tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66867633957526013152024-02-18T23:18:49.103-06:00Anita Mae DraperHappenings of Draper's AcresAnita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.comBlogger257125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-64667229335591878322020-07-06T13:43:00.000-06:002020-07-06T13:43:25.514-06:00Brown Thrasher<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4EDzp2nl1NQ9WxXX-mdIllZpWnNtxHco4qeRWGXPcZWemQ3CrNO7OwTGKNzkvV8ndVztEPYsqohpsIMqkM-nhGFSMJHCNT8JhRkILF4nwVFXxaR6mfOCMOHCsz1379S9_S7rbcOdevsk4/s1600/Wildlife+Watching+Header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="895" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4EDzp2nl1NQ9WxXX-mdIllZpWnNtxHco4qeRWGXPcZWemQ3CrNO7OwTGKNzkvV8ndVztEPYsqohpsIMqkM-nhGFSMJHCNT8JhRkILF4nwVFXxaR6mfOCMOHCsz1379S9_S7rbcOdevsk4/s400/Wildlife+Watching+Header.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We spotted a strange sight this June when Nelson pointed out what looked like a Brown Thrasher without a tail. I reached for my camera and zoomed in to confirm the yellow eye and slightly curved bill. It even acted like a Brown Thrasher. (Video at bottom of post.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0fUywLOH3h5pgi3ptPUT0DFY1feUbzAeJrf_VZwnMSjfRK4CKi2H9bh_CfS11ISF-Jg6NfgtiXBM9bXmrv9k6Jk_4TwYFlVp6a7oXNJ1qYnYXCM1IEah04xUz_xLtB4eD_uSqzqW1pEe/s1600/Brown+Thrasher+no+tail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0fUywLOH3h5pgi3ptPUT0DFY1feUbzAeJrf_VZwnMSjfRK4CKi2H9bh_CfS11ISF-Jg6NfgtiXBM9bXmrv9k6Jk_4TwYFlVp6a7oXNJ1qYnYXCM1IEah04xUz_xLtB4eD_uSqzqW1pEe/s640/Brown+Thrasher+no+tail.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Thrasher with Missing Tail, June 2020, RM Montmartre, Saskatchewan</td></tr>
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For further confirmation on the identity of this bird, I posted an image on the Facebook group, <i>Sask Birders</i>. Soon enough, another member said she had seen a Brown Thrasher in the mouth of a fox going one way, and minutes later, a Brown Thrasher without a tail running the other way. She added that the tail feathers grew back over time. I wonder if this is a defense mechanism.<br />
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Brown Thrashers are rusty or reddish-brown on the topside with a beautiful long tail which is sometimes pointed high. It's very noticeable, especially when they fly up and away from you.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPLRbfxyJ_OOUH4aZti8Ax_zR8Eluo1bMo8H6XMJ0lLsiNTVXwtr2kz6kW0mm3ywp49F8ouoQTt-0GJbKK2Z5V72FfUwQ46nphcEAzlzsQFSAcMRhYpXuGw-iDzKN48G08wy7SVqD8oic/s1600/Brown+Thrasher+Sep+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1600" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPLRbfxyJ_OOUH4aZti8Ax_zR8Eluo1bMo8H6XMJ0lLsiNTVXwtr2kz6kW0mm3ywp49F8ouoQTt-0GJbKK2Z5V72FfUwQ46nphcEAzlzsQFSAcMRhYpXuGw-iDzKN48G08wy7SVqD8oic/s640/Brown+Thrasher+Sep+2019.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Thrasher, June 2019, Regina, Saskatchewan.</td></tr>
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However, the wing bars on my image of the Brown Thrasher without a tail seem almost nonexistant, and it's hard to tell if the wings are the correct length for an adult thrasher, such as the one shown in the above photo which I took a year ago, in June 2019.<br />
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A check through my photo files brought up two interesting photos of Brown Thrashers. The first is a photo of a juvenile taken in June 2012 where I spotted one camouflaged under the evergreens in our shelterbelt while an adult kept watch nearby.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqluFPIGfWX_khw6kd4P2YFE4ST95PABDGo1XrrZ2cYDo9Ump1oUn3Xv_NFDOueKSEB_Es9hHFC7LY5IFrHM61HW4PYv1_fWNZoQymu_f44hddeEKnc1h6D3w1p9ZfDs4pLYdhu5x7y_K/s1600/Brown+Thrasher+juvenile+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqluFPIGfWX_khw6kd4P2YFE4ST95PABDGo1XrrZ2cYDo9Ump1oUn3Xv_NFDOueKSEB_Es9hHFC7LY5IFrHM61HW4PYv1_fWNZoQymu_f44hddeEKnc1h6D3w1p9ZfDs4pLYdhu5x7y_K/s640/Brown+Thrasher+juvenile+2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Brown Thrasher Juvenile, June 2012, RM Montmartre, Saskatchewan</span></td></tr>
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The wing bars on the Brown Thrasher in this next photo made me think of a juvenile, but it has the long tail of an adult. Because this photo was taken in September of last year, I now believe it's a Brown Thrasher in molt. Mid-July to September is prime season for birds to shed their old feathers and grow new strong ones for the long trip to their wintering grounds, so if you see a bird who appears to have lost its dignity along with its beauty, and it's too old to be a juvenile, it's probably molting.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KixLR9Us0rhcgNXd5sPFB1ks_uv_RhWlIzrDUBQNYdOvyc2gPrIsIjGoyR7-qSsyjqwfBAcmDaaZdS1MPkcqjzfRRlItltbcR7upk0vWowEtAb1ZiYvQWTCo9iBIkhR4dBwQMsKwKFL2/s1600/Brown+Thrasher+Juv+Sep+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KixLR9Us0rhcgNXd5sPFB1ks_uv_RhWlIzrDUBQNYdOvyc2gPrIsIjGoyR7-qSsyjqwfBAcmDaaZdS1MPkcqjzfRRlItltbcR7upk0vWowEtAb1ZiYvQWTCo9iBIkhR4dBwQMsKwKFL2/s640/Brown+Thrasher+Juv+Sep+2019.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Brown Thrasher in Molt, September 2019, RM Montmartre, Saskatchewan</span></td></tr>
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Here's the video I took of the Brown Thrasher without a tail, which is also available on my YouTube channel. <a href="https://youtu.be/YKRICrGNpXo">https://youtu.be/YKRICrGNpXo</a><br />
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Our photos can also be found on our Bird and Wildlife <a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/anitamaedraper/boards/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> boards, as well as on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/anitamaedraper/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.</div>
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<br />Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-54022240187840819892020-06-29T17:19:00.000-06:002020-07-06T08:52:49.045-06:00Wind and Fire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The prairie wind has been ferocious this year straining power lines to their limit. Tree branches are a particular menace on windy days. Recently, on a harsh, windy, HOT day, a tree branch tangled with a power line in the corner of our farmyard. We saw the fallen line on the ground and tried to contact the power company who had numerous calls already on the go. Not long after, we saw smoke coming from the area and called 911.</div>
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The Montmartre Fire Department showed up in record time and got to work putting out the fire. Since the line was still live, the guys stayed on guard for several hours in case the fire flared back up, waiting for the power company to come out and shut the power off.<br />
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The Draper family would like to thank the Montmartre Fire Department for their quick response. The damage to our farm and more could have been horrid if the fire had gotten out of hand.<br />
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<br />Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-79933411875832480372019-11-20T17:07:00.003-06:002019-11-20T17:07:39.096-06:00Tale of the Tiny Discarded Tree<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zGiiFIfYHzPNTmHcS9JY5Ela9n1Cvll2shREJ1t6F17kvs67YIMU3URk1ALG-CqDBuoMCBtxhoAMwnSX0CFzddESCsSqt6-EbgLj1UqE9rFp8Q4lvYJIuT4BV6gXGDwEduDXTg6egK59/s1600/2007+Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zGiiFIfYHzPNTmHcS9JY5Ela9n1Cvll2shREJ1t6F17kvs67YIMU3URk1ALG-CqDBuoMCBtxhoAMwnSX0CFzddESCsSqt6-EbgLj1UqE9rFp8Q4lvYJIuT4BV6gXGDwEduDXTg6egK59/s640/2007+Christmas.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Draper's Acres, Winter of 2007</td></tr>
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In October 1999 when we moved to our farm, we planted an 18" spruce tree where it would stand as a beacon to show the corner where the lawn ends and the gravel driveway branches off. This is needed to aid snow clearing so we don't ruin our lawn every winter. It was the perfect spot for the imperfect little tree. The tree is special to us as we had rescued it in 1994 from a large tree farm operation that threw out several hundred seedlings because they'd grown too large for the automatic tree planting equipment. We rescued 10 of the trees, deep down from a pile that had been left lying with their roots exposed to the sun for several hours. We planted them at home on our acreage, hoping they'd survive. The next year we retired from our military careers and left CFB Cold Lake, Alberta for the balmy climate of Saskatchewan. Along with our kids and belongings, we took our houseplants and six containers of sorry-looking seedlings which we transplanted into the garden of our new home. (The seedlings, not the kids.) We lived in town for five years. The seedlings were alive, but didn't thrive. Then came the move to the farm where we picked the healthiest seedling for the honored corner spot.<br />
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By 2010 the small spruce was still too small for Christmas lights. Although it wasn't actively growing, it was still green and healthy looking.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHw9c1T0ICCndh9gkQ-oXMbKR6Krq55w1h08k5viUuac4r60qg_tUlzEzyPlnhVw87EGi8Q94gs809ppUFoI-7HGyrekanEOx8KCne6tPRfAo2FqobBn_GAWiKnVlmQr3jDhnSWrGmbYL/s1600/2010+May.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="1316" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHw9c1T0ICCndh9gkQ-oXMbKR6Krq55w1h08k5viUuac4r60qg_tUlzEzyPlnhVw87EGi8Q94gs809ppUFoI-7HGyrekanEOx8KCne6tPRfAo2FqobBn_GAWiKnVlmQr3jDhnSWrGmbYL/s640/2010+May.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Draper's Acres, May 2010</td></tr>
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Then during the summer of 2011, we noticed new growth at the ends of each little branch and it didn't look lopsided if you looked at it from the right angle.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Draper's Acres, Dec 2011</span></td></tr>
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In 2013 the tree grew upwards and outwards, filling out yet still with its signature branch jutting out. The gardener in me figures the roots had stretched out and down and the tree decided to put its efforts into growing topside. But my heart likes the thought that the little discarded tree finally realized it was home and would never be uprooted again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nwU9zcaDANNjjOLJEkrN_8bRVpIYY3JNXU8BYi989DDc6a8sHr-_CwvHBO1Rjui0WoHt6FcsxnnAGKw7MMDN0xOR62hwLLSmK_40O9vbUtdUFKgA_amqYWwjftAW1W2zWAQejP4jDSFJ/s1600/2012+Nov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nwU9zcaDANNjjOLJEkrN_8bRVpIYY3JNXU8BYi989DDc6a8sHr-_CwvHBO1Rjui0WoHt6FcsxnnAGKw7MMDN0xOR62hwLLSmK_40O9vbUtdUFKgA_amqYWwjftAW1W2zWAQejP4jDSFJ/s640/2012+Nov.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Draper's Acres, Nov 2013</span></td></tr>
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The tree was 20 years old in 2014 and continued its growth spurt--so much that when Nelson (and the boys who are hidden) went to string the lights, they had a tough time reaching the top branches. And oh, that tree shone through the darkness, a wonderful sight to behold during those long winter nights.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCplX2vJPQ_cRN6ez-7IugGvcJJ4SerTpFS7mVsWIB-oyS7tg9drVnNOPjXsyHf49k0BXlDpQ19lNwPjX8M8PnI3JMZdzrjjwY2E0797tkMMlC7-jqEsIFjvHa00rrsSvS1txZa1LxPuY/s1600/2014+Dec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1070" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCplX2vJPQ_cRN6ez-7IugGvcJJ4SerTpFS7mVsWIB-oyS7tg9drVnNOPjXsyHf49k0BXlDpQ19lNwPjX8M8PnI3JMZdzrjjwY2E0797tkMMlC7-jqEsIFjvHa00rrsSvS1txZa1LxPuY/s640/2014+Dec.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Draper's Acres, Dec 2014</span></td></tr>
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It's hard to tell how tall the 2015 spruce tree is in this next photo, so that's when I decided I'd need to include the power line above it in all future shots.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz11gsfOJL6Ag-hpCPKaL8j5gzTgpqMSkgyAxMIhLXLudbrU8wgISS6mBIclQo2d4fzF_jm_Nvt2dsVcU9OzSPiUgDtOboqwTdEytcf8iJ5elRaRmXyRhHNIlroedf6UmgQ0zc9Azn7YDw/s1600/2015+Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz11gsfOJL6Ag-hpCPKaL8j5gzTgpqMSkgyAxMIhLXLudbrU8wgISS6mBIclQo2d4fzF_jm_Nvt2dsVcU9OzSPiUgDtOboqwTdEytcf8iJ5elRaRmXyRhHNIlroedf6UmgQ0zc9Azn7YDw/s640/2015+Christmas.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Draper's Acres, Dec 2015</span></td></tr>
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By 2017 the once-discarded spruce was over 14 feet tall as shown by the height of Nelson and JJ, the space between them and above them. To string the lights, JJ used two of those picker-upper things so it looked like he had extended lobster claws, but they did the trick of reaching the top of the tree. (For comparison, check out the 2010 photo to see the progress in the past 7 years!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-7MlHQiHNRbuU1urcYiCXd8Zlrh7AYXrfCRc7AqEp29dpQYZok09jaHUFrU6L8v4RhwOgMg-kOf4w_at8rr-msv-6iUUIH0VZyWz-H9gMOrtxO2dVobxJwMk5FCTyd1Pa_MzQDpKH-EC/s1600/2017+Nov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-7MlHQiHNRbuU1urcYiCXd8Zlrh7AYXrfCRc7AqEp29dpQYZok09jaHUFrU6L8v4RhwOgMg-kOf4w_at8rr-msv-6iUUIH0VZyWz-H9gMOrtxO2dVobxJwMk5FCTyd1Pa_MzQDpKH-EC/s640/2017+Nov.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Draper's Acres, Nov 2017</span></td></tr>
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Throughout the years we've lived on the farm, the tree has been the gathering place for family photos. It's a visual reference to the growth of the kids as well as the tree. Like this 2017 photo when all four kids were home for Christmas and after they went home, we were left with a beautiful memory of the event.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15oIMyxjtGuYAXdyh9BmkLlTnhxqh2k1Ziej3PQbLmlWztzQALj6vl59EjLlkNaJj2VshBUyLUnXJOV0IqiNIrTw7g5Tzo-QHcjtoUnZxwTNlZ72QAyWHFzGdg_Z7r2TH9Ls81hDVkZDV/s1600/2017+Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15oIMyxjtGuYAXdyh9BmkLlTnhxqh2k1Ziej3PQbLmlWztzQALj6vl59EjLlkNaJj2VshBUyLUnXJOV0IqiNIrTw7g5Tzo-QHcjtoUnZxwTNlZ72QAyWHFzGdg_Z7r2TH9Ls81hDVkZDV/s640/2017+Christmas.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Draper's Acres, Christmas 2017</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhni5oenffku4HZnaeEF6q5wb3oWQflc0CBAykMZU98cFi1reDz4zV62ZnfwNyo1T5_ZZbrT1dIObovMZxGYQdiKvM_pxQB_ZECDiGKCkAkOjbGKkELmX3hOh9XxEm6MzTkbjLgJGiFo9YA/s1600/2018+Nov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhni5oenffku4HZnaeEF6q5wb3oWQflc0CBAykMZU98cFi1reDz4zV62ZnfwNyo1T5_ZZbrT1dIObovMZxGYQdiKvM_pxQB_ZECDiGKCkAkOjbGKkELmX3hOh9XxEm6MzTkbjLgJGiFo9YA/s640/2018+Nov.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Draper's Acres, Nov 2018</span></td></tr>
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The guys have gotten inventive over the years and last week when they went to string the lights, Nelson taped one of the picker-uppers to the end of a long handle. JJ held the lights up and they both circled the tree, winding the lights around as they went.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVKHN3-WysqTwZbEMOJzAfMWlG1UHIzeiJV0aAe8LHmB1truIA7qWziMzCEzLlMxN3B_WxShj3oFtluoJay92hSKUyUNoOfQHwUhg2WsLdhntTTJzqX06WE29CTZpkmNRkRHBhafj3GEt/s1600/2019+Nov+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVKHN3-WysqTwZbEMOJzAfMWlG1UHIzeiJV0aAe8LHmB1truIA7qWziMzCEzLlMxN3B_WxShj3oFtluoJay92hSKUyUNoOfQHwUhg2WsLdhntTTJzqX06WE29CTZpkmNRkRHBhafj3GEt/s640/2019+Nov+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Draper's Acres, Nov 2019</span></td></tr>
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A few hours after this year's tree was strung with lights, the moon tried to peek out and add to the light show. .<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoK26TAYtyEtAptWlPebfQWUohUe_oS25L2__XgF1wAHmsCXueMgaxrwSXq1VRJUa78xQrVI0V79plefBizXdiv5nMtujeo8Qpl6uIMGPMubxUo9DcBrf-YxK_XmvLFChjXY-tp8_XsWOC/s1600/2019+Nov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoK26TAYtyEtAptWlPebfQWUohUe_oS25L2__XgF1wAHmsCXueMgaxrwSXq1VRJUa78xQrVI0V79plefBizXdiv5nMtujeo8Qpl6uIMGPMubxUo9DcBrf-YxK_XmvLFChjXY-tp8_XsWOC/s640/2019+Nov.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Draper's Acres, Nov 2019</span></td></tr>
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So there you have the tale of the tiny discarded spruce tree. I only have one worry now...because of where we planted it, we may have to shave a bit off the top side if it reaches the power line. It's my fault--something I should have considered, but never imagined 20 years ago on that late October day when we moved to Draper's Acres to raise our family.<br />
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What started out as a tiny discarded tree provides us with immeasurable blessings throughout the year.<br />
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This post is also posted at <a href="https://www.inkwellinspirations.com/2019/11/tale-of-tiny-discarded-tree.html">https://www.inkwellinspirations.com/2019/11/tale-of-tiny-discarded-tree.html</a>Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-9996624765310389592019-07-17T12:00:00.000-06:002019-07-18T05:20:57.663-06:00Tale of the Bluebird Tree<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrr5aK5-EPkOgiM9fFkiuztzZ6WJx8ws-fwbE-MKnQY0VfeoMFX04bLrUilzdMddzefCei_4R1zOHvHPjnLsNuhyphenhyphen7zjYomOy0CWtTfZLhoyHduL_2FUUydLQCnNhIJS5H7oRA89S4zkyUL/s1600/Mountain+Bluebird+stubble+May+2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrr5aK5-EPkOgiM9fFkiuztzZ6WJx8ws-fwbE-MKnQY0VfeoMFX04bLrUilzdMddzefCei_4R1zOHvHPjnLsNuhyphenhyphen7zjYomOy0CWtTfZLhoyHduL_2FUUydLQCnNhIJS5H7oRA89S4zkyUL/s640/Mountain+Bluebird+stubble+May+2019.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Mountain Bluebird, male, May 2019. Source: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One day, a man and woman were driving along and saw a flash of blue in a field of stubble. Oh, how pretty to see a bluebird. Another bird flew past with only a touch of blue on the wings and landed on a nearby tree branch.</span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9D36UalmPoqKiURfG-hYWDMM7TP53Wm-Dn-h29iKj34VpRh6kBnoS_kjTGkQmO0oD2edJ4dcmX4ai86SrWP3KksvS3C2O_PSEUPwkrzHX6p1b3JdkMPCKA64-X9QO3X8XzVfs9OibUKC/s1600/Mountain+Bluebird+tree+female+signed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9D36UalmPoqKiURfG-hYWDMM7TP53Wm-Dn-h29iKj34VpRh6kBnoS_kjTGkQmO0oD2edJ4dcmX4ai86SrWP3KksvS3C2O_PSEUPwkrzHX6p1b3JdkMPCKA64-X9QO3X8XzVfs9OibUKC/s640/Mountain+Bluebird+tree+female+signed.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Mountain Bluebird, female, May 2019. Source: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The man and woman didn't think the tree looked pretty at all. It had no green leaves like all the other trees were getting, and the branches were wiggly and sharp. </span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTdEPsAw3GjidXTm-vjIFxYIXfQEaHtQO3fXfbjqR85Zqp9zBmf0CBy-sTMKY4k_uwa1iGzNJhIwy1zcf_tQpSPEYikcXnis1zkC_9Yyw_w8LIK0H51tyvdyOghYDdxkblkHG8YKnILWU/s1600/Bluebird+tree+signed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTdEPsAw3GjidXTm-vjIFxYIXfQEaHtQO3fXfbjqR85Zqp9zBmf0CBy-sTMKY4k_uwa1iGzNJhIwy1zcf_tQpSPEYikcXnis1zkC_9Yyw_w8LIK0H51tyvdyOghYDdxkblkHG8YKnILWU/s640/Bluebird+tree+signed.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bluebird tree, May 2019. Source: Anita Mae Draper</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The man and woman drove away, but later at home, they looked in their bird book and saw that the bright blue bird was a Mountain Bluebird male, and the one with only a bit of blue was the female.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A week later, the man and woman went back to see the pretty bluebirds. They were surprised to find the male poking his head in a big hole in the dead tree.</span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzDrBKasXTBJmIQkQnOxoRxHGqcd4tj5bHSePoFrGAR5XnCiJ7nLgTBcqH8SHRYk-AHqfH2jqZvwyaPYq7Gv9YtMtFIbVZEIMsfwR43-4JekUuPXUmFK-FziBT-_pr_fPLY71wAKqTD_e/s1600/Bluebird+male+at+hole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzDrBKasXTBJmIQkQnOxoRxHGqcd4tj5bHSePoFrGAR5XnCiJ7nLgTBcqH8SHRYk-AHqfH2jqZvwyaPYq7Gv9YtMtFIbVZEIMsfwR43-4JekUuPXUmFK-FziBT-_pr_fPLY71wAKqTD_e/s640/Bluebird+male+at+hole.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Mountain Bluebird, male, May 2019. Source: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As the people stopped to look, the male pulled his head out and flew away. The people were sad they had scared him away, but happy when the female came out of the hole to take a look.</span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bXgLJzhgWsLatBQbHF6Sm5DbNzI-lPz9Uq5HpMl59Rp8GAnpSxKT5aqjomxwPOVjLsmyrIYtI149BM1-DlBcl65nAemsm-3Dro6_oUdUD4ysrUkZ5brs2MSVVni8X19D517Abw6n108q/s1600/Bluebird+Female+at+hole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="1126" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bXgLJzhgWsLatBQbHF6Sm5DbNzI-lPz9Uq5HpMl59Rp8GAnpSxKT5aqjomxwPOVjLsmyrIYtI149BM1-DlBcl65nAemsm-3Dro6_oUdUD4ysrUkZ5brs2MSVVni8X19D517Abw6n108q/s640/Bluebird+Female+at+hole.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Mountain Bluebird, female, May 2019. Source: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And the people knew that the bluebirds had built a nest in a hole of the </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">dead tree. Soon, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">baby bluebirds would hatch from eggs laid by the female. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The woman took a picture of all the trees near the bluebird tree so they would remember where it was, and then they drove quietly away.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWxij5MLUaeClILqst0-Q-MkBhQKNfWXXYWvzThPD_12hVWSgBl9-oDyZz24SmuZUpsRB13bR0_o2VXK3MKK9vP4TTk_kATfDvZQREW-ntUG8aXy0I543wfCMDRBsT-qLyjAACDwqcN69/s1600/1+Before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWxij5MLUaeClILqst0-Q-MkBhQKNfWXXYWvzThPD_12hVWSgBl9-oDyZz24SmuZUpsRB13bR0_o2VXK3MKK9vP4TTk_kATfDvZQREW-ntUG8aXy0I543wfCMDRBsT-qLyjAACDwqcN69/s640/1+Before.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before the storm, Jun 2019. Source: Anita Mae Draper</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One week later, a terrible wind blew across the prairie and many trees were damaged near the man and woman's home. They drove out to check the dead tree that held the bluebird nest. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But where was it? The people knew they were at the same place because they had a picture of it. But where was the bluebird tree?</span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMI0ZkoS2xmR2sDEeuQMNamKl1gNx7k_C4p3eps29KkChI7auB6U2SBlNhLhRCdFEqXSXhmgXM5T9UsQYuNvI_g0k-4ERG_mcGFgw52pbljPs-d1cAmC3pS1K4POgs5nrwx1K20BeoK111/s1600/2+After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMI0ZkoS2xmR2sDEeuQMNamKl1gNx7k_C4p3eps29KkChI7auB6U2SBlNhLhRCdFEqXSXhmgXM5T9UsQYuNvI_g0k-4ERG_mcGFgw52pbljPs-d1cAmC3pS1K4POgs5nrwx1K20BeoK111/s640/2+After.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the Storm, Jun 2019. Source: Anita Mae Draper</td></tr>
