Posted by Matthew Sim
Okay, try saying that 10 times fast. Spotted Sandpipers, while spotted in their breeding plumage, do not have spots in winter or when they are juveniles. Juveniles can be separated from winter plumaged birds by the scaling and barring on their upperparts, which nonbreeding adults do not have. Right around now, we start to see juveniles so look out for them; I recently found this juvenile in Votier’s Flats in Fish Creek Provincial Park.
Posted by Matthew Sim
On a recent bike ride of mine to Votier’s Flats in Fish Creek P.P. I came across a juvenile Great Blue Heron in a storm water pond so I got myself into a good position to photograph it. I sat watching and photographing the heron for some time when suddenly, an adult Great Blue flew in.
Juvenile Great Blue Heron
A rather impressive landing…
The adult heron seemed to “own” the ponds and did not take kindly to the young heron fishing in his waters. The adult proceeded to hunch himself up in a bid to frighten the juvenile.
All hunched up, the adult Great Blue proceeded to hurriedly chase the juvenile around the pond until finally the young heron took a running start and flew off.
Taking off with a running start.
Far from being content however, the adult flew after the young one and the two of them disappeared over the hills. I didn’t move from my position however, because I had a feeling that at least one of the herons would be returning. Sure, enough, several minutes later, the adult returned finally content at having chased the young upstart off of his territory.
Finally able to relax and scratch his head.
Posted by Matthew Sim
Recently, the Fur & Feathers 500 team ( a group of 4 birders/ naturalists from Calgary attempting to see 500 species of birds and mammals in Canada in 2012) visited Waterton Lakes N.P. in the hopes of adding several species of birds and mammals to their year totals and they kindly invited me along. We left the afternoon of Wednesday July 18th and came back the next evening after a great trip. You can see the full story on the Fur & Feathers 500 blog here.
Cameron Lake, Waterton Lakes National Park
Barn Swallow; en route at Frank Lake near High River
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
Possible south bound migration is on the way with the sightings recently of one OVENBIRD, SWAINSON’S THRUSH(2), and one TENNESSEE WARBLER, all seen near Marcel Gahbauer’s home, or nearby Lowery Gardens, which is location just west of the Crowchild Trail bridge.
July 14
TRUMPETER SWAN,(adult), oversummering at a slough E.of Hwy.#22, sw of Calgary, by Terry Korolyk.
July 18
SWAINSON’S THRUSH(4), DARK-EYED JUNCO(oregon subsp), seen by Bill Wilson in Griffith Woods.
RED-TAILED HAWK (rufous morph), Votier’s flats, FCPP, there for the third summer, by TK.
The next scheduled update of the bird alert is on Mon Jul.23.
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
JUL 14
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER – Raven Rocks area of west Fish Creek Prov Park
HARLEQUIN DUCK – on Kananaskis River at Hay Meadow near Mt. Lorette in Kananaskis Country
JUL 15
STILT SANDPIPER – 33 at the slough at the junction of Hwy 547 and Rge Rd 255 north of Herronton – Terry Korolyk; 80 seen by Bill Wilson at Weed Lake
PECTORAL SANDPIPER – 6 as above (TK); 3 seen as above by BW
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER – 8, as above (TK); 3 seen as above by BW
LEAST SANDPIPER – 1 as above (TK)
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER – 50, as above (TK)
BAIRD’S SANDPIPER – 3, as above (TK)
GREATER AND LESSER YELLOWLEGS – 300 seen by TK at a large slough on 304 St SE, 2 kms south of hwy 552
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE – 2 at Weed Lake, BW
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER – 15 as above
UPLAND SANDPIPER – 338 Ave, just east of 320 St north of Blackie, TK
EVENING GROSBEAK – Glenfield in east Fish Creek Prov Park
The next scheduled update of the bird alert is on Thu Jul 19.
There is a spot in Fish Creek Provincial Park where I have been seeing two male Common Yellowthroats for the past month. Here are some photos.
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
July: CHUKAR, 2 have been seen regularly over the last 2 weeks, Signal Hill SW Calgary, Bruno Legier.
July 5: EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE in North Haven NW Calgary, Steve Kassai, and a pair at Shephard SE Calgary, Terry Korolyk.
GREAT EGRET at Southview Lake, west of Darwell AB, Bill Benford.
July6: LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS at Frank Lake, E of High River, Jill Brar.
July 7: RED-NECKED PHALAROPES (28), Cattleland Feedlot Slough, N of Strathmore TK. GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS in good numbers at a slough SW of the Chestermere Lake dam, TK.
July 8: SANDHILL CRANE W of Hwy 22, W of Cochrane, Dan Arndt
Posted by Matthew Sim
In the last few weeks, I have made several trips on my own down to the sloughs at Lafarge Meadows. There is always action there; be it coots feeding young ones, Pied-billed Grebes fishing, Ruddy Ducks courting, Red-necked Grebe diving or Yellow-headed Blackbirds chasing every other bird.
One of my favorite parts about the Lafarge Meadows sloughs are the Red-necked Grebes. I have counted as many as 4 pairs at a time on the ponds and have also enjoyed watching them court side by side.
Red-necked Grebe
The Red-necked Grebe is not the only grebe that can be seen at the ponds. The smaller Pied-billed Grebe also calls the sloughs home.
Pied-billed Grebe
So far, I haven’t seen any young Red-necked Grebes but I have seen several families of Pied-billed Grebes.
There are also several other families on the ponds, including Mallards and Common Goldeneyes.
Common Goldeneye family
And while I was enjoying these great sights; I couldn’t forget the birds that truly make a southern Albertan slough like the Ruddy Duck, the American Coot, the Yellow-headed Blackbird- and of course, on the mammal side of things, the Muskrat.
A Ruddy Duck- attempting to fly like an eagle?
Baby American Coot, looking nothing like an adult.
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Muskrat
Seen by McKenzie Amerongen and her family in the SW West Springs district on Friday, June 27/12.
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 Koryluk
JUN 19
GREATER YELLOWLEGS – Lafarge Meadows in east Fish Creek PP, seen by Gus Yaki and the FFCPP
JUN 23
LESSER YELLOWLEGS – 20 at Pakowki Lake in southeastern Alberta reported by Earle Covert and Ken Orich
JUN 25
GREATER YELLOWLEGS – 2 at a wetland on Rge Rd 284 southeast of Carstairs, Terry Korolyk
BLUE-HEADED VIREO – in aspens on Rge Rd 284 about 5 km south of Hwy 581 southwest of Carstairs. TK
SAY’S PHOEBE – at a farm on the south side of Yankee Valley Boulevard about 5 km east of the Airdrie airport, TK
The next scheduled update of the bird alert is on Mon, Jul 2.