Photos taken in Carburn Park by Rob English on Dec 6/11. Even in the depths of a Calgary winter, there’s always lots to see in our natural areas! Click to enlarge photos.
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More On Weasels
On Saturday the Friends of Fish Creek birders were walking on the path just outside the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary when we noticed another weasel – this time a Long-tailed Weasel – already in its white winter coat with a black tip on the tail. These weasels are about eighteen inches long (45 cm), and about half of that length is the tail. They are considerably bigger than their relatives, the Least Weasels, which are only about six inches (15 cm) long (see my recent post about Least Weasels here).
Long-tailed Weasel checking us out. Photo by Dan Arndt.
The weasel was aware of us, and it would duck behind bushes or into long grass to try to keep out of sight, while keeping an eye on us.
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
Occasionally he would run, then stop…
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
…and have another look at us…
Photo by Wayne Walker
There were many Richardson’s Ground Squirrel holes there, and it looked like he was checking the holes for a meal…
Photo by Wayne Walker
One last run and stop…
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
…then he disappeared through the fence and we didn’t see him again.
See more of Dan Arndt’s photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ubermoogle/
Posted by Bob Lefebvre
Flying Squirrels of Calgary
I seem to be doing a lot of mammal posts lately, but as birders, we are interested in the entire web of nature. I find that the more birding I do, the more interested I become in all other animals, and in plants as well.
Last Saturday, Dan Arndt and I, plus assorted wives and girlfriends, took a hike at dusk in the Weaselhead with the intention of finding and photographing Northern Flying Squirrels. These rodents are strictly nocturnal, so many people aren’t even aware that they exist here. But in fact they range across the entire northern boreal forest of Canada and Alaska, and down into the continental United States as well.
Photo by A. Freeman, from Wikimedia Commons
I first saw these animals in March of 2008 when I attended a Nature Calgary “Owl Prowl”, led by Gus Yaki, to listen for Northern Saw-whet Owls. We didn’t hear any owls that night (according to Gus, it was Christmas – “the First No-owl”), but as we walked back through the woods in the dark I saw a shape streak through the trees against the dim sky. I assumed it was a bird going to one of the nearby feeders, but what bird goes to a feeder in the dark? Then someone shone a flashlight on the trees, and we saw that it was a small squirrel with very large reflective eyes!
Photo by US Fish and Wildlife Service, from Wikimedia Commons
Since then Nature Calgary has had annual outings to this spot to see these amazing animals, and we did see them again in 2009 and 2010. This spring they didn’t show, so I wondered if they were still around.
On Saturday we arrived a little early, so we walked around the forest on the south side of the Elbow River bridge for a while, hoping to see an owl. Again there was no luck spotting any owls, but we did see one Pine Grosbeak and one Common Redpoll, plus dozens of Canada Geese overhead. At dusk we headed back across the bridge to the feeders to set up our cameras.
Sunset was at 5:05 pm and two Northern Flying Squirrels glided in at 6:05 pm, right on schedule, as it seems that they make this feeder their first stop of the night, a half-hour or so after it gets dark. The squirrels seemed reluctant to go right to the feeder – they hid in the trees somewhere for ten minutes or so before we saw them again. We saw a few more gliding shapes and some squirrel silhouettes on tree trunks, and heard them scrabbling up and down the bark, but never got a good look at them. Finally, my wife snapped a few shots with a flash when she heard one on the tree in front of her, resulting in a couple of fuzzy images as the squirrel tentatively climbed down toward the feeder. (Click on pictures to enlarge them.)
We will certainly be heading out again in search of the Northern Flying Squirrel. Maybe someday we’ll get a photo as clear as the one below.
Photo by Bob Cherry from Wikimedia Commons
Posted by Bob Lefebvre
Birds of Elliston Lake
A little-known gem in the city is Elliston Lake, a stormwater pond at the east end of 17th Avenue SE. It is the second-largest body of water (after Glenmore Reservoir) in Calgary. At times it can harbour an impressive array of waterfowl, as well as some interesting mammals. (Click on pictures to enlarge them.)
Photo by Dan Arndt
When the Friends of Fish Creek group went there last Saturday, the lake was mostly frozen over, but there were still several thousand waterfowl on the few open areas. (The northeast corner of the lake usually has some open water all winter.)
The north half of Elliston Lake, looking west.
From 17th Avenue SE, turn south on 60th Street to access the parking lot.
The action actually started before we even got to the parking lot – a Merlin was feeding on a Rock Pigeon on the roadway. I got a poor shot through the car windshield.
There was quite a bit of traffic, so it abandoned the pigeon and landed on a nearby pole.
Photo by Dan Arndt
A few minutes later we saw the Merlin attack a flock of pigeons above 17th Avenue.
Almost as soon as we started the circuit of the lake, someone spotted a Red Fox out on the ice.
Later, we saw the fox check the shoreline for disabled waterfowl, but it came up empty.
Photo by Dan Arndt
The birds didn’t seem to mind the fox much; they just moved away from the shore.
A close inspection of the masses of Canada Geese and Mallards turned up some interesting birds:
Northern Shoveller (rear centre)
The next picture highlights the size difference between a Green-winged Teal and a Mallard, and shows off the brilliant colour in the teal’s speculum.
