Tag Archive | birds calgary

The Elbow River Bird Survey

Oct31
 
When I began to bird seriously, I found that the fastest way to learn was to go on field trips offered by Nature Calgary (also known as the Calgary Field Naturalists’ Society).  The best way to see a lot of bird species and learn to identify them is to go out in the company of experienced birders.
 
One of my favourite field trips is the Elbow River Bird Survey.  This is a walk along the Elbow from Stanley Park to the Glenmore Dam.  It has been led on the first day of each month for over fifteen years by Gus Yaki and his wife, Aileen Pelzer.  The walk starts shortly after dawn and takes about three and a half hours.
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Wood Ducks perched beside the river, March 1, 2008.

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A Common Merganser on the River near Stanley Park, November 1, 2009.

Gus is a lifelong naturalist and is very informative about birds, plants, and other natural history.  He keeps track of all the bird and mammal species seen, and the numbers of each.  He is gathering valuable data on the changes in bird populations along the river.

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Gus Yaki (pointing) leading a walk on the Elbow River pathway, November 1, 2009.

The walk is mostly flat and easy, with one small hill between Sandy Beach and the Glenmore dam.  There are a variety of habitats on the walk.  You can see waterfowl on the river and the reservoir, songbirds in the parks and along the tree-lined urban streets and backyards, woodpeckers in the stand of old poplars in Riverdale Park, and the occasional raptor almost anywhere.  In recent years Gus has been posting the list of species seen each month on the Albertabird Listserv.  You always see something interesting.
Goshawk - Elbow River trimmed

This Northern Goshawk had just knocked a Common Goldeneye down onto the ice on the river. It flew off without pursuing the attack. February 1, 2009.

Like all of Nature Calgary’s field trips, this walk is free and open to everyone.  You do not have to be a member of Nature Calgary to participate.  If you plan to attend, since this is a one-way walk, call Gus and Aileen ahead of time, so they can arrange to carpool us back to the starting point.  The starting time changes throughout the year so check the field trip list on the Nature Calgary website or on the Calgary Rare Bird Alert (RBA) on Albertabird.
 
The next survey is Saturday, May 1, 2010.  Meet in the parking lot at Stanley Park on 42 Avenue SW,  just west of Macleod Trail at 7:00 am.  If you would like to join us, call Gus or Aileen at 403-243-2248.
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The Elbow River with the Glenmore Dam in the Backgound.

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The Elbow River between Glenmore Dam and Sandy Beach.

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Downstream from Sandy Beach.

Some Recent Results of the Elbow River Bird Survey:   

Wednesday March 31, 2010 (for April), Partly cloudy, calm,
0-8C. Ice at Reservoir Dam still frozen.

1.. Canada Goose-16
2.. Mallard-20
3.. Common Merganser-2
4.. Ring-billed Gull-12
5.. Rock Pigeon-6
6.. Downy Woodpecker-8
7.. Northern Flicker-6
8.. Blue Jay-1
9.. Black-billed Magpie-16
10.. American Crow-4
11.. Common Raven-8
12.. Black-capped Chickadee-12
13.. Red-breasted Nuthatch-5
14.. American Robin-36
15.. European Starling-6
16.. House Finch-10
17.. Pine Siskin-1
18.. House Sparrow-6
Eastern Gray Squirrel-2

Monday March 1, 2010, 8:00-12:30. Sunny, calm, -4 to 9C.

  1. Canada Goose-140
  2. Wood Duck-1 pr.
  3. Mallard-60
  4. Common Goldeneye-1 m.
  5. Common Merganser-4
  6. Merlin-1 carrying prey.
  7. Rock Pigeon-5
  8. Great Horned Owl-2
  9. Downy Woodpecker-8
  10. Hairy Woodpecker-5
  11. Northern Flicker-6+
  12. Blue Jay-1+ heard.
  13. Black-billed Magpier-30
  14. Common Raven-3
  15. Black-capped Chickadee-22
  16. Red-breasted Nuthatch-5
  17. White-breasted Nuthatch-3
  18. Brown Creeper-2
  19. European Starling-5
  20. House Finch-6+
  21. Pine Siskin-2+
  22. House Sparrow-16

Eastern Gray Squirrel-6

 

Monday, February 1, 2010, 0815-1145. Sunny, Calm, -6 to -2C. 
 
