Birds of Alberta 3

This mighty Bald Eagle is at the Coaldale "Birds of Prey Centre", a centre for injured birds. It was tethered outside on a grassy area. An extremely powerful bill!

I was happy yesterday to see a Black-capped Chickadee and get a photo of it, albeit a very ordinary, distant one! I miss these little guys so much over the summer, but know that I have to wait for winter to arrive and, with it, lots of photo opportunities. I was really happy with some of the close-ups I took last winter. There are already too many yellow leaves on the ground and the wildflowers are quickly dying. And it's only 8th August!

Saw this Broad-winged Hawk at the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre in southern Alberta. These Hawks are rare to uncommon in Alberta from May to September. I've never seen one in the wild.

This white duck was one of several in an area with Canada Geese at the Coaldale Birds of Prey Centre, in southern Alberta. Children would enjoy watching these birds.

What a sorry sight at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary this afternoon - I believe this is a male Wood Duck in eclipse. He'll look so spectacular in a while, though. I've never seen one in these non-breeding feathers. Nice red eyes. I'm not tall enough to see over the bushes at that spot, so had to make do with squinting through the branches, LOL.

We saw this Short-eared Owl at the Coaldale Birds of Prey Centre in southern Alberta. It was constantly moving, and I was unable to get a good, sharp image (apart from the eyes). I have seen several of these Owls in the wild outside the city. "This owl looks almost headless in flight, and it beats its long wings slowly and deeply, like a big butterfly, as it courses erratically low over meadows and fields. Uncommon to common in Alberta from March to November." From "Birds of Alberta" by Fisher and Acorn.

We saw several of these ducklings on the lagoon at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary yesterday afternoon. I did notice a female Wood Duck there, not too far away. I must do a Google check to see what a Wood Duck duckling looks like. On this duckling, the "eyebrows" are white and there are two small white stripes/patches on the back towards the tail end.

The Eastern Kingbird is common here from May to August. Note its scientific name is Tyrannus tyrannus! "This kingbird is a brawler, and it will fearlessly attack crows, hawks and even humans that pass through its territory. Intruders are often vigorously pursued, pecked and plucked for some distance, until the kingbird is satisfied there is no further threat." From "Birds of Alberta" by Fisher and Acorn.

These hawks are very common in Alberta from April to October. This one belongs to the Coaldale Birds of Prey Centre in southern Alberta and it was tethered outside on a grassy area.