Almost Skunked

Sunrise over Alberta's Prairie

After arriving in Calgary Alberta and meeting up with the group, we packed the van when our luggage and gear and started out for Drumweller which was going to be our home for the next three days. After checking in to motel, the group went out to dinner, discussed the itinerary for the next day and then back to the hotel for a good nights sleep.

The next morning, we met at 7 AM loaded our camera gear into the van and then went to breakfast. our regional guide, Jon met us and then we went out to explore the prairie looking for snowy owls. There was a nice sunrise over the prairie and as we drove around we saw many snowy owls, however they were extremely skittish and would fly away even when we were long distances away from where they were perched. We continued looking without obtaining any pictures and we were thinking we were going to get skunked. In fact, we were able to photograph face right skunk walking in the fields on the snow.

Striped Skunk

Striped Skunk

Finally, we found one snowy owl sitting on a gas pump rig that was cooperative and allows some photographs.

Snowy Owl Sitting on a Gas Pump Rig

In the late afternoon, finally we found a snowy owl flying and hunting, who did not seem to be bothered by us and allowed us to get the chance to get some flight shots.

Snowy Owl in Flight

Snowy Owl in Flight

Snowy Owl in Flight over the Prairie

Snowy Owl Landing

I was going to post a blog while I was up in Canada, but my blog application with not allow me into into the program to post a blog.

A reminder, that I will be running a macro workshop starting at 8 AM at Gooseberry Neck in Westport Massachusetts. Besides instruction the workshop will include a lunch and you can sign up On the Allens Pond website http://www.massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/program-catalog#program:sanctuary=25:whoTags[]=audience_adult:program_code=32386