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</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The bluebird tree was gone! Everything in the picture was the same, but the tree wasn't there.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The man walked over to take a look.</span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbR5vmk72qXV0CEOSJXa2BughML27h3SUVwC-c7dgWDVAU3klLE43mX4iNruKSlEOl4KpJRkL3pFxUx12EtDsrPxP74p9GZw-yJpF_N9O23lRuRQzinvo_Bv_Nd0-Q9Zqeq3ySqgkITDa/s1600/Looking+for+fallen+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbR5vmk72qXV0CEOSJXa2BughML27h3SUVwC-c7dgWDVAU3klLE43mX4iNruKSlEOl4KpJRkL3pFxUx12EtDsrPxP74p9GZw-yJpF_N9O23lRuRQzinvo_Bv_Nd0-Q9Zqeq3ySqgkITDa/s640/Looking+for+fallen+tree.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking for fallen Bluebird Tree, Jun 2019. Source: Anita Mae Draper</td></tr>
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</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He pointed to something that the woman couldn't see, and then he took a picture of something laying on the ground. </span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZZrbB4YV2o5EoDM3A0rUu5sQXTpBI3X94eBkeOIyzmEapN9LninXixOjJrqB0cwb211rlIj5kCQ1a8iLBoC6B7VY0gwbNp0YnqbfNUtp4KfZIonvIgdmLXQfblaHOZ5FTlzbzVW06QyE/s1600/Taking+Photo+of+Hole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZZrbB4YV2o5EoDM3A0rUu5sQXTpBI3X94eBkeOIyzmEapN9LninXixOjJrqB0cwb211rlIj5kCQ1a8iLBoC6B7VY0gwbNp0YnqbfNUtp4KfZIonvIgdmLXQfblaHOZ5FTlzbzVW06QyE/s640/Taking+Photo+of+Hole.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Taking photo of fallen tree, Jun 2019. Source: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The man showed the woman a picture of a tree on the ground with a big hole in it, and they knew the mighty prairie wind had pushed over the bluebird tree.</span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhhYOZQmjN7OAN7AcxVZcd7HgfatTC1zYSjcIzCRupefT2yniiE1gmeZpqmFDqwKDkWbNWpRkQQ593peJRgp81Fl_I_z9TybHfRZldpLt3FmKcZKczSrlAnZFZQ0xUwjP95PVz573tqsB/s1600/Bluebird+Nest+Hole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhhYOZQmjN7OAN7AcxVZcd7HgfatTC1zYSjcIzCRupefT2yniiE1gmeZpqmFDqwKDkWbNWpRkQQ593peJRgp81Fl_I_z9TybHfRZldpLt3FmKcZKczSrlAnZFZQ0xUwjP95PVz573tqsB/s640/Bluebird+Nest+Hole.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Hole in Fallen Bluebird Tree, Jun 2019. Source: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then the man showed a picture of inside the hole. It was empty. Only bits of old grass and small twigs lay at the bottom. The nest was gone. </span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NmyEpNrjPwcZ1eoXiLioZmI5mdQxrZv6tDcIPQkuFWNR1ANsXavWsCOXh29gWk7z3I57TsrXF-7EMZC2OKmyjo1D7emAvgcW5Md34rMOhMD6qDROjqoIrcrviMQr-3IlWcTtUws3cg3E/s1600/Empty+Nest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NmyEpNrjPwcZ1eoXiLioZmI5mdQxrZv6tDcIPQkuFWNR1ANsXavWsCOXh29gWk7z3I57TsrXF-7EMZC2OKmyjo1D7emAvgcW5Md34rMOhMD6qDROjqoIrcrviMQr-3IlWcTtUws3cg3E/s400/Empty+Nest.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Empty hole in fallen tree, Jun 2019. Source: Nelson Draper</td></tr>
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</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The man and woman were heartbroken. The pretty bluebirds were gone and they didn't know if they had even survived the storm. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For several days, the man and woman stayed away. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was too sad to drive by the fallen tree. They </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">prayed that God had taken care of the birds that He had created. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One day when they couldn't wait any longer, the man and woman drove to the fallen tree. From a distance, they saw that nothing had changed.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But then they saw a flash of bright blue zip past their car. Right behind it flew a bird with a bit of blue on its wings. The bluebirds! Yes! As the man and woman watched, the bluebirds flew past the fallen tree and deeper back into the trees behind it. Somewhere in that bush, they had built another nest, sheltered from the prairie wind. So deep, that the man and woman couldn't see it from the road.</span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDKeYwUEhowWOUpD3MME2e8_9t_KtMQ55J3-m7i0olPqv0Zq6MNThFtNDQD_ep3Ay0HFBIjYW2KrEHrTHxgOohNS2Uz10xGc-Spkx3O8WdODc2Yd40JS7XzhqyY7YjsOmKb6UyqwfmXAr/s1600/Watching+for+insects.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDKeYwUEhowWOUpD3MME2e8_9t_KtMQ55J3-m7i0olPqv0Zq6MNThFtNDQD_ep3Ay0HFBIjYW2KrEHrTHxgOohNS2Uz10xGc-Spkx3O8WdODc2Yd40JS7XzhqyY7YjsOmKb6UyqwfmXAr/s640/Watching+for+insects.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain Bluebird, male, on stubble, Jun 2019. Source: Anita Mae Draper</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was the last time the man and woman drove that way, but one day, they'll be back looking for new bluebirds. Meanwhile, they look at the pictures and imagine the male bluebird out on the stubble and new crop, watching out for insects to bring back to his family.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://youtu.be/ZExcdos9SG0">Tale of the Bluebird Tree</a> video shows the bluebird pair at the tree.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZExcdos9SG0" width="560"></iframe></span>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is a true story, but if you like fiction, you can check out my other stories at <a href="http://www.anitamaedraper.com/">www.anitamaedraper.com</a></span>
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<br />Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-24312866624778773012018-04-18T15:48:00.000-06:002018-05-07T15:54:54.585-06:00Wildlife Watch March<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWnXTjkvXz4e1VwPBRFWTMNa1zIlSSsnrrbd882IDCOLqWpHbQSR16Ksm74nlYg4HzL5mgEG1egeLx6bCsoli09PRnzz4yyJOAtmXYpBN9oEOzyZ55XziKTimiRnb44T19yUzCChqedhn/s1600/Wildlife+Watching+Header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="895" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWnXTjkvXz4e1VwPBRFWTMNa1zIlSSsnrrbd882IDCOLqWpHbQSR16Ksm74nlYg4HzL5mgEG1egeLx6bCsoli09PRnzz4yyJOAtmXYpBN9oEOzyZ55XziKTimiRnb44T19yUzCChqedhn/s400/Wildlife+Watching+Header.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With all the wildlife we spotted in February we weren't sure what to expect in March, but we hoped to see some early risers if the weather cooperated. Note that this post is for animals only since March birds are shown in </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the following posts:</span><br />
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<li><a href="http://anitamaedraper.blogspot.ca/2018/04/winter-bird-summary.html" style="font-size: 11pt;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Winter Bird Summary</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://anitamaedraper.blogspot.ca/2018/04/migrating-bird-watch-march.html" style="font-size: 11pt;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Migrating Bird Watch March</span></a></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the evening of March 8th we were within half a mile from home when we spotted a Moose browsing on the shrubby slough brush they love. With the fading light of an overcast day, we took a couple pics and left it munch. This was the only moose we saw in March 2018.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOw3UDe_ww2InL1u2_GC9HTrCYLxbA9zgf2hmIc95br6-R2nkYRFc3mIVqV1VMELESVUZ0NR9gWuxw64EWRYzVP-p5qGiKffCDTq1by_Ahua7_p0C3Akg3zWr_MM_M2ZEtZQPEA8HOyy_/s1600/Moose+full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1390" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOw3UDe_ww2InL1u2_GC9HTrCYLxbA9zgf2hmIc95br6-R2nkYRFc3mIVqV1VMELESVUZ0NR9gWuxw64EWRYzVP-p5qGiKffCDTq1by_Ahua7_p0C3Akg3zWr_MM_M2ZEtZQPEA8HOyy_/s640/Moose+full.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Moose, RM Montmartre, Saskatchewan, March 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A couple of days later I was out on the front stoop talking pics of the frosted trees when I spotted movement on the western ridge. Zooming in, I recognized the top half of a coyote heading south. He wasn't trotting as if he had someplace to go, but was walking slowly toward an area I'd seen ravens flying over the day before.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIM9EV-rtRfjrdC8ml3qrcBTePnFU-jABX_EAWb-XPqrTOZ_Eb3K4qnw0wDaUQyUucSOeHnCU8WK1FTm_y8XxWvJ2eZwmrJdsmZylENVxxRK4P9UKhGjZFQmW-X4zsG5iXlWfcIvwkUNLh/s1600/Coyote+full+Mar+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="816" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIM9EV-rtRfjrdC8ml3qrcBTePnFU-jABX_EAWb-XPqrTOZ_Eb3K4qnw0wDaUQyUucSOeHnCU8WK1FTm_y8XxWvJ2eZwmrJdsmZylENVxxRK4P9UKhGjZFQmW-X4zsG5iXlWfcIvwkUNLh/s640/Coyote+full+Mar+12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Coyote, RM Montmartre, Saskatchewan, March 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With Easter on the way, it seemed appropriate to catch a glimpse of a White-tailed Jackrabbit, still wearing his winter white coat. (Apparently Black-tailed Jackrabbits don't change their coat colour for winter.)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiE1FvBYvgs_DO8xvMjhVYQJTu_Rc5nN5TjZOYqCyP9U602g8ktcAw8d4FuZx10cv9bewf-SZmNrb1hi3L3qULl6rnJxjYg5mUPzOA8vyfQAIGSibsANOHv9Hzzfx0zoQ6Z0Pdt_ZqOVB/s1600/3+White-tailed+Ja+ckrabbit+full+Mar+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiE1FvBYvgs_DO8xvMjhVYQJTu_Rc5nN5TjZOYqCyP9U602g8ktcAw8d4FuZx10cv9bewf-SZmNrb1hi3L3qULl6rnJxjYg5mUPzOA8vyfQAIGSibsANOHv9Hzzfx0zoQ6Z0Pdt_ZqOVB/s640/3+White-tailed+Ja+ckrabbit+full+Mar+15.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">White-tailed Jackrabbit, Southeast Saskatchewan, March 2018. Credit: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nelson brought back some nice shots of a Red Fox on March 17</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. Apparently, he was up upwind of the fox because </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">all the pics have the fox looking forward or down, but none looking in Nelson's direction.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-0B8G9xpG0i8DMqjfgeZS4WnhM5q3gpg-JEhvREFebsIn8z6O0Tzmmz1loB0hSPvNAoZGuCyB1g0Xk58s2ChUAxAGD_I8Vv5z7f9hisktD0MFvRsXhSgUlnLZuwjdZxyWLMWZdk5wtEi/s1600/Red+Fox+back+Mar+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-0B8G9xpG0i8DMqjfgeZS4WnhM5q3gpg-JEhvREFebsIn8z6O0Tzmmz1loB0hSPvNAoZGuCyB1g0Xk58s2ChUAxAGD_I8Vv5z7f9hisktD0MFvRsXhSgUlnLZuwjdZxyWLMWZdk5wtEi/s640/Red+Fox+back+Mar+17.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Red Fox, Southeastern Saskatchewan, March 2018. Credit: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had my own Red Fox encounter, again from the front stoop of our house. I often step outside to see what's in the yard and on March 24th I was taking pics of dark snow clouds when I spotted something halfway up the western ridge. I zoomed in and saw two foxes, one larger than the other. They were walking, but then the bigger one in front looked back and suddenly the smaller one ducked down into a low spot. This image was taken at 5:16 pm.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviRFtpi9CSNKaRRFNcFlsmHit2AVZXF3G1oFsbYrsd7xEmdLNxnVZUy_yaV1aXElCu1d72BqYLF68eHz2k6XC7KKFe14lkIsY1NIf8oSsNmfoCS-gWFE9tNd_ztVEIrtrJLoZ7iS7VDF_/s1600/Red+Fox+Standing+full+Mar+24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1390" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviRFtpi9CSNKaRRFNcFlsmHit2AVZXF3G1oFsbYrsd7xEmdLNxnVZUy_yaV1aXElCu1d72BqYLF68eHz2k6XC7KKFe14lkIsY1NIf8oSsNmfoCS-gWFE9tNd_ztVEIrtrJLoZ7iS7VDF_/s640/Red+Fox+Standing+full+Mar+24.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Red Fox, RM Montmartre, Saskatchewan, March 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The weather was light blowing snow under heavy cloud cover. As I watched the foxes, they curled into sleeping position with their heads tucked in and only the tips of their ears showing. I went into the house but checked back frequently to see if they were still there. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkieYuyDLg28x7WWfpVyCB9YSQi1M4pU4aAgfMUvgrUgEhX9TEWXO9RgA90xahYgszilUyCxWq9wB-j-oCEmmtzzGkB4m0DmRbY58DMKKdLurT09qmraqv9vHZ0ZAgDLlwG9rDmWeFfOaZ/s1600/Red+Fox+Lying+full+Mar+24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="914" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkieYuyDLg28x7WWfpVyCB9YSQi1M4pU4aAgfMUvgrUgEhX9TEWXO9RgA90xahYgszilUyCxWq9wB-j-oCEmmtzzGkB4m0DmRbY58DMKKdLurT09qmraqv9vHZ0ZAgDLlwG9rDmWeFfOaZ/s640/Red+Fox+Lying+full+Mar+24.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Red
Fox, RM Montmartre, Saskatchewan, March 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />At 6:50 pm I saw the foxes walking away. Their behaviour seemed strange at first, until I remembered other fox encounters where they would sit and pose, and then lie down as we took wonderful photos of them. The latest such opportunity was last month in the post, <a href="http://anitamaedraper.blogspot.ca/2018/03/wildlife-watch-february.html" target="_blank">Wildlife Watch February</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Prairie Dogs came out to play in March. My first sighting was on the 18th as I zipped down Highway 48 and spotted a little creature on a high snowbank. A snowmobile rally was going on at the time, but the snow machines had veered off and were gathered in a field a few hundred feet from the prairie dog's location. Perhaps with spring approaching their noise had awoken it from hibernation? </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Since I didn't want the guys to think I was taking pics of them, I carried on down the road wishing I wasn't such a chicken. Lo and behold, I spotted another prairie dog just a few miles further which is the one you see in this picture. By the way, if you recognize this guy, he's the model for my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/anitamaedraper/" target="_blank">Happy Spring Instagram post</a>. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tcVRjpnw5O1UKe_hH6OrUCW5jxUbgzP6MVzTOM7y9XICd2MTOyf8kBl3kKV7StvrDSz47YVTNZkwzMvH1oiOp09Z0QQV-0PQWrj1jXdzOMRLz-P-ADQ_-U6UqHXP3Lmc2bio4vHPRYJP/s1600/Prairie+Dog+Mar+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tcVRjpnw5O1UKe_hH6OrUCW5jxUbgzP6MVzTOM7y9XICd2MTOyf8kBl3kKV7StvrDSz47YVTNZkwzMvH1oiOp09Z0QQV-0PQWrj1jXdzOMRLz-P-ADQ_-U6UqHXP3Lmc2bio4vHPRYJP/s640/Prairie+Dog+Mar+18.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Prairie Dog, RM Montmartre, Saskatchewan, March 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A week later we were driving back from church when Nelson pointed out a prairie dog poking its head up from a snowbank in the roadside ditch. As I zoomed in, I was surprised to see its wet face as if he'd just tunneled through the snow - a first for me. When I submitted this prairie dog image to the iNaturalist.ca site, it was confirmed as a Richardson's Ground Squirrel, quite common on the prairies. This image made me think of the shark from the movie, <i>Jaws</i>, so I used it as the model for another <a href="https://www.instagram.com/anitamaedraper/" target="_blank">Instagram post</a>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYYEDsXwLQ9gR81jHa69i4MZNG7rIxvx0_ds-4m9rnpsdljq6FZUbEx1T5U0I4lMNgKYtExLdNzkfcbIzHZX1IpV7yICUw4-ZSCtbenEvijHMjZtmQqe40AW1BZQB7rA-FMhf8S6HfH6f/s1600/Prairie+wet+body+full+Mar+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYYEDsXwLQ9gR81jHa69i4MZNG7rIxvx0_ds-4m9rnpsdljq6FZUbEx1T5U0I4lMNgKYtExLdNzkfcbIzHZX1IpV7yICUw4-ZSCtbenEvijHMjZtmQqe40AW1BZQB7rA-FMhf8S6HfH6f/s640/Prairie+wet+body+full+Mar+25.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Richardson's Ground Squirrel, RM Montmartre, SK, March 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On March 17, Nelson was seeing the pink hues of a sunrise instead of kelly-green when he spotted these White-tailed Deer with their tails waving good-bye.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrArbsxVmLWxHJ3SXOKZdg9Tbd9G_8EWjKtGPGUgQOMljcU2pJyRpr6jvhCpL070U8GEWQbE3qqXBCge1MhnCnWY-R9pKFPM2C6UL9i41tH-zLvYVV03j2w_EgBKpoi6XLwBX15K8mQLcX/s1600/White-tailed+Deer+running+full+Mar+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrArbsxVmLWxHJ3SXOKZdg9Tbd9G_8EWjKtGPGUgQOMljcU2pJyRpr6jvhCpL070U8GEWQbE3qqXBCge1MhnCnWY-R9pKFPM2C6UL9i41tH-zLvYVV03j2w_EgBKpoi6XLwBX15K8mQLcX/s640/White-tailed+Deer+running+full+Mar+17.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">White-tailed Deer, Southeast Saskatchewan, March 2018. Credit: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Three days later, Nelson caught another batch of White-tailed Deer in a scenic stubble field. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">White-tailed deer have a brown tail when it's down and only shows the white underside when it's running, after it's been alerted to danger.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJuB8-3vc487fs6kXeGXtAtUqEK1_13I4eA0MU-Tx4H8Px6bl0GZu0n_FwgUL4rH7urI73OED2iMl09spwLBx7Pu3FWfRaOuLAfodhG_Ju_YHQjp5-8ROT79hbpK2LLn4w-a5SwFKGsoB/s1600/White-tailed+Deer+herd+Mar+20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJuB8-3vc487fs6kXeGXtAtUqEK1_13I4eA0MU-Tx4H8Px6bl0GZu0n_FwgUL4rH7urI73OED2iMl09spwLBx7Pu3FWfRaOuLAfodhG_Ju_YHQjp5-8ROT79hbpK2LLn4w-a5SwFKGsoB/s640/White-tailed+Deer+herd+Mar+20.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">White-tailed Deer, Southeast Saskatchewan, March 2018. Credit: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Both White-tailed Deer and Mule Deer have white rumps, however the tails of </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mule deer are white with a dark tip, as if they've been dipped in paint, like this next image:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyKd1D9Se_Z2-6mD_aF8p9zLhc4amgAH9AY9lL3kz7oYbSO5Pww8PDCFnwPWsLYPHr1m1F4e045-c1lSCueGnMta8ENcWTiunHDg184TeuRCHVb2qxLpPdP8me_F-TcRgCYkG2TMbdJ10/s1600/Mule+Deer+snowing+Mar+20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyKd1D9Se_Z2-6mD_aF8p9zLhc4amgAH9AY9lL3kz7oYbSO5Pww8PDCFnwPWsLYPHr1m1F4e045-c1lSCueGnMta8ENcWTiunHDg184TeuRCHVb2qxLpPdP8me_F-TcRgCYkG2TMbdJ10/s640/Mule+Deer+snowing+Mar+20.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mule Deer on Snowy Day, Southeast Saskatchewan, March 2018. Credit: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nelson took this next photo on March 14 which clearly shows a white rump, but no white tail sticking up. That tells me they are Mule Deer.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjMjwkYXvG63SHBKIdnW2aIUGYR3hnJnSMckx7zOaoZkoTRnh5-bdY9k41gOuTBSkfVDmuu6-u5HwGaVK2r-oTZsKSZvUXwylVKedO49EfKYM2gg2TZnOg4cIodmVHU182scRcY08643V/s1600/Mule+Deer+herd+dawn+full+Mar+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjMjwkYXvG63SHBKIdnW2aIUGYR3hnJnSMckx7zOaoZkoTRnh5-bdY9k41gOuTBSkfVDmuu6-u5HwGaVK2r-oTZsKSZvUXwylVKedO49EfKYM2gg2TZnOg4cIodmVHU182scRcY08643V/s640/Mule+Deer+herd+dawn+full+Mar+14.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mule Deer at Dawn, Southeast Saskatchewan, March 2018. Credit: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nelson knows they are Mule Deer because he looks at their huge mule-like ears. Sometimes that's a give-away for me too, like this photo Nelson took on March 31st. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Uq6S1YZ5KnFxApeKzG6iqXVpoKdEbNeX2D97DhHG72b4BIobkBKdoMsBgkHHlOllKxCobXFkXeogNH5MnZwkAPp9XfTzGIRXwX1ha_0K9gcZdi3ovWJs_qDAkW7_UZH2ckFpT_D8gMvU/s1600/Mule+Deer+2+Mar+31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Uq6S1YZ5KnFxApeKzG6iqXVpoKdEbNeX2D97DhHG72b4BIobkBKdoMsBgkHHlOllKxCobXFkXeogNH5MnZwkAPp9XfTzGIRXwX1ha_0K9gcZdi3ovWJs_qDAkW7_UZH2ckFpT_D8gMvU/s640/Mule+Deer+2+Mar+31.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mule Deer, Southeast Saskatchewan, March 2018. Credit: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We'll finish this post with a Common Raccoon that Nelson spotted on March 29th as the month neared its beastly end. The raccoon was moving fast and we've cropped this photo as much as we can before it loses definition, but you can still make out the ringed tail. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaz2ZunotG0vrABYMN60oRHr4MHRNIZD4PVTheNdTwWJOJbf4BQcsvbTYwDiEqtBR_fvPxk-wRKolH9_tV6sAHRPGXrDzWXFVGeNGrkqVuYqJjce5LyolDuFKB0tGmuppPg4RhG-D8CUOE/s1600/Racoon+Mar+29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="926" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaz2ZunotG0vrABYMN60oRHr4MHRNIZD4PVTheNdTwWJOJbf4BQcsvbTYwDiEqtBR_fvPxk-wRKolH9_tV6sAHRPGXrDzWXFVGeNGrkqVuYqJjce5LyolDuFKB0tGmuppPg4RhG-D8CUOE/s640/Racoon+Mar+29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Raccoon on the Run, Southeast Saskatchewan, March 2018. Credit: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nelson had another raccoon encounter in May, so we'll be posting those images soon.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />If you would like to be kept informed by email of new Draper's Acres blogposts, leave your email address in the "Subscribe Me" box in the right hand column of this page. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pins of the above photos can be found on our Pinterest board:<br /><a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/anitamaedraper/photos-wildlife/">Photos: Wildlife</a></span></div>
