Red Deer River Naturalists Bird Focus Group Field Trip May 9, 2026 - Raven Brood Trout Station

Chris Olsen Report

Bird Focus People:

Thirteen birders joined us for a gentle stroll along the trails of the Raven Brood Trout Station on May 9, 2026 in the morning. Welcome to Adrian J. and Aya F. joining us!

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers seem to thrive at Raven and their calls and drumming were our constant companions as we moved upslope towards the power line. This years leaf-out seems slower and we did not hear or see Blue-headed Vireos on the slopes. A pair of slim sparrows entertained us with pursuit flight through the shrubbery, but moved too quickly for identification. We did pick up a Bald Eagle over the parking area, but no other raptors were visible over the open fields.

Returning downslope, we had a good look at a Western Tanager and as always calls and glimpses of Evening Grosbeaks. The forestry crews have removed a lot of the old conifers near the springs and this may explain why we saw few other woodpeckers. There were Ruffed Grouse drumming along the creek-side trails and near the rail fence we were treated to the beautiful, long song of a Winter Wren. Remarkably, this normally shy bird hopped up on top of a brush pile and put on a show for everyone. With thanks to Mukesh, we even have a photo - a real treat!

There were Sandhill Cranes calling overhead and echoing from the wetlands to the north of the trail. We heard fewer Ruby-crowned Kinglets than in previous years, but we did see pairs of Golden-crowned Kinglets, Purple Finches and Northern Rough-winged Swallows. There was a good sampling of woodland sparrows, but the construction of a new holding pond has resulted in brush clearing and this year we did not see or hear a Northern Waterthrush in that area. However, this year we did add Belted Kingfishers and Mourning Doves to our Raven Creek catalogue.

Most of our group lunched at the picnic area, while the paddlers moved on to Beaver Lake (separate eBird report).

Earlier this week I received a note from Alyssa Metro about the Alberta Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy (AARC). AARC will be coordinating amphibian call surveys in the Buffalo Lake area this long weekend. This is a great opportunity to participate in citizen science with some very knowledgeable naturalists. Susan has kindly posted their announcement on RDRN’s social media, and I encourage any and all to get involved.

Enjoy!

Chris 

Here is the eBird report:

Raven Brood Trout Station, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, CA
May 9, 2026 8:46 AM - 10:50 AM
Protocol: Traveling, walking
1.451 kilometer(s)
Checklist Comments: Red Deer River Naturalists, Bird Focus Group Outing. Note that there was a map failure near the mid-point of the Beaver Creek trail. Based on previous visits the total walking distance should be about 4.1 km.
33 species
13 Participants
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  4
Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)  2
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  1
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)  3
Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata)  2
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  1
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)  10
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  2
Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus)  2
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  2
Common Raven (Corvus corax)  6
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  4
Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus)  3
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)  2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)  8
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)  2
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  1
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)  5
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)  3     Bird observed by the entire group singing on a brush pile across a rail fence. Two others heard further along the Beaver Creek trail. Photo of this bird provided by Mukesh Khugsal.
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  10
Evening Grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina)  15
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus)  2
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  1
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)  1
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)  4
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  2
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  3
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  2
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  3
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  5
Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)  1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S336759724

Photo of this bird provided by Mukesh Khugsal.