The Canada Geese are back in the mountains, now they wait for snow and ice to disappear so they can spread out, build a nest and start a family.
Until next moment,
Amar
Trumpeter Swan
One never know who is going to drop by during bird migration, does not happen every spring, but this spring I saw many as 10 Trumpeter Swans. Here is one of them who was grooming few mornings back. Trumpeters are the largest bird seen Banff National Park.
Until next moment,
Amar
Bald Eagle
The birds are making their way back to the mountains. As for the Bald Eagles, one or two can be spotted over the winter, even more this warm winter. But those who did leave for warmer waters are returning, I have been spotting them through out the valley, including this one at the Vermilion Lakes.
Until next moment,
Amar
Raven
Two Ravens keeping company during a cold morning, surrounded by snow they studded out. From a distance I was trying to figure out what it was, but as I got closer it became clear. A bird that seems to find a way to survey no matter the weather.
Until next moment,
Amar
Common Redpolls
It's that time of the year again when folks across North America participate in the annual Christmas Bird Count. Volunteers getting out counting the various species of birds they come across and the total number of birds they see. All that important information gives us a sense how the birds are doing compared to the previous years. If you want to participate, check in with your local organization, here in the Bow Valley it's the Bow Valley Naturalists and the date of the count is December 19. In the mountains you just need some warm cloths, few snacks and a binocular is helpful, in my case a camera. In the end of the day, no matter what is your birding experience is, you will come back with little more knowledge about out feathered friends.
Until next moment,
Amar
Pileated Woodpecker
Birds often get overlooked when it comes to wildlife, they can be found all comers of the world. It's remarkable how adaptable they are, all together there are some ten thousand species of birds in the world and we have our share in the mountains. The Pileated Woodpecker represented here can be found year around in Banff National Park, from the warmest days to the coldest nights. They are the largest woodpecker in North America, size of a crow and if you come across a large rough rectangular hole bottom of tree, it's a sign Pileated Woodpecker has been there looking for its favourite food, carpenter ants.
Until next moment,
Amar
Common Redpolls
One of the bird species that moves into the area around this time, is the Common Redpoll. I came across about forty of them and spent an hour trying to get their pictures. The hard part was trying to get close enough to get a good picture without scaring them away. After some time I was able to achieve my goal, time well spent.
Until next moment,
Amar
Bald Eagle
Winter is here but there is still enough open water for the some of the Bald Eagles that are still in the mountains. Even when the lakes are frozen over, there is open river water, and when most of that freezes over, they can then head for warmer area. Until then this one is keeping company in Bow Valley.
Until next moment,
Amar
Common Merganser
I was walking along the Bow River, when I reached a bay where a female Common Merganser was looking for food. I kept walking to go get the picture I was looking for, on my return the merganser was still in the same area. Got my camera out and started to take its picture and then waited to see what it would do next. Weather it was me or it just decided to move on, I missed the moment when it got out o the water. I quickly got the camera on it and got picture of it flying.
Until next moment,
Amar
Tundra Swan
After watching mountain goats on the sides of the mountains from the road, an hour later I was watching 6 Tundra Swans in a very cold lake. They were taking a well deserved break from their migration to the South. It was time to groom and eat in the shallow waters.
Until next moment,
Amar
Northern Pygmy Owl
In life we are always taking sides and we tend to do that with nature as well. When we see or a hear about a particular bear, we start making connection with that bear and want to see it survive when it competes with others and nature it self. If there is limited food, we hope the bear we connected with finds it and not other wildlife, even though others have done nothing wrong. In the case of the Northern Pygmy Owl in the picture, I had watched it over few weeks bringing back food for the female sitting on the next, same when the eggs were hatched. I thought I was going to get a chance to see the fledglings perched on a branch, but that never took place. I think the red squirrel that I saw many times that had failed to get into the nest, finally succeeded and killed the nestlings and maybe even the adult female. The male adult would bring back food and call out, but there was no respond, no begging from the nestlings. Then few days later the nest was infested with ants. For a while I felt sorry for the owl who worked so hard for his family and negative toward the squirrel. But in the end no was in the wrong and no one was in the right, this is how nature works. The owl was working hard for its family and the squirrel was doing the same for its. So were the many small birds the owl brought back as food. In the end nature won, a natural process got carried out.