<br />Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-58774610014729264912018-04-10T11:51:00.000-06:002018-05-02T12:28:24.408-06:00Winter Bird Summary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6XDhVJf0z-9vpyc7nqc6oyrN1Gn8Yvi5qqNxENgngMJA9k2hGnq_XRM304GaOB-cMcqLVW3ZrGGTk9utZ5L4kNNRgcAXkNnUhJCU6bbguTNESBW7Nz4D2t02RRl3H_Nvoj13AflwApv53/s1600/Bird+Watching+Header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="895" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6XDhVJf0z-9vpyc7nqc6oyrN1Gn8Yvi5qqNxENgngMJA9k2hGnq_XRM304GaOB-cMcqLVW3ZrGGTk9utZ5L4kNNRgcAXkNnUhJCU6bbguTNESBW7Nz4D2t02RRl3H_Nvoj13AflwApv53/s400/Bird+Watching+Header.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This post is a summary of the winter birds photographed by us in March 2018 and since it was a late spring this year, we still had lots of snow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Midmonth as I was heading home after a trip to town, I spotted a Sharp-tailed Grouse high in a stand of trees. I pulled over and shut the car off since there wasn't any traffic and I didn't want to scare the sharpie away. With my window down I managed to get some excellent images and video.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCou-wA_NfA7UUgNI-dzesDxpJ3lV0TQomkjLK433lzFq9T3qZnofb401jku_autTAXboieDOyCNFdzGGzjNA9HAil7CbO840DBKn0SV6I7ylMbkkr8rnZ-Axj3J_t8-umzXrCGa3KdIM/s1600/Sharp-tailed+Grouse+Mar+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCou-wA_NfA7UUgNI-dzesDxpJ3lV0TQomkjLK433lzFq9T3qZnofb401jku_autTAXboieDOyCNFdzGGzjNA9HAil7CbO840DBKn0SV6I7ylMbkkr8rnZ-Axj3J_t8-umzXrCGa3KdIM/s640/Sharp-tailed+Grouse+Mar+18.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sharp-tailed Grouse, RM Montmartre, SK, Mar 2018. Source: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once the sharpie got used to my quiet presence, it proceeded to eat the tree's buds. I don't know what type of tree it is, although aspen comes to mind. In this position, the sharpie reminded me of a dinosaur, so it got my imagination going - I mean, you show a writer something unusual and the creative juices flow. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU84PueHUf0k-gUzeqESqs1QbtPWmaI7se1T-fjl9SIUtmlchWy43KY1rL2oG2QHLlNKuRk7MqEQEy6tiTFRWwkOBhm_q64rnbifgRbKIS1CVbZRmFYrcijziqL3ttBYeS4ra89mfspWzI/s1600/Sharp-tailed+Grouse+eating+buds+Mar+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="783" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU84PueHUf0k-gUzeqESqs1QbtPWmaI7se1T-fjl9SIUtmlchWy43KY1rL2oG2QHLlNKuRk7MqEQEy6tiTFRWwkOBhm_q64rnbifgRbKIS1CVbZRmFYrcijziqL3ttBYeS4ra89mfspWzI/s640/Sharp-tailed+Grouse+eating+buds+Mar+18.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sharp-tailed Grouse, RM Montmartre, SK, Mar 2018. Source: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After a few minutes, the first sharpie was joined by a second one, which must have been hiding nearby. Soon after, they both flew away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On a frosty morning on March 14th I was out taking pics of the rising sun which was just coming up at the end of our long driveway when I had the impression that something was sneaking up behind me. I turned to find small birds at the top of the power pole which is located in what we call the island in the centre of our farmyard. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrN_jmdxYLj0XrRW3lasU25ICvGUAHszU4-KICzCS0-KFC7rgBW17xCkb8ZGybH3sqisw_P4FY8x7ni2GCUFH2yICA8ugG7KdNWplw3Lnv3XS8NgjYVvtNnfvZfUnKNEgk7pz9sHFh_sS/s1600/Snow+Buntings+Mar+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrN_jmdxYLj0XrRW3lasU25ICvGUAHszU4-KICzCS0-KFC7rgBW17xCkb8ZGybH3sqisw_P4FY8x7ni2GCUFH2yICA8ugG7KdNWplw3Lnv3XS8NgjYVvtNnfvZfUnKNEgk7pz9sHFh_sS/s640/Snow+Buntings+Mar+14.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Snow Buntings, RM Montmartre, SK, Mar 2018. Source: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had never seen Snow Buntings this close as they generally fly in large roadside flocks like Horned Larks, but that's what came to mind as I stared up at them. They stayed for several minutes as I snapped some shots of them, and then turned to take pics of the sun, then back at the birds, then back at the sun, etc. As soon as I got inside I confirmed these birds are indeed Snow Buntings. What a treasure!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5p9TDq5Tt8EuTMB0n4yc19NPSOUZxD5QmRbPy_HH8rXJp2YjDKgXcMbwIPon5CeWDaWIH95KXpBoog3byg0qSmjwzB_KojWVE5V3-uAaoSyx91Cl6x64uVMe89RkhpAEW3NrdQP2xKXGL/s1600/Snow+Buntings+back+Mar+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="926" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5p9TDq5Tt8EuTMB0n4yc19NPSOUZxD5QmRbPy_HH8rXJp2YjDKgXcMbwIPon5CeWDaWIH95KXpBoog3byg0qSmjwzB_KojWVE5V3-uAaoSyx91Cl6x64uVMe89RkhpAEW3NrdQP2xKXGL/s640/Snow+Buntings+back+Mar+14.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Snow Buntings, RM Montmartre, SK, Mar 2018. Source: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For the first time ever, I noticed Horned Larks in our farmyard pecking under the feeder where the Redpolls glean. We were in the afternoon throes of a winter blizzard at the time and I believe they didn't realize where they had strayed. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvwjt55IfWNjKJlmVi8zuH6msNDi7sSXY8QUdMZCwx8HnM6fCeZk9E6t3zIVT2-bf0tiTp5tOwFHSZUryxS7o0-BzOWRviFiV7aYI3hlhuGInLOcUzNVATGzMpCNl8Pbka348sEMo7nAt/s1600/Horned+Lark+in+yard+Mar+23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1390" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvwjt55IfWNjKJlmVi8zuH6msNDi7sSXY8QUdMZCwx8HnM6fCeZk9E6t3zIVT2-bf0tiTp5tOwFHSZUryxS7o0-BzOWRviFiV7aYI3hlhuGInLOcUzNVATGzMpCNl8Pbka348sEMo7nAt/s640/Horned+Lark+in+yard+Mar+23.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Horned Lark, RM Montmartre, SK, Mar 2018. Source: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Downy Woodpeckers were seen throughout March, although the female was sighted thrice as much as the male which has a red patch on the back of his head.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijczyKnSR8ntFSMCfoDqPxIuSsSp5JqVD2KatJsaBiPIH4fYm25XwXFwlHt6KtGNPZhYQQ5_lrqJvTwUvFFysl0XgVWIuMjiG9HqZGRKxUfIox8hyjeYLnPZsMFyHKuY5oQ9NV-_WPFMVj/s1600/5+Downy+Male+Mar+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="816" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijczyKnSR8ntFSMCfoDqPxIuSsSp5JqVD2KatJsaBiPIH4fYm25XwXFwlHt6KtGNPZhYQQ5_lrqJvTwUvFFysl0XgVWIuMjiG9HqZGRKxUfIox8hyjeYLnPZsMFyHKuY5oQ9NV-_WPFMVj/s640/5+Downy+Male+Mar+12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Downy Woodpecker, RM Montmartre, SK, Mar 2018. Source: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Near the end of the month, the female discovered the peanut wreath and spent several minutes pecking away. I'm not sure why she didn't like it, or perhaps she assumed all the shells were empty, but I didn't see her at it again. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_6EFKv6pwcSbhCiWr3VI2KbEw-kEBKSvsBcrYDNAKBD7e9vwLj3IX6320EIHgXVKu6FCNNWwo1fzXRlEwr3zNtMOWA8cVLClaHD2OFzz_Y3t0ubUSDJ9NYGSjmlEPdVNc4i-QgATN9W-/s1600/Downy+peanut+ring+Mar+28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_6EFKv6pwcSbhCiWr3VI2KbEw-kEBKSvsBcrYDNAKBD7e9vwLj3IX6320EIHgXVKu6FCNNWwo1fzXRlEwr3zNtMOWA8cVLClaHD2OFzz_Y3t0ubUSDJ9NYGSjmlEPdVNc4i-QgATN9W-/s640/Downy+peanut+ring+Mar+28.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Downy Woodpecker, RM Montmartre, SK, Mar 2018. Source: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Ravens are still hanging around and seem to have paired off as I saw 2 pairs on opposite ends of our quarter. One pair seems to have settled in the slough to the south because I heard - for the first time ever - the distinct sound the female makes when she's in her nesting stage. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIZy3C1kpOPQ0ddY7fJ6DAqskjZ7tHUnQPjRVdVJqYqe2ikdggbYFdMvwppXwdZ2NLLQsCSi3GUpcjXP1cEEE-pM0KqalfKkrvaQnM-mBsYonF1HSgL3a5CNg_wDjIXuxPfcs49f0TZEn/s1600/2+Ravens+Mar+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1390" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIZy3C1kpOPQ0ddY7fJ6DAqskjZ7tHUnQPjRVdVJqYqe2ikdggbYFdMvwppXwdZ2NLLQsCSi3GUpcjXP1cEEE-pM0KqalfKkrvaQnM-mBsYonF1HSgL3a5CNg_wDjIXuxPfcs49f0TZEn/s640/2+Ravens+Mar+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Ravens, RM Montmartre, SK, Mar 2018. Source: Anita Mae Draper</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Black-billed Magpie only visited to snatch pieces of the Ancient Grains Tortillas we'd put out. Once the tortillas were gone, so was the magpie. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVmxrgV79ryjqZMg7ui3EXek2siVVyc4x7z5cf8UhvkE83N7pR6DHfnWVxiezJ6xroUqJOSOrOC_ixDQM0cP285PkvkgQSG9WnHsOPONwzxslMqUwHgjKjhCNX03WT-lKLtTy5F-1N90S/s1600/3+Magpie+Mar+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="816" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVmxrgV79ryjqZMg7ui3EXek2siVVyc4x7z5cf8UhvkE83N7pR6DHfnWVxiezJ6xroUqJOSOrOC_ixDQM0cP285PkvkgQSG9WnHsOPONwzxslMqUwHgjKjhCNX03WT-lKLtTy5F-1N90S/s640/3+Magpie+Mar+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Black-billed Magpie, RM Montmartre, SK, Mar 2018. Source: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Throughout the month Black-capped Chickadees continued to hide their seeds one day, and go look for them on another day. As I've tried to show what seed they were eating, I'll show this one taken on a very frosty morning where the chickadee searched among the branches, darting out of the way before it got caught beneath a shower of rime. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjICX03awlOFO69hXbzPB152lGK-ry4O3HPs3GMwMEi4-4iGCTZBiyxz6C5FnawVhc6KRsT_xb3vVVqvkkmtad27CGJ397Uawf7T8aQdlXzwXaRqcEV9DN3hmqwUvyn43cH7wMSH5nEIh/s1600/1+Black-capped+Chickadee+Mar+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1390" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjICX03awlOFO69hXbzPB152lGK-ry4O3HPs3GMwMEi4-4iGCTZBiyxz6C5FnawVhc6KRsT_xb3vVVqvkkmtad27CGJ397Uawf7T8aQdlXzwXaRqcEV9DN3hmqwUvyn43cH7wMSH5nEIh/s640/1+Black-capped+Chickadee+Mar+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Black-capped Chickadee, RM Montmartre, SK, Mar 2018. Source: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nelson was in the right place to capture these Grey Partridge at dawn on the 17th. Also called Hungarian Partridge, there were only a few in the flock but they looked stellar in the morning rays.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLpxUPT4ciLfewoSTvYSueOX1MtvUgsr3ofAmyXMVW77uwvGZX5y2qvAo6C0_XaNtt3fAIihBOFEIfsaWWXbCmaUpcUnczYsj6WsIrt2K-Iv3eCwJGIeSpxeVBzndbUuR7XmKJYlunY9r/s1600/Grey+Partridge+at+Dawn+Mar+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLpxUPT4ciLfewoSTvYSueOX1MtvUgsr3ofAmyXMVW77uwvGZX5y2qvAo6C0_XaNtt3fAIihBOFEIfsaWWXbCmaUpcUnczYsj6WsIrt2K-Iv3eCwJGIeSpxeVBzndbUuR7XmKJYlunY9r/s640/Grey+Partridge+at+Dawn+Mar+17.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey Partridge, Southeast Saskatchewan, Mar 2018. Source: Nelson Draper</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On March 20th Nelson spotted a Snowy Owl on a power pole but it took to flight as he approached and then settled in a nearby field. This ended up being our last Snowy Owl sighting of the season. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OaZ6_Ezr0j5HVYZUS3ui4ZIKwIN69nTTn6rEwBC96P69YjLYTfp35P5hvu-J2kRKRHYJLVTo5MaYonC3BW0niMWgAZ27C4s1nrbZ6z2oG1_qJhLRkLhr_ArVC5gH3YqrR5I5sJHGE0dn/s1600/Snowy+Owl+Mar+20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OaZ6_Ezr0j5HVYZUS3ui4ZIKwIN69nTTn6rEwBC96P69YjLYTfp35P5hvu-J2kRKRHYJLVTo5MaYonC3BW0niMWgAZ27C4s1nrbZ6z2oG1_qJhLRkLhr_ArVC5gH3YqrR5I5sJHGE0dn/s640/Snowy+Owl+Mar+20.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Snowy Owl, Southeast Saskatchewan, Mar 2018. Source: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Redpolls and House Sparrows made up the last of the feathered blessings we witnessed in March 2018. Photos for both of these birds can be found on the previous two posts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pins for most of these birds can be found on our Pinterest board <a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/anitamaedraper/photos-birds/" target="_blank">Photos: Birds</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-87251870478002061722018-04-03T17:54:00.000-06:002018-04-20T18:22:51.841-06:00Migrating Bird Watch March<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJId176TaN3VcmCnuQoisuTo6YpQ9u1h6fNO3lP8BKDgmH3UQkf__Fyhr_-_MstNUx6SgpZH-0ZxEczxuQvEAFBtHpPw7V3bZlNAxkzBzxuUDg4thtPMei64J-kneNGitid1FAJ4Ue3n1/s1600/Bird+Watching+Header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="895" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJId176TaN3VcmCnuQoisuTo6YpQ9u1h6fNO3lP8BKDgmH3UQkf__Fyhr_-_MstNUx6SgpZH-0ZxEczxuQvEAFBtHpPw7V3bZlNAxkzBzxuUDg4thtPMei64J-kneNGitid1FAJ4Ue3n1/s400/Bird+Watching+Header.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We were blessed to see so many birds in March that we've created a separate post for migrating and new birds. Although we're experiencing an extremely slow spring thaw, migrating birds are showing up, albeit in much fewer quantities. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The first migrating bird sighting of the season was on March 16th as I headed toward Francis, SK. My head swiveled from side-to-side to catch any dark spot on the sea of snow. And then I saw it - the long neck of a Canada Goose. All alone, it sat on the snow-covered field a short distance from an equally covered slough. I didn't see its mate anywhere, which left me wondering if it was injured and had fallen behind the flock. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9EKYuVJGXuRWW5GtQfd9_1M9R9ARr8jk3FYGm8_oeKIwablSw-xiU1UCrGWaSGQE44jNfrsZjjvLtkha0P8FUaUT0hcXeQ5ya1IpnCEAmpQL99tLXkhsLLGpRUpAdudigjrJRS9ywupK/s1600/1+Canada+Goose+Sighting+Mar+16%252C+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9EKYuVJGXuRWW5GtQfd9_1M9R9ARr8jk3FYGm8_oeKIwablSw-xiU1UCrGWaSGQE44jNfrsZjjvLtkha0P8FUaUT0hcXeQ5ya1IpnCEAmpQL99tLXkhsLLGpRUpAdudigjrJRS9ywupK/s640/1+Canada+Goose+Sighting+Mar+16%252C+2018.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Canada Goose, RM Montmartre, SK, Mar 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In case you can't see it in the middle of the above photo, here's a close up...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwcXtPi8fcDpli7g9mHxX_wHZ__QjMus0B4yWQGrZ0BW4i-upw6cM4vSruY7MWRnX73fX_qDbmd1n7xczuYDVZK9dWSoj5fpDUWj8j9aV5afRxSjSTGre5C6v4j58eYSSiLhpdFKwpwCw/s1600/1.1+Canada+Goose+full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwcXtPi8fcDpli7g9mHxX_wHZ__QjMus0B4yWQGrZ0BW4i-upw6cM4vSruY7MWRnX73fX_qDbmd1n7xczuYDVZK9dWSoj5fpDUWj8j9aV5afRxSjSTGre5C6v4j58eYSSiLhpdFKwpwCw/s640/1.1+Canada+Goose+full.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Canada Goose, RM Montmartre, SK, Mar 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A few hours later I was on my way home and heard loud honking through my car window. Slowing, I opened my window and caught this Canada goose flapping and honking in a frenzy. I was a miles west of where I'd spotted the lone goose earlier and this one was headed in that direction. I have no idea if this was the mate, but clearly it was in panic mode. I stopped for photos a few times along my route and by the time I passed the stop I'd seen the first Canada Goose of the season earlier, the field was empty. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKzi9bVAVVKgakvdq0Tl1cbI8zUjxZnND6NUapp635uZ6zzLJyIUnp3TvuWIppEvZ0DKVaOxKy2Hmupd1ZUahjl-Nwu4u-xqFpHn3rxrqO1ccbBtXdAQFJmUYU7f9Uq1XvKRTobqzPUUk/s1600/Canada+Goose+looking+Mar+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1390" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKzi9bVAVVKgakvdq0Tl1cbI8zUjxZnND6NUapp635uZ6zzLJyIUnp3TvuWIppEvZ0DKVaOxKy2Hmupd1ZUahjl-Nwu4u-xqFpHn3rxrqO1ccbBtXdAQFJmUYU7f9Uq1XvKRTobqzPUUk/s640/Canada+Goose+looking+Mar+16.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Canada Goose, RM Francis, SK, Mar 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the same stretch of road, I spotted the first Western Meadowlark of the season! I hadn't expected to find a meadowlark ploughing through a snow-covered ditch and so it caught me by surprise as I drove past. After turning around, I drove slowly back, past the way I'd come, to see if I really had seen one. The ditch was empty. Yet still hoping, I pulled to the side of the road and waited with the window down. And then I saw it on a bare patch of ground, striding back and forth and calling out. I've never heard one call before and was left with the impression that it had crash-landed in the snowbank and was now letting the others know where it was. No melodious singing for this meadowlark on this day. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8G_O0fQAaY_DlJi4In2nYTLs15guNf8IgPzbevB7KGi8RcYUQUtcIpffI_2lLfJVzblE2_LS5x03acRxtfVL4XvW_M30EXo-Zjp_Bw0ofMuq_TI1cEq4CPOQHv4oDP_J3ztorJUV5NsV/s1600/2+Western+Meadowlark+Mar+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8G_O0fQAaY_DlJi4In2nYTLs15guNf8IgPzbevB7KGi8RcYUQUtcIpffI_2lLfJVzblE2_LS5x03acRxtfVL4XvW_M30EXo-Zjp_Bw0ofMuq_TI1cEq4CPOQHv4oDP_J3ztorJUV5NsV/s640/2+Western+Meadowlark+Mar+16.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Western Meadowlark, RM Francis, SK, Mar 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">The next day was St. Patrick's day, which I don't celebrate because I'm Scotch and Finnish, but I was having a party at the end of the day after spotting a new bird to add to my Life List. You see, while doing dishes, I noticed the sparrows hiding in the big poplar tree. When the sparrows aren't sleeping in the barn loft, they're hanging around the mixed bird feeder near the cotoneaster or potentilla bushes. When new birds visit, the sparrows go on guard duty around the yard. The only time they hide together in the big trees is when danger lurks. </span><span style="color: #333333;">Since I couldn't see an intruder from the window, I went outside and looked around. </span><span style="color: #333333;">Suddenly, the sparrows all flew behind the house. A few seconds later they all flew back in a rush and spread into the shelterbelt. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before I could blink, a small hawk sailed in low from behind the house and flew out of the yard past the hedgerow before it perched in the high branches of the trees at the end of the driveway. I raised my camera and got off a few shots without making out the species due to the extreme low light level of the overcast day. I was quite surprised then, when I uploaded the images to my computer and realized I was looking at a Merlin - my first ever sighting, and one for my Bird Life List. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2BszWF-WDJCD-MJUY4mqYEcxzwTvG_kWRFxAXWPLUfUi-ySXFjvj8NNcFEx2tReG1pbTKwTMrBEQFHluXO8bMcIl2wIz7JQnROlpLMMAdtCdR-3-sjbdA8L-_B0AF9EDf9Lc0QeKLn7B/s640/3+Merlin+Mar+17.