Here are a couple of Red Foxes photographed recently by Tony LePrieur.
This Red Fox was seen just outside the city limits on September 25, 2016.
The same fox showing the very wide tail that these animals have.
This one was seen in Carburn Park in the city, December 4, 2016.
Posted by Bob Lefebvre
I recently found a Red Fox den in the city of Calgary. There are five kits, and although I didn’t have my camera when I found them, I returned later and was able to get a couple of photos before the adult spotted me. The den is in a very exposed and quite busy spot, so I didn’t want to stay and disturb them.
Adult Red Fox with one kit at den.
Red Fox kit.
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
One of the areas that I surveyed for the May Species Count on Sunday May 29 was the Longview area, an hour SW of Calgary. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to get to some of the best birding spots due to the wet weather, but the conditions were pretty good. There was water flowing across some of the side roads but I did get through.
This creek was very high…
There was still quite a bit of snow at high elevations…
The Bar U Ranch road, looking west to the mountains…
I managed to find 75 species, which is a good total for that territory. I was quite frustrated near the end of the day by my inability to find a House Sparrow anywhere in the town of Longview! No House Finches there either. I also saw about 35 Black Terns in a pond that was just out of my territory, and they refused to come over to a perfectly good pond on my side of the boundary.
But I did have some unexpected birds as well, including two Red-breasted Mergansers. Here are some other highlights (as usual, you can click on the photos to enlarge them).
Mountain Bluebirds are commonly seen near the bluebird boxes…
Female Mountain Bluebird…
Tree Swallows are nesting in many of the Bluebird boxes…
I got a good look at this Red-eyed Vireo…
Male Red-naped Sapsucker…
Because of the high water, there were few shorebirds other than Spotted Sandpipers and a few of these Wilson’s Snipe…
I was pleasantly surprised to find a pair of Harlequin Ducks on the Highwood River at the Green View campground…
I only saw one pair of Green-winged Teal, but this male swam very close to me…
The final surprise of the day was this beautiful Red Fox, which seemed to be completely unconcerned with my presence, and walked right by me…
Posted by Bob Lefebvre