - 29<br /> 6. Mallard - 11<br /> 7. Common Merganser - 45<br /> 8. Merlin - 2 sightings, likely 1 bird<br /> 9. Greater Yellowlegs - 1<br /> 10. Ring-billed Gull - 18<br /> 11. Feral Pigeon - 1<br /> 12. Northern Flicker - 1<br /> 13. Hairy Woodpecker - 1<br /> 14. Black-billed Magpie - 8<br /> 15. American Crow - 5<br /> 16. Black-capped Chickadee - 6<br /> 17. White-breasted Nuthatch - 3<br /> 18. Red-breasted Nuthatch - 3<br /> 19. Ruby -crowned Kinglet - 1<br /> 20. American Robin - 5<br /> 21. European Starling - 200+<br /> 22. Pine Siskin - 10<br /> 23. House Sparrow - 3</div> Colourful pair of Wood Ducks / Aix sponsa <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/293827/39819514"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/95/14/39819514.86030b8b.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This photo was taken a couple of days ago, on 26 September 2015. In the morning, I joined a group of friends for a three-hour stroll at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. The temperature was between 8C and 13C and it was overcast until we were about to leave, when the sun finally struggled out from behind the clouds. I had been meaning to get over to the Sanctuary, but just hadn't had the time, so thought this trip would get me out there. The fall colours and reflections are always beautiful, though the sun would have helped. <br /> <br /> I think the highlight for me was seeing this pair of gorgeous Wood Ducks, Usually I see them far, far away, but this pair was reasonably close. <br /> <br /> "The Wood Duck is one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather; the elegant females have a distinctive profile and delicate white pattern around the eye. These birds live in wooded swamps, where they nest in holes in trees or in nest boxes put up around lake margins. They are one of the few duck species equipped with strong claws that can grip bark and perch on branches." From AllABoutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id</a><br /> <br /> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_duck" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_duck</a><br /> <br /> I will add Janet and Bernie's list from our walk, with thanks for a very enjoyable morning!<br /> <br /> 1. Pied-billed Grebe - 1<br /> 2. Double-crested Cormorant - 12<br /> 3. Great Blue Heron - 1<br /> 4. Canada Goose - 24<br /> 5. Wood Duck - 29<br /> 6. Mallard - 11<br /> 7. Common Merganser - 45<br /> 8. Merlin - 2 sightings, likely 1 bird<br /> 9. Greater Yellowlegs - 1<br /> 10. Ring-billed Gull - 18<br /> 11. Feral Pigeon - 1<br /> 12. Northern Flicker - 1<br /> 13. Hairy Woodpecker - 1<br /> 14. Black-billed Magpie - 8<br /> 15. American Crow - 5<br /> 16. Black-capped Chickadee - 6<br /> 17. White-breasted Nuthatch - 3<br /> 18. Red-breasted Nuthatch - 3<br /> 19. Ruby -crowned Kinglet - 1<br /> 20. American Robin - 5<br /> 21. European Starling - 200+<br /> 22. Pine Siskin - 10<br /> 23. House Sparrow - 3</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/39636090 tag:ipernity.com,2015-09-10,doc-39636090 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 15:34:43 +0000 2015-09-08T11:33:13-06:00 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/293827/39636090"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/60/90/39636090.f2564f75.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="181" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This photo was taken two days ago, on 8 September 2015. In the morning, I joined a group of friends for a three-hour stroll at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. 38 bird species were seen, though I didn't manage to see any of the tiny, fast-moving Warblers. It was good to see 28 Wood Ducks, but they were far, far away, in an area that is still closed due to devastating flood damage. The Sanctuary had been closed for about two years for this reason and only very recently re-opened just a part of the area. Two of these young Pied-billed Grebes were hanging about on the lagoon. <br /> <br /> "Part bird, part submarine, the Pied-billed Grebe is common across much of North America. These small brown birds have unusually thick bills that turn silver and black in summer. These expert divers inhabit sluggish rivers, freshwater marshes, lakes, and estuaries. They use their chunky bills to kill and eat large crustaceans along with a great variety of fish, amphibians, insects, and other invertebrates. Rarely seen in flight and often hidden amid vegetation, Pied-billed Grebes announce their presence with loud, far-reaching calls." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/pied-billed_grebe/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/pied-billed_grebe/id</a><br /> <br /> "Other names of this grebe include American dabchick, dabchick, Carolina grebe, devil-diver, dive-dapper, dipper, hell-diver, pied-billed dabchick, thick-billed grebe, and water witch." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pied-billed_grebe" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pied-billed_grebe</a><br /> <br /> Bird list compiled by our leaders, added mainly to jog my own memory. As always, there were quite a few of these species that I didn't see, for one reason or another.<br /> <br /> 1. Canada Goose-52<br /> 2. Wood Duck-28<br /> 3. American Wigeon-6<br /> 4. Mallard-20<br /> 5. Pied-billed Grebe-2<br /> 6. Double-crested Cormorant-13<br /> 7. Great Blue Heron-3<br /> 8. Osprey-1+<br /> 9. Cooper-s Hawk-1<br /> 10. Swainson’s Hawk-1<br /> 11. Merlin-3+<br /> 12. Killdeer-4<br /> 13. Ring-billed Gull-12<br /> 14. Rock Pigeon-40<br /> 15. Belted Kingfisher-1<br /> 16. Downy Woodpecker-4<br /> 17. Hairy Woodpecker-1<br /> 18. Northern Flicker-15<br /> 19. Blue Jay-1 heard<br /> 20. Black-billed Magpie-4<br /> 21. American Crow-2<br /> 22. Common Raven-2+<br /> 23. Black-capped Chickadee-5<br /> 24. Red-breasted Nuthatch-2<br /> 25. White-breasted Nuthatch-1<br /> 26. Ruby-crowned Kinglet-2<br /> 27. House Wren-2<br /> 28. American Robin-25<br /> 29. European Starling 12<br /> 30. Cedar Waxwing-8<br /> 31. Yellow Warbler-3<br /> 32. Yellow-rumped Warbler-6<br /> 33. Wilson’s Warbler-8<br /> 34. White-throated Sparrow-1<br /> 35. White-crowned Sparrow-8 juv.<br /> 36. Red Crossbill-1<br /> 37. Pine Siskin-2<br /> 38. American Goldfinch-1 heard<br /> <br /> The Calgary Zoo is very close to the Sanctuary, so after our morning walk, I decided to call in at the Zoo. I hadn't been for about a year and I really missed going there. Of course, many of the garden flowers were past their prime, but I did find a few that were fit to photograph. <br /> <br /> I knew I wouldn't be able to walk far, having already been walking all morning, but I really wanted to get to the ENMAX Conservatory to see what was going on. I had been longing all summer to see the tropical butterflies and plants. The butterfly season is coming to an end for these tropical beauties, but there were still plenty of them to be seen. Also, this month, the parking lot that I use will close for the winter and I don't like the drive back home from the north parking area, using Deerfoot Trail, so tend not to go to the Zoo all winter. <br /> <br /> There was so much activity going on at the Zoo two days ago. People everywhere, carrying large animals wrapped in white, protective coverings, preparing for the upcoming ILLUMINASIA, Lantern & Garden Festival. Each animal is an individual lantern and there are so many of them. I noticed several of the real animals in their enclosures were watching all the unaccustomed activity, which made me smile.<br /> <br /> A good day, despite the overcast sky, and plenty of photo opportunities. Recently, I have been finding far fewer things to photograph, with fall on its way, so a day like this was more than welcome.</div> Pied-billed Grebe 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/293827/39636090"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/60/90/39636090.f2564f75.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="181" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This photo was taken two days ago, on 8 September 2015. In the morning, I joined a group of friends for a three-hour stroll at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. 38 bird species were seen, though I didn't manage to see any of the tiny, fast-moving Warblers. It was good to see 28 Wood Ducks, but they were far, far away, in an area that is still closed due to devastating flood damage. The Sanctuary had been closed for about two years for this reason and only very recently re-opened just a part of the area. Two of these young Pied-billed Grebes were hanging about on the lagoon. <br /> <br /> "Part bird, part submarine, the Pied-billed Grebe is common across much of North America. These small brown birds have unusually thick bills that turn silver and black in summer. These expert divers inhabit sluggish rivers, freshwater marshes, lakes, and estuaries. They use their chunky bills to kill and eat large crustaceans along with a great variety of fish, amphibians, insects, and other invertebrates. Rarely seen in flight and often hidden amid vegetation, Pied-billed Grebes announce their presence with loud, far-reaching calls." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/pied-billed_grebe/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/pied-billed_grebe/id</a><br /> <br /> "Other names of this grebe include American dabchick, dabchick, Carolina grebe, devil-diver, dive-dapper, dipper, hell-diver, pied-billed dabchick, thick-billed grebe, and water witch." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pied-billed_grebe" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pied-billed_grebe</a><br /> <br /> Bird list compiled by our leaders, added mainly to jog my own memory. As always, there were quite a few of these species that I didn't see, for one reason or another.<br /> <br /> 1. Canada Goose-52<br /> 2. Wood Duck-28<br /> 3. American Wigeon-6<br /> 4. Mallard-20<br /> 5. Pied-billed Grebe-2<br /> 6. Double-crested Cormorant-13<br /> 7. Great Blue Heron-3<br /> 8. Osprey-1+<br /> 9. Cooper-s Hawk-1<br /> 10. Swainson’s Hawk-1<br /> 11. Merlin-3+<br /> 12. Killdeer-4<br /> 13. Ring-billed Gull-12<br /> 14. Rock Pigeon-40<br /> 15. Belted Kingfisher-1<br /> 16. Downy Woodpecker-4<br /> 17. Hairy Woodpecker-1<br /> 18. Northern Flicker-15<br /> 19. Blue Jay-1 heard<br /> 20. Black-billed Magpie-4<br /> 21. American Crow-2<br /> 22. Common Raven-2+<br /> 23. Black-capped Chickadee-5<br /> 24. Red-breasted Nuthatch-2<br /> 25. White-breasted Nuthatch-1<br /> 26. Ruby-crowned Kinglet-2<br /> 27. House Wren-2<br /> 28. American Robin-25<br /> 29. European Starling 12<br /> 30. Cedar Waxwing-8<br /> 31. Yellow Warbler-3<br /> 32. Yellow-rumped Warbler-6<br /> 33. Wilson’s Warbler-8<br /> 34. White-throated Sparrow-1<br /> 35. White-crowned Sparrow-8 juv.<br /> 36. Red Crossbill-1<br /> 37. Pine Siskin-2<br /> 38. American Goldfinch-1 heard<br /> <br /> The Calgary Zoo is very close to the Sanctuary, so after our morning walk, I decided to call in at the Zoo. I hadn't been for about a year and I really missed going there. Of course, many of the garden flowers were past their prime, but I did find a few that were fit to photograph. <br /> <br /> I knew I wouldn't be able to walk far, having already been walking all morning, but I really wanted to get to the ENMAX Conservatory to see what was going on. I had been longing all summer to see the tropical butterflies and plants. The butterfly season is coming to an end for these tropical beauties, but there were still plenty of them to be seen. Also, this month, the parking lot that I use will close for the winter and I don't like the drive back home from the north parking area, using Deerfoot Trail, so tend not to go to the Zoo all winter. <br /> <br /> There was so much activity going on at the Zoo two days ago. People everywhere, carrying large animals wrapped in white, protective coverings, preparing for the upcoming ILLUMINASIA, Lantern & Garden Festival. Each animal is an individual lantern and there are so many of them. I noticed several of the real animals in their enclosures were watching all the unaccustomed activity, which made me smile.<br /> <br /> A good day, despite the overcast sky, and plenty of photo opportunities. Recently, I have been finding far fewer things to photograph, with fall on its way, so a day like this was more than welcome.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/39627938 tag:ipernity.com,2015-09-09,doc-39627938 Wed, 09 Sep 2015 15:28:27 +0000 2015-09-08T10:24:25-06:00 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/293827/39627938"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/79/38/39627938.b02f6795.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">All three photos posted today were taken yesterday, 8 September 2015. In the morning, I joined a group of friends for a three-hour stroll at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. 38 bird species were seen, though I didn't manage to see any of the tiny, fast-moving Warblers. It was good to see 28 Wood Ducks, but they were far, far away, in an area that is still closed due to devastating flood damage. This young one, in a different area, was just about visible over the bushes, though I see I wasn't able to avoid a few green branches. The Sanctuary had been closed for about two years for this reason and only very recently re-opened part of the area.<br /> <br /> The Calgary Zoo is very close to the Sanctuary, so after our morning walk, I decided to call in at the Zoo. I hadn't been for about a year and I really missed going there. Of course, many of the garden flowers were past their prime, but I did find a few that were fit to photograph. <br /> <br /> I knew I wouldn't be able to walk far, but I really wanted to get to the ENMAX Conservatory to see what was going on. I had been longing all summer to see the tropical butterflies and plants. The butterfly season is coming to an end for these tropical beauties, but there were still plenty of them to be seen. Also, this month, the parking lot that I use will close for the winter and I don't like the drive back home from the north parking area, using Deerfoot Trail, so tend not to go to the Zoo all winter.<br /> <br /> There was so much activity going on at the Zoo yesterday. People everywhere, carrying large animals wrapped in white, protective coverings, preparing for the upcoming ILLUMINASIA, Lantern & Garden Festival. Each animal is an individual lantern and there are so many of them. The real animals in their enclosures were watching all the unaccustomed activity, which made me smile.<br /> <br /> A good day, despite the overcast sky, and plenty of photo opportunities. Recently, I have been finding far fewer things to photograph, with fall on its way, so a day like this was more than welcome.</div> Juvenile Wood Duck <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/293827/39627938"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/79/38/39627938.b02f6795.