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Another from Portland Bill.... maybe this one will give a tiny bit more of an impression of how windy it really was, and how wet I was getting... :)
Late afternoon yesterday, 22 April 2015, after a volunteer shift, I called in at a local park to see the Great Horned Owl family. I hadn't been over there for a week, so I was curious to see if much had changed with them. Not a whole lot, though Mom, like Dad, was perched in a nearby Spruce tree. With Great Horned Owls, the adults tend to be sitting still for most of the daytime hours, so it's always a treat when one of them actually moves, even if it's just a minute or two of preening.
This is Mom in my photo. She is a busy Mom with three young ones to care for. Dad has always been sitting in one of the nearby trees, keeping careful watch over his mate and owlets. He has been hunting at night and bringing food to the rest of his family. As owlets get bigger and bigger, the female tends to leave the nest to hunt for food, too. Females are larger than males, so can catch larger, heavier prey to feed to her quickly growing young ones.
"With its long, earlike tufts, intimidating yellow-eyed stare, and deep hooting voice, the Great Horned Owl is the quintessential owl of storybooks. This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals even larger than itself, but it also dines on daintier fare such as tiny scorpions, mice, and frogs. It’s one of the most common owls in North America, equally at home in deserts, wetlands, forests, grasslands, backyards, cities, and almost any other semi-open habitat between the Arctic and the tropics.
Great Horned Owls are nocturnal. You may see them at dusk sitting on fence posts or tree limbs at the edges of open areas, or flying across roads or fields with stiff, deep beats of their rounded wings. Their call is a deep, stuttering series of four to five hoots." From AllAboutBirds.
Stunning antbird, small and boldly patterned. Rotund and short-tailed. Male has white belly with band of black spots across chest, gray head, and rufous back. Female more washed out, but similar pattern. Usually seen singly or in pairs in understory of forest, often following a mixed flock or army ant swarm. Stuttered song is a series of slightly wheezy whistles, descending in pitch. (eBird)
-----------------
It was great to catch both male and female of this pretty antbird species. She was with her mate at the ant swarm, waiting to pick off the insects that were fleeing the army ants. Nature can sometimes be pitiless.
Pipeline Road, Panama. January 2014.
Birding Panama.
Almost exactly ONE YEAR AGO, on 27 April 2014, I called in to see the family of Great Horned Owls in a local park and finally got to see the two owlets up on the rim of the nesting cavity. The last time I had seen them, just their heads were visible inside the nest. Various friends had been posting photos of these youngsters climbing up on top of the broken tree, so I knew that if I didn't go very soon, the owlets would have fledged to a different tree and then would be difficult or impossible to photograph. It turned out that these two fluffy owlets did fledge, a couple of days after I took this photo.
The reason that I'm posting this photo is that, sadly, the Great Horned Owl pair that has nested at this location for quite a few years, has had an unsuccessful breeding season this year (2015). We aren't sure what happened, as we did see the male sitting in a tree near the nesting tree and we did see the top of the female's head fairly recently. Then, suddenly, I heard that people were seeing both adults sitting in nearby trees. I have only been down there maybe a couple of very brief times in at least the last couple of months. Maybe people who are there for many hours, day after day, actually saw something happen? Apparently, someone did report seeing three adults in that area recently. Or maybe the eggs did not successfully hatch, or maybe they did hatch and the tiny owlets picked up some infection from deep down in the nesting tree? Feel sad for the adult owls, and I know hundreds, if not thousands, of people will also be feeling sad and so disappointed. These owls have given us so much enjoyment over the years. Hopefully, next year, if the owls stay at this location, they will have a much more successful and happier breeding season.
"With its long, earlike tufts, intimidating yellow-eyed stare, and deep hooting voice, the Great Horned Owl is the quintessential owl of storybooks. This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals even larger than itself, but it also dines on daintier fare such as tiny scorpions, mice, and frogs. It’s one of the most common owls in North America, equally at home in deserts, wetlands, forests, grasslands, backyards, cities, and almost any other semi-open habitat between the Arctic and the tropics.
