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7 April 2016


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Goldeneye on golden 'pond'

Goldeneye on golden 'pond'
Oops, slept through three very loud alarm clocks and a kitchen timer for an hour!!! Will have to add all info later, as I'm hoping to find my friends for birding. Think I'm going to be too late, though. Sigh ....

Two days ago, the weather was beautiful and I was able to get out for a walk in Fish Creek Park with birding friends. We started off at the Boat Launch, checking the Bow River for any waterfowl, then walked to the first storm water pond. From there, we walked down the path by the river, where, among other things, we spotted a little male Tree Swallow working at his nest cavity. Also a Black-capped Chickadee doing exactly the same thing. At one point, we heard a rustling in the dead leaves on the ground and then caught sight of a Meadow Vole. We even heard one litte squeak : ) This male Common Goldeneye was swimming in the tiny creek between the river and the main, paved path. Happened to catch it with its neck stretched upwards and its eye partly closed.

"The eyes of a Common Goldeneye are gray-brown at hatching. They turn purple-blue, then blue, then green-blue as they age. By five months of age they have become clear pale green-yellow. The eyes will be bright yellow in adult males and pale yellow to white in females." From AllAboutBirds.

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Goldeneye/lifehistory

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_goldeneye

Our last stop on our walk was to check on the pair of Great Horned Owls. Dad was sleeping in a tree not far from the nest tree and Mom was on the nest. We couldn't see any young ones.

The Balsam Poplar trees were full of bright red (male) catkins - they always look so beautiful, especially when seen against a blue sky. The Aspen trees were also displaying their catkins. We saw one flower on our walk - yellow, and I think it was Silverweed, if I remember correctly. When I returned home later, I was welcomed by another yellow flower - my first Dandelion of the season : ) I happen to be one of those people who love Dandelions.

After the bird walk, I had intended going straight home, but on the spur of the moment, I turned on to the small road leading down to Bankside (still in Fish Creek Park). Sometimes, I get the feeling that I am meant to go somewhere, that there is a reason, and usually it ends up with my seeing something beautiful. Well, that day, the 'something' was a gorgeous male Ring-necked Pheasant! On the drive to the parking lot, I had already seen another male, but the second one ended up crossing the path, giving a much closer view. As soon as I got out of my car, I recognized a lady in the distance - it was friend, Shirley, who had already spotted this bird. A fisherman mentioned it to us, as well. After watching the very well-hidden bird, we were treated to a clear view when it walked across the path ahead of us. Such a spectacular bird!

I will add the list of species seen on the first walk, compiled by our leaders:

Spring Birding, Boat Launch, FCPP, Calgary, 0915-1215, Thu07Apr2016. Sunny, calm, 3 – 15°C. Combined results of three groups.

Canada Goose-20
American Wigeon-2
Mallard-20
Common Goldeneye-10
Common Merganser-5
RED-TAILED HAWK-1
WILSON’S SNIPE-1
FRANKLIN’S GULL-5
Ring-billed Gull-15+
Rock Pigeon-2
Great Horned Owl-2
Downy Woodpecker-6
Hairy Woodpecker-2
Northern Flicker-7+
Black-billed Magpie-3
Common Raven-3
TREE SWALLOW-3. One male was excavating nest-hole
Black-capped Chickadee-10,One pair were excavating nest-hole
White-breasted Nuthatch-2+
American Robin-4
European Starling-40+
SONG SPARROW-2+
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD-3 m.

Meadow Vole-1
Muskrat-2

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