Northern Alberta Birding Hotline

For New Year's Day, I tallied 18 species of birds. First off before leaving Wetaskiwin, I observed 5 Canada Geese by the open water at By-the-Lake park. In Edmonton, at Goldbar Park, were the hundreds of Mallards and at least a dozen Goldeneye in the open water from the Goldbar Wastewater treatment plant to well past the Ainsworth Dyer bridge.  A Goshawk startled the mallards but then developed an interest in a Red Squirrel who sought refuge in a tree cavity. In Capilano Park, two Red-breasted Nuthatches, one White-breasted Nuthatch, a male Downy Woopecker and several Black-capped Chickadees visited the feeding stations. Back in Goldbar, Bohemian Waxwings and a flock of about 50 Common Redpolls were observed. In the Kennedale Ravine, branching west from Hermitage Park, I saw up to five Downy Woodpeckers along with the Chickadees, