Red Deer River Naturalists Bird Focus Group Field Trip September 12, 2026

Bird Focus People:

Well, a chilly morning September 12, 2026 turned into a very pleasant walk along the Lakes of Lacombe. Warming, but not warm with more than a hint of frost in the air! Fifteen birders joined us along the wooded trails. Special welcome to young James newly joining our group today. Many thanks to Cathy Steele for guiding us around Elizabeth and Barnett lakes again!

The brushy shores were alive with small songbirds that moved along with us - their rapid movements presented a real challenge, but well along the trail the flock paused on some snags near an opening giving us a clear view - White-throated sparrows all. On the water small divers challenged us too. We could see Ruddy Ducks and numerous small Grebes. The grebes were diving steadily and at some distance. Small, with short bills and red eyes - good photos from Tannis and Deb subsequently confirmed they were Horned Grebes.

We had flocks of Greater White-fronted Geese and Sandhill Cranes overhead, while some frantic ‘dee’ calls suggested the Black-capped Chickadees were seeing a predator that we could not. On Barnett lake we added a flock of Ring-billed Gulls. Pine Siskins twittered in the White Spruce canopy. Mallards and American Wigeons dabbled in a lakeside pond. Merlin ‘detected’ Purple Finches and Red Crossbills but we were not able to confirm them. For sure the brushy slopes above were busy with American Robins feeding on the bounty of American Elder berries.

Beyond birds, the recent rains have spawned a bounty of fungi on the forest floor. Altogether a most pleasant walk.

Thanks to Drayten and Danielle for stepping forward to host next week’s September 19, 2026 outing to Heritage Ranch. As previously noted, Ron Bjorge will be hosting at Maskepetoon the following week September 26, 2026. 

Enjoy!

Chris

Here is the eBird report:

Barnett Lake, Lacombe, Alberta, CA
Sep 12, 2026 9:39 AM - 12:57 PM
Protocol: Traveling, walking
4.068 kilometres
Checklist Comments: Red Deer River Naturalists, Bird Focus Group outing.
24 species
15 Participants
Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)  55 Flock overhead.
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  9
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)  4
American Wigeon (Mareca americana)  15
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  9
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)  1
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)  5
American Coot (Fulica americana)  6
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)  16
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  27
Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)  10
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  4
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  3
Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)  1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  6
Common Raven (Corvus corax)  4
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  9
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  14
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus)  12
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  2
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  14

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S392352463