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Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Jan 6

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, Jan 5.

Wednesday, JANUARY 4
–TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE (4) – Elbow River monthly survey by Gus Yaki and CFNS field trip
–RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER (1) – George Lane Park in High River by Jeff ____

Tuesday, JANUARY 3
–HOODED MERGANSER (1m) – Elliston Park in SE Calgary by Terry Korolyk and Bob Lefebvre
–NORTHERN PINTAIL (1m) – Ralph Klein Park in SE Calgary by TK
–KILLDEER (10) – 6 at Hull’s Wood, 1 at Bankside, 3 at Mallard Point,all in Fish Creek PP, by TK
–TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE (2) – Brittania subdivision in SW Calgary by Phil Cram
–RED CROSSBILL ( 25) – Britannia by PC

Monday, JANUARY 2
–LESSER SCAUP (1f, 1m) – Hwy 22x bridge over the Bow R by TK
–GREEN-WINGED TEAL (1f) – Mallard Point in Fish Creek PP by TK
–COMMON GOLDENEYE X BARROW’S GOLDENEYE (1m) – Policeman’s Flats, SE of Calgary off Dunbow Rd, by TK

Sunday, JANUARY 1
–KILLDEER (3) – Carburn Park by Jeff Bingham
The Fish Creek PP annual New Year’s Day Bird Count reported the following:
–REDHEAD (1)
–GADWALL (1)
–RED-TAILED HAWK (1)
–PRAIRIE FALCON (1) – Hwy 22x bridge over the Bow R
–KILLDEER (record 15)
–EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (1) – new for the count

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Dec 26

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 December 26.

Bird Sightings:

October – December 26:  –RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: Around since October 2011, the woodpecker continues to be seen in the same location as previously reported, in High River.

Dec. 24:

–NORTHERN HAWK OWL: Just west of Turner Valley along Hwy.546. Seen previously on Dec. 19.

–NORTHERN SHRIKE: Glenmore Reservoir, south escarpment W.of yacht club. By Bill Wilson.

–EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE: Deer River Green, SE Calgary, by Dave Breckon.

–PEREGRINE FALCON: W. of Black Diamond.

–TUNDRA SWAN(1): Frank Lake. Previously reported from the High River CBC.

Dec. 25:     –VARIED THRUSH:(1), seen in yard of Bob Lefebvre in SE Calgary.

Dec.26:      –SNOWY OWL(3), east of Calgary, by Terry Korolyk.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thursday, December 29.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Dec 22

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 December 22.

Bird Sightings

Several Christmas bird counts over the last week produced some interesting birds as follows:

December 18, Calgary bird count produced 69 species, including the following species of interest: AMERICAN PIPIT (first ever for the count); GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-INCH ( second ever for the count); CANVASBACK, PIED-BILLED GREBE, NORTHERN HARRIER, HARRIS’S SPARROW, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, COMMON GRACKLE, RED-TAILED HAWK, LONG-TAILED DUCK, HARLEQUIN DUCK AND AMERICAN DIPPER.

December 20, High River count produced a record 56 species, including the following species of interest: RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, TUNDRA SWAN, PEREGRINE FALCON , and COMMON MERGANSER, all a first for the count. Five species of owls included LONG-EARED AND NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL.

December 18:
–KILLDEER: Up to 12 different birds were seen by three different parties along the Bow River; near the 22x bridge; at Policeman’s Flats; and two at Griffith’s Woods along the Elbow River.

December 19:
–NORTHERN HAWK OWL(1), just W. of Turner Valley along Hwy.546; by Andrew Slater
–GOLDEN EAGLE (imm), 1km. S. of Turner Valley along 208 Str., by AS.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday, December 26.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Dec 19

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 December 19.

December 17
–RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: Been around for over a month at feeders behind 506-4str., High River, behind George Lane Park.
–BLUE-WINGED TEAL:(F) Bow River at Policeman’s Flats, end of Bow River Bottom Trail, off Dunbow Rd, by Terry Korolyk.
–AMERICAN WIGEON: same as above.
–GADWALL: near 22x bridge on the Bow River, by TK
–LESSER SCAUP: same as above.
–NORTHERN HAWK OWL: SW of Turner Valley, at 226 Ave and 112 Str, by Ross Lein.
–TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE(3): Beaverdam Flats, by Steve Karsai.
–NORTHERN GOSHAWK: same as above.

