Rob English has birds in his yard too – everyone’s favorite blue jays among them! Click to enlarge.
Active feeding!
While I was in Calgary over the holidays I took some photographs of feeding nuthatches and I thought I would share them with you so as to illustrate some of the effort that these little guys put into this common daily activity!
Cornell Lab of Ornithology describes the way nuthatches feed perfectly, ” an intense ball of energy “, is exactly what they are!
When they start hacking away, usually their legs are the only part of their bodies not moving!
Posted by Matthew Sim
Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Jan 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 Thursday January 19.
Since December 25
— VARIED THRUSH, SW Calgary yard, Bob Lefebvre
since January 10
— MOURNING DOVE, SW Calgary yard, Aileen Pelzer, Gus Yaki
recently
— COMMON GRACKLE, 2 MOURNING DOVES, SE Calgary yard, Pat Bumstead
January 14
— CLARK’S NUTCRACKER, Harvie Heights, Richard Clarke
— GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH 100+, Exshaw feeder, RC
— PINE GROSBEAK 10, Harvie Heights, RC
— PINE SISKIN 100+, same, RC
The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday January 23.
Another Sharp-shinned Hawk
Recently both Pat and Dan have posted about Sharp-shinned Hawks in their yard. Now it’s my turn. Last week we had our first ever accipiter in our SE Calgary yard, a juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk that stopped here briefly.
It took me a while to figure out whether it was a Sharp-shinned or Cooper’s Hawk, but it actually is almost identical to the one Pat posted about here and here, and which was identified as a juvenile Sharp-shinned. The bird that Dan saw was an adult, and you can read about it here.
The hawk was followed by about forty Black-billed Magpies, but they didn’t mob it. While it sat on our fence, they just kept their distance in a nearby poplar. But when the hawk left, they followed.
About twenty of the magpies that were following the hawk.
Unlike Dan’s hawk, my bird didn’t take any of the hundred or so small birds that were around my feeders at the time. It just rested on the fence for three or four minutes, then flew off, and I haven’t seen it again.
Gus Yaki saw these pictures and said that he believes he has seen this same individual several times this autumn and winter in Fish Creek Park and along the Bow River. It is distinctive because of the prominent white tips to the back feathers, which is unusual in this species.
A view of the bird’s back, showing large white areas on the feather tips.
It was certainly exciting to see this bird, even if it was only for a few minutes, and it’s one more species for the yard list.
Posted by Bob Lefebvre
Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Jan 16
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 Jan 16, 2012.
JAN 12
NORTHERN HAWK OWL – 2 in Water Valley area; one seen 3 kms south of Water Valley on Twp Rd 292, the second at the north end of the Grand Valley Rd 9.6 kms southeast of Water Valley and 2.5 kms north of the Larson Pasture Road (Twp Rd 284) junction, seen by Ross Lein and Val Haynes
NORTHERN PYGMY OWL – in a logged area at the southwest corner of Grand Valley Road – Larson Pasture Road junction, seen by RL and VH
HERMIT THRUSH – in west Fish Creek PP about 300 metres west of Bebo Grove on the gravel path, Hank Vanderpol
JAN 13
GOLDEN EAGLE – Linda Vaxvick saw one on Hwy 27 just west of Hwy 837
JAN 14
LESSER SCAUP – immature reported by Bill Wilson at the 22X Bridge in Fish Creek PP
TURKEY VULTURE – seen by Steve Ayrheart on Hwy 1A just east of 84Â Street between Calgary and Chestermere Lake
GREAT GRAY OWL – near Water Valley, seen by Richard Clarke, phone Richard at 253-8063 for location
BELTED KINGFISHER – in Griffith Woods Park , Steve Kassai
AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER – as above
GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH – 100+ reported by RC at Barrier Mtn Dr in Exshaw
JAN 15
LESSER SCAUP – reported by Gus Yaki and the FFCCPP at the same location as reported the previous day
MOURNING DOVE – 2 in Pat Bumstead’s yard in Calgary Lynnwood, call at 403-279-5892
AMERICAN ROBIN – 8 in PB’s yard on Jan 15
DARK-EYED JUNCO – appearing in Margaret Brunner’s yard in Calgary for the past week
COMMON GRACKLE – in Pat Bumstead’s yard for the past week
The next scheduled update of the bird alert is on Thu Jan 19.
