Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from Alberta Birds > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Wednesday, September 1 at 04:38 PM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Red-headed Picathartes,©BirdQuest

1 Sep Elbow River Survey, 01 Sep 2010 ["Gus Yaki" ] 01 Sep NMT Birding: Confederation Park ["Dr. W.J.F. Wilson" ] 31 Aug different things lately [Lloyd Bennett ] 31 Aug RBA; Calgary, AB, Aug 30, 2010 ["Patricia Mitchell" ] 31 Aug Re: Suggestions for birding and mammals around Lake Louise please [Don Delaney ] 31 Aug Re: RE: Suggestions for birding and mammals around Lake Louise please [ALAN MACKEIGAN ] 31 Aug RE: Suggestions for birding and mammals around Lake Louise please ["Phil Cram" ] 31 Aug Re: Suggestions for birding and mammals around Lake Louise please [ALAN MACKEIGAN ] 30 Aug Re Buff-breasted Sandpipers ["lenora & dick flynn" ] 31 Aug Suggestions for birding and mammals around Lake Louise please ["avi8fauna" ] 30 Aug RE: NMT Birding: Buff-breasted Sandpipers ["Reid Barclay" ] 30 Aug Hull's Woods-Monday morning ["tonytimmons99" ] 30 Aug Ksikkomahkayiiksi Akaissko'tooyaa (Trumpeters Return) [Ryan Heavy Head ] 30 Aug NMT Birding: Buff-breasted Sandpipers ["Dr. W.J.F. Wilson" ] 30 Aug Lousy birding weather close to Cadomin! ["naturalistbob60" ] 30 Aug Greater white fronted goose, [Johan Van Onna ] 29 Aug Shepard Slough ["William J. F. Wilson" ] 29 Aug Nature Calgary Field Trip-Hull's Woods ["tonytimmons99" ] 29 Aug NMT Birding: Lapland Longspur ["William J. F. Wilson" ] 28 Aug RE: ENC Shorbirds Aug 28 2010 Cooking Lake ["Gerald Romanchuk" ] 28 Aug Nature Calgary at Bow Valley PP [Andrew Hart ] 28 Aug ENC Shorbirds Aug 28 2010 Cooking Lake ["BJSEdmonton AT yahoo.com" ] 28 Aug Re: Bird Id help Please [Barb Beck ] 28 Aug Re: Bird Id help Please [Don Delaney ] 27 Aug Re: Bird Id help Please ["Joy and Cam Finlay" ] 27 Aug Bird Id help Please ["avi8fauna" ] 27 Aug Hooded Warbler ["Ray Wershler" ] 27 Aug Marbled Godwits at weed Lake ["davidlilly57" ] 26 Aug RBA ,CALGARY, AB., AUGUST 26, 2010 [Arina/Hank ] 26 Aug Re: drama in the field [Ryan Heavy Head ] 25 Aug drama in the field [Lloyd Bennett ] 26 Aug Peregrines in Edmonton ["declandefreitas" ] 25 Aug sapsucker in calgary ["Mike Mulligan" ] 25 Aug NMT Birding: Confederation Park ["Dr. W.J.F. Wilson" ] 24 Aug Great Egret near Balzac ["Mike Mulligan" ] 24 Aug ENC St Albert Songbirds Aug 22 2010 ["BJSEdmonton AT yahoo.com" ] 24 Aug Bird Monitoring and Banding Workshop ["derekjmatthews" ] 24 Aug NMT Birding: Confederation Park ["Dr. W.J.F. Wilson" ] 23 Aug RBA CALGARY, AB., August 23, 2010 [Arina/Hank ] 23 Aug Confederation Park Flycatcher ["William J. F. Wilson" ] 23 Aug Warbler activity in Emily Murphy Park in Edmonton [Bob Parsons ] 24 Aug Warbler activity in Emily Murphy Park in Edmonton ["avi8fauna" ] 23 Aug NMT Birding: Confederation Park ["Dr. W.J.F. Wilson" ] 23 Aug Douglas Glen backyard birding - Cape May Warbler ["Jim H Davis" ] 22 Aug Emily Murphy mystery birds [Jason Rogers ] 22 Aug RE: Grosbeak ID help Please [Jason Rogers ] 22 Aug NMT Birding: Glenmore Reservoir and Inglewood Bird Sanctuary ["William J. F. Wilson" ] 22 Aug say's phoebe at inglewood ["Mike Mulligan" ] 22 Aug Nature Calgary Field Trip-Mallard Point ["tonytimmons99" ] 22 Aug Mockingbirds nesting in Edmonton ["Gerald" ] 22 Aug Symbiotic Nectar Feedings [Ryan Heavy Head ] 22 Aug Catching up [Ryan Heavy Head ] 22 Aug Emily Murphy Park Edmonton ["avi8fauna" ] 22 Aug Emily Murphy Warblers Part 2 - ID Question ["declandefreitas" ] 21 Aug Warblers in Emily Murphy Park Edmonton Saturday Morning ["BJSEdmonton AT yahoo.com" ] 20 Aug different birds lately [Lloyd Bennett ] 21 Aug Grosbeak ID help Please ["avi8fauna" ] 21 Aug Warblers In Emily Murphy Park in Edmonton ["avi8fauna" ] 20 Aug Re:eBird data users beware ["Dick Cannings" ] 20 Aug Beaumaris Lake this morning [Douglas Faulder ] 20 Aug warblers on the move, Edmonton ["Zoltan Domahidi" ] 19 Aug RE: eBird data users beware ["Reid Barclay" ] 19 Aug Re: Nature Calgary Inglewood BS Aug 19 Thursday 2010 [Peter Roxburgh ] 19 Aug RBA: Calgary AB, August 19, 2010 ["Mike Mulligan" ] 19 Aug Birding, Hulls Wood,FCPP [Al Borgardt ] 19 Aug Northern Harrier Hunting (Marsh Hawk) Photographs ["davidlilly57" ] 19 Aug Re: eBird data users beware [] 19 Aug eBird data users beware [Jason Rogers ] 19 Aug Garneau Birding, Edmonton ["declandefreitas" ] 17 Aug Re: Photographs of Soars [] 17 Aug Photographs of Soars ["davidlilly57" ] 17 Aug Birding, Hulls Wood, FCPP [Al Borgardt ] 17 Aug NMT Birding: Shepard Slough ["Dr. W.J.F. Wilson" ] 17 Aug Langdon Reservoir - Nelson's Sparrow ["Jim H Davis" ] 17 Aug Swifts ["prpsde" ] 17 Aug Emily Murphy Park and Kinsmen Park in Edmonton ["avi8fauna" ] Subject: Elbow River Survey, 01 Sep 2010 From: "Gus Yaki" <gyaki AT calcna.ab.ca> Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 15:13:44 -0600 ELBOW RIVER BIRDING SURVEY; Mostly cloudy, NW wind 20kph, 7-12C. 1.. Canada Goose-2 2.. Wood Duck-4 3.. Mallard-17 4.. Common Merganser-3 5.. Red-necked Grebe-1 6.. Osprey-2 7.. Bald Eagle-1 imm. 8.. Sharp-shinned Hawk-1 9.. Cooper's Hawk-1 10.. Merlin-1, repeatedly diving at Northern Flickers. 11.. Ring-billed Gull-1+ 12.. California Gull-60 13.. Rock Pigeon-1 14.. Northern Flicker-12 15.. Western Wood-Pewee-1 16.. Red-eyed Vireo-1 17.. Blue Jay-3 18.. Black-billed Magpie-25 19.. Am. Crow-44 20.. Common Raven-4 21.. Black-capped Chickadee-1, unusually low number. 22.. Red-breasted Nuthatch-3 23.. American Robin-40 24.. Gray Catbird-1 25.. European Starling-5 26.. Cedar Waxwing-40 27.. Yellow-rumped Warbler-2 imm. 28.. Wilson's Warbler-11 29.. Clay-colored Sparrow-1+ 30.. House Finch-3 31.. Pine Siskin-20 32.. Am. Goldfinch-1 m. (Amazingly, first time without a House Sparrow). Eastern Gray Squirrel-1 Mule Deer-1 Gus Yaki [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: NMT Birding: Confederation Park From: "Dr. W.J.F. Wilson" <wjfwilso AT ucalgary.ca> Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:08:10 -0600 There was lots of warbler activity at Confederation Park this morning, but only by one species: Wilson's Warbler - 25 (best guess, allowing for repeats). Also one Warbling Vireo and one or two House Wrens. Good birding, Bill Wilson Calgary Subject: different things lately From: Lloyd Bennett <lloydaben AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:58:43 -0600 Some different birds have showed up lately. Yesterday I was near the feedlot north of Fincastle Lake when a flock of 10 White-faced Ibises flew over from the north. I checked the lake later, finding 2 ibises in the east end, 1 in a puddle in a field farther north, and a flock of 12 ibises flew over the west side. This is the largest number I have seen in the Taber area. There were also 3 Black-crowned Night Herons, one of which was standing on a mat of waterweeds out in the water. Several swallows were flying around the area, mostly Barns, but there were several Bank and Tree Swallows also. A flock of about 60 Barn Swallows was feeding over one of my fields also. Today I went to the M.D. of Taber Park, hoping to find many new warblers or other songbirds, but found it very quiet. The only new warbler for fall was a MacGillivray's. The first fall Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks were seen today near my farm. Today was the best day this year for finding different species of shorebirds here. Most days I see only Killdeers and Spotted Sandpipers, but today I saw both yellowlegs, a Willet, and Solitary Sandpiper. My slough had a Least Sandpiper, and a puddle in a field NW. of me had several more kinds. First of all, there were 2 Stilt Sandpipers, my first of the year, feeding with some Lesser Yellowlegs. Next I noticed a Pectoral Sandpiper, my first of the fall, and 2 avocets. Another small sandpiper caught my attention, so I studied it with my scope. It was a White-rumped Sandpiper, which is my most unusual shorebird of the year. Lloyd Bennett Taber [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RBA; Calgary, AB, Aug 30, 2010 From: "Patricia Mitchell" <deemit AT telus.net> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:45:49 -0600 RBA * Alberta (Canada) * Calgary, AB * Aug 30, 2010 * ABCA1008.30 -Birds mentioned Greater White-fronted Goose Sanderling Western Sandpiper Buff-breasted Sandpiper Glaucous Gull Pacific-slope Flycatcher Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Blue-headed Vireo Blackburnian Warbler Ovenbird Canada Warbler Hooded Warbler Lapland Longspur Hotline: City of Calgary and Calgary Field Naturalists' Society (Nature Calgary) Bird Alert Number: 403 221-4519 To Report: 403 221-4519 Coverage: Southern Alberta Compiler: Terry Korolyk (CFNS & IBS) Transcriber: Pat Mitchell (deemit AT telus.net) Welcome to the City of Calgary and CFNS Bird Alert. This Bird Alert was recorded on Monday Aug 30 at 10:10 am. To report a bird sighting, leave a message after the recording, or to bypass the recorded message, press the pound key on your touch tone phone. To speak to a naturalist, please phone 311 if calling locally during office hours and ask for Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, or dial 403-268-2489 if calling from outside the city If you wish to report an injured bird or animal, please call Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation at 403-239-2488 or the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation at 403-946-2361. Bird Sightings: Aug 25: GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (20), Wyndham-Carseland PP. fly over, Dwight Knapik. Aug 27: BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, female, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER in Hull's Wood, FCPP, Terry Korolyk. CANADA WARBLER, Hull's Wood, Al & Helga Borgardt and Tony Timmons. Aug 28: PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER at a slough 160 St SW,north of 306 Ave, TK. HOODED WARBLER, immature, at IBS, John Riddell, Ray & Merrill Wershler. GLAUCOUS GULL, adult, IBS, Penny Smith & CFNS group. Aug 29: BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER (2), SANDERLING (3), slough east of Shepard, TK. WESTERN SANDPIPER, a slough 1 Km east of McElroy Slough east of Chestermere Lake, TK. LAPLAND LONGSPUR, Glenmore Res. near Yacht Club, Bill Wilson. OVENBIRD, IBS, BW. The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is Thursday, Sept 2. Nature Calgary Field Trips Many meeting places are mapped on http://birdcomp.fanweb.ca/locations.html New trips, updates, guidelines - see http://www.naturecalgary.com/field_trips.html Note: Trips that are highlighted require pre-registration. .September Wed 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. Sun Sep 5, 9am: A nature walk on Nose Hill: flora and fauna. Meet 14 St and 64 Av NW entrance. Leader, Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248. Sat Sep 11, 8:30am: Bird Bebo Grove, FCPP, S end of 24 St SW. Leader, Al. Borgardt, 403-281-4306. Sat Sep 11, 9am: Bird Bowmont Park. Meet Maranatha Church, 2111 52 St NW (N end of Home Rd). Leader, Horst Grothman, 403-286-3048. Sun Sep 12, 8am: Bird Lafarge Meadows. Meet at FCPP boat launch at S end of Bow Bottom Tr SE. Leader, Tony Timmons, 403-256-0754. Sun Sep 12, 8am: Bird Griffith Woods Park, 2.5 km W from Sarcee Tr on Hwy 8, then left on 69 St SW into Discovery Ridge, past the traffic circle. At the bottom of hill, turn left on Discovery Ridge Link, into parking lot. Leader, Grant Brydle, 403-720-4957. Sun Sep 19, 9am: See the largest specimens of 30 species of trees, many unusual, in SW Calgary. Meet at Stanley Park, on 42 Av SW, 2 blocks W of Macleod Trail. Leader, Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248. Sat Sep 25, 9am: Bird Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Penny Smith, 403-283-9260. Sat Sep 25, 1:30pm: See captive Whooping Cranes at the Zoo Ranch. Limit 25 participants. Call 403-243-2248 to register. Meet Anderson LRT Station (Macleod Tr), S of pedestrian bridge to carpool. Guide, Crane Keeper Dwight Knapik. Rain date, Sun Sep 26. Sun Sep 26, 8:30am. Birding Carburn Park. S from Glenmore Tr at 18 St SE to 2nd stoplight, then right & follow signs. Meet parking lot. Leader, Andrew Hart, 403-279-5209. .October Fri Oct 01, 8am: 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. Pat Mitchell deemit AT telus.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Suggestions for birding and mammals around Lake Louise please From: Don Delaney <data9boy AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:46:29 -0700 (PDT) Thank you very much Phil. ________________________________ From: Phil Cram To: Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, August 31, 2010 11:23:41 AM Subject: RE: [Albertabird] Suggestions for birding and mammals around Lake Louise please   Don: In June we saw a sow Grizzly Bear with two cubs in the meadow beside the Icefields Parkway, between Bow Lake and Bow Summit (about ½ hr north of Lake Louise). The Smith-Dorrien Highway between Canmore and Peter Lougheed PP was also good in June for big mammals, soon after dawn. We saw Black and Grizzly Bears and Moose there. As Al MacKeigan noted, it pays to make an early start, when there are more mammals and fewer people in evidence. Good luck, Phil Cram _____ From: Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of ALAN MACKEIGAN Sent: August 31, 2010 9:33 AM To: Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Albertabird] Suggestions for birding and mammals around Lake Louise please Hi Don, In Banff, the Cave and Basin is always pretty good for birds, as is the short road along Vermillion Lakes below the highway, though you are getting into the quiet months for birds. Highway 1A offers lots of spots as well - Muleshoe , Moose meadows, and maybe even Black Swifts in Johnson Canyon. At Lake Louise there are not many great spots in terms of reliability, maybe a walk toward the Plains of 6 glaciers Tea House behind the lake ( Park near the Chateau ) will produce Ptarmigans, and there are often Clarks Nutcrackers and Stellar's Jays around the parking area itself. If you are hikers, then I highly recommend any of the day hikes from Moraine Lake. About 2/3 of the way up the road to Chateau Lake Louise there is a road on the left that goes ~10km to Moraine Lake. Sentilnel Pass is one of my favorites, passing through old growth fir and spruce forests to Lyall's Larches as you ascend and then finally to open meadows. In late Sept the Larches will be golden so it's worth the effort. Views of the Valley of the Ten Peaks are breathtaking. American Pipits in the meadows and Gray-Crowned Rosy Finches in the rocks above should still be around. The hike down to the Giant Steps beyond Sentinel Pass and back makes for a long day but is very rewarding as well. Sometimes they post signs specifying that you must have a minimum group size of 4 or 6 due to bears in the area but you can simply wait at the trail head for another party to join. If you are trying any of these trails, an early start is recommended. ( no later than 9 ) They get crowded later in the day on weekends. I like to hit Moraine Lake for sunrise where you can photograph your own classic postcard and then I head out from there. sample at http://www.flickr.com/photos/30704518 AT N07/3035856815/in/set-7215762363732402 5/ Good luck!. As long as the weather cooperates you will not be disappointed. Cheers Al MacKeigan ----- Original Message ----- From: avi8fauna > Date: Monday, August 30, 2010 9:19 pm Subject: [Albertabird] Suggestions for birding and mammals around Lake Louise please To: Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com > Greetings > > I am going to Lake Louise in late September and meeting some > people from Pennsylvania who would enjoy some birding chances > and also a look at big mammals. I have never spent time around > Lake louise and would very much appreciate some suggestions > about where to go in the Lake louise and Canmore locations. > > Thank you > > Don Delaney - Edmonton > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: RE: Suggestions for birding and mammals around Lake Louise please From: ALAN MACKEIGAN <amackeigan AT shaw.ca> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:38:35 -0600 Good point Phil One more excellent suggestion on the Smith Dorrien - about half way to Peter Lougheed from Canmore there is a turnoff on the right, well signed for Mount Shark / Engadine Lodge. Follow this about 300-400m and cross a bridge. Stop and look 90 degrees left. There is a huge mud wallow just below the road to Engadine about 200meters to the south where moose do their fall courtship thing. They urinate in the mud and then roll in it to make themselves beautiful to the opposite sex. Not uncommon to see a dozen moose hanging around the area. The meadow that follows south from there for teh next few km has one of the largest concentrations of moose in the rockies. I saw two large bulls in the area last year and over a dozen cows on one morning. They are usually in evidence on the edges of the day, early morning and near sundown. Smith Dorrien is accessed from the road to the Nordic Center which climbs the steep rock face south of town and takes you into the V-shaped valley