No they're not afraid to feed from my hand in the sunlight. It's just that I have a certain table at the hatchery that I like because it has bushes and trees around for the birds to perch in while they eat the seeds. The sun is low this time of year so my table doesn't get sun until late afternoon and I'm a morning person. Plus the snow is deep and I wear running shoes when I bike.
I have another little group of birds I feed about half a mile away but they are not brave enough to land on my hand. They're right between the Bow River and the highway, so they are a bit jumpy. They do rush to the side of the trail when I call them though.
My last group of birds is along the Elbow River right off of busy downtown, at the Olympic oval park.
Hello Fairygirl,
Yes a lot of snow, the passes through the Rocky Mountains from here to where your relatives live has been shut a few times due to avalanches these past couple weeks. Hard to believe but next week the temps are going up to near +20 here in Calgary. Winter is far from over though.
Thanks Johnny - my sister had told me about the rellies. She does the Facebook thing with a couple of them. It seems so strange to think your temps will swing so much from one extreme to another. We don't get that in Scotland!
Had a good outing yesterday, on a hill I've done before rather than the one I intended. Weather didn't lookpromising en route - snowing and clag down on all the tops, and I didn't want to risk the other hill in case it didn't clear as forecast - it's a much longer walk with a vertical cleft to negotiate to the summit plateau. It did clear later, but that's the way of it. As they say - the hills will always be there, the trick is to make sure you are too
I revisited Beinn a Chrulaiste, further along the A82 towards Glencoe. Snow was down to around 1,800 feet and I took loads of pix. The initial 'prow' of Stob Beinn a Chrulaiste is a good viewpoint. I took a self timed shot later from it
Hoping the clag at the top would lift to allow summit views. The 30/40mph easterly winds were whipping the surface snow up, but 'The Bookil' across the road was looking good as a window of blue sky briefly opened up
The last 200 feet were accompanied by the scouring horizontal snow, but the summit was now clear enough to see north to The Mamores - also starting to appear from under the heavy sky
Sky was still snow laden though
View (west) towards the Kinlochleven Corbett, Mam na Gualainn. I was on the other one a few weeks ago in brilliant sunshine - and no snow!
Looking down between the two Bookils to the 2 Munros on the western side of Glen Etive
The Big Bookil (and all the other hills) now in all their glory as the sky cleared
Looking the other way - zoomed shot of Sgurr Eilde Mor in The Mamores, where I was in October
Just when I was thinking that it feels like a mountain goat sometimes on the descents - these were hiding round the corner on the lower slopes....
Hope you enjoyed a bit of walking with me in the snow
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It was a real ' lou'ring ' one again Joyce. I love those
The lower path was icy with frozen snow melt , and I had a laugh just before I saw the goats, when a little group of four were heading up. I don't think they realised that, just because there's a path, it doesn't mean you can't walk on the frosty grass at the side.
I said hello to them, but the hipster chap who was last ( shades on, new looking gaiters, trying to look casual ) said hi, and attempted to stay looking cool...as he stepped on the ice...and promptly did a 'Bambi'....
Just as well I was past him in a second and he couldn't see me trying to keep the laugh under control. I didn't dare look back for ages! Very cruel
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Not sure Joyce. It had brightened up well by that point (early afternoon) but they didn't look like they were prepared for the wind or snow conditions. No axe/crampons in evidence. One of them had those shiny lycra running trousers on....
It might have looked nice at that point but, higher up, it was around ten degrees lower on top of the minus temps, because of the wind. It was predicted around minus fifteen to seventeen on the Munros, so probably about minus twelve or so. Fine while you were moving, and it's steep enough to get you warm quickly, but you couldn't have gloves off for more than about 20 seconds.
I wonder if they turned back....
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
There's very little left of the ancient pine forests now Johnny, for various reasons. There are a few areas where you can see remnants - including Rannoch Moor, which is ten minutes south of the hill I was on, and a very famous part of Scotland. I keep meaning to stop and take a few pix of it. It's a favourite haunt of photographers. There's also a few bits visible from the road on the fringes of An Caisteal (one of my favourite hills) a little further south near Crianlarich.
The native Scots pine ( our national tree) is confined to the Highlands and Cairngorms, and there are large areas of Caledonian pine forest which support lots of wildlife, including the red squirrel. Mainly a little bit further north than where I was yesterday.
Of course - no trees grow at a level higher than about 1200/1300 feet because of the wind. They don't get a chance!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
Buttercupdays, patience and the ability to keep still will result in many pleasurable wildlife moments as well as hand feeding the birds.
Sadly, too few people take the time.
