Weaseled

Weaselhead Flats encompasses the valley and delta of the Elbow River before it enters at the west end of the Glenmore Reservoir in the southwest part of the city. The reservoir and delta were formed in 1933 with the completion of the Glenmore Dam across the Elbow River valley. The area is named after Chief Weaselhead who held authority over the Tsuu T'ina people of the river valley at the time of early European contact. During the First and Second World Wars, the Weaselhead area was used as training facility for soldiers from the nearby Currie Barracks. Evidence of this use, such as foxholes, are scattered throughout the park. Vegetation ranges from emergent aquatic plants through willows, Aspen and Balsam Poplar to mature White Spruce forest. These diverse habitats provide some of the finest birding in the Calgary area, with over 250 species having occurred in the park.

Friday started cold and frosty. Skies had cleared overnight, allowing the thermometre to fall to -15°C by morning. Environment Canada was forecasting a high of zero later in the day, so I decided to wait until mid-morning before making the 30 minute ride to the park. The temperature had already risen to -5°C by the time I arrived shortly before eleven, and I did not even need to wear my toque or heavy mitts. An extensive network of trails wind through Weaselhead Flats, and it is easy to get lost in the park, even if you are carrying a map like I did today! Four hours were spent exploring the park, enjoying the solitude and peacefulness. Birding was also quiet, with only the usual menagerie of resident and wintering species seen. A small flock of Pine Grosbeaks was the only new species added to my BIGBY.

Six toes

I made the ride out to Griffith Woods again today. Weather was a repeat of last week, overcast and cool, though the predicted flurries never materialized. The snow that fell last weekend had largely melted and the roads and paths were in decent condition. Despite being the middle of winter, I was serenaded by House Finches singing in many of the residential areas along the route. An adult Bald Eagle was soaring above the Glenmore Dam and I noted scattered flocks of Bohemian Waxwings and Common Redpolls. I arrived at the park shortly before ten, after a 90 minute trip. Altalink does not work weekends, fortunately, and except for the drone from the nearby highway, the woods were quiet.

An American Three-toed Woodpecker has been reported in the park intermittently since early January; although a number of birders have failed to find it the last couple of weeks. My strategy was to focus on the decadent stands of White Spruce that occur north of the regional pathway, and where I have previously seen three-toed woodpeckers. No evidence of the three-toed was found after a morning of searching, although Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers caused many false alarms. I was walking back to the bike when I heard tapping coming from a stand of dead spruce just off the path. Slowly manoeuvring around the trees, I caught a glimpse of the woodpecker's barred sides and yellow crown! Like most boreal species, the bird was tame and approachable, and I was afforded great views as it flaked off bark searching for beetles. Its back was almost entirely white, typical of the nominate dorsalis. Successfully finding the bird, I treated myself to lunch and a beer at Javino, before starting the ride home.

Dipped

With Environment Canada forecasting the return of winter this weekend, I took today off from work to take advantage of the last nice day before the snow and cold arrived. I decided a trip west to Griffith Woods Park, before the impending snow made riding difficult or impossible, made sense. It is approximately 20 kilometres across the centre of Calgary to the the park from my house, much of the ride via streets or sidewalks. Despite two weeks of above zero temperatures, side streets and pathways are still covered in ice and snow. A climatologist at the University of Calgary describes the remaining snow as 'glacial', and, after my ride today dodging snow banks, I would agree. Low cloud and fog had formed overnight, and although forecasters called for it to eventually burn off, it remained overcast the entire day, creating cold and damp conditions.

Griffith Woods Park, one Calgary's newest parks, is located along the Elbow River immediately north of the Tsuu T'ina Nation. A number of spring-fed oxbows wind through mature White Spruce forests and the park is home to a number of species rare or absent elsewhere in the city, including several birds which I hoped to see today. A network of trails wind through the park, many of them following old ranch roads or fence lines. I have been visiting Griffith Woods since I started birding and the park was still a ranch on the outskirts of the city. The area has seen massive change since my first visit and residential development now abuts the northern boundary of the park. Developers had initially planned a golf course for the ranch, but pressure from local environmental groups led to the land being protected and the creation of Griffith Woods Park in 2000.