Great Horned Owls are nocturnal. You may see them at dusk sitting on fence posts or tree limbs at the edges of open areas, or flying across roads or fields with stiff, deep beats of their rounded wings. Their call is a deep, stuttering series of four to five hoots." From AllAboutBirds.
This sun was mine and yours; we shared it.
Who's suffering behind the golden silk, who's dying?
A woman beating her dry breasts cried out; `Cowards,
they've taken my children and torn them to shreds, you've
killed them
gazing at the fire-flies at dusk with a strange look,
lost in blind thought.'
The blood was drying on a hand that a tree made green,
a warrior was asleep clutching the lance that cast light
against his side.
It was ours, this sun, we saw nothing behind the gold
embroidery
then the messengers came, dirty and breathless,
stuttering unintelligible words
twenty days and nights on the barren earth with thorns only
twenty days and nights feeling the bellies of the horses
bleering
and not a moment's break to drink rain-water.
You told them to rest first and then to speak, the light had
dazzled you.
They died saying `We don't have time', touching some rays
of the sun.
You'd forgotten that no one rests.
A woman howled `Cowards'. like a dog in the night.
Once she would have been beautiful like you
with the wet mouth, veins alive beneath the skin,
with love.
This sun is ours; you kept all of it, you wouldn't follow
me.
And it was then I found about those things behind the
gold and the silk:
we don't have time. The messengers were right.
Giorgos Seferis
IMG_8525r1
Like the Creole aristocrats lining the galleries of the Historic New Orleans Collection, the French Quarter is a timeless portrait – especially come dusk when swallows glide above the fortunetellers on Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral’s butter-crème-colored walls reflect the fiery sunset. Ghost tours troop past mad Madame LaLaurie’s mansion while neon signs stutter to life on Bourbon Street where syrupy red Hurricanes, slosh in famed ‘go cups’– those plastic tumblers responsible for uncountable curbside parties. Night falls. Horse hooves clop, music throbs and gaslights flicker in a place full of long-told legends and those waiting to be born.
Stuttering Barred Frog. Styx River State Forest, NSW. Note the difference in the colour of the upper iris which is bright blue in mature adults.
The poor litttle Bee had a stutter. . .B, B. . .BBBBBB. . . .and then he took the Z from my SHIRT!! But now he is a very happy little Bee, no stutter and my Zed has a happy new home.
As of yesterday, this little Great Horned Owl "branchling" seems to have become a nestling once again : ) It has experienced various adventures in the last 10 days or two weeks, but seems to be back on owlet schedule now. I guess we will never know what happened to start all this, though it is possible that this young one was blown out of the nest when we had several days of extremely strong winds recently.
This photo, from 24 April 2015, was taken when I called in very briefly at the park and found the owl on a high Spruce branch. Maybe it "missed" its two younger siblings, so returned to its place of origin : ) No activity from any of the owls, so the 10-minute "limit" on being there and taking photos was more than enough time for me to be there : ) Fully zoomed - Focal Length (35mm format) - 1200 mm.
Yesterday, on the way home from a great day with friends at Frank Lake, I called in at the park again for about half an hour. A bit more activity this time, with all three still together. I knew my "watching" time was up, but I also knew that the number of days before the Tax deadline were running out fast. Got my Taxes ready and finally fell into bed around 5:00 this morning!
"With its long, earlike tufts, intimidating yellow-eyed stare, and deep hooting voice, the Great Horned Owl is the quintessential owl of storybooks. This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals even larger than itself, but it also dines on daintier fare such as tiny scorpions, mice, and frogs. It’s one of the most common owls in North America, equally at home in deserts, wetlands, forests, grasslands, backyards, cities, and almost any other semi-open habitat between the Arctic and the tropics.
Great Horned Owls are nocturnal. You may see them at dusk sitting on fence posts or tree limbs at the edges of open areas, or flying across roads or fields with stiff, deep beats of their rounded wings. Their call is a deep, stuttering series of four to five hoots." From AllAboutBirds.
Olney State Forest, The Watagans, New South Wales, Australia
Vulnerable
Contact me on jono_dashper@hotmail.com for use of this image.
Amager Strandpark is a popular coastal recreation area just south of central Copenhagen.
A stack of 4 images taken about 30 seconds apart. Amazingly the woman in the middle on skates didn't move in all that time.
