Red Deer River Naturalists Bird Focus Group Field Trip September 27, 2025

Chris Olsen Report

Bird Focus People:

Eleven birders were out September 27, 2025 to enjoy the fall colors around the ‘Lakes of Lacombe’. We followed Cathy’s route from last year, and walked portions of Barnett and Elizabeth Lakes. 

Birding was brisk, and we had only reached the shore of Barnett Lake when a Crow chased a Sharp-shinned Hawk through the tall spruces. On the lake we saw Canada Geese, Mallards, a late American Coot, and both Red-necked and Horned Grebes. Greater Yellowlegs called along the shore, the shrubbery along the shore was busy with noisy flocks of American Robins and Common Grackles. We had Pine Siskens, Black-capped Chickadees and a White-breasted Nuthatch overhead. Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers worked the deadwood, and a small slough along the trail was filled with American Wigeons and Mallards - the dabbling ducks were moulting, and we saw a range of plumage from late eclipse to full breeding.

Along Elizabeth Lake, White-throated Sparrows and Yellow-rumped Warblers worked the shrubbery, while Cedar Waxwings, Robins and Woodpeckers moved overhead. Divers were the story on the water, with Common Goldeneye, Buffleheads and even a lonely Ruddy visible. Our last ‘sighting’ of the day was a miniature Red-sided Garter Snake hastening across the trail to the water.

Thanks to Danielle B. for sharing this fall photo below of ‘Birders along Barnett’. 

Enjoy!

Chris

Here is the eBird report:

Barnett Lake, Red Deer, Alberta, CA
Sep 27, 2025 9:43 AM - 1:13 PM
Protocol: Traveling, walking
3.704 kilometres
Checklist Comments: Red Deer River Naturalists, Bird Focus Group outing.
28 species (+1 other taxa)
11 Participants
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  16
American Wigeon (Mareca americana)  58
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  21
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)  12
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  5
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)  1
American Coot (Fulica americana)  3
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)  2
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  2
gull sp. (Larinae sp.)  6
Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)  6
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)  3
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)  1     Pursued by a crow along the lake shore - seen twice
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  3
Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  2
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  3
Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)  8
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  11
Common Raven (Corvus corax)  4
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  28
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  27
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)  6
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus)  6
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  4
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  30
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  14

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S275926221 

Red Deer River Naturalists Bird Focus Group Walk September 20, 2025

Bird Study People:

Thirteen birders joined together on September 20, 2025 for a warm walk of the perimeter trails at Heritage Ranch. Welcome to Mary S. and Patricia C. joining the group today!

Birding started slowly with the usual traffic noise near the start, but picked up nicely as we moved downslope into the mixed-wood cover. We had small flocks of chickadees throughout, but the mid-canopy was also busy with foraging migrants. Yellow-rumped Warblers at first, and then along the river we had White-throated Sparrows both singing and calling. Celia spied a nice specimen grooming in the shrubbery and he gave us a real display. The Merlin app ‘heard’ Hermit Thrushes, but we were not able to catch a sight or confirm. Equally, there were numerous unidentifiable sparrows moving in the shrubbery. A pair of sparrows feeding and bathing in the water under a beaver log pile really challenged us but we were unable to get a clear look!

A very large and noisy flock of Common Grackles complained from the tops of the conifers as they drifted by, and although the river itself was quiet, we had Ring-billed Gulls, Double-Crested Cormorants, and Canada Geese overhead. Ron saw and heard a Cooper’s Hawk, and we heard and saw both Pileated and Hairy Woodpeckers.

We finished the morning with small groups of Mallards and Greater Yellowlegs on the shores, and a Bald Eagle soared overhead.

A technical note in that you may be noticing that eBird has ‘shortened’ our walks relative to previous years. The eBird mapping function now eliminates duplicate distances, and so for example our walk in Dry Island was 5.098 km this year vs. 7.719 km last year on the same route. People were quick to reassure me that it is definitely still an ‘intermediate hike’, whatever the return distance!

