Black capped Chickadees

Remember as a kid getting your favorite treat. The excitement could not be contained, you jumped for joy with each bite. That's the way I thought the black-capped chickadees were behaving as they went from shrub to shrub, eating  buds after buds. Putting themselves into all sorts of body positions, some too fast for my eyes to see.

 With 12-15cm in size and 9-14g in weight, they are always busy looking for food, in order to survive the long winters. On cold nights they are able to reduce their temperature by up to 10-12 degree Celsius, to conserve energy.

 About six birds were going right to left, I stayed few meters ahead capturing them in all sort of positions,  as we enjoyed the warmth from the sun. I must have taken well over hundred shots, as always only few were worth keeping. I like to share four pictures with you today.

Until next moment,

Amar

Northern Pygmy Owl

I was walking on a trail, just before 4pm. It was bit dark in the woods when I heard a bird call. I looked in the direction, not seeing any until I heard the same call again. Then I saw a bird about the size of Robin go up to a branch on the tree about 5 meters above the ground.  I kept my eyes on the location as I made my way toward the tree. With little light coming through, I was not able to ID the bird with my eyes.

 I took my camera out and zoomed in, I was still not getting a clear view. Decided to take few pictures and would be able to tell what type of bird it was from my camera's LCD. It was a owl, later confirming it was a Northern Pygmy Owl.

 It was perched too high for me to get a clear shot, took pictures from few spots before deciding to move on. Had a another peak on the camera's LCD before getting home, I did noticed that it had a prey in one of its talon. But only when I looked at the picture on a monitor I could make out what the prey was.

 I'm glad the owl's eyes can be seen, along with the beak and of course the owl's meal. For me it was one of those moment, when I'm happy living so close to nature, and only with time this moment becomes clear. I imagine when I heard the call, the owl was coming down to grab its prey and then I saw it fly up. In the end, it was giving me the look to move along so it could eat in peace.

Until next moment,

Amar

Cascade Mtn by Bow

Morning was getting colder and colder as winter made its way. Hands had to get used to cold and I had to remember to keep my gloves on and get used to working my equipment with them on. I found a nice spot along Bow River, where Cascade Mtn reflected on the slow moving water. Snapped few pictures before The hands were too cold.

Until next moment,

Amar

Peyto Lake

Winter was making its way into the park. As I was looking for the place to take pictures, I was thinking about a winter in the past when the snow really did not start falling until around New Year day. Walking on the shores of Peyto Lake, all covered by ice. Sounds were coming through the opening near the shores, thinking the sound that was being made was caused by some animal in the woods. But soon becoming wise enough to understand it was from air escaping from under the ice as water moved around. The year I took this picture, snow arrived in time.

Until next moment,

Amar

Downy Woodpecker

Light snow was falling as I was hiking the Marsh loop Trail. I was near the end when I spotted a Downy Woodpecker. It was taking its time moving form tree to tree, looking for food. I was following it through my lens, snapping pictures as it rested for brief moments. After few minutes it decided to fly away.

Until next moment,

Amar

Castle Mtn

Sky was clear and the sun was setting. Headed toward a small lake, near the main highway going through the valley. As I neared the lake, saw water was still, I decided to make my way to the other side of the lake to take picture of Castle Mtn. I quickly set my equipment as the sunlight casted a warm glow on to Castle, as it was reflected in the water.

Until next moment,

Amar

Valley

I parked my car and hiked up few hundred meters, getting a beautiful view of the valley. As I looked around, few hawks flew by, following the counters of the mountain I was on. For thousands of years humans have been travelling through the valley. Today they do the same by old and modern means. Enjoyed the view of the valley with the fall colours.

Until next moment,

Amar

Full Moon

Here's my effort to take picture of a full moon setting over the Massive Range. Zooming in with my lens to create a grand moon. The picture was taken over a year ago, over time it looks more and more average. Posting it and I keep it to remind me of that beautiful morning and also to see how I can improve on it.

Until next moment,

Amar

Pilot Mtn

Most of my favourite pictures were taken when I out there along. Can go where I want and look for what I wanted to take pictures of. I went to few different places, no pictures but got in small hikes. As I was on my way home decided to stop near a pond to take pictures of Pilot Mountain. Even though it was in the middle of the day, I though the light created a interesting picture.

Until next moment,

Amar

Juvenile Osprey

When I first arrived near the site of the Osprey nest, no one was on the nest. I went about looking for other things to take pictures of. About half hour later I heard the call of an Osprey. Headed toward the nest, on which I saw a Juvenile. Grabbed few pictures while it was on the nest and when it landed to the side of the river to clean up.

Until next moment,

Amar

Sawback Range

End of the day was near, decided to get of 1A and take picture of the Sawback Range. As I was setting up, a couple decided to start walking front of to take their own picture. I was happy to see they moved across to the right of and I was able to have them out of my frame. Just as right light came about and I was about to snap pictures, the couple decided to move into my frame. Luckily they were headed for their car and I had the place to myself. Able to take the pictures I wanted.

Until next moment,

Amar

Cascade Garden

Had spent an hour taking pictures in the Cascade Garden. Taking pictures of some of the beautiful flowers in the garden. It was fun trying to capture some of the colours represented in the garden on that beautiful day. Just as I was about to move on, a humming bird comes into sight. I quickly captured a picture of it before if flew away, great way to end the visit.

Until next moment,

Amar

Banff National Park Administration Building

Built in 1937, to office few of the many who look after natural and cultural heritage that Banff National Park holds. Often I would be outside taking pictures of the flowers that can be found in the garden, but I liked this angle of the building and what was happening in the sky. Before too many bites by the mosquitoes, I snapped few pictures off my tripod.

Until next moment,

Amar

Mount Rundle

The meeting I was in was over and headed on nearby trail for a sunset picture. Did not have much time, but right away I saw the late light on Mount Rundle and the clouds above it. Composed few pictures from different location, the one with this blog came out the best.

Until next moment,

Amar

Arctic Poppies

I might have looked funny, but there I was low to the ground trying to takes pictures of the poppies looking up toward the sky. It was trail and error until I started to get good at it. I would try to get the shadow of the flowers on the lens and then take pictures. After few minutes I got the image I was looking for.

Until next moment

White Admiral

Rain had just stopped and I moved away from the tree that was keeping me dry. I took out my camera and started to look for things to take pictures off. I came across this butterfly and wondered what had happened with its wings. Was it the rain or a close call with a bird. I bathed under the sun as I snapped few pictures.

Until next moment,

Amar

Rock and Ice

When ever I see Mount Temple, It reminds me when we scrambled up it in 2003. The fires had stopped and we were hiking and scrambling again. At that time to go up Mount Temple, need to have a group of 6 or more because of grizzly bear in the Larch Valley. When we reached the top there were some 35 hikers already there. As always the view was amazing 360 degrees.

Until next moment,

Amar

Birds

The day I took these pictures, I saw several type of birds within an hour, in a small area. Just giving touch of the diversity existing in the Bow Valley. I was more and more getting deeply involved in birds photography. Each bird unique and interesting to watch and capture with my camera.

Until next moment,

Amar

Canada Day

Normally I would just take pictures of the fireworks, creating abstracts. This time I decided I wanted to have the outlines of the tree in the foreground and firework in the background. Giving me a interesting look.

Until next moment,

Amar

Sulphur Mountain

I saw the happy clouds with the beautiful blue mountain sky. Made my way to the end of Third Vermilion Lake, where the water would be calm. I took two pictures to create this image. Enjoyed the half hour I spent taking the pictures, as I was entertained by Red winged Blackbirds.

Until next moment,

Amar