Until next moment,
Amar
Barn Swallow
Four hungry mouths of juvinile Barn Swallows open up as the adults with food come to feed them. In most cases there will be enough flies for one mouth, but the wait is not long before one of the parent is back with more food. Few days after this picture was taken, these young would be feeding them self.
Until next moment,
Amar
Osprey and the Sun
I could have stayed home when the valley was full of smoke but I decided to take it as a challenge for my photography addiction. It was day two for the heavy smoke covering the Bow Valley from the historic wildfires in Washington State. I was looking at the Osprey nest and thinking how to incorporate the sun in the picture. I looked at the Sun's angle to the Osprey's nest and to where I needed to stand. Moving into position I soon realised the trees were in my way. But the Sun was moving through the sky and soon I had my opening, just needed the Osprey to stay front of the nest. I got the pictures I envisioned, but instead of leaving afterward, I decided to wait. It paid of, getting even a better picture when the female took to the air.
Until next moment,
Amar
Northern Pygmy Owl
This Northern Pygmy Owl bringing back food for the nestlings, it seems like a nestling from another bird's nest. When the owl gets close to the nest it calls out, when it hears the begging coming from the nest the adult goes toward it. When there is room in the nest it takes it and when there is not, the food is dropped of into the nest.
Until next moment,
Amar
Bald Eagle
No matter who you are in nature, there is always someone who is ahead of you. This Bald Eagle would normally be catching fish from the open waters, but this time the fish it wanted was in a small pool of water surrounded by trees. There was no way for it to fly in and grab one from the water, instead the eagle was hoping the four legged friend below, a young grizzly, would leave some scraps behind for it to pick up. It flew from one perch to another to get closer, then it saw an opportunity, it flew down but at the last minute with the risk too high, it flew out of danger. That's when this picture was taken. The eagle once again safely perched, waited for the next opportunity.
Until next moment,
Amar
Three-toed Woodpecker
The male Three-toed Woodpecker shoving food down the throat of a nestling. Its seem to be the only thing that gets the nestlings to stop the constant begging. If you happen to be in the area, the sound of the nestling will bring you right to the nest. Then find a spot as both parents bring back food.
Until next moment,
Amar
Willow Flycatcher
I spotted this nest few weeks back as I was on a animals trail. Noticed a Willow Flycatcher fly out of a shrub, after half an hour passed I was walking back along the same route, same thing happened again near the same shrub. That's when I looked over the shrub and noticed I was looking down a Willow Flycatcher nest. I would let few days pass before paying a visit to the nest and only when I saw the adult was not near. This picture was taken about few days before all three fledged.
Until next moment,
Amar
Barred Owl
I was late heading home from work, looking forward to relaxing and eating. But I quickly forgot about food when I spotted this Barred Owl, it was time to grab few images. In this meeting the first few pictures I took were the keepers. The background was lit up with the setting sun, but the owl had its back turned to me, so I waited. Then for few seconds the owl looked toward me over its left shoulder, but the bonus was in its eye. A protective blue film covering showing, which the owls uses when flying through the woods and as a preventive measure against overly eager owlets.
Until next moment,
Amar
Pileated Woodpecker
The two nestlings get the mouth ready to recieve food brought by an adult. Had a chance one evening to watch this pileated family, it was not difficult to miss the nest. There was constant begging coming from the nestlings while adult went away to gather food. After few feeding I left the nest to look for other things to photograph.
Until next moment,
Amar
Great Gray Owl
The Great Gray Owl is one of the bigger owl found in the park, by size but not by weight. Even with its wingspan of 52 inches, it weighs in at only 2.4 pounds. The Great Gray Owl can be found year around in the park and no matter the season they are always a nice surprise when spotted. I got to see this one early one morning, hunting for food. It was difficult the get a good picture of it in flight with low early morning light. So I concentrated on getting a good picture of it while it was perched and turning it into black and white to show the focus on its eye.
Until next moment,
Amar
