Rare Bird Alert Calgary: August 22

Aug23

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, Aug.22.

Bird Sightings:

There were many observations of wading and shorebirds over the weekend by many observers. Below are some of the larger numbers observed. Weed Lake is located on Hwy 560 (extension of Glenmore Tr) just east of Langdon

SUNDAY, August 21
–WESTERN SANDPIPER (2 im) – Weed Lake by Ilya Povalyaev
–COOPER’S HAWK (1 im) – Porcupine Valley on Nose Hill by Steve Kassai
–NORTHERN CARDINAL (1 f) – seen by Laura Herperger and 2 other observers in Laura’s yard on Crescent Bluff, overlooking Sandy Beach.

SATURDAY, August 20
–GOLDEN PLOVER (1 im) – Weed Lake by IP
–HUDSONIAN GODWIT (3) – as above
–SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (340) – as above
–SANDERLING (7) – as above
–STILT SANDPIPER (140) – as above
–RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (300) – as above
–LESSER YELLOWLEGS (250) – as above
–PECTORAL SANDPIPER (19) – flooded field just E of RgeRd 275 just S of Hwy 1 by IP
–BLACKPOLL WARBLER (2) – Hull’s Wood in Fish Creek PP (FCPP) by Terry Korolyk
–CAPE MAY WARBLER (1 f) – as above
–CONNECTICUT WARBLER (1 im) – as above
–TOWNSEND’S WARBLER (2) – as above

FRIDAY, August 19
–OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (1) – Mallard Point in FCPP by Al & Helga Borgardt

THURSDAY, August 18
–MOURNING WARBLER (1 im) – Confederation Park by Bill Wilson
–BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (1) – Inglewood Bird Sanctuary (IBS) by Gus Yaki and CFNS field trip
–BLACKPOLL WARBLER (1) – as above

WEDNESDAY, August 17
–WHITE-FACED IBIS (flock of 75) – Frank Lake by Shonna McLeod and Vivian Bissette

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thursday August 25.

Sunday Showcase: Ferruginous Hawks

Aug21

During a hot prairie drive southeast of Calgary, we were astonished to see these five Ferruginous hawks – one adult and four youngsters – about 100 yards away from the road.  They were totally unconcerned with our presence, either trying to cool off in the shade or sharing a ground squirrel in the 30+ temperatures. It was the bird sighting of a lifetime for a raptor fan!

Photos and post by Pat Bumstead

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: August 18

Aug19

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, Aug.18.

Bird Sightings:

There were a few reports of migrating small songbirds through the Calgary area. The next two weeks should see an increase of migratory song birds.

Tuesday, August 16:
–EASTERN PHOEBE(1), Inglewood Bird Sanctuary (IBS), by Andrew Slater.
–ORANGE-CROWNED WARLBER(2), Carburn Park, by Andrew Hart and CFNS group.
–BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER(1), yard of Pat Mitchell in the Valley Ridge subdivision, Calgary.
–YELLOW-RUMPED WARLBER(3), IBS, by AS.
–BLACKPOLL WARBLER(1), Carburn Park, by AH and CFNS group.
–AMERICAN REDSTART(2), one at IBS by AS, and one on the 17th at Votier’s Flats, Fish Creek PP, by David Pugh.
–WILSON’S WARBLER(4-6), one at IBS by AS, and 3-5 near the south shore of Glenmore Res., by DP.
–PINE SISKIN(1), An unusually yellow bird seen at the feeder of Shirley Haigh. If interested in seeing this bird, call Shirley at 403-288-1307.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday August 22.

Red-necked Grebe Life History Pics

Aug17

The Canadian Nature Photographer has an outstanding post about Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary pond. You have to see this!

Red-necked Grebe life history in photos has been captured by Nature Calgary members Ian Neilson and Nancy Murdoch – view at http://www.canadiannaturephotographer.com/Ian_Neilson_Nancy_Murdoch.html

Posted by Pat Bumstead

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: August 15

Aug16

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 August 15.

Bird Sightings:

There were many observations of wading and shorebirds over the weekend by many observers. Below are some of the larger numbers observed. Weed Lake is located on Hwy 560 (extension of Glenmore Tr) just east of Langdon

SUNDAY, August 14:
— CANADA WARBLER (1) – North Glenmore Park by Rob Worona
–BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (1) – Elkwater in the Cypress Hills (near first washrooms as you drive west along the lakeshore from the centre of town) – Jeremiah Kennedy. The Gnatcatcher was first reported on Aug 9.
–RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (1200) – Weed Lake by Terry Korolyk
–LESSER YELLOWLEGS (600) – Weed Lake by TK
–WHITE-FACED IBIS (1) – Langdon Corner Slough (junction of Hwys 1 & 9)- by several observers