visible above and behind Canmore from the highway, between East End of Rundle and Ha Ling Peak. It's gravel and quite dusty though, so save the car wash for the return trip home. I have better luck with Grizzly in the Spring when they are munching dandelions on the roadsides but you may get lucky around berry bushes if they still bear fruit by then. In all cases with the large mammals, stay in the vehicle to avoid problems with them, the bull moose in my opinion are far more dangerous than the bears in Sept. In K Country there are also aggressive mammals in uniform that will ticket you for harassing them if on foot! They are extremely protective of the bears in particular, which is of course a good thing. Also usually tons of Elk and a few Bighorn Sheep around Lake Minnewanka loop N of Banff townsite. Sometimes I get nice big rams on the Norquay Ski Hill road across the highway from Banff. Take the last exit to Banff heading west but rather than going into town head in the opposite direction to the north. Great roadside views up there animals or not. Al ----- Original Message ----- From: Phil Cram Date: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 11:23 am Subject: RE: [Albertabird] Suggestions for birding and mammals around Lake Louise please To: Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com > Don: > > > > In June we saw a sow Grizzly Bear with two cubs in the meadow > beside the > Icefields Parkway, between Bow Lake and Bow Summit (about � hr > north of Lake > Louise). > > > > The Smith-Dorrien Highway between Canmore and Peter Lougheed PP > was also > good in June for big mammals, soon after dawn. We saw Black and > GrizzlyBears and Moose there. As Al MacKeigan noted, it pays to > make an early > start, when there are more mammals and fewer people in evidence. > > > > Good luck, > > > > Phil Cram > > > > _____ > > From: Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com > [mailto:Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com] On > Behalf Of ALAN MACKEIGAN > Sent: August 31, 2010 9:33 AM > To: Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com > Subject: Re: [Albertabird] Suggestions for birding and mammals > around Lake > Louise please > > > > > > Hi Don, > In Banff, the Cave and Basin is always pretty good for birds, as > is the > short road along Vermillion Lakes below the highway, though you > are getting > into the quiet months for birds. Highway 1A offers lots of spots > as well - > Muleshoe , Moose meadows, and maybe even Black Swifts in Johnson > Canyon. At > Lake Louise there are not many great spots in terms of > reliability, maybe a > walk toward the Plains of 6 glaciers Tea House behind the lake ( > Park near > the Chateau ) will produce Ptarmigans, and there are often Clarks > Nutcrackers and Stellar's Jays around the parking area itself. > If you are hikers, then I highly recommend any of the day hikes > from Moraine > Lake. About 2/3 of the way up the road to Chateau Lake Louise > there is a > road on the left that goes ~10km to Moraine Lake. Sentilnel Pass > is one of > my favorites, passing through old growth fir and spruce forests > to Lyall's > Larches as you ascend and then finally to open meadows. In late > Sept the > Larches will be golden so it's worth the effort. Views of the > Valley of the > Ten Peaks are breathtaking. American Pipits in the meadows and > Gray-Crowned > Rosy Finches in the rocks above should still be around. The hike > down to the > Giant Steps beyond Sentinel Pass and back makes for a long day > but is very > rewarding as well. Sometimes they post signs specifying that you > must have a > minimum group size of 4 or 6 due to bears in the area but you > can simply > wait at the trail head for another party to join. > If you are trying any of these trails, an early start is > recommended. ( no > later than 9 ) They get crowded later in the day on weekends. I > like to hit > Moraine Lake for sunrise where you can photograph your own > classic postcard > and then I head out from there. > sample at > http://www.flickr.com/photos/30704518 AT N07/3035856815/in/set- > 72157623637324025/ > > Good luck!. As long as the weather cooperates you will not be > disappointed.Cheers > Al MacKeigan > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: avi8fauna > > Date: Monday, August 30, 2010 9:19 pm > Subject: [Albertabird] Suggestions for birding and mammals > around Lake > Louise please > To: Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com > > > > Greetings > > > > I am going to Lake Louise in late September and meeting some > > people from Pennsylvania who would enjoy some birding chances > > and also a look at big mammals. I have never spent time around > > Lake louise and would very much appreciate some suggestions > > about where to go in the Lake louise and Canmore locations. > > > > Thank you > > > > Don Delaney - Edmonton > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: Suggestions for birding and mammals around Lake Louise please From: "Phil Cram" <crampj AT telusplanet.net> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:23:41 -0600 Don: In June we saw a sow Grizzly Bear with two cubs in the meadow beside the Icefields Parkway, between Bow Lake and Bow Summit (about � hr north of Lake Louise). The Smith-Dorrien Highway between Canmore and Peter Lougheed PP was also good in June for big mammals, soon after dawn. We saw Black and Grizzly Bears and Moose there. As Al MacKeigan noted, it pays to make an early start, when there are more mammals and fewer people in evidence. Good luck, Phil Cram _____ From: Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of ALAN MACKEIGAN Sent: August 31, 2010 9:33 AM To: Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Albertabird] Suggestions for birding and mammals around Lake Louise please Hi Don, In Banff, the Cave and Basin is always pretty good for birds, as is the short road along Vermillion Lakes below the highway, though you are getting into the quiet months for birds. Highway 1A offers lots of spots as well - Muleshoe , Moose meadows, and maybe even Black Swifts in Johnson Canyon. At Lake Louise there are not many great spots in terms of reliability, maybe a walk toward the Plains of 6 glaciers Tea House behind the lake ( Park near the Chateau ) will produce Ptarmigans, and there are often Clarks Nutcrackers and Stellar's Jays around the parking area itself. If you are hikers, then I highly recommend any of the day hikes from Moraine Lake. About 2/3 of the way up the road to Chateau Lake Louise there is a road on the left that goes ~10km to Moraine Lake. Sentilnel Pass is one of my favorites, passing through old growth fir and spruce forests to Lyall's Larches as you ascend and then finally to open meadows. In late Sept the Larches will be golden so it's worth the effort. Views of the Valley of the Ten Peaks are breathtaking. American Pipits in the meadows and Gray-Crowned Rosy Finches in the rocks above should still be around. The hike down to the Giant Steps beyond Sentinel Pass and back makes for a long day but is very rewarding as well. Sometimes they post signs specifying that you must have a minimum group size of 4 or 6 due to bears in the area but you can simply wait at the trail head for another party to join. If you are trying any of these trails, an early start is recommended. ( no later than 9 ) They get crowded later in the day on weekends. I like to hit Moraine Lake for sunrise where you can photograph your own classic postcard and then I head out from there. sample at http://www.flickr.com/photos/30704518 AT N07/3035856815/in/set-7215762363732402 5/ Good luck!. As long as the weather cooperates you will not be disappointed. Cheers Al MacKeigan ----- Original Message ----- From: avi8fauna > Date: Monday, August 30, 2010 9:19 pm Subject: [Albertabird] Suggestions for birding and mammals around Lake Louise please To: Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com > Greetings > > I am going to Lake Louise in late September and meeting some > people from Pennsylvania who would enjoy some birding chances > and also a look at big mammals. I have never spent time around > Lake louise and would very much appreciate some suggestions > about where to go in the Lake louise and Canmore locations. > > Thank you > > Don Delaney - Edmonton > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Suggestions for birding and mammals around Lake Louise please From: ALAN MACKEIGAN <amackeigan AT shaw.ca> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:32:53 -0600 Hi Don, In Banff, the Cave and Basin is always pretty good for birds, as is the short road along Vermillion Lakes below the highway, though you are getting into the quiet months for birds. Highway 1A offers lots of spots as well - Muleshoe , Moose meadows, and maybe even Black Swifts in Johnson Canyon. At Lake Louise there are not many great spots in terms of reliability, maybe a walk toward the Plains of 6 glaciers Tea House behind the lake ( Park near the Chateau ) will produce Ptarmigans, and there are often Clarks Nutcrackers and Stellar's Jays around the parking area itself. If you are hikers, then I highly recommend any of the day hikes from Moraine Lake. About 2/3 of the way up the road to Chateau Lake Louise there is a road on the left that goes ~10km to Moraine Lake. Sentilnel Pass is one of my favorites, passing through old growth fir and spruce forests to Lyall's Larches as you ascend and then finally to open meadows. In late Sept the Larches will be golden so it's worth the effort. Views of the Valley of the Ten Peaks are breathtaking. American Pipits in the meadows and Gray-Crowned Rosy Finches in the rocks above should still be around. The hike down to the Giant Steps beyond Sentinel Pass and back makes for a long day but is very rewarding as well. Sometimes they post signs specifying that you must have a minimum group size of 4 or 6 due to bears in the area but you can simply wait at the trail head for another party to join. If you are trying any of these trails, an early start is recommended. ( no later than 9 ) They get crowded later in the day on weekends. I like to hit Moraine Lake for sunrise where you can photograph your own classic postcard and then I head out from there. sample at http://www.flickr.com/photos/30704518 AT N07/3035856815/in/set-72157623637324025/ Good luck!. As long as the weather cooperates you will not be disappointed. Cheers Al MacKeigan ----- Original Message ----- From: avi8fauna Date: Monday, August 30, 2010 9:19 pm Subject: [Albertabird] Suggestions for birding and mammals around Lake Louise please To: Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com > Greetings > > I am going to Lake Louise in late September and meeting some > people from Pennsylvania who would enjoy some birding chances > and also a look at big mammals. I have never spent time around > Lake louise and would very much appreciate some suggestions > about where to go in the Lake louise and Canmore locations. > > Thank you > > Don Delaney - Edmonton > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re Buff-breasted Sandpipers From: "lenora & dick flynn" <lendic AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:29:10 -0600 Dick and I finally got out to Sheperd Slough late this afternoon to look for the Buff-breasted Sandpipers. Lots of movement back and forth along the shoreline of Baird's, Yellowlegs and Phalaropes plus two Sanderlings. A lone Ibis was present for a brief period. We spent close to an hour searching (enjoying the other shorebirds) and were pretty much ready to call it quits when we located the two Buff-breasted Sandpipers along the near shoreline and past the mid point toward the east end of the slough. Persistence paid off this time! Lenora Flynn Calgary [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Suggestions for birding and mammals around Lake Louise please From: "avi8fauna" <data9boy AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 03:19:35 -0000 Greetings I am going to Lake Louise in late September and meeting some people from Pennsylvania who would enjoy some birding chances and also a look at big mammals. I have never spent time around Lake louise and would very much appreciate some suggestions about where to go in the Lake louise and Canmore locations. Thank you Don Delaney - Edmonton Subject: RE: NMT Birding: Buff-breasted Sandpipers From: "Reid Barclay" <reidbarclay AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:15:08 -0600 They were still there as of 7:00pm tonight, a little to the east from were Bill W. saw them this morning, but still visible from the field approach. They were intently (?) watching the trains as they went by, but did not flush for them. Probably the first time they have seen trains in their so far short lives? Makes you wonder what they are thinking of? Reid Barclay Calgary Ps. Langdon Reservoir is dropping, but no mudflats exposed as of yet, maybe by this weekend! -----Original Message----- From: Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Dr. W.J.F. Wilson Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 11:10 AM To: Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com; BirdsCalgary2010 AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [Albertabird] NMT Birding: Buff-breasted Sandpipers The Buff-breasted Sandpipers found yesterday by Terry Korolyk were still at the slough east of Shepard this morning at 7:30 am. New NMT!! Yesterday evening they were foraging on the mudflats at the far west end of the slough; this morning they were harder to see along the shoreline on the near side of the slough, straight south of the little parking spot at the west end. They were often partially or completely hidden by the grass that's between the parking spot and the slough. A scope is needed to see the birds clearly. The land on which the slough is located is private property, so it is best to bird from the parking spot or along the roadside (careful of traffic). The land-owner prefers that people not walk over to the slough without permission. Good birding, Bill Wilson Calgary No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3103 - Release Date: 08/30/10 12:34:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Hull's Woods-Monday morning From: "tonytimmons99" <tonytimmons99 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:34:54 -0000 Returned to Hull's Woods this morning,after a poor show of Warblers on the sunday field trip.Met Al and Helga Borgardt,and We found Yellow Warbler 2 Yellow-rumped 10+ Wilson's 3 Orange-crowned 2 Townsend's 2 Cape May 1 Ovenbird 1 Swainson's Thrush 3 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Tony Timmons Calgary Subject: Ksikkomahkayiiksi Akaissko'tooyaa (Trumpeters Return) From: Ryan Heavy Head <akayokaki AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:34:52 -0700 (PDT) My recent notes: Akayo'kaki (Ryan Heavy Head), Oldman River, Kitawahsinnoon IIII ) llllllllll Meadowhawks And Road Dusters (22Aug10) 1642 Sspopiikimi - seems crazy, but it's been an entire week since our last visit. We almost didn't come out this evening either, with the wind and passing showers. Already there are patches of leaves in some of the cottonwoods turning yellow and preparing to fall. It has been a wet summer, and it shows, the cattail and bulrush stands are thicker than we've ever seen them 1655 Walking the length of the pond to the south bench, there are constant cries from the forest main on the other side. A juvenile sikohpiitaipannikimm swoops in and out of the trees while what we assume is one of its parents silently hunts the wet meadows. We see, on the water, the occasional female or juvenile mi'ksikatsi, and the shale trail is busy with cherry-faced meadowhawk dragonflies 1709 I take a little stroll away from the bench to photograph the meadowhawks. There is also a large blue species and a small yellow one (probably pale snakeskin), but they are far fewer in number. Among the absinthe stems, there are still pockets of the as yet unidentified, spiny, aphid-like insects, always with ants visiting them to collect the nectar they produce as they feed off the plants 1734 I take another little stroll down to the peninsula, searching the flowering and fruiting plants for insects. There is second aphid hatch on the burdock, not the spiny species of the absinthe, but something different. They too have ants relying on them. I see the occasional honey bee on flowering alfalfa, a wasp (possibly yellow-jacket) in the buckbrush flowers, as well as hundreds of bluets and all three of the afore-mentioned dragonflies. In the brush, the goldfinch seem to be feeding off the still-sour bulberries 1752 The juvenile hawk is still crying from the forest main, and when I join Mahoney again at the bench we talk about how, despite the presence of these others, the pond is a bit depressing after the geese leave. We go through this lonely passage each year here. Our relationship to the waterfowl through the Beaver Bundle sets the tone of our visits for most of the summer 1801 As we leave the bench behind to start rounding the south marsh, we cross paths with two road dusters, the first of these large, flying grasshoppers we've seen here this year. I