Birding at Bow Valley Ranch and Sikome Lake
This week marked the first of thirteen weeks of the Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park birding course. Since its inception in the mid 2000s, it has swelled from a course run twice a week, to six times a week;  Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and twice on Sunday. This marks my first attempt at leading one of these courses, with Bob Lefebvre and I leading the Sunday morning group. Unfortunately, Bob wasn’t able to make it out this week, and so Gus Yaki led the group on Saturday, as usual, and I tagged along to be an extra pair of eyes and ears to assist him, and Gus also led on Sunday, breaking in the new Sunday attendees with his expert wit, grace, and knowledge.
On both days, we began at Bow Valley Ranch, and then proceeded southward to Sikome Lake and Hull’s Wood. There we stopped briefly near the parking lot before heading first the site of a Great Horned Owl nest that’s been used regularly for a dozen or so years, then to the Bow River, before turning back and returning to the vehicles, then home. Once again, I logged the route taken and have mapped it in Google Earth, in case anyone would like to re-create the walk again in the future.
Bow Valley Ranch
Sikome Lake
At Bow Valley Ranch on Saturday, we spent about 45 minutes walking along the pathways, first stopping to find a pair of Great Horned Owls that were regular residents of the area.
Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl 2
We then stopped for a few minutes to watch for the Black-capped Chickadees and White-breasted Nuthatches that are all too familiar with what humans may have to offer them, and as such, came in nice and close for some very good views.
White-breasted Nuthatch
Just as we were about to head down to Sikome Lake, I heard the distinctive trill of White-winged Crossbills in flight, and so we spent some time trying to track them down. Unfortunately, they were on a mission, and continued on in short order, allowing only the briefest of views.
White-winged Crossbill
Sunday, on the other hand, was a much colder experience. We spent a little time trying to coax out the chickadees and nuthatches again, but they would have none of it. Instead, we searched around until once again, that old faithful pair of Great Horned Owls was found, and then headed southward shortly after.
Great Horned Owl
Saturday was a great day on the Bow River. At the Sikome Lake parking lot, we were greeted by Downy Woodpeckers and Black-capped Chickadees, once again looking for a handout. Sunday was similar, but once again, in smaller numbers.
Black-capped Chickadee
Downy Woodpecker
Another pair of Great Horned Owls are commonly found down here, and both Saturday and Sunday they did not disappoint. Saturday found them just east of their usual roost, atop a spruce tree near the main building at Sikome Lake, and Sunday found only one at that same building.
Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl
East to the Bow River we trekked. On Saturday, our travels were interspersed with a view of some Northern Flicker, as well as a single Killdeer, before reaching the Bow River, flush with Canada Geese, Mallards, Common Mergansers, Buffleheads and Common Goldeneye. After viewing them for a while in vain search of a Cinnamon Teal that had been sighted earlier in the week, we packed up and headed home.
Canada Geese
Common Goldeneye
Buffleheads
Sunday though, we were trudging our way through the fresh snow only to be stopped by the gurgling trill of a nearby Bald Eagle. In fact, two of them were perched above a bend in the Bow River, though as our travels brought us closer, they flushed and headed northward.
Bald Eagle and Black-billed Magpies
Bufflehead in Flight
Common Mergansers
Common Goldeneye
Sunday also treated us to a view of an anomalous bird that had been spotted the previous day. A lone Lesser Scaup among the Canada Geese and Mallards near the Boat Launch at Hull’s Woods. After pausing to take a few photos and get a positive ID, we headed back to the vehicles.
Lesser Scaup
Lesser Scaup in flight
I am definitely looking forward to assisting in this course, as many of our Sunday birders are eager to learn as much as we can teach them about the birds of Calgary and area, and I also look forward to watching the seasons change back to spring and experiencing the full extent of spring migration here in the frozen north of Calgary!
I hope you enjoyed these photos as much as I enjoyed taking them, and look forward to a new year of learning about these incredible animals with you all!