Enjoy!

Chris

Here is the eBird report:

Red Deer--Heritage Ranch Park, Red Deer, Alberta, CA
Sep 20, 2025 9:47 AM - 1:14 PM
Protocol: Traveling, walking
4.022 kilometres
Checklist Comments: Red Deer River Naturalists, Bird Focus Group outing.
23 species
13 Participants
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 86
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 6
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon)) 1
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) 4
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 4
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) 4
Cooper's Hawk (Astur cooperii) 1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1
Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) 1
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 2
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 3
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 5
Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) 9
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 15
Common Raven (Corvus corax) 1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 16
Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) 2
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 7
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 9
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 2
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 8
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 115
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 4

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S274547974 

Red Deer River Naturalists Bird Focus Group Walk June 7, 2025

Bird Focus People:

I’m just back in Red Deer and getting ready for Medicine/Crimson Lake this coming weekend June 14 & 15, 2025. Hope to see some of you there for either hiking (Saturday Medicine Lake and Sunday Crimson Lake mornings) or for kayaking (Medicine Lake Saturday afternoon). Many thanks to Ron Bjorge for hosting the Riverbend Golf & Recreation Area - Upper trails walk June 7, 2025. His group ticked a remarkable 46 species! Here is Ron’s note and his eBird summary:

Nine keen birders joined us on the Riverbend Upper trails. Welcome to Bill and Diana joining us for the first time!  We recorded 46 species seen and or heard, in spite of the heavy gusts and some smoke. We were regaled by at least 7 Osprey, including at least one chick in a nest box. The wild blue clematis were finished, but the wild roses were coming on strong! All the best. Ron

Enjoy!

Chris Olsen 

Here is the eBird report:

Red Deer--River Bend Recreation Area, Red Deer, Alberta, CA
Jun 7, 2025 9:56 AM - 1:13 PM
Protocol: Traveling, walking
4.385 kilometres
Checklist Comments: Windy day, but quite a bit of activity. Many yellow warblers. 9 keen birders
46 species
9 Participants
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  25
Gadwall (Mareca strepera)  6
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  9
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  2
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)  20
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)  1
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  1
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)  6
Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan)  24
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  1
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  1
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  1
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)  3
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  7
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  2
Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)  1
Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)  6
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)  5
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  4
Common Raven (Corvus corax)  5
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  1
Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia)  25
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)  1
Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)  75
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)  1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  3
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)  6
Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  3
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  13
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)  15
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  3
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  1
Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida)  3
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  2
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)  1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  2
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  8
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  10
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  1
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)  1
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)  49
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)  1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S249597893

Red Deer River Naturalists Bird Focus Group Field Trip May 31, 2025

Bird Focus People:

Twelve birders were out to stroll Kuhnen Park May 31, 2025. For most of our walk, the winds were light and an overcast sky kept the heat from being oppressive. Birds were very active in the forest, along the trails, and on the water, and we managed 51 species for the outing. Yellow Warblers and Least Flycatchers vied for the most common and visible species of the day. Eastern Kingbirds and even Gray Catbirds put on a show in the shrubbery. Surprisingly we heard few Baltimore Orioles, and this time out we did not see Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Common Grackle, Ruby-throated Hummingbird or even Nuthatches. Birding - always a surprise!

Join our Guest Host Ron Bjorge June 7, 2025 on the Riverbend Golf & Recreation Area upper trails - that is always a rich and diverse offering! Or, if you’re feeling adventurous join me for the Vermilion River Naturalists annual spring count in Vermilion Provincial Park. I hope to see many of you at Medicine Lake June 14, 2025 for the birding trails or kayaking. And Crimson Lake for birding on June 15, 2025. See www.rdrn.ca for details.

Enjoy!

Chris Olsen

Here is the eBird report:

Kuhnen Park, Red Deer, Alberta, CA
May 31, 2025 9:43 AM - 1:21 PM
Protocol: Traveling, walking
4.201 kilometres
Checklist Comments: Red Deer River Naturalists, Bird Focus Group outing.
51 species
12 Participants
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 41
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) 5
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) 1
Gadwall (Mareca strepera) 5
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 13
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) 1
Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) 3
Redhead (Aythya americana) 5
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) 6
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) 16
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 1
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) 1
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) 4
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon)) 1
American Coot (Fulica americana) 5
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 1
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) 1
Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) 4
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) 6
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) 11
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 2
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 1
Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) 28
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) 3
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) 9
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) 6
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 1
Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) 2
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 1
Common Raven (Corvus corax) 3
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 4
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 8
Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 6
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) 1
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 5
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 14
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 6
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 10
Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) 3
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 10
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 3
Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) 7
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) 3
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 26
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) 5
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 2
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) 31
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 3
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S245224068

Red Deer River Naturalists Bird Focus Group Field Trip May 10, 2025

Bird Focus People:

Fourteen birders were out to Raven Brood Trout Station May 10, 2025 to enjoy the trails on a beautiful spring day. Welcome to Blaine and Tracy D. joining our group today!

Birding started with songs and calls from the picnic area, as we ‘scoped’ to try and identify a drab-colored sparrow preening at the top of a tall spruce. While engaged there, we could hear songs and calls from several Sparrows, a Brown-headed Cowbird, and Red-breasted Nuthatches. The wood along the spring stream was busy with drum calls from Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and we were treated to a Sharp-shinned Hawk overhead.

Climbing the upper trail added Yellow-rumped Warblers, Pine Siskins, Dark-eyed Juncos and a Hairy Woodpecker. As our fishers ogled the trout in the pools, a gentle clicking alerted us to a woodpecker scaling bark nearby, and soon we had our first American Three-toed Woodpecker of the year. Calls and sightings added Downy Woodpeckers, Pileated Woodpeckers and Northern Flickers.

The interpretive trails were busy with Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Boreal and Black-capped Chickadees, White-throated Sparrows, and lots more Yellow-rumped Warblers. The kinglets stayed hidden in the canopy this year, but we did manage some good looks at Yellow-rumped Warblers. A gentle cooing alerted us to a lonely Mourning Dove, and we sighted him on a snag in the wetland. Evening Grosbeaks called in the canopy but stayed mostly hidden, as did the local Sandhill Cranes. A Kingfisher rattled at us from along the creek. Thirty diverse species and a great stroll in the spring!

Enjoy!

Chris Olsen

Here is the eBird report:

Raven Creek Brood Trout Station trails, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, CA
10-May-2025 9:24 AM - 1:25 PM
Protocol: Traveling, walking
4.395 kilometres
Checklist Comments: Red Deer River Naturalists, Bird Focus Group outing.
30 species
14 Participants
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 1
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) 1
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 3
American Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis) 1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1
Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) 1
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 2
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 1
Common Raven (Corvus corax) 3
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 2
Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 11
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 5
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 8
Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) 5
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 3
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 4
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 3
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 5
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 10
Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) 1
Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) 1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 1
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 5
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S236731144

Photo - American Three-toed Woodpecker

Red Deer River Naturalists Bird Focus Group Walk April 12, 2025

Chris Olsen Report

Bird Focus People:

Thirteen birders joined us April 12, 2025, to walk from McKenzie Trails to Riverbend on the Red Deer River right bank trails. Welcome to Wei, Jason and Sally joining us for the first time today

Birding was quiet through a cool, grey morning. Since few had brought their ice cleats, we were fortunate that this year the trail was mostly dry and largely ice free - unlike last spring! Everyone is reminded that bear and tick season is here, and it is always cougar season - bring your bear spray, insect repellant, and foul weather gear.

There has obviously been a lot of mountain bike traffic over the last year, and we saw a much wider cleared trail, a proliferation of new loop trails, and growing erosion. Sustainability has quickly become a real issue here.

Birds of note included our first Red-tailed Hawks of the year, a lone American Coot that Gary spotted lurking by the river’s edge, and a noisy Killdeer that flew overhead. I had a report that Ruffed Grouse are drumming at JJ Collette, but we didn’t manage any along the trails today. Maybe next weekend in Maskepetoon - join us there if you can.

We had some discussion of woodpecker drum calls again today, and that brought to mind that the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (eNews) recently did comparisons between Downy and Hairy woodpecker drum calls - they differ in speed (beats per second) and duration. Merlin can distinguish them and you can too - have a look/listen to their email article: https://dl.allaboutbirds.org/enews-whos-drumming-iding-woodpeckers-by-sound?ecid=ACsprvsSlh-KmETNokQPoFp2ZNuoqBEMziRRiOEwXeUKbRRSh1BoMGOGuYXh22Ytl9kaeJdYSXKW&utm_campaign=Lab%20eNews%202024&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=355340328&utm_content=355343230&utm_source=hs_email

 Enjoy!

 Chris

Here is the eBird report:

McKenzie Trails Park to Riverbend on the Red Deer River right bank CA-AB (52.3029,-113.7736), Red Deer, Alberta, CA
Apr 12, 2025 10:11 AM - 1:38 PM
Protocol: Traveling, walking
6.297 kilometres
Checklist Comments: Red Deer River Naturalists, Bird Focus Group Outing.
18 species
13 Participants
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  35
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  15
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  10
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)  4
American Coot (Fulica americana)  1
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  1 In flight and continuously vocalizing near the Red Deer River.
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  8
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  2
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  2
Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)  5
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  7
Common Raven (Corvus corax)  7
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  16
Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus)  1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  4
Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus)  35
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S225051746

Red Deer River Naturalists Bird Focus Group Walk April 5, 2025

Chris Olsen Report

Bird Focus People:

Fifteen birders were out to the Gaetz Lake Sanctuary April 5, 2025 to share a glorious morning walk! Welcome to Jim H., Moira S., Terri R., Marg C. Faye N. and Aaron joining us and last week! Birding was only fair with 21 species, but as always there were surprises. Firstly, a shadow through the undergrowth of the oxbow turned out to be a low-flying Pileated Woodpecker. It was soon joined by two more and we were treated to calls as the three moved through the forest. The canopy on the top of the escarpment was busy with groups of ever-social Bohemian Waxwings, and we even had a couple of early gulls moving through. On the south side of the sanctuary, I spotted a distant Great Horned Owl - that was very exciting until Brian determined it was a stick. It was worth stopping there however, as Claudia spotted a lone male Redpoll foraging on the ground in the birch forest of the slope. He seemed healthy and active, but it was a late and solitary sighting for this northern species. Further upslope, we could see a Canada Goose on a nest. Not unusual at first glance, but this determined early nester has usurped an Osprey nest at the top of a broken snag - the tallest perch in the canopy! We finished the morning with a few Dark-eyed Juncos and Pine Siskins, and a lone American Tree Sparrow. A final touch was an early butterfly (Compton Tortoiseshell) our group watched just outside the Nature Centre. Perfect!

Our Sharp-tailed Grouse Watch is full now with a short waiting list. Thanks to everyone who inquired,and remember there are likely still lots of openings for Snow Goose Festival tours.

Enjoy!

Chris

Here is the eBird report:

Gaetz Lakes Sanctuary, Red Deer CA-AB 52.28494, -113.79417, Red Deer, Alberta, CA

Apr 5, 2025 10:11 AM - 1:20 PM

Protocol: Traveling, walking

4.941 kilometres

Checklist Comments: Red Deer River Naturalists, Bird Focus Group outing.

21 species

15 Participants

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 15

Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 2

California Gull (Larus californicus) 2

Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 8

Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) 1

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 3

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 3

Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) 13

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 3

Common Raven (Corvus corax) 6

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 12

Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) 2

White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 8

Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 4

American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 11

Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) 137

House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 8

Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) 1 Lone bird, male, feeding on the ground in a paper birch stand.

Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 5

American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) 1

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 4

View this checklist online at [https://ebird.org/checklist/S223219521](https://ebird.org/checklist/S223219521)