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Merlin, RM Montmartre, SK, Mar 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2BszWF-WDJCD-MJUY4mqYEcxzwTvG_kWRFxAXWPLUfUi-ySXFjvj8NNcFEx2tReG1pbTKwTMrBEQFHluXO8bMcIl2wIz7JQnROlpLMMAdtCdR-3-sjbdA8L-_B0AF9EDf9Lc0QeKLn7B/s1600/3+Merlin+Mar+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A week later while on our way to church, Nelson spotted a large bird of prey sitting in a group of trees alongside the road. Although it looked like a hawk, its beak confirmed it was an eagle. It pointedly ignored us for over a minute before flying past our car. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLfdfOJ6lJwIH8xmzORwLuIpgbQSB0aIArrSJ3Avv7sVRNcTqrTnOwN4gXo4XoT4KN29pfdsUTUdejw3IVxM2f4Brw7r_kNRBw1L-91QaSNVNOPBrp2GhfEOBhHnm0L9BxxxcpL4dzbF1Z/s640/4+Bald+Eagle+Perched+Mar+25.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bald Eagle, RM Montmartre, SK, Mar 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLfdfOJ6lJwIH8xmzORwLuIpgbQSB0aIArrSJ3Avv7sVRNcTqrTnOwN4gXo4XoT4KN29pfdsUTUdejw3IVxM2f4Brw7r_kNRBw1L-91QaSNVNOPBrp2GhfEOBhHnm0L9BxxxcpL4dzbF1Z/s1600/4+Bald+Eagle+Perched+Mar+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Not going far, it landed in a nearby group of trees where I continued by photo shoot. This isn't our first Bald Eagle sighting of the year, but this young one is the closest capture of 2018.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kn2v3udSJXskp4rci_F5EW82MN7ty6M6ZvVeKcSBtjt-Nl_WCIQIJOlKmDIXWT2Kvuxuf5VQXQ_ug5kSH5pL0kRFFuSDMMr-po5HRELxCwKekKoS-fijtQcEswkcld87gI3qmtcOnfrH/s640/Bald+Eagle+2nd+Tree.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bald Eagle, RM Montmartre, SK, Mar 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On Mar 29th I was going through the bird pics of the day when this next image caught my attention. I added my signature and was about to file it with the other pics of Redpolls when I spotted the thick beak. Redpolls have fine yellow and black beaks, not thick finch-like ones. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66GKfLZPsh6ZRykA1bfKIbkQXdCGtuGAF9583oZlxVGnyjeSOE4da93y0r_ped_tmuPpq7aFuLjiIRLMGDIU74THuu04e_EcmH9uD_sGbThzNmfjHHpKfrc5iELTaJrJx3w3VE2beeISg/s640/House+Finch+males+full.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">House Finch, RM Montmartre, SK, Mar 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I took a closer look at the other photos for the day and when I saw this next one I clicked on my bird identification app and pulled up finches. Sure enough, our visitors of the day were House Finches. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1007" data-original-width="1343" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlR0pK4CnCyuKRcmA3YJwDucuMt4vHKrhzMDexr76ptKiIHMd9c_V3nx6mZSSuzmMkjQZfbsXB1rLm1HTVDSOGooNcI2Tuz_panwNee2tntsoGI8WsgRmgZoWX83uIdVYTA5voa68aa9SH/s640/5+House+Finch+male++Mar+29.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">House Finch, RM Montmartre, SK, Mar 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">House finches have a greyish-brown cap with red around it, whereas redpolls have a red cap. The following photo clearly shows the red cap of one of the Redpolls which wintered here this year. You can also see the different beak styles, as well as the breast markings. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVnWkNs4PuhMu35p58mE38ZQ8J-dMpC9IjFxEp9ZeAOe2oxpDWqQbeaLpLqXhyxOmoMcn7SCuNv4oSb2QZ9JGpdc3KPwiDnzfkdogytJeIbnDKNLYI4FoA3zaaBxDroVHjj_OP_qbImOc/s640/Redpoll+Feb+21.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Common Redpoll, RM Montmartre, SK, Mar 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Although Southeastern Saskatchewan is known to have Ring-necked Pheasants year-round, they usually stay close to the USA border where they are North Dakota's state bird. Nelson thought he was seeing things on March 17th when he spotted one, but then it disappeared into the bush. He took pictures of the area anyway. Good thing, too, because once the image was uploaded to the computer we spotted the tail sticking out of the ditch where the pheasant had taken refuge. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="926" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkA7vYVtbEAnYnb2tKcTvsdfJPs2RnkNKe3rs5Tt4Y0rv453bbksSlpPSNGfM5AsJJPMNP2Adcfc6Ig9SiAyv_-RcsNkjWNDtVkDyrtFUAtq3onuvXW1wobUXWMWM85EM0h32DdzoTSGvX/s640/Ring-necked+Pheasant+tail+full.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ring-necked Pheasant Tail, Southeast Saskatchewan, Mar 2018. Credit: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Closer inspection showed the pheasant hiding behind the brush where he was almost camouflaged into obscurity. Gotcha! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroO5_pEUlUknYlPwS8cOYK0bkH3Y_O2IqCbO4ZcIn1XCimEFKwJLF1uZnIMIrJ1xocbja-IjXS0N__k-HemNuQvVfZ_hzkTiywIr0NgZGQuq0FXgOxws3KIf30u8n8kuAc3jl3afCiPLw/s640/6+Ring-necked+Pheasant+hiding+Mar+17.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ring-necked Pheasant Camouflaged, Southeast Saskatchewan, Mar 2018. Credit: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroO5_pEUlUknYlPwS8cOYK0bkH3Y_O2IqCbO4ZcIn1XCimEFKwJLF1uZnIMIrJ1xocbja-IjXS0N__k-HemNuQvVfZ_hzkTiywIr0NgZGQuq0FXgOxws3KIf30u8n8kuAc3jl3afCiPLw/s1600/6+Ring-necked+Pheasant+hiding+Mar+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pins on most of the above images can be found on our Pinterest board </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/anitamaedraper/photos-birds/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Photos: Birds</a></div>
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Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-44806158799083451262018-03-23T07:07:00.000-06:002018-04-18T07:12:55.401-06:00Bird Judge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGFduOhOR6KvB9_2hhLxUgrxNCJXrglxVc6GfTO9W5MUsjmnabfUtixPPvzGNRc0EsugziFxXBakl58a1vNvMg4n77tBNZ3r5dVSkZnjRAxSJuiunITQPJU-QugnezdHk5aQJ1_mcRll6/s1600/Score+Montage+Instagram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGFduOhOR6KvB9_2hhLxUgrxNCJXrglxVc6GfTO9W5MUsjmnabfUtixPPvzGNRc0EsugziFxXBakl58a1vNvMg4n77tBNZ3r5dVSkZnjRAxSJuiunITQPJU-QugnezdHk5aQJ1_mcRll6/s640/Score+Montage+Instagram.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This image can also be found as a vertical pin on my Pinterest board: </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/anitamaedraper/photos-birds/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Photos: Birds</a>Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-49448487636608688772018-03-12T09:49:00.000-06:002018-04-16T09:50:24.337-06:00Wildlife Watch February<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">February 2018 started off with cold temps in the minus 20's to 30's and stayed that way until the final week of the month. The hope was that we'd get over the cold stuff and begin to enjoy warmer days. The cold temps also meant there wasn't much variation in the wildlife we see in our area. In fact, we didn't see anything other than birds until mid-month.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On Feb 17, Nelson spotted a Red Fox travelling in a stubble field. Nelson pulled over and grabbed his camera. The fox stopped as well and looked around. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0smF2EDhGkNoBoAp-_KG2NokAJVaOYHuP6VvYxWBwsrdNvLXj-2jrQymjylpIvzeKrxE6ueszkMAFPOaC88h-LIN4xKz10VB3XFEDRyLDQpYNxoxXkRRyYmD6VMZuDz54_muGMV4UCP3/s1600/Red+Fox+Feb+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0smF2EDhGkNoBoAp-_KG2NokAJVaOYHuP6VvYxWBwsrdNvLXj-2jrQymjylpIvzeKrxE6ueszkMAFPOaC88h-LIN4xKz10VB3XFEDRyLDQpYNxoxXkRRyYmD6VMZuDz54_muGMV4UCP3/s640/Red+Fox+Feb+17.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Red Fox, Southeastern Saskatchewan, Feb 2018. Credit: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And then the fox lay down and closed its eyes. Of course, this allowed Nelson to get some really great shots of a Red Fox,. It seemed unusual behaviour, but then I remembered last November when another Red Fox stopped to pose as our vehicle approached it. We'll post on this behaviour as we catch sight - hopefully more - of these beautiful creatures. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGJeUYft2j-Bd07BuIEQDtsV5TgA_dibwGoE_2O36m00P0inlE0PTVOlbFBn75d65Wf0P_gMccUb_inHZUG-DYu2iXWSHOd_XrH2JVzGmQOOFDrdD7Mi1I67QEVngqW6KxeACpJeBwoAl/s1600/Red+Fox+sleeping+Feb+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGJeUYft2j-Bd07BuIEQDtsV5TgA_dibwGoE_2O36m00P0inlE0PTVOlbFBn75d65Wf0P_gMccUb_inHZUG-DYu2iXWSHOd_XrH2JVzGmQOOFDrdD7Mi1I67QEVngqW6KxeACpJeBwoAl/s640/Red+Fox+sleeping+Feb+17.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Red Fox, Southeastern Saskatchewan, Feb 2018. Credit: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A week later, we had just left home for church and as we crested the first hill we spotted a coyote running across the field. There we were on the hill, with the sight of our house behind us, and a coyote to our 10 o'clock, which meant he wasn't a half mile from our house. I zoomed in to get the shot, and then had to crop it further to get this grainy image.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSlIQ4PuDjXJGRBJ4H8EDj559_FuXAGivnmTR8csfaXKqi3GD0seLf4Sp89rIGnSF7ojpJgKdLwQ9BpPbOKgJfF3FdRSRYT_3pD7uUADuKtJ2BmobLRnhjrcAv4-cb6KquaNtbEYfArVx/s1600/Coyote+full+Feb+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSlIQ4PuDjXJGRBJ4H8EDj559_FuXAGivnmTR8csfaXKqi3GD0seLf4Sp89rIGnSF7ojpJgKdLwQ9BpPbOKgJfF3FdRSRYT_3pD7uUADuKtJ2BmobLRnhjrcAv4-cb6KquaNtbEYfArVx/s640/Coyote+full+Feb+25.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Coyote, RM Montmartre, SK, Feb 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the same day, we spotted four Mule Deer while driving home after church. This first image appears to show a healthy, pregnant doe.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_79lRU3xclPNoKJqoz22mlEC-iIZQ9yPg_nExmWzjC3_w-cUT2xoN8Qzs081X52pKUpsYR_XXXNyfmJBCORxbWbkwsfRdN6UfGdSDamim0VZ6tigUj8XXmxZ9FABwAl17aSQsLLoUseQc/s1600/Mule+Deer+Pregnant+full+Feb+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_79lRU3xclPNoKJqoz22mlEC-iIZQ9yPg_nExmWzjC3_w-cUT2xoN8Qzs081X52pKUpsYR_XXXNyfmJBCORxbWbkwsfRdN6UfGdSDamim0VZ6tigUj8XXmxZ9FABwAl17aSQsLLoUseQc/s640/Mule+Deer+Pregnant+full+Feb+25.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mule Deer, RM 125 Chester, SK, Feb 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Within the same herd, there is a marked difference in the hair texture between her and the two in the next image, although I don't know if it's due to age, wind, or health, but these two have a scruffy look. I'm thinking they're younger because they don't have the elegance of the first doe, although all appear pregnant and/or well fed.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZ7HKrzmGzsVN-NruqV1QR1ZjW0_yWBKqUcJMsDKUT-nsIiS_-yJ7SE2OX8VexKoE9EtSlyz23xEmCW-wdNwQmck0D-YV6F01i_gNiUSsrLsTfXtGSNF1n4U0NDWBd2uYcr4Na_DqWXvc/s1600/Mule+Deer+Feb+25+full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZ7HKrzmGzsVN-NruqV1QR1ZjW0_yWBKqUcJMsDKUT-nsIiS_-yJ7SE2OX8VexKoE9EtSlyz23xEmCW-wdNwQmck0D-YV6F01i_gNiUSsrLsTfXtGSNF1n4U0NDWBd2uYcr4Na_DqWXvc/s640/Mule+Deer+Feb+25+full.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mule Deer, RM 125 Chester, SK, Feb 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the final day of February, Nelson spotted this Moose crossing the road ahead of him and had time to pull over while it lumbered into the bush. He captured this shot of the young bull who was wary, but didn't rush headlong into the cover like some do.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1quHV1S5NsPt0m_R1qZPbteze-_B4QMGfa7DBPHiVr3yZwZltyUqAHAZZtjMsY3pmFiuku96rhTLVSIScH5OCmgnfo7XKiGInZmjx8kOmMhdg8UkBb54uchHs7a2eLo57Leol7h5o1Npv/s1600/Moose+in+bush+Feb+28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1quHV1S5NsPt0m_R1qZPbteze-_B4QMGfa7DBPHiVr3yZwZltyUqAHAZZtjMsY3pmFiuku96rhTLVSIScH5OCmgnfo7XKiGInZmjx8kOmMhdg8UkBb54uchHs7a2eLo57Leol7h5o1Npv/s640/Moose+in+bush+Feb+28.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Moose, Southeastern Saskatchewan, Feb 2018. Credit: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As Nelson zoomed in, he caught sight of the protruding antler buds and took this great shot. This is the first time we've captured a bull moose at this stage of life.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXgMxl_M6Q1Sti3IKKktsIjHoYuJXoGwWQn4pi6QffKk_eBU2grbEVUYKKE4o9xvFbWCWpisqYRUM5BXfPerTeAx5ahCmHHZRMa-5m5z4tWJKLfrqjmG2H3rM4ECTPcp-RTCLu3xUb2VS/s1600/Moose+Antler+buds+Feb+28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXgMxl_M6Q1Sti3IKKktsIjHoYuJXoGwWQn4pi6QffKk_eBU2grbEVUYKKE4o9xvFbWCWpisqYRUM5BXfPerTeAx5ahCmHHZRMa-5m5z4tWJKLfrqjmG2H3rM4ECTPcp-RTCLu3xUb2VS/s640/Moose+Antler+buds+Feb+28.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Moose, Southeastern Saskatchewan, Feb 2018. Credit: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Images and Pins of the above photos and more </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">of the wildlife we saw in February</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">can be </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">found on our Pinterest boards:</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/anitamaedraper/photos-wildlife/"><span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Photos: Wildlife</span></a></div>
<a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/anitamaedraper/photos-birds/"><span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.75pt;">Photos: Birds </span></a><br />
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Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-26804401198490525402018-03-03T13:58:00.000-06:002018-04-12T14:03:21.567-06:00Bird Watch February<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Nelson started off our February 2018 bird watching competition on the 1st by bringing home this shot of a Downy Woodpecker female. He said it caught his eye in flight and he was able to follow it to a small copse of trees where he took the photo.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWu467bzk_WdKofPZ0PnlCyogfg3gaY5n9Iklh1QIhxjW4XlRElsEET5xsGRrZc6Tqn1mhGnc96iygeyMzLTzGgn4UvRWnPVnheJTLGxo8Y3_PR0Gp3cL-Q126J5W-pTTi0N-8mHpfQ31/s1600/1+Downy+Woodpecker+Feb+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWu467bzk_WdKofPZ0PnlCyogfg3gaY5n9Iklh1QIhxjW4XlRElsEET5xsGRrZc6Tqn1mhGnc96iygeyMzLTzGgn4UvRWnPVnheJTLGxo8Y3_PR0Gp3cL-Q126J5W-pTTi0N-8mHpfQ31/s640/1+Downy+Woodpecker+Feb+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Downy Woodpecker, Southeastern Saskatchewan, Feb 2018. Credit: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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A few days later, I caught this Downy Woodpecker male perched among the frost-covered axils, or flower buds, of our Siberian Elms. When I look at this image, I think of apple blossoms instead of frost though.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Downy Woodpecker Male, RM Montmartre, SK, Feb 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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If you're ever driving down a prairie road, I'm sure you've seen those small birds that seem to wait until you get to them before flying out of the way. In the winter around here they're usually Snow Buntings, with Horned Larks coming in the spring. This year the Horned Larks didn't migrate, so we had flocks of both. Although similar in size and shape, the colouring is very different . For example, the Horned Lark has a distinctive yellow throat that I like to compare to an egg yolk or tennis ball when describing it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FNzac0OqnnFKsJI-Ev1ohUCOYHAZlhpaRR1XUre7XJ7s2X6IZN52d8o-RlwtBsOWa_GgaprWtlDjShTX1H4izXA9oyjzBYBfYF-XAqiiJDWMETHSPByb4DS438CgqZVdUVmM9G-sdLgu/s1600/2+Horned+Lark+Feb+9+full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FNzac0OqnnFKsJI-Ev1ohUCOYHAZlhpaRR1XUre7XJ7s2X6IZN52d8o-RlwtBsOWa_GgaprWtlDjShTX1H4izXA9oyjzBYBfYF-XAqiiJDWMETHSPByb4DS438CgqZVdUVmM9G-sdLgu/s640/2+Horned+Lark+Feb+9+full.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Horned Lark, RM Montmartre, SK, Feb 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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I was quite surprised to find a Horned Lark in one of the images of Sharpies I was checking for this post. Although you can't see the yellow throat much due to the low-light level on that day, the image gives a good indication of the size difference between the Horned Lark and the Sharp-tailed Grouse.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBz8qI-mOBYPGc9TAl89ebmX7Fh5FETn94qDvZ6LxkT372TfPF_BKDtEClc4y4XLsAH4B0S2ov8_TVh1ZS69MIZLxYT0cDelKMQXf11fIj9yRVuVq1hQW2kz4N_o6AwR_9ZmReI1SAU9KG/s1600/3+Grouse+and+Lark+Sizing+Feb+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="888" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBz8qI-mOBYPGc9TAl89ebmX7Fh5FETn94qDvZ6LxkT372TfPF_BKDtEClc4y4XLsAH4B0S2ov8_TVh1ZS69MIZLxYT0cDelKMQXf11fIj9yRVuVq1hQW2kz4N_o6AwR_9ZmReI1SAU9KG/s640/3+Grouse+and+Lark+Sizing+Feb+25.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sharp-tailed Grouse, RM Montmartre, SK, Feb 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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Those other birds you often find on the prairie roads are Snow Buntings. I was pleased when Nelson managed to take a photo of a couple of them because it's not often we see them sitting still. I believe the photo was taken either through his windshield, or reflected through his side-view mirror.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTP8KigHSbruiUzoB_bI-jbgU8CHTPvjMSyG_0V_TqrrWIa-UUuAoZBeja3GnlrtRxL5b112KupD3slZgWipqHylPC_U4exJuDMYnTmU1QOTgkv0ZxEpPGyVOAM2y9cP8SjEudCZF4rhv/s1600/4+Snow+Bunting+full+Feb+27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1390" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTP8KigHSbruiUzoB_bI-jbgU8CHTPvjMSyG_0V_TqrrWIa-UUuAoZBeja3GnlrtRxL5b112KupD3slZgWipqHylPC_U4exJuDMYnTmU1QOTgkv0ZxEpPGyVOAM2y9cP8SjEudCZF4rhv/s640/4+Snow+Bunting+full+Feb+27.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Snow Buntings, Southeastern Saskatchewan, Feb 2018. Credit: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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Our resident sparrows hang around the Cotoneaster bush close to the mixed bird feeder when they're not sleeping in the barn loft. They like the cotoneaster because it offers protection in case a hawk or such comes marauding. If I find the sparrows scattered around the yard like sentinels, I know they're staking out their territory, so I grab my camera and check for visiting birds.<br />
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But if the sparrows are clustered together in the poplar or apple trees, I know that danger lurks. This was the case when I saw the House Sparrows perched in the Weeping Birch. I grabbed my camera and scooted outside, but only caught the barest glance at a small hawk before it passed over our large spruce trees. A few minutes later, the sparrows were back at the feeder and all was calm once again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYVS0dl8zXkOjeMINV878fFjgOAX5rr92f8GTGmZTxqDpSsIYG5AiNk2OI7ossfvNXrBUuo99eFoDXYxO42DAraabzDLNjOPsgDye1r5b-eTRqdf6NUYFkt1J4ye3COkJVQIHzGRYCIKr/s1600/5+House+Sparrows+Birch+Feb+8+full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYVS0dl8zXkOjeMINV878fFjgOAX5rr92f8GTGmZTxqDpSsIYG5AiNk2OI7ossfvNXrBUuo99eFoDXYxO42DAraabzDLNjOPsgDye1r5b-eTRqdf6NUYFkt1J4ye3COkJVQIHzGRYCIKr/s640/5+House+Sparrows+Birch+Feb+8+full.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">House Sparrows in Weeping Birch, RM Montmartre, SK, Feb 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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I've often read and heard that suet feeders help the birds get through the winter because of they gain energy from the suet. This was our first year for this suet feeder which we hung outside my office winder. I must say I was quite disappointed when our resident chickadee only sought out its treasures once in awhile, and the redpolls ignored it completely. Some days the redpolls would eat the swelling axils of the Siberian Elms, acting like binge eaters who wouldn't get another meal for weeks.<br />
