Red Deer River Naturalists Bird Focus Group Walk April 11, 2026

Chris Olsen Report

Bird Focus People:

Ten hardy hikers were out in the chill April 11, 2026 to look at our McKenzie Trails to Riverbend route. Welcome to new participants Darlene D., Patricia R. and Sam R. We were short of ice cleats and they were definitely needed to get safely to the overlook bench - with that, we walked the forest with seven people, while others strolled the drier paved trails.

Birding started quickly along the river with dramatically white and black Common Mergansers, both on the water and arrowing along in fast flight. We were surprised to see four American Coots feeding on the far shore, and there were of course crabby Canada Geese on the pond ice and wary Mallards on the open water. There were Osprey at the McKenzie landing, and they gave us a show circling of the nest platforms in both parks.

The riparian forest was amazing as always, with mossy trails tracking the slump terraces through the towering trees. The monstrous old Balsam Poplars are positively coastal in size! We were serenaded by Purple Finches, with sightings of Pine Siskins, Golden-crowned Kinglets, and even a small flock of American White Pelicans, winging by at tree-top level. Like last night, we thought we had glimpses of migrating swans, but too little, too quick, to confirm.

At the lookout, we had Buffleheads, American Wigeons, Common Goldeneyes and more Mallards and Canada Geese on the water and island. One small flock of Snow Geese passed overhead, with large flocks likely in the region by now. As we worked our way down to Riverbend, a very pretty Red-tailed Hawk tracked a thermal overhead. There are 3 new nest poles near the terminus of the ‘road-to-nowhere’, and at least four Osprey were in flight to defend those nest sites. The perfectly warming morning finished with Northern Flickers and Bohemian Waxwings.

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 11, 2026 10:11 AM - 1:27 PM
Protocol: Traveling, walking
4.31 kilometres
Checklist Comments: Red Deer River Naturalists, Bird Focus Group outing.
27 species
10 Participants
Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens)  7
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  94
American Wigeon (Mareca americana)  3
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  38
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)  2
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  26
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)  16
American Coot (Fulica americana)  4     Foraging in the shallows of the Red Deer River.
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  2
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)  8     Low altitude fly-over.
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  4
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  3
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  4
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  1
Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)  3
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  12
Common Raven (Corvus corax)  1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  16
Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus)  1
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)  4     In the old growth spruce forest canopy.
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  1
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)  4
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  7
Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus)  12
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus)  2     Singing in the upper canopy of old growth spruce forest. Merlin ID, with the birds only seen briefly in flight.
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus)  2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S320370992