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="180" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">All three photos posted today were taken yesterday, 8 September 2015. In the morning, I joined a group of friends for a three-hour stroll at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. 38 bird species were seen, though I didn't manage to see any of the tiny, fast-moving Warblers. It was good to see 28 Wood Ducks, but they were far, far away, in an area that is still closed due to devastating flood damage. This young one, in a different area, was just about visible over the bushes, though I see I wasn't able to avoid a few green branches. The Sanctuary had been closed for about two years for this reason and only very recently re-opened part of the area.<br /> <br /> The Calgary Zoo is very close to the Sanctuary, so after our morning walk, I decided to call in at the Zoo. I hadn't been for about a year and I really missed going there. Of course, many of the garden flowers were past their prime, but I did find a few that were fit to photograph. <br /> <br /> I knew I wouldn't be able to walk far, but I really wanted to get to the ENMAX Conservatory to see what was going on. I had been longing all summer to see the tropical butterflies and plants. The butterfly season is coming to an end for these tropical beauties, but there were still plenty of them to be seen. Also, this month, the parking lot that I use will close for the winter and I don't like the drive back home from the north parking area, using Deerfoot Trail, so tend not to go to the Zoo all winter.<br /> <br /> There was so much activity going on at the Zoo yesterday. People everywhere, carrying large animals wrapped in white, protective coverings, preparing for the upcoming ILLUMINASIA, Lantern & Garden Festival. Each animal is an individual lantern and there are so many of them. The real animals in their enclosures were watching all the unaccustomed activity, which made me smile.<br /> <br /> A good day, despite the overcast sky, and plenty of photo opportunities. Recently, I have been finding far fewer things to photograph, with fall on its way, so a day like this was more than welcome.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/37863342 tag:ipernity.com,2015-04-08,doc-37863342 Wed, 08 Apr 2015 15:13:25 +0000 2011-03-17T11:30:07-06:00 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/293827/37863342"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/33/42/37863342.428a054b.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This is a male Hooded Merganser (uncommon in Alberta) that flew in and landed on a large patch of open water in the lagoon at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary on 17 March 2011. Such beautiful birds with the white crest edged in black. This can be raised, as in this image, or lowered. He looks quite spectacular in his breeding plumage. Not the best photo, but I only have a few photos of this species.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hooded_Merganser/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hooded_Merganser/id</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooded_Merganser" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooded_Merganser</a></div> Hooded Merganser male <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/293827/37863342"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/33/42/37863342.428a054b.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">This is a male Hooded Merganser (uncommon in Alberta) that flew in and landed on a large patch of open water in the lagoon at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary on 17 March 2011. Such beautiful birds with the white crest edged in black. This can be raised, as in this image, or lowered. He looks quite spectacular in his breeding plumage. Not the best photo, but I only have a few photos of this species.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hooded_Merganser/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hooded_Merganser/id</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooded_Merganser" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooded_Merganser</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/34959795 tag:ipernity.com,2014-09-11,doc-34959795 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 14:56:34 +0000 2014-09-02T10:33:37-06:00 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/293827/34959795"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/145/97/95/34959795.ddc22944.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A quick, distant shot before this juvenile Pied-billed Grebe swam behind some bushes and trees at Carburn Park, on 2 September 2014.