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Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Dec 5

Dec6

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

Dec3

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

Nov30

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.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Nov 24

Nov25

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 Nov 24, 2011.

WEDNESDAY NOV 23
–SNOWY OWL (1f) – RgeRd 263 south of TwpRd 262 (Keoma area) by Ron Kube
–BROWN CREEPER (a few) – reported in Calgary area recently

TUESDAY NOV 22
–KILLDEER (5) – LaFarge Meadows (south of Hull’s Wood in east Fish Creek PP) by Gus Yaki and the Friends of Fish Creek Provincial ParkSociety (FFCPPS)
–REDHEAD (1 juv) – location and observers as above
–GREEN-WINGED TEAL (2) – location and observers as above
–GADWALL (2) – location and observers as above
–FALCON sp (large falcon) – location and observers as above
–DARK-EYED JUNCO (3-4) – Oakridge subdivision in SW Calgary by MargaretBrunner
–EVENING GROSBEAK (3m) – location and observer as above

MONDAY NOV 21
–WILSON’S SNIPE (1+) – LaFarge Meadows by GY and FFCPPS
–NORTHERN HARRIER (1 juv) – location and observers as above
–KILLDEER (1) – location and observers as above

SUNDAY NOV 20
–AMERICAN ROBIN (12) – along the pathway near the Yacht Club in South Glenmore Park by MB

SATURDAY NOV 19
–SNOWY OWL (4) – RgeRd 261 just north of TwpRd 262 by RK; RgeRd 281just north of TwpRd 250 by RK; Hwy 23 a few km east of Blackie by Terry Korolyk; 242 St in SE corner of Frank Lake by TK
–COMMON REDPOLL (750) – road going south from Carseland Weir by TK.
Several observers recently reported HOARY REDPOLLS in REDPOLL flocks

The next scheduled update of the bird alert is on Mon Nov 28.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Nov 21

Nov22

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 Nov 21, 2011.

NOV 19

SWAN sp. – 2 juveniles below the Carseland Weir, Terry Korolyk
BARROW’S GOLDENEYE – male and female on McElroy Slough, TK
RUDDY DUCK – on McElroy Slough, TK
GADWALL – male on Bow River in east Fish Creek PP, TK
LESSER SCAUP – (possible) female, Beaverdam Flats, Bill Wilson
SNOWY OWL – Grand Valley Road 5 kms south of the Bates Bar J Ranch Gateway southwest of Water Valley, Richard Clarke
COMMON REDPOLL – common throughout area over the weekend
PINE GROSBEAK – as above
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL – as above
SNOW BUNTING – a flock of 300 reported just south of Frank Lake, TK

NOV 20

SWAN sp. – an adult at the dam at Pine Coulee Reservoir along Hwy 527 just west of Stavely, TK
WESTERN GREBE – 6, as above
AMERICAN COOT – as above
RUDDY DUCK – as above
GADWALL – a few, as above
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK – 23 around the Pine Coulee Reservoir boat launch, TK
GYRFALCON – an adult at Twp Rd 162 – Rge Rd 26 east of Nanton

The next scheduled update of the bird alert is on Thu Nov 24.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Nov 17

Nov18

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 Nov 17.

Bird Sightings:

WEDNESDAY, NOV 16
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER (1) – Police Point Park in Medicine Hat by Marty Drut. For more info call Milt Spitzer at 403-528-3120
–SNOWY OWL (1f) – Hwy 1 just west of junction with Hwy 9 (east of Calgary) by Angela Steffens
–NORTHERN HAWK OWL (1) – near intersection of TwpRd 262 and RgeRd 261 (Irricana Sloughs area) by Eddy Matuod

TUESDAY, NOV 15
–GLAUCOUS GULL (1 1st yr) – Bow River at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary by Yousif Attia
–MEW GULL (1 ad) – location and observer as above
–THAYER’S GULL (1 ad) – location and observer as above

MONDAY, NOV 14
–PINE GROSBEAK (15) – Fish Creek PP between Bebo Grove and Shannon Terrace by Gus Yaki and Friends of Fish Creek PP Society
–TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE (2) – location and observers as above
–WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL (30+) – location and observers as above
–COMMON REDPOLL ( 25+) – location and observers as above

THURSDAY, NOV 10
-SNOWY OWL (1) – Arbour Lake subdivision of NW Calgary by unidentified observer

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday November 21

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Nov 14

Nov15

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 14 at 10:05 am.

Bird Sightings:

Nov 10:
SNOWY OWL (possible) sitting in the middle of the road in Arbour Lake, NW Calgary.