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That all changed on Feb 21 with warming temps when the redpolls discovered the suet feeder. It seems our birds prefer to peck at the softened suet instead of chipping away at it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjbwkNS42JjwIxYNSSSEswpRSrJ0HNkxHF5hgtGledN4dzG6oF5vqIzSBziuGHH3s9yyUY7S3k3Cf02uKXhiue0TzLMKtpcGrEnxPBRAUMAAovo2yTlG7XtXEvJyPJucB3GHtIHr_dEb7/s1600/7+Common+Redpoll+Suet+Feeder+Full+Feb+26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="816" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjbwkNS42JjwIxYNSSSEswpRSrJ0HNkxHF5hgtGledN4dzG6oF5vqIzSBziuGHH3s9yyUY7S3k3Cf02uKXhiue0TzLMKtpcGrEnxPBRAUMAAovo2yTlG7XtXEvJyPJucB3GHtIHr_dEb7/s640/7+Common+Redpoll+Suet+Feeder+Full+Feb+26.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Redpoll, RM Montmartre, SK, Feb 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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As for our resident Black-capped Chicadees, they hold their own where the suet feeder is concerned, after all, they found it first. They also make regular trips to the Niger, or Nyjer, seed feeder and then hide the seed under bark and in tree crevices for cold weather days. The chickadees also chip away at the peanut wreath, the only bird we've seen use it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvF8G8-jCVk8-EdsosyZ3UPpz9yone5Vn6O2p5aTIiQBty7CLgYSrdNA2MoyDnzDAcDtxPviGGXx3tiqvpFL4oDsFPZxH2osANTGTFEwLnPP4OsdlfvT6OQQ3_Fe_YVWFmp4mfBGOzXDM/s1600/6+BC+Chickadee+in+peanuts+full+Feb+26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1339" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvF8G8-jCVk8-EdsosyZ3UPpz9yone5Vn6O2p5aTIiQBty7CLgYSrdNA2MoyDnzDAcDtxPviGGXx3tiqvpFL4oDsFPZxH2osANTGTFEwLnPP4OsdlfvT6OQQ3_Fe_YVWFmp4mfBGOzXDM/s640/6+BC+Chickadee+in+peanuts+full+Feb+26.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-capped Chickadee on Peanut Wreath, RM Montmartre, SK, Feb 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</td></tr>
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So far no blue jays have found our peanut offering, but we'll keep watching for them.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;">Images and Pins of the above photos and more of the wildlife we saw in February can be </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;">found on our Pinterest boards:</span><br />
<a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/anitamaedraper/photos-birds/" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 9.75pt;">Photos: Birds </a><br />
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<span lang="en-CA" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.75pt;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/anitamaedraper/photos-wildlife/">Photos: Wildlife</a></span><br />
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<br />Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-73748028547150131742018-02-23T10:40:00.000-06:002018-04-11T11:55:44.629-06:00Wildlife Watch January<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8MRgPab01ts82gLppmg14LJ9-HDxpjxfVOogDqVKHKpFs0JiOxtY-w1GWvvX4GAqDZcN1IosWCRM8-ycG72e4SalvtVkOUvqbde9tRjFZp3o8WOg8gtVoPJOfzVgbF312AKHjAjnMrq3/s1600/Wildlife+Watch+Header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="895" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8MRgPab01ts82gLppmg14LJ9-HDxpjxfVOogDqVKHKpFs0JiOxtY-w1GWvvX4GAqDZcN1IosWCRM8-ycG72e4SalvtVkOUvqbde9tRjFZp3o8WOg8gtVoPJOfzVgbF312AKHjAjnMrq3/s400/Wildlife+Watch+Header.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The year 2018 started off with bitter temperatures where everything on the prairies tucked down tight except for browsing wildlife and people with things to do and places to go. Nelson was the first of the family to spot something other than <a href="http://anitamaedraper.blogspot.ca/2018/01/bird-watch-january.html" target="_blank">birds </a>when he caught sight of these Mule Deer trying to hide in some brush on January 2nd.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDURG7fya4jfjaZJNxxJnnfd8p5_e4fobZpND92Kl1PnV49jBZ84I8aaeYUg4PU6EQSFhqxLxKbOPVTBRzCGem2oBg7kHPn7i6IB-97jYedumP0f927tn2zac8A3q3V51znTxDkXrMNVK/s1600/Mule+Deer+Jan+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDURG7fya4jfjaZJNxxJnnfd8p5_e4fobZpND92Kl1PnV49jBZ84I8aaeYUg4PU6EQSFhqxLxKbOPVTBRzCGem2oBg7kHPn7i6IB-97jYedumP0f927tn2zac8A3q3V51znTxDkXrMNVK/s640/Mule+Deer+Jan+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Mule
Deer, Southeastern Saskatchewan, January 2018. Credit: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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On January 7th, Nelson saw the white flash of White-tailed Deer bounding across a stubble field and stopped to get this shot.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpqyQVjPWQHZeqzroc5H1eNXodAuIio5Ws2p0YtXD82n2G3O0Cp_kCxiricVTEhiOs2Yg9B0jezQnSvqmS9Dj4EzYc2KT23tKxH2paPpPkCVpSW57sFUKzf42fdj9GTNYz__5nojpibOB/s1600/White-tailed+Deer+full+Jan+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpqyQVjPWQHZeqzroc5H1eNXodAuIio5Ws2p0YtXD82n2G3O0Cp_kCxiricVTEhiOs2Yg9B0jezQnSvqmS9Dj4EzYc2KT23tKxH2paPpPkCVpSW57sFUKzf42fdj9GTNYz__5nojpibOB/s320/White-tailed+Deer+full+Jan+7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">White-tailed
Deer, Southeastern Saskatchewan, January 2018. Credit: Nelson Draper</span></div>
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As posted in <a href="http://anitamaedraper.blogspot.ca/2018/01/bird-watch-january.html" target="_blank">Bird Watch January</a>, I was only spotting my usual sparrows, redpolls, and chickadees that stayed the winter at home and it wasn't until I headed to town on January 9 that I saw 2 ravens and a <a href="http://anitamaedraper.blogspot.ca/2018/02/owl-sightings.html" target="_blank">Great Horned Owl</a>. Not only did I see the owl on my way back to Draper's Acres, but I also saw this Mule Deer hiding behind a slough in the middle of a stubble field. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42I23ynC8DXykIa0r2HNnkjQodIlHGOOrDpzTH7W7L1Ww3siGwGO2pX-2FyJFHDTnj_w8CeTcBurCju_ukKtP5isfs9O277OsGt1pn9drwyF95uLD1VBSL_QIPZ8V5x_1VL6GejWQTE4c/s1600/White-tailed+Deer+Jan+9+full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42I23ynC8DXykIa0r2HNnkjQodIlHGOOrDpzTH7W7L1Ww3siGwGO2pX-2FyJFHDTnj_w8CeTcBurCju_ukKtP5isfs9O277OsGt1pn9drwyF95uLD1VBSL_QIPZ8V5x_1VL6GejWQTE4c/s640/White-tailed+Deer+Jan+9+full.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Mule
Deer, RM Montmartre, SK, January 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</div>
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A few days later, Nelson motioned me to look at the security camera. There was a moose right outside our front door. Well, okay, he was 30 feet from the steps, but still...</div>
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We tried taking pics of the moose through the windows without any success, so out of desperation, I squeaked open the front door and ducked my head and camera out into the bitter cold. Nary a sight of it. </div>
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"Where is it?" I stage-whispered over to Nelson. </div>
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"Right there, by the tree," he answered from the kitchen.</div>
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I stepped out and aimed my camera at the still-lit Christmas tree, but couldn't see anything beyond it except tracks in the snow. Since Nels could no longer see it either, we locked up for the night and went to replay the security camera footage. It looks confused, doesn't it? </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlNwg4PHpdFC-FnEPMgBa1Ze6bjQV_mWryJuViye3hiHkRGCrfoyGDvO8UHqfLXTvcoQMZbSbsxC2BEpxM98Bw5StET1TNqJLPNkz2ZAp1BwxLtshfLeYTmKtzVqUQJZOD89F1URO1Sn2z/s1600/Moose+screenshot+Jan+11+full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="850" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlNwg4PHpdFC-FnEPMgBa1Ze6bjQV_mWryJuViye3hiHkRGCrfoyGDvO8UHqfLXTvcoQMZbSbsxC2BEpxM98Bw5StET1TNqJLPNkz2ZAp1BwxLtshfLeYTmKtzVqUQJZOD89F1URO1Sn2z/s640/Moose+screenshot+Jan+11+full.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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Moose
captured on security camera, January 2018</div>
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The next morning I went out for my usual photo foray and immortalized the moose tracks before they got covered by more snow or even melted away. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTjaDQBsp_cRqiq6yuOaER0-w62ezrETktoD71rkp0oN6Qw8zfyQlRA3oLu2d83YJdDXuRPRBdN17kRmKHuFen2VHdTq6gyg7PgBpt3pceEbLHuTL5SArtrlUEmq8-KK5qYm6De5fAykk/s1600/Moose+Tracks+through+yard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTjaDQBsp_cRqiq6yuOaER0-w62ezrETktoD71rkp0oN6Qw8zfyQlRA3oLu2d83YJdDXuRPRBdN17kRmKHuFen2VHdTq6gyg7PgBpt3pceEbLHuTL5SArtrlUEmq8-KK5qYm6De5fAykk/s640/Moose+Tracks+through+yard.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Moose
Tracks in Snow, Draper's Acres, Montmartre, SK, January 2018. Credit: Anita Mae
Draper</div>
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That was January 12th and later that day as I headed back to the farm after dropping off some parcels at the post office, I took a route further to the west. I don't often go this way in the winter because it involves a couple of steep valleys and I'm unfamiliar with how they react to snow drifts and ice. But it hadn't snowed in several days, a weird January thaw was on its way, and I wanted to see what was out there. </div>
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I didn't see anything driving through the first smaller valley, and I didn't think there was anything while driving through the second valley, either, but as I drove up the side, I spotted movement to the right at the corner of my eye. With the impression that I'd seen a deer, I climaxed the ridge and then turned around at the next approach. I drove back down the into the valley, confirming the presence of several deer on the west side of the hill, as well as several more at the bottom. Apparently, they'd waited until I passed before coming out of hiding. Wanting to take pics in a safe area, I continued through and up to the top of the other side where I could safely turn around. I then drove back down to the valley bottom where I pulled over onto the shoulder. </div>
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Surprisingly, 3 deer stayed on the east side of the road where they searched for food on the frozen bottom of the dried slough. The image you see here is one of the three, clearly showing that it's a Mule Deer from the size of its ears and the colour of its tail. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKGMYzTXwfnyEz3OU6ojn8QeoamaHuzc2lVI7ICQpBhP0arnpqUF1Gba4vdWlr5wrUXj-Y8cTIwC95_rRrTisPRd4JHJLMdHq1FUjxvVAPaHQ-OMVM5F5wu-tvZ697KYqymnSBZzMW1uo/s1600/Mule+Deer+full+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKGMYzTXwfnyEz3OU6ojn8QeoamaHuzc2lVI7ICQpBhP0arnpqUF1Gba4vdWlr5wrUXj-Y8cTIwC95_rRrTisPRd4JHJLMdHq1FUjxvVAPaHQ-OMVM5F5wu-tvZ697KYqymnSBZzMW1uo/s640/Mule+Deer+full+12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Mule
Deer, RM Montmartre, SK, January 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</div>
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To the west beside a large body of water were more deer trying to hide in some scrub brush that was sparse enough to show parts of them, yet thick enough to keep me from getting a good shot. Between them and me was a Game Preserve sign that stated no hunting was permitted, which could explain why they weren't all running away. The last time I was in the area shore birds caught my attention, so between the birds and the deer, I'll check back this way again. </div>
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With sunset approaching, I headed out of the valley, stopping only to photograph the Mule Deer that had first caught my eye. Can you see them in this next photo?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAR5r6WBEt5Qao9swOrxyFoWz-VSvHsS4S1jvfDCIvOEUhG6TUYtk0hWF-yqVoj7hfzwTbjzqUmlT5YJ-Nw16qE4RS8nwgmwcZ4XBjuj6-XU7rnnvlGvV1SET74JGodrw5mUEix1GJDnj/s640/Mule+Deer+hill+full+Jan+12.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
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Mule
Deer, RM Montmartre, SK, January 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</div>
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I thought that was the end of my blessings for the day, yet as I drove on with my head moving left to right to catch any movement, I spotted several dark objects on the shore of another frozen body of water. Under the colourful rays of a the setting sun, I pulled off the road onto an approach and scrutinized the landscape to the west.</div>
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Coyote Pack on Shore, RM Montmartre, SK, January 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</div>
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Do you see the white snow bank in the middle of the image? That's where I saw dark spots and out here on the prairies, a dark spot on the snow is a good indication of wildlife. So I pulled out my camera and zoomed in, thinking I'd see large rocks or something. Instead I found a coyote pack.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Coyote
Pack on Shore, RM Montmartre, SK, January 2018. Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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There were 4 coyotes in total, but only three would fit in my long-range shot. Any closer and the image gets blocky. One coyote left the pack and headed across the ice, while the other coyotes tucked their heads into their legs and looked like the rocks I first imagined. It was time to move on. </div>
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I took a bunch of sunset pics as I drove home, each one showing bokeh spots from the dust, ice crystals and whatnot attained from driving down prairie roads with an open window in the middle of January. </div>
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Sunset,
RM Montmartre, SK, January 2018. Credit:
Anita Mae Draper</div>
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I'll end our January Wildlife Watch with a video Nelson took on the way to church on January 28th. Although JJ also took video of the same moose with his phone, the quality was inferior with blocky images compared to what you see here. Please remember this was taken with with a cell phone and not our usual cameras. </div>
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Sorry if the video of the moose didn't work for you. Sometimes it does and others...shrug.</div>
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Other posts that show what we've seen so far in 2018 are:</div>
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<a href="http://anitamaedraper.blogspot.ca/2018/01/bird-watch-january.html" target="_blank">Bird Watch January</a></div>
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<a href="http://anitamaedraper.blogspot.ca/2018/02/owl-sightings.html" target="_blank">Owl Sightings</a></div>
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Pins of our bird and wildlife photos can be found on the following Pinterest boards:<br />
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/anitamaedraper/photos-wildlife/" target="_blank">Photos: Wildlife</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/anitamaedraper/photos-birds/">Photos: Birds </a><br />
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Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-735007562152318432018-02-20T18:08:00.000-06:002018-04-03T14:09:45.526-06:00Owl Sightings <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7Nd4qAG3edaiqefZwRYgjTf3p3jx3I6RiSqEnw-hG77TkqcC-Cia3jTm0B5Rfcy4Y21B0GC7jr7oPa3RBgh1FsxOy1Eg4FpQP0QqSbSGFc7iDYC-46bwAI0Lpw5m6UUNjj0YOjMImreC/s1600/Bird+Watching+Header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="895" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7Nd4qAG3edaiqefZwRYgjTf3p3jx3I6RiSqEnw-hG77TkqcC-Cia3jTm0B5Rfcy4Y21B0GC7jr7oPa3RBgh1FsxOy1Eg4FpQP0QqSbSGFc7iDYC-46bwAI0Lpw5m6UUNjj0YOjMImreC/s400/Bird+Watching+Header.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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On January 9th while on my way to town, I caught sight of two ravens land near an owl in a copse of trees. After pulling to the side of the road, I reached for my camera in time to see the ravens fly at the Great Horned Owl as if trying to scare it off. After taking a few fly-pasts, they settled in a nearby tree.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbp9XUbLbSlFAfREqFH7WYzTOdj2mbdQafnZX842EHKfm16ViyLmJvVaQ6tEnO0QzVyCORRdWeMMrhQvbfDKzWH2lRiXap9coq_nMv0xliZOkCdB8Gn7-1zL7gvFT1wB62i09f1gkpVtP4/s1600/GH+Owl+%2526+ravens+full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbp9XUbLbSlFAfREqFH7WYzTOdj2mbdQafnZX842EHKfm16ViyLmJvVaQ6tEnO0QzVyCORRdWeMMrhQvbfDKzWH2lRiXap9coq_nMv0xliZOkCdB8Gn7-1zL7gvFT1wB62i09f1gkpVtP4/s640/GH+Owl+%2526+ravens+full.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Great Horned Owl and Common Ravens, South of Montmartre, SK, January 2018. Source: Anita Mae Draper</td></tr>
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A while later, after finishing my errands and heading back to the farm, I pulled over when I passed the same copse of trees and can only assume it was the same Great Horned Owl perched high, with nary a raven in sight.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQxUAYSE38f-ER0yLyzxNEnlwLufi3bbYj37NI3UAwj-mT6JCCIGoHja_yw6Y6nSk6W5cLr-nzICPA-4salcyid08GnO-qvi-v9GF3vSM5A87Odd-zzRCxzCZt7ldBsPPBVfAyOPMHAuG/s1600/Great+Horned+Owl+screenshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="701" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQxUAYSE38f-ER0yLyzxNEnlwLufi3bbYj37NI3UAwj-mT6JCCIGoHja_yw6Y6nSk6W5cLr-nzICPA-4salcyid08GnO-qvi-v9GF3vSM5A87Odd-zzRCxzCZt7ldBsPPBVfAyOPMHAuG/s640/Great+Horned+Owl+screenshot.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Great Horned Owl in Trees, South of Montmartre, SK, January 2018. Source: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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At least it look like an owl, but I had to zoom in to confirm it. He gave me the eye and then flew down to a lower branch. Due to the distance and wind pushing air currents between my camera and the owl my photos aren't the best, but they're clear enough to see his ears tufts pinned back. I'm not sure about owls, but in a horse it means he's getting ticked off.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Great Horned Owl, South of Montmartre, SK, January 2018. Source: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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On January 18th while out and about Nelson also caught sight of a Great Horned Owl, although he couldn't get a clear image could considering the wind and low light level of the early morning.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJBmfR-ttLNin4hvZIFImRItZeUc9Ac6Ox91BdtQK9aOBeeLWSq4KQVKwpGqCqMMcQDNWA3NBhMP3jJfYbeqbOLj_lV_OV2J6NZedkXOOQxL3eXnMA_hUUyzAVOUuEg9spdnOZ8WBIhP1/s1600/Great+Horned+Owl+full+Jan+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJBmfR-ttLNin4hvZIFImRItZeUc9Ac6Ox91BdtQK9aOBeeLWSq4KQVKwpGqCqMMcQDNWA3NBhMP3jJfYbeqbOLj_lV_OV2J6NZedkXOOQxL3eXnMA_hUUyzAVOUuEg9spdnOZ8WBIhP1/s640/Great+Horned+Owl+full+Jan+18.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Great Horned Owl, South of Montmartre, SK, January 2018. Source: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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People are spotting a record number of Snowy Owls this winter of 2017-2018, especially around the Saskatoon area of the province. I haven't seen any this winter, yet Nelson has sighted a few while out and about, including this one on January 31st. It was out in a field and near the end of his camera's focal range, but it's the first one he's been able to capture as proof that they're in our area, too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRM_z6c9FHNNuh2ZFhxqIJSywvToYvAWcOFIvTH0k20_eL-IirzJX2llJFOkgHrGoOTb6mAtWDNRS-48msOgmreFhbutl-03upeEpOCNPaDPQBwI0bRTfFnU8glVb6DMwamgoOkDMzZf0/s1600/Snowy+Owl+full+Jan+31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRM_z6c9FHNNuh2ZFhxqIJSywvToYvAWcOFIvTH0k20_eL-IirzJX2llJFOkgHrGoOTb6mAtWDNRS-48msOgmreFhbutl-03upeEpOCNPaDPQBwI0bRTfFnU8glVb6DMwamgoOkDMzZf0/s640/Snowy+Owl+full+Jan+31.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Snowy Owl, Southeastern Saskatchewan, January 2018</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">. Source: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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And then on February 1st, he managed to photograph this Snowy Owl female on a hydro pole in the same Southeastern Sask area as the one above in the field. Perhaps it was even the same one.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgrRA2kBRoyNPuoqUvr1_AC7vKoFAqeiWfAXb0hxHThnBBYmztm2LXwyUbnZ2_xkXfzJhkfmnxGMYnAE4BNHwupRQnEfyiShlPPUgI398ZgfpeWNHKwzK0yIBWD6va3reOjJSF_930tUY/s1600/Snowy+Owl+female+Feb+1+full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgrRA2kBRoyNPuoqUvr1_AC7vKoFAqeiWfAXb0hxHThnBBYmztm2LXwyUbnZ2_xkXfzJhkfmnxGMYnAE4BNHwupRQnEfyiShlPPUgI398ZgfpeWNHKwzK0yIBWD6va3reOjJSF_930tUY/s640/Snowy+Owl+female+Feb+1+full.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Snowy Owl female, Southeastern Saskatchewan, February 2018</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">. Source: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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Since we're talking owls, I'll show you pics of a Snowy Owl male, that I saw back in Nov 2015 but never posted on this blog yet. The owl was very cooperative and turned his head completely around so I could take some pics. In the first photo he's looking back, so we see the back of his head...<br />
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Snowy
Owl, South of Montmartre, SK, November