1.. Canada Goose-190
2.. Mallard-160
3.. Common Goldeneye-2
4.. Common Merganser-2
5.. Bald Eagle-1 ad.
6.. Rock Pigeon-4
7.. Downy Woodpecker-4
8.. Hairy Woodpecker-1
9.. Northern Flicker-2
10.. Black-billed Magpie-45
11.. Common Raven-9
12.. Black-capped Chickadee-62, counted by Tony T.
13.. Red-breasted Nuthatch-1
14.. White-breasted Nuthatch-1
15.. European Starling-8
16.. Bohemian Waxwing-350
17.. House Finch-6
18.. House Sparrow-24
Eastern Gray Squirrel-4
  

Saturday January 3, 2010: 8:30-12noon, Sunny, calm, -12C. 7 participants

1.. Canada Goose-450
2.. Mallard 500
3.. Common Goldeneye-8
4.. Common Merganser-2
5.. Downy Woodpecker-7
6.. Hairy Woodpecker-2
7.. Black-billed Magpie-60
8.. Common Raven-14
9.. Black-capped Chickadee-32
10.. Red-breasted Nuthatch-7
11.. White-breasted Nuthatch-1
12.. Bohemian Waxwing-200
13.. House Finch-1
14.. Common Redpoll?-5
15.. House Sparrow-35
a.. Eastern Gray Squirrel-7
b.. White-tailed Jackrabbit-tracks.
c.. Coyote tracks

Posted by Bob Lefebvre

Wednesday Birding in North Glenmore Park

Oct30

On the morning of Wednesday, October 28, 2009, I took a walk around North Glenmore Park, as well as the dam at the north end of Glenmore Reservoir, in SW Calgary. The weather was chilly, relatively calm, and overcast.

Highlights included a winter-plumaged Pacific Loon still on the reservoir, lots of Buffleheads swimming and flying around, and a Common Raven carrying around a neon yellow golf ball near the golf course at the NE end of the reservoir.   H = heard

  • Pacific Loon
    Horned Grebe
    Eared Grebe
    Western Grebe
    Canada Goose
    Lesser Scaup
    Common Goldeneye
    Bufflehead
    Bald Eagle
    American Coot
    Gull sp.?
    Rock Pigeon
    Hairy Woodpecker
    Blue Jay H
    Black-billed Magpie
    Common Raven
    Black-capped Chickadee
    Red-breasted Nuthatch
    American Robin
    Bohemian Waxwing H
    American Tree Sparrow
    House Sparrow
  • Red Squirrel
    Least Chipmunk

Good Birding Everyone!

D. P. Knapik

Birding the Irrigation Canal

Oct30

Inspired by Pat’s recent post about birding the irrigation canal in Calgary, I headed down last week to check it out.  I started at the bridge on Gosling Way by the Inglewood Golf Course in southeast Calgary and headed south.  I often bird this area in the summer, but I’ve never been there in the fall after the water flow is stopped in September.  Trout Unlimited did their annual Fish rescue near the Max Bell arena on September 30.  They remove a lot of the larger fish, which would die in the winter, but there are many small fish left  in the canal.  There is still quite a bit of standing water, and some mudflats and exposed mats of vegetation.

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The Canal near the Inglewood Golf Course

On the canal I saw several Mallards and Ring-billed Gulls, one Blue-winged Teal, one Common Goldeneye, and six Greater Yellowlegs.  The yellowlegs would occasionally catch small fish.  Also hunting in the water was a  juvenile Great Blue Heron.  A man who walks there every day told me that the heron had been there daily for about three weeks.  He also saw a lone swan there about two weeks previously – the only one he has ever seen in the canal.  I’m not sure if there was enough water now for a swan to be able to take off.
IMG_0810 corrected

Juvenile Great Blue Heron

There was one Merlin in the trees on the west side of the canal, which took a run at a squirrel and then chased off a harassing magpie.  Bald Eagles nest on the golf course and have overwintered here for the past few years, but I didn’t see them that day.  As I walked south (still only about 100 metres from the bridge), I came across a group of eight Common Mergansers and two groups of Hooded Mergansers, twelve in all, including five adult males.