December 18:
The following species were all seen during the Calgary Christmas Bird Count:

–AMERICAN PIPIT: Bow River at Carburn Park.
–GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH: at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary.
–CANVASBACK: Bow River near downtown Calgary.
–PIED-BILLED GREBE: mouth of the Elbow River.
–NORTHERN HARRIER: along 50th Ave on eastern edge of the city.
–HARRIS’S SPARROW: substation on 50th Ave. SE., and another also in SE Calgary.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thursday December 22.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Dec 15

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 December 15.

recently
— DARK-EYED JUNCO, Oakridge (Calgary), Margaret Bruner

December 10
— WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL 6, Cedarbrae (Calgary), J. Weldtman

December 12 and succeeding
— RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, George Lane Park, High River, several obs

December 14
— KILLDEER, Hull’s Wood, Fish Creek PP, Terry Korolyk
— AMERICAN TREE SPARROW 2, same, TK

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday December 19.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Dec 12

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 December 12.

December 8
— NORTHERN PINTAIL, Cave & Basin, Banff NP, J&M McDonald, Jerry Pilny
— WESTERN GREBE, Lake Minnewanka, same obs
— WILSON’S SNIPE, Cave & Basin, same obs
— SNOWY OWL, Lynnwood yard flyby, Pat Bumstead
— COMMON GRACKLE, Lynnwood yard, PB

December 10
— AMERICAN WIGEON, Pine Coulee Reservoir, Terry Korolyk
— NORTHERN HARRIER, east of Stavely, TK
— NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL, south of Water Valley, J&MMcD
— GREAT GRAY OWL, near Elkton, J&MMcD
— SHORT-EARED OWL, near Ovans Slough, J&MMcD
— AMERICAN ROBIN 5, Queen’s Park Cemetery, Bill Wilson

December 11
— RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, George Lane Park, High River, Peter Maksymiw
(second provincial record if accepted)

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thursday December 15.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Dec 8

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 Thursday December 8.

Bird Sightings:

Dec. 5

SNOW GOOSE (juvenile) Bow River, ca. 250 m. downstream from the Glenmore Bridge, Malcolm and Joan McDonald, Jerry Pilny

AMERICAN WIGEON, Bow River, mouth of Fish Creek, MJM, JP

GYRFALCON, overflight, Bow River, Glenmore Bridge, MJM, JP

AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, Burnsmead, Fish Creek PP, MJM, JP

Dec. 6

PINTAIL (male), Elliston Park, E Calgary, MJM

BLUE-WINGED TEAL, Policeman’s Flats, end of Bow Riverbottom Trail, off Dunbow Rd., just SE of Calgary, MJM

REDHEAD, Elliston Park, MJM

LONG-TAILED DUCK, Bow River, Eric Harvey Bridge, Carburn Park, Brian Elder, Bob Storms

HOODED MERGANSER (3) Elliston Park, MJM

KILLDEER (3), Carburn Park, BE, BS

AMERICAN PIPIT, same, BE, BS

DARK-EYED JUNCO, Oakridge, Calgary, back yard of Margaret Brunner.

RUSTY BLACKBIRD (3), Policeman’s Flats, MJM

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday Dec 12.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Dec 5

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 December 5.

Bird Sightings:

Dec. 1

HORNED GREBE, Lake Minnewanka, Banff National Park, Malcolm and Joan McDonald

WESTERN GREBE, same, MJM

GREEN-WINGED TEAL (9), second Vermilion Lake, Banff, NP, MJM

TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE, Vermilion Lakes Drive, Banff NP, MJM

GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH (200+), Barrier Mountain Drive feeder, Exshaw, MJM

Dec. 2

CANVASBACK, above weir at Carseland, MJM

GREATER SCAUP, same, below weir, MJM

PEREGRINE FALCON, field on W side of Frank Lake (6 km. E of High River on HWY
23)

HERMIT THRUSH (probable), HWY 546 W of Turner Valley, woods between hwy and
Sheep River, Jeff Bennett.