<br /> <br /> "Part bird, part submarine, the Pied-billed Grebe is common across much of North America. These small brown birds have unusually thick bills that turn silver and black in summer. These expert divers inhabit sluggish rivers, freshwater marshes, lakes, and estuaries. They use their chunky bills to kill and eat large crustaceans along with a great variety of fish, amphibians, insects, and other invertebrates. Rarely seen in flight and often hidden amid vegetation, Pied-billed Grebes announce their presence with loud, far-reaching calls." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/pied-billed_grebe/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/pied-billed_grebe/id</a><br /> <br /> "Other names of this grebe include American dabchick, dabchick, Carolina grebe, devil-diver, dive-dapper, dipper, hell-diver, pied-billed dabchick, thick-billed grebe, and water witch." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pied-billed_grebe" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pied-billed_grebe</a></div> Juvenile Pied-billed Grebe <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/293827/34959795"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/145/97/95/34959795.ddc22944.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A quick, distant shot before this juvenile Pied-billed Grebe swam behind some bushes and trees at Carburn Park, on 2 September 2014.<br /> <br /> "Part bird, part submarine, the Pied-billed Grebe is common across much of North America. These small brown birds have unusually thick bills that turn silver and black in summer. These expert divers inhabit sluggish rivers, freshwater marshes, lakes, and estuaries. They use their chunky bills to kill and eat large crustaceans along with a great variety of fish, amphibians, insects, and other invertebrates. Rarely seen in flight and often hidden amid vegetation, Pied-billed Grebes announce their presence with loud, far-reaching calls." From AllAboutBirds.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/pied-billed_grebe/id" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/pied-billed_grebe/id</a><br /> <br /> "Other names of this grebe include American dabchick, dabchick, Carolina grebe, devil-diver, dive-dapper, dipper, hell-diver, pied-billed dabchick, thick-billed grebe, and water witch." From Wikipedia.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pied-billed_grebe" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pied-billed_grebe</a></div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/23413313 tag:ipernity.com,2009-05-02,doc-23413313 Sat, 02 May 2009 21:57:35 +0000 2009-05-02T12:22:40-06:00 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/293827/23413313"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/133/33/13/23413313.0ba9fd38.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="181" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I spent this morning with friends at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. Always enjoyable seeing an Osprey, a Bald Eagle and a Red-tailed Hawk. Also a Double-crested Cormorant flying low over the Bow River, a Solitary Sandpiper at the edge of the lagoon (seen above), a Red-breasted Merganser, and a few Wood Ducks (plus the usual, such as Canada Geese, Gulls, Mallards, Common Mergansers, Goldeneye, etc.) It has been a beautiful spring day today - just gorgeous!</div> Solitary Sandpiper <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/293827/23413313"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/133/33/13/23413313.0ba9fd38.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="181" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I spent this morning with friends at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. Always enjoyable seeing an Osprey, a Bald Eagle and a Red-tailed Hawk. Also a Double-crested Cormorant flying low over the Bow River, a Solitary Sandpiper at the edge of the lagoon (seen above), a Red-breasted Merganser, and a few Wood Ducks (plus the usual, such as Canada Geese, Gulls, Mallards, Common Mergansers, Goldeneye, etc.) It has been a beautiful spring day today - just gorgeous!</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/23401009 tag:ipernity.com,2009-10-07,doc-23401009 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:10:47 +0000 2009-09-27T13:03:13-06:00 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/293827/23401009"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/133/10/09/23401009.5eade774.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I know this is "just" a Gull, but I kind of liked the diagonal pose and the way the tail (or are they the wing?) feathers are crossed. The colour of the water along the edge of the lagoon in Bowness Park was also different from what I would normally see, and I thought it went well with the colouring of the bird.<br /> <br /> As I type, Calgary is under a Wind Warning, and we are going through a real wind storm, with rain just starting, too. Have visions of my roof being lifted off, I'm in such an exposed place. Spent this morning walking in South Glenmore Park, by the Glenmore Reservoir, wearing a fleece jacket and my thick winter jacket ... brrr! Temperatures will be around 2C or 4C for the next few days. Nothing to photograph this morning, so I decided to go over to the Zoo for the afternoon, where I attempted to take photos even though it was far too windy for much success. Was hoping to get a few last photos before our weather turns for the worst. Winter is definitely on its way - possibly a bit of snow again overnight.