Northern Alberta Birding Hotline

   John Acorn called in on July 2, reporting a pair of Eastern Bluebirds in nest box #82, on Rge. Rd. 183 between Twp.Rd. 504 & 510.  This is just immediately south of the Amisk Cr. bridge.  Peter Haddock also saw them yesterday & was able to get a long distance photograph.  They are seperated from the Mountain Bluebird by the bright blue on all upper surfaces & an orange throat, sides, breast & flanks.  This species is considered a vagrant to Alberta & in a resident of southern Sask.  The Alberta Breeding Bird Atlas had one confirmed nesting in the Battle River area northeast of Wainright.
  In other news a Northen Mockingbird was seen at the end of June north of Ft. McMurray at the Syncrude site next to the Mildred Lakle Reservoir reported by Barb Jewers.  Earlier this spring, Ted Hindmarch photographed one near English Bay on the NW side of Cold Lake.  This could possibly be the same bird.