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