also stop to photograph an interesting bumble-bee, or possibly a mimic, on the goldenrod flowers. Then, continuing on, Mahoney directs my attention to the owl wood, thick with ground foliage, unlike the north wood even though the two experienced similar flooding 1818 We drop down into the forest main amidst a feast, the robins are swarming the chokecherry brush. Unfortunately, I didn't bring a bag to collect berries in tonight. There are lots of pakkii'p ready, and the mi'ksinittsiim though tart are very welcome. We eat handfuls as we walk 1854 Halfway through the forest main, we come to a bulberry bush whose berries are just the right blend of sweet and sour, and we can no longer help ourselves. I have a canvass drop cloth in my pack and we make quick work of it. For the price of a few pricks on the finger we fall enough berries in a half hour to fill at least one large freezer bag, probably more 1909 Coming to the north end of the forest, I note that the maanikapi here must be completely done flowering. I recall passing significant patches the last time we walked this path, but today none. This means we'd better locate the seeding plants and gather what we want to keep as cold and flu medicine for winter 1931 The rest of our walk back around the north bend and to the truck is taken in conversation, frustration at local development projects that focus so strongly on short-term resource mining and the cultivation of introduced domestic species, rather than feeding our local ecology with investments in sustainable reliance on local species and renewable energy IIII ) lllllllllll Pied-Billed Grebe (23Aug10) 1917 Sspopiikimi - walked in at north-pond to see, in addition to a few coots and mallards in the reeds by the wet meadows, an unusually small duck of some sort. I spoke a greeting to it and it dove very un-duck-like, resurfacing a couple meters away. Now it really had our attention, and looking closer we've identified it as a pied-billed grebe, the first of its kind we've ever seen at the pond 1931 As we watch it, the grebe disappears into the reeds. I notice that there are dozens of gulls soaring high over the pond, and they seem to fade away into the sky before I can confirm their identity. There are more mosquitoes tonight, and several kingfishers chattering, flying from perch to perch. It's cool out, with almost zero wind 1938 The dry seed heads of the crested wheatgrass are host to roosting flies this evening. I take pictures to later identify the species. The spiny aphid / ant / absinthe symbiotic drama is still underway. Somewhere in the forest main, the young sikohpiitaipanikkimm is calling 1948 It doesn't take long to move around the south marsh to the chokecherry trees we were looking at yesterday. This time, we've brought bags, and we settle in to harvest 2018 After a half-hour of vigorous picking, during which we clean off about half the fruit from the clump of bushes we're working, we decide to take a break. We sit above the river, it's waters drifting calm under dusk's shadow. There's a beaver riding the current along the shoreline with a mouth full of rabbit willow. I wonder if their winter caching has begun. We've seen no sign of it by the lodge on the pond, but then it could be building up underwater 2043 Our break extends, and as the full moon rises we decide to make our way back to the truck. There is a pisttoo chirping over the pond, and eastern kingbirds flying in short loops from their perches in the forest canopy, assumedly feeding off insects. I wonder if they're eating from the swarms of male mosquitoes, like the cloud that follows us, waiting for the blood-engorged females to leave us and join them. I struggle to photograph this massive swarm as we walk, and they only leave us when we get to the truck IIII ) llllllllllllllll The Call To Flock (28Aug10) 1803 Sspopiikimi - moving sunwise this cool, clouded evening, taking note of what's new, or passed, or absent 1814 There are no garters along the cutbank of north-pond at the moment, not surprising given the temperature. In flower are absinthe, hairy golden aster, alfalfa, yellow sweetclover, canada goldenrod, tufted white prairie aster, and clematis, though most of the latter are in seed. The kingfishers are still here, chattering in annoyance at our approach. A couple flickers have flown off the cutbank to wait us out from the top of a nearby cottonwood, I suspect they were eating ants 1816 The cherry-faced meadowhawks remain abundant, along with the pale snakeskins. And a new insect has appeared on the absinthe, something like a salbug, but lengthier and with orange spots. Mahoney has hypotesized that these are grown versions of the spiny, aphid-like creatures we'd been seeing on the absinthe in previous visits 1818 Up on the levee-walk, looking over the north wood, the rhombic-leaved sunflowers on the slope have mostly played out, though on one that still has a flower we find a beautiful tan and cream-colored moth. The flood mud of the forest is vibrant green with new grass, but not yet completely covered over. The mosquito swarms are still at large here, yet not nearly as brutal 1843 We go to lookout over the Oldman and it's big river island, searching for signs of new ksisskstakioyiistsi since the floods swept away the one that had been established over the last two years. We didn't see anything, but we know there must be something along the cutbank. As we scanned the area, a pair of ring-billed gulls flew in to pick at something in the shallows. Perhaps they were looking for freshwater clams 1847 From the lookout, we move along the levee to the river bench. There are recognizable sounds in the forest main, the cricket-like calls of simitsiim, the owlish hoots of a mourning dove, and the crunching sounds of a deer taking cover in the bush. It is still very green here in the shadows of the trees, but the berries of kinii and siinikskaahko are already in place, suggesting that winter's not long to come 1855 We can hear a light, irregular tapping in the trees bordering the river, directly in front of where we're sitting. I look, but at first can't find the source. Meanwhile, the whitetail doe that had been crunching in the forest comes up on the levee-walk to look at us, then moves further south along the trail before re-entering the trees. Again there is the tapping sound, and I finally spot a small, female downy woodpecker clinging to the bark of one of the cottonwoods nearest our position. She's digging more than hammering, just below a small dead branch 1910 As we near the blind, we can hear one of the swainson's crying from up toward the coulee rim. Out on the wide pool of south-pond, there are two mi'ksikatsi families, numbering eleven in total, all females and this year's juveniles. There is no sign of the great blue herons yet, nor the lesser yellowlegs, both of whom were frequenting south-pond last year around this time, when the shallows were even more so 1920 As we leave the blind, we again encounter the whitetail doe. This time she is very close, and her behavior suggests to me that she has a young one hidden nearby. It is why she keeps approaching us to investigate and possibly fight off the danger we represent. We stare at each other for a few minutes, then she walks slowly away and so do we 1933 Heading back to the levee-walk, at the extreme south end, we stop again at the chokecherry trees, unable to just pass by these ripe berries as if they aren't here. As we pick, a small family of aapsspini come down in south-pond, honk for several minutes, then fly away. We saw this exact same behavior last year after the geese had been absent for weeks. Although it is total conjecture, one of my suspicions is that the parents are sending this year's goslings back for one last look at their breeding grounds, and that what they are saying is something like, "Take a good look at this place, remember it, pay attention when we leave. This is where you girls will bring your husbands next year to make nests. And this is where you boys will come if you happen not to find a mate for next summer season" 1950 The other possible rationale for this aapsspini behavior, and probably the more likely, is that they are making sure they leave no one behind. Last summer, we were certain this was the case when a pair of geese came calling for a half hour or so, searching for the single gosling who'd been abandoned once its siblings learned to fly. This year, it was the Log family who were latest to develop. And at this strong matrilocal breeding ground, it's entirely conceivable that what we just heard were members of the Big Island or Triplet families coming to ensure that the Log family made its way back to the larger tribe that will either fly south together, or roost communally through the coming winter nights 2013 We've picked chokecherries from this single, small cluster of bushes on two occasions now, and our bag tonight is heavy again. Still, there are more berries remaining. It's getting dark though, and we can't work for too long in one session, otherwise Mahoney will pay for it in joint pain the next day, so we're headed around the marsh to the south bench 2019 Interesting... there is a goose on the Big Island of south-pond, standing tall and honking. There's another, we can hear, at north-pond. They won't be here long, if I am correct in assuming that this is more of the same behavioral complex I've been writing about this evening. We've not seen any of their kind at the pond for several weeks, and after tonight, if we want to find them, we will have to go to where the large tribes are gathering in the lakes and stubble-fields 2023 The goose from the north end is swimming this way, making slow switch-backs along the length of the pond, honking at a rate of about one call per second. It's partner on the big island is giving a similar call intermittently. And somewhere, out of sight, downriver, there are hawks screaming 2027 When the goose from the north comes within sight of the other on the island, it makes a few more rapid, higher-pitched calls, the getting ready to fly call. But then, perhaps because the other does not respond, it turns and begins search-calling and moving north again. When it gets to the ksisskstakioyis thous, it makes the flight call again and then takes wing. The one on the island then makes its flight call and leaves as well. Both fly downriver 2032 I've noticed that here on the south end, there's a purple showy aster blooming. With the geese gone and darkness upon us, we walk the length of the pond back to the truck. Curiously, we see no ksisskstaki along the way. It's odd that they wouldn't be awake yet IIII ) llllllllllllllllll Ksikkomahkayiiksi Akaissko'tooyaa (30Aug10) 1054 POD: ksikkomahkayiiksi akaissko'tooyaa - trumpeter swans have returned [after being away all summer] 1209 Awesome phenologic synchronicity - first real snow on the mountains overnight and the simultaneous return of trumpeter swans. This is right on schedule. We always know we've got one moon of the season (summer or winter) left when the swans appear, and indeed awakaasiiki'somm (the deer moon, last of summer) is just a couple sleeps away [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: NMT Birding: Buff-breasted Sandpipers From: "Dr. W.J.F. Wilson" <wjfwilso AT ucalgary.ca> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:09:41 -0600 The Buff-breasted Sandpipers found yesterday by Terry Korolyk were still at the slough east of Shepard this morning at 7:30 am. New NMT!! Yesterday evening they were foraging on the mudflats at the far west end of the slough; this morning they were harder to see along the shoreline on the near side of the slough, straight south of the little parking spot at the west end. They were often partially or completely hidden by the grass that's between the parking spot and the slough. A scope is needed to see the birds clearly. The land on which the slough is located is private property, so it is best to bird from the parking spot or along the roadside (careful of traffic). The land-owner prefers that people not walk over to the slough without permission. Good birding, Bill Wilson Calgary Subject: Lousy birding weather close to Cadomin! From: "naturalistbob60" <vintagebob AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:54:28 -0000 Hiked Prospect and Wildhorse Creek areas this past weekend...snow, sleet, cold, some wind. Intention was to do some high elevation butterfly, yup go ahead and laugh! Highlights include> 20 White-winged Crosssbills. 2 Wilsons Warler. 6 Boreal Chicadee. 3 Song Sparrow. N Waterthrush. Red-breasted Nuthatch/s. 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet. Subject: Greater white fronted goose, From: Johan Van Onna <j.vanonna AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 07:35:19 -0700 (PDT) Hi there, Yesterday we finally had some nice�sightings on our acreage again after a long and quiet period.� It started of in the morning with a group of several black capped chickadees mixed with at least two boreals, later on two white-winged crossbills visited the backyard. At about two PM a flock of� 30 Greater white fronted goose flew over, and during the day different flocks of Canada goose. At 9PM we finally saw our first Long eared Owl�of�the acreage who flew several rounds above our heads. Other birds mentioned 2 Blue jays, Yellow bellied sapsucker, 5 Red tailed hawks and a handfull of gulls up in the air. Around noon our dog, and the naybours had a confrontation with a porcupine wich was the�first time for me, thank god we where able to get them all out. Cheers, Johan van Onna, Rollyview [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Shepard Slough From: "William J. F. Wilson" <wjfwilso AT ucalgary.ca> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 18:52:19 -0600 There is a report of Buff-breasted Sandpiper at the slough east of Shepard, seen by Terry Korolyk around 5 pm today (Sunday). Good birding, Bill Wilson Calgary Subject: Nature Calgary Field Trip-Hull's Woods From: "tonytimmons99" <tonytimmons99 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 22:59:37 -0000 Birding at Hull's Woods was slow this morning,for the thirteen people on the walk.Finding only a few Yellow-rumped Warblers,Wilson's,and Orange-crowned. A Common Tern was near the river,and We had a good look at a juvenile Cooper's Hawk. Tony Timmons Calgary Subject: NMT Birding: Lapland Longspur From: "William J. F. Wilson" <wjfwilso AT ucalgary.ca> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 15:49:30 -0600 A walk around Inglewood in occasional light drizzle this morning turned up 32 species. Mostly the regulars, but a good look at one Ovenbird was nice. From there I biked south and west to Glenmore Reservoir. Highlights were one Common Loon, and one Lapland Longspur flying around near the point east of the Yacht Club on the south side of the reservoir, giving its "dididit dididit dididit tew dididit" calls. It was vocalizing enough for two or three, but I only saw one. That's my earliest Fall Lapland Longspur; the previous earliest was a small flock at Langdon Reservoir on September 3, 2005. New NMT!! Good birding, Bill Wilson Calgary Subject: RE: ENC Shorbirds Aug 28 2010 Cooking Lake From: "Gerald Romanchuk" <geraldjr AT telusplanet.net> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 22:07:45 -0600 After the group left, I had a little siesta, then went out to bird a bit more. Added a lone Hudsonian Godwit & a winter-plumaged Red Knot - first time I've seen one in the fall around Edmonton. Gerald Romanchuk, Edmonton -----Original Message----- From: Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of BJSEdmonton AT yahoo.com Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2010 5:33 PM To: Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [Albertabird] ENC Shorbirds Aug 28 2010 Cooking Lake Eight of us arrived at the Aviation Centre on the North West side of Cooking Lake around 9:15 - a very cool windy morning. We spotted an adult Bald Eagle and shortly after a juvenile Bald Eagle before tracking down modest flocks of shorebirds and large masses of molting ducks. We spent about 3 hours walking the full loop around the spit before going over to Lakeview where we met Gerald. We were alerted to a Peregrine by some birders just leaving the area. We were able to pick out both Long Billed and Short Billed Dowitcher and several Sanderling. The weather was definitely staying cool and rain showers were approaching so we finished around 2:30. Brian Stephens Edmonton Species List Goose, Canada Gadwall Wigeon, American Mallard Teal, Blue-winged Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Northern Scaup, Lesser Bufflehead Goldeneye, Common Eagle, Bald Harrier, Northern Merlin Falcon, Peregrine Plover, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Killdeer Avocet, American Yellowlegs, Lesser Godwit, Marbled Sanderling Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, Pectoral Dowitcher, Short-billed Dowitcher, Long-billed Gull, Franklin's Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Herring Swallow, Barn Chickadee, Black-capped Sparrow, Vesper Goldfinch, American [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Nature