Posted by Dan Arndt
Sunday Showcase: Snowy Owl
More excellent photos from Rob English, who took these stunning snowy owl shots northeast of Strathmore earlier this month. Click to enlarge.
Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Jan 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 Bird Albert was recorded on Jan 12, 2012.
JAN 8
TRUMPETER SWAN – seen by Bob Worona at Frank Lake
NORTHERN PINTAIL – 3 seen by BW as above
AMERICAN ROBIN – 30 seen by Gary Malcolm at Waterfall Valley in Bowmont Park
THREE-TOED WOODPECKER – Richard Clarke saw one 300 metres from the parking lot on the Wild Rose Trail at Brown-Lowery PP
JAN 9
CINNAMON TEAL – a male in breeding plumage, reported by Gus Yaki,Andrew Stiles, and members of the FFCCPP, seen along the east side of the Bow River north of the Hwy 22X bridge
VARIED THRUSH – being seen daily in Bob Lefebre’s yard in southeast Calgary.
TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE – 4 seen by Shawn McCready on the Grotto Canyon trail east of Canmore, about 2 kms from the trailhead
AMERICAN ROBIN – 20 seen by Gary Malcolm on the Fournier property in Bowmont Park
PRAIRIE FALCON – at the Calgary Zoo Ranch , seen by Dwight Knapik
JAN 10
CINNAMON TEAL – still present as above
The next scheduled update of the bird alert is on Mon Jan 16.
Postcards from Texas: Vultures
When large metropolis’ coincide with wildlife and nature, there is invariably accidents. These accidents usually end up with nature coming out on the losing end. Nature sometimes benefits as well though. Sometimes, nature can adapt to the hustle and bustle of human living and actually benefit and thrive from this. Such is the way with vultures.
The other day, I was walking along a bayou here in Houston when I spotted a black clump in the grass not too far ahead.
This clump was a group of black vultures, 6 in total, with 9 more hanging around in the surrounding area. This meant that they must have found a dead animal and that they were feasting on it. This animal was roadkill, an unfortunate victim of our hustling and bustling. As mentioned before though, some creatures, such as vultures, benefit from this. The black vultures didn’t stick around very long and as soon as they saw me they flew away.
The black vulture does not have as good scent as the Turkey Vulture and tends, therefore, to follow Turkey vultures to carcasses where they proceed to drive the Turkey Vultures away from the meal. As soon as the Black Vultures saw me and flew away, the Turkey Vultures came in for their share.
When they came in, I started to creep closer and closer, not only for a better look, but also out of curiosity of what roadkill they were eating. While I moved somewhat stealthily closer, one vulture unfurled it’s wings and gave me good looks at it’s impressive 1.8 meter wingspan.
That wingspan is roughly 5 feet, 11 inches, which is well over half a foot taller than I am! I continued to crawl in closer until I was incredibly close.
I then found out what it was the vultures were eating…
And it was…
An opossum, as you might be able to tell by the foot in this photo. I feel bad for the poor guy… Some interesting bird behavior to see though, especially the hierarchy of vultures, where Black Vultures are not as skilled but are instead big bullies, chasing away Turkey Vultures from the food that the latter found. Â I also took a photo in which I really saw why Turkey Vultures are called what they are
Doesn’t he just look like a turkey!?!
Posted by Matthew Sim
My not-so-Common Redpolls
This topic has come up a lot this winter; all the wintering finches here this year. I am going to add on to this topic once again.
My yard in southeast Calgary has gathered a fairly respectable list; about 90 species of birds have visited it in the last 10 years. The Common Redpoll is on this list, having been seen in my yard once in 2009 for all of about 10 seconds. For whatever reason, my community is not favored by redpolls. This year, though, they were everywhere, including my yard.
On December 23, I had a redpoll in my yard for almost half an hour. And not only was it in my yard, but it visited my feeders as well.
We have been seeing so many finches this winter likely because it is an irruption year; a year when food sources (such as catkins and cone crops for finches and lemmings for Snowy Owls) are hard come by on these birds’ normal wintering grounds.
It’s neat for me to be able to see birds I don’t usually see in my backyard, such as the not-so-Common ( in my neighborhood) Redpoll.
Posted by Matthew Sim