Least Chipmunk

Amazing, our temperature yesterday, 19 April 2016, got up to 27C! We have been having summer weather and it's only spring. The temperature in Calgary climbed high enough yesterday to top a century-old weather record.

"According to Environment Canada, the previous record high for Calgary on April 19 was recorded at the Calgary International Airport in 1910 when it was 26.7 C. Calgary had tied that record by 2 p.m. and beat it at around 5 p.m. by reaching 27.5 C."

globalnews.ca/news/2647710/calgary-poised-to-break-100-ye...

This photo was taken on 31 March 2016, on a birding walk in North Glenmore Park and Weaselhead as far as the green, metal bridge. No sign of the sun until our walk was over. When I opened my front door, I realized just how gloomy it was outside, with dark grey clouds filling the sky. Temperature was 3C to 5C. Far from a good day to take photos, but we were still quite lucky with the bird and mammal species we saw.

We split into three groups, going in different directions, but still eventually covering the same locations. My group looked out over the Glenmore Reservoir and then drove through the park to the Crowchild Stormwater Ponds. After we returned to the main parking lot, we walked down into Weaselhead, crossing the green, metal bridge, and then walked back up the long hill.

Everyone enjoyed watching this little Least Chipmunk stuffing his cheek pouches with nuts and seeds. He was so small, so fast, and SO cute.

"A small rodent with a long, narrow but fairly bushy tail, the least chipmunk (Tamias minimus) is the smallest and most widely distributed chipmunk species in North America.

The diet of the least chipmunk consists mainly of seeds, nuts and fruits, although it will also take other plant material, such as leaves and flowers, as well as fungi, insects and occasionally birds’ eggs. The least chipmunk may also sometimes feed on carrion.

While foraging, the least chipmunk will often fill its cheek pouches with seeds and nuts, which it then hoards in various locations or carries to its burrow to store for the winter. This behaviour, typical of chipmunks, is reflected in the scientific name of the genus Tamias, which comes from the Greek for ‘storer’ or ‘distributor’." From the Arkive website.

www.arkive.org/least-chipmunk/tamias-minimus/

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Least_chipmunk

I will add the list of species compiled by our leaders:

Canada Goose-40
Trumpeter Swan-25
American Wigeon-3.
Mallard-20
Green-winged Teal-1 m(ale).
Bufflehead-1
Common Goldeneye-50
Common Merganser-80
Bald Eagle-1, imm(ature) unsuccessfully trying to capture a Common Goldeneye.
Northern Goshawk-1
Ring-billed Gull-50
California Gull? - 4
Herring Gull-2+
Great Horned Owl-2
Downy Woodpecker-4
Northern Flicker-7+. 5 in Wslhd parking lot, landing on utility pole.
Blue Jay-9, in one group at parking lot
Black-billed Magpie-12
American Crow-8
Common Raven-2
Black-capped Chickadee-30
Red-breasted Nuthatch-7
White-breasted Nuthatch-2
American Robin-5+
American Tree Sparrow-3
Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco-3
House Finch-4
White-winged Crossbill-50+
Common Redpoll-1
Pine Siskin-30
American Goldfinch-1 heard.

Coyote-1
Red Squirrel-2
Eastern Gray Squirrel-1, with lots of rufous on ears, neck and legs, suggestive of Fox Squirrel.
Least Chipmunk-3
Snowshoe Hare-1

After the walk, friend Sandy and I went for lunch at a nearby cafe. A savoury crepe and welcome coffee really hit the spot. Great to get the chance to chat with you and catch up on news, Sandy!