</div> Gull <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/293827/23401009"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/133/10/09/23401009.5eade774.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">I know this is "just" a Gull, but I kind of liked the diagonal pose and the way the tail (or are they the wing?) feathers are crossed. The colour of the water along the edge of the lagoon in Bowness Park was also different from what I would normally see, and I thought it went well with the colouring of the bird.<br /> <br /> As I type, Calgary is under a Wind Warning, and we are going through a real wind storm, with rain just starting, too. Have visions of my roof being lifted off, I'm in such an exposed place. Spent this morning walking in South Glenmore Park, by the Glenmore Reservoir, wearing a fleece jacket and my thick winter jacket ... brrr! Temperatures will be around 2C or 4C for the next few days. Nothing to photograph this morning, so I decided to go over to the Zoo for the afternoon, where I attempted to take photos even though it was far too windy for much success. Was hoping to get a few last photos before our weather turns for the worst. Winter is definitely on its way - possibly a bit of snow again overnight.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/23292361 tag:ipernity.com,2009-04-15,doc-23292361 Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:45:04 +0000 2009-04-14T10:26:45-06:00 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/293827/23292361"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/133/23/61/23292361.3434bc32.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="181" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A most uninspiring photo, for sure, but it's the first photo I've ever been able to get of a Hooded Merganser, and I wanted to add it to my Birds of Alberta 4 Set : ) These ducks are rare to uncommon in Alberta, April to October, though some might overwinter on open water. This handsome male was at the far end of the lagoon at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary yesterday, so this was the best shot I was able to get. I was with friends, otherwise I would have waited in the hope of getting a little closer : ). Apparently, Hooded Mergansers are one of the most sought after ducks by birdwatchers.</div> Hooded Merganser male <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/293827/23292361"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/133/23/61/23292361.3434bc32.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="181" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A most uninspiring photo, for sure, but it's the first photo I've ever been able to get of a Hooded Merganser, and I wanted to add it to my Birds of Alberta 4 Set : ) These ducks are rare to uncommon in Alberta, April to October, though some might overwinter on open water. This handsome male was at the far end of the lagoon at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary yesterday, so this was the best shot I was able to get. I was with friends, otherwise I would have waited in the hope of getting a little closer : ). Apparently, Hooded Mergansers are one of the most sought after ducks by birdwatchers.</div> Anne Elliott https://www.ipernity.com/doc/293827/23199611 tag:ipernity.com,2008-10-02,doc-23199611 Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:42:11 +0000 2008-09-27T10:50:06-06:00 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/293827/23199611"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/132/96/11/23199611.e6d59eae.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="182" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">The fall colours at Carburn Park are beautiful at the moment. I liked the colour of the Cattail leaves. This is the Lagoon there, and a little further along the far side, and just off to the right, is where I slipped yesterday morning on slippery fallen leaves and tore the tendon right off the bone of one of my fingers. A real pain : )</div> A sunny fall day <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/293827/23199611"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/132/96/11/23199611.e6d59eae.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="182" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">The fall colours at Carburn Park are beautiful at the moment. I liked the colour of the Cattail leaves. This is the Lagoon there, and a little further along the far side, and just off to the right, is where I slipped yesterday morning on slippery fallen leaves and tore the tendon right off the bone of one of my fingers. A real pain : )</div> Anne Elliott