Christmas Bird Count, December 17, 2023

On Sunday Nature Calgary lead the Christmas Bird Count in Calgary. The good weather is continuing in Calgary and it helped make the morning very enjoyable. Arriving a little early, I was able to catch the end of the sunrise.

iPhone 14, 6mm, ISO 100, 1/121, f/1.5. Dec 17, 2023, 8:30 am.

We met at the confluence of the Bow River and Elbow River. There is a very interesting Bridge from Bridgeland to the confluence. 

iPhone 14, 6mm, ISO 125, 1/106, f/1.5. Dec 17, 2023, 8:35 am.

Another volunteer and I walked the Elbow River from the confluence up to Union Cemetery (25 Ave SE). We saw hundreds of Canada Geese, dozens of Mallards, and a few other birds. Not as common as other times of the year, we came across some Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus).

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 456mm, ISO 4000, 1/400, f/12. Dec 17, 2023, 9:15 am.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 800mm, ISO 4000, 1/1000, f/13. Dec 17, 2023, 9:25 am.

We also saw a few Common Goldeneyes and a couple of Common Mergansers (Mergus merganser).

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 571mm, ISO 1250, 1/500, f/12. Dec 17, 2023, 10:10 am.

As we got close to the parking lot, a couple of Downy Woodpeckers (Dryobates pubescens) flew into an old snag.

Olympus OM-1, 100-400mm + MC20, 371mm, ISO 4000, 1/3200, f/12. Dec 17, 2023, 10:45 am.

All pictures photo-edited with On1 Photo Raw 2024