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Hooded Mergansers, conveniently demonstrating 3 different positions of their crests.

On the way back, some new birds had arrived.  There were three Long-billed Dowitchers feeding in the canal (very late migrants), and then a group of six Rusty Blackbirds on the mudflats.  These birds are not very common, and these were the first ones I’ve ever seen.

I returned to the canal on the weekend to get some photos and see what was new.  Most of the same bird species were there, plus one male Redhead.

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Redhead (right) with female Hooded Merganser.

I also walked north from the bridge to the source of the canal north of the Max Bell arena.  There were Mallards, Ring-billed Gulls, Canada Geese, and a muskrat building a lodge in the middle of the canal.  I’m not sure how he’ll make out when it gets colder – he’ll probably have to move to the open water on the river.

Muskrat Still 1 auto adj

Muskrat at lodge.

The canal is a great place for fall birds, and seems to get some late migrants.  Lately it has been freezing over at night, and there are birds there only on warm afternoons.

The canal stretches east for many miles, so there is a lot to explore.  It is also a good location to do Non-Motorized Transport birding, since there is a paved pathway running alongside it.  In the summer I have ridden my bike all the way to Lake Chestermere (25 kms) and back, birding all the way.

Birding Canal

Oct18

You just never know where you’re going to find birds.

One warm October afternoon, I decided to walk the dog along the irrigation canal. During the summer, this canal is full, as water is channelled from the Bow River to agricultural fields east of the city. It is drained each fall. At this location (Ogden Road & 50 Ave SE), it is bordered by trees on one side, and parallels the Bow River.

Fall irrigation canal

Fall irrigation canal

Once the canal is drained, you can see floating mats of vegetation left behind, that look like they should be full of bird goodies.

Floating mat of vegetation, and a ring-billed gull

Ring-billed Gull checking it out.

Walking down the bike path that borders the canal, I was delighted to see some very late fall migrants poking around in the mud.

Juvenile great blue heron

Juvenile Great Blue Heron

Lesser yellowlegs

Greater Yellowlegs

Also checking out the canal were a Solitary Sandpiper, two Killdeer and numerous Mallards. Overhead, there were Rock Doves, Canada Geese, Common Goldeneyes, European Starlings, and another late migrant, a Red-tailed Hawk. Not a bad count for someone who wasn’t birding!

Grackles Galore!

Sep21

This message was received on the Albertabird message board, and worthy of a blog mention!  (To visit Albertabird, go here:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Albertabird/ )

On September 19 at about 07:30 I saw a flock of slightly over 600 Common Grackles in an urban park – Crescent Heights park. I had never seen such a large flock before. They were feeding on the ground, eating acorns from oak trees, and feeding on the seeds left in pine cones, in other words, they ate almost anything they could find. The colours on them were brilliant – dark blues and purples. Quite a sight. Several early strollers also stopped to watch them.

H Vanderpol

Black-crowned Night-herons

Aug27
Black-crowned night heron

Black-crowned night heron

Most birders in Calgary have seen Great Blue Herons along the city waterways or flying overhead as the birds come and go from their communal roosts.  But many people are not aware that you can also see their smaller relative, the Black-crowned Night-heron, within the city limits.

These birds are not very common in this area.  During the past five May Species Counts, between 6 and 21 Night-herons were counted, and that is within an 80 kilometre radius of the city centre.  In the 2009 count, only 13 birds were seen, all of them in the prairie area and none within the city limits.

There may well be many more birds around than these numbers indicate, since Night-herons, as their name suggests,  are mostly active at night.  During the day they roost in trees, bushes, or reeds and can be difficult to see, despite standing about 64 cm (two feet) high.

