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Bountiful Birding at Frank Lake

May2

Last week I took the short drive out to Frank Lake, east of High River (see the directions under the “Birding Resources” tab above).  I was hoping to see some of the many Short-eared Owls that are often seen there at dusk, and I had about two hours before that to scope out the lake for waterfowl and other birds.  This is a very productive wetland, and I managed to see 24 species of birds, 13 of which were new ones for the year for me.

The water level is very high this year.  As you can see, the path to the observation blind was flooded.  There was also still quite a bit of ice on the lake, but much of Basin 1 was open.

By far the most common bird there was the Franklin’s Gull.  Frank Lake is home to perhaps the largest breeding colony of these gulls in the world, with up to 55,000 pairs.  They build floating nests in the cattails, and if the water levels remain this high they may not be able to breed here successfully.

There were other gulls as well.  This one, which I believe is a California Gull, was having eggs for dinner.

The gull took the egg onto the roof of the blind, and although it almost rolled off at one point, he finally did manage to eat it.

I had good views of Eared Grebes and Ring-necked Ducks…

But the highlight was when a flock of four White-faced Ibises flew in.  I had never seen this large, beautiful bird before.  It has dark, glossy, chestnut and bronze colouration, a long decurved bill, and of course a white face.

(Click on photos to enlarge them.)

The four flew on, but a little later another flock of twelve Ibises arrived…

They landed on the island…

And virtually disappeared in the grass…

(Cinnamon Teal in the foreground.)

At dusk, I started to drive back out on the dirt access road, but I didn’t get far, since I brake for Short-eared Owls…

This owl was right next to the road, so it flew before I could get very close.  However,  I saw another one hunting a little farther down the road…

All in all, a great evening of birding topped off by a fine southern Alberta sunset.

Posted by Bob Lefebvre

Must-see birds: May

May1

May is a great month for birds here; plenty of migrants, warming weather and leafless trees combine to make this month arguably one of the best months to see birds in the Calgary region. These factors therefore make it extremely hard to make a decision on just 5 birds to make the cut; but it had to be done, so here they are.

1. Horned Grebe    

The Horned Grebe is a small, attractive grebe, a family of aquatic birds seldom seen on land or in flight. The Horned Grebe has a chestnut neck and flanks while its black head is topped with contrasting golden horns. A beautiful bird, the Horned Grebe qualifies easily for the month of May. The Horned Grebe does not breed in Calgary but as it passes through, up to mid-May, you can try to see one at Elliston Park or the Glenmore Reservoir.

2. Black-necked Stilt

A large shorebird that is an erratic and local breeder here in southern Alberta, the Black-necked Stilt has very contrasting colors; black upper parts, white underparts and  very long, geranium-red legs. Its long, slender bill is always probing for food as its sharp eyes scan for both food and danger. This Stilt can be seen in wet pastures and on the grassy shorelines of shallow water, especially where there are plenty of mudflats. The stilt was virtually unknown in Alberta until 1994, but now, you can try to find it at places like Shepard Slough, Chestermere Lake and Weed Lake, Chestermere and Weed Lake being outside of the city.

Image courtesy Wikipedia

 3. Western Tanager

The male Western Tanager is a very striking bird, easily making it on our list, with a bright red head, black wings, back and tail and his canary yellow neck, rump and underparts. The Western Tanager eats insects and fruits and feeds among bushes and trees, also hawking insects from the air occasionally. The tanager’s main habitat are boreal and montane forests; often being found in coniferous and mixed wood areas. The Tanager does come through Calgary on migration; I had one in my mountain ash in May of 2009. The best places to see this amazing bird are the north end of Weaselhead and the west end of Fish Creek Provincial Park.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

 4. American Avocet

A handsome and showy shorebird that can often be seen foraging in shallow water or on the barren mud flats along the edges of lakes. A light cinnamon color adorns the Avocet’s head and neck in the breeding season with the rest of its plumage being black and white. These birds start converging in large flocks in central Alberta usually in early May and can be seen best at locations like Shepard Slough and Frank Lake.

