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