2015. Source: Anita Mae Draper</div>
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and then he turns and tells me to leave...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZymtbulbBm-hhEtEbrLt1R57imlwZFHaxJVkpw20uVRmo1pc_ENJhqYPGo6aZdLJcQ-9UPUEU8ItmTrQ3ptW2tfZn3XjhoXHCpCL37vSLy-xj33E8RrYoTRMLNi26Zshevg4-o59yZEN/s1600/Snowy+Owl+Nov+8%252C+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="1600" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZymtbulbBm-hhEtEbrLt1R57imlwZFHaxJVkpw20uVRmo1pc_ENJhqYPGo6aZdLJcQ-9UPUEU8ItmTrQ3ptW2tfZn3XjhoXHCpCL37vSLy-xj33E8RrYoTRMLNi26Zshevg4-o59yZEN/s640/Snowy+Owl+Nov+8%252C+2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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Snowy
Owl, South of Montmartre, SK, November
2015. Source: Anita Mae Draper</div>
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If you like owls, you might like our post on the <a href="https://anitamaedraper.blogspot.ca/2017/08/nature-watch-great-horned-owl.html" target="_blank">Great Horned Owl</a> who came to visit outside my office window last August.<br />
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<span lang="en-CA">Pins for the above images in this post can be viewed on my <a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/anitamaedraper/photos-birds/" target="_blank">Photos: Birds </a></span><span lang="en-US">Pinterest board.</span></div>
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<br />Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-86320067599822718272018-01-31T15:00:00.000-06:002018-02-24T10:37:22.654-06:00Bird Watch January<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvf5ArAJCx5POLBN0XEMv_jzsn1nJFL_ToBP83WFzRtpGwjToSqRgOmRHnJAGivYee-fnwiq7cXpLtAPqQTztgIqrWhgzWOa5dFV5u_a3ndpDtm22Y0BEmj4yhUOowq9d9tHykCkPvEBxP/s1600/Bird+Watching+Header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="895" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvf5ArAJCx5POLBN0XEMv_jzsn1nJFL_ToBP83WFzRtpGwjToSqRgOmRHnJAGivYee-fnwiq7cXpLtAPqQTztgIqrWhgzWOa5dFV5u_a3ndpDtm22Y0BEmj4yhUOowq9d9tHykCkPvEBxP/s400/Bird+Watching+Header.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Although Saskatchewan's winter weather is miserable this year due to the bitter and prolonged cold, we experienced more wildlife at Draper's Acres than we've ever noticed in January.<br />
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For instance, on January 4th I spotted this Sharp-shinned Hawk perched at the corner of the shelterbelt where he was looking out over the field and slough. I took a couple pics through the window, but my camera wanted to focus on the bare branches and not on the hawk on the other side of them. I returned to my office and was surprised several minutes later, when he appeared outside my office window where he perched about ten feet from the suet feeder. Smart bird. Yet I was relieved when he left empty-clawed about fifteen minutes later.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGszI33kMdAcYveqeMemxEMTcNPYwVDkEWdKFuZdt6alvyXrlWQ_-fFqYFoSSQZgVFXawhHpBFDHRdPr4QQNe6QI6z0k6NUuR03oQPRSJik4FRd1VTMWuxv00Tk0X1sXQT13WnW7u8To8_/s1600/Sharp-shinned+Hawk+full.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGszI33kMdAcYveqeMemxEMTcNPYwVDkEWdKFuZdt6alvyXrlWQ_-fFqYFoSSQZgVFXawhHpBFDHRdPr4QQNe6QI6z0k6NUuR03oQPRSJik4FRd1VTMWuxv00Tk0X1sXQT13WnW7u8To8_/s640/Sharp-shinned+Hawk+full.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharp-shinned Hawk, Saskatchewan, Canada, January 2018. Source: Anita Mae Draper</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQPxc5Cbw2KGXoPeWUkfb_CDOVAL8n-GamcyCvA1uDXlNdvBbUT28GOHOsBatoUbuywJ8-oPVdtZmddzV39WVr5uu8ww55k4sxihnY1ueZ71jajQiolC73vZtWKaCEZtq3R44TEON70tH/s1600/Sharp-shinned+Hawk+front.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQPxc5Cbw2KGXoPeWUkfb_CDOVAL8n-GamcyCvA1uDXlNdvBbUT28GOHOsBatoUbuywJ8-oPVdtZmddzV39WVr5uu8ww55k4sxihnY1ueZ71jajQiolC73vZtWKaCEZtq3R44TEON70tH/s640/Sharp-shinned+Hawk+front.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharp-shinned Hawk, Saskatchewan, Canada, January 2018. Source: Anita Mae Draper</td></tr>
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This year we've been blessed with 3 resident Black-capped Chickadees and half a dozen Common Redpolls along with our 18 or so House Sparrows. The sparrows are very territorial and kept setting up guards all around the yard when the chickadees and redpolls first came along, but the newcomers were very persistant.<br />
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The favourite food of the House Sparrows seems to be the regular mixed bird seed which they share with each other until it nears the bottom of the feeder. Then they become sparring sparrows.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Rvaz0hB_suXUcF1qKq3SeDtokTLUQz8Q80TqKRT6kEgsmj2QPE2IFPnldQliQYUQ7WoM7BZPiXzflgUR51CYIqU6dieNccuJvOsxErddJhMjOjqildlxrrqV_mbsywMWmujrhLUMS63M/s1600/Sparring+House+Sparrows+full+16th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1390" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Rvaz0hB_suXUcF1qKq3SeDtokTLUQz8Q80TqKRT6kEgsmj2QPE2IFPnldQliQYUQ7WoM7BZPiXzflgUR51CYIqU6dieNccuJvOsxErddJhMjOjqildlxrrqV_mbsywMWmujrhLUMS63M/s640/Sparring+House+Sparrows+full+16th.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sparring House Sparrows, Saskatchewan, Canada, <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">January 2018</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">. Source: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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Common Redpolls are an exciting addition to our daily views. Previously, they've stopped by a couple times throughout the winter, but this year we see them in the Siberian Elm shelterbelts, poplars, and apple trees. Once in awhile they'll land near the sparrows, but their favourite feeder is filled with black sunflower-like niger seeds in the middle of the yard.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEied4o99usI1wVVIksrAet2LcrA5q4EV1iSInffQHLUq28wjXcfRB543MBbdQexmVS0DWB7sfPJwQw6hD4gJHwvTOl4i95XufRXqATyWdXGCDD-BqZB_Q6uLW5HLz28gfeWS8h5x7wVV_W6/s1600/Common+Redpoll+full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEied4o99usI1wVVIksrAet2LcrA5q4EV1iSInffQHLUq28wjXcfRB543MBbdQexmVS0DWB7sfPJwQw6hD4gJHwvTOl4i95XufRXqATyWdXGCDD-BqZB_Q6uLW5HLz28gfeWS8h5x7wVV_W6/s640/Common+Redpoll+full.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Common Redpoll, Male, Saskatchewan, Canada<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">, </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">January 2018</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">. Source: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Redpoll, Female, Saskatchewan, Canada<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">, </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">January 2018</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">. Source: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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The Black-capped Chickadees are a blessing as we love to walk outside and hear the familiar melody of this little winter bird. The chickadee is always on the move, either collecting seeds to hide, or looking for them when the niger feeder is empty. On inclement days it spends time digging bits of peanut from this wire feeder which makes me wonder if he's after the protein or oil content in them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxk45B0CszWjCU1ugvIa_wn4CeFfiHpR0eIGci_E6C-DWPFWCiPV8qaRWhR_NH_8jj0IL6zCBveJ5KJSXEv5xOxlBXWYQyCETAe3G1An7jVSznXF9GiB6YKeJtD4xkArS04muI_QUVyv6/s1600/Black-capped+Chickadee+full+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxk45B0CszWjCU1ugvIa_wn4CeFfiHpR0eIGci_E6C-DWPFWCiPV8qaRWhR_NH_8jj0IL6zCBveJ5KJSXEv5xOxlBXWYQyCETAe3G1An7jVSznXF9GiB6YKeJtD4xkArS04muI_QUVyv6/s640/Black-capped+Chickadee+full+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Black-capped Chickadee and Peanut Feeder, Saskatchewan, Canada<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">, </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">January 2018</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">. Source: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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The chickadees don't appear to like the suet feeder, but work at getting seeds out during the warmer days, supposedly when the suet is softer.<br />
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Black-billed Magpies are constant throughout the year and will make 2 or 3 nests in our yard during the summer. During the winter we'll see them every so often, but I thought it was wishful thinking to find one checking out the nests on January 16. I managed to get a nice shot as it flew from one nest to the other.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9BQlYhS7n2M-gkxgFAgmXS594BkEre8dzRvpg9IzeOWquAyT4HyrnSDlPcPqrkYB0KOPDBzhfI-gzyJ-PIqVwZAhshBHthrT0uEQ0_1QNBs_oVBwvVJZ7X4tJ7V8vPjTvnHoeExX6eQO/s1600/Black-billed+Magpie+flying+full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1390" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9BQlYhS7n2M-gkxgFAgmXS594BkEre8dzRvpg9IzeOWquAyT4HyrnSDlPcPqrkYB0KOPDBzhfI-gzyJ-PIqVwZAhshBHthrT0uEQ0_1QNBs_oVBwvVJZ7X4tJ7V8vPjTvnHoeExX6eQO/s640/Black-billed+Magpie+flying+full.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-billed Magpie in Flight, Saskatchewan, Canada<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">, </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">January 2018</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">. Source: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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This post only includes birds sighted at Draper's Acres during January 2018. Once past our fences, we spotted several owls and a flock of snow buntings as well as deer, moose, and coyotes.<br />
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Pins for the above images in this post can be viewed on my <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/anitamaedraper/photos-birds/">Photos: Birds</a> Pinterest board.<br />
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Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-24998207341228524622017-11-04T07:46:00.000-06:002017-11-05T08:25:53.606-06:00Canada Remembers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-4139730900553101672017-08-16T01:30:00.000-06:002017-09-23T10:12:44.336-06:00Nature Watch: Great Horned Owl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A few days ago, I walked into my office and was halfway to my desk when I spotted a Great Horned Owl looking in my window. I deked to the right to hide behind the drapes. A few seconds later, I leaned to the left and peered out to see if it was still there...it was leaning to the right peering back at me. <br /><br /> I snapped back from view and reached for my camera...but I'd left it in the living room! <br /><br />Since I didn't want to yell, I whipped out my phone and texted Nelson who was also in the house…<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Moments later I heard him padding down the hall. I motioned him to stop before he reached the door and jabbed my finger in the owl's direction. Nelson peered around the corner and his eyes widened. I stepped into view, took the camera, and clicked away at the owl. Behind me, I heard Nelson retreat, and then he returned and I heard him taking pics, too. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Great Horned Owl, Front View. Source: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxqqKCMMX57AcXfiYK5Wtrqsw9u7XuiMrr1HmnjbyWMggNNqU2MnYyUACHeTyzNh8BO-gD0DzysoXmL75dlYpfD0DwkEYETAAYFYzkIdWSzMSGCiU1npnisd8XzSeX8AijziGPCyJ9agI/s1600/Great+Horned+Owl+side+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxqqKCMMX57AcXfiYK5Wtrqsw9u7XuiMrr1HmnjbyWMggNNqU2MnYyUACHeTyzNh8BO-gD0DzysoXmL75dlYpfD0DwkEYETAAYFYzkIdWSzMSGCiU1npnisd8XzSeX8AijziGPCyJ9agI/s640/Great+Horned+Owl+side+view.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Great Horned Owl, Looking to side. Source: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
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owl looked around and at us for a minute or so, and then turned and hopped away
to another branch. The last photo of the owl looking back reminds me of a 1950s
chenille bedspread due to the unique feather placement.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgih4yKKL5KU4DGFhzJCt-WhhSj-PReTbajMkc9l1BB1mxkArQGRczDEM7fMxJm9mgaB6kY8VSCxBgFi-xK8Z2STxSRBDrnBgxOYxpxAyWgrWLzcnOw6IJq1gfDxzWb9QwyTpyUPtUOaSqL/s1600/Great+Horned+Owl+back+labelled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgih4yKKL5KU4DGFhzJCt-WhhSj-PReTbajMkc9l1BB1mxkArQGRczDEM7fMxJm9mgaB6kY8VSCxBgFi-xK8Z2STxSRBDrnBgxOYxpxAyWgrWLzcnOw6IJq1gfDxzWb9QwyTpyUPtUOaSqL/s640/Great+Horned+Owl+back+labelled.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Great Horned Owl, Looking Back. Source: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">The owl checked out the place for a minute or so, and then turned and hopped away to another branch. This last photo of the owl looking back at us reminds me of a 1950's chenille bedspread due to the unique feather placement. H</span>owever, when I look at its extended back and down to its feathered legs and sharp talons, I'm reminded more of a wary cat than a comfy bed. As usual, I'm amazed at God's creativity when I see something as special as a Great Horned Owl. By the way, the use of the word, horned, refers to its ear tufts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's a short clip of the owl before and after it had hopped to another branch. If the video doesn't work, you can find it at: <a href="https://youtu.be/8Mn1gjMma-s">https://youtu.be/8Mn1gjMma-s</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course, this owl encounter has given me ideas about including the scene in a story, similar to how I included the cranes in my novella, <i>Sweet Love Grows</i>. I enjoy adding wildlife to my stories and hope the readers can see that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Do you have a favorite owl, whether real, virtual, or fiction? </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Have you had an encounter with one? Care to share? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Note: Since it's my blogging day, this post is also published on Aug 16, 2017 at <a href="http://www.inkwellinspirations.com/">www.inkwellinspirations.com</a></span><br />
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Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-5120981163973060012017-04-18T15:38:00.000-06:002017-05-28T15:47:28.457-06:00Nature Watch March 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggN9K8HffXg6nWskqNfYupCbZHnp3zd-YI4b9iumbMNBLZTXiFZQY84MwZ1Bx0c7cQk2BuF0iIfSLsbjveaU_g2sTHx7Eckb1B3djlfLN9kpLU2kTv2LdOmbUM-TQbemLnpjfCrpEChZwl/s1600/Nature+Watch+Header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggN9K8HffXg6nWskqNfYupCbZHnp3zd-YI4b9iumbMNBLZTXiFZQY84MwZ1Bx0c7cQk2BuF0iIfSLsbjveaU_g2sTHx7Eckb1B3djlfLN9kpLU2kTv2LdOmbUM-TQbemLnpjfCrpEChZwl/s400/Nature+Watch+Header.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We're playing post catch-up at Draper's Acres with some photos we took in March of this year. I'll start off with this photo of a Sharp-Tailed Grouse taken by Nelson while out-and-about on March 5.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MZwsoCgB9HPCTu2aTpxTX2mBDC-n54TnR3JOpceZC-Y-EDgZVpagdL7LQBVy88wRhfnPPYIZfwSWlqqj-iXxeDgkx7PlKg_MeTH4nhoRSkglAYgWfc9kS9N8hzD7a_dJ57AhgEy0ctHz/s1600/Sharp-tailed+Grouse%252C+March+5%252C+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MZwsoCgB9HPCTu2aTpxTX2mBDC-n54TnR3JOpceZC-Y-EDgZVpagdL7LQBVy88wRhfnPPYIZfwSWlqqj-iXxeDgkx7PlKg_MeTH4nhoRSkglAYgWfc9kS9N8hzD7a_dJ57AhgEy0ctHz/s640/Sharp-tailed+Grouse%252C+March+5%252C+2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharp-tailed Grouse, Southeastern Saskatchewan, March 5, 2017</td></tr>
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On March 8th, Nelson was greeted by a special sunrise called a sun dog, a rarity this year. It was also a milder winter and although we received a good amount of snow, it wasn't all at once. With the mild weather, what snow did fall melted and blew away so there wasn't a huge buildup like other years.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JSeFH0bOAGD-_4ZVzVSKzgdzGvHn6cFR9ooNTMaLelkTF3pEb0XEXLgG1xJS2DBIlNSOcasgq3f2DIzh4HiLYBhW8ZEwkO0KhjJmEIBNPsYXPcF8Sf0ubZT2ty4uA-5uiKKwP1XOTyxb/s1600/Sun+Dog%252C+Mar+8%252C+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JSeFH0bOAGD-_4ZVzVSKzgdzGvHn6cFR9ooNTMaLelkTF3pEb0XEXLgG1xJS2DBIlNSOcasgq3f2DIzh4HiLYBhW8ZEwkO0KhjJmEIBNPsYXPcF8Sf0ubZT2ty4uA-5uiKKwP1XOTyxb/s640/Sun+Dog%252C+Mar+8%252C+2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun Dog, Southeastern Saskatchewan, March 8, 2017 at 7:37 am</td></tr>
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A week later, Nelson saw a herd of White-tailed deer trotting across the prairie, but it was this shot of three of them with the breath-taking sunrise in the background that caught my eye.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6d-dULsU3ztuKSBFhVrkEqwjul-IiExR9g9QnZFzKttxEfR3_ktPvQRCgur_xSI4mZKW6b3pSExj2l1B5hV1WHHbNZ5rhvhhEmnzGrA9_FMD9F8cFoWJJg8B114lqXOIGL0JL3K4o_6t/s1600/White-tailed+Deer%252C+Mar+15%252C+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6d-dULsU3ztuKSBFhVrkEqwjul-IiExR9g9QnZFzKttxEfR3_ktPvQRCgur_xSI4mZKW6b3pSExj2l1B5hV1WHHbNZ5rhvhhEmnzGrA9_FMD9F8cFoWJJg8B114lqXOIGL0JL3K4o_6t/s640/White-tailed+Deer%252C+Mar+15%252C+2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-tailed Deer, Southeastern Saskatchewan, March 15, 2017 at 7:04 am</td></tr>
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Meanwhile, back at Draper's Acres, I took dozens of shots of this Black-capped Chickadee this winter but he moved so fast while searching for food among the evergreens that I only managed a couple decent photographs. With that speed, I figure he deserves his chance to shine on our blog.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpD1XrJo3UA-PQEoUlLJSd5PP5QUqTOx_9gyOZAipg3qt1wrVj5H_daX_JVxT7DG_bnyXUtNKnoV5SCj07yLykdvbWvxNBeeuVHJ0JLQcOydnWf9D4wesc6Ddqt_szFx7Z6g7273R8CjKG/s1600/Black-capped+Chickadee+Mar+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpD1XrJo3UA-PQEoUlLJSd5PP5QUqTOx_9gyOZAipg3qt1wrVj5H_daX_JVxT7DG_bnyXUtNKnoV5SCj07yLykdvbWvxNBeeuVHJ0JLQcOydnWf9D4wesc6Ddqt_szFx7Z6g7273R8CjKG/s640/Black-capped+Chickadee+Mar+2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-Capped Chickadee, Mar 19, 2017, Montmartre, SK</td></tr>
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On March 24th I saw a coyote running across the southern part of the field where it rises out of our small valley. The light was horrid at noon on that dreary day, but here's what I saw . . . from our living room, looking through the longest zoom on my P520 Nikon, the coyote had an ethereal quality as it crossed the stubble near the top of the rise with nothing but sky behind it.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HNjSfyCEMc3LncvvAJdyeKfPwKpFraeuP83kvUgTbNBB2TYoJpcsxbA4TMoW2NAThfJVRK4c5MVD8SX9dgJymeERTn2WEGVv_gTobIr6FuI1yLb6Nu61xQN-EaDU0L7Lmzc2Mc30D2-e/s1600/Coyote+on+hill+1st+in+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="1514" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HNjSfyCEMc3LncvvAJdyeKfPwKpFraeuP83kvUgTbNBB2TYoJpcsxbA4TMoW2NAThfJVRK4c5MVD8SX9dgJymeERTn2WEGVv_gTobIr6FuI1yLb6Nu61xQN-EaDU0L7Lmzc2Mc30D2-e/s640/Coyote+on+hill+1st+in+2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coyote, March 24, 2017, Montmartre, SK</td></tr>
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The wind was playing havoc with the air currents between the coyote and the trees on the southwest corner of our land when the coyote crossed that portion. By that time I was standing on my porch and it stopped to get a look at me before continuing his trot to points west.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxJGcpWEbgRuTpXx35d_q0RFd1FYN11EGofFt1TE_cdbqTMNGBRgfiyJ_9dIhcwfgFJLyOxa30890UjRRX6dJzqlwo_siHeLu3iKC_Wu4TEVndtLPoeBo0ZStqJqy41i0N09rZvEZnW6u/s1600/Coyote+trees+backing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxJGcpWEbgRuTpXx35d_q0RFd1FYN11EGofFt1TE_cdbqTMNGBRgfiyJ_9dIhcwfgFJLyOxa30890UjRRX6dJzqlwo_siHeLu3iKC_Wu4TEVndtLPoeBo0ZStqJqy41i0N09rZvEZnW6u/s640/Coyote+trees+backing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coyote, March 24, 2017, Montmartre, SK</td></tr>
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While washing dishes the next day, I looked out the window and saw a mouse darting out of a snow tunnel near the feeder stand. He latched onto a food particle, spent a couple minutes devouring it, then darted back into the tunnel. A small flock of migrating juncos landed and then hopped about feeding on dropped seeds. During one of the rodent's forays, I snapped this shot to use as a size comparison between the two amicable species.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLLLTlc6J2WGPY5JGl4GAGrlekqy8AAEHKrK6ONtx0ttde1186vUNKQXvJGt3KPjnZA3NNsOjv1mUmXFRqlXdtIYAsWUxrN4o1wN16Pjv2ihgLWkxmRjdXdUq6m8hRTC2n2qBcVQ2y-tr/s1600/Junco+and+Mouse%252C+Mar+25%252C+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="1514" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLLLTlc6J2WGPY5JGl4GAGrlekqy8AAEHKrK6ONtx0ttde1186vUNKQXvJGt3KPjnZA3NNsOjv1mUmXFRqlXdtIYAsWUxrN4o1wN16Pjv2ihgLWkxmRjdXdUq6m8hRTC2n2qBcVQ2y-tr/s640/Junco+and+Mouse%252C+Mar+25%252C+2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dark-eyed Junco and Mouse, March 25, 2017, Montmartre, SK</td></tr>