5. Yellow Warbler

The male Yellow Warbler is a brilliant yellow with olive-green wings and reddish breast streaks. This is a common bird and has a wide distribution throughout the province, thanks to its ability to nest in a large variety of areas. The female is similarly colored, but is more green above and drabber below. The male, despite his bright colors, is surprisingly well camouflaged and is best seen when the trees still lack their leaves. The Yellow Warbler arrives in Mid-May and is found in river valleys and wooded urban areas; Inglewood Bird Sanctuary is a good place to find this warbler.

See if you can find all 5 birds for the month of may; and then let us know about it!!!

25 Must-see birds of the Calgary region: Spring and summer

Apr29

The Calgary region is home to many great birds during the spring and summer that entice many a birder to their habitat in the hopes of finding them. This leads us to a difficult decision that will be debated by many; which birds qualify for the 25 must-see?

As noted in the May/June 2011 issue of Wild Bird magazine, most of the birds that would qualify for a top 25 list have at least one of the following criteria: beauty, charisma, being a rarity and the habitat in which they can be found (spectacular, limited, etc.). We will have 5 of the must-see birds a month, appearing on the blog the month that is best to see them.

Try to get out there and see if you can find the 5 birds for each month and then tell us about your trips!!! Find out which birds made the cut for the month of May on Sunday.

Posted by Matthew Sim

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: April 28

Apr29

Have you seen an unusual bird in Calgary?  If it is a species on this Reportable_Birds list (PDF), please report it to the  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, email us at 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 Thursday, April 28 at 9:00 am.

SIGHTINGS FOR

Wednesday, April 27
–HERMIT THRUSH (1) – Confederation Park by Bill Wilson

Tuesday, April 26
–WHITE-FACED IBIS (16) – flocks of 4 and 12 at Frank Lake by Bob Lefebvre
–SHORT-EARED OWL (2) – Frank Lake at 8:45 pm by BL
–TURKEY VULTURE (1) – over the boat launch in east Fish Creek PP (FCPP) by Dave Vernon
–BROAD-WINGED HAWK (2) – Bankside/Burnsmead/Hull’s Wood area in east FCPP by Gus Yaki and the Friends of Fish Creek
–BLACK TERN (4) – location and observers as above
–NORTHERN SHRIKE (1) – RgeRd 274 north of Hwy 567 (NW of Calgary) by Heather Simonds

Monday, April 25
–WHIMBREL (3) – northeast of Granum by Tim Mcneill

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is Monday, May 2.

Photo Feathers: Common Goldeneye

Apr29

Recently, I visited Southland Park in Southeast Calgary where I found this male Common Goldeneye drinking water on the Bow River, providing for some neat shots. The Common Goldeneye is a diving duck with a mostly white body, topped with a head that can be a visible green sheen when seen in the right light.

The white oval in between the male Common Goldeneye’s beak and his eye distinguishes him from the similar Barrow’s Goldeneye; which has a white crescent.

The first step is to lower his head into the water.

And lower…

He then tosses his head back so that the water runs down his throat.

He then swallows, repeating this method until he has quenched his thirst. This is how most birds drink.

 

Posted by Matthew Sim

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: April 25

Apr26

Have you seen an unusual bird in Calgary?  If it is a species on this Reportable_Birds list (PDF), please report it to the  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, email us at 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 April 25, at 9:55 am.

SIGHTINGS FOR

Sunday, April 24
–RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (2) – at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary in SE Calgary by Bill Wilson.
–EURASIAN WIGEON (2) – one at the S side of Glenmore Reservoir in SW Calgary seen by BW and one reported on the Bow River at Mallard Point in SE Fish Creek PP by Jim Davis.
–COMMON LOON – numerous reports of this species in Calgary and area the past 3 days.
–HORNED GREBE – reported by several observers as above.
–RED-NECKED GREBE – numerous reports of this species as above.
–EARED GREBE – reported by several observers as above.
–OSPREY – reported by several observers as above.
–SONG SPARROW – numerous reports of this species as above.

