Sunday Showcase: Summer in Alberta, Part 2

Aug21

Tony LePrieur took these photos on the weekend of July 23-24, 2016. The Stilts were at Frank Lake; the rest in Fish Creek Provincial Park in Calgary.

Black-necked Stilt chick.

Black-necked Stilts are a relatively new arrival in Alberta. They were first observed to breed in Canada in 1977, and are now found in several provinces. They breed as far north as the Edmonton area now. We are lucky to be able to see them breeding at many areas in the region, including at Frank Lake and Weed Lake.

Black-necked Stilt adult.

House Wren.

This looks like a young LeConte’s Sparrow.

And some mammals: North American Beaver…

… and White-tailed Deer fawn.

Sunday Showcase: Summer in Alberta, Part 1

Aug21

Posted by Bob Lefebvre

Tony LePrieur has been generously sharing photos with us every week, and I sometimes get a little behind in posting them. Today I want to catch up a bit by posting several sets of his summer pictures of birds from the Calgary region.

The first set is of young birds and their parents from Fish Creek Provincial Park, taken on July 16.

Juvenile Western Wood-Pewees waiting to be fed.

Western Wood-Pewees, three young with an adult.

I think this is another Western Wood-Pewee.

Eastern Kingbird parent with three juveniles.

Eastern Kingbirds.

I think this is a VERY young Yellow Warbler.

And this Warbling Vireo may be even younger – just fledged!

Sunday Showcase: Fish Creek and Carburn Parks

Aug7

Some birds and Mammals photographed in Fish Creek Provincial Park and Carburn Park on the weekend of July 2, by Tony LePrieur.

Yellow Warbler (male).

Great Blue Heron.

Gray Catbird.

Franklin’s Gull.

Ruddy duck (male).

Another male Yellow Warbler.

Mule Deer fawns.

Update on Swainson’s Hawk Chicks

Jul30

Posted by Bob Lefebvre

Here are some more photographs, taken by Colin Nakahara, of the Swainson’s Hawk and chicks at a nest in SE Calgary. This post from last week showed the downy young in the nest. Today’s photos, taken on July 14, 21, and 29, show the growing chicks. Unfortunately one chick didn’t make it.

All photos by Colin Nakahara.

July 14 (1)

Adult Swainson’s Hawk (left) and young in the nest. July 14, 2016.

July 14 (3)

July 14, 2016.

July 14 (13)

The adult hawk, keeping an eye on Colin but appearing calm.

July 21 (23)

July 21. Another week older, and a little closer to leaving the nest.

July 21 (28)

July 21.

July 29 (3)

July 29 – adult.

July 29 (13)

July 29 – one of the chicks.

July 29 (11)

This one looks just about ready to fly. July 29.

Sunday Showcase: Swainson’s Hawk Chicks

Jul24

Posted by Bob Lefebvre

Swainson’s Hawks commonly nest right in the city, but since the nests are high in the treetops it is usually difficult to see the young birds before they fledge. Here are some photos taken from the rooftop of a business in the Highfield industrial area of Calgary. They were sent to me by Mark Dann, and the photographer is Colin Nakahara.

June 28 (9)

June 28, 2016: Downy Swainson’s Hawks chicks in the nest. Photo by Colin Nakahara.

July 7 (24)

July 7, 2016: The young birds are beginning to show their colours. Photo by Colin Nakahara.

The adult bird is aware of Colin when he is on the roof and keeps an eye on him but has not been threatening or agitated. I hope to post more photos to show the growth of these beautiful birds!

Sunday Showcase: Baby Birds, Summer Adults

Jul17

Photos taken by Tony LePrieur on the weekend of June 26, 2016, at Fish Creek park and Bridlewood Wetlands in Calgary, at Frank lake, and in the Priddis area. There are lots of juvenile birds being fed out there right now!

Male Red-winged Blackbird feeding juvenile.

American Coot babies.

Yellow-headed Blackbird feeding juvenile.

Cedar Waxwing.

Gray Catbird.

Willet in an unusual spot.

Eastern Phoebe.

Mallard with ducklings.

Hungry Juvenile Red-winged Blackbird.

Adult Black Terns.

Female Mountain Bluebird with nesting material – raising a second brood?

Male Mountain Bluebird.

Sunday Showcase: Birds of Late Spring

Jun26

Here are some photos taken by Tony LePrieur in the Calgary region in mid-June. Many young birds have now fledged. The photos were taken in Fish Creek Park and at Frank lake.

American Avocet.

American Avocets with chick.

American Avocet.

American Avocet chick.

Great Horned Owl (juvenile).

White-faced Ibis.

Swainson’s Hawk with Meadow Vole.

Eastern Kingbird.

Western Kingbird.

Clay-colored Sparrow.

House Wren.

Least Flycatcher.

Cedar Waxwing.

Warbling Vireo.

American Coot with chick.

Do you have bird photos you’d like to share? Send them to our email address and we may post them.

Sunday Showcase: June Birds

Jun12

Tony LePrieur got a nice variety of June birds last weekend in the Calgary area. Photos taken June 4-5, 2016 in Bridlewood, the Weaselhead, and at Frank Lake.

Wilson’s Phalaropes (foreground-female; background-male).

Pied-billed Grebe.

Yellow-headed Blackbird (male).

Cliff Swallows, collecting mud to build their nests.

American Robin (bebee).

Black-necked Stilts.

Yellow Warbler (male).

Swainson’s Hawk.

Wilson’s Snipe.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (female).

Bonus Sunday Showcase: More Spring Birds

May22

Posted by Bob Lefebvre

More photos by Tony LePrieur of spring birds of the Calgary area, taken on the weekend of May 14-15, 2016. Great Blue Heron from Fish Creek Park, Swainson’s Hawk just south of Calgary, and the rest at Frank Lake.