Red Deer River Naturalists Bird Focus Group Walk April 18, 2026

 

Chris Olsen Report

Bird Focus People:

With apologies for the delay (while my vision stabilizes), here is the summary for April 18, 2026 outing to the trails of Maskepetoon Park. Fourteen people joined us for the walk on a beautifully warm spring day! Welcome to new participants Lori S., Gail M. and Wendy C.

Birding started along the river where Buffleheads, Common Mergansers and Common Goldeneyes preened and paraded, resplendent black-and-white, on ice-free waters below. There were pairs of Mallards everywhere, and even a male Northern Shoveler among them on the natural wetland on the outside loop. Thanks to Tony for some interpretive insight the botanical distinction between this ‘natural wetland’ and the reclaimed gravel pits that dominate our river-bottom parks. Don’t forget to hold our Provincial politicians responsible for their plan to push the QE II highway through these rare wetlands!

A flock of Bohemian Waxwings moved back and forth among the old poplars in the bottom, fly-catching in the upper canopy. We added a Killdeer on the muddy shore, and the Northern Flickers and Pileated Woodpecker territorial calls competed with the inevitable traffic noise. A whole ‘kettle’ of ravens played in the thermals high above the far escarpment. On the wooded trails, we had lots of chickadees, nuthatches and American Robins, and we added our first-of-the-year pair of Dark-eyed Juncos.

As we returned to the parking lot, some of our group waited for us, peering high overhead. At the very limits of visibility, 5 Ravens soared on high and harassed a pair of small raptors that would appear and disappear as they dodged the Ravens - we would see short glimpses of very light underbodies and what looked like long tails and short, rounded wings. Tantalizingly Accipiter-like. By comparative size, likely Sharp-shinned Hawks, but simply too high and intermittently visible to hold sharp focus. A pretty study in the warm spring sky!

As many will know by now we cancelled our Sharp-tailed Grouse Watch trip. Shortly after, even the Snow Goose Festival weekend was cancelled in the near-blizzard conditions. Sheldon said he still had weekend openings May 16-17, and for those with more flexibility, there are often weekday spots. It is truly an amazing experience and I encourage any who have not experienced it to book directly by going to the Wainwright Wildlife Society Facebook page for the grouse registration info and/or to find available dates.

A last note, as I walked Bella, my dog, in the storm last night April 24, 2026, there was a flock of 50 or more Tree Swallows swooping through the canopy of the open forest just north of the Kerry Wood Nature Centre. It was 8:50 p.m. and fully dark during a short lull in the driving snow. Surprisingly, there were also gulls flying high above. I’m hopeful there was some kind of hatch in progress and that the late-flying Tree Swallows found enough food to survive the spring blizzard. There is always something to see in the natural world!

Enjoy!

Chris

Here is the eBird Report:

Red Deer-Maskepetoon Park, Red Deer, Alberta, CA
Apr 18, 2026 9:22 AM - 1:14 PM
Protocol: Traveling, walking
2.537 kilometres
Checklist Comments: Red Deer River Naturalists, Bird Focus Group outing.
24 species
14 Participants
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 5
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) 1
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 34
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 7
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) 16
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) 8
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 1
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 3
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 2
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 4
Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) 4
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 18
Common Raven (Corvus corax) 22 Two separate groups (12 + 6) riding thermals above the Red Deer river escarpments.
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 22
Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) 3
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 8
Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) 70
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 4
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 6
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S327230779