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Loon Survey, Part Three

Nov2

It’s high time I updated the Loon Survey I did for Bird Studies Canada this past summer. You can read about the survey, and see pictures of the eggs, fledglings, and adult loons, on my previous posts: Loon Survey, Part One, and Loon Survey, Part Two.

In late August I returned to Leisure Lake, near Bragg Creek, to check on the Common Loon family.  The purpose of the third visit, late in the season, is to see if the young loons have survived.  Like all birds, loons have a high rate of mortality among fledglings.

I was happy to find that the two young, still in their brown plumage, were doing well.  They were starting to look like adults. (Click on any picture to enlarge it.)

  Juvenile Common Loon, about two months old.

The two juveniles with an adult.

However, despite making a long slow circuit of the entire lake, I only saw one of the parent loons.  I thought that perhaps one of the adults was hiding on shore somewhere, but I’ve been told that loons are so ungainly on land that they only go ashore to incubate their eggs.  It’s possible that it was in the reeds somewhere and I missed it, but that seems unlikely.  Perhaps one of the adults departed for the wintering grounds earlier than the other adult and the young.  I don’t know if they normally do that or if they all leave together.  The other possibility is that the missing adult succumbed to disease or a predator.  It will be interesting to see what happens there next spring.

If you want to participate in the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey, there are plenty of unmonitored lakes with loons on them.  Contact Bird Studies Canada for more information.  Here is a link to the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey page.

Posted by Bob Lefebvre

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Oct 31

Nov1

Have you seen an unusual bird in Calgary? If it is on this Reportable_Birds (PDF), please report it to the Nature Calgary Rare Bird Alert line at 403 221-4519 and leave a message after the beep at the end of the recording. If you would like some help with species identification, us email us at zoxox@shaw.ca  To report injured wildlife call the Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society at 403 239-2488, or the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation at 403 946-2361.

This report was prepared on Monday October 31.

October 27
— TRUMPETER SWAN (500), SE corner of Frank Lake, Don and Joyce Moore

October 28
— HARLEQUIN DUCK, Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Mike Potter

October 29
— TUNDRA SWAN (240), Eagle Lake, SE of Strathmore, Andrew Slater

— TRUMPETER SWAN (500-800), SE corner of Frank Lake, Ian Halladay and Cedric Hitchon

— GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (25), Eagle Lake, SE of Strathmore, AS

— SNOW GOOSE (1,500), Twp Rd 232 near the intersection with RR 245, AS

— HARLEQUIN DUCK, Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Dean Derrett and CFNS group

— GREATER SCAUP, Eagle Lake, SE of Strathmore, AS

— BARROW’S GOLDENEYE (20), Eagle Lake, SE of Strathmore, AS

— SAY’S PHOEBE, probable late-fall record date for Alberta, Frank Lake, IH and CH

— RUSTY BLACKBIRD with a flock of Brewer’s Blackbirds, at a feedlot on Twp Rd 240 east of Hwy 817, AS

October 30

— TUNDRA SWAN (300), including one near-Bewick’s Swan, Chestermere Lake, Terry Korolyk

— TRUMPETER SWAN (200) Shepard slough, TK

— SURF SCOTER, SE corner of Glenmore Reservoir, Ian Maton and Keith Sharkey

— OSPREY, very late migrant, Griffith’s Woods, SW Calgary, Steve Kaspar

— GREATER YELLOWLEGS (8) Weed Lake on Hwy 560 at Langdon, TK

— KILLDEER, N end of Chestermere Lake, TK

— THAYER’S GULL, N. end of Chestermere Lake, TK

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thursday November 3.

BIRD STUDY GROUP:

Bird Study Group meets 1st Wednesday of the month, Room 211,
BioSciences Building, U of C.  November 2: Digital bird photography with Brian Elder.

Sunday Showcase: Common Raven

Oct30

More stupendous shots from Rob English, who commented that you rarely see photos of these guys. These shots were taken in Yellowstone National Park in September of this year. As a huge fan of all members of the Corvid family and someone totally in love with ravens, I sincerely thank Rob for these photos. What a handsome bird!! Click to enlarge.

Posted by Pat Bumstead, total raven fan

Saturday Selection: Winter Birds in the Calgary area

Oct29

Here is a photographic collection of some of the birds you may see in the Calgary region this winter.

Snowy Owl

Common Merganser

Hairy Woodpecker

Mountain Chickadee

Brown Creeper

Red Crossbill

Posted by Matthew Sim

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Oct 27

Oct28

Have you seen an unusual bird in Calgary? If it is on this Reportable_Birds (PDF), please report it to the Nature Calgary Rare Bird Alert line at 403 221-4519 and leave a message after the beep at the end of the recording. If you would like some help with species identification, us email us at zoxox@shaw.ca  To report injured wildlife call the Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society at 403 239-2488, or the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation at 403 946-2361.

This report was prepared on Thursday October 27.

October 20
— TRUMPETER SWAN/TUNDRA SWAN (48), mixed flock on large pond at jct of Twp. Rd. 314 and RR 265, Corinne Griffin Swans have been slow to arrive this fall. Most common on Weed Lake near Langdon and Chestermere Lake

October 23
— GREAT HORNED OWL Wildwood Drive, west Calgary, Anne Jones

October 25
–PILEATED WOODPECKER Sunnyslope, west of Three Hills, on RR 260 ca. 400 m. north of Twp. Rd 312, also in Three Hills itself, CG

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday October 31.

BIRD STUDY GROUP:

Bird Study Group meets 1st Wednesday of the month, Room 211, BioSciences Building, U of C.

November 2: Digital bird photography with Brian Elder.

Revering a Raptor

Oct28

From the day that I first laid eyes on the species, gliding on broad wings over a coniferous forest in the Rocky mountains of Alberta, I have always looked with awe at it, astounded by its sheer magnificence. Many people have soft spots for raptors. I have a soft spot for one in particular: the Northern Goshawk.

I first saw a goshawk just over a year ago. It was early October 2010, and I had signed up for the Mount Lorette Golden Eagle field trip with Nature Calgary. I went out on my own to explore the area right around the location of the watch, and, while out on the path, witnessed an adult goshawk rise up from the spruce trees and circle away. From that moment on I was always looking for goshawks; every chance I got, I would go searching for them.

Rising up out of the forest; my first views of a Northern Goshawk

Several days later, on a biking trip to Fish Creek Provincial Park, I came across an adult Goshawk perched high up in a poplar, sitting and gazing at the world around him. I stood and watched this magnificent raptor for more than half an hour, pointing the bird out to anybody who came near. Many of these were joggers or were merely walking their dogs. They took little interest in this bird, that is somewhat tricky to spot in the city of Calgary. I was rewarded though by the few who did pause to look up at the goshawk and comment on his size.

“What did you say it was called?”

“A Northern Goshawk”, I would reply eagerly, ” it’s somewhat unusual here in Calgary.”

“Really? Wow! Look at how big he his!” After staring up at him for several more seconds, they would smile and move on. Hopefully the Goshawk had made an impression on them though.

While I watched this large, strong accipter (agile, forest dwelling hawks with short rounded wings and long tails) it scratched its head withs its talon, giving me glimpses of those wicked sharp utensils it uses to tear apart its prey. Eventually, it lifted off and disappeared amongst the trees.

Goshawks are among the largest, strongest and most audacious of the hawks of North America. In November 2010, a little over a month since I first observed this species, I got an excellent opportunity to view this audacity. I was riding my bike home from Fish Creek and was running slightly late. I looked down for a moment as I pulled onto a dirt path going around a storm water pond, and, when I looked up again, there, sitting merely yards away from me in a small tree no taller than 10 feet, was an adult goshawk. They now seemed to be everywhere I went! I slammed on the brakes as hard as I could and screeched to a stop, panting breathlessly. Pulling out my camera, I marveled at how close this bird had let me get. I stood watching him, he stood watching me, this went on for several minutes before he abruptly flew away.

Taken with a 200mm lens and no crop; I could see every detail in the feathers

Instead of leaving altogether though, the goshawk started hovering over a field, pulled up, started hovering again and then pulled up once more. Then, with a sharp turn, he came whizzing right at me and flew by me at a distance of about 4 feet! The raptor was so close that my lens couldn’t focus on it!

These incredibly neat personal experiences combined with an amazingly beautiful species, have come to make me love the Northern Goshawk.

Posted by Matthew Sim

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Oct 25

Oct26

Have you seen an unusual bird in Calgary? If it is on this Reportable_Birds (PDF), please report it to the Nature Calgary Rare Bird Alert line at 403 221-4519 and leave a message after the beep at the end of the recording. If you would like some help with species identification, us email us at zoxox@shaw.ca  To report injured wildlife call the Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society at 403 239-2488, or the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation at 403 946-2361.

This Bird Alert was recorded on Monday Oct 24 at 10:10 am.

Bird Sightings:

Oct 20:
DUNLIN (1), PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, STILT SANDPIPERS, 400 DOWITCHERS at Weed Lake, Phil Cram, Brian Elder & Ray Woods.

Oct 22:
PACIFIC LOON, SURF SCOTER female at Glenmore Res., Bill Wilson.
1000 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, 800 SNOW GEESE at Namaka Lake SE of Strathmore, Andrew Slater.
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET (2), PINE GROSBEAK (2) at Big Hill Spr. PP, Steve Kassai.
COOPER’S HAWK, TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE, BOHEMIAN WAXWING (60) at Votier’s Flats, FCPP, Katrina Lybbert.
FRANKLIN’S GULL (1) at Shepherd Landfill, Terry Korolyk.
TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE (7), AMERICAN ROBIN (25), RED CROSSBILL (6), GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, Votier’s Flats, FCPP, Gus Yaki & FFCPP.