These birds have an almost worldwide distribution and in this part of their range they are migratory.  They arrive in the Calgary area during the second week of April.

The best place I know to see Black-crowned Night-herons within the city of Calgary is at a pond near Country Hills Boulevard and Deerfoot Trail in the Northeast.  The pond lies in the southwest corner of that intersection.  There is a gravel road (15 Street NE) that runs just west of the pond.  You can park there and see the herons from the road, or walk down.  I don’t recommend going near the pond until at least mid-July since American Avocets nest there and get quite agitated if you approach.  We don’t want to scare them off.

I don’t know if the Night-herons breed near this pond.  The earliest I have seen them there is the last week of  June, so I suspect that they breed elsewhere and come to feed after the breeding season is over.

In 2008 I saw as many as seven birds there at once, including two juveniles.  This year I have only seen adults.

Juvenile Black-crowned Night-heron

Juvenile Black-crowned Night-heron

Black-crowned Night-Herons have also been reported at the ponds near Airport Trail (96 Avenue) on the west side of Deerfoot Trail, which is about one kilometre south of the Country Hills Boulevard location.  But it is very difficult to access that area safely.  The best you can do is pull on to the shoulder of Deerfoot Trail to have a look.

If you know of any other reliable locations for these birds within the city limits, please post a comment.

Nature Calgary September Field Trips

Aug19

The following nature walks are free, and open to all. Join us as we get to know Calgary & the birds better!

Tue, Sep 1, 7:30am: Monthly Elbow River Birding Survey. Meet Stanley Park, 42 Av SW, just W of Macleod Tr. Walk to Glenmore Reservoir, ride back (3.5 hours). Call leaders, Aileen Pelzer/Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248, to ensure vehicle space for return.

Sat Sep 5, 8am: Bird Carburn Park, S from Glenmore Tr E at 18 St SE to second stoplight, then right & follow signs. Leaders, Dick/Lenora Flynn, 403-271-1269.

Sun Sep 6, 8:30am: Bird Pearce Estates, 1440 17A St SE, N of Blackfoot Trail. Leader, Al Borgardt, 403-281-4306.

Sun Sep 6, 9:30am: The Wild Berries of Weaselhead Natural Area. Meet parking lot, 37 St & 66 Av SW. Leader, Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248.

Sat Sep 12, 9am: Birding Bowmont Park. Meet Maranatha Church, 2111 52 St NW (N end of Home Rd). Leader, Horst Grothman, 403-286-3048.

Sun Sep 13, 8:30am: Bird Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E. end of 9 Av SW. Leader, Al Borgardt, 403-281-4306.

Sat Sep 19, 8:30am: Bird Windham/Carseland Prov. Park. Bring lunch. Meet at Anderson LRT (Macleod Tr) S. of pedestrian walkway. Leader, Andrew Hart, 403-279-5209.

Sun Sep 20, 8:30am: Bird Griffith Woods Park, 2.5km W on Hwy 8 from Sarcee Tr SW, then left at 69 St SW into Discovery Ridge. Continue straight at traffic circle, then left on Discovery Link into parking lot. Leader, Grant Brydle, 720-4957.

Sat Sep 26, 9am: Bird Mallard Point, E end of Canyon Meadows Dr SE. Leader, Howard Heffler, 403-284-2961.

Sun Sep 27, 8:30am: Bird Windham/Carseland Prov. Park. Bring lunch. Meet at Anderson LRT (Macleod Tr) S. of pedestrian walkway. Leader, Howard Heffler, 403-284-2961.

Sun Sep 27, 9am: See the huge and unusual trees of Bowness Park; trees over 1 m in diameter, over 100+ ft tall; also the scarlet-hued leaves of Red Maple, etc. Meet in first parking

It’s Warbler Season

Aug15

Twice a year Calgarians are treated to an influx of active, colourful little birds called warblers, as they pass through on migration.

Wilson's warbler

Wilson's Warbler

These small birds can be an enormous challenge for any birdwatcher.  They prefer thick shrubs, and never seem to sit still long enough for you to get a good look at them. Along with the shorebirds, warblers are one of the ultimate challenges for a birdwatcher.

