Eight hardy birders joined together November 2, 2024 at the Dickson Point Trout Pond and campground. The morning started foggy, cool and damp, and the soft grey light persisted to make the identification of waterfowl a real challenge. Nonetheless, we were treated to some really good birds. We saw a number of Hooded Mergansers and a single Common Merganser on the Trout Pond.
As we walked along the dike, two Double-crested Cormorants were visible on shore, then foraging, and finally wing-drying in the classic heraldic pose. We walked to the end of the dike and at the edge of the forested slope found a large flock of American Goldfinch foraging on birch catkins in the upper canopy. At the same time a raptor was seen on a snag down shore. The long-banded tail and head shape suggested Sharp-shinned Hawk, and the bird flew directly over us in pursuit of the goldfinches. The flight characteristics confirmed our ID. Up-slope, we found a female Pileated Woodpecker patiently excavating a poplar snag.
Birding through the campground was unremarkable until a large sparrow caught our eye. It moved to cover too quickly to confirm the sighting, but Lynette stayed behind and captured an image that confirmed a juvenile Harris’s Sparrow. Altogether, a great finish to a very dim and chill morning!
On the way out a few kilometres from the trout pond Celia captured a magnificent photo of a Ring-necked Pheasant, male in full breeding plumage. This is probably a release bird, but possibly there is a local population established in the Dickson area by some earlier year of release. Regardless, a good sighting and photo for Celia!
Enjoy!
Chris Olsen
Here is the eBird report:
Nov 2, 2024 10:11 AM - 1:04 PM
Protocol: Traveling, walking
5.276 kilometres
Checklist Comments: Red Deer River Naturalists, Bird Focus Group
outing.
17 species
8 Participants
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 820
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 5
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) 40
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 34
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) 4
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) 8
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) 1
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 1
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) 2 Two birds clearly observed on the island in the trout pond, resting and drying wings in heraldic pose, and then foraging on open water.
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) 1 First seen perched neat the water’s edge, rear and profile view, and then in flight overhead following a flock of American Goldfinch. Characteristic head shape, long banded tail, and accipiter flight.
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 1
Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) 2
Common Raven (Corvus corax) 11
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 8
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 25 Flock (20-30 very active birds) observed for about 5 minutes, while they foraged on birch catkins in a birch canopy at the riparian forest edge.
Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) 1 Bird seen by several as it moved through the riparian shrubbery. It appeared to be alone. One of our group stayed behind and obtained a photo that confirmed ID as a juvenile Harris’s Sparrow.
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S201200016
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| Red-necked Pheasant |
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