If there is one group of birds that serious birders have the most difficult time with, it’s shorebirds. Or gulls. Or flycatchers. Maybe I’ll do a post on the latter two groups some time, but those would require much better photos and video than I currently have, so I’ll stick …
One bird that I’ve been seeing on a somewhat regular basis around Calgary this winter has been the majestic Bald Eagle, and what a magnificent sight they are whether they are soaring, hunting, or simply perched surveying their domain. Growing up in Australia I only ever remember hearing how endangered …
It’s not often that one sees a once in a lifetime “life bird” like the citrine wagtail (Motacilla citreola) that showed up way back in November, 2012 alongside an unremarkable farm field road on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Found by local Comox Valley birder Dave Routledge, this second North American and …
There seems to be some controversy about Canada’s National bird, in fact we don’t have one. Oddly enough Canada has not named its National bird, at the time of this writing there are several nominations for that distinction including: Canada Goose, Common Loon, Red Tailed Hawk, Grey Jay and …
The Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas is once again launching a series of expeditions in northern Manitoba in June and July 2013 and is seeking skilled birders to assist. Most expeditions involve 4 – 6 people and range from 10 – 18 days in length. We try to combine skilled point counters with skilled canoeists …
Northern Flickers, which are common all across North America, occur in two subspecies, Yellow-shafted in the north and east, and Red-shafted in the west. In flight Red-shafted flickers show a salmon-red colour under the wings and tail, whereas the Yellow-shafted show a golden-yellow colour. That seems straightforward enough: red=Red-shafted, yellow=Yellow-shafted. …
First, a big west coast thank you to Pat for this ‘super blog’ and for inviting me to contribute. In this first post, I’ll introduce you to possibly our most infamous local birds, the feral turkeys that made news across the country in 2010. Although tourists seem to find the turkeys entertaining, …
Everyone loves owls. Their big eyes, large size, and charismatic facial expressions can make even a non-birder sit up and take notice, and many birders have had their start with some incredible experience or other either chasing, discovering, or simply learning about them. Here in Calgary, there has been at …
Today being Valentine’s Day, I thought it appropriate to do a photo essay on a cute little bird that I have a soft spot in my heart for – the diminutive Golden-crowned Kinglet. I find it amazing that this bird can survive the harsh Canadian winters and am always heartened …
Recently, my husband and I had occasion to take a prairie drive to a small town south east of Calgary. Having taken this route many times, the camera and binos were on my lap, ready for any snowy owls we might happen across. We had been on the road for …