Posted by Matthew Sim
Tag Archive | calgary bird blog
Rare Bird Alert: June 9
Have you seen an unusual bird in Calgary? If it is on this Reportable_Birds (PDF), please report it to the 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 report was prepared on Thursday June 9.
June 4
–RED-TAILED HAWK, Fish Creek PP,Raven Rocks area. An unusually plumaged bird, likely of the sub-species “Calurus”, seen more often in BC, by Terry Korolyk.
June 7
–BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK(M+F),Seen at the feeders of Michael Woertman,Wintergreen Estates near Bragg Creek.
June 8
–OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER,Lowery Gardens, east of Edworthy Park, by Marcel Gahbauer.
–LAZULI BUNTING(3m +1f), in the yard of Nancy West, Mountain View.For details, call Nancy at 403-653-1359. This species is more widespread this year than most other years.
–WHITE-FACED IBIS have been reported from Frank Lake by Daniel Hart.
–BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD.Flocks of this species have been reported from Banff NP, more so than usual. Thomas Glen reported several flocks there the weekend of June 4/5,2011.
The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday, June 13.
Photo Feathers: Loon Pair
Photos taken at Livingston Creek Ranch Golf Course, Sunday June 5, 2011.
Posted by Bob Lefebvre
Rare Bird Alert: June 6
Have you seen an unusual bird in Calgary? If it is on this Reportable_Birds (PDF), please report it to the 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 report was prepared on Monday June 6.
May 28/29
–CAPE MAY WARBLER(11), Brown-Lowery PP, May species count weekend.
No further details.
June 4
–WESTERN SANDPIPER(2),Twp Rd 232, 1.5km W.of Hwy.297, by Terry Korolyk.
June 5
–LARK BUNTING(F&M),Grassy field of Tsu Tina Reserve, S.Glenmore Res.700m.W.on paved footpath accessed from the parking lot W.end of 90Ave.
June 6
–OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER(2),along Twp Rd 290 near Winchell Lake, by Andrew Slater.
–BLUE-HEADED VIREO(1),Twp Rd 290 and Rge Rd.52 by AS.
–CONNECTICUT WARBLER(1), same location as above, by AS.
–LE CONTE’S SPARROW(3), Horse Creek Rd, 10km.N.of Hwy 1a.by AS.
–NELSON’S SPARROW(3A), same location and observer as above.
–SWAMP SPARROW(1), Twp Rd 290 near Winchell Lake, by AS.
The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday, June 6.
Backyard Birds: Yellow Warbler
Have you seen a flash of yellow in your yard lately?
The Wood Warbler family is famous for their diversity in plumage, song, feeding and breeding biology. All of them are small birds with long, thin bills used for snapping up insects and larvae. Perhaps one of the easiest to identify is the Yellow Warbler, which has more yellow in its plumage than any other member of the family.
In spring breeding season, males have rusty streaks on the breast and flanks, a bright yellow face with conspicuous black eyes, and yellow upperparts. They are known to build another nest on top of an old one when Brown Cowbird eggs appear in it, which can result in up to six different layers.
Yellow Warblers can be seen around the city from mid May to mid September. These birds are widespread in most shrubby and second-growth habitats in North America, where they can be seen quickly hopping from branch to branch. This bird was busily flitting from the saskatoons and lilac shrubs to the poplar trees in my yard.
Posted by Pat Bumstead
May Species Count – Longview Area
One of the areas that I surveyed for the May Species Count on Sunday May 29 was the Longview area, an hour SW of Calgary. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to get to some of the best birding spots due to the wet weather, but the conditions were pretty good. There was water flowing across some of the side roads but I did get through.
This creek was very high…
There was still quite a bit of snow at high elevations…
The Bar U Ranch road, looking west to the mountains…
I managed to find 75 species, which is a good total for that territory. I was quite frustrated near the end of the day by my inability to find a House Sparrow anywhere in the town of Longview! No House Finches there either. I also saw about 35 Black Terns in a pond that was just out of my territory, and they refused to come over to a perfectly good pond on my side of the boundary.
But I did have some unexpected birds as well, including two Red-breasted Mergansers. Here are some other highlights (as usual, you can click on the photos to enlarge them).
Mountain Bluebirds are commonly seen near the bluebird boxes…
Female Mountain Bluebird…
Tree Swallows are nesting in many of the Bluebird boxes…
I got a good look at this Red-eyed Vireo…
Male Red-naped Sapsucker…
Because of the high water, there were few shorebirds other than Spotted Sandpipers and a few of these Wilson’s Snipe…
I was pleasantly surprised to find a pair of Harlequin Ducks on the Highwood River at the Green View campground…
I only saw one pair of Green-winged Teal, but this male swam very close to me…
The final surprise of the day was this beautiful Red Fox, which seemed to be completely unconcerned with my presence, and walked right by me…
Posted by Bob Lefebvre
Showcase Sunday: Horned Grebe
More wonderful photographs from Rob English. Thanks for sharing Rob! (Click images for a larger view).
May Species Count
Last week, I, along with many other keen birders, did the Calgary and area May Species Count. Two other great birders and I were assigned the south part of the city, our borders were; north to Glenmore Trail, west and south to the Bow river and east to the City limits. We had a great time, birding for 9 hours on Saturday, driving 139 kilometers and recording 87 birds. We saw many great birds, some of the highlights being 2 Hooded Mergansers, a Western Grebe, a Ferruginous Hawk, a Veery, a Blackpoll Warbler and a Townsend’s Solitaire. The Solitaire was a real surprise as it was far away from its normal habitat and was way too far south.
A Townsend’s Solitaire, way off course.
The Solitaire caught a bug and attempted to swallow it…
But had some difficulty. Eventually, the Solitaire got the bug down the hatch.
Other birds seen included several coots on nests…
Many Red-winged Blackbirds…
And a posing crow.
The May Species Count is held annually and will therefore be held again next year, if you haven’t done it yet, it could be a great time to start.
Posted by Matthew Sim
Rare Bird Alert: June 2
Have you seen an unusual bird in Calgary? If it is on this Reportable_Birds (PDF), please report it to the 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 report was prepared on Thursday, June 2.
May 29
— LARK BUNTING, One on 402Ave.SW,E.of 288, W.of Millarville, by Terry Korolyk. One W.of Nanton along Meridian Rd, by Mike T.
— BOBOLINK(2)(M),W.of Nanton along Meridian Rd, by M.T.
May 29/30
— SABINE’S GULL(30),SE Frank Lk. Bob Worona. For details, call Bob at 403-984-7655.
— MEW GULL, Glenmore Reservoir, reporter not known.
May 31
— RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, in backyard of Richard Rappel, High River.
— WESTERN KINGBIRD, La Farge meadows, E.Fish Creek PP, by Dave Vernon.
June 1
— BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, S.Glenmore park, west end, Ray Wershler et.al.
— LARK BUNTING, Fish Creek PP,west of Votier’s Flats , by Peter Roxburgh.
Other recent reports included a BOBOLINK SE of Frank Lk. and a LARK
SPARROW N.of Strathmore. No details available on these reports.
The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday, June 6.
Grebes, grebes, grebes
Grebes are a worldwide family of aquatic diving birds with lobed toes, making them strong swimmers. There are 22 species of Grebe found across the world with 6 of those being found here in Alberta. Grebes are very clumsy on land and therefore spend most of their time on the water, staying there to feed, sleep and court. One of the oldest living family of birds, they can dive down 6m below the surface and can remain submerged for up to 30 seconds, where they search for small fish, aquatic insects and crustaceans to eat.
Of the 6 species of Grebes that live in Alberta, 5 of these can be seen in the Calgary region; above is the Horned Grebe, an attractive grebe that may be seen in Calgary on the Mckenzie Towne Ponds, which is where I saw this one last week.
Similar to the Horned Grebe is the Eared Grebe which can be distinguished from its close relative by its yellow feathered “ears” instead of compact “horns”. I find that one of the best places to see Eared Grebes is at Frank Lake, near High River.
The Western Grebe, together with Clark’s Grebe (which is only seen in the far south of Alberta), is a very large grebe. Below, is a procession of birds; from left to right; first is an Eared Grebe, then a Western Grebe, followed by another Eared Grebe and another Western Grebe. After that is a Franklin’s Gull and an Eared Grebe bringing up the rear.
The Pied-billed Grebe is the most common grebe in North America; it is also very intelligent. When apprehensive, the Pied-billed Grebe will sink slowly, expelling air from the body and feathers to lower their gravity, then they will swim with only their head above the water, facilitating an escape if need be. The adult Pied-billed Grebe is similar to the juvenile (juvenile below), except it will have uniformly colored cheeks and a black ring on its beak.
The last Grebe that can be seen in Alberta is the Red-necked Grebe, a large noisy bird with a broad black crown, white cheek patches and chestnut neck.
Grebes are a very varied family of birds and all are beautiful; makes sense when you find out that they are related to loons; a family of birds that amaze many people!
Posted by Matthew Sim