Laura Bentley Alberta Wildlife/Nature Photographer

03/21/2017

The American robins arrived just in time for spring. We have had nesting robins for several consecutive years now. They initially tried building on our 1 1 /2" front window ledge, successfully. My husband had the idea to put up a platform in the corner of the front door over hang & it was grabbed quickly the following day. I have put up a second over a window/overhang in the backyard, as we had two robins use the same nesting spot last year. This was because I removed the nest to paint. Before I got to it, another was actively building. It's really neat to have this experience! You can never have too many birds in your life 😊

03/16/2017

I have been extremely negligent posting to this page lately. Yesterday I saw something I may never see again. Parliament of snowy owls. I'm finding it incredibly difficult to find words for the humbling experiences we had yesterday. I saw a few extremely rare sites which will be etched in my mind forever. We were doing what we always do on March 15 & that was enjoying the last day of ice fishing on many S. Alberta lakes with the family. On the way out, as expected the prairie trails had turned to greasy prairie gumbo! Just after gaining the momentum to get up & over a hill, this site was awaiting us on the other side. I couldn't speak, my knees buckled & shaking because it is moments such as this that I undeniably live for. The ones that happen when you're least expecting it. This was followed by 6 additional snowy owl sitings within a 10km radius during pre & post sunset. March 15,2017. I was admittedly keeping an eye open for a single pure white snowy we've seen in this area for the past few years. I am only posting a smaller photo to FB.

12/06/2016

I tried not to keep him from his hunting, but did want to grab a few pics. A bit noisy but better to leave this little guy to hunt. His world changed over night as the temps plummeted to -16c in Calgary last night, along with a few cm of snow. The kids were shovelling the backyard & neighbours and as we came back up the steps noticed him just 5-6 ft away in the spruce tree. Craig has a much better eye spotting this guy as he'd seen him a few times this week prior to this. And again this morning. It seems when I look away he sees it. It's all about survival now & we obviously have what he needs to survive, too many mice! I have noticed a huge decline in the #'s of mice around, thanks to him. 'Toot' the northern saw whet owl.

08/31/2016

A few captures around Caroline the past few days. Great gray .

05/05/2016

05/03/2016

Today was one of those warm, fuzzy feeling days. I will be giddy for sometime after having the pleasure to watch this great horned owl & owlet for a bit. The great horned owl is Alberta's provincial

04/22/2016

Happy Earth Day everyone. It's always Earth Day here! This morning after watching this chickadee gathers moose hair for it's nest I managed to capture it. Not sure if it's male or female but a very petite one. Moose hair is hollow & will provide the chicks a very warm spot to grow in their 1st days of life. Nesting season has begun early in Calgary as most everything else this spring.

04/20/2016

A few captures this past week. I have been very busy trying to refurbish a few older gardens in my yard, but have very much been enjoying the little wildlife/bird we have created! I am never alone 😉🌞😎🌝🇨🇦❤️
Osprey
Swainsons hawk
Robins
Cherry blossoms
Apple blossoms
And just a taste of the work we've being doing, rock garden.

03/03/2016

I had the entire day with the yesterday in our yard. It was the 1st time I've seen it in daylight. Chickadees and nuthatches alerted me as they were freaking out all around a specific branch for 15 minutes. I went to check it out & it took me another 15 minutes to spot it. It is so tiny, and was tucked in the dense tips of our spruce tree. It was warming up lunch :). I was thrilled for this experience and I finally found an owl pellet under it on the ground, about the size of a spruce pine cone.

02/18/2016

I captured this purely scene yesterday morning after debating whether to go for a drive, as it was dark & grey. In the back of my head I knew that days like this are often the most active for . My husband is on a few days of holidays & regardless of the weather we like to make the most out of days off. There is no better way to spend a day off than getting waist deep in this beautiful province! All the have given me an over the top migraine and this was a needed healing adventure. I have further played with this since posting the original to my wildlife group, as I like to stay true to them :) & a little better quality but Facebook does not do birds justice.