As Roger Daltrey of The Who once stuttered…This Vespa owner at Vintage Stony looks a similar age to myself and it’s good to see someone celebrating those days in the 1960s. Scooters were great fun and I rode a Vespa with a fair amount of added bling - although not quite as much as this veteran Mod has on his! Happy days and thankfully we didn’t all die before we got old…
At the cusp of the new Moon, President Biden lost his stutter and became a werewolf at Camp David. Little did he realize it was the beginning of deer hunting season.
Size: 8 x 10 inches
paintings for sale: www.shawnshawn.co
Newsletter: www.shawnshawn.co/contact.html
Artcode: RL09214
Number: CT-1287
Name: Redwing
Rank: ARC Sergeant
Primary weapon: DC-15s Blaster
Secondary weapon: Vibroknife
Equipment: Bacta-Implants, Integrated Squad Comms, Modified Long Range Binoculars, Explosives Pack
...:: BEGIN LOG ::...
After the swift taking of the erupting warehouse in the industrial sector, we headed out of the loud and bustling rows of grey and white shelters. The clicks and clanks of large machines could be heard around every corner. We were not enjoying these whining screeches and slams so we darted into the slums sector.
“Command to Redwing...” The coms in my helmet roared to life in my left ear. I beckoned to my squad to take cover as I needed a safe place to connect with the Venator. We ducked to the right, next to a large generator. One of my men hopped on my soldiers and scrambled to the top of the building.
“COMMAND to Redwing, are you there?” The speaker blared in my ear a second time. The officer’s voice was clearly rushed and obviously stressed.
I answered with a hint of caution “Yes command, this is Redwing.”
“Afraid we lost you, Sarge.” The young officer said with a sigh of relief.
“Don’t worry about down here, what’s the problem up there?” I asked, knowing there was reason for such urgency and fright.
“Our communications system was breached by a local down on the surface. They knew our codes and claimed to be friendlies.” The Officer stuttered as he repeated his com-log.
“What’d they say?” I needed to know what was holding my squad and I up. We needed supplies fast and were running out of time before the wave of battle droids reached us.
“Yes, sorry sarge. It was a corellian loyalist. He’s part of an elaborate underground group of loyalists down on the planet. He proposed a safe place to collect the supply packages for protection. The opposing separatist alliance knows of his location and needs immediate evacuation of him and his son.” The stuttering stopped as he read further.
“Understood command. Send the location immediately and we’ll be there.” I grew restless as the sound of clanking metal grew past the sound of machines and gears and was replaced by mechanical footsteps.
“Good luck sir, they’ll be waiting.”
___________
I waited way too long to add this log and I apologize for the wait. This isn’t one of my best logs but it adds a nice storyline to a rather mundane mission. The family storyline continues in the next mission, so come back soon!
Thanks for your patience.
So, unfortunately, I failed my driving test today. I was on course for just getting one minor too, but due to me not judging the speed of an oncoming car whilst pulling away from being parked, I got a major. I have rebooked, but the current wait time is an eye watering 3 months.
The ZX seems okay now following a worn out starter motor being replaced, although it does like to pop and stutter occasionally, so I may have to replace the spark plugs/ adjust the points at some point. Still drives well though, although I have found myself yearning for some PAS at times. The dodgy speedo and third gear remain the most annoying 'quirks'.
I parked it at a supermarket for the first time today, I made a point of parking opposite one of the local 309s too, which is just visible through the windscreen.
Krasnopresnenskaya Metro Station / Moscow
If you can pronounce the name of the station without stuttering, your Russian is much better than you thought.
Taken in Moscow. Building belongs to the Krasnopresnenskaya Metro Station. In the background there is one of Stalin's highrise buildings.
俄羅斯
Video of the motorized rotors up and running, which are controlled by a small Power Functions motor. This was my first time ever using Power Functions, and the internals are designed in probably the most inefficient and unreliable way possible--the root cause for lots of design butthurt over the years. Using two universal joints instead of one to link the horizontal and vertical technic axles in the tail helped to reduce the stuttering and shaking quite a bit...but not completely.