Saturday, April 23
–RED-BREASTED MERGANSER – 5 seen by Bill Wilson on the SW corner of Chestermere Lake and also reported at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary in SE Calgary by Penny Smith and Nature Calgary Field Trip.
–EURASIAN WIGEON (1) – reported in the Frank Lake area, about 8 km E of High River, by Matthew Sim.
–HARLEQUIN DUCK – seen at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary by PS and Nature Calgary Field Trip.
–AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (18) – in flight over the Bow River near Carburn Park by Sean Phillips.
–THAYER’S GULL (1 first year) – seen at Shepard Landfill in SE Calgary by Terry Korolyk. To reach Shepard Landfill follow McIvor Blvd, located E of 52 St SE, to its end.
–AMERICAN PIPIT – a large flock in the Frank Lake area seen by MS and 2 reported by BW on Twp Rd 232 about 1 km W of Hwy 791 E of Shepard.
–BREWER’S BLACKBIRD (1) – seen in the Frank Lake area by MS.

Friday, April 22
–EURASIAN WIGEON (1) – reported on the Glenmore Reservoir in SW Calgary by BW.
–CINNAMON TEAL (1) – reported in the Calgary area on a trip from High River to Innisfail by Paula & Guy.
–HARLEQUIN DUCK (2 males) – seen at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary in SE Calgary by BW.
–LONG-BILLED CURLEW (2) – seen in the Calgary area on a trip from High River to Innisfail on RR 244 by P & G.
–THAYER’S GULL (1 adult) – at Shepard Landfill by TK.
–EASTERN PHOEBE (1) – heard 200 metres E of Bridge 2 in Shannon Terrace in W Fish Creek in SW Calgary by BW.
–LINCOLN’S SPARROW (1) – reported by Shirley Hartig in her yard just NE of High River.

Thursday, April 21
–EURASIAN WIGEON (3) – reported in the Wimborne Sunny Slopes area SE of Red Deer by Corinne Griffin.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is Thursday, April 28.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: April 21

Apr23

Have you seen an unusual bird in Calgary?  If it is a species on this Reportable_Birds list (PDF), please report it to the  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, email us at 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 Thursday April 21, at 10:25 am.

SIGHTINGS FOR

Wednesday, April 20
–CINNAMON TEAL (2) – at Fincastle Lake E of Taber in S Alberta by Lloyd Bennet.
–RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (60) – as above by LB.
–HORNED GREBE (4) – as above by LB.
–THAYER’S GULL (2 birds, 1-1st cycle & 1adult) – seen at the Shepherd Landfill in SE Calgary by Terry Korolyk. To reach Shepard Landfill follow McIvor Blvd, located E of 52 St, E to its end.
–CASPIAN TERN (4) – at Fincastle Lake by LB.
–NASHVILLE WARBLER (1) – reported at Hay Meadow at Mt Lorette just off Hwy 40 in Kananaskis, W of Calgary, by Jim Davis.

Tuesday, April 19
–OSPREY (2) – seen at Carburn Park on the metal tower at Lafarge located S of the pedestrian bridge across the Bow River by Gus Yaki & FFCPP nature field trip.
–AMERICAN ROBIN (1 albinistic) – seen in spruce trees in SW Calgary at the Palace Oak Condominiums complex at Palliser Dr and 24 ST SW.

Monday, April 18
–OSPREY (1) – as above by GY on FFCPP nature trip.
–SANDHILL CRANE (4) – seen just S of Calgary flying Northward by Dwight Knapik.
–WHOOPING CRANE (1) – seen flying in a slight northwesterly direction about 10 miles N and a bit E of Olds by Carl Linnard.
–WILSON’S SNIPE (1) – reported in Banff NP, W of Calgary, by Jason Rogers.
–RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER (1) – as above by JR.
–MARSH WREN (1) – as above by JR.
–SAVANNAH SPARROW (1) – as above by JR.

Saturday, April 16
–CHIPPING SPARROW (1) – reported near the Columbia Icefields on Hwy 93 to Jasper by JR.

