Red Deer River Naturalists Bird Focus Group Field Trip May 11, 2024

Nineteen birders joined Chris Olsen at the Raven Creek Brood Trout Station May 11, 2024 and we tallied 25 species. Welcome to Colin and Penny H, Liz S., Bridget M. and others joining us for the first time. The morning started clear and we had an auspicious start on the ridge above the Station with Merlin picking up the always-elusive Evening Grosbeaks in the conifer canopy, and a Blue-headed Vireo serenading us from still bare poplar branches above. It’s always a treat to get a good look at a vireo!

On the lower walking trail, we saw first-of-the season Brown-headed Cowbirds, Lincoln Sparrows and even a pair of Canada Jays. The woods echoed with the songs of numerous White-throated Sparrows and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. One of the Kinglets was fly-catching above the creek, and even gave us a good look at his ‘Ruby Crown’. A special treat was a flock of Evening Grosbeaks that tarried in the spruces trailside and gave us a pretty show. Other notables included a brave Northern Waterthrush singing amongst the noisy and aggressive Red-winged Blackbirds on the edge of an outflow pool, and a Solitary Sandpiper feeding on the mosses and greenery of the creek bank.

Thanks to Brian and staff at the Brood Trout Station for their kind words, reports of recent sightings and even an impromptu tour for those who were interested!

Chris

Here is the eBird report:

Raven Creek Brood Trout Station trails, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, CA
May 11, 2024 9:35 AM - 1:18 PM
Protocol: Traveling, walking
5.113 kilometres
Checklist Comments: Red Deer River Naturalists, Bird Focus Group outing.
25 species
19 Participants
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 3
Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) 2
Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) 1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 2
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 2
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) 2
Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) 2
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 2
Common Raven (Corvus corax) 6
Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 14
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 3
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 11
Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) 13
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 3
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 12 Numerous songs and sightings in riparian habitat along a woodland trail.
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 3
Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) 1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 8
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) 3
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) 1 Heard song in low cover along a wetland and then confirmed by sighting.
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 6
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S173734141

Photos by Susan

Early Violet

Canada Jay

Red-winged Blackbird

Solitary Sandpiper

Red Deer River Naturalists Bird Focus Group Walk May 4th, 2024

On May 4, 2024, twelve birders joined Chris Olsen for a gentle walk around the perimeter of Heritage Ranch Park, Red Deer, Alberta. Welcome to Diana D., and Mary-Ann and Jay F. joining our group today! The weather was fine, but the trails were busy with cyclists and joggers, and that perhaps explains why birding was slower than expected. We logged just 21 species. Notables included first-of-the-year Yellow-rumped Warblers and White-throated Sparrows that were filling the woods with song. We also logged our first Savannah Sparrows, a Solitary Sandpiper, and overhead we were treated to our first Osprey of the spring. 

Chris

Here is the eBird report:

Red Deer--Heritage Ranch Park, Red Deer, Alberta, CA
4-May-2024 9:50 AM - 1:14 PM
Protocol: Traveling, walking
5.183 kilometres
Checklist Comments: Red Deer River Naturalists, Bird Focus Group
21 species
12 Participants
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  10
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  20
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  6
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)  9
Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)  1
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  2
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  19
Common Raven (Corvus corax)  3
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  28
Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus)  3
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)  2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  1
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus)  2
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  6
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)  2
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  15
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S172075180

Red Deer River Naturalists Bird Focus Group Field Trip April 27, 2024

Chris Olsen reports that the Sharp-tailed Grouse Watch on April 27, 2024 exceeded all the RDRN Bird Focus Group expectations. There were 14 participants and we can’t say enough about the amazing work that Sheldon, Laurence, Randy and the team from the Wainwright Wildlife Society do each spring!! We were comfortably seated in the blinds near Czar by about 5:00 a.m., and within minutes there were grouse back on the lek. We were surrounded by dancing, strutting, rattling and vocalizing birds, some only meters away. Counts ranged from 40 to 50+ Sharp-tail’s depending on your line of sight, and we saw up to a dozen females on the lek. There was low cloud that drew back from the horizon just as the sun rose, bathing the lek in golden light - a photographer’s dream! This is a birder’s bucket list priority if you have not seen it yet!

Driving to and from Wainwright and/or at the Snow Goose Festival, held the same weekend in Tofield, we were treated to skies and fields of Snow Geese, Greater White-front’s, Canada’s and Cackling, Ross’s Geese, Sandhill Cranes, and nearly every kind of migrating shore bird. At breakfast (thanks to the Wainwright Legion!), we even got directions to nearby Fabien where twitchers (a birdwatcher whose main aim is to collect sightings of rare birds) could see a Eurasian Tree Sparrow.

