Male Hairy Woodpecker

Seen at the Cochran Ranch, site of the first really large cattle ranch in Alberta.

Doors

I haven't done a collage in a while so here are some doors from around downtown and neartown Calgary. By the way, I looked up the difference between montage and collage and I'm not sure I understand the difference.

I shot all of these while walking around this weekend after the Digital Expo. At the DE they had all the newest and coolest Nikon stuff but I restrained myself and didn't buy anything (yet).

There were a couple of pro landscape and wildlife photographers there and we listened in on their seminars. They gave interesting talks and willingly gave away some of their "secrets".

Old House

This house has seen better days for sure. It is located across from the Calgary Convention Center, not far from the casino, and close to the Stampede grounds. The parking attendant who works beside it told me that the old caretaker there "went crazy" and broke out all the windows. He said the house has nice hardwood floors. I like old buildings and ghost towns.... As for houses, here is an old Alberta farm house on the prarie that was a little less grand.

Golden Arches

There are golden arches and then there are golden arches. While we do have the commercial ones, this one is on the path to the river from our apartment. Thousands and thousands have passed through it.

They don't serve burgers at this arch but there are some refreshment stands close by in the summer. BTW, we call "cokes" pop here. And we go to the washroom and not the toilet, restroom, or bathroom.

And another interesting thing, whole places close down for the season - for example the whole town of Waterton pretty much shuts down for the winter. Where do the people go? I think they go skiing or to the hockey rink. In other words, to other cold places.

There was a pretty heavy snow on Saturday but by Sunday it was clear and pretty again when I took this picture.

Magpie

These magpies are common around Calgary and are very pretty birds in the right light and quite elegant. This was one of a pair down by the river and I followed him up and down the bank for a while trying to get a good shot. I took his picture just after he lifted off from a rock and was probably only six or seven feet away. This is a very distant Australian relation.

Late Afternoon in the Park

It warmed up today, the snow is long gone, and it was a nice day for a walk.

Dirt Road

On the road heading into the mountains outside Canmore we saw a wolf, a bear, and several white tailed deer. I didn't get a picture, but it was enough to see them.

Zombies on Stephens Avenue

Yesterday was the Zombie Walk on Stephens Avenue. See more zombies by clicking here but be forewarned! Some are pretty gruesome (but they all seemed like they would be nice once you got to know them). One cool thing about them was that they all seemed to be following a theme like Alice and the Mad Hatter or Star Trek.

I explain how I took the photos on my One Photo a Week blog....

The Rut

The male elk was in the brush and bugled a few minutes before this picture was taken. Then he came running at the young male in the foreground who was grazing with the cows. The little one was out of there....

The picture was taken at Jasper National Park - I've posted some more in a slideshow.

Snow Monkey

Dear Stu Monkey,

It is cold and snowy here in Canada. My bananas are freezing and I wish I was in Florida.

Best regards,

Snow Monkey