Michael Pott saw this Snow Bunting posing nicely on a fence post on Dunbow Road last week, just SE of the city. These birds are usually seen in here in the winter in large flocks, in open rural areas.
Archives
Wednesday Wings: More Snowies!
Snowy Owls photographed north of Strathmore in early January by Rob English.
Wednesday Wings: Golden Eagle & Snowy Owls
Mitchell Kranz spotted this juvenile Golden Eagle on January 20 near Lake McGregor, northeast of Vulcan.
The same day, he also saw no less than 15 Snowy Owls between there and Blackie.
You can see more of Mitchell’s photos here.
Wednesday Wings: Crossbills
These photos were taken by Tim Hopwood over the past two weeks in various locations within the city of Calgary. The first four photos show Red Crossbills (which seem to be more abundant than usual in the city this winter), and the rest are White-winged Crossbills.
To see more of Tim’s photos, see his blog, Tim J. Hopwood Images.
Wednesday Wings: Northern Hawk-Owl Chick
Rob English was lucky enough to get these photos of a Northern Hawk-Owl chick in May 2012. Â This was from the pair that nested just off Grand Valley Road, NW of Cochrane. Â Rob says that to his knowledge, this was the first day out of the nest for this fledgling, and it was very busy exploring its environment!
Postcards from Mexico – Calgary Birds on their wintering grounds
Posted by Dan Arndt
While on vacation, I had planned to look for some of our old favourites from Calgary who might also be down here enjoying the warm weather for the winter. Thankfully, I wasn’t disappointed. I was a little surprised though at just what species I did find down here, and which ones I expected to find, and didn’t.
I do want to clarify too, that many of these birds spend all year long down here, but their range extends all the way back home to Calgary, which, as the crow flies, is about 4100 km. Quite staggering, when you consider that many of them make the migration from Calgary to this part of the world with very few stops for food or shelter.
Here are just a few of our fine feathered friends enjoying the sun, sand, and tequila down here in Mexico!
Belted Kingfisher
Gray Catbird
American Coot
Double-crested Cormorant
Eurasian Collared Dove
Great Blue Heron
American Redstart
Sanderling
Northern Waterthrush
American White Pelican and Peeps (along with a couple cormorants and Brown Pelicans)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Yellow Warbler
Least Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Sunday Showcase: Black-backed Woodpecker
The highlight of the 2013 New Year’s Day Bird Count in Fish Creek Park was the rediscovery of a Black-backed Woodpecker, first reported in the area on December 19, 2012. These birds are seldom seen in the Calgary region – I believe it is at least five years since the last one was seen inside the city. On the afternoon of January 1st, I went to the Marshall Springs area to look for it. Luckily for me, Ursula Krol, who had found it in the morning , had returned and found it again.
Photos by Bob Lefebvre
Wednesday Wings: Song Sparrow
This Song Sparrow has been overwintering in Votier’s Flats, Fish Creek Park. Â It spends quite a bit of time feeding in the open water of the creek. Photos by Bob Lefebvre.
The creek at Votier’s Flats.
Postcards from Texas: Yardbirds
Posted by Matthew Sim
As I’m sure many of you know, there can be some very busy points in our lives; right now I’m preparing for semester finals at school, keeping up with sports, preparing for a return to Calgary over Christmas and trying to keep up with the birding. While I can’t always get out, there is always time to notice the birds in my backyard. Here are some of the regulars.
Yellow-rumped Warbler; showing off that characteristic yellow rump!
Orange-crowned Warbler; is it just me or can anybody else see a faint orange streak just above his eye?
Chipping Sparrow
Mourning Dove
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
By the time you see this I will be back in Calgary for 2 weeks; I’m looking forward to some good northern birding again!
Sunday Showcase: Sharp-shinned Hawk
This Sharp-shinned Hawk was keeping a close eye on the feeders in this Brentwood yard on November 10, 2012. Â Photos by Eric White.