Calgary at Bow Valley PP From: Andrew Hart <andrewhart AT shaw.ca> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 20:16:17 -0600 Six of us visited Bow Valley PP today. Started cool at about 8 deg C, but soon warmed up to around 15-17 deg C, just right for all that walking. We started on the Flowing Waters Trail. The beaver ponds are almost completely dried up, but that was still where we had the most activity. On the is trail we saw American Crow 1 American Goldfinch 3 American Robin 20 Black-billed Magpie 3 Black-capped Chickadee 4 Boreal Chickadee 1 Cedar Waxwing 4 Common Raven 1 Dark-eyed Junco 4 Downy Woodpecker 1 Eastern Kingbird 1 House Finch 10 Least Flycatcher 2 Northern Flicker 1 Pine Siskin 20 Red-breasted Nuthatch 6 Warbling Vireo 1 Yelow Rumped Warbler 1 The robins were gathering in relatively large groups. We also flushed a grouse, probably ruffed, but it exploded out of the bush just beside us and was gone before we could really focus on it. Then we went to the Montane Trail and saw very little apart from a Swainson's Thrush and a Savannah Sparrow After lunch we went to the Many Springs Trails and saw Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 American Robin 6 Solitary Sandpiper 1 Pine Siskin 4 Black-capped Chickadee 4 Yellow-rumped Warbler 4 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Merlin 1 Dark-eyed Junco 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 We finished up walking around the Middle Lake Trail but did not add any new species. Apart from the birding a good day's walking Andrew Hart [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: ENC Shorbirds Aug 28 2010 Cooking Lake From: "BJSEdmonton AT yahoo.com" <bjsedmonton@yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 23:32:30 -0000 Eight of us arrived at the Aviation Centre on the North West side of Cooking Lake around 9:15 - a very cool windy morning. We spotted an adult Bald Eagle and shortly after a juvenile Bald Eagle before tracking down modest flocks of shorebirds and large masses of molting ducks. We spent about 3 hours walking the full loop around the spit before going over to Lakeview where we met Gerald. We were alerted to a Peregrine by some birders just leaving the area. We were able to pick out both Long Billed and Short Billed Dowitcher and several Sanderling. The weather was definitely staying cool and rain showers were approaching so we finished around 2:30. Brian Stephens Edmonton Species List Goose, Canada Gadwall Wigeon, American Mallard Teal, Blue-winged Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Northern Scaup, Lesser Bufflehead Goldeneye, Common Eagle, Bald Harrier, Northern Merlin Falcon, Peregrine Plover, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Killdeer Avocet, American Yellowlegs, Lesser Godwit, Marbled Sanderling Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, Pectoral Dowitcher, Short-billed Dowitcher, Long-billed Gull, Franklin's Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Herring Swallow, Barn Chickadee, Black-capped Sparrow, Vesper Goldfinch, American Subject: Re: Bird Id help Please From: Barb Beck <barb AT birdnut.obtuse.com> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 15:57:47 -0600 Blackpoll - feet look light and rest seems to fit for a molting bird avi8fauna wrote: > Greetings > > I just posted two shots of birds sent to me from a friend in BC. One is titled "Junco?" and the other as "Warbler help". Any response will be appreciated. > > Thnak you > > Don Delaney - Edmonton. > > > > ------------------------------------ > > _____________________________________________________________ > > * List owner: Albertabird-owner AT yahoogroups.com > * Guidelines: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Albertabird/files/Guidelines.txtYahoo! Groups Links > > > > Subject: Re: Bird Id help Please From: Don Delaney <data9boy AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 09:43:07 -0700 (PDT) Hi Cam Thanks for your response. The other bird in question is the one right next to to junco in new photos and is titled Warbler Help. If you have a look, I will appreciate it very much. Don ________________________________ From: Joy and Cam Finlay To: Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Fri, August 27, 2010 8:14:48 PM Subject: Re: [Albertabird] Bird Id help Please   Don That "Junco" is a juvenile one. Note the stripes on its breast and trace of while on tail. Cam Finlay, now of greater Victoria where we have lots of these birds at our feeders. Can't find the chickadee on your list of photos ----- Original Message ----- From: avi8fauna To: Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, August 27, 2010 4:30 PM Subject: [Albertabird] Bird Id help Please Greetings I just posted two shots of birds sent to me from a friend in BC. One is titled "Junco?" and the other as "Warbler help". Any response will be appreciated. Thnak you Don Delaney - Edmonton. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Bird Id help Please From: "Joy and Cam Finlay" <joyandcamfinlay AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:14:48 -0700 Don That "Junco" is a juvenile one. Note the stripes on its breast and trace of while on tail. Cam Finlay, now of greater Victoria where we have lots of these birds at our feeders. Can't find the chickadee on your list of photos ----- Original Message ----- From: avi8fauna To: Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, August 27, 2010 4:30 PM Subject: [Albertabird] Bird Id help Please Greetings I just posted two shots of birds sent to me from a friend in BC. One is titled "Junco?" and the other as "Warbler help". Any response will be appreciated. Thnak you Don Delaney - Edmonton. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Bird Id help Please From: "avi8fauna" <data9boy AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 23:30:05 -0000 Greetings I just posted two shots of birds sent to me from a friend in BC. One is titled "Junco?" and the other as "Warbler help". Any response will be appreciated. Thnak you Don Delaney - Edmonton. Subject: Hooded Warbler From: "Ray Wershler" <rwershler AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:42:09 -0600 This morning (0730h) at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, there was an immature female type Hooded Warbler. The bird was first spotted by John Riddell and seen by Merril Wershler and myself. Several hours of searching by several people failed to turn up the bird again. The bird had a lot of yellow in the face and white in the tail. The white tail flashes are what first alerted us to the bird's identity. This is the sanctuary's first record of the species. Ray Wershler Calgary __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5403 (20100827) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Marbled Godwits at weed Lake From: "davidlilly57" <davidlilly57 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:02:50 -0000 Hi everyone, Saw and photographed 4 Marbled Godwits today at Weed Lake. Photographs are not good enough to publish. Id was confirmed by Gus Yaki. www.davidlillyphotography.ca David Lilly Calgary Subject: RBA ,CALGARY, AB., AUGUST 26, 2010 From: Arina/Hank <rhvander AT shaw.ca> Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:29:43 -0600 > RBA > * Alberta (Canada) > * Calgary, AB > * August 26, 2010 > * ABCA1008.26 > > -Birds mentioned: > > Great Egret > Olive-sided Flycatcher > Blue-headed Vireo > Townsend's Warbler > Blackpoll Warbler > Black-and-white Warbler > Mourning Warbler > MacGillivray's Warbler > > Hotline: City of Calgary and Calgary Field Naturalists' Society > (Nature > Calgary) Bird Alert > > Number: 403 221-4519 > To Report: 403 221-4519 > Coverage: Southern Alberta > Compiler: Terry Korolyk (CFNS & IBS) > Transcriber: Hank Vanderpol (rhvander AT shaw.ca) > > Welcome to the city of Calgary CFNS Bird Alert. This Bird Alert > was recorded on Thursday August 26. To report a bird sighting, > leave a message after the recording, or to bypass the recording, > press the pound key on your touch tone telephone. To speak to a > naturalist, please phone 311 if calling locally during office hours > and ask for Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, or dial 403-268-2489 if > calling from outside the city. > > > If you wish to report an injured bird or animal, please call > Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation aty 403-239-2488, or the Alberta > Institute for Wildlife Conservation at 403-946-2361. > > Bird Sightings: > > August 21: > > GREAT EGRET: A late report of an egret seen in the vicinity of the > Costco store near Balzac, by Gayle Linden and Don Barrit. > > August 24: > > MOURNING WARBLER: Confederation park,Calgary, west of the pond, by > Bill Wilson; > MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER: Same as above; > TOWNSEND'S WARBLER:Same as above; > BLACKPOLL WARBLER: Same as above; > > August 25: > > BLUE-HEADED VIREO: Confederation park, by BW; > OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER: Same as above; > BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER:Hull's Wood, E.Fish Creek Provincial Park, > by Terry Korolyk and Tony Timmons. > > The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is Monday August 30. > > Nature Calgary (CFNS) Field Trips: > > ....AUGUST > > Tue Aug 24, 7.30am: Early morning birding for autumn migrants at > Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Peter Roxburgh, > 403-271-7033. > > Tue Aug 24, 6:30pm: Birding Carburn Park. S from Glenmore Tr at 18 > St SE to > second stoplight, then right & follow signs. Meet parking lot. Leader, > Andrew Hart, 403-279-5209. > > Thu Aug 26, 7.30am: Early morning birding for autumn migrants at > Inglewood > Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Peter Roxburgh, > 403-271-7033. > > Sat Aug 28, 8am: Bird Bow Valley Prov. Park. Bring lunch. Meet > Assumption > School, 34th Av NW (NW corner of Sarcee Tr, at Hwy 1). Leader, Andrew > Hart,279-5209. > > Sat Aug 28, 9am: Bird Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. > Leader, > Penny Smith, 403-283-9260. > > Sun Aug 29, 8am: Bird Hull's Wood. Meet at FCPP HQ parking lot off Bow > Bottom Tr SE. Leader, Tony Timmons, 403-256-0754. > > Tue Aug 31, 6:30pm: Final Tues. Evening Bird Walk at Inglewood Bird > Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Al Borgardt, 403-281-4306. > > ...SEPTEMBER > > Wed 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. > > Sun Sep 5, 9am: A nature walk on Nose Hill: flora and fauna. Meet 14 > St and 64 Av NW entrance. Leader, Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248. > > Sat Sep 11, 8:30am: Bird Bebo Grove, FCPP, S end of 24 St SW. Leader, > Al Borgardt, 403-281-4306. > > Sat Sep 11, 9am. Bird Bowmont Park. Meet Maranatha Church, 2111 52 St > NW (N end of Home Rd). Leader, Horst Grothman, 403-286--3048. > > Sun Sep 12, 8am: Bird Lafarge Meadows. Meet at FCPP boat launch at S > end of Bow Bottom Tr SE. Leader, Tony Timmons, 403-256-0754. > > Sun Sep 12, 8am: Bird Griffith Woods Park, 2.5 km W from Sarcee Tr on > Hwy 8, then left on 69 St SW into Discovery Ridge, past the traffic > circle. At the bottom of hill, turn left on Discovery Ridge Link, > into parking lot. Leader, Grant Brydle, 403-720-4957. > > Sun Sep 19, 9am: See the largest specimens of 30 species of trees, > many unusual, in SW Calgary. Meet at Stanley Park, on 42 Av SW, 2 > blocks W of Macleod Trail. Leader, Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248. > > Sat Sep 25, 9am: Bird Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. > Leader, Penny Smith, 403-283-9260. > > Sat Sep 25, 1:30pm: See captive Whooping Cranes at the Zoo Ranch. > Limit 25 participants. Call 403-243-2248 to register. Meet Anderson > LRT Station (Macleod Tr), S of pedestrian bridge to carpool. Guide, > Crane Keeper Dwight Knapik. Rain date, Sun Sep 26. > > Sun Sep 26, 8:30am. Birding Carburn Park. S from Glenmore Tr at 18 St > SE to 2nd stoplight, then right & follow signs. Meet parking lot. > Leader, Andrew Hart, 403-279-5209. > > > ....OCTOBER > > Fri Oct 01, 8am: 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. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: drama in the field From: Ryan Heavy Head <akayokaki AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:32:07 -0700 (PDT) Great story Lloyd... loved it ________________________________ From: Lloyd Bennett To: albertabird AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Wed, August 25, 2010 10:56:10 PM Subject: [Albertabird] drama in the field Sometimes while working in the field I get to see real-life drama unfold in the natural world right before my eyes. Last Monday was one of those days. I was discing a stubble field where we had harvested barley last week, to try to kill the abundant weeds. Before long I was joined by a Swainson's Hawk, which promptly caught a couple of mice in about 15 minutes. A little while later I scared up a jackrabbit, which wandered into the patch of sugar beets nearby. Suddenly the hawk dove after it, but I couldn't see what happened. The hawk returned to perch on a sprinkler, so I assume that the rabbit escaped. I don't think that I have seen a hawk attack something that large before. But the drama was not over yet. A short time later I noticed 2 male harriers approaching, and one of them had a mouse in his feet. This same Swainson's Hawk then dove at the harrier with the mouse, and forced it to drop the mouse. The Swainson's promptly caught the mouse in the air, long before it reached the ground. You never know what can happen on the farm. Today I made a trip to Great Falls, and when I passed Rush Lake, north of Warner, I was surprised to see 2 Snow Geese there. It seems too early for fall migrants, so possibly they spent the summer there. Lloyd Bennett Taber [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: drama in the field From: Lloyd Bennett <lloydaben AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 22:56:10 -0600 Sometimes while working in the field I get to see real-life drama unfold in the natural world right before my eyes. Last Monday was one of those days. I was discing a stubble field where we had harvested barley last week, to try to kill the abundant weeds. Before long I was joined by a Swainson's Hawk, which promptly caught a couple of mice in about 15 minutes. A little while later I scared up a jackrabbit, which wandered into the patch of sugar beets nearby. Suddenly the hawk dove after it, but I couldn't see what happened. The hawk returned to perch on a sprinkler, so I assume that the rabbit escaped. I don't think that I have seen a hawk attack something that large before. But the drama was not over yet. A short time later I noticed 2 male harriers approaching, and one of them had a mouse in his feet. This same Swainson's Hawk then dove at the harrier with the mouse, and forced it to drop the mouse. The Swainson's promptly caught the mouse in the air, long before it reached the ground. You never know what can happen on the farm. Today I made a trip to Great Falls, and when I passed Rush Lake, north of Warner, I was surprised to see 2 Snow Geese there. It seems too early for fall migrants, so possibly they spent the summer there. Lloyd Bennett Taber [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Peregrines in Edmonton From: "declandefreitas" <declandefreitas AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 03:57:39 -0000 I've had several sightings of peregrines over the last few days on 87 Ave, Edmonton. This morning, i saw two on top of the Li Ka Shing building opposite Earls. They're very vocal so not difficult to find. Declan Subject: sapsucker in calgary From: "Mike Mulligan" <potoo AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:35:36 -0600 On Saturday and Sunday (August 21 and 22) a juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was seen by Rona and Joe McLeod in their Canyon Meadows yard. Mike Mulligan Calgary [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: NMT Birding: Confederation Park From: "Dr. W.J.F. Wilson" <wjfwilso AT ucalgary.ca> Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:38:40 -0600 Migrant activity was greatly reduced this morning compared to the previous two mornings. An hour and a half of checking the shrubs west of the pond in Confederation Park turned up: Olive-sided Flycatcher - 1 Blue-headed Vireo - 1 Tennessee Warbler - 1 Orange-crowned Warbler - 1 American Redstart - 1 Northern Waterthrush - 1 or maybe 2 Wilson's Warbler - 15 (approximately) and lots of Black-capped Chickadees. The Blue-headed Vireo was a different individual from the one on Monday, with less-marked contrast between the greenish back and the grey head; perhaps an immature. No sign of the MacGillivray's or Mourning Warblers seen yesterday, but they could easily have been there and staying out of sight. Yesterday on the way home there was one Pacific-slope Flycatcher, but it was not in evidence this morning. Good birding, Bill Wilson Calgary Subject: Great Egret near Balzac From: "Mike Mulligan" <potoo AT shaw.ca> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 21:33:23 -0600 On Saturday August 21 Gayle Linden and Dan Burritt saw a