Warblers are 4-5″ songbirds with plumage of predominantly yellow with black, grey, white, red, blue or chestnut markings.  There have been over 25 warbler species recorded in Calgary.

Tennessee warbler

Tennessee Warbler

They consume large quantities of insects, as well as spiders and berries. If you’re walking in a very buggy area this time of year, be sure and look up!

One of the best ways to learn about warblers is to go birding with an experienced naturalist. There are three Nature Calgary trips left in August, and many more coming in September. Give the trip leaders below a call and join them on their walk, or watch this blog for September outings.

m: Bird Beaverdam Flats Park. Meet  S parking lot (Lynnview Rd & Lynnview Way, S of 62 Av SE). N from Glenmore Tr at 18 St SE, then left.  Leader, Andrew Hart, 403-279-5209.
 

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Sun Aug 16, 8:30a

Tue Aug 18, 6:30pm: Bird Carburn Park, S from Glenmore Tr E at 18 St SE to second stoplight, then right & follow signs. Leader, Gus Yaki,
403-243-2248.

Tue Aug 25, 6:30pm: Bird Edworthy Park, Meet S side of Boothman Pedestrian Bridge accessed from Shaganappi Tr & Bowness Rd if N of
river, or from W end of Spruce Dr if S of river. Leader, TBA, 403-243-2248.

Elbow River Monthly Survey

Aug2

Elbow River Survey, Sat Aug 1, 2009 0700-10:45am. Sunny, calm, 14-20C.

1.. Canada Goose-26
2.. Mallard-16
3.. Common Merganser-8;
4.. Double-crested Cormorant-2
5.. Osprey-2
6.. Red-tailed Hawk-3
7.. Merlin-1
8.. Ring-billed Gull-8
9.. California Gull-30
10.. Rock Pigeon-6
11.. Sapsucker sp.-2 juv.
12.. Downy Woodpecker-3
13.. Northern Flicker-12
14.. Red-eyed Vireo-2
15.. Blue Jay-1
16.. Black-billed Magpie-30
17.. American Crow-20
18. Tree Swallow-4
19.. Black-capped Chickadee-28
20.. Red-breasted Nuthatch-3
21.. House Wren-10
22.. Am. Robin-100+
23.. Cedar Waxwing-20
24.. Yellow Warbler-8
25.. Chipping Sparrow-6
26.. Clay-colored Sparrow-8
27.. Song Sparrow-1
28.. Brown-headed Cowbird-1 juv.
29.. House Finch-12
30.. House Sparrow-25
Eastern Gray Squirrel-12
White-tailed Jackrabbit-1

May Species Count Update

Jul8

I’ve finally finished the report for Calgary’s May Species Count and it has been posted on Nature Calgary’s website.

It turns out that it was a record setting year in the Calgary area for both number of species, 210 and number of birds, 100,000. The record for number of species had been reported as 216 in 2002 but, in checking the data, I found only 208 species listed. It appears that 8 reports of birds identified only at the genus level (e.g. Empidonax sp, accipiter sp. etc) were included in the total.

For any “mammalers” in the crowd, the following species were recorded on the count: Elk, Moose, White-tailed Deer, Mule Deer, Muskrat, Snowshoe Hare, White-tailed Jackrabbit, Coyote, Richardson’s Ground Squirrel, Columbian Ground Squirrel, Red Squirrel, Least Chipmunk, Eastern Gray Squirrel, Porcupine, Gray Wolf, American Marten, Deer Mouse and a vole species. Tim Allison was the lucky person seeing both the wolf and marten in K-country.

A little more recent info – there is at least one Violet-green Swallow in my NW Calgary neighbourhood. I’ve seen the bird on and off over the past month (3 weeks ago I had a male and female pair) … this will be a good species for next year’s Calgary competition if the bird(s) return. Also of interest for the competition, I heard a Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow a few days ago on the Country Hills Golf Course – the course is private but I believe there is a city path on the hillside near where I heard the sparrow.

Brian Elder