Friday, April 15
–AMERICAN DIPPER (5) – at Elbow Falls on Hwy 66 W of Bragg Creek, W of Calgary, by DK.

Wednesday, April 13
–YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (1) – in Banff NP by JR.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is Monday, April 25.

Photo Feathers: Feeding Flickers

Apr20

 

Posted by Bob Lefebvre

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: April 18

Apr19

Have you seen an unusual bird in Calgary?  If it is a species on this Reportable_Birds list (PDF), please report it to the  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, email us at 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, April 18, at 10:20 am.

SIGHTINGS FOR

Sunday, April 17

–SNOW GOOSE (50 – 60) – seen flying low along Hwy 1A W of Cochrane near the Grand Valley Rd junction by Joan & Malcolm McDonald.

–COMMON LOON (3) – at Seebe pond W of Cochrane where Hwy 1X crosses the Bow River by J&MM.

–RED-NECKED GREBES (6) – on the Bow River upstream from the bridge at Morley just S of Hwy 1A by J&MM.

–MOURNING DOVE – reported at a feeder NE of High River by Greg Wagner.

–RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET – several seen at the Beaver ponds at the 2nd Vermilion Lake in Banff NP by J&MM.

–VARIED THRUSH – several as above by J&MM.

Saturday, April 16

–COOPER’S HAWK (1) – reported E of Red Deer Lake Meat Packers just S of Hwy 22X  S of Calgary by Terry Korolyk.

–RED-TAILED HAWK (HARLAN’S) – W of Hwy 773 SW of Calgary by TK.

–AMERICAN KESTREL – reported by several observers in the Calgary area the past few days.

–THAYER’S GULL (4th cycle) – at Sheperd Landfill in SE Calgary by TK.

–TREE SWALLOW – reported by several observers in and around Calgary the past few days.

–RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET – reported in Weaselhead Park in SW Calgary by Gus Yaki and FFCPP group.

–AMERICAN TREE SPARROW – reported by numerous observers passing through Calgary and area in large numbers the past week.

–DARK-EYED JUNCO – as above.

–WESTERN MEADOWLARK – reported by several observers in the Calgary area the past week.

–YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD – a pair reported by Shirley Hartig in her yard NE of High River.

–COMMON GRACKLE – reported in the Willow Park and Mapleridge subdivisions of SE Calgary and also NE of High River.

Friday, April 15

–YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (1 male) – seen at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary in SE Calgary by Mike Potter. This is the first report of this species in our area this Spring.

Backyard Birds: Eurasian Collared-Dove

Apr18

For the past two weeks I’ve had two Eurasian Collared-Doves, likely a breeding pair, coming to my yard every day.  They feed on the lawn (lately, on the snow), eating sunflower seeds that have spilled from the bird feeders.

Eurasian Collared-Doves

Eurasian Collared-Doves are not yet a common backyard bird in Calgary, but that may change.  They were introduced to North America in the Bahamas in the 1970’s and have rapidly spread across the continent.  I think they were first reported in Alberta in 2003, and in Calgary in 2004.  I know of two pairs that have nested in the SE quadrant of the city in each of the past two years:  one pair in Shepard, and another in Dover.

This bird has an odd broken feather sticking out on its left side, so I know it’s the same bird returning each day.

Eurasian Collared-Doves are pale buff-grey to pinkish-grey in colour.  They are about the same length as a Rock Pigeon, but slimmer and with a longer tail.  On the back of their neck they have a narrow black half-ring, edged with white, from which they get their name.

This preening bird shows off its black collar…

Eurasian Collared-Doves are becoming more common in the rural areas south and east of Calgary, and are being seen regularly in the city as well.  They seem to occupy an ecological niche between that of the Rock Pigeon and Mourning Dove.  It remains to be seen if they will become a common backyard bird like the Rock Pigeon, or primarily a rural one like the Mourning Dove.  If you see any in your yard, please let Birds Calgary know!

Posted by Bob Lefebvre