Photo by Dan Arndt
A juvenile Barrow’s Goldeneye (below, rear) is identified by having a steeper forehead and shorter bill than the Common Goldeneyes.
Many of the Canada Geese on the lake belonged to one of the small, short-necked subspecies, but there was one goose in among them that was smaller yet – only slightly bigger than a Mallard. At first I thought it might be a Cackling Goose, but those are Mallard-sized and have a very stubby bill. This goose (lower centre) is just a very small subspecies of Canada Goose. Compare it to the Mallards just behind it.
Here is a Gadwall (rear):
There were a few Ring-necked Ducks:
Below are two Ring-necked Ducks (right foreground) with Lesser Scaup:
This Lesser Scaup landed on the ice and tried to walk back to the open water, but slipped…
…so he just gave up and sat down.
We also saw some Common Redpolls feeding on birch seeds:
Photo by Dan Arndt
Photo by Dan Arndt
Two Rough-legged Hawks flew over, the second one chased by a Common Raven:
Photo by Dan Arndt
Near the end of our tour, some Canada Geese walked out on the ice, then flew off…
To see more of Dan Arndt’s photos, check his Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ubermoogle/
Posted by Bob Lefebvre
Weasel Wednesday
Sometimes when you go birding you don’t find what you hope to see. But sometimes you see something unexpected that is just as great. And sometimes it’s not even a bird.
Last Saturday the Friends of Fish Creek Society birders explored the Votier’s Flats area of Fish Creek Park. Our goal was to find a Northern Pygmy-Owl, which is always a treat to see, and which several members of the group had never seen. The owl has not yet been reported in the park this fall but in the last few years it has first been sighted at about this time.
We didn’t find an owl, but someone spotted a writhing mass at the side of the path that turned out to be a family of Least Weasels – a mother with eight young.
Photo by Dan Arndt
The nine little mammals moved through the undergrowth in a mass, over and under each other, but always in contact. In his report on Albertabird, Gus Yaki described them as “travelling together so close that they seemed to be a single organism.” Pat Bumstead says that they probably were making one of their first forays outside their natal den, and were exploring their surroundings.
- Photo by Wayne Walker
The mother crossed the trail near us, and the young separated amongst our feet. They showed no fear of us. I put my hand down, and briefly had one in my gloved hand. The shots below show just how small Least Weasels are. These young are as big as an adult, or nearly so.
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
The juveniles eventually crossed the trail to reunite with their mother.
Photo by Dan Arndt
Although they are impossibly cute, weasels are carnivores, capable of killing animals many times their size. In these photos they show off their teeth.
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Anne Elliott
We were very lucky to see such an amazing sight. If you’re like me, you can’t get enough of looking at these little guys, so below there are some more pictures for you to enjoy.
(To see an additional Birdscalgary post about another species of weasel, click here.)
(To see a YouTube video that uses some of these pictures, with music, click below:)
Here are the rest of the photos:
Photo by Dan Arndt
Photo by Dan Arndt
Photo by Anne Elliott
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
Photo by Wayne Walker
Thanks to the three photographers who contributed these great pictures: Wayne Walker, Dan Arndt, and Anne Elliott.
Posted by Bob Lefebvre
The Lookout
In South Glenmore Park, just where the trail drops down into the Weaselhead, there is a path leading through the bush to a spot with two benches.
Not only does it provide a great view of the pond and Weaselhead, but someone has turned it into a feeding station for the birds. I have been there a few times, and there is always birdseed on the rails and ground, and oranges in the trees. If you sit still and are patient, you get great close-up views of the birds. These pictures were taken on June 17, and we saw 23 species from the lookout that day. Here are some of them. You can click on the pictures to enlarge them.
Downy Woodpecker:
Hairy Woodpecker:
Clay-colored Sparrow:
Black-capped Chickadee:
Rose-breasted Grosbeak:
Brown-headed Cowbird:
Some small mammals got in on the action as well. Red Squirrel:
Least Chipmunk:
A Pine Siskin and a Red-breasted Nuthatch squabble over a good feeding spot:
Pine Siskin:
Red-breasted Nuthatch:
White-breasted Nuthatch:
Finally, this little Red Squirrel rested his head on his hands while he patiently waited his turn at the feeder:
Posted by Bob Lefebvre
Coyote and Beaver
Guest Post: Coyote and Beaver
The amazing sequence of photographs below was taken last week by Rob English, who kindly shared them with us. This interaction between a Coyote and a Beaver took place at the large pond just North of the highway 22X bridge, on the west side of the Bow River in Fish Creek Park. The photos were taken on two consecutive days, so this is a persistent Coyote (assuming it is the same one both days).
Although this is a birding blog, we are interested in all aspects of nature, and we particularly love mammals. One just doesn’t get the chance to see and photograph mammals as often as birds. And one is rarely lucky enough to see an encounter like this.
If you have interesting nature photos that you’d like to share, please send them to us and we may post them here.
Thanks again to Rob English.
He got away.
Maybe if I sneak up from this angle…
He looks pretty big…
How about a sudden attack from this side?
Pretty big from this side, too.
Back to Meadow Voles…
Coyotes are very opportunistic feeders, and have been known to eat Beavers. But a lone Coyote would have quite a bit of trouble with a full-grown Beaver like this one. As you can see, the Coyote is quite hesitant to attack.
Photos by Rob English
Posted by Bob Lefebvre