Winter Wanderings . . . Bohemian Waxwing

I have been on the lookout over the past couple of winters for pygmy owls. Friends have regaled me with pygmy owl stories and Facebook is full of images from lucky photographers who have seen and photographed of these, the smallest owls in Alberta. Alas, my wanderings and searches have yet to be rewarded with a single sighting. If you know of any locations where these owls are hanging out, I’d be grateful for a location tip (or any other tips about interesting local wildlife as well)!

However, I shouldn’t complain, as I have had some interesting winter wildlife encounters.

Large flocks of Bohemian Waxwings are often seen wheeling their away around urban neighbourhoods during the winter, gorging on mountain-ash berries. This individual was one of a small group that showed up in my yard one cold afternoon to gobble the last of the berries remaining on a cotoneaster bush.