Oct 23:
DUNLIN (1) at Chestermere Lake, Terry Korolyk.
DOWITCHER (400), BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (5 juv.), PECTORAL SANDPIPER (3), 1st yr. THAYER’S GULL at Weed Lake, TK.
MAGNOLIA WARBLER, Mount Royal district, Phil Cram.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thursday Oct 27.

Sunday Showcase: Young Swainson’s Hawk

Oct23

Rob English was fortunate enough to capture these stunning shots of a young Swainson’s hawk hunting grasshoppers. He took them in Hulls’ Wood, Fish Creek Park in early September. He says the bird hung around the area for about three days, and showed no fear. His wife named him “Mr. Personality.” Thanks so much for sharing these Rob! Click to enlarge. 

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Oct 20

Oct20

Have you seen an unusual bird in Calgary? If it is on this Reportable_Birds (PDF), please report it to the Nature Calgary Rare Bird Alert line at 403 221-4519 and leave a message after the beep at the end of the recording. If you would like some help with species identification, us email us at zoxox@shaw.ca  To report injured wildlife call the Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society at 403 239-2488, or the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation at 403 946-2361.

This Bird Albert was recorded on Oct 20, 2011.

OCT 16

GREAT GRAY OWL – Grand Valley Road on the first east-west section of road past the 4-way stop, Ron Kube
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL – 4 juveniles, yard in Mount Royal, Phil Cram
TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE – on the summit of Sulphur Mtn in Banff NP, Thomas Glen
RUSTY BLACKBIRD – Found again at a slough east of Calgary on Rge Rd 28 just south of Glenmore Trail, RK

OCT 17

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL – over 60 seen by Gus Yaki and the FFCPPSoc at Votier’s Flats in Fish Creek PP
RED CROSSBILL – 4 juveniles/females, yard in Mount Royal, PC

OCT 18

RED-THROATED LOON – on Glenmore Reservoir between Yacht Club and Canoe Club, TG
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL – 12 in Votier’s Flats of Fish Creek PP, Gus Yaki and the FFCPPSoc
RED CROSSBILL – 3, as above
NORTHERN GOSHAWK – 2, as above
PINE GROSBEAK – 1, as above; also 2 immature/female birds seen by PC in Britannia

OCT 19

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL – more than 60 seen by GY and the FFCPPSoc at Votier’s Flats
PACIFIC LOON – 1 seen on Glenmore Reservoir from Heritage Park, Bill Wilson

The next scheduled update of the bird alert is on Mon Oct 24.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Oct 17

Oct18

Have you seen an unusual bird in Calgary? If it is on this Reportable_Birds (PDF), please report it to the Nature Calgary Rare Bird Alert line at 403 221-4519 and leave a message after the beep at the end of the recording. If you would like some help with species identification, us email us at zoxox@shaw.ca  To report injured wildlife call the Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society at 403 239-2488, or the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation at 403 946-2361.

This Bird Albert was recorded on Oct 17, 2011.

OCT 10

GREAT GRAY OWL – Grand Valley Road, Ian Maton and Keith Sharkey

OCT 13

SANDHILL CRANE – 2 flocks east of Carstairs-Didsbury area, 9 birds on Rge Rd 270 south of Hwy 582, 30 birds at Twp Rd 314 and Rge Rd 271 junction – seen by Corinne Griffin
SNOW GEESE – 200 seen by CG at Twp Rd 314 and Rge Rd 271 junction
TRUMPETER SWAN – 7, CG at Twp Rd 320 just west of Hwy 791

OCT 15

TRUMPETER SWAN – 4 at the north end of Chestermere Lake – Terry Korolyk and members of Nature Calgary
TUNDRA SWAN – flocks of 20 and 30 in the middle of Weed Lake – seen by TK group as above
GREATER SCAUP – on Chestermere Lake – 3 to 5 seen by TK group
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER – juvenile at Weed Lake, Nature Calgary group with TK
PECTORAL SANDPIPER – 1, as above
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER – 3-4 as above
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER – 45 as above
RUSTY BLACKBIRD – Found by Ron Kube at a slough east of Calgary on Rge Rd 28 just south of Glenmore Trail

OCT 16

RED-THROATED LOON – on Glenmore Reservoir between the sailing club and the canoe club, reported by Bob Storms
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE – TK, 16 birds at the south end of Clear Lake (15 kms east of Stavely)
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER – TK, north end of Clear Lake
LESSER YELLOWLEGS – 5 birds as above
GREATER SCAUP – TK, 3 as above
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK – near Bow Valley Ranch in east Fish Creek PP, seen by Steve Kassai
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW – 7 as above

The next scheduled update of the bird alert is on Thu Oct 20.