Also I learned the lesson that my DSLR does not have auto-focus while taking video. Woops.
Central Wisconsin
Great Horned Owls are nocturnal. You may see them at dusk sitting on fence or tree limbs at the edges of open areas, or flying across roads or fields with stiff, deep beats of their rounded wings. Their call is a deep, stuttering series of four to five hoots.
For best view left click on the photo and see it better.
Thank you for your kind views, comments, awards and faves.
Just over two weeks ago, on 15 April 2015, my parking lot was going to be spring-cleaned, which meant that all cars had to be out of the lot by 7:30 am. I don't have a 2015 street parking permit, so I had to leave home at 7:30 and find something that would use up the few hours before my volunteer shift. I didn't want to risk being late for that, so decided to stay within the city rather than go driving some backroads.
The owls in Fish Creek Park ended up being my destination. I had only been there twice in many weeks, seeing Mom on my first visit and then Mom with two of her three owlets on the second. When I arrived early morning on 15 April, there was no sign of the "paparazzi" - I had been expecting there to be at least a few photographers and people out for a walk. Maybe the 10-minute viewing limit has had some effect : ) This time, I was able to see all three owlets as well as Mom and Dad. Can't remember which owlet this one was, but it was just the cutest bundle of fluff. Late afternoon, after my volunteer shift, I called in again for a short while on my way home. It has been five days since I last called in, so I'm sure there have been changes.
"With its long, earlike tufts, intimidating yellow-eyed stare, and deep hooting voice, the Great Horned Owl is the quintessential owl of storybooks. This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals even larger than itself, but it also dines on daintier fare such as tiny scorpions, mice, and frogs. It’s one of the most common owls in North America, equally at home in deserts, wetlands, forests, grasslands, backyards, cities, and almost any other semi-open habitat between the Arctic and the tropics.
Great Horned Owls are nocturnal. You may see them at dusk sitting on fence posts or tree limbs at the edges of open areas, or flying across roads or fields with stiff, deep beats of their rounded wings. Their call is a deep, stuttering series of four to five hoots." From AllAboutBirds.
Yesterday, 3 June 2018, I had hoped to drive out of the city for an annual morning walk followed by a delicious BBQ lunch. Unfortunately, I never heard back from the leader about whether any others would be going from Calgary (though I was going to drive there myself). As it turned out, I had a great afternoon within the city, with an afternoon walk in Weaselhead with friends, during which we found a Rufous and a Calliope Hummingbird. This long walk was followed by coffee and chat at Tim Horton's, which is always much enjoyed. Thanks, as always, Janet and Bernie!
On my drive home early evening, I made a split second decision to keep driving to Fish Creek Park. I had only been down there twice this year and saw the adult male Great Horned Owl. I had heard that the female was on the nest and later, that there was just one owlet. Yesterday was my first visit to try and find this young one, who had only just recently left the nest. Looking on the more important side, this meant one less person intruding on their area, of course, though I have to say that these owls are remarkably tolerant of humans. If a Canada Goose, on the other hand, should get anywhere near the nest or young ones, Mom or Dad flies in for an immediate attack. I think it would have taken me some time to find it, as it was so high up in a tree. Friends had already found it and were kind enough to take me to see it, which was much appreciated. They also showed me a very high Starling nest with three youngsters peering out. A tree cavity was also pointed out to me, with Mother Goose looking rather bored, incubating her eggs.
"With its long, earlike tufts, intimidating yellow-eyed stare, and deep hooting voice, the Great Horned Owl is the quintessential owl of storybooks. This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals even larger than itself, but it also dines on daintier fare such as tiny scorpions, mice, and frogs. It’s one of the most common owls in North America, equally at home in deserts, wetlands, forests, grasslands, backyards, cities, and almost any other semi-open habitat between the Arctic and the tropics.
Great Horned Owls are nocturnal. You may see them at dusk sitting on fence posts or tree limbs at the edges of open areas, or flying across roads or fields with stiff, deep beats of their rounded wings. Their call is a deep, stuttering series of four to five hoots." From AllAboutBirds.
This photo was taken SW of Calgary, on a short drive along familiar backroads, on 1 July 2014. I had seen this or a different beautiful Spotted Sandpiper there on a previous occasion and was happy to see that it was still there. I rarely get to see this species, especially close enough to be photographed.