Dec. 3

RED-NECKED GREBE, Lake Minnewanka, Phil Cram, Brian Elder, Ray Woods

WESTERN GREBE (4), same, PC, BE, RW

TUNDRA SWAN (probable, bird was an adult), Policeman’s Flats, end of Bow Riverbottom Trail, off Dunbow Rd., just SE of Calgary, Terry Korolyk

GADWALL (male and female), same, TK

NORTHERN SHOVELER (female), same, TK

REDHEAD (male and female), Elliston Park, E Calgary, TK

GREATER SCAUP (female), Policeman’s Flats, TK

LONG-TAILED DUCK (imm. female?), Elbow River, upstream up 25th Ave. bridge, MJM

HOODED MERGANSER (2 male, 1 female), Elliston Park, TK

GYRFALCON, HWY 532 just E of HWY 799, (bird was a gray morph), TK

BROWN CREEPER (4), Fenland Trail, Banff NP, PC, BE, RW

TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE (2), Vermilion Lakes, PC, BE, RW

Dec. 4

AMERICAN WIGEON, Beaverdam Flats, Bow River, Kingsley Blades on behalf of the
Nature Calgary field trip

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thursday Dec 8.

BIRD STUDY GROUP:

Bird Study Group meets 1st Wednesday of the month, Room 211, BioSciences Building, U of C except June through August when field trips replace the meetings.

December meeting is Wednesday,December 7. Topic will be “Birding in Brazil”, presented by Rob Worona. Meeting time is 7:30pm.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Dec 2

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 Friday December 2 at 1:45 pm.

Bird Sightings:

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS have been seen in fairly good numbers, with the best locations being the west end of Fish Creek Provincial Park and Edworthy Park. RED CROSSBILLS have been scarce. COMMON REDPOLLS have been abundant, with the usual sprinkling of HOARY REDPOLLS among them.

Nov 27:
NORTHERN SHRIKE, Griffith’s Woods in Discovery Ridge south of HWY 8, Bill Wilson (NORTHERN SHRIKES arrived in good numbers at first, but few have been reported recently).
PINE GROSBEAK, Griffith’s Woods, BW (PINE GROSBEAKS have been fairly widespread and in good numbers in the Calgary area this winter).

Nov. 29:
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, NW of Calgary on RR 24 and TWP RD 262, Ron Kube (ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS have been widespread and in good numbers throughout southern Alberta during the past couple of weeks).
NORTHERN HAWK-OWL, W of Turner valley along HWY 546 ca. 3 km. W Lineham Crossing, Peter Maksymiw.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday Dec 5.

BIRD STUDY GROUP:  Bird Study Group meets 1st Wednesday of the month, Room 211, BioSciences Building, U of C. December meeting is Wednesday,December 7. Topic will be “Birding in Brazil”, presented by Rob Worona. Meeting time is 7:30pm.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Nov 28

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 Nov 28 at 1:45 pm.

Bird Sightings:

Nov 20:
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS (40+) near Pine Coulee Res., west of Staveley, Terry Korolyk.

Nov 24:
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, 30 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, 30 BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, MOURNING DOVE, RED-TAILED HAWK , at Lloyd Bennett’s farm near Taber.
MARSH WREN at Taber Lake, LB.
COMMON GRACKLES (3) in Lethbridge, LB.

Nov 25:
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS (56) birding between Medicine Hat and Brooks, Milt Spitzer and Ben Velner.

Nov 26:
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS (8) in a kettle south of Calgary, TK.
KILLDEER (5) along the Bow River north of 22X bridge, TK.
KILLDEER (2) along the Elbow River, Bill Wilson.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thursday Dec 1.
BIRD STUDY GROUP:

Bird Study Group meets 1st Wednesday of the month, Room 211, BioSciences Building, U of C. December meeting is Wednesday,December 7. Topic will be “Birding in
Brazil”, presented by Rob Worona. Meeting time is 7:30pm.