Marg Matheson and Alan Plumb took a drive to Waterton National Park earlier this month and got some great shots of the Steller’s  Jays reported there, plus some winter Waterton wildlife.
Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Dec 17
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, email us at birdscalgary@gmail.com .  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.
Compiled by Terry Korolyk
DECEMBER 13
STELLER’S JAY – west Bragg Ceek in Wild Rose Estates, Dan Arndt
DECEMBER 15
TRUMPETER SWAN – north of the Ivor Strong Bridge over Bow River , Jim Davis
LESSER SCAUP – male at Weed Lake, also a pair at Elliston Park, TK
NORTHERN PINTAIL – female, as above
NORTHERN SHOVELER – male, as above
GREEN-WINGED TEAL – female, as above
MALLARD – female, as above
GADWALL – female, as above
DECEMBER 16
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE – Wildwood, in Penny Smith’s yard, call 403-249-5997
BOREAL CHICKADEE – as above
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER – Wentworth district west of Sarcee Trail, Joanne Nemeth, call 403-254-1878 or 403-801-8501 (TK)
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD – still at home of Barb Castell, located on the north side of 262 Ave SW off Priddis Valley Rd. House is the 3rd one east of Priddis Valley Rd.
SONG SPARROW – along Fish Creek near the footbridge just west of Macleod Trail, Nimali Seneviratne
COMMON GRACKLE – at a home in Lakeview, Heather Jones 403-278-9389
The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thu Dec 20.
Christmas Bird Count – Canmore, AB
Posted by Dan Arndt
Canmore’s Christmas Bird Count is was held this year on December 15th, the day before Calgary’s. While I’ve lived in and around Calgary for almost my entire life, I’ve never really spent much time birding around Canmore. Hiking, mountain biking, and road-tripping, sure, but just looking for birds? Never before. Quarry Lake is also an area that I hadn’t ever set foot in, so it was an adventure to explore and learn more about the native birds to the front ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
My Canmore Christmas Bird Count area
The added bonus about birding in Canmore is the amazing scenery.
EEOR, or East End of Rundle peak, just west of Canmore
Left to right: Princess Margaret Mountain, Mount Charles Stewart, Mount Lady Macdonald
My total area was about 1.5 square kilometers, and within that area I tallied up nearly 8km of traverses back and forth in the park, and up and down the streets of the adjoining neighborhood. I was fairly impressed too, with 14 species, including a couple that I would be very lucky to have on any Calgary list.
I did manage to get a few decent shots of some absolutely gorgeous birds in my morning out, and I hope you had as much fun on your Christmas Bird Count adventures as I have this year!
Boreal Chickadee
female White-winged Crossbill
male White-winged Crossbill
male Pine Grosbeak
Clark’s Nutcracker
Townsend’s Solitaire
Sunday Showcase: Sharp-shinned Hawk
This Sharp-shinned Hawk was keeping a close eye on the feeders in this Brentwood yard on November 10, 2012. Â Photos by Eric White.
Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Dec 13
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, email us at birdscalgary@gmail.com .  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.
Compiled by Terry Korolyk
Bird Sightings:
Dec:
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, 262 Ave SW east of Priddis Valley Rd, Barb Castell (403Â 931-3690)
COMMON REDPOLL partial albinistic, Dover SE Calgary, Terry Korolyk.
Dec 10:
REDHEADS (9), GREEN-WINGED TEAL (3), GREATER SCAUP (2 female), Berverdam Flats, Bill WiIlson (also on Dec 11)
NORTHERN PINTAIL male, LESSER SCAUP (4) as abovr.
Dec 11:
LESSER SCAUP (5) as above.
RUSTY BLACKBIRDS (3), AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER, KILLDEER,Cave and Basin, Banff, Joan & Malcolm MacDonald.
NORTHERN GOSHAWK after a RING-NECKED PHEASANT female, ravine off Sarcee Tr, Strathcona, Ken.
BROWN CREEPER, Braeside SW Calgary, Shonna McLeod.
SNOWY OWL McKnight Blvd west of Rge Rd 280, Mary ?
The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday Dec 17
Furry Friday: American Pika
Bob Lefebvre photographed these Pikas at Rock Glacier Trail in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park in September 2012. You can see why one of their common names is ‘rock rabbit.’
