Red Deer River Naturalists Bird Focus Group Walk November 18, 2023

Seven birders were out with Chris Olsen this past November 18th, 2023 for our most-urban bird walk through Barrett, Coronation, Stephanson, Galbraith and lower Gaetz parks. As the warm weather continues, the birding on the trails has been generally quiet (14 species again today). We did see a flock of Bohemian Waxwings and there were large numbers of Canada Geese and Ring-billed Gulls enjoying the open waters on the river. In Barrett Park, The Merlin app caused a bit of a ‘stir’ when it thought it detected a Long-eared Owl, but none in our group saw or heard anything to confirm that. Likely a siren or background noise.

My (Chris) weekly email from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology described a new birding tool that is a fun way to learn or review feather groupings and descriptive bird anatomy. You can choose flashcard-style quizzes or a click-to-highlight illustration mode for a generic bird. Search ‘Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Bird Anatomy’ to find the link if you’re interested.

Chris

Waskasoo Creek, Red Deer CA-AB (52.2693,-113.8017), Red Deer, Alberta, CA
18-Nov-2023 9:56 AM - 12:27 PM
Protocol: Traveling, walking
4.604 kilometres
Checklist Comments: Red Deer River Naturalists, Bird Focus Group outing
14 species
7 Participants
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 250
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 42
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 4
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 9
Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) 16
Common Raven (Corvus corax) 2
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 30
Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) 3
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 4
Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) 12
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 19
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 6
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S154705527