Tag Archive | alberta birds

Loon Survey, Part Two

Sep1

Last month I reported on my trip to Leisure Lake, southwest of Calgary, to monitor the breeding Common Loons there (see the blog post, Loon Survey, Part One).  On June 14 there was a breeding pair of loons, with two eggs in the nest.  I returned to the lake on July 10 to see if the young loons had fledged.

Leisure Lake, in the Bragg Creek/Priddis area, southwest of Calgary.

I soon saw the loons, the two young birds following their parents around the lake.  The newly fledged loons were already quite large, and seemed to be doing well.

Two young loons following their parents.

One of the young loons in its brownish plumage.

The next step in the loon survey was to return to check on the loons in August, to see if the young have survived their first few weeks of life.  I’ll report on that in Part 3.

 Posted by Bob Lefebvre

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: August 29

Aug30

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 Aug 29, 2011.

AUG 27:

–GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE(300), S.of Eagle Lk, and 10 at Cattleland slough, by Rob Worona
–RUDDY TURNSTONE(3),Cattleland Feedlot slough, n.of Strathmore, by RW.
–LAPLAND LONGSPUR(20),same as above.
–CANADA WARBLER(5), one reported by Tony Timmons et al. at Mallard Pt.;3 at Mallard Pt./Bankside on Aug.28 by Janet Gill/ Bernie Diebolt, and one by RW at Eagle Lake on the 28th.
–BLACKPOLL WARBLER(1), Mallard Pt.by TT et al.
–AMERICAN REDSTART(4), Mallard Pt. by TT et al.
–OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER(1),Sikome Lk, Fish Creek PP(FCPP), by TT et al.

AUG. 28:

–CASPIAN TERN(2) adult and imm.,S end Weed Lake, east of Langdon, by Terry Korolyk et al.
–SANDERLING(5), S end Weed Lk, by TK et al.
–LESSER YELLOWLEGS(500) Weed Lk, by TK et al.
–STILT SANDPIPER(150), Weed Lk, by TK et al.
–MAGNOLIA WARBLER(2)one at Mallard Pt./Bankside, FCPP, by JG/BD.; one by RW at Eagle Lk.
–OVENBIRD(1),RW, at Eagle Lk.
–CONNECTICUT WARBLER(1)Hull’s Wood, FCPP, by TK.

The next scheduled update of the bird alert is on Thursday Sept. 1.

BIRD STUDY GROUP:

Bird Study Group meets 1st Wednesday of the month, Room 211, BioSciences Building, U of C.  September meeting is Wednesday, September 7 with Ken Havard presenting

“Birding in Northwest India”. Meeting time is 7:30pm. Contact Andrew Hart at <andrewhart AT shaw.ca>

Sunday Showcase: Rare Water Birds

Aug28

These birds are always a treat for any birdwatcher to find, and David Lily managed to photograph them as well. Thanks for sending these in David!

Sora

American Bittern

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: August 25

Aug26

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 Aug 25, 2011.

AUG 19

AMERICAN REDSTART – Al and Helga Borgardt at Mallard Point

AUG 20

PHILADELPHIA VIREO – Hull’s Wood by Terry Korolyk, 2 birds
SWAINSON’S THRUSH – Hull’s Wood by TK

AUG 23

OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER,  immature COOPER’S HAWK – Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, seen by Andrew Slater

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON – 2 seen at Confluence Park by Bernie Diebolt, Janet Gill and a Nature Calgary group immature WESTERN TANAGER – TK at Hull’s Wood

The next scheduled update of the bird alert is on Mon Aug 29.

 

Nature Calgary Bird Study Group Meeting

Bird Study Group meets 1st Wednesday of the month, Room 211, Bio Sciences Building, U of C. Meeting is free and open to everyone interested in birding.

September meeting is Wednesday, September 7 with Ken Havard presenting “Birding in Northwest India”. Meeting time is 7:30pm.

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.

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: Aug 4

Aug5

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.4.

Bird Sightings:

July 30:
–RUFF(1) Chappice Lake, appr.25km. NE of Medicine Hat along Hwy.41, by Bob Frew and others.

August 2:
–BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER(3), PECTORAL SANDPIPER(1), LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER(75), AND SHORT-EARED OWL, all seen around Frank Lake by Matthew Simm.

August 4:
–NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD(1) , seen by Ben Velner in his back yard in Medicine Hat.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday Aug. 8.

Beautiful Loons

Aug3

On a recent camping trip to Kikomun Creek Provincial park in south-eastern British Columbia (near Fernie), I spent hours out on the main lake at the campsite; Surveyor’s Lake, observing and photographing Common Loons. Home to a breeding pair of loons, Surveyor’s lake is a busy lake; hundreds of people crisscross the lake each day in canoes, rafts, paddleboats and kayaks. All these people, however, do not deter the loons and once again, they have nested in the area and have one big young one.

Due to all the traffic on this lake, the loons are not shy and will sometimes even approach people. At one point, I was sitting in my raft photographing these beautiful birds when one of the adults and the young one started to swim towards me. They came closer and closer until I could have touched the young loon with my paddle!

The young loon seemed to be doing an impression of an eel; he would get down low in the water and start swimming about. This last photo shows how close the young loon came; this was taken with my 500mm lens and is uncropped; I had to sit very still, otherwise a sudden motion would have scared the youngster away!

The adult loons were very protective of their young one; when an immature Bald Eagle flew low over the lake, the adult loons had already seen it, were loudly giving their alarm call and both parents were protectively circling around the young loon.

Occasionally, the loons were too fast for me and my camera and would dive right as I would take a photograph.

While I watched this loon family, they consumed a lot of food and I later found out that one pair of loons with two chicks will eat more than 1000 kg of small coarse fish over a breeding season. That is a lot of fish! Hopefully the lake is well stocked!

I immensely enjoyed watching this family; it was amazing to watch their lives as they try to raise the next generation of loons. I also saw hope; despite this species sensitivity to human disturbance, these loons can survive among humans and this adaptability could help keep these magnificent birds off the threatened species list.

Posted by Matthew Sim

Rare Bird Alert Calgary: Aug 1

Aug2

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 1 at 9:30 am.

Bird Sightings:

July 28:
either an immature CHESTNUT-SIDED or BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER , west FCPP, Terry Korolyk
WESTERN TANAGER, Inglewood BS, research team

July 29:
WESTERN TANAGER, IBS, as above

July 30:
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (15), SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS (82), RED-NECKED PHALAROPES
(110), BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS (7), LEAST SANDPIPERS (10), GREATER YELLOWLEGS (4),
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS (150), BLACK-NECKED STILTS (29), Weed Lake near Langdon, Bill Wilson.
NELSON’S SPARROW, at Hwy 791, north of Hwy 560, BW.

July 31:
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (16), SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, (60), LEAST SANDPIPERS (3),
WILSON’S PHALAROPES (400), Weed Lake, TK.

The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Thursday Aug 4.