Alberta    
               

Semipalmated Sandpiper - Frank Lake, AB This very plain sandpiper is one of the harder birds to identify when the fall migration is on. I chose this picture because it shows why the bird is named as it is. That is, the semi (partially) palmated (webbed) toes are open and spread so you can see the webbing. This can be a very difficult way to identify this bird while it is wandering around in the water. The other tell tale signs are the slightly curved bill as well as the lack of any rufous on the head and shoulders along with the black legs. This is a great website to look at for the other signs. The other two similar birds are the Western and Least Sandpipers. Michael W Klotz 2021 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Semipalmated Sandpiper - Frank Lake, AB
Swainson's Hawk - Silverwing Golf Course, AB Overseeing his part of the world was important on that evening. There was a great deal of calling and general noise making to a mate near by. Raptors, especially the broad-winged type hawks are hard to tell apart from a distance when they are sitting on poles. One way I use to identify these birds is, the very distinct white bib below the beak, followed by confirming they don't have a red tail. This photo was taken on the east side of the Calgary Airport near Silverwings Golf Course. Michael W Klotz 2019 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Swainson's Hawk - Silverwing Golf Course, AB
Western Meadowlark - Wildhorse, AB The songster of the grasslands is this large chunky bird with the golden throat. The Western Meadowlark is found from the Great Lakes west with some of the territory overlapping with the Eastern Meadowlark. The visual differences are few, but the song is substantially different. This makes for a much easier time where the two over lap. The bird was found just north of the Wildhorse border crossing in Alberta. Michael W Klotz 2019 - www.TheBirdBlogger.comPicture
Western Meadowlark - Wildhorse, AB
Mourning Dove - Wildhorse, AB For such a plain brown bird these little members of the pigeon family get tons of attention. It could be the soft mournful sound that they are named after, or the small cute frame of these generally shy birds. They are numerous throughout North America, but are slowly declining in the west. This bird was sitting pretty on a fence post just north of the Wildhorse, Alberta border crossing. Michael W Klotz 2019 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Mourning Dove - Wildhorse, AB
Blck-billed Magpie - Elkwater, AB I wonder if he is thinking 'You can see me!
Black-billed Magpie - Elkwater, AB
American Coots - Frank Lake, AB I always felt the rail family had the most unusual chicks, like these American Coots. Several of them are brightly colored and have the oddest legs as is the case of the Purple Gallinule Chick. The little red helmets are actually their skull and the orange and yellow feather boa will eventually get covered by the black silky feathers of an adult. This parent was attentive and picking out the most tender piece of plant for the chicks to eat just of the inflow into Frank Lake. Michael W Klotz 2019 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
American Coots - Frank Lake, AB
Black-necked Stilt - Frank Lake, AB This bird reminds me of a sandpiper copying a Killer Whale with the white eye spot. They are one of two waders that are fond of salt lakes for breeding along with the American Avocet. This bird would be at the northern end of his range here in Alberta, Canada with a large population year round in Mexico and found as far south as Brazil. This particular bird was wading around the shallows at Frank Lake. Michael W Klotz 2019 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Black-necked Stilt - Frank Lake, AB
Marbled Godwit - Frank Lake, AB The shallows in around Frank Lake were alive with shore birds, including this Marbled Godwit who was picking through the mud for yummy critters to eat. These birds spend the breeding season in the prairies and head south to the shorelines down both sides of North America. and as far south as South America. There are couple of small nesting colonies also on Hudson's Bay and on the western-most section of Alaska. Michael W Klotz 2019 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Marbled Godwit - Frank Lake, AB
Orange-crowned Warbler - Willow Creek, AB A flock of fall warblers were picking through the leaves of the shrubs along the bank of Willow Creek. This Orange-crowned warbler was part of the gang looking for a fill up before heading south for the winter. The berries were being devoured by Cedar Waxwings but it was the bugs this little one was looking for. Michael W Klotz 2019 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Orange-crowned Warbler - Willow Creek, AB
Swainson's Hawk - Pincher Creek, AB I always love the prairies for the raptors and this Juvenile Swainson's Hawk is no different. Along a farm road in Pincher Creek, we met including his sibling who was on the fence post over. They must have been waiting to be fed as they were calling in the typical begging voice when I first showed up. Michael W Klotz 2019 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Swainson's Hawk - Pincher Creek, AB
Black- Billed Magpie - Edmonton, AB Picture
Black- Billed Magpie - Edmonton, AB