Great Egret in the area of the new Costco store near Balzac. Mike Mulligan Calgary [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: ENC St Albert Songbirds Aug 22 2010 From: "BJSEdmonton AT yahoo.com" <bjsedmonton@yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 23:20:22 -0000 14 of us arrived at Lacombe Park about 9 a.m. on an overcast day, and spent the next 3 hours working our through the park. We did quite well on warblers: American Redstart, Cape May, Magnolia, Tennessee, Yellow. After lunch we moved over to the Spruce Lot where we added Black and White, Black Throated Green, Yellow Rumped. We finished off at Atim Creek hoping for shorebirds but only a Wilson's Snipe was seen. Species List -- 60 for the day Heron, Great Blue Goose, Canada Teal, Blue-winged Goldeneye, Common Osprey Harrier, Northern Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Kestrel, American Merlin Coot, American Snipe, Wilson's Gull, Franklin's Gull, Ring-billed Dove, Rock Owl, Great Horned Hummingbird, Ruby-throated Kingfisher, Belted Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Flicker, Northern Flycatcher, Olive-sided Wood-Pewee, Western Flycatcher, Least Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo, Red-eyed Jay, Blue Magpie, Black-billed Crow, American Raven, Common Swallow, Barn Chickadee, Black-capped Chickadee, Boreal Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Wren, House Thrush, Swainson's Robin, American Waxwing, Cedar Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Yellw-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Black-and-white Redstart, American Tanager, Western Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-throated Grosbeak, Rose-breasted Oriole, Baltimore Crossbill, White-winged Siskin, Pine Goldfinch, American Sparrow, House Finch, House Subject: Bird Monitoring and Banding Workshop From: "derekjmatthews" <Derek AT birdvancouver.com> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 23:15:46 -0000 Hi Birders and Banders, There are two places available for our last Bird Monitoring and Banding Workshop of the year to be held on September 10 � 12. The 2010 Workshops have been a great success - Everyone has had a great time and agreed they have taken their bird knowledge, ageing/sexing and handling skills to a whole new level. Most of all, these workshops are designed to be a fun and interesting experience and a way to take your interest in birds and the environment to the next level. Workshop participant testimonials can be seen by clicking here: http://www.birdvancouver.com/testimonials.html Thank you for your interest and if you would like to attend please click on the workshop link below and complete the registration form at the bottom of the page. http://www.birdvancouver.com/workshops.html Thanks again. Derek Derek Matthews Master Bander / Bander-in-Charge Vancouver Avian Research Centre Vancouver, BC www.birdvancouver.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: NMT Birding: Confederation Park From: "Dr. W.J.F. Wilson" <wjfwilso AT ucalgary.ca> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:13:55 -0600 Mike Mulligan and I spent about an hour and a half birding the shrubs west of the pond in Confederation Park this morning. It was rather chilly (started out around 5 C) but almost no wind, and there was quite a bit of migrant activity. Observations from my notebook: Least Flycatcher - 1 Western Wood-pewee - 1 Warbling Vireo - 2 Yellow Warbler - 1 Townsend's Warbler - 3 different Blackpoll Warbler - 2 American Redstart - 8 Wilson's Warbler - 20 or 30 depending on repeats MacGillivray's Warbler - 1 f/i with hood and prominent eye arcs Mourning Warbler - 1 imm with yellowish throat & thin, weak eye arcs No sign of the "Western" Flycatcher or Blue-headed Vireo this morning. Good birding, Bill Wilson Calgary Subject: RBA CALGARY, AB., August 23, 2010 From: Arina/Hank <rhvander AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 21:31:56 -0600 RBA * Alberta (Canada) * Calgary, AB * August 23, 2010 * ABCA1008.23 -Birds mentioned: Black-crowned Night Heron Golden Plover(SP.?) Semipalmated Plover Hammond's Flycatcher Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Say's Phoebe Cape May Warbler Townsend's Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart Canada Warbler Western Tanager Rose-breasted Grosbeak Hotline: City of Calgary and Calgary Field Naturalists' Society (Nature Calgary) Bird Alert Number: 403 221-4519 To Report: 403 221-4519 Coverage: Southern Alberta Compiler: Terry Korolyk (CFNS & IBS) Transcriber: Hank Vanderpol (rhvander AT shaw.ca) Welcome to the City of Calgary and CFNS Bird Alert. This Bird Alert was recorded on Monday August 23. To report a bird sighting, leave a message after the recording, or to bypass the recorded message, press the pound key on your touch tone phone. To speak to a naturalist, please phone 311 if calling locally during office hours and ask for Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, or dial 403-268-2489 if calling from outside the city If you wish to report an injured bird or animal, please call Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation at 403-239-2488 or the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation at 403-946-2361. Bird Sightings: August 19 and 22: BAY-BREASTED WARBLER: Hull's Wood(1),E. Fish Creek Park, by Al and Helga Bogardt;and at Carburn Park(1) by Richard Clarke. August 19: BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON (Juv.):Airdrie area, by Corinne Griffin. CAPE MAY WARBLER: IBS(Inglewood Bird Sanctuary) by Peter Roxburgh + CNFS group; ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK: Same as above. BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: Hull's Wood, by Terry Korolyk August 20: YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER: IBS Banding station. August 21: CAPE MAY WARBLER: Douglasdale area, Calgary, by Jim Davis. TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (2): Hull's Wood, by TK. AMERICAN REDSTART(15): Hull's Wood, by TK HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER: Hull's Wood, by TK. August 22: CANADA WARBLER(2):Mallard Pt., Bow River, Tony Timmons and CFNS group. WESTERN TANAGER:Hull's Wood, by TK. SAY'S PHOEBE: IBS, by Mike Mulligan. GOLDEN PLOVER(2): near Didsbury, by Mary Coughlin. SEMIPALMATED PLOVER(2):Shepard slough, by TK. The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is Thursday, August 26. Nature Calgary (CFNS) Field Trips: ....AUGUST Tue Aug 24, 7.30am: Early morning birding for autumn migrants at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Peter Roxburgh, 403-271-7033. Tue Aug 24, 6:30pm: Birding Carburn Park. S from Glenmore Tr at 18 St SE to second stoplight, then right & follow signs. Meet parking lot. Leader, Andrew Hart, 403-279-5209. Thu Aug 26, 7.30am: Early morning birding for autumn migrants at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Peter Roxburgh, 403-271-7033. Sat Aug 28, 8am: Bird Bow Valley Prov. Park. Bring lunch. Meet Assumption School, 34th Av NW (NW corner of Sarcee Tr, at Hwy 1). Leader, Andrew Hart,279-5209. Sat Aug 28, 9am: Bird Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Penny Smith, 403-283-9260. Sun Aug 29, 8am: Bird Hull's Wood. Meet at FCPP HQ parking lot off Bow Bottom Tr SE. Leader, Tony Timmons, 403-256-0754. Tue Aug 31, 6:30pm: Final Tues. Evening Bird Walk at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Al Borgardt, 403-281-4306. �SEPTEMBER Wed 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. Sun Sep 5, 9am: A nature walk on Nose Hill: flora and fauna. Meet 14 St and 64 Av NW entrance. Leader, Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248. Sat Sep 11, 8:30am: Bird Bebo Grove, FCPP, S end of 24 St SW. Leader, Al Borgardt, 403-281-4306. Sat Sep 11, 9am. Bird Bowmont Park. Meet Maranatha Church, 2111 52 St NW (N end of Home Rd). Leader, Horst Grothman, 403-286--3048. Sun Sep 12, 8am: Bird Lafarge Meadows. Meet at FCPP boat launch at S end of Bow Bottom Tr SE. Leader, Tony Timmons, 403-256-0754. Sun Sep 12, 8am: Bird Griffith Woods Park, 2.5 km W from Sarcee Tr on Hwy 8, then left on 69 St SW into Discovery Ridge, past the traffic circle. At the bottom of hill, turn left on Discovery Ridge Link, into parking lot. Leader, Grant Brydle, 403-720-4957. Sun Sep 19, 9am: See the largest specimens of 30 species of trees, many unusual, in SW Calgary. Meet at Stanley Park, on 42 Av SW, 2 blocks W of Macleod Trail. Leader, Gus Yaki, 403-243-2248. Sat Sep 25, 9am: Bird Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Penny Smith, 403-283-9260. Sat Sep 25, 1:30pm: See captive Whooping Cranes at the Zoo Ranch. Limit 25 participants. Call 403-243-2248 to register. Meet Anderson LRT Station (Macleod Tr), S of pedestrian bridge to carpool. Guide, Crane Keeper Dwight Knapik. Rain date, Sun Sep 26. Sun Sep 26, 8:30am. Birding Carburn Park. S from Glenmore Tr at 18 St SE to 2nd stoplight, then right & follow signs. Meet parking lot. Leader, Andrew Hart, 403-279-5209. �OCTOBER Fri Oct 01, 8am: 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. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ _____________________________________________________________ * List owner: Albertabird-owner AT yahoogroups.com * Guidelines: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Albertabird/files/Guidelines.txtYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Albertabird/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Albertabird/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: Albertabird-digest AT yahoogroups.com Albertabird-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: Albertabird-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Confederation Park Flycatcher From: "William J. F. Wilson" <wjfwilso AT ucalgary.ca> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:10:07 -0600 I stopped by the shrubs in Confederation Park again on my way home today and got a better look at the flycatcher (presumably the same one). Its eye ring - broken at the top and extended to the rear - identifies it as a Pacific Slope, or at least "Western," rather than a Yellow-bellied as I reported this morning. Still a good bird for the park! There were still quite a few Wilson's Warblers around, and the Waterthrush, but not a lot else. Good birding, Bill Wilson Calgary Subject: Warbler activity in Emily Murphy Park in Edmonton From: Bob Parsons <vintagebob AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:57:01 -0600 I too saw the Townsend Warbler whilst visiting with Don today. Looking at his previous photo/s, I am inclined to think that maybe (??) there are two there. Mystery bird 1-3 has a darker patch around the eye. But it could be the lighting eh? Bob Parsons. Subject: Warbler activity in Emily Murphy Park in Edmonton From: "avi8fauna" <data9boy AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:30:40 -0000 Greetings There was a lot of activity in the park this morning. Warblers and others seen today include the following: American Redstart - at least 6 Black-and-white Warrbler - 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 6 at least Yellow Warbler - 2 Orange-crowned Warbler - 1 Townsend's Warbler - 1 for certain. I might have seen the same individual several times. Pileated Woodpecker - 1 Western Tanager - 1 Raven - 1 Eastern Phoebe - 4 Cooper's or Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 Also Blue Jays, Magpies, Robins, and Downy Woodpeckers. I have posted shots of the Townsend's Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, American Redstart and Western Tanager. Don Delaney - Edmonton Subject: NMT Birding: Confederation Park From: "Dr. W.J.F. Wilson" <wjfwilso AT ucalgary.ca> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:17:30 -0600 Migrants were fairly active in the west end of Confederation Park this morning as I cycled to work. About one hour of birding turned up Solitary Sandpiper - 1 Least Flycatcher - 1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 1 Warbling Vireo - 1 Blue-headed Vireo - 1 (new NMT!) Tennessee Warbler - 2 Yellow Warbler - 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1 American Redstart - 6 Wilson's Warbler - 11 The Yellow-bellied Flycatcher looked like a juvenile, based particularly on the off-white wing bars as illustrated in Sibley. Good birding, Bill Wilson Calgary Subject: Douglas Glen backyard birding - Cape May Warbler From: "Jim H Davis" <davismpe AT telusplanet.net> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 02:39:50 -0000 Sunday 22nd, the last three days I've spent in the backyard trying to catch up with all the weeding and reading I could squeeze in. The weeding seems endless, and I've had a couple of books by George Blondin to read for a meeting Monday. From time to time a bird or two dropped by for a welcome distraction, at least from the weeds. Saturday showed four raptors, an Osprey above the river, and a group of three Swainson's Hawk soaring just over the park beside my house. One of the three an intermediate morph. Four species of warbler; Wilson's, Yellow, Orange-crowned, and yesterday a new one for the yard a Cape May. Also had a couple of Least Flycatcher, and Sunday trying to hide next to the back door during the hail, a Lincoln's Sparrow. Wednesday I'm heading east for a week off and some Upper Canada birding. Good birding, Jim Davis Dougls Glen, Calgary. Subject: Emily Murphy mystery birds From: Jason Rogers <hawkowl AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 23:15:28 +0000 Mystery Warbler 1-3 = Townsend�s Warbler It�s too yellow with auriculars too dark for Black-throated Green. Blackburnian can be eliminated based on mantle and throat pattern. Query Red-eyed Vireo = Tennessee Warbler Vireos show thicker bill. Query Warbler = Yellow-rumped Warbler Note faint yellow �armpits,� brownish upperparts, pronounced wing bars, black at base of tail, etc. Hawk = Cooper�s Hawk The thicker legs and more extensively pale nape identify this bird. Jason Rogers Banff, AB hawkowl AT hotmail.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ _____________________________________________________________ * List owner: Albertabird-owner AT yahoogroups.com * Guidelines: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Albertabird/files/Guidelines.txtYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Albertabird/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Albertabird/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: Albertabird-digest AT yahoogroups.com Albertabird-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: Albertabird-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: RE: Grosbeak ID help Please From: Jason Rogers <hawkowl AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 21:22:14 +0000 Hi Don, Probably best to leave this bird unidentified. While it does show the fine breast streaking and dark bill typically thought of as Black-headed Grosbeak features, young male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks can show these features as well. To confirm Rose-breasted, one would look for reddish wing linings, which we can't see in the photo. Jason Rogers Banff, AB hawkowl AT hotmail.com To: Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com From: data9boy AT yahoo.com Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 04:44:13 +0000 Subject: [Albertabird] Grosbeak ID help Please I posted a shot of what I though was a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Some Flickr contacts suggested it is a Black-headed Grosbeak or a hybrid. Any thoughts will be appreciated. Thanks - Don Delaney Edmonton [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: NMT Birding: Glenmore Reservoir and Inglewood Bird Sanctuary From: "William J. F. Wilson" <wjfwilso AT ucalgary.ca> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 16:51:35 -0600 A bike ride to Glenmore Reservoir, east on bike routes along Heritage Drive to the Bow River, north to Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, and then back along the same route to check Glenmore again, turned up one Common Loon on the reservoir and one Say's Phoebe (new NMT!) at Inglewood. Mike Mulligan saw the phoebe in the field along the pathway between the visitor centre and the lagoon just before I turned off the bike path into the parking lot, called it to the attention of Ray Woods and Brian Elder who were walking out along the pathway, Ray and Brian told me about it as I was locking up my bike at the parking lot, I walked in along the path and couldn't find the phoebe (only five minutes after it had been seen), dug my scope out of my pack and set it up, and finally picked it out flying from and to perches on the fence back where I had turned into the parking lot. Good birding everyone! Bill Wilson Calgary Subject: say's phoebe at inglewood From: "Mike Mulligan" <potoo AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 16:25:42 -0600 Today around 9:30am I saw a Say's Phoebe at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Calgary. The bird was near the path that leads from the Visitors' Centre to the lagoon. It hung around for at least 20 minutes and was seen by several birders. Mike Mulligan Calgary [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Nature Calgary Field Trip-Mallard Point From: "tonytimmons99" <tonytimmons99 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 18:49:54 -0000 Nine people participated in the field trip this morning at Mallard Point.The weather was cool,with overcast skies.Bird activity was slow,but We had great looks at a group of warblers,flycatchers,and waxwings feeding low in the bushes near the river. Yellow warbler 10+ Yellow-rumped Warbler 5 Wilson's Warbler 4 Northern Waterthrush 1 American Redstart 1 Blackpoll Warbler 1 Canada Warbler 2 Tony Timmons Calgary Subject: Mockingbirds nesting in Edmonton From: "Gerald" <geraldjr AT telusplanet.net> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 13:14:35 -0000 Got a call yesterday from Dick Dekker, who had spotted a pair of N.Mockingbirds in an Edmonton neighborhood. I met up with him in the afternoon & we watched the birds carrying food (various bugs, spiders, etc) into a dense apple tree. We suspect they are nesting in this tree. When the young have safely fledged a location will be posted. Gerald Romanchuk, Edmonton Subject: Symbiotic Nectar Feedings From: Ryan Heavy Head <akayokaki AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 00:16:47 -0700 (PDT) III Symbiotic Nectar Feedings (11Aug10) 1920 Sspopiikimi - we arrive under cloudy skies to the sounds of young catbirds and the local nighthawk. I wonder if the latter is a father, like the one upriver, alerting his nesting wife to our presence 1932 Tonight we're walking counter sunwise, starting with the west length of the pond. Mahoney sticks to the shale trail while I walk along beside her in the recently mowed strip. It's definitely the time of year for grigs. Grasshoppers leap aside with each of my steps. I stop to take a picture of one that struck me as unique by its patches of white. We've notice though that there are no road-dusters as yet, and if memory serves there were many here toward the end of last summer when they mowed this way 1957 We linger for a while at the south bench. Here, amongst the absinthe leaves, there's an insect drama playing out that we have no understanding of at all. There are tiny, black, spiked critters the size of aphids in tight clusters at the base of some leaf stems, as if they recently hatched. Then there is a certain kind of ant scurrying around on the same plants. I follow some of these ants, and they seem to be surveying the entire plant, but then pausing at the spiked critters to collect nectar 2016 We eat our way toward the south bend, stopping for a handful of golden, red, or black currants at each easily accessible bush. We are grazing. So too the mountain cottontail on the path in front of us. But rather than berries, the rabbit’s tasting several varieties of ground vegetation 2030 When we get to the river, there is a complete rainbow arching north to south. It seems a few bank swallows have recently returned. They're zipping past about five meters above the surface of the water. The bulberry bushes on the skirts of the owl wood are bright red with fruit that we'll soon be harvesting 2043 Our walk along the levee, looking across the canopy of the forest main, is fairly quiet. We hear robins, catbirds, redwings. Still no orioles. Beneath the canopy, the goldenrod is brilliant yellow and the bergamot a pink-purple in bloom. The flood-mud floor of the north wood is turning a mossy green with new grass sprouts, and the beavers have been down there knocking over choice trees, now that they can reach above the old wire shields 2053 A kingfisher flies chattering by as we round north-pond. There are several chokecherry-rich raccoon scats, even though the berries aren't ripe enough for our preference yet. They might clean up the bushes here at the pond before our time comes. It's been a short evening for us here, but we have a long day ahead at Mookoan Reservoir as the ethnobotany session, my last course of summer, begins IIII ) ll Franklin Migration (14Aug10) 1440 Pitsiiksiinaikawaahko - it's a drizzly, breezy afternoon, succeeding two days of fairly constant rain. The ground should be nice and soft, so I am out for a short while to dig more ma's, and of course check in on the black widow and nighthawk nests 1456 Right when I pull off the road to park on the coulee rim, heavy rain and hail begins pounding down. I'm sit tight in the truck for about ten minutes, waiting patiently for it to subside, and soon it does. But from the appearance of the sky to the west, I don't think this will be the only storm to pass this afternoon 1504 I don't have to walk too far down the slope before it occurs to me that it was a silly decision not to wear gum boots. The ground is absolutely saturated and slick, the grass is wet, and already my shoes and socks are starting to soak through. In any case though, I have to start paying attention. The first item of note is that there's far more gumweed blooming than in my visit last week. And despite the rain, many of them are hosting black blister beetles 1517 There are a lot of grasshoppers leaping away with each step I take, and I know I need to be more mindful of them. The two most prominent species today are an all green, very camouflaged one, and a somewhat orangish-colored two-striped grasshopper, the latter a tad larger than the former. Neither seem prone to flight 1547 The first ma's begin to reveal themselves just as I enter the area of the hibernaculum. I stop and make a payment, tell them why I'm uprooting them, and set to work digging my first four. It's not easy to get these roots out of the ground, nothing like the shallow pop of a prairie onion. As each one comes out, I clip off the taproot and rebury it, then leave the seeding head on the ground to deposit anything it hasn't dropped already. I've given myself a quota. I want to pick at least 100 of these roots before they dry up and their stems form tumbleweeds - 50 for our bundle closing, and 50 to add into our regular diet over the winter 1610 After the first four roots, I take a break from digging to check on the widow nests, situated at the entrance burrows to the hibernaculum. Both of the glossy black ladies responded the same way to my appearance, quickly moving to hang upside-down from their large egg sacks, using these bundles as a sort of shield to conceal themselves. In the same area of these nests, I find evidence that someone has been eating the prickly pear fruits. The otsstatsimaan, or ball cactus fruit, is not quite ready yet 1653 I dug one more root before leaving the area of the hibernaculum to head up hill, climbing to the top of the ridge where the nighthawk nests. On the way up, I dig six more ma'siksi, a couple of these having already broken off their tumbleweed stems, an indication that I don't have too much longer before the season for these roots is gone. Luckily, I can usually locate the break-off point when they've initially fallen 1658 I expect to find the pisttoo mother with her two growing hatchlings right where they were last week. But to my surprise, they're not here. Hard to believe that they could have fledged in such a short period. But perhaps with how exposed they live, they've got other strategies for concealing themselves once they can scoot about. As I type, I hear a scratchy voice not too far away that might be a begging nighthawk. I'll continue digging roots and moving toward the sound 1731 I've hiked up the hill where the begging call seemed to have sounded from. Although I've seen a white-tailed jackrabbit, a family of western kingbirds, and two adult nighthawks, I've yet to spot the hatchlings. But wait... just as I've been typing this note, one of the nighthawks has come in for a landing, on the same ridge where she'd nested, but a different position. It's less than a hundred meters from where I now sit, and I'm going to check it out before I head home 1755 Wow, amazing camouflage these pisttoo babies have. I know roughly where they must be, from seeing their mom land and take-off, but I can't spot them 1813 Okay, having taken three passes up and down the slope, I'm conceding defeat. The baby nighthawks are too well concealed, and I need to get back up to the rim, have dinner, and go to the pond with Mahoney. Total number of ma's dug this afternoon, sixteen 1947 Sspopiikimi - phenological event of the week, we step out of the truck to witness thousands of Franklin's gulls leisurely following the currant of Oldman River. The sky is absolutely filled with them for about ten minutes, and then all but the odd straggler are gone 2003 There has been a significant drop in the algae level here since we last visited. Much of the pond's surface that had been overgrown now reflects the sky. Dozens of tree swallows glide over it, chirping and snatching mosquitoes from the air 2007 The ksissskstaki family is awake and paddling around, the mi'ksikatsi and aiksikksksisi are dabbling, and sspopiiksi can be seen raising just their heads out of the water. As we walk the length toward the south end, we hear the familiar cry of sikohpiitaipannikimm, a swainson hawk, loud and very close. But as we look in that direction, an entirely unsuspected character come gliding low around the edge of the golf course cottonwoods, a merlin who disappears into the trees behind us. The screaming hawk calls again, and it is perched on a pole even closer than we'd thought. It's growing nervous at our approach and leaps off and wings past in the direction of the merlin 2017 We sit at the south bench to catch our notes up, then look around at the absinthe plants that only days ago were coated in pockets of a tiny aphid-like critter and the ants who feed off their nectar. None remain. Were they all washed away with the recent rains? 2038 Our currants are almost completely played-out. We've brought a sheet to test the ripeness of the bulberries, but they're still sticking to the branch, and they remain very tart. No frost yet, we're jumping the gun to even try, but we don't want to miss the opportunity when they're ready 2106 We walk through clouds of male mosquitoes as we round the south bend, the members of these swarms rising as we pass, ricocheting off us. Just on the other side of the bend, at the edge of the forest main, we see a chokecherry bush heavy with black fruit. A taste test proves they're sweet and juicy, and so we remain there picking until the female mosquitoes, drawing blood, become too overwhelming. We have perhaps four or five pounds of berries when we move on. It's a start 2127 As we walk in the dark toward the truck, rounding the north end, the early crescent Moon can be seen falling behind the coulee rim, following the path of the Sun, and the coyote family who lives on that slope have begun howling [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Catching up From: Ryan Heavy Head <akayokaki AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 00:06:46 -0700 (PDT) Once again trying to catch up sharing my notes... IIII ) llllllllllllllllllllllllll Magpies Sleep Alone (7Aug10) 0524 Nookoowa - I promised myself that if Dottie Dog woke me up before dawn, I would hike down to the coulee below our house and try to learn where the family of magpies who come visit Derrick and I each morning spend their nights. Sure enough, Dottie came calling at just the right time, and now even though I'm wicked tired still, I have to follow up on the promise 0549 Couldn't leave the house without a cup of coffee, and even keeping the lights off Derrick still heard me and came flapping out of his apartment to perch on the base of one of the dining-room chairs. I know he's still a bit groggy himself though, because he didn't utter a peep while I collected my gear and moved out the back door 0554 I hope Derrick's magpie friends are equally slow at rising. As I cross the single block of suburbia to bring myself to the coulee edge, the dawn is very near. A mule deer looks up at me in surprise from the grass on the rim, stunned it seems that a human being should be out here at this time. The last crescent of okonoki otsitsi'tsspi has risen in the eastern sky, and Naato'si is not far behind. I move as quickly as I can toward a ridge that will take me out above the brush where I suspect the birds might camp. The mosquitoes are swarming 0617 I have no idea where I need to be to witness the magpie awakening. As I hike the ridge, I hear in turn savannah sparrows, catbirds, then crows. The larger corvids are already on their way to the neighborhood. The magpies won't be far behind. In fact, when I get to the end of the ridge and start descending the slope of the upstream and most brushy drainage, where I hope these birds will be, I think I might have heard them briefly. If so, they are one draw over upstream, which is a considerable distance. These coulees leading down to the river are massive. A coyote passes below me, tiny by comparison to the landscape 0629 Naato'si, the Sun, has just come over the eastern horizon, and now I hear a single magpie giving a double call just below me. I leave my pack on the slope and head down with just my camera to check it out 0643 I don't have to go far when the magpie I'd heard wings its way up my slope, over the rim, and out of sight. I can hear another magpie in some brush on the opposite slope giving the same inquisitive "wokwok" call. And as the deer move off the rim and down into this drainage to hide, I see magpies above them as well. My socks are filled with the sharp seeds of needle-and-thread grass, and there's a lot of rice grass down here too. As Naato'si rises, changing his paint from red to orange, I return to my pack 0654 Because I'd observed the neighborhood magpies calling to one another, gathering together, and moving as a collective down to the coulees at sundown, I'd assumed that they shared a communal roost. Apparently, that may not be the case. Back at my pack, I sit and watch as a mule doe and her fawn emerge from the gully in the draw below me and begin hiking uphill toward a large patch of brush I assume are saskatoon. Another lone doe is already there feeding. There's a coyote following the mother with fawn, but it sees me and returns immediately back down to where it can conceal itself in the gully at the bottom of this draw 0713 I'm sure by now the magpies are already up in the neighborhood, and probably waiting in my back yard for breakfast with Derrick. As I begin climbing the slope again to walk the ridge back home, I come across a coyote den right above where I've been sitting. I don't know if this den's still active or not, but I'd be interested in keeping an eye on it to find out 0725 I don't visit this place in my back yard often enough. The last time I was here, all of the milkvetch and onions were in bloom, there were flowers everywhere. Now, although it's still very green, and the first gumweed blossoms are just beginning to open, the prominent flower is dotted blazing star. We are indeed approaching the end of summer 0733 Returning to the neighborhood, what strikes me is the noise. There is a pervasive hum of automotive sound, so different than the quiet that prevailed before dawn. The rumble reminds me of airports, the sound from the tarmac. The magpies are indeed making their way toward my house. They are at the very edge of the neighborhood, surveying lawns, moving inward. There are mountain cottontails on these lawns as well. I'm sure these birds recognize me, the one we call Tuft just looked me in the eye. I have some liver in the fridge for them. Breakfast awaits 0746 Arriving home, Derrick greets me with the same "wokwok" his friends used when they initially woke up. Mahoney too had a double call for me as she emerged squinty-eyed from the bedroom, two words... farmer's market 1941 Sspopiikimi - not much daylight remaining this evening, but we've decided to come out, touch base, and perhaps pick more berries 1952 We enter, as usual, at north-pond, the surface of which is still covered with algae. We can hear catbirds nearby giving their alarm calls, a nighthawk above peeping, and there's a sizeable family of redwings - adults and juveniles - fluttering around the bat tree 1956 The flowering plants of the north end include absinthe, yellow and white sweet clover, alfalfa, and hairy golden aster. There are two-spot lady beetles on the absinthe and black blister beetles on the alfalfa 2003 Up on the levee-walk, above the big river island, it's definitely sunflower season. It is the rhombic-leaved variety. The plant has reddish stems, opposite leaves, and often more than one flower, each at the terminus of a leafless stalk 2009 We stop briefly to sit at the downriver bench. Here, I notice the licorice root in flower, and the early green berries on both the buckbrush and prickly rose. These will be winter berries, for the deer, ourselves, and others. The nighthawk is still in display above, occasionally diving to create the croaking sound after which its Blackfoot name “pisttoo” is derived (flatulence) 2031 It doesn't take long for us to move past the forest main and wind our way around south-pond to the bench by the currant bushes. We have harvesting in mind. Along our route, we passed several lone waxwings, which to me suggests there