Posted by Dan Arndt

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I made a New Years resolution to use eBird on each and every one of my outings, in order to better track my lists, and better track the birds that I have or haven’t seen. I also challenged myself to finding 200 bird species in the Calgary “county” area on eBird.

On Sunday, July 22, I ticked my 200th species off (along with 201 and 202) in the Calgary area, and I felt quite accomplished. At that time, there had only been 247 species seen in Calgary in total, and giving me the lead spot for Calgary birders.

At this point, I’m curious as to just how high my list will get for the year, and am hoping that I end up around 250 or so, but I know that’s very likely to be wishful thinking. With fall migration beginning, we’re starting to see shorebirds in sloughs and lakes around Calgary that are on their way back south for the winter. Long and Short-billed Dowitchers, Long-billed Curlews, Greater Yellowlegs, Baird’s, Pectoral, and Stilt Sandpipers, and even a Semipalmated Plover or two have all been reported back in the area. Soon, the wood warblers will be back from their breeding grounds in the boreal forests and higher latitudes, which gives me some potential additions, such as the Black-and-White Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Ovenbird, Nashville Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, and maybe even a Canada Warbler may find their way onto my list.

This post is more about what I’ve seen and some of the highlights and amazing additions that I’ve had this year, with some arbitrary milestone birds as well.

Bird #1 – Downy Woodpecker – January 2 – Bebo Grove

Bird #25 – Bufflehead – January 14 – Hull’s Wood

Bird #50 – Belted Kingfisher – February 26 – Griffith Woods
(Photo taken in 2011 at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary)

Bird #75 – Peregrine Falcon – March 28 – University of Calgary Campus
(Photo taken in 2008 at the Calgary Zoo)

Bird #100 – Yellow-rumped Warbler – April 29 – South Glenmore Park

Bird #125 – Green-winged Teal – May 13 – Pine Creek Water Treatment Plant

Bird #150 – Swainson’s Thrush – May 21 – Weaselhead Natural Area – No Photo

Bird #175 – Northern Waterthrush – May 28 – Weaselhead Natural Area

Bird #200 – Upland Sandpiper – July 22 – 320th St and 334th Avenue SE