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When a phone call came just before 1:00 p.m. yesterday, letting me know that this owl had been found in Carburn Park, I was sitting at my computer, still not dressed and no breakfast! I don't think I've ever got ready so fast in my life (slight exaggeration!), my heart beating so quickly : ) What an absolute thrill to set eyes on this tiny owl, so perfect - and perched amongst a mass of tiny branches, immediately above the trail. With a bit of manoeuvering, I was able to get zoomed shots without the branches, but with more distant shots that was not possible. Love the fine feathers on its face. Three of us were also privileged to watch a huge pellet being thrown up. The owl was sitting in almost the same site where one was first found in the year 2000 and again in 2005. If it is the same bird, it is at least 12.5 yrs old.

Before I found the owl location, I came acoss two or three White-tailed Deer on a nearby trail through the trees, including a beautiful buck (will post a photo maybe tomorrow). As if all this wasn't enough for one afternoon, I noticed a Jack Rabbit in its white winter coat, sitting on the grass outside my place when I got out of my car. S/he just sat there and let me take quite a few shots, which was great.

"Adults are 17–22 cm (6.7–8.7 in) long with a 42–56.3 cm (17–22.2 in) wingspan. They can weigh from 54 to 151 g (1.9 to 5.3 oz) with an average of around 80 g (2.8 oz), making them one of the smallest owls in North America. In relative size to other birds they are close to the size of an American Robin.

After an online "Critter Vote", the Saw-whet Owl became the new star of Telus' mobility campaign in the summer of 2011." Some of you may have seen this very cute TV commercial : )

youtu.be/GaeFUeusM7w

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Saw-whet_Owl/id/ac

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Saw-whet_Owl

I have to stay home today and wait for an inspector from the city to come and check the installation of my new heating furnace. The Government is offering a rebate at the moment and an inspection has to be made first.

Shadows of birders taken at Carburn Park on January 23rd.

I couldn't find a photo of a butterfly that looked exactly like mine on the website I usually use - the closest I could come to is an Eueides isabella (Isabella Tiger). Taken at the Calgary Zoo on 26th September 2011.

January 19th was one of our cold, cold days and every bird I managed to photograph looked like this - feathers all fluffed up to try and keep warm. This photo of a little Black-capped Chickadee was taken on a morning walk in Weaselhead.

UPDATES:
1. To those of you who knew our dear friend Doug Waylett, I had an e-mail from Flo (his wife) this morning, letting me know that she has extended Doug's extensive Flickr account, so that his valuable photos can continue to be enjoyed and be of use. I was so concerned about this, so thank you, Flo, for doing this. Doug's images provide a most valuable resource, especially for those who are interested in lichens, fungi, etc.. www.flickr.com/photos/dougcwaylett/

2. To those of you who were curious about the make of the old motorbike in a photo of my Dad in his younger days, my son contacted the Reynolds-Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin, here in Alberta, and they told him that it is an Ascot Pullin. These were produced in the UK between 1928-1930. Thanks so much, Steven, for thinking of contacting the Reynolds-Alberta Museum and finding out this information and for adding a link to Wikipedia under the photo.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascot-Pullin_Motorcycles

history.alberta.ca/reynolds/

Do you think I could get a different look and expression from this rather fine and extremely agile animal? No, I was out of luck, ha. Photographed at the Calgary Zoo on 26th September 2011.

"The Markhor (Capra falconeri) is a large species of wild goat that is found in northeastern Afghanistan, Pakistan (Gilgit-Baltistan, Hunza-Nagar Valley, northern and central Pakistan, and some parts of Jammu and Kashmir), India, southern Tajikistan and southern Uzbekistan. The species is classed by the IUCN as Endangered, as there are fewer than 2,500 mature individuals which continued to decline by an estimated 20% over two generations. The Markhor is the national animal of Pakistan.

The horns of males can grow up to 160 cm (64 inches) long, and up to 25 cm (10 inches) in females.

Markhor live in flocks, usually numbering nine animals, composed of adult females and their young. Adult males are largely solitary."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markhor