may be nests. The chokecherries are near to ripening, right on time as we are coming into their moon. Both goldenrods are still in flower, while yarrow is playing out. And the female bulberry trees are draped with bright red fruit 2036 I have not seen the aapsspini Log family this evening. They may have moved to start congregating with what will be their winter clan. Both the north and south coot families are still around, as are the mallards, but I'm unsure as to whether any teals remain. Also, I've not seen any orioles this season, save for one during the flood at Pitsiiksiinaikawaahko. I wonder now if they will return to Sspopiikimi at all this summer 2112 We pick for the next half hour, not getting nearly the quantity of berries we did in our last session here, but not allowing ourselves as much time either. Many of the currants are already playing out. I noticed as I picked that some berries were falling just from the movement of the branch, and I wonder if these ones are not too spoiled. They would be easy to collect with a ground tarp, and could be useful for jelly. The ants didn't appreciate us working their bushes at all. They climbed all over us, and a couple of them managed to get their mandibles into me, but most were too small to do so 2121 It's dark as we walk back to the truck, waving mosquitoes away IIII ) lllllllllllllllllllllllllll Widow Eggs (8Aug10) 1401 Pitsiiksiinaikawaahko - out on this breezy day with the specific intent of visiting the pisttoo nest, seeking another lesson in efficiency. If I happen to bump into any of my slithering friends, or chance upon some insects whose lives are connected to the late summer flowers, these encounters would be welcomed too 1418 Hiking down the slope toward my destination, I'm inspecting all the blooming wildflowers, and finding that the yellow blister beetles are just as apt to feed off broomweed and gumweed as they are sunflowers. There are black blister beetles on the broomweed as well, and though few gumweed flowers are open yet, there are some just crawling with a miniscule insect, smaller-than but shaped-like rove beetles, dark with three white stripes laterally across their back. The gumweed stems are also host to a black, weevil-like creature 1435 Continuing along, I start to notice that the black medick, and even some of the yellow sweetclover plants, have gone to seed. It would be a good time to gather these grains, before any of the grey mold sets in. I munch on some as I walk. There's a lone, scraggly bulberry bush near where I pick the seeds, and a family of about six or seven western kingbirds are perched and chirping there. I stop to see if they are eating the berries. They're not. Most of them are fledglings waiting on the bush while their parents gather other food, insects I presume. Each time a parent brings a load, the fledgling who's being fed (all of whom look mature enough to feed themselves) erupts into begging chatter 1502 Eventually I make it down as far as the hibernaculum, and although I don't expect to find any rattlesnakes here today, not even the bachelor, I can't help but pay a visit. I'm glad I do. As suspected, the snakes are still gone, not to return until summer's end. But the black widows are here. I had thought there was only one widow, shifting her hunt between two of the den entrances of the hibernaculum. Now I have determined that they are two spiders, and each of them have enormous egg sacks they're attending to 1512 I hustle back to where I've left my camera bag, just outside the hibernaculum, so that I can retrieve my macro lens. When I return to the widow who will be the easiest (though still difficult) to photograph, I find also present what I at first suspect is a spadefoot toad, but turns out to be a chorus frog. It hurriedly hops down into the den, just beyond the widow web, and although I may be brave enough to sit close to these spiders and their snake allies, I'm not about to reach through the web to retrieve the frog 1523 In addition to the widows, I find funnel web spiders set up at two of the other den entrances. In all instances, my lingering presence has frightened the animals - frogs and spiders - to retreat into the earth. I will now go check on the nighthawk mama and perhaps return to these others again afterward 1540 In order to get to the pisttoo, I need to climb up to the top of the narrow ridge where it's incubating. As I do so, I make two stops. The first is at the canada goldenrod flowers, which are covered with insect droppings perhaps left by the yellow-and-black striped skeletonizing leaf beetles I find here and there. The second stop is to harvest more ma's. I also notice that there's another flowering of prairie onion underway 1556 Presently sitting about six feet away from the mother nighthawk and her two beautiful hatchlings. I spoke to her reassuringly as I approached and am trying not to act stealthily or predatory at all, and as a result she has let me extremely near and is sitting here with her eyes closed, sleeping 1612 Babies of course have to eat, a lot, and seeing as how mama's just sitting here I suspect papa is the one bringing all the grub. He may not be daring enough to stop by with me around, and there's nowhere to conceal myself. I've backed off and am sitting tight a few minutes in the off chance that he braves it. But if not I'll soon leave this little family alone 1622 A bee has just flown by and slapped me on the back of the head, which I'm taking as a signal to get a move on. If I have an opportunity, I'll return to visit these birds again before they're fledged 1643 I walk immediately back to the spider nests, where I find the widows and funnel-webbers once again tending to their eggs. The toad is nowhere to be found, probably well concealed in the snake den. Now I'm starting my way back up the coulee slope toward the truck. I'd still like to visit the pond and gather more currants this evening, but I need to get some food in me to replenish my energy [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Emily Murphy Park Edmonton From: "avi8fauna" <data9boy AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 01:23:38 -0000 Greetings I spent a very pleasant morning with Brian and Declan at Emily Murphy Park. Thank you Brian for posting the list of the birds we observed. After we parted company, I got a shot of a juvenile Blackpoll Warbler. One of the shots I posted shows the rump and under-tail. I think I have it right. I also posted a shot of the Cooper's or Sharp-shinned Hawk we saw there as well as a pair of juvenile Eastern Phoebes. Don Delaney - Edmonton. Subject: Emily Murphy Warblers Part 2 - ID Question From: "declandefreitas" <declandefreitas AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 00:19:47 -0000 Hi Brian, thanks for the earlier post. Thanks also to Don for leading the impromptu expedition. I have posted the photos in Declans photos of that warbler we were unable to identify (called mystery warbler 1-3). I have also posted the photo of the hawk we saw this morning. Initially we identified it as a Coopers but looking at the photo, i was wondering if the tail was more of a sharp shinned. Finaly, i posted a photo which i was wondering if it was a Tennesse Warbler or just a variant of a red eyed vireo since the black band over the eye wasn't as obvious as others we saw today. Any comments welcome. Many thanks again to Brian and Don for a very enjoyable outing, Declan Subject: Warblers in Emily Murphy Park Edmonton Saturday Morning From: "BJSEdmonton AT yahoo.com" <bjsedmonton@yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 21:06:35 -0000 This morning I was down at Emily Murphy and warbler activity was again busy. Ran into 3 others also looking. Warblers: Orange Crowned Yellow Yellow Rumped American Redstart including 1 male Magnolia Black and White Tennessee And 1 uncertain: Declan may have a photo to post -- we have 3 candidates: Fall Townsend's, Fall Blackburnian, Fall Black Throated Green. Early on I also saw a female Cape May. A Cooper's Hawk created a stir in the park area just east of the Groat Road Bridge Other birds Robin Black Capped Chickadee Nuthatch, Red Breasted Nuthatch, White Breasted Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Vireo, Red Eyed Least Flycatcher Western Tanager Rose Breasted Grosbeak House Wren Hummingbird, Ruby Throated Blue Jay Crow Magpie, Black Billed Cedar Waxwing Over the river: Ring Billed Gull Great Blue Heron Brian Stephens Edmonton Subject: different birds lately From: Lloyd Bennett <lloydaben AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 22:37:22 -0600 In the last couple of weeks there has been some bird movement in the Taber area. For example, some birds have been showing up in my farm yard that did not breed here, such as Warbling Vireos, Least Flycatcher, Yellow Warbler, and a single Red-breasted Nuthatch. The only migrating warblers here so far have been a couple of N. Waterthrushes and a single Wilson's. In the last week or so I have seen 3 new kinds of migrating shorebirds: Sanderling, Red-necked Phalarope, and a Semipalmated Plover. Shorebirds of most kinds have been very scarce or absent this year in this area, due to high water levels in sloughs and lakes, so it is good to see more variety. Flocks of some things have been seen lately. Last week there were about 100 Cliff Swallows near my slough, seen for only a few hours, then they left. The next day the same thing happened with about 10 Bank Swallows, which hung around very briefly. Yesterday there was a flock of about 30 Mourning Doves on a wire by a neighbor's place. Lloyd Bennett Taber [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Grosbeak ID help Please From: "avi8fauna" <data9boy AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 04:44:13 -0000 I posted a shot of what I though was a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Some Flickr contacts suggested it is a Black-headed Grosbeak or a hybrid. Any thoughts will be appreciated. Thanks - Don Delaney Edmonton Subject: Warblers In Emily Murphy Park in Edmonton From: "avi8fauna" <data9boy AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 02:04:38 -0000 Greetings The Warbler activity continues in Emily Murphy Park here in Edmonton. I went for a late afternoon walk on the hill trails and observed the following: American Redstart � at least 6 including 1 adult male Black-and-white Warbler � 1 female Black-throated Green Warbler - 1 Canada Warbler � 1 Magnolia Warbler � 1 Ovenbird � 1 Yellow Warbler � 6 or more Yellow-rumped Warbler � many juveniles Blue-headed Vireo � 1 Red-eyed Vireo � all over the place I posted shots of a Black-throated Green Warbler, Ovenbird, and Blue-headed Vireo. Note to Declan: Give me a call at (780) 455-4080 if you would like to meet there and I will show you the trails I walk. Don Delaney - Edmonton Subject: Re:eBird data users beware From: "Dick Cannings" <cannings AT zoology.ubc.ca> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:36:35 -0700 Hi Jason, Reid et al.: This problem of sketchy records showing up in eBird is primarily caused and/or exacerbated by province-level filters, i.e. the checklist filter for sightings reported in Banff is the filter for all of Alberta. So species such as Black-crowned Night Heron are "allowed" on checklists from anywhere in the province because they are regular over large parts of the province. It is a difficult and tedious task to find local anomalies without local filters. Now that we finally have subprovincial layers in place in eBird (we've been working on this since 2006 and it's finally there) we are starting to develop district-level checklist filters across Canada. eBird records that are flagged through the filter process are vetted by volunteer local editors. In Canada, we have one editor per province, but with eBird's increasing popularity we are welcoming help from qualified volunteers to help edit records in different regions, manage the Hot Spot system and create subprovincial filters. If you'd like to help develop the Rocky Mountain filter for Alberta, or help vet records for your local region, please contact me directly. And if you come across any dubious records in eBird, please contact me directly as well so that we can ensure the highest quality possible. I really believe that eBird is the greatest thing to happen to birding in decades, and a few growing pains are to be expected. thanks Dick Cannings eBird Canada Bird Studies Canada Penticton, BC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Beaumaris Lake this morning From: Douglas Faulder <dfaulder AT msn.com> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 10:32:33 -0600 I stepped on to my balcony this morning to see if any warblers were about but found instead a Blue-headed Vireo. A new bird (#126) for my yard/Beaumaris Lake list. Doug Faulder Edmonton [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: warblers on the move, Edmonton From: "Zoltan Domahidi" <dzoltan AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:31:39 -0600 Hi, you know the summer is over when the first warblers show up in your yard. This morning a mixed flock of about 15-20 wrablers were feasting in the Elm and Poplar trees in my backyard. The dominant species was the American Redstart (5-6), mixed withTennessee Warblers (4-5), 2 Black and White Warblers and a few I could not identify because of their constant flickering high in the treetop. 2 Canadian Nuthatches, 1 House Finch and a BC Chickadee completed the flock. Good birding! Zoltan Domahidi, Edmonton [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: eBird data users beware From: "Reid Barclay" <reidbarclay AT shaw.ca> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 23:15:56 -0600 Hi Jason, I understand completely what you are feeling about eBird, I feel the same way, and is why I completely erased over a thousand checklists I had entered into the database (did anyone notice!). I even had conversations with higher ups in the organization in Canada and the States and did not get any satisfactory responses to my inquiries. So while I still believe in the premise of eBird, I still have 40 years of bird data sitting here in binders waiting for a good place to find a home. I have much more I could say on this topic, if anyone is interested in talking to me? Reid Barclay Calgary -----Original Message----- From: Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jason Rogers Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 11:09 PM To: Albertabird Subject: [Albertabird] eBird data users beware For those who, like me, use eBird data to compile area checklists or gain a fuller understanding of bird distribution, migration, and abundance, be cautious about accepting the data at face value. While it may not surprise some that the data contain errors attributable to misidentification, I am beginning to find it disconcerting just how many apparent misidentifications I am coming across. Not only that, I am finding a lot of date and locality errors as well. A few examples... An observer reported finding some rare and uncommon shorebirds at a site in Banff National Park over a period of a few days. Because I birded the site on exactly the same days and because the shorebirds were few in number and restricted to a small area, I was able to compare my observations with his. He reported 2 Piping Plovers (the only 2 plovers present were Semipalmated). He reported 4 Wilson's Phalaropes (the only 4 phalaropes present were Red-necked). He reported daily sightings of Short-billed Dowitcher (there were no dowitchers present during the period). Because of these discrepancies and a number of other unusual sightings he reported, I had to throw out all of his records even though some of them may have been good. An observer who visited Banff National Park reported finding Black-crowned Night-Heron, White-rumped Sandpiper, Purple Martin, and a few other species that have never before been found in the park. I sent an e-mail requesting documentation on these records to the observer but never received a response. As a result, I had to throw out all records from this observer. An observer reported Wild Turkey, a number of other unusual species, and a number of expected species, all in very high numbers, as having been seen on a single day in Jasper. After contacting the observer, I learned that these were "total counts observed while travelling from Edmonton through to Jasper and Banff and return, over a week of observations." Because the observer couldn't provide a breakdown for me, I had to toss the whole batch of records. Again, these are just a few examples of what I am encountering on a regular basis. I think eBird is a great idea. But if people are to have confidence in eBird data, improvements need to be made. Record contributors need to enter dates and localities more accurately. Perhaps every observer could be assigned a rating based on his/her experience, skill, and knowledge of the species that occur in the area for which he/she is reporting observations. And perhaps a record vetting process could be put in place. In the meantime, there needs to be a way to contact observers. Right now, all I can do is google their names and