A beautiful photo of a Great Horned Owl in an old abandoned barn.  Taken by Brett Mahura near Vulcan in September.
Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Nov 1
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:
Oct 28:
SHORT-EARRED OWL at Twp Rd 252, Jumping Pound area, Gord Smith.
Oct 29:
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS (2), adult male SURF SCOTER, Glenmore Res. Bill Wilson.
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, Ellliston Pk, Gus Yaki, FFCPP.
PALM WARBLER in Queensland SE Calgary, Odel Duncan.
RUSTY BLACKBIRDS (2), Gus Yaki etc. Carburn Pk.
Oct 30:
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, Elliston Pk, GY etc.
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, SURF SCOTERS (2), Glenmore Res. BW.
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (3), Elliston Pk, GY etc., and 2 Bow River, Hull’s Wood, Jeff Bank.
THAYER’S GULLS (2) 1st yr, 22X bridge, Terry Korolyk.
Oct 31:
NORTHEREN SAW-WHET OWL OR BOREAL OWL, NW Calgary, Robert Nelson.
RED-THROATED LOON, Glenmore Res. David Pugh.
Nov 1:
RED-THROATED LOON at a slough 22X/Hwy2, TK.
SNOW BUNTINGS have been reported.(date ?)
SAVANNAH SPARROW, S Calgary, Carol Coulter (date ?).
The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday Nov 5.
The next meeting of the Nature Calgary Bird Study Group will be held on Wednesday November 07 in Room 211 of the Biosciences Building of the University of Calgary. Doors are open at 7:00 PM and the meeting will begin at 7:30 PM.
Dan Arndt and David Pugh, both members of the BSG advisory group, will be sharing their experiences with technology in the field of birding.
Wednesday Wings: Double-crested Cormorant
Posted by Bob Lefebvre.
Photos taken at dusk on the irrigation canal is SE Calgary, September 7, 2012.
Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Oct 29
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
3 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES and 4-5 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS have been in the Marlborough yard of Dorothy Johnston during this reporting period.
OCT 25
SHORT-EARED OWL – found dead at Lafarge Meadows – Rick Robb
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER – 7 at Glenmore Reservoir – Gus Yaki and FFCPP
WESTERN PALM WARBLER – Carburn Park – Nick Bartok and Mike Potter
OCT 26
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW – at 3rd Vermilion Lake in Banff NP – Joan and Malcolm Macdonald
HERRING-GLAUCOUS GULL hybrid – 1st yr at point north of 22X Bridge in East Fish Creek PP , also one bird south of the Shepard Landfill – Terry Korolyk
THAYER’S GULL – two 1st yrs north of 22X as above
OCT 27
SURF SCOTER – 5 immatures at dam at Chestermere Lake – Terry Korolyk
PACIFIC LOON – on Glenmore Reservoir – Gus Yaki and FFCPP
THAYER’S GULL – 1st yr north of 22X bridge – TK
OCT 28
RED-THROATED LOON – on Glenmore Reservoir in east end – Bob Storms
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER – 29 at dam at Pine Coulee Reservoir west of Stavely – TK
SURF SCOTER – 2 at Clear Lake 15 kms west of Stavely – TK
NASHVILLE WARBLER – on Barrier Mtn. Drive in Exshaw, Ross Leins and Val Haynes
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET – as above
RUSTY BLACKBIRD – 16 along the river in Fish Creek PP Hull’s Wood Lafarge Meadows area – Tony Timmons and Nature Calgary
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD – 6 as above
RED-TAILED HAWK – imm in west end of Glenmore Reservoir – Steve Kassai
THAYER’S GULL – 1st yr at Pine Coulee Dam – TK
The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thu Nov 1.
BIRD STUDY GROUP:
Bird Study Group meets 1st Wednesday of the month, 7:30pm in Room 211 of the BioSciences Building, U of C.  WEDNESDAY, NOV 7, 7:30PM – DANIEL ARNDT AND DAVID PUGH will share their experiences with technology in the world of birding.
Friends of Fish Creek Autumn Birding – Week 8 – South Glenmore Park Redux, Exploring the West End
Posted by Dan Arndt
Another week, another trip into the wilds of Calgary’s Parks. It was a familiar sight when we assembled at the parking lot at South Glenmore Park, but the difference of a week of sub-zero temperatures turned the open water of the Glenmore Reservoir into a nearly birdless and iced over expanse.
Unfortunately for me, my 150-500mm Sigma lens is once again out for repair, and I didn’t get too many shots of the other birds we had in close proximity to us, so I’ve decided to throw in some photos that I’ve taken elsewhere this year to substitute for the birds we saw on this walk.
We walked from the Boating Club west along the edge of the reservoir, then up into the woods representative of the Boreal Forest biome, then continued west into a finger of Aspen Parkland before returning to the main pathway and returning to our rides.
South Glenmore Park – West End
One of our first sightings from the top of the hill was a Northern Shrike, which appeared to be a juvenile, and quite possibly the same one we saw perched in the exact same spot the week before.
Northern Shrike
Along the edge of the reservoir we looked out and saw a pair of Bald Eagles attempting to hunt, time and time again. As we neared their roost, we stopped amongst a group of Black-capped Chickadees and happened to spot a Brown Creeper flocking in with them!
Brown Creeper
The constant din of honking Canada Geese heavily into their migration and low flyovers allowed us some nice close shots, but even better were the groups of Tundra and Trumpeter Swans that also flew back and forth from the west end of the Reservoir, which still had a good amount of open water.
Canada Goose
We ascended the hill, and stopped for a few minutes to feed the Black-Capped Chickadees, Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches, and enjoyed their calls and antics while they ate their fill.
- Feeding the Chickadees
We walked through the Boreal Forest biome and as we crossed into the edge of the Aspen Parkland we paused as we heard not only Golden-crowned Kinglets, but also Boreal Chickadees and Brown Creepers. Quite the sight!
- Boreal Chickadee
- Golden-crowned Kinglet
Our final addition of the day, as we neared the western-most extent of our walk, was a flock of more than sixty Bohemian Waxwings decorating a completely defoliated aspen like so many leaves. It was quite the sight and a definite cap to our great day of winter birding!
Bohemian Waxwing
Sunday Showcase: More Starlings
Posted by Matthew Sim
This summer while I was up in Calgary, I noticed a lot of starlings as well, especially in Fish Creek P.P. On one of my excursions to the park, I positioned myself beneath a Starling’s nest hole and managed to capture a few shots as the bird descended to feed it’s young.
Preparing for landing…
Landing; note food in beak
At nest hole; seems to be startled by the ferocity of its two young!
Nooks and crannies; the process of saving seeds
Posted by Matthew Sim
I maintain bird feeders in my yard in Calgary all the time when I am around. Suet feeders, a tray feeder for millet, a peanut feeder, a niger feeder for siskins and goldfinches, a feeder for sunflower seeds; you name it. I enjoy watching the regular species of birds (and squirrels!) come in to eat and the occasional unusual species. When I watch “my” birds, I often notice intriguing behavior; the way that the Red-breasted Nuthatches stored food is particularly interesting. The nuthatches take a seed from the feeder, head to my fence and hide the seed there in a nook or cranny. Later, whether it be days, weeks or months, they would eventually come back looking for the seeds, providing some entertainment as we observe their antics.
Red-breasted Nuthatch, searching for a sunflower seed hidden somewhere along the fence
Is it down here, perhaps?
Maybe if I come at it from this angle…
Certainly is amazing what you can see from your backyard!
Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Oct 25
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
Carol Coulter has a SONG SPARROW in her yard in Calgary Southview this week and COMMON REDPOLLS have been reported by several observers throughout the week
OCT 22
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER – female on Glenmore Reservoir – Gus Yaki and FFCPP
BUFFLEHEAD – 1200, as above
VARIED THRUSH – 1, as above
OCT 23
BLACK SCOTER – flock of 6 immature/females at Glenmore Reservoir and a single immature Surf Scoter were just off point northeast of Sailing Club – seen by Ray Werschler in early afternoon; late afternoon sighting by Dan Arndt 150 yds west of the platform in the middle of the bay
CLARKE’S GREBE – on large pond at Carburn Park – seen by Bob Storms at 9:30 am and again by Andrew Hart at 6pm
SCOTERS – at least 20 White-winged or Surf Scoters at Glenmore Reservoir – RW
VARIED THRUSH – at home of John Koper? east of the Hwy 24 Bridge at Carseland.
OCT 24
HOODED MERGANSER – 31 at Elliston Park – Terry Korolyk
CLARKE’S GREBE – still on pond in Carburn Park – Sandra Savage, Bob Storms
MEW GULL – adult at Carburn Park – BS
DUNLIN – at the point just north of the parking area at Weed Lake on Hwy 560 at Langdon – TK
The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Mon Oct 29.
BIRD STUDY GROUP:
Bird Study Group meets 1st Wednesday of the month, 7:30pm in Room 211 of the BioSciences Building, U of C. WEDNESDAY, NOV 7, 7:30PM – DANIEL ARNDT AND DAVID PUGH will share their experiences with technology in the world of birding.
European Starling Influx
A large number of blog readers have been emailing photos and leaving comments this week, asking about the large numbers of  ‘black’ birds in their yard. The answer to everyone is that they are European Starlings.
Large flocks of up to 100 birds at a time have been reported from many south east communities, and just outside the city. They are generally mentioned as visiting apple trees, crab apple trees, or in my case, a mountain ash tree loaded with berries. This winter fruit is heavily relied upon by native birds such as Bohemian Waxwings and American Robins that overwinter here, which is one reason many birders do not like to see Starlings in their yard.
First brought to North America by Shakespeare enthusiasts in the nineteenth century, European Starlings are now among the continent’s most numerous songbirds. They are stocky black birds with short tails, triangular wings, and long, pointed bills. Though they’re sometimes resented for their abundance and aggressiveness, they’re still dazzling birds when you get a good look. Covered in white spots during winter, they turn dark and glossy in summer. For much of the year, they wheel through the sky and mob lawns in big, noisy flocks.
Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Oct 22
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
OCT 18
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE – 2 north of Country Hills Blvd east of 14Â St NW, Isabelle Orr and Susie Sperupt?
OCT 19
RED-THROATED LOON – Glenmore Reservoir, Ray Werschler and Bob Storms, also Al Borgardt
SURF SCOTER – 2 at Chestermere Lake, Hank Vanderpol
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET – yard in Banff, Terry Korolyk
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH – 2 in the Marlborough yard of Dorothy Johnston
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK – 21 in Black Diamond-Millarville-Priddis-Jumping Pound area, Ron Kube
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER – 5 on Chestermere Lake, HV
SNOW GOOSE – 7, as above
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE – 5, as above
CACKLING GOOSE – 3, as above
OCT 20
SURF SCOTER – 2 immature on Glenmore Reservoir through week; a male and 4 imm/fem reported on Glenmore Reservoir by Bill Wilson and Gus Yaki et al ; 5 imm at Chestermere Lake Dam by TK leading a Nature Calgary Field Trip
HOODED MERGANSER – 30 just east of Hwy 817 on Twp Rd 250; TK and Nature Calgary
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER – at Lorette Raptor Watch in K-Country, Jim Davis
OCT 21
SURF SCOTER – 7+ Glenmore Reservoir, Gus Yaki and FFCPP; 1 on Glenmore Reservoir seen by Janet Gill and FFCPP
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER – 4+, GY as above
BOHEMIAN WAXWING – Marlborough yard, Dorothy Johnston
The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thu Oct 25.
BIRD STUDY GROUP:
Bird Study Group meets 1st Wednesday of the month, 7:30pm in Room 211
of the BioSciences Building, U of C.
WEDNESDAY, NOV 7, 7:30PM – DANIEL ARNDT AND DAVID PUGH will share their experiences with technology in the world of birding.