Nocturnal Birding

With the the shift to daylight saving time, giving me more time to bird after work, it seemed like a perfect evening to get my BIGBY Northern Saw-whet Owl. Keeping on my commuter clothes, I grabbed a quick dinner at home before cycling over to the Weaselhead Flats. This park regularly has calling Northern Saw-whet Owls in the late winter and early spring. Ten calling last week likely included migrants, but this species is known to nest in the park. A quick stop at North Glenmore added Tundra Swan and Lesser Scaup to my BIGBY. Other waterfowl occurring in the leads starting to form on the reservoir included numerous Common Goldeneye and Common Merganser. The pathways were busy with walkers and bicyclists enjoying a mild evening, but their numbers slowly thinned as the sun began to near the horizon.

With Venus becoming visible in the western sky and Mercury above me, I pulled out my birding gear and secured my bike to the wooden bike rack located next to the pathway. Turning on my headlamp, I followed the trail west along the Elbow River. I could hear Canada Geese in the distance and the occasional loud splash alerted me to the presence of beavers in the river. The first Saw-whet started whistling approximately a half hour after sunset but soon stopped. With only the occasional coyote howl now breaking the silence, I decided to take a different trail back to the bike. Soon after starting down this trail another Northern Saw-whet Owl started calling, this one was closer to me. I tried whistling and the owl responded. After whistling back and forth for a couple of minutes I caught a glimpse of the owl flying across the trail and landing in a poplar. Not wanting to further harass the bird, I stopped whistling and made my way back to the bike. With the temperature continuing to fall and fog starting to form, it was time to head home.

Woody Woodpecker

Early Sunday morning found me biking through the districts of Willow Park and Lake Bonavista on my way to Fish Creek Provincial Park. My destination was Bebo Grove, located at the west end of the park, and hopefully an encounter with a Pileated Woodpecker. The Fish Creek valley narrows and deepens upstream of Macleod Trail, and there is a corresponding change in the flora and fauna. Stands of White Spruce begin to appear on the north-facing slopes and the extensive meadows, characteristic of the eastern half of the park, gradually give way to Aspen. Several species of bird that are rare or absent east of Macleod Trail can be found here, including Ruffed Grouse and Boreal Chickadee. This section of Fish Creek PP experienced massive damage during the 2005 flood, several pedestrian bridges and pathways were washed out when the creek overflowed. It was not until September 2007 that the park reopened following the construction of new bridges and a redesigned pathway system.

Arriving at Bebo Grove, I secured my bike to a spruce tree in the picnic area below the parking lot. While still cool in the valley, the temperature was already rising and it promised to be a beautiful spring day. A pair of Pileated Woodpeckers had been reported in this area for much of the winter. While not rare in Calgary, this species can be surprisingly elusive at times. Starting out on the extensive network of trails, I observed several species over the next three hours, including Red-breasted Nuthatches and Pine Siskins, but no woodpecker. The forecasted chinook winds were starting to make their presence and I took that as a sign to head back to the bike for something to eat. I had almost finished my granola bars and juice when I thought I heard the call of a Pileated Woodpecker from across the creek. It called again, this time closer, definitely a Pileated! Heading in the direction of the calls, I managed to get a brief glimpse of the woodpecker flying across the creek. Back at the bike, I finished the rest of my lunch, before starting the ride home.

Solitary Solitaire

Sounds of spring were evident when I stepped outside this morning. An American Robin was singing in a neighbours yard, several crows called overhead, and a Northern Flicker was drumming on a telephone pole. I was headed to Sandy Beach where a Townsend's Solitaire had been reported a few days ago. Located along the Elbow River immediately downstream of the Glenmore Dam and Water Treatment Plant, the park has extensive stands of Balsam Poplar and White Spruce. On the thirty minute ride to the park I was delighted to find that much of the snow and ice that plagued the pathways had melted. Arriving mid-morning, I quickly got out my birding gear and headed towards the river. Nearing the bank, I pulled out my iPod and briefly played a recording of the Townsend's Solitaire call and song. Almost immediately a solitaire flew into a nearby poplar, perching only a few feet above me. I got great looks at the bird as it alternated between singing and feeding on dogwood berries, before eventually flushing when a fisherman approached. A brief walk around the park, prior to returning to the bike, turned up several American Robins and Dark-eyed Juncos.

Below Sea Level

I just returned from two weeks in southern California. My parents are renting a house near Palms Springs and graciously invited me to stay with them. With cheap flights and a strong Canadian dollar, it was an offer I could not refuse. While not strictly a birding trip, I was still able get out most days and visit some of the surrounding hot spots, including the Salton Sea and Joshua Tree National Park. The deserts were alive in colour from the various wildflowers benefiting from the heavy winter rains courtesy of El Niño. Fortunately, I managed to avoid most of the rain and was able to enjoy the sun and warm temperatures for a brief few days before returning home.