"The dapper Spotted Sandpiper makes a great ambassador for the notoriously difficult-to-identify shorebirds. They occur all across North America, they are distinctive in both looks and actions, and they're handsome. They also have intriguing social lives in which females take the lead and males raise the young. With their richly spotted breeding plumage, teetering gait, stuttering wingbeats, and showy courtship dances, this bird is among the most notable and memorable shorebirds in North America." From AllAboutBirds.
This photo was taken on 6 May 2016, in a local natural area/park. Unfortunately, I had half a dozen errands to run before allowing myself to go out with my camera, so I didn't get there till late, and the light quickly began to fade. No time to look around the area for any other birds on this visit.
One of the very young owlets belonging to this beautiful owl had been on the ground for a while before I arrived. There were a few people there and more came and went. Later, I heard that the owlet had been able to claw and flap its way up one of the trees and was safely out of reach of most predators. Meanwhile, the other fledgling had been very high up in a different tree, along with Mom. I'm glad I did call in at this location when I did, as the beautiful little owl gave us a few chances for photos when it was up on a log or down on the ground, usually partly hidden by the plants and bushes. I don't know how it ended up on the ground, but obviously it fell from somewhere or misjudged flying distance when it finally left the nesting tree. An interesting world for it to explore, though it wasn't very steady on its feet yet : )
Things seem to have happened so fast for this owl family this spring and I missed seeing the two owlets balancing on the rim of the nesting tree, exercising their wings before fledging. Also, I was so busy that I only went over to see the youngsters a handful of times. Looking on the more important side, this has meant one less person intruding on their area, of course, though I have to say that these owls are remarkably tolerant of humans. If a Canada Goose, on the other hand, should get anywhere near the nest or the little ones, Mom or Dad flies in for an immediate attack.
"With its long, earlike tufts, intimidating yellow-eyed stare, and deep hooting voice, the Great Horned Owl is the quintessential owl of storybooks. This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals even larger than itself, but it also dines on daintier fare such as tiny scorpions, mice, and frogs. It’s one of the most common owls in North America, equally at home in deserts, wetlands, forests, grasslands, backyards, cities, and almost any other semi-open habitat between the Arctic and the tropics.
Great Horned Owls are nocturnal. You may see them at dusk sitting on fence posts or tree limbs at the edges of open areas, or flying across roads or fields with stiff, deep beats of their rounded wings. Their call is a deep, stuttering series of four to five hoots." From AllAboutBirds.
Wow, practically no photos showing on My Contacts page all day today. Trust it's not a Flickr glitch. Also just noticed that this photo has only 85 views (at almost 4:00 pm) - something not right with that, for a main photo. In fact, almost unheard of : ) Something definitely wrong. My stats for this image show around 300 views, but only 85 showing under the actual image. Adding this info really for my own use. Later: other people are having the same problem and Flickr staff are looking into it.
You just have to love the feathery 'saddlebags' that young Great Horned Owl owlets have at this stage : ) Just a mass of fluff, that they gradually lose. Hopefully, birds and other wildlife use the discarded feathers for lining their nests or dens.
Taken about three weeks ago, on 6 May 2016, in a local natural area/park. Unfortunately, I had half a dozen errands to run before allowing myself to go out with my camera, so I didn't get there till late, and the light quickly began to fade. No time to look around the area for any other birds on this visit.
This beautiful owlet had been on the ground for a while before I arrived. There were a few people there and more came and went. I didn't want to risk a large crowd turning up if I posted this photo immediately. However, I later heard that it had been able to claw and flap its way up one of the trees and was safely out of reach of most predators. Meanwhile, the other fledgling had been very high up in a different tree, along with Mom. I'm glad I did call in at this location when I did, as this beautiful little owl gave us a few chances for photos when it was up on a log or down on the ground, usually partly hidden by the plants and bushes. I don't know how it ended up on the ground, but obviously it fell from somewhere or misjudged flying distance when it finally left the nesting tree. An interesting world for it to explore, though it wasn't very steady on its feet yet : )
Things seem to have happened so fast this spring and I missed seeing the two owlets balancing on the rim of the nesting tree, exercising their wings before fledging. Also, I have been so busy that I've only been over to see the youngsters a handful of times. Looking on the more important side, this has meant one less person intruding on their area, of course, though I have to say that these owls are remarkably tolerant of humans. If a Canada Goose, on the other hand, should get anywhere near the nest or the little ones, Mom or Dad flies in for an immediate attack.