SATURDAY, August 13
–The following birds were all netted by banders at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary (IBS):
–CANADA WARBLER (1 recapture)
–NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (7)
–WILSON’S WARBLER (1)
–TENNESSEE WARBLER (2)
–YELLOW WARBLER (9)
–YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (1)
–TRAILL’S FLYCATCHER (2)

FRIDAY, August 12
–SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (fair numbers) – Weed Lake by Richard Clarke
–SANDERLING (6) – Weed Lake by RC. Richard also saw similar numbers of shorebirds seen by Terry Korolyk on previous day (Thursday Aug 11)

THURSDAY, August 11
–RED PHALAROPE (1 imm) – Weed Lake by TK
–RED-NECKED PHALAROPE & WILSON’S PHALAROPE (several hundred) – Weed Lake by TK
–LESSER YELLOWLEGS (several hundred) – Weed Lake by TK
–SANDERLING (6) – Weed Lake by TK
–BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (13) – Weed Lake by TK

WEDNESDAY, August 10
–CANADA WARBLER (1) – IBS by banders

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thursday August 18.

Sunday Showcase: Busy Wings

Aug14

These outstanding bumble bee photos have been sent to us by Tom Langois. Photographing insects is hard enough, but capturing a very busy bee in flight is amazing! Click to enlarge.

Posted by Pat Bumstead

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: August 11

Aug13

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, Aug.11.

Bird Sightings:

MONDAY, August 8:

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER(1), LESSER YELLOWLEGS(650), SANDERLING (8), SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER(250), LEAST SANDPIPER(70), WILSON’S PHALAROPE  (450), RED-NECKED PHALAROPE(600),all seen at the south end of Weed Lake , N of Glenmore Trail, just E of Langdon, by Terry Korolyk.
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD(1), Southview area,Calgary, yard of Carol Coulter. Again seen on August 10.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER(1), Cypress Hills, Elkwater, Jermiah Kennedy, south side of the lake. Seen again on August 9 and 11. Possibly 5th record of this species for Alberta. For more details call Milt Spitzer at 403-528-3120.
WILSON’S WARBLER(6), backyard of Vivian Brissette in Maple Ridge area,Calgary; one was still there August 9th.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday August 15.

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: August 8

Aug9

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 Aug 8.

Bird Sightings:

SUNDAY August 7

–SANDERLING (1 juv) – Weed Lake (Glenmore Tr just E of Langdon) by Terry Korolyk
–BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (4) – location as above by TK
–RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (400) – location as above by TK
–RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (1) –Big Hill Springs by Steve Kassai
–NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (1) – location as above by SK
–ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (2) – location as above by SK
–TENNESSEE WARBLER (1) – location as above by SK

SATURDAY August 6

All shorebirds and wading birds seen were observed at Weed Lake unless otherwise specified. Bill Wilson was out to Weed Lake earlier in the day
than Hank Vanderpol
–RED KNOT (1 juv) – by Hank Vanderpol
–AMERICAN AVOCET (33) – Bill Wilson
–BLACK-NECKED STILT (40) – BW
–WHITE-FACED IBIS (1) – BW
–SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER – 16 BW; 300 HV
–BAIRD’S SANDPIPER – 16 BW; 12 HV
–PECTORAL SANDPIPER – 1 BW; 4 HV
–SANDERLING – 4 BW
–STILT SANDPIPER – 8 BW
–LESSER YELLOWLEGS – 300 BW
–SEMIPALMATED PLOVER – 3 BW
–BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER – 7 BW; 26 also seen by HV on Glenmore Tr E of Hwy 24, just west of the sod farm
–LONG-BILLED CURLEW (17) – Glenmore Tr E of Hwy 24, just W of the sod farm, by HV
–THREE-TOED WOODPECKER (3) – Brown Lowery Recreation Area (Plummer’s Rd, NW of Millarville) by Andrew Hart and CFNS field trip

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thursday Aug. 11.

Cowbird vs Chipping Sparrow

Aug9

We received an email from Larry & Angie in Innisfail a while ago, asking for help identifying a bird in their yard. They were confused because this bird was acting like a baby sparrow, being fed by an adult sparrow but appeared to be bigger than the adult. Their photogenic picture does a wonderful job of showing a juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird in action, and the difference in size between the two species.

As Matthew mentioned in his July Cowbird Catastrophe post on this blog, Cowbirds do not look after their own eggs, but lay them in the nests of other species. This poor Chipping Sparrow has already been outsized by this demanding youngster, and continues to burn up energy finding enough food for it. As Cowbird eggs hatch sooner than those of other birds and fledglings are known to eject the nest occupants, it’s likely this Chipping Sparrow did not raise any of his own young this year.

Posted by Pat Bumstead

Sunday Showcase: Long-eared Owls

Aug7

These superb owl photos were sent to us by Russell Bachmann, who has been lucky enough to locate a few of these beautiful birds. I love the way these pictures typify any Long-eared sighting – you rarely see these birds when they’re not tucked away behind the branches! Click to enlarge.

Posted by Pat Bumstead