Nov 11:
MACKAY’S BUNTING (possible) with a flock of 500 SNOW BUNTINGS on a frozen slough north of Blackie, at 338th Ave & Hwy 799. Seen very close to the vehicle, the
bird was almost completely white with black primary and tertial tips, buffy yellow crown and sides of neck and cheeks. Bill was bright yellow, eye black. Call Terrry Korolyk 403-254-1878 for more info.
GADWALLxLESSER SCAUP (likely) at Weed Lake N of Hwy 560 , TK and others.
GYRFALCON, SW of Water Valley, Malcolm MacDonald.
SNOW GOOSE juvenile, above Weir at Carseland, TK.

Nov 12:
GYRFALCON, gray morph, at the Yacht Club, Glenmore Res., Bill Wilson.
PACIFIC LOON at the dam at Chain Lakes PP, one also at the dam at Pine Coulee and another N of Hwy 522 bridge at Pine Coulee, TK.
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN above the weir at Carseland , Cedric Hitchon.

Nov 13:
GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH (20) at feeders at Barrier Mtn Dr, Exshaw, Tony Timmons and Howard Heffler.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thursday Nov 17.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Nov 10

Nov11

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 Nov 10.

Bird Sightings:

WEDNESDAY, NOV 9
–NORTHERN HAWK OWL (1) – Grand Valley Rd and RgeRd 274 by Ron Kube
–DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (3) – weir on the Bow River in Calgary by Terry Korolyk. Terry also saw the birds earlier on Monday, Nov 7.

TUESDAY, NOV 8
–AMERICAN BLACK DUCK (1) – Bankside recreation area in E Fish Creek PP by Greg Wagner.
–HARLEQUIN DUCK (2m) – Bow River near Inglewood Bird Sanctuary by Gus Yaki and Friends of Fish Creek PP Society

MONDAY, NOV 7
–RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (4f) – Glenmore Reservoir by Jeff Bank

SUNDAY, NOV 6
–GYRFALCON (1 dark morph) – south end of Eagle Lake by Ross Lein
–PRAIRIE FALCON (1) – near a slough on north side Twp 232 near Eagle Lake by Andrew Slater
–RUSTY BLACKBIRD (1) – along the Bow River in the Southland Dog Park by Eugene West

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday November 14.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Nov 7

Nov8

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 November 7.

Early in week
— BLACK SCOTER female, Eagle Lake, Rob Worona

November 2
— LONG-TAILED DUCK, Glenmore Reservoir, several observers

November 3
— SURF SCOTER, Eagle Lake, Brian Elder, Joan & Malcolm McDonald
— WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, same, BE, J&MM
— BLACK SCOTER, same, BE, J&MM (Hat Trick!)

November 4
— HOODED MERGANSER, Glenmore Reservoir, Ilya Povalyaev
— RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, same, IP
— BONAPARTE’S GULL, same, IP
— DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, Pearce Estate weir, Terry Korolyk

November 5
— WHITE-FACED IBIS, Frank Lake, Greg Wagner
— MOURNING DOVE, Calgary yard, Pat Bumstead

November 6
— LONG-TAILED DUCK, Pine Coulee Reservoir, TK
— RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, same, TK
— PACIFIC LOON, same, TK
— AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, Clear Lake, TK
— SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, Mallard Point, Tony Timmons group
— NORTHERN GOSHAWK subadult, Weaselhead, Steve Kaffat(?)
— CHIPPING SPARROW, Hay Meadow near Nakiska, Bill Wilson

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thursday November 10.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Nov 3

Nov4

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 Nov 3.

Bird Sightings:

WEDNESDAY, NOV 2
–LONG-TAILED DUCK (1) – Glenmore Reservoir by Andrew Slater
–SURF SCOTER (2) – location as above by AS
–LOON sp (1) – unidentified loon in flight, Glenmore Resevoir by AS
–RUSTY BLACKBIRD (4) – east shore of Chestermere Lake by Terry Korolyk

MONDAY, OCT 31
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER (1m) – observed by Keith Logan and another birder on an acreage S of Water Valley, along Dogpound Creek just W of Horse Creek Road (NW of Cochrane). The identification of the bird was confirmed by photographs and is the first Alberta record for the species. The bird has not been reported since. For more
info call Terry Korolyk at 403-254-1828 or 403-801-8501
–THAYER’S GULL (3 juv) – on the Bow River in east Fish Creek PP, east side of the river north of Hwy 22X bridge by TK

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday November 7.