"With its long, earlike tufts, intimidating yellow-eyed stare, and deep hooting voice, the Great Horned Owl is the quintessential owl of storybooks. This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals even larger than itself, but it also dines on daintier fare such as tiny scorpions, mice, and frogs. It’s one of the most common owls in North America, equally at home in deserts, wetlands, forests, grasslands, backyards, cities, and almost any other semi-open habitat between the Arctic and the tropics.
Great Horned Owls are nocturnal. You may see them at dusk sitting on fence posts or tree limbs at the edges of open areas, or flying across roads or fields with stiff, deep beats of their rounded wings. Their call is a deep, stuttering series of four to five hoots." From AllAboutBirds.
Seen along Bow River Calgary
The Spotted Sandpiper occur all across North America, they are distinctive in both looks and actions, and they're handsome. They also have intriguing social lives in which females take the lead and males raise the young. With their richly spotted breeding plumage, teetering gait, stuttering wingbeats, and showy courtship dances, this bird is among the most notable and memorable shorebirds in North America. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Spotted_Sandpiper/id
So beautiful
so silent
nothing stirs the water
so quiet
so helpless
no help from within
As the leaves fall
so does he
stuttering words:
"All is quiet
no fear within"
No very recent photos to post, other than owls, so I'm going back a few months for two of my images today. I had seen this beautiful Spotted Sandpiper on a previous occasion and was happy to see that it was still at the same location, SW of the city. I rarely get to see this species, especially close enough to be photographed.
"The dapper Spotted Sandpiper makes a great ambassador for the notoriously difficult-to-identify shorebirds. They occur all across North America, they are distinctive in both looks and actions, and they're handsome. They also have intriguing social lives in which females take the lead and males raise the young. With their richly spotted breeding plumage, teetering gait, stuttering wingbeats, and showy courtship dances, this bird is among the most notable and memorable shorebirds in North America." From AllAboutBirds.
Suit up, and look 'em in the eye. It takes a steely gaze to watch it all burn down.
Another from my collaboration with Splatito8127 who is also the model here
Anthem for Doomed Youth
By Wilfred Owen
What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
— Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,—
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.
What candles may be held to speed them all?
Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.
The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.
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, and this photo is really bad quality, but I wanted to post it just for the record. I hadn't seen the owl at the Sanctuary for a long time.
"With its long, earlike tufts, intimidating yellow-eyed stare, and deep hooting voice, the Great Horned Owl is the quintessential owl of storybooks. This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals even larger than itself, but it also dines on daintier fare such as tiny scorpions, mice, and frogs. It’s one of the most common owls in North America, equally at home in deserts, wetlands, forests, grasslands, backyards, cities, and almost any other semi-open habitat between the Arctic and the tropics.
Great Horned Owls are nocturnal. You may see them at dusk sitting on fence posts or tree limbs at the edges of open areas, or flying across roads or fields with stiff, deep beats of their rounded wings. Their call is a deep, stuttering series of four to five hoots." From AllAboutBirds.
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Horned_Owl/id
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_horned_owl
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.
I find my eyes go straight to the wide-open eyes of the biggest owlet in this photo. Be careful not to miss a younger one with just part of its little face showing above the nest edge : ) Somewhere, there is a third owlet that could not be seen just then - we only stayed a few minutes. I had only been to see these owls once before and at that time was only able to see one owlet. Maybe if/when I visit them again, all three owlets will be visible. Hopefully, I will see them again at a time when the light is much better, too.
That day, 31 March 2015, I went on a birding walk with a group of friends, to Fish Creek Park. When owls are seen, they tend to be the highlight of a walk, and on this walk we were able to see six Great Horned Owls, 4 adults and 2 young ones.