The Barred Owl of Bebo Grove
Posted by Bob Lefebvre
Since the Barred Owl was first reported in the Bebo Grove/Shannon Terrace area of Fish Creek Provincial Park, Tony LePrieur has made many trips there to search for it. After almost two months without success, he finally was able to see and photograph it on December 7. He watched it for almost an hour as it hunted. All photos by Tony LePrieur.
Barred Owl with Meadow Vole.
Barred Owls are uncommon in the area and rarely seen in the city. This one (or another Barred Owl) has been in the Bebo Grove area for the last two winters (they are non-migratory, but I don’t think it has been reported in the summer – likely it nested in another nearby area).
If you go looking for it, please stay on the trails and watch from a respectful distance. Do not try to flush it – Barred Owls are vulnerable to predation, especially from Great Horned Owls, which are also in this area.
On the same trip, Tony was entertained by this Merlin which took a bath in Fish Creek.
Christmas Bird Count – Count Week Birds
Posted by Bob Lefebvre
The Calgary Christmas Bird Count is coming up this Sunday, December 16, and that means that we are now in the Count Week period. Â Any species which are seen from December 13 to 19, but missed on the count day itself, are included in the database as Count Week birds. Â Sometimes there are very good birds which are known to be around but can’t be found on count day, and sometimes it’s an unexpected bird showing up before or after the count.Â
If you see an unusual or out-of-season bird during count week, and it is inside the Count Circle, make a note of the sighting.  If the bird is not reported on count day, pass the information about your sighting to Phil Cram, the count coordinator, at crampj(at)gmail.com.
The Count Circle for the Calgary CBC. Note that the circle does not include all of the city.
This Song Sparrow has been hanging out at Votier’s Flats in Fish Creek Park for a few weeks – outside the count circle. Â Can we find one inside the circle? (Photo by Daniel Arndt)
There have been several sightings of Snowy Owls inside the city recently. Â This would be a great bird to add either on Count Day or as a Count Week bird.
Wednesday Wings: Leucistic Redpoll
Posted by Bob Lefebvre
This bird has been in my yard for the last couple of weeks. Â When I first saw it, on a feeder with its back facing me, I thought it was a new species for the yard, but it turned out to be a male Common Redpoll with some white feathers in its wings and tail.
From some angles it looks normal…
Feeding on the ground…
Next to a normal (if out of focus) Common Redpoll…
Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Dec 10
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, email us at birdscalgary@gmail.com . Â 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.
Compiled by Terry Korolyk
DECEMBER 5
SNOWY OWL – 5.5 mi east and a mile south of the north Carstairs overpass – Linda Neuemier?
DECEMBER 6
NORTHERN SHOVELER – Beaverdam Flats – Joan and Malcolm Macdonald
TUNDRA SWAN – Carburn Park – J & MM
BOHEMIAN WAXWING – 500 – 1000 between Sandy Beach and Glenmore Dam –Â Bill Wilson; 1500 in Weaselhead- Gus Yaki
DECEMBER 7
TUNDRA SWAN – Beaverdam Flats – Bill Wilson
GREEN-WINGED TEAL – 6, as above
REDHEAD – 2, as above
SCAUP – 2, one a female Lesser – as above
HOARY REDPOLL – yard in Mount Royal – Rose Scollard
DECEMBER 8
REDHEAD – 20, Policeman’s Flats on Bow River Bottom Rd off Dunbow Rd –Â Terry Korolyk
LESSER SCAUP – 6, as above
GREATER SCAUP – 1 male and 1 female, as above
REDHEAD-GREATER SCAUP hybrid (possible) – as above
RING-NECKED DUCK – male, as above
NORTHERN PINTAIL – male, as above
HOARY REDPOLL – at gate into Wyndham-Carseland PP – TK
NORTHERN GOSHAWK – 2 juveniles reported in Weaselhead by several groups over weekend
DECEMBER 9
LESSER SCAUP – male at Weed Lake on Hwy 560 at Langdon, TK
GREEN-WINGED TEAL – as above
NORTHERN PINTAIL – pair, as above
NORTHERN SHOVELER – male, as above
GADWALL – as above
BOHEMIAN WAXWING – 600 in Mt Royal district, GY
NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL – on the Larsen Pasture Rd SW of Water Valley – J&MM
NORTHERN GOSHAWK – ravine on 15 Ave west of Sarcee Trail
SNOWY OWL – 2 on Twp Rd 262 between Rge Rd 261 and 253, plus another on Rge Rd 265 south of Rge Rd 262
The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thu Dec 13.