hope for the best. Jason Rogers Banff, AB hawkowl AT hotmail.com No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3081 - Release Date: 08/19/10 00:35:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Nature Calgary Inglewood BS Aug 19 Thursday 2010 From: Peter Roxburgh <roxburgh AT shaw.ca> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 22:36:41 -0600 A pleasant circuit of IBS on an initially clear morning (7.30-11.15am) by Ed Kissinger, Kristin O'Connell, Susan Dunlop, Roger Hilderbrand, Deanna Jullyan, Sheilgh Tarbin, Cindy Parliament and myself - subsequently a breeze from the west brought in a good deal of wood smoke presumably from fires in BC. Good mix of species but not large numbers, including only a few Yellow-rumped Warblers, a Wilson's, Tennessee, Cape May, Magnolia and Yellows plus 1 N Waterthrush, an A. Redstart female and Rose-breasted Grosbeak female, Empidonax Flycatchers, Red-eyed Vireo and Warbling Vireos. Male Cape May showed well and in company with Magnolia probably same birds seen 2 days before ( and ? prior to that ). Two young Bald Eagles on the river had cleared away most else - helped by circling of 3 Osprey constantly calling. At least 7 Solitary Sandpiper and 1 Greater Yellowlegs Many Cedar Waxwing - must have had a real good year. E KIngbirds abundant also. Plus usual suspects - including both Nuthatches, Catbirds, 2 GB Herons and a glimpsed Merlin. Both the Tennessee and a Warbling Vireo were sporting fresh looking leg rings. Thanks to everyone for the great spotting. Peter Roxburgh > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RBA: Calgary AB, August 19, 2010 From: "Mike Mulligan" <potoo AT shaw.ca> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:21:41 -0600 - RBA * Alberta (Canada) * Calgary, AB * August 19, 2010 * ABCA1008.19 - Birds mentioned Black-bellied Plover American Golden-Plover Short-billed Dowicher Common Nighthawk Magnolia Warbler Palm Warbler American Redstart Canada Warbler - Transcript Hotline: City of Calgary and Calgary Field Naturalists' Society Bird Alert Number: 403-221-4519 To Report: 403-221-4519 Coverage: Southern Alberta Compiler: Terry Korolyk Transcriber: Mike Mulligan (potoo AT shaw.ca) Welcome to the City of Calgary and CFNS Bird Alert. This report was recorded on Thursday August 19. To report a bird sighting, call 403-221-4519 and leave a message after the recording. To speak to a naturalist, phone 311 during office hours and ask for the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. August 16 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER juv, Shepard wetland Calgary, many observers COMMON NIGHTHAWK, SE of Balzac, Corrine Griffin August 17 SHORT-BILLED DOWICHER juv, Shepard wetland, Bill Wilson CANADA WARBLER, SW Calgary, Andrew Slater August 18 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, SE of Didsbury, Mary Coughlin & Kathleen Roman MAGNOLIA WARBLER, Beaverdam Flats Calgary, Al Borgardt PALM WARBLER, same, AB AMERICAN REDSTART, same, AB The next scheduled update of the Bird Alert is on Monday August 23. BIRD STUDY GROUP - Meets the first Wednesday of the month, September - May at 7:30 pm, Room 211, BioSciences Building, University of Calgary. The next meeting will be Wednesday September 1. The program will be "Birding in Ghana," presented by Brian Elder, Phil Cram and John Bargman. BIRDING FIELD TRIPS CFNS field trips are free and open to all. Sun Aug 22, 8am: Birding Mallard Point. Meet in parking lot, E end of Canyon Meadows Dr SE Leader, Tony Timmons, 403-256-0754. Tue Aug 24, 7.30am: Early morning birding for autumn migrants at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Peter Roxburgh, 403-271-7033. Tue Aug 24, 6:30pm: Birding Carburn Park. S from Glenmore Tr at 18 St SE to second stoplight, then right & follow signs. Meet parking lot. Leader, Andrew Hart, 403-279-5209. Thu Aug 26, 7.30am: Early morning birding for autumn migrants at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Peter Roxburgh, 403-271-7033. Sat Aug 28, 8am: Bird Bow Valley Prov. Park. Bring lunch. Meet Assumption School, 34th Av NW (NW corner of Sarcee Tr, at Hwy 1). Leader, Andrew Hart,279-5209. Sat Aug 28, 9am: Bird Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Penny Smith, 403-283-9260. Sun Aug 29, 8am: Bird Hull's Wood. Meet at FCPP HQ parking lot off Bow Bottom Tr SE. Leader, Tony Timmons, 403-256-0754. Tue Aug 31, 6:30pm: Final Tues. Evening Bird Walk at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, E end of 9 Av SE. Leader, Al Borgardt, 403-281-4306. Inglewood Bird Sanctuary is a City of Calgary Natural Area. Staff offer information, courses and field trips relating to natural history. For information call 311 during office hours and ask for the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. Nature Calgary (Calgary Field Naturalists' Society) promotes the observation, study and conservation of the native habitat through lectures, field trips and collection of scientific data. For membership or event information, email naturecalgary AT cfns.fanweb.ca or visit the website at www.naturecalgary.com. The Birding section of the website http://birdcomp.fanweb.ca/index.html includes descriptions of birding locales in the Calgary area. Nature Calgary also publishes a newsletter, Nature News, available to members by email and on the website. - End transcript Subject: Birding, Hulls Wood,FCPP From: Al Borgardt <al.borgardt AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:20:16 -0700 (PDT) This morning Tony Timmons Helga & I were birding along the wind swept pathway adjacent to Sikome Lake and found a Bay-breasted Warbler amoung other warbler species; [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Northern Harrier Hunting (Marsh Hawk) Photographs From: "davidlilly57" <davidlilly57 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:15:05 -0000 Hi everyone, I observed two Northern Harriers hunting today in a marsh. I did get a couple of photographs, they were at a distance. The second photograph shows both Hawks in a flush and kill situation. Also, posted some Swainson's Hawk photographs. All photographs are from east of Calgary. Copy this link - http://www.davidlillyphotography.ca/_/Home.html David Lilly Calgary Subject: Re: eBird data users beware From: mdodder AT sbcglobal.net Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 09:58:33 -0700 (PDT) In addition to the need for accurate identification for eBird reports, I would also like to add the value of using more specific locations. In the field, I use BirdEye on my iPhone, and am frequently frustrated by the use of the default "personal locations" setting. If the intention is to prevent a stampede of birders/photographers, I won't offer advice about that... But established locations "hot spots" are often available to help narrow down the location for other birders, and get these reports verified by more than just the first observer. Matthew Dodder http://www.birdguy.net http://www.zazzle.com/mdodder ________________________________ From: Jason Rogers To: Albertabird Sent: Wed, August 18, 2010 10:09:28 PM Subject: [Albertabird] eBird data users beware For those who, like me, use eBird data to compile area checklists or gain a fuller understanding of bird distribution, migration, and abundance, be cautious about accepting the data at face value. While it may not surprise some that the data contain errors attributable to misidentification, I am beginning to find it disconcerting just how many apparent misidentifications I am coming across. Not only that, I am finding a lot of date and locality errors as well. A few examples... An observer reported finding some rare and uncommon shorebirds at a site in Banff National Park over a period of a few days. Because I birded the site on exactly the same days and because the shorebirds were few in number and restricted to a small area, I was able to compare my observations with his. He reported 2 Piping Plovers (the only 2 plovers present were Semipalmated). He reported 4 Wilson's Phalaropes (the only 4 phalaropes present were Red-necked). He reported daily sightings of Short-billed Dowitcher (there were no dowitchers present during the period). Because of these discrepancies and a number of other unusual sightings he reported, I had to throw out all of his records even though some of them may have been good. An observer who visited Banff National Park reported finding Black-crowned Night-Heron, White-rumped Sandpiper, Purple Martin, and a few other species that have never before been found in the park. I sent an e-mail requesting documentation on these records to the observer but never received a response. As a result, I had to throw out all records from this observer. An observer reported Wild Turkey, a number of other unusual species, and a number of expected species, all in very high numbers, as having been seen on a single day in Jasper. After contacting the observer, I learned that these were "total counts observed while travelling from Edmonton through to Jasper and Banff and return, over a week of observations." Because the observer couldn't provide a breakdown for me, I had to toss the whole batch of records. Again, these are just a few examples of what I am encountering on a regular basis. I think eBird is a great idea. But if people are to have confidence in eBird data, improvements need to be made. Record contributors need to enter dates and localities more accurately. Perhaps every observer could be assigned a rating based on his/her experience, skill, and knowledge of the species that occur in the area for which he/she is reporting observations. And perhaps a record vetting process could be put in place. In the meantime, there needs to be a way to contact observers. Right now, all I can do is google their names and hope for the best. Jason Rogers Banff, AB hawkowl AT hotmail.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: eBird data users beware From: Jason Rogers <hawkowl AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 05:09:28 +0000 For those who, like me, use eBird data to compile area checklists or gain a fuller understanding of bird distribution, migration, and abundance, be cautious about accepting the data at face value. While it may not surprise some that the data contain errors attributable to misidentification, I am beginning to find it disconcerting just how many apparent misidentifications I am coming across. Not only that, I am finding a lot of date and locality errors as well. A few examples... An observer reported finding some rare and uncommon shorebirds at a site in Banff National Park over a period of a few days. Because I birded the site on exactly the same days and because the shorebirds were few in number and restricted to a small area, I was able to compare my observations with his. He reported 2 Piping Plovers (the only 2 plovers present were Semipalmated). He reported 4 Wilson's Phalaropes (the only 4 phalaropes present were Red-necked). He reported daily sightings of Short-billed Dowitcher (there were no dowitchers present during the period). Because of these discrepancies and a number of other unusual sightings he reported, I had to throw out all of his records even though some of them may have been good. An observer who visited Banff National Park reported finding Black-crowned Night-Heron, White-rumped Sandpiper, Purple Martin, and a few other species that have never before been found in the park. I sent an e-mail requesting documentation on these records to the observer but never received a response. As a result, I had to throw out all records from this observer. An observer reported Wild Turkey, a number of other unusual species, and a number of expected species, all in very high numbers, as having been seen on a single day in Jasper. After contacting the observer, I learned that these were "total counts observed while travelling from Edmonton through to Jasper and Banff and return, over a week of observations." Because the observer couldn't provide a breakdown for me, I had to toss the whole batch of records. Again, these are just a few examples of what I am encountering on a regular basis. I think eBird is a great idea. But if people are to have confidence in eBird data, improvements need to be made. Record contributors need to enter dates and localities more accurately. Perhaps every observer could be assigned a rating based on his/her experience, skill, and knowledge of the species that occur in the area for which he/she is reporting observations. And perhaps a record vetting process could be put in place. In the meantime, there needs to be a way to contact observers. Right now, all I can do is google their names and hope for the best. Jason Rogers Banff, AB hawkowl AT hotmail.com Subject: Garneau Birding, Edmonton From: "declandefreitas" <declandefreitas AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 02:59:01 -0000 Hi folks, i have had two great evenings in the back garden birdwatching, in the suburbs of Edmonton. Highlights included Yesterday: Yellow Warbler Orange crowned warblers ? American Redstart, flitting behaviour with spread tail Today: Ruby throated hummingbird ?Juvenile baltimore oriole (see photo in "Declans photos") Orange crowned warblers Regards, Declan Subject: Re: Photographs of Soars From: mdodder AT sbcglobal.net Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:44:43 -0700 (PDT) David, The last bird on your page looks like a House Wren. Matthew Dodder http://www.birdguy.net http://www.zazzle.com/mdodder ________________________________ From: davidlilly57 To: Albertabird AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, August 17, 2010 2:34:28 PM Subject: [Albertabird] Photographs of Soars Hi Everyone, I managed to get some photographs of the Soras that were reported a few days ago. Also photographed were a Great Horned Owl, Swainson's Hawks, and a bird I have yet to ID. To view, copy this link - http://www.davidlillyphotography.ca/_/Home.html David Lilly Calgary [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Photographs of Soars From: "davidlilly57" <davidlilly57 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:34:28 -0000 Hi Everyone, I managed to get some photographs of the Soras that were reported a few days ago. Also photographed were a Great Horned Owl, Swainson's Hawks, and a bird I have yet to ID. To view, copy this link - http://www.davidlillyphotography.ca/_/Home.html David Lilly Calgary Subject: Birding, Hulls Wood, FCPP From: Al Borgardt <al.borgardt AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:09:34 -0700 (PDT) Birding the paved pathway adjacent to Sikome Lake where all the wind damaged the tree. Tennessee, Black Pole, AM Redstart,Orange Crown, Yellow, Yellow Rump, Northern Waterthrush Magnolia & the prise, Canada Warbler. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: NMT Birding: Shepard Slough From: "Dr. W.J.F. Wilson" <wjfwilso AT ucalgary.ca> Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:29:54 -0600 I made a quick cycle trip to the slough east of Shepard this morning to check for the golden plover that had been seen Sunday and yesterday, but no luck. I did turn up one new NMT bird for the year, though, a juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher. Shorebirds seen (minimum numbers or best estimates): Semipalmated Plover - 14 Killdeer - 2 American Avocet - 8 Black-necked Stilt - 1 Long-billed Dowitcher - 15 Short-billed Dowitcher - 1 Lesser Yellowlegs - 20 Greater Yellowlegs - 1 Solitary Sandpiper - 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper - 200 Least Sandpiper - 7 Pectoral Sandpiper - 2 Stilt Sandpiper - 75 Wilson's Phalarope - 30 Red-necked Phalarope - 120 Good birding, Bill Wilson Calgary Subject: Langdon Reservoir - Nelson's Sparrow From: "Jim H Davis" <davismpe AT telusplanet.net> Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:40:40 -0000 Just a follow up to Andrew's post on Nelson's Sparrows near Strathmore. I was out to the north end of Langdon Reservoir a few days ago and saw a Nelson's about twenty feet inside the gate. Also at the reservoir, a Prairie Falcon, and a Ferruginous Hawk. Good birding, Jim Davis, Calgary. Subject: Swifts From: "prpsde" <delphinstone AT shaw.ca> Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 05:52:28 -0000 Marble Canyon is along the highway between Highway one and Radium. The canyon is just down (west) from Storm Mtn. If you are coming from Alberta turn right. Subject: Emily Murphy Park and Kinsmen Park in Edmonton From: "avi8fauna" <data9boy AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 04:40:37 -0000 Gretings Bob Parsons and I walked around Emily Murphy Park and Kinsmen Park today. Birds observed: American Redstarts - 2 Black-and-white Warblers - 1 Cape May Warblers - 1 Canada Warblers - 1 Orange-crowned Warblers - 1 Tennessee Warblers - 1 Yellow Warblers - 8 Yellow-rumped Warblers - 1 Wilson's Warblers - 1 Downy Woodpeckers - 1 Hairy Woodpeckers - 1 Pileated Woodpeckers - 1 Northern Flickers -1 Western Tanagers - 3 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks - 1 Cooper's Hawk - 1 Chipping Sparrows - 1 Also Robins, BC Chickades, RB & WB Nuthatches, Blue Jays, Crows and Magpies. Don Delaney - Edmonton