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March 26 was a Sunday which gave us the chance to check out migrating waterfowl in the sloughs along the way. We saw Canada Geese and Mallards, and a special treat in the form of a regal pair of Northern Pintails.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSRK2izIex417OvNwFaaq8qv0EkNd-3EBNlF1_7CPBpPdVx40206NI03Zh4WP7o_es3DODCMeI2Pqcj_bRzWSGwLhUonxtRmKfvhUhcuO5YrANn8PW0GoH3gSLpbN3eloH70Y7wFmEDrN/s1600/Northern+Pintails%252C+March+26%252C+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="1514" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSRK2izIex417OvNwFaaq8qv0EkNd-3EBNlF1_7CPBpPdVx40206NI03Zh4WP7o_es3DODCMeI2Pqcj_bRzWSGwLhUonxtRmKfvhUhcuO5YrANn8PW0GoH3gSLpbN3eloH70Y7wFmEDrN/s640/Northern+Pintails%252C+March+26%252C+2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canada Goose and Northern Pintails, March 26, 2017, Mutrie, SK</td></tr>
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A few hours later, I saw a Downy Woodpecker on the power pole beside this feeder full of Niger seeds. She spent some time on the side of the pole, and up near the top, and then finally flew down and latched onto the feeder. She hung there and ate for a long time while the feeder swung in the wind like a pendulum.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTwOsbEamnvVcp5FEJRYOapiZeY50dKF993DHp1iBu16_IOTLM7mTBcuG-Nyfq28zOsiBktDVD7xkWtgYgP8r1pWGr-vg3Gx09ouweI90k1BvDgGnSc0eOnydjBhVb52RVwSKePU7f6Cw/s1600/Downy+Woodpecker+on+feeder+Pinterest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTwOsbEamnvVcp5FEJRYOapiZeY50dKF993DHp1iBu16_IOTLM7mTBcuG-Nyfq28zOsiBktDVD7xkWtgYgP8r1pWGr-vg3Gx09ouweI90k1BvDgGnSc0eOnydjBhVb52RVwSKePU7f6Cw/s400/Downy+Woodpecker+on+feeder+Pinterest.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downy Woodpecker, March 26, 2017, Montmartre, SK</td></tr>
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After supper of the same Sunday, we saw the first American Robin of the season. I played with the settings to mute the branches in the photograph so that the robin as well as the caption were more visible, and then I explained how I did it on my <a href="http://www.anitamaedraper.com/photo-blog/1st-robin-2017" target="_blank">photo blog</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrvD05ZS3A6sOpk8mnukc2868NZJDhANCbKJQuDL-X_KdLTkK355W1CFRwgR5AzFXfsZitl8XKH-Xe6Hh4b9lSOg6j4EnBctJwcD8_7fEgJHIGMUOl6FXBsUSUolnGXxfieicRHROWwFr/s1600/Robin+Mar+26%252C+2017+facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrvD05ZS3A6sOpk8mnukc2868NZJDhANCbKJQuDL-X_KdLTkK355W1CFRwgR5AzFXfsZitl8XKH-Xe6Hh4b9lSOg6j4EnBctJwcD8_7fEgJHIGMUOl6FXBsUSUolnGXxfieicRHROWwFr/s400/Robin+Mar+26%252C+2017+facebook.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Robin, March 26, 2017, Montmartre, SK</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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European starlings usually come through this time of year in a mixed flock with Robins, Red-wing Blackbirds, and Yellow-headed Blackbirds, but this year a small flock of about half a dozen starlings were by themselves. They came on the worst weather days and so I didn't get a photo of them, but because they are so unusual, I'm providing a photo I took of one two years ago:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0o-2PKh5H14_XJhQWIz628RrKi-i4uyjUX1UfZPrIH9iQgdGDB0gtkNGG87U2yPQ_0zaK1fyj5BC3EMQWmCg8Qp03Im91tLb_f_Ub-9O312_OJhmVmYNdzmV0lCZ6hixWHXRQvCaprPt/s1600/starling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="1516" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0o-2PKh5H14_XJhQWIz628RrKi-i4uyjUX1UfZPrIH9iQgdGDB0gtkNGG87U2yPQ_0zaK1fyj5BC3EMQWmCg8Qp03Im91tLb_f_Ub-9O312_OJhmVmYNdzmV0lCZ6hixWHXRQvCaprPt/s640/starling.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">European Starling, April 2, 2015, Montmartre, SK</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Flocks of snow geese also came through, flying high above our heads, including this fabulous formation taken by Nelson.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr781wMyVXEVIMeHbtSdSQuR8EQKMrrGqA8ydkUgvjTvTeltHCi4sBQxc840ZZUsbf38-EBNOi8ALcYsUTf3TH9JOgG2mE_hQCTgKKq9T5OORhn983cUgT6AQ2RxZq-lnXKnS3IzFfnGzZ/s1600/Snow+Geese%252C+Mar+29%252C+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr781wMyVXEVIMeHbtSdSQuR8EQKMrrGqA8ydkUgvjTvTeltHCi4sBQxc840ZZUsbf38-EBNOi8ALcYsUTf3TH9JOgG2mE_hQCTgKKq9T5OORhn983cUgT6AQ2RxZq-lnXKnS3IzFfnGzZ/s640/Snow+Geese%252C+Mar+29%252C+2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow Geese, Southeastern Saskatchewan, March 29, 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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During March we also saw:<br />
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<ul>
<li>A Hawk in a blizzard on Mar 3</li>
<li>Another Coyote on Mar 20</li>
<li>Tree Sparrow on Mar 26 </li>
<li>Mallards on Mar 26</li>
<li>Moose on Mar 28</li>
<li>Horned Lark on Mar 29</li>
<li>Red-winged Blackbirds on Mar 30</li>
<li>*Black-billed Magpies</li>
<li>*House Sparrows</li>
</ul>
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* Year-round residents at Draper's Acres<br />
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From our photo files, it appears that the migrating birds arrived one week earlier than last year, but it was a weird month as you'll see when the next Nature Watch post goes up here at Draper's Acres. We hope you'll check it out.<br />
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Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-5739932697924202192016-05-28T02:00:00.000-06:002016-06-07T20:47:28.420-06:00Nature Watch: Meadowlark and Robin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qQK5FubOk0MyoTn62FLYTrN32wDCPpSsptHHuoKV9jrKUuTJsNSDYij6hm4kRwZlVK9NoSOg9BaGAyGCuhd9UTQVxSqx7NSRkXhazeZxwxOJBtCL2Stz2DaVtR_kBHnJHZUL2CkQdXSQ/s1600/Nature+Watch+Header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qQK5FubOk0MyoTn62FLYTrN32wDCPpSsptHHuoKV9jrKUuTJsNSDYij6hm4kRwZlVK9NoSOg9BaGAyGCuhd9UTQVxSqx7NSRkXhazeZxwxOJBtCL2Stz2DaVtR_kBHnJHZUL2CkQdXSQ/s400/Nature+Watch+Header.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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When Nelson handed me his camera on April 18th, I was hoping for one or two great shots to pick from. I almost fell out of my chair when I saw his meadowlark shot.<br />
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I love this image because of the Western Meadowlark's pose, the clarity of the image, and also its overall 3D effect.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYV7OYYGpNZ6WytdgYBHdlvG3kwU4TrdJHGgs5Fj1A0-gvuA5s71863DEuQMv-tEtzdNoY7o4d1zqWDtmtgYgJHKyzQG1OVMrCqvaqULIXt7wn3PB46klAEoevCzEmRgAp9KCkEQ3xQFH9/s1600/Western+Meadowlark+Apr+18%252C+2016+labelled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYV7OYYGpNZ6WytdgYBHdlvG3kwU4TrdJHGgs5Fj1A0-gvuA5s71863DEuQMv-tEtzdNoY7o4d1zqWDtmtgYgJHKyzQG1OVMrCqvaqULIXt7wn3PB46klAEoevCzEmRgAp9KCkEQ3xQFH9/s400/Western+Meadowlark+Apr+18%252C+2016+labelled.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Western Meadowlark, Southeastern Saskatchewan, April 18, 2016. <br />
Photo Credit: Nelson Draper</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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One of the things we've noticed, however, is that our cell phones, messenger apps, Facebook timeline, etc seems to be tailored for square images. The horizontal or vertical ones don't fit right and look too small, or your device is locked so that it doesn't rotate and then you have to unlock it to see one photo, etc. Or you'll be skimming down your Facebook timeline and see half an image, or half a word, etc. Yes, you can click on it to see the larger version, but many people don't. To alleviate that, I'm playing around with using square images only like the ones below. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9YkvyL3PfJBVaNgMSH24TGIc7mSUktgqFc6OYBrTugkjo2bbDfUjOa7htrUVHQTY2hq7U3ZH3qvEkhT2I3jh8uVQqVlJxxbrR-BCWRIW_3M_n9wMkaIfM9Fw7TRFfFJY1wQbA5j_-Qz18/s1600/Western+Meadowlark+Apr+18%252C+2016+FB+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9YkvyL3PfJBVaNgMSH24TGIc7mSUktgqFc6OYBrTugkjo2bbDfUjOa7htrUVHQTY2hq7U3ZH3qvEkhT2I3jh8uVQqVlJxxbrR-BCWRIW_3M_n9wMkaIfM9Fw7TRFfFJY1wQbA5j_-Qz18/s400/Western+Meadowlark+Apr+18%252C+2016+FB+2.jpg" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Western Meadowlark, Southeastern Saskatchewan, April 18, 2016. <br />Photo Credit: Nelson Draper</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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My contender for the best photo for April 18th is this robin sitting on an old hand pump. Although you can't see much detail in the robin, I like this photo because it reminds me of my earliest memories of when we lived with a hand pump in the kitchen. And then as a twelve year old, I <i>wished </i>we had one in the kitchen when we lived on a rented farm without any plumbing facilities at all. The pump sits on a huge boulder decorated with orange lichen. Whenever I see it I'm reminded of what used to be and how I am blessed with so much today.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQY2cnUhbTVgOWuOufZyqqIseO_RUo7_F9wI9c436h6WNCUF8SxjCabN4ovbYx8OjTakIGFHHwCOYBlksy1hVPCkZhxdM78uGVyCQapWAOB3CMQEr6GhLW8MUnqFhQtcI2BIeKGhjAkZI/s1600/Robin+on+hand+pump+labelled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQY2cnUhbTVgOWuOufZyqqIseO_RUo7_F9wI9c436h6WNCUF8SxjCabN4ovbYx8OjTakIGFHHwCOYBlksy1hVPCkZhxdM78uGVyCQapWAOB3CMQEr6GhLW8MUnqFhQtcI2BIeKGhjAkZI/s400/Robin+on+hand+pump+labelled.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">American Robin on Hand Pump, Montmartre, Saskatchewan, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">April 18, 2016. </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photo Credit: Anita Mae Draper</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I'd like to point out that both of the above images can be used as Facebook birthday cards because they're square and there's lots of room for the sentiment.<br />
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Also, all of the images credited to me or Nelson are free to copy. Let us know if you'd like the location/date label deleted and we'll send you one without the extra info.<br />
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<br />Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-20708777569592402122016-05-11T02:30:00.000-06:002016-05-11T06:42:52.793-06:00Nature Watch: Crane and Mallard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-jtfgQtEKCHiAPhqJptI3JQy6fTwlXPoCupCkWuKXfGbNJLFI7yjDWZPqLd6diJ-dRAGGSKSOOHVmxNv1nMsJMThTN7C8faeGUoLd4IwMbOnna4OjdE2yVtNGtBycisSxENQnqglBsRo/s1600/Nature+Watch+Header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-jtfgQtEKCHiAPhqJptI3JQy6fTwlXPoCupCkWuKXfGbNJLFI7yjDWZPqLd6diJ-dRAGGSKSOOHVmxNv1nMsJMThTN7C8faeGUoLd4IwMbOnna4OjdE2yVtNGtBycisSxENQnqglBsRo/s400/Nature+Watch+Header.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The wind on April 17th played havoc with our photography competition. Not only did it buffet our cameras, but it stirred up the air currents between our cameras and our subjects so that neither Nelson, nor myself got a detailed shot. We had a discussion about whether we should even show these, but in the end decided we have been blessed with some great shots, and there are going to be days when one, the other, or both of us don't do well.<br />
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On this day Nelson's shots were much better than mine, and he's chosen this Sandhill Crane as the one he thinks is the best of his lot. I'd like to point out the effect the wind had on a portion of the stubble field where it appears smeared.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUzmMAF2lUFfcdnOE6uU_5wWThrUDp1lXs2v4W6n1LzpOy7E2apOMCkOSiS2FCB4CSoxQINC-LwAlW-4JvkHn8c5paBCsmGkQrNJ0zYeI8IhbwdCYLZsgVg9HxQq1i2SDJSn6mRUkLH0V/s1600/Sandhill+Crane%252C+Apr+17%252C+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUzmMAF2lUFfcdnOE6uU_5wWThrUDp1lXs2v4W6n1LzpOy7E2apOMCkOSiS2FCB4CSoxQINC-LwAlW-4JvkHn8c5paBCsmGkQrNJ0zYeI8IhbwdCYLZsgVg9HxQq1i2SDJSn6mRUkLH0V/s400/Sandhill+Crane%252C+Apr+17%252C+2016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandhill Crane, Southeast Saskatchewan, Apr 17, 2016. Photo credit: Nelson Draper</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Meanwhile, I was out and about on the 17th as well and yes, all my shots were also blurred by the wind. The only decent one I have is this Mallard pair which, for whatever reason, decided to swim in the yuckiest part of the slough. I suspect that most of the stuff floating about had been dislodged by wave action--something that doesn't happen often out here unless the wind is fierce.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Gs7aFlIa5MPitWALT4MSDggFxPQR7eAQXantnXZmqxYGYsmGTdrNXLp8v4zOL2DUO1d1d0xINGVxbD23Jc6So9eX-KPFfZs1pYWZ5BdrMcreXKrTPR1Cs8WD1d-dio-Ll31AvGeI5RNR/s1600/Mallard+Pair%252C+Apr+17%252C+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Gs7aFlIa5MPitWALT4MSDggFxPQR7eAQXantnXZmqxYGYsmGTdrNXLp8v4zOL2DUO1d1d0xINGVxbD23Jc6So9eX-KPFfZs1pYWZ5BdrMcreXKrTPR1Cs8WD1d-dio-Ll31AvGeI5RNR/s400/Mallard+Pair%252C+Apr+17%252C+2016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mallard pair, Montmartre, SK, Apr 17, 2016. Photo credit: Anita Mae Draper</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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So there you have our windy images. For all you budding photographers... don't beat yourself up if you can't get great shots on a windy day. Minimize the wind damage by standing where the wind can't buffet your or tripod or arms while you hold the camera, but in the end, there's not much you can do - at least not with our level of equipment. (P500 and P520 Nikon CooPix cameras)<br />
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I believe Nelson has a great video clip of Sandhill Cranes practicing their mating dance. We'll get that set up soon. Until next time...<br />
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<br />Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-44472970770206793052016-05-02T02:30:00.000-06:002016-05-02T02:30:35.211-06:00Wildlife Watch: Duck and Heron<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwimqVXgcRWegzLyc9_t7BdEJNSXEetO9Of436t65tNaAEvcgN90wkQJhgDXX3TgOD_u3ruWirrBagK3e7thBbSrThMk6zMHbARh3T5L7UzYKz_QmV2XOIfeDb9CCTtYRPubFgex87aYlZ/s1600/Wildlife+Watching+Header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwimqVXgcRWegzLyc9_t7BdEJNSXEetO9Of436t65tNaAEvcgN90wkQJhgDXX3TgOD_u3ruWirrBagK3e7thBbSrThMk6zMHbARh3T5L7UzYKz_QmV2XOIfeDb9CCTtYRPubFgex87aYlZ/s400/Wildlife+Watching+Header.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Some days it's easy to pick the best image of the day from those taken by Nelson and myself, but April 16th was not one of those days.<br />
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Nelson had a neat duck shot and a great one of a prairie chicken, but his Great Blue Heron photo was really outstanding.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsV-PPIU13awKrizWSwE0pLH-zdsSZBaJmeutXs_65djyeyfkCo3jIVUqmHp5iNsMW0tra15riQ-gvgR2650Gu5-d1kMtoD1n75bJvrcFrFOcOpGKjfmtEDK2OOoyobtr01JTvbmnCpbB/s1600/Great+Blue+Heron%252C+Apr+16%252C+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsV-PPIU13awKrizWSwE0pLH-zdsSZBaJmeutXs_65djyeyfkCo3jIVUqmHp5iNsMW0tra15riQ-gvgR2650Gu5-d1kMtoD1n75bJvrcFrFOcOpGKjfmtEDK2OOoyobtr01JTvbmnCpbB/s400/Great+Blue+Heron%252C+Apr+16%252C+2016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Blue Heron, Southeast Saskatchewan, Apr 16, 2016. Photo by Nelson Draper</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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My contribution to our little competition is this photo of a Northern Shoveler pair gaining altitude on take off.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8rjNk7uYaJEd9j7RYDsTwANO45HMXgnFReXR8sbV4cqJwarKmH9Eo81CTIjc8WGxiQic-G9PxMJ1GhYiqr0rAa05p5hAbpAO4anizQ2ZMQbmZ80LzzGMCTKY_vFp9d0qPYJVRApD5QKZ/s1600/Northern+Shoveler%252C+pair+in+flight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8rjNk7uYaJEd9j7RYDsTwANO45HMXgnFReXR8sbV4cqJwarKmH9Eo81CTIjc8WGxiQic-G9PxMJ1GhYiqr0rAa05p5hAbpAO4anizQ2ZMQbmZ80LzzGMCTKY_vFp9d0qPYJVRApD5QKZ/s400/Northern+Shoveler%252C+pair+in+flight.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Shoveler, pair. Southeast Saskatchewan. Photo by Anita Mae Draper</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Both water shots, both action shots, but it's hard to see my little ducks after looking at the large heron.<br />
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I wonder what we'll find in the next batch...<br />
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<br />Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-69353344841349023222016-04-25T09:37:00.004-06:002016-04-30T18:06:23.903-06:00Wildlife Watch - Nuthatch & Crocus<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Or perhaps I should start calling it the Battle of Flora and Fauna? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">April 15th was Nelson's birthday but that didn't stop him from getting out and about. He said that while he was aiming his camera at a running hare he spotted something purple. Zooming in, he saw the Prairie Crocus, </span>a member of the buttercup family which grows very low to the ground and only appears in the spring. Sometimes as I walk through a field soon after the snow leaves, I'll look down and realize I'm standing in the midst of prairie crocus patch. Such an inspiring sight of color after all the whiteness.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prairie Crocus, Southeast Saskatchewan, Apr 15, 2016. Photo by Nelson Draper</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt;">I had to two surprise visitors on April 15th. The first was an Eastern Gray Squirrel with a gorgeous rufous belly but I have a whole video of that one which I'll be showing at another time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So for my best shot of the day, I picked a new visitor to our farm - a White-breasted Nuthatch. According to my iBirdCanada app, this bird is a year round resident of these parts, however, it only stayed for a day and a half and then was gone. Since it likes the woody areas, I don't think our shelterbelt held enough trees for its liking. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-breasted Nuthatch, Montmartre, SK April 15, 2016. Photo by Anita Mae Draper</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I hope you enjoyed these images of Saskatchewan flora and fauna. More coming soon...</span><br />
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Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-31152111974096902642016-04-21T10:15:00.001-06:002016-04-21T10:16:24.463-06:00Wildlife Watching - Meadowlark and Butterfly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This edition of <a href="http://anitamaedraper.blogspot.ca/2016/04/battle-of-birds-and-other-wildlife.html" target="_blank">Battle of the Birds and other Wildlife</a> shows images taken by Nelson and me on April 14, 2016.<br />
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My best photo of the day was this Milbert's Tortoiseshell Butterfly who rested on our front patio for awhile.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Milbert's Tortoiseshell Butterfly, Montmartre, SK, April 14, 2016.<br />Photo credit Anita Mae Draper</span></span></td></tr>
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Next up is Nelson's Western Meadowlark in its most classic pose.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Uyq1a0dkLO-QqRlRZo2pJLcMVgLkUYBdogNCllWhvuiT0daKOxQ4K7YGRci7qUSQu080l1FFnXAr9D2a49H-SH0T4PKeOT6kSpkJaCfaamXoVG1_88jddUtsGR_fYNMNywbCM_rQq_NF/s1600/Western+Meadowlark+Apr+14%252C+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Uyq1a0dkLO-QqRlRZo2pJLcMVgLkUYBdogNCllWhvuiT0daKOxQ4K7YGRci7qUSQu080l1FFnXAr9D2a49H-SH0T4PKeOT6kSpkJaCfaamXoVG1_88jddUtsGR_fYNMNywbCM_rQq_NF/s400/Western+Meadowlark+Apr+14%252C+2016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Western Meadowlark, Southeastern Saskatchewan, April 14, 2016. </span></div>
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Photo Credit Nelson Draper</div>
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Nelson did such a good job with that photo, didn't he?<br />
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The Western Meadowlark is one of my favorite birds and since it has the reputation of being a storyteller, I've adopted it as the icon for my writing. You'll see the following header throughout my website, as well as displayed on the 5th of every month when I appear on the <a href="http://www.hhhistory.com/" target="_blank">Heroes, Heroines, and History blog</a>:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">www.anitamaedraper.com header</td></tr>
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I also used a photo of a Western Meadowlark on my Facebook header last year when I announced that one of my stories was a finalist for the 2015 Word Awards. However, as you can see, my photo doesn't compare in quality to the one Nelson took above.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2015 Facebook header for Anita Mae Draper</td></tr>
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I hope you enjoyed these photos of Saskatchewan wildlife. More coming soon.<br />
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<br />Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-16794660320860306912016-04-19T08:28:00.000-06:002016-04-19T08:28:20.380-06:00Battle of the Birds and Other Wildlife<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After an almost snow-free winter where the only wildlife seemed to be common house sparrows, also called English Sparrows, it's wonderful to see all the birds and animals return.<br />
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<span data-offset-key="f7122-0-0">I spend time every day taking photos of anything that catches my eye and so when Nelson Draper wanted a good camera to use on his daily travels, I</span> gave him my Nikon P500 to see if he liked it. I had upgraded to a Nikon P520 and really like the hybrid camera with it's long zoom, but without the need to carry around extra lenses.<br />
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And now we're getting into a nightly ritual of comparing the photos we've taken throughout the day.<br />
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Here's the best of our shots for April 13th:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJknHx-6K6IVZRO6vyHaJhx11fTFBvXvLAYgaKnzJEe_ECHx6zl18JYBTjMtYDSeTcMdImP1XynUeBW3zRP0OL1921b5jxDc8zqHeu3jOybe6FBUum75WCby-Rxk4KqlgRAa8TeVAxbj2m/s1600/Common+Snipe+13+Apr+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJknHx-6K6IVZRO6vyHaJhx11fTFBvXvLAYgaKnzJEe_ECHx6zl18JYBTjMtYDSeTcMdImP1XynUeBW3zRP0OL1921b5jxDc8zqHeu3jOybe6FBUum75WCby-Rxk4KqlgRAa8TeVAxbj2m/s400/Common+Snipe+13+Apr+2016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Snipe, Southeast Saskatchewan, Apr 13, 2016. Photo by Nelson Draper</td></tr>
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My best shot was actually a video of a Long-tailed weasel who had come poking around our yard. Here's the screenshot of it followed by the actual video:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixT1ZA6FNTO_Q2NCbEfm7x7slndK35U4obsYIsdor2kW0hz548lLqjk-H6X_o72DH1OhuNemq7vIxd7osQJAx5uewvsbdfIpUOxpQYV0mcY5o-kctZlCnTpcGcBN99F2FGP61T65WpwoZB/s1600/Weasel+fm+video+Apr+13%252C+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixT1ZA6FNTO_Q2NCbEfm7x7slndK35U4obsYIsdor2kW0hz548lLqjk-H6X_o72DH1OhuNemq7vIxd7osQJAx5uewvsbdfIpUOxpQYV0mcY5o-kctZlCnTpcGcBN99F2FGP61T65WpwoZB/s400/Weasel+fm+video+Apr+13%252C+2016.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-tailed Weasel, Montmartre, SK, Apr 13, 2016. <br />
Photo by Anita Mae Draper</td></tr>
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The video is silent because I was shooting through the picture-window of my living room. Yes... it came right into our yard.<br />
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I'll be posting more photos and video as soon as I can. Please enjoy this brief glimpse into Saskatchewan wildlife.<br />
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<br />Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-21774441715049331442015-04-30T07:28:00.002-06:002015-04-30T07:28:45.986-06:00Canada Geese Slow Motion FlyingThis slow motion video is the result of leaving my Nikon P500 Coolpix camera on High-speed (HS) instead of my normal High-definition (HD) movie mode. <br />
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Just don't ask me why High-speed mode would give me such a slow video.<br />
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But I'm very glad it did.<br />
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<br />Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-4428023428003628452015-04-09T09:05:00.003-06:002015-04-09T09:07:10.110-06:00Evening Walk Photos: April 8, 2015<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-Winged Blackbird<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">, South of Montmartre, SK, </span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">April 8, 2015</span></td></tr>
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Now that winter is over and the warmer weather has returned, Nelson and I have started taking a walk in the evenings. Not far, but down our country road where we stop and listen to the migrating birds and I try to capture them to share with those who may not get to experience the prairie as we do. </div>
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The top photo is a red-winged blackbird who sat atop the wolf willows at the end of our driveway. It seems he's claimed his territory since he sat there alone singing in an attempt to attract the attention of any nearby females. He paused his singing as we passed, but continued as we turned onto the main road. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIb0AwXVLY9jinzTzWLa21Ajw6VnnyZjfewGo6U7Z1FFEHN6Ocviy5o_nQ_9st-VcAQitKRWmHX5NmMTdmpRd3yd-ij6Xi5nYgUDDsRY7JDSk8nPvrzdI5Kl-d0yY9RayvzrVBiAjJM_A_/s1600/Geese+in+Flight+Apr+8,+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIb0AwXVLY9jinzTzWLa21Ajw6VnnyZjfewGo6U7Z1FFEHN6Ocviy5o_nQ_9st-VcAQitKRWmHX5NmMTdmpRd3yd-ij6Xi5nYgUDDsRY7JDSk8nPvrzdI5Kl-d0yY9RayvzrVBiAjJM_A_/s1600/Geese+in+Flight+Apr+8,+2015.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Canada Geese Pair in Flight</span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">, South of Montmartre, SK, </span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">April 8, 2015</span></td></tr>
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Our attention was drawn to a pair of low-flying Canada geese who were preparing to land in the nearby slough. I tried to film their landing because I love the way their feet come out as if they're stepping on the brakes, but it happened so fast, I missed it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qJrOUpC7cBNq-9JI_Ywd55seDoFqfHTUaAJLfeZKI9r_5SSQ41WpHXcB94NAza-tAOjetO3uzTRemGUxFoOYSk719MU-yplkdBg_C329vngzJJs-BBhQjA_OfLYEf-eafj16CNCcPlyd/s1600/Snow+Geese+in+flight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qJrOUpC7cBNq-9JI_Ywd55seDoFqfHTUaAJLfeZKI9r_5SSQ41WpHXcB94NAza-tAOjetO3uzTRemGUxFoOYSk719MU-yplkdBg_C329vngzJJs-BBhQjA_OfLYEf-eafj16CNCcPlyd/s1600/Snow+Geese+in+flight.jpg" height="291" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Snow Geese in Flight</span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">, South of Montmartre, SK, </span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">April 8, 2015</span></td></tr>
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The air was filled with honking snow geese, except as soon as they spotted us on that empty road, they quieted and silently arced around us before continuing on their path. Incredible.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzolD5JIMiheDTdEKHcbibA1D12w0JeM_PRtiOXvX9i20n7mQU6zAsbmLCbV79g83mDfrvCYrDhOLpz5IJIC_de8uYS6WmmcCWMUg4gjB3P_haO4BQgNmp08pg138DOjH_1z4cgOf8H7HC/s1600/Canada+Geese+pair+Apr+8,+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzolD5JIMiheDTdEKHcbibA1D12w0JeM_PRtiOXvX9i20n7mQU6zAsbmLCbV79g83mDfrvCYrDhOLpz5IJIC_de8uYS6WmmcCWMUg4gjB3P_haO4BQgNmp08pg138DOjH_1z4cgOf8H7HC/s1600/Canada+Geese+pair+Apr+8,+2015.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Canada Geese Pair, South of Montmartre, SK, </span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">April 8, 2015</span></td></tr>
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While passing our dugout, I heard a Canada goose loudly honking its presence, but couldn't see it so I waited. Seconds later, a pair swam into the middle reminding me of the swan photos I took last summer. I don't know if this Canada Geese pair are in migration or will nest for the summer, but they're welcome to stay.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4suJO3JnCK1gbSSOKE0SxDU0gEY9Gj0OlDLj1UOwLT22knv4o_mcUxkLqyt9-OF5ONfTIaTByPXz_gZqIcs0xdcrcJnfc1KKf2TkImbrgVs_XTtnfrNV3bZ_aQLGSJw6X5C6ZbZESpPj/s1600/Evening+Walk+Apr+8,+2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4suJO3JnCK1gbSSOKE0SxDU0gEY9Gj0OlDLj1UOwLT22knv4o_mcUxkLqyt9-OF5ONfTIaTByPXz_gZqIcs0xdcrcJnfc1KKf2TkImbrgVs_XTtnfrNV3bZ_aQLGSJw6X5C6ZbZESpPj/s1600/Evening+Walk+Apr+8,+2015.JPG" height="297" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Country Road, South of Montmartre, SK, </span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">April 8, 2015</span></td></tr>
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We headed home, noting that the spring runoff had lowered considerably. In a few weeks this quiet stretch of road will be filled with sounds of grain trucks and tractors pulling augers and seeders as the farmers return to plant their crops.<br />
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Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6686763395752601315.post-78809060536675894212014-11-18T20:28:00.000-06:002014-11-19T20:28:58.502-06:002014 Trip to Monterey, California I spent the last week of October in Monterey, California, on a business trip and absolutely loved it! But I'm getting ahead of myself...<br />
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My Air Canada flight to Calgary for the first leg of the trip was a prop job which was a bit disconcerting as the propeller was in line with the seat in front of me so it was right there every time I looked out my window. I noticed the guy in front of me covered his window after several minutes of flight. What I found fascinating was that the propeller blades seemed to curve and separate in the photos when I couldn't even see them moving in the air.<br />
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I took this photo with my iPhone shortly after take-off. At the time, I didn't know what was below until I spent some time on Google Earth later at home, and matched it up with their version:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfeQmX8pGZWkWWoJCP9UaEfIcM3226z3tdZZOO1ofAWzdjDBbBZBc6VdPF_3cXWiJ1U0zdHWhMapwE40mRqQxdr95OOmDD0yO4r8FuZpFkWfwJ9QCxhtSHNvPwtren_gcwhlgB__71HRm/s1600/Buffalo+Pound+Lake+fm+air.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfeQmX8pGZWkWWoJCP9UaEfIcM3226z3tdZZOO1ofAWzdjDBbBZBc6VdPF_3cXWiJ1U0zdHWhMapwE40mRqQxdr95OOmDD0yO4r8FuZpFkWfwJ9QCxhtSHNvPwtren_gcwhlgB__71HRm/s1600/Buffalo+Pound+Lake+fm+air.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buffalo Pound Lake from the air, Oct 2014</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCf8YpgcPEO0FSOQiDFlgN_dy5To_4HAabTjFnG6ALJsY1z76oZT7B12Z94GwKwUaQzr1M1-oP87Dtx-cFIhyphenhyphenVDqB5gWIzWJWnjKzYF-w38Hje55TxRPQasWuRzJ4RfaaY8s6ZiqTMTQdc/s1600/Buffalo+Pound+fm+air.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCf8YpgcPEO0FSOQiDFlgN_dy5To_4HAabTjFnG6ALJsY1z76oZT7B12Z94GwKwUaQzr1M1-oP87Dtx-cFIhyphenhyphenVDqB5gWIzWJWnjKzYF-w38Hje55TxRPQasWuRzJ4RfaaY8s6ZiqTMTQdc/s1600/Buffalo+Pound+fm+air.jpg" height="211" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Google Earth view of Buffalo Pound Lake, captured 5/6/2014</td></tr>
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After changing flights in Calgary, I continued on to San Francisco. The clouds cleared and the day brightened, yet I was unprepared to see other aircraft in the skies above Nevada. The first one shot behind us and I noticed it in the 4 o'clock position heading northwest. And although the next one was at 3 o'clock by the time we passed over its vapor trail, it had me looking out for more of them. It must have been a regular occurrence for no one else seemed to notice, but it sure got me excited.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfW1Dm86Odf6ovtzbLK9oatAonB7as9SuvbHS18OtDTwwrsE40DPcPgzJz3XggxYi8Y8M0j8BziH223wBJ3usKbtNYDrDI6c5A7ANmDfk4g6z5RyjqGYcue_Iy0v0J6Q9WyKPFFG2tF58/s1600/Flying+over+Nevada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfW1Dm86Odf6ovtzbLK9oatAonB7as9SuvbHS18OtDTwwrsE40DPcPgzJz3XggxYi8Y8M0j8BziH223wBJ3usKbtNYDrDI6c5A7ANmDfk4g6z5RyjqGYcue_Iy0v0J6Q9WyKPFFG2tF58/s1600/Flying+over+Nevada.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aircraft and vapor trail over Nevada passing too close for my comfort,<br />
taken Oct 26, 2014 with an iPhone</td></tr>
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We landed at San Franciscso Airport (SFO) where my author friend, Sarah Sundin, picked me up and then along with another friend, we headed out for the 2 hr drive to Monterey. I was there for the Books & Such Literary Management Retreat which was being hosted at the Monterey Plaza Hotel, right on the infamous Cannery Row.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfEmEylA3DWR4jpGiw8gH3XUQ6set5V3vYHCRnEOSOhXLqUbnwNXkJPiBJE1pJrJeuPuo6-TUaJIqnCy1kS73BnpPrav0Y60gxVeHGUUZofvki9wtOhfXrO4QTWQUlNRxkARotorDupLK/s1600/Monterey+Plaza+Hotel+Entrance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfEmEylA3DWR4jpGiw8gH3XUQ6set5V3vYHCRnEOSOhXLqUbnwNXkJPiBJE1pJrJeuPuo6-TUaJIqnCy1kS73BnpPrav0Y60gxVeHGUUZofvki9wtOhfXrO4QTWQUlNRxkARotorDupLK/s1600/Monterey+Plaza+Hotel+Entrance.jpg" height="295" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa spanning Cannery Row, Monterey, CA, Oct 2014</td></tr>
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As you can see in the above photo, the hotel spans both sides of Cannery Row and the rooms are cheaper here facing inland, but I didn't travel all that way to look at an urban setting, and had paid a bit more for a room with an ocean view, and am so glad I did because it was worth it!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwN418WORkzFCvhhhttgKXj5daMO6ZBM76_Vshx-dBC9A3x66FR_w9dogprGjWVM0mrzk-Pax2HJCc9upa6hDLzY8W_Mlm6cjYHdFP6GUgq201SIj08hU0_ZprvAd7EBnSVvkAR1C8Ar3/s1600/IMG_4609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwN418WORkzFCvhhhttgKXj5daMO6ZBM76_Vshx-dBC9A3x66FR_w9dogprGjWVM0mrzk-Pax2HJCc9upa6hDLzY8W_Mlm6cjYHdFP6GUgq201SIj08hU0_ZprvAd7EBnSVvkAR1C8Ar3/s1600/IMG_4609.JPG" height="280" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Monterey Plaza Hotel room facing Northeast, Oct 2014</td></tr>
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The most incredible thing I found while in Monterey is that they leave their doors open all day and into the night, and their windows have no screens, and they don't have any flies! I was blessed to have a room 2 floors above the small hotel beach where the kayaks were kept and my roomie and I left the window open all night so we could hear the sound of the surf pounding the sand as well as the sea otters, sea lions, and bird. And not a single insect entered the room.<br />
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And this is where my room was located - so close to the bird population roosting on the old cannery, and where I was staring down at the surf and kayakers and not the plaza where all the people were sitting...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EIRFMTgly_om8Dj5F2KbTpjyDaSq4YmnxE14IcgYw5C7Ce_xGh2K8joFRlOfskKhyphenhyphenKpA9rSkt9aWoN4Neh_33uc6-1KsmljQJm9IYFFjdhXd3Qrs5wtZizSLpFMStFmlzAcBrRM38GGG/s1600/Monterey+Plaza+Hotel+Kayak+Launch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EIRFMTgly_om8Dj5F2KbTpjyDaSq4YmnxE14IcgYw5C7Ce_xGh2K8joFRlOfskKhyphenhyphenKpA9rSkt9aWoN4Neh_33uc6-1KsmljQJm9IYFFjdhXd3Qrs5wtZizSLpFMStFmlzAcBrRM38GGG/s1600/Monterey+Plaza+Hotel+Kayak+Launch.jpg" height="271" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monterey Plaza Hotel facing east, Oct 2014</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFMEkRsUwa4UFZOAA1JnIq4SOggSrnJX7VEAndIG9HrFbBqSotfL6rYdqMxDWxhQUuiB_VrCoCbiGT1IjV6si0RtJPUcaW8D7GWmxcw3WGphcd4fmhvO3AxKOGsltb-qMa8l6gCy10ow1/s1600/My+Monterey+Plaze+Room+marked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFMEkRsUwa4UFZOAA1JnIq4SOggSrnJX7VEAndIG9HrFbBqSotfL6rYdqMxDWxhQUuiB_VrCoCbiGT1IjV6si0RtJPUcaW8D7GWmxcw3WGphcd4fmhvO3AxKOGsltb-qMa8l6gCy10ow1/s1600/My+Monterey+Plaze+Room+marked.jpg" height="400" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monterey Plaza Hotel w/my room marked</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGEd5RUaFvPNAARiZgV1fvDXV-GMymFJN5dYr-UlUYvMRR8io8B-WJaSZlW_xfRg3B3xvIf3Mc9k6chy8WdH9xUIuAVqJfLmMoRU0elqc_liDbIhJTjeKiqschm4do20pV0MRjybVHUZ0/s1600/Sunrise+Oct+27,+2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGEd5RUaFvPNAARiZgV1fvDXV-GMymFJN5dYr-UlUYvMRR8io8B-WJaSZlW_xfRg3B3xvIf3Mc9k6chy8WdH9xUIuAVqJfLmMoRU0elqc_liDbIhJTjeKiqschm4do20pV0MRjybVHUZ0/s1600/Sunrise+Oct+27,+2014.JPG" height="297" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise, Monterey, CA, Oct 27, 2014</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjh-flrHccpj1Wps91GuRDKZgVbBEScMJxF_d-6pOgdFzLm3dZfGo-fdz-DY9nA8BjBqlIlCLdzd_D9Qx1n3nLSMw2NH1s__XTRv4Iq39xFIs-LKd4jktNcbXABQfG1ic2JoCCmyn6OJX/s1600/Spectacular+view+from+outdoor+cafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjh-flrHccpj1Wps91GuRDKZgVbBEScMJxF_d-6pOgdFzLm3dZfGo-fdz-DY9nA8BjBqlIlCLdzd_D9Qx1n3nLSMw2NH1s__XTRv4Iq39xFIs-LKd4jktNcbXABQfG1ic2JoCCmyn6OJX/s1600/Spectacular+view+from+outdoor+cafe.jpg" height="296" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monterey Plaza Hotel Coffee Shop's outdoor seating, Oct 28, 2014</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDhL4b4fqDdsNYD8XSltQmfURPc243MMmimlgozx7HNrfizntH4JQZsEBztXYfUqGdWy3T5UkmscyvF7tfigjc5xPkqhCCydvfWw0cq7cLDaP7XAJn0nJMfShUiODuoWtk55OHJoGj94l/s1600/Sunset+in+Monterey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDhL4b4fqDdsNYD8XSltQmfURPc243MMmimlgozx7HNrfizntH4JQZsEBztXYfUqGdWy3T5UkmscyvF7tfigjc5xPkqhCCydvfWw0cq7cLDaP7XAJn0nJMfShUiODuoWtk55OHJoGj94l/s1600/Sunset+in+Monterey.JPG" height="292" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset, Monterey, CA, Oct 29, 2014</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilnbIZ5syaRwnEsSw4iQpdJY5row4HIVctxEeR0BOFnc-ZTZGqG_s5cz1g5oEvCP4evrHYLC9xkqz7UDha5mMNOmbOAs_pdlHqy8aDnkesQh6H3dP9BdNCqaW-LsgErXFAq3KNpDOWYPmI/s1600/Sea+Lions+on+Coast+Guard+Pier.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilnbIZ5syaRwnEsSw4iQpdJY5row4HIVctxEeR0BOFnc-ZTZGqG_s5cz1g5oEvCP4evrHYLC9xkqz7UDha5mMNOmbOAs_pdlHqy8aDnkesQh6H3dP9BdNCqaW-LsgErXFAq3KNpDOWYPmI/s1600/Sea+Lions+on+Coast+Guard+Pier.JPG" height="295" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Lions sunning on Coast Guard Pier, Monterey, CA<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZbh7_Cn1n-g81sQnsEM1f8Gi3fwM-DJG5gSVR5IYV00dEgwMCYD1AldpPIn8nnpohgxCLDquCw1ejCFhDOjIH_LsFsqf30Ehj7EMjcX7W7571JPJuV88tNlEY8xV-a8B_OXj1aGSndo9/s1600/DSCN8746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZbh7_Cn1n-g81sQnsEM1f8Gi3fwM-DJG5gSVR5IYV00dEgwMCYD1AldpPIn8nnpohgxCLDquCw1ejCFhDOjIH_LsFsqf30Ehj7EMjcX7W7571JPJuV88tNlEY8xV-a8B_OXj1aGSndo9/s1600/DSCN8746.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surfer practicing near Kayak Launch with big wave coming</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhroCUCzGj34plP__gGpFtcAiwhqemy5W-McIDfHEDd5JOJ7UJ0lpbfGGZycptA9BdbPUmAl39DcdAAvPjyofsIoVPm0YMO9Sy2l_4rgDDlSkI3Jz4n8AiKV_dT5W1Py41Z7xkyJrPmkfgu/s1600/Sunrise+Oct+30.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhroCUCzGj34plP__gGpFtcAiwhqemy5W-McIDfHEDd5JOJ7UJ0lpbfGGZycptA9BdbPUmAl39DcdAAvPjyofsIoVPm0YMO9Sy2l_4rgDDlSkI3Jz4n8AiKV_dT5W1Py41Z7xkyJrPmkfgu/s1600/Sunrise+Oct+30.JPG" height="292" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise as I packed for home, Oct 30, 2014</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2R261XwF2uQYprgbBGNaQnxEtnMz1m6ZpokPhJxupQHuh_wMB36jGurLIwzaz3y_JnzEmGVUBbuFTEgnCkwFY5ECQY-ykBuyIu530gwmVaD3zy83ALfj_5G50G3E61c1XMQDTui1hObO2/s1600/Sunset+at+Denver+Airport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2R261XwF2uQYprgbBGNaQnxEtnMz1m6ZpokPhJxupQHuh_wMB36jGurLIwzaz3y_JnzEmGVUBbuFTEgnCkwFY5ECQY-ykBuyIu530gwmVaD3zy83ALfj_5G50G3E61c1XMQDTui1hObO2/s1600/Sunset+at+Denver+Airport.jpg" height="287" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset at Denver Airport, Oct 30, 2014</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsLUXLxGnP8vs-4-Qbbz2sQtD3r7i2PGo31SPYg5JVENQALyMwTFfolDW5hGux6B-izCfamKmvjKCjmK2QIqk-eGcnEqfXzfh8RL3yeau5EqprsqOWI9gaDFpFY5EalCpDPllqvqw21OD/s1600/Denver+area+from+the+air.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsLUXLxGnP8vs-4-Qbbz2sQtD3r7i2PGo31SPYg5JVENQALyMwTFfolDW5hGux6B-izCfamKmvjKCjmK2QIqk-eGcnEqfXzfh8RL3yeau5EqprsqOWI9gaDFpFY5EalCpDPllqvqw21OD/s1600/Denver+area+from+the+air.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On takeoff somewhere over the Denver area.</td></tr>
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Nelson was waiting for me in Regina where the temperature was just a few degrees above freezing. It was nice to be home, but I can't wait to visit Monterey once more.<br />
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Thanks for coming along on this virtual trip. Did any of these pics strike a chord with you?<br />
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<br />Anita Mae Draperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com0