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Spring Birds at Frank Lake and Carburn Park

May19

Posted by Bob Lefebvre

Here are some birds that Tony LePrieur photographed at Frank Lake on April 27. All of these species can still be found there throughout the breeding season, along with dozens more. All photos by Tony LePrieur.

American Avocet
American Avocet, Frank Lake, April 27, 2019.
American Coot
American Coot, Frank Lake, April 27, 2019.
Willet
Willet, Frank Lake, April 27, 2019.
Black-necked Stilt
Black-necked Stilt, Frank Lake, April 27, 2019.
Killdeer
Killdeer, Frank Lake, April 27, 2019.

The next day, after an overnight snowstorm in Calgary, there were quite a few migrating songbirds at Carburn Park. Tony was able to get some great shots of Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Carburn Park, April 28, 2019.

These are the Myrtle subspecies of Yellow-rumped Warbler. The Audubon’s subspecies has a yellow throat and lacks the dark mask. Most of the ones we see here are Myrtles heading for the boreal forest. Audubons breed farther west, but we do see both on migration.

Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Carburn Park, April 28, 2019.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Carburn Park, April 28, 2019.

There are still flocks of Yellow-rumps moving through the city now. Keep an eye out in parks and even in your yard!

Costa Rica Bird Photography Workshop 2019

May5

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Here is a wonderful opportunity to go to one of the birdiest places on earth and learn to photograph the local birds with an expert who is a native of Costa Rica. There are only three spots open for this trip so act now!

Costa Rica Bird Photography Workshop, December 2019

Conducted by Max Ortiz Aguilar

Resplendent Quetzal
Resplendent Quetzal

Max Ortiz Aguilar is a professional Nature Photographer who lives in Calgary. Since 2014 he has maintained a website, www.photosbymoa.com, where he has his portfolio of photos available for sale and for licensing as digital downloads. Last year Max joined the Friends of Fish Creek birding course to learn more about the local birds, and he has since been contributing to this blog.

Keel-billed Toucan
Keel-billed Toucan

You should plan to arrive to Costa Rica on December 3rd, and departure will be on December 15th. To give you the best customer service and to guarantee the best experience Max will be offering only 3 spots. In this way he will be able to give you his full attention and this will make things easier for everyone when you are in the field.

See Max’s website for a detailed itinerary of all the amazing spots you will visit during this workshop.

Black-crested Coquette
Black-crested Coquette

Included:

  • Photography mentoring by Max (in the field and post processing)
  • Online working sessions before and after the workshop
  • Multi-flash photography setup for hummingbirds
  • Single accommodation at all locations
  • All meals, including morning and afternoon snacks
  • Tours and park fees
  • Fees for local guides
  • Transportation (including to and from the Juan Santa María airport in Costa Rica)

Not Included:

  • Airfare
  • Macro photography sessions
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Laundry
  • Insurance
  • Other Miscellaneous Items

Cost: Total cost per participant is $5,000 USD (all taxes included). To book, a 50% deposit is required. This deposit is non-refundable but it is transferable. The other 50% must be paid by September 15th, 2019. Please visit Max’s site for details, and contact him if you have any questions.

Here are some more of the amazing birds you can see and photograph in Costa Rica:

Yellow-throated Toucan
Yellow-throated Toucan
Green Honeycreeper
Green Honeycreeper
King Vulture
King Vulture
Scarlet Macaw
Scarlet Macaw
Ornate Hawk-Eagle
Ornate Hawk-Eagle
Baltimore Oriole
Baltimore Oriole, one of the species you can see both in Calgary and Costa Rica.
Red-headed Barbet
Red-headed Barbet

Book this trip of a lifetime today!

Swan Season

Nov11

Posted by Bob Lefebvre

Here is a great photo taken by Kenneth Johnson on November 3 near the Jumpingpound Gas plant, west of Calgary.

Tundra Swan

Tundra Swans west of Calgary, November 3, 2018. Photo by Kenneth Johnson.

The darker birds with the pink on their bills are juveniles. I’m not positive that the big bird with its wings outstretched is a Tundra. It could be a Trumpeter (no yellow on the face, long bill) but the shape of the area between the eyes suggests Tundra. Comments welcome.

Trumpeter Swans migrate though the area up to about the first week of November, and Tundras a little later. Most will be gone by mid-month. The majority of Trumpeters tend to pass to the west of Calgary, and many are seen on the Glenmore Reservoir. To the east of town, far more Tundras are seen. But both can be found on any large body of water in the area, or in flocks flying overhead.

Here are eBird maps of reports of the two species during the first week of November. Each red teardrop shows a location where at least one swan was reported.

Tundra Swan

Above: Tundra Swan reports on eBird in the Calgary area, early November 2018.

Trumpeter Swan

Above: Trumpeter Swan reports on eBird in the Calgary area, early November 2018.

 

Wild Bird Store Anniversary Event Saturday

Sep28

On Saturday September 29 The Wild Bird Store in Calgary will be celebrating their 21st anniversary with some events that will be of interest to local birders.

Wild Bird Store Anniversary event

 

The Wild Bird Store is located at 5901-3 St SE. They have everything you need for backyard bird feeding.

Gus Yaki’s presentations will feature photographs of virtually every species that has ever been seen in Alberta. John Acorn, co-author with Chris Fisher of Birds of Alberta, will be doing a book signing. His newest book is Best Places to Bird in the Prairies.

The Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society will bring Lito, a Swainson’s Hawk, to the event. The CWRS always has a need for supplies to support the work they do. They will have a table set up for donations. If you are attending the store’s event, consider bringing any of the following items for them:

Animal Food
Frozen Corn
Frozen Blueberries
Frozen Peas
Mealworms
Animal Bedding
Towels (without strong patterns)
Fleece Blankets
Sheets (no fitted sheets)
Cleaning Supplies
Laundry Soap (unscented)
Bleach
Dish Soap
Hand Soap
Paper Towels
Toilet Paper
Construction Material
Exterior Door
Gazebo
Animal Supplies
Flax Hay Bales
Welding Gloves
Disposable Glove
Medical Supplies
Incubator
Digital Gram Scale
Portable Ultrasound
Office Supplies
Postage Stamps
Copy Paper
Pens & Sharpies
Envelopes

Shorebirds at Frank Lake

Sep10

Game bird hunting season has begun in most areas around Calgary, so fewer birders will be heading to Frank Lake. Tony LePrieur made a final trip there on September 2 and took these amazing water-level photos.

Semipalmated Plover

Semipalmated Plover, Frank Lake, September 2, 2018. Photo by Tony LePrieur.

Semipalmated Plover

Semipalmated Plover, Frank Lake, September 2, 2018. Photo by Tony LePrieur.

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Semipalmated Sandpiper, Frank Lake, September 2, 2018. Photo by Tony LePrieur.

Baird's Sandpiper

Baird’s Sandpiper, Frank Lake, September 2, 2018. Photo by Tony LePrieur.

You can see more of Tony LePrieur’s photos on his Flickr page at this link.

Costa Rica Bird Photography Workshop

Jul15

Advertisement.

Costa Rica Bird Photography Workshop, December 2018

Conducted by Max Ortiz Aguilar

Max Ortiz Aguilar is a professional Nature Photographer who lives in Calgary. Since 2014 he has maintained a website,  www.photosbymoa.com, where he has his portfolio of photos available for sale and for licensing as digital downloads. Last year Max joined the Friends of Fish Creek birding course to learn more about the local birds, and he has since been contributing to this blog.

Keel-billed Toucan

Keel-billed Toucan

Max is a native of Costa Rica and knows the birds and other wildlife there very well. This December he will be conducting a Bird Photography Workshop in Costa Rica. This twelve-day trip is a fantastic opportunity to encounter the wildlife of this amazing country, and to learn how to photograph the birds there.

Red-headed Barbet

Red-headed Barbet

There will only be three spots offered [as of July 15 there are only two spots still available]. Act now to reserve your spot! The trip is from December 4-16.

Included:

  • Photography mentoring by Max (in the field and post-processing)
  • Online working sessions before and after the workshop
  • Multi-flash photography setup for hummingbirds
  • Single accomodation at all locations
  • All meals, including morning and afternoon snacks
  • Tours and park fees
  • Fees for local guides
  • Transportation in Costa Rica (including to and from the Juan Santa Maria airport)

Not Included:

  • Airfare
  • Macro photography sessions
  • Alcoholic Drinks
  • Laundry
  • Insurance
  • Other miscellaneous items

Cost:

Total cost per participant is $4,800 USD (all taxes included). To Book, a 50% deposit is required. This deposit is non-refundable but it is transferable. The other 50% must be paid by September 15, 2018.

For more information and to register for this workshop, visit Max’s site:

https://www.photosbymoa.com/Workshops

Green Honeycreeper

Green Honeycreeper

Itinerary, December 4-16, 2018:

December 4 – Arrival in Costa Rica

December 5 to 7 – Caribbean Lowlands Rainforest

December 8 to 9 – Caribbean Lowlands and Foothills Rainforest

December 10 to 12 – Central Highlands Cloud Forest

December 13 to 15 – Central Highlands Cloud Forest

December 16 – Departure from Costa Rica

Here are some more of the incredible birds you may see and photograph:

Resplendent Quetzal
Resplendent Quetzal
Yellow-throated Toucan
Yellow-throated Toucan
Baltimore Oriole
Baltimore Oriole (yes, some of our local species are also found in Costa Rica).
King Vulture
King Vulture
White-necked Jacobin
White-necked Jacobin
Black-crested Coquette
Black-crested CoquetteOrnate Hawk-EagleOrnate Hawk-EagleScarlet MacawScarlet Macaw

Book your spot here!

Summer Birds of Crowsnest

Jul14

Raymond Toal photographed these birds in SW Alberta.

Steller’s Jay

Steller’s Jay

Red-necked Grebe

Red-necked Grebe with chick

American Avocet

American Avocet

Varied Thrush

Varied Thrush

Pileated Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker with young in nest

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

American Kestrel

American Kestrel

Some Birds of Fish Creek Park

Jul12

Tony LePrieur photographed these birds in Fish Creek Park on June 23, 2018.

House Wren

House Wren

Yellow Warbler

Yellow Warbler with food for its young.

American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch.

 

More Birds of the Southwest

Jun30

Here is another set of photos from Southwest Alberta, courtesy of Raymond Toal.

American Kestrel.

Osprey

Osprey.

Killdeer

Killdeer.

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron.

American White Pelican

American White Pelican.

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane.

Common Yellowthroat

Common Yellowthroat (male).

Swainson's Hawk

Swainson’s Hawk.

Brewer's Blackbird

Brewer’s Blackbird.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle).

Priddis Valley Road Wetland

Jun24

Tony LePrieur photographed these birds at the wetland just south of Priddis, on Priddis Valley Road, on May 26, 2018. The entire Priddis area is very birdy, and there are lots of wetlands to explore.

Wilson's Snipe

Wilson’s Snipe.

Wilson's Phalarope

Wilson’s Phalarope.

Black Tern

Black Tern.

Northern Shoveler

Northern Shoveler, male.

Baltimore Oriole

Baltimore Oriole.

See more of Tony’s photos here.