The other day, I posted a photo of Dad, who was sitting in a nearby Spruce tree, looking like he was fast asleep. As males always do, they perch and rest in a tree that has a good view of the nest, keeping watch over the female and the babies. Even though the male looks like he's fast asleep, he will be wide awake in a split second if anything, such as a Canada Goose, threatens the nest.
"With its long, earlike tufts, intimidating yellow-eyed stare, and deep hooting voice, the Great Horned Owl is the quintessential owl of storybooks. This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals even larger than itself, but it also dines on daintier fare such as tiny scorpions, mice, and frogs. It’s one of the most common owls in North America, equally at home in deserts, wetlands, forests, grasslands, backyards, cities, and almost any other semi-open habitat between the Arctic and the tropics.
Great Horned Owls are nocturnal. You may see them at dusk sitting on fence posts or tree limbs at the edges of open areas, or flying across roads or fields with stiff, deep beats of their rounded wings. Their call is a deep, stuttering series of four to five hoots." From AllAboutBirds.
Seen along Bow River Calgary
The Spotted Sandpiper occur all across North America, they are distinctive in both looks and actions, and they're handsome. They also have intriguing social lives in which females take the lead and males raise the young. With their richly spotted breeding plumage, teetering gait, stuttering wingbeats, and showy courtship dances, this bird is among the most notable and memorable shorebirds in North America. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Spotted_Sandpiper/id
This was one of the first bird songs that I learnt as a child. It is usually rendered "a little bit of bread and no cheese" but only the cheese bit chimes with me. It was Enid Blyton who popularised this rendition of the song in several of her books and poems (eg The Yellowhammer Bird in Enid Blyton's Nature Lover's Handbook 1944). I have noticed that Yellowhammers sing their songs at two speeds rather like Reed Buntings. There are definitely singers with fast and slow stutters prior to the terminal cheese, which remains the same. In Reed Buntings the fast singers are unpaired males eager to impress and I would guess that the fast singing Yellowhammers are similarly unpaired. This is another seriously depleted farmland bird that has been on the red list since 2002 because of a more than 50% decline in population. It usually needs arable (preferably spring-sown) and herb-rich pasture in close proximity. But specialisation in farming means these two habitats don't occur together very often. But it sometimes can survive where frequently disturbed ground (eg through cattle poaching or farm vehicles) allows arable "weeds" to grow. These were the conditions where I photographed this male near my village last week, where arable is absent, but where livestock had churned up the ground and "weeds" had colonised. He was sitting among some huge thorns in a dead hawthorn bush, hence the subtitle using a Smiths song title.
As Roger Daltrey used to stutter…
One I had to take at Classic Stony, being a massive Who fan back in the day. I even got to see them with the mercurial Keith Moon on stage - not sure my eardrums have ever recovered!
The dapper Spotted Sandpiper makes a great ambassador for the notoriously difficult-to-identify shorebirds. They occur all across North America, they are distinctive in both looks and actions, and they're handsome. They also have intriguing social lives in which females take the lead and males raise the young. With their richly spotted breeding plumage, teetering gait, stuttering wingbeats, and showy courtship dances, this bird is among the most notable and memorable shorebirds in North America.
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Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owls are nocturnal. You may see them at dusk sitting on fence or tree limbs at the edges of open areas, or flying across roads or fields with stiff, deep beats of their rounded wings. Their call is a deep, stuttering series of four to five hoots.
1/500 sec @ f/6.4 - 552 Focal Length - ISO 800
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I went to a completely different moorland today more than 10km from the place where I photographed a Cuckoo yesterday. And to my delight there were two male Cuckoos calling incessantly and chasing each other round. I managed to take quite a few photographs though mainly in flight as they hardly ever landed. I was particularly pleased to capture this flight shot against a land background.
There's an old English folk song about the Cuckoo that Paul Simon's song "April come she will" is loosely based upon. There are several variations but the usual one is:
In April come he will.
In May he sings all day.
In June he changes tune.
In July he prepares to fly.
In August go he must.
If he stays until September,
Tis more than the oldest man can remember.
The bit about changing tune in June is that they often begin to stutter Cuck-cuck-oo. And it is true that they usually depart in August, rarely being seen in September.