Hi aym,
No they're not afraid to feed from my hand in the sunlight. It's just that I have a certain table at the hatchery that I like because it has bushes and trees around for the birds to perch in while they eat the seeds. The sun is low this time of year so my table doesn't get sun until late afternoon and I'm a morning person. Plus the snow is deep and I wear running shoes when I bike.
I have another little group of birds I feed about half a mile away but they are not brave enough to land on my hand. They're right between the Bow River and the highway, so they are a bit jumpy. They do rush to the side of the trail when I call them though.
My last group of birds is along the Elbow River right off of busy downtown, at the Olympic oval park.
Hello Fairygirl,
Yes a lot of snow, the passes through the Rocky Mountains from here to where your relatives live has been shut a few times due to avalanches these past couple weeks. Hard to believe but next week the temps are going up to near +20 here in Calgary. Winter is far from over though.
Thanks Johnny - my sister had told me about the rellies. She does the Facebook thing with a couple of them. It seems so strange to think your temps will swing so much from one extreme to another. We don't get that in Scotland!
Had a good outing yesterday, on a hill I've done before rather than the one I intended. Weather didn't lookpromising en route - snowing and clag down on all the tops, and I didn't want to risk the other hill in case it didn't clear as forecast - it's a much longer walk with a vertical cleft to negotiate to the summit plateau. It did clear later, but that's the way of it. As they say - the hills will always be there, the trick is to make sure you are too
I revisited Beinn a Chrulaiste, further along the A82 towards Glencoe. Snow was down to around 1,800 feet and I took loads of pix. The initial 'prow' of Stob Beinn a Chrulaiste is a good viewpoint. I took a self timed shot later from it
Hoping the clag at the top would lift to allow summit views. The 30/40mph easterly winds were whipping the surface snow up, but 'The Bookil' across the road was looking good as a window of blue sky briefly opened up
The last 200 feet were accompanied by the scouring horizontal snow, but the summit was now clear enough to see north to The Mamores - also starting to appear from under the heavy sky
Sky was still snow laden though
View (west) towards the Kinlochleven Corbett, Mam na Gualainn. I was on the other one a few weeks ago in brilliant sunshine - and no snow!
Looking down between the two Bookils to the 2 Munros on the western side of Glen Etive
The Big Bookil (and all the other hills) now in all their glory as the sky cleared
Looking the other way - zoomed shot of Sgurr Eilde Mor in The Mamores, where I was in October
Just when I was thinking that it feels like a mountain goat sometimes on the descents - these were hiding round the corner on the lower slopes....
Hope you enjoyed a bit of walking with me in the snow
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
There were certainly lots of changing skies yesterday Fairy, making for interesting views. Lovely looking towards the Mamores.
It was a real ' lou'ring ' one again Joyce. I love those
The lower path was icy with frozen snow melt , and I had a laugh just before I saw the goats, when a little group of four were heading up. I don't think they realised that, just because there's a path, it doesn't mean you can't walk on the frosty grass at the side.
I said hello to them, but the hipster chap who was last ( shades on, new looking gaiters, trying to look casual ) said hi, and attempted to stay looking cool...as he stepped on the ice...and promptly did a 'Bambi'....
Just as well I was past him in a second and he couldn't see me trying to keep the laugh under control. I didn't dare look back for ages! Very cruel
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Fairy, I did lol when I read that
Were they prepared for the hills or having an afternoon "walk"?
Not sure Joyce. It had brightened up well by that point (early afternoon) but they didn't look like they were prepared for the wind or snow conditions. No axe/crampons in evidence. One of them had those shiny lycra running trousers on....
It might have looked nice at that point but, higher up, it was around ten degrees lower on top of the minus temps, because of the wind. It was predicted around minus fifteen to seventeen on the Munros, so probably about minus twelve or so. Fine while you were moving, and it's steep enough to get you warm quickly, but you couldn't have gloves off for more than about 20 seconds.
I wonder if they turned back....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Fairygirl,
I would feel right at home in those snowy mountains of yours, except I notice a lack of pine trees.
There's very little left of the ancient pine forests now Johnny, for various reasons. There are a few areas where you can see remnants - including Rannoch Moor, which is ten minutes south of the hill I was on, and a very famous part of Scotland. I keep meaning to stop and take a few pix of it. It's a favourite haunt of photographers. There's also a few bits visible from the road on the fringes of An Caisteal (one of my favourite hills) a little further south near Crianlarich.
The native Scots pine ( our national tree) is confined to the Highlands and Cairngorms, and there are large areas of Caledonian pine forest which support lots of wildlife, including the red squirrel. Mainly a little bit further north than where I was yesterday.
Of course - no trees grow at a level higher than about 1200/1300 feet because of the wind. They don't get a chance!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Fairy, sooner you than me in minus 12! But lovely to share your gorgeous views - thank you!