A Chris Olsen Photo

Red Deer River Naturalists Bird Focus Group Walk April 20, 2024

Six hardy birders were out to Maskepetoon Park April 20, 2024 for a cool and blustery morning outing. Despite best efforts, our score was a modest 15 species. Surprisingly, some common woodpeckers, nuthatches, gulls, and even some waterfowl were simply not to be found.  

Best sighting for the day was an Accipiter that flew into the canopy near the trail and gave us some time in view for a raptor ID challenge. I’ve settled on Cooper’s Hawk based on first impressions and the photos I have. See the photos on eBird and let me know if you see something else.

Chris Olsen

Here is the eBird report:

Red Deer--Maskepetoon Park, Red Deer, Alberta, CA
20-Apr-2024 9:55 AM - 12:48 PM
Protocol: Traveling
5.132 kilometer(s)
Checklist Comments:     Red Dee River Naturalists, Bird Focus Group outing
15 species
6 Participants
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  6
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  12
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)  7
American Coot (Fulica americana)  2
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)  1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  14
Common Raven (Corvus corax)  5
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  16
Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus)  2
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  2
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S169534421

Red Deer River Naturalists Bird Focus Group Walk April 13, 2024

Sixteen birders were out April 13, 2024 for a beautiful spring stroll along the Wishart trail in the Gaetz Lakes Migratory Bird Sanctuary. There is still some ice in shaded portions, but the trails are generally good. Welcome to Dee joining the group for the first time! There were lots of other people on the trails this morning, and so we saw little on the ground, but the birding was pretty good in the canopy and above. 

Notables for this morning were first-of-the-year Red-winged Blackbirds, all males for now, loudly proclaiming their place in the cattails. We saw Dark-eyed Juncos near the start, and a boldly streaked under and rufous above ‘Sparrow’ (Fox sparrow?) that I’m hopeful can be confirmed from one of Deb’s photos. There were three Bald Eagles and numerous Gulls soaring above.

News from the group and my own travels is that there are larger numbers of Swans, Snow Geese and Greater White-fronted Geese in the area. Mountain Bluebirds are on the nest box lines, and I’m pretty sure I saw a Northern Harrier on the road yesterday. 

Chris

Gaetz Lakes Sanctuary, Red Deer CA-AB 52.28494, -113.79417, Red Deer, Alberta, CA
13-Apr-2024 9:54 AM - 12:55 PM
Protocol: Traveling, walking
4.897 kilometer(s)
Checklist Comments: Red Deer River Naturalists, Bird Focus Group outing
21 species
16 Participants
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  11
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  13
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  6
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  10
California Gull (Larus californicus)  2
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  3
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  5
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)  3
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  4
Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)  5
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  3
Common Raven (Corvus corax)  2
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  16
Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus)  2
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  6
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)  3
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  2
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)  6
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus)  16
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)  7
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  4
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S168471057

Red Deer River Naturalists Bird Focus Group Walk April 6th, 2024

A group of nine birders joined Chris Olsen, April 6th, 2024 to walk McKenzie Trails Recreation Area from the parking area, to the work compound, up to the field and along the loop trail back; a modest 4.77 km under leaden skies, but a surprisingly pleasant walk without more snow, rain or significant wind.

The ponds were noisy with Canada Geese and the river very active with waterfowl. Surprisingly, we saw at least 5 Pileated Woodpeckers in flight, in widely separated areas. The Merlin app picked up Golden-crowned Kinglet calls in a couple of places along the escarpment, but we were hard-pressed to hear the high-pitched notes among the Chickadees, Pine Siskins, White-breasted Nuthatches and Brown Creepers. If you’re at the McKenzie Trails Recreation Area keep a lookout to see if we can confirm with a sighting of these little beauties.

The last sighting of the day (17 species) was a Bald Eagle carrying a large stick southward. Perhaps a second nest along the river?

Chris

Here is the eBird report:

Red Deer--McKenzie Trails Park, Red Deer, Alberta, CA
6-Apr-2024 9:53 AM - 12:17 PM
Protocol: Traveling, walking
4.771 kilometer(s)
Checklist Comments: Red Deer River Naturalists, Bird Focus Group outing
17 species
Nine Participants
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 55
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 9
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) 10
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) 1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 5
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 1
Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) 2
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 7
Common Raven (Corvus corax) 3
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 10
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 3
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) 2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 1
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 6
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) 4
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S167420116

Red Deer River Naturalists March 28th, 2024 Monthly Meeting Speaker Series Thank You

Thanks so much to Red Deer Polytechnic for a successful March 28th, 2024 Monthly Meeting Speaker Series evening!  RDRN is pleased to be able to support RDP's research projects and we are pleased to be able to support the students. A big thanks to Sally for handling the logistics (including the date changes) and thanks to the students for delivering such engaging and interesting presentations.

It was very heartening to see so many family members as well as other students and RDP staff in attendance - supporting these budding biologists/academics.  We had a crowd of about 95 people - one of the largest ever!

What a mutually beneficial partnership we have established. 👏

RDRN Board of Directors