Sights and sounds of heavy machinery greeted me as I arrived at the parking lot mid-morning after a 90 minute ride. AltaLink is replacing and upgrading a portion of the Griffith Woods transmission grid line in the park. Fortunately, construction is limited to the existing utility right-of-way and disturbance to the park is minor. Finding a place to secure my bike, I changed into some warmer clothes and headed towards the Elbow River. An American Dipper had been reported recently along this stretch of river, and one was found further upstream in mid-December. Scanning the river I failed to find the dipper, but did see several Boreal Chickadees in the nearby spruce trees. I started making my way west into the interior of the park, coming across a couple more flocks of chickadees and nuthatches.

Warm water from the numerous springs in the area help keep many of the oxbows in the park open in the winter; allowing several species that normally migrate to successfully overwinter. I slowly made my way to the edge of one oxbow hoping to find the Belted Kingfisher wintering in the park; instead, I flushed an American Dipper from the ice lining the bank. It landed a few metres downstream and soon began diving into the water hunting for prey. I watched the dipper catch and eat a couple of large aquatic beetles before it flew around a bend in the oxbow and out of sight. Walking further upstream, I soon found the kingfisher perched on a snag overhanging the oxbow. Spotting me, the kingfisher flew upstream, its call rattling through the valley. Walking along the trails, I would periodically hear flocks of Bohemian Waxwings and White-winged Crossbills calling overhead, hidden in the fog. Watching a flock of chickadees at the west end of the park, I spotted a raptor flying in the distance. Trees hindered the view, but I was able to get a quick look before it disappeared - a gray-morph Gyrfalcon!

It was now after a lunch and I was getting hungry. Though I had brought a lunch, I was feeling chilled and wanted something hot to eat and a chance to warm up. I walked over to the local strip mall and saw that a new coffee shop, Javino, had just opened. I ordered a bowl of their Thai chicken soup and a coffee; the food was excellent and I will definitely stop again the next time I visit Griffith Woods. After finishing the soup and reading the newspaper I was ready to head back to the park. The afternoon was quieter compared to the morning and I had little to show for another two hours of walking other than the odd chickadee flock. I headed back to the bike and prepared to make the ride back home. Biking towards Mount Royal University I noticed that it had recently snowed, just enough to hide the icy patches and ruts on the paths. Closer to home it started snowing again and when I reached the Bow River it was coming down hard enough that I had to dig out by front bike light. The last stretch was particularly bad, with whiteout conditions and slick roads, but I made it home safely just as the streetlights were turning on.

Duck Waddle 4

Can ducks run? Because today was more of a sprint than a waddle. I made my second attempt to locate the Long-tailed Duck wintering along the Bow River in Fish Creek PP. Several birders had reported seeing the bird this past week near the boat launch just north of Highway 22X. With my gear loaded on the bike I headed out Saturday morning south along the pathway towards Fish Creek PP. Conditions were much more conducive to biking than two weeks ago - temperature just below the freezing point and no wind. Chinook winds had resulted in several icy sections along the path, but they were no match for my studded tires and I arrived shortly before ten at Hull's Wood.

Arriving at the boat launch, I quickly spotted what appeared to be the duck, accompanied by a few goldeneye, just in front of me. I scrambled to get my binoculars out of the pannier while my glasses started fogging up. Finally getting my binoculars on the bird, I was rewarded with a hazy view of the female Long-tailed Duck. Relaxing, I set up my scope and was able to get close looks as she fed along the rip-rap just south of the boat launch. I had initially planned on spending the morning walking along the river looking for the duck and other waterfowl, but, with it being only a little after ten, I decided to return home and attend to some needed chores. I swung by Sikome Lake to get a quick look at the pair of Great Horned Owls roosting in their traditional spot in a spruce next to the change rooms before starting the ride back.