Friends of Fish Creek Autumn Birding – Week 8 – South Glenmore Park Redux, Exploring the West End

Oct29

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

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

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

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

Canada Goose

Trumpeter Swans

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
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
Boreal Chickadee
Golden-crowned Kinglet
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

Bohemian Waxwing

Sunday Showcase: More Starlings

Oct28

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

Oct27

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

Oct26

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

Oct26

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

Oct24

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 14 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.

Backyard Bird Conservation

Oct24

By Ernie Allison

Ernie Allison loves nature. More specifically, he loves birds and wants to teach others how to appreciate them, too. To help further this mission, he writes for the Perky Pet bird feeder provider, birdfeeders.com .

Many bird enthusiasts wish they could help more with bird conservation efforts, but they just don’t have the money to donate to national and international foundations set up for the cause. Luckily, there is a lot you can do in your own back yard to help birds and nature in general. Here are some simple steps you can take to enjoy nature and protect it at the same time.

Bird Feeders

While it is true that birds survived before people started using bird feeders to feed them, the presence of bird feeders have changed the habits of many species.  A few birds that would naturally migrate during the winter may choose to overwinter if you make food available (Overwintering Birds of Calgary). This means that by researching what birds are native to your area, you can provide the right food to keep them healthy during the winter. Fat is hard for them to come by in cold weather so suet, peanut butter, and other fatty treats are best.

White-breasted Nuthatch at suet feeder. Photo by Pat Bumstead

Northern Flickers will come to suet feeders. Photo by Bob Lefebvre

This does not mean that you should only feed birds in the winter. Truthfully, in the summer there is more competition because there are more birds around, so by feeding year-round, you will be more effective, as well as get to see more variety of species. This is also a good way to get birds in the habit of visiting your yard.

Millet feeders attract house sparrows, blackbirds, cowbirds and not much else. So if your goal is to attract a variety of birds, a millet feeder alone will not do the trick. In order to attract a variety of birds you must have a variety of feeders and food types.

Pine Siskins eating niger seed. Photo by Pat Bumstead

House Finches and Dark-eyed Junco. Photo by Bob Lefebvre

However, the activity around your millet feeder will attract the attention of other birds. Other birds will land nearby to see what is going on. Once they see that the sparrows have found millet to eat in a safe place, they will check your yard for other types of food. If the type of food these birds are looking for is available, they may decide to feed in your yard as well.

Be sure that you know what kind of birds will be attracted to your feeder. Certain feed attracts Rock Pigeons, which are not only annoying, but it is illegal to feed them in some areas. While Alberta and Calgary are not among these places currently, it is always good to check out your local laws to be sure.

American Goldfinch eating a niger seed/sunflower seed mix. Photo by Bob Lefebvre

Mourning Doves at sunflower chip feeder. Photo by Pat Bumstead

The types of birds you see will depend on the type of food you provide. Black-capped chickadees will be most attracted to oil-sunflower seeds, but will also visit suet feeders occasionally. House finches and nuthatches also enjoy sunflower seeds, so this is a good choice if you want to attract a variety of birds with one type of food. Woodpeckers enjoy suet feeders most. Make sure your feeder is properly anchored and has bars and places for the birds to cling to. Saucer feeders are effective for woodpeckers as well, and woodpeckers have even been seen at hummingbird feeders.

Northern Flickers on nut feeder. Photo by Bob Lefebvre

 White-crowned Sparrow. Photo by Bob Lefebvre

Wildlife Garden

A great way to help out the avian creatures in your area is to provide a natural environment where they can thrive. By installing plants that are native to your area, you promote the health of other local native species.

Be sure to provide water sources as well. These are great for the health of your garden and for attracting wildlife. Running water is less likely to lie stagnant and accumulate diseases, but there are many ponds and birdbaths that can be easily cleaned with a little effort.

American Robins are regular visitors to birdbaths.  Photo by Bob Lefebvre

House Finch bathing in a fountain.  Photo by Bob Lefebvre

You can also design your landscaping in a way that allows smaller birds to be unseen by predators when they are at your feeders. By having multiple levels of trees and shrubs, you promote a safe, diverse environment.

If invasive species are growing in your lawn or garden, remove them by hand. Chemicals harm native species and animals as well. By taking the time to weed by hand, you are protecting the environment, not exchanging one evil for another.

By leaving rotten trees, grass clippings, and other debris in specific areas, you can attract wildlife. You also keep those materials out of the landfill by allowing them to compost in your yard. There are ways you can arrange it so that it’s not an eyesore. The bugs and worms that are attracted to these areas will draw birds and other creatures, which can lead to some great photo opportunities.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are attracted to flower gardens. Photo by Pat Bumstead

Common Grackles feeding on the ground. Photo by Pat Bumstead

While house sparrows are the most common species attracted to birds in the Alberta area, by doing a bit of research, you can set your sights on rarer birds. There is an abundance of wildlife in this area, so take these steps to protect it and enjoy it at the same time.

Swainson’s Thrush. Photo by Pat Bumstead

Varied Thrush. Photo by Bob Lefebvre

Baltimore Oriole feeding on oranges. Photo by Bob Lefebvre

Harris’s Sparrow. Photo by Bob Lefebvre

Calgary Herald Bird Photography competition

Oct23

Posted by Matthew Sim

Interested in entering a local bird photography competition? For those of you who haven’t yet seen the article, the Calgary Herald is having a contest for bird photos seen in and around Calgary with the chance to win a copy of the National Geographic Bird Watcher’s Bible: A Complete Treasury.  There are 4 simple ways to enter:

1. Tweet your photo on Twitter with the hashtag #yycphotovote in the tweet.

2. Submit your photo via Instagram with hashtag #yycphotovote in the caption.

3. Post it to the Calgary Herald’s Facebook page.

4. Email the photo as an attachment to readercontributions@calgaryherald.com.

Swainson’s Hawk

If you haven’t submitted any photos, go ahead and give it a try! The winners will be announced next Sunday on the Calgary Herald’s Facebook page. You can find out more about the competition here.

Good luck!

 

Friends of Fish Creek Autumn Birding Week 7 – South Glenmore Park

Oct22

Posted by Dan Arndt

The last 48 hours in Calgary have seen a massive shift in temperature and weather. On Friday the temperature took a dive from 15 degrees Celsius down to -5 C, followed by Saturday being interspersed with heavy snow, high winds, and a steady decline in temperature. On Saturday night the temperature took another drop, and upon waking up on Sunday morning, there was a good 2 centimeters of snow accumulation. I knew right away that the birding was going to be great on the Glenmore Reservoir, and I was not disappointed. Nearly 4000 birds were seen out on the water, many of which came in for good, close views, but the majority of them were too far to get usable photos. Luckily for us, some of the less common ones were close enough to see quite well!

By far the majority of the birds were on the west side of the reservoir, but the Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, Common Loons and lone Double-crested Cormorant were in the better-protected eastern bay, closer to the Bayview neighborhood.

South Glenmore Park

South Glenmore Park

By far the most numerous birds were the American Coots, which had flocked together overnight to number over 1500 individuals in flocks between 20 and 300. We were greeted at the starting point by this Canada Goose who decided that, for once, it would be appropriate to use the boat launch ramp.

Canada Goose

Canada Goose

We also had a perfect vantage point to watch this Bald Eagle and its mate harass one of the larger flocks of American Coots in hopes of picking off a straggler.

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Shortly followed by this Common Raven and its mate flying into the spruce above the Glenmore Canoe Club to harass the Bald Eagles who had set down moments before.

Common Raven

Common Raven

As we scanned the flocks of American Coots, we saw interspersed in their numbers a few Green-winged Teal, Gadwall, Northern Shovelers, and American Wigeons. The main highlight though were the occasional Horned and Eared Grebes that flocked together and seemed to spent as much, if not more time under water diving for vegetation to fuel their migration south.

Eared Grebe

lone Eared Grebe in non-breeding plumage

At the east side of the Canoe Club, we found this lone Pied-billed Grebe taking refuge near the docks, resting up and staying hidden from predators.

Pied-billed Grebe

Pied-billed Grebe

As we neared the end of the point, we came up right against the largest raft of American Coots, and we even managed to pick out a few juveniles just coming into their adult plumage. In the photo below are at least two American Coots whose heads are light grey as opposed to the fully matured individuals with the black head plumage.

American Coots

American Coots

Moments later a few Trumpeter Swans that we saw on the very far end of the reservoir took off and flew directly toward us. They slowly veered south, but not before getting close enough to allow us to get a few flight shots.

Trumpeter Swans

Trumpeter Swans

Working our way on to the east, these three Eared Grebes thought it would be a good learning experience to show us what their breeding plumage looks like, as opposed to their usual non-breeding plumage we’d seen so far for the day.

Eared Grebes

Eared Grebes

The true highlight of the day though was a group of Surf Scoters and White-winged Scoters in the east bay. While I’ve seen White-winged Scoters a bit closer this year on the Reservoir, and Surf Scoters much earlier during the May Species Count here in Calgary, and even closer on the Iona Jetty in Vancouver, it was a real treat to be able to show these uncommon migrants to our group attendees. This is the very best part of leading these groups and why I love birding. These teachable moments and exposure to new birds like this are more than worth the slight discomfort of the cold.

White-winged Scoters

White-winged Scoters

Surf Scoters

Surf Scoters

Last Saturday I spent some time down on the Glenmore Reservoir and was able to get much closer to a pair of White-winged Scoters, and managed to snag this shot of an adult male in much better light conditions.

White-winged Scoter - October 13

White-winged Scoter – October 13

And these Surf Scoters are from Iona Jetty in Vancouver, B.C. in early September of this year.

Surf Scoters - Vancouver

Surf Scoters – Vancouver

Have a great week, and good birding!

Sunday Showcase: Birds of Paradise

Oct21

Here is the trailer for the new documentary film Winged Seduction: Birds of Paradise.  The world premiere is in Banff on Sunday October 28, at 7:30 pm in the Eric Harvie Theatre at the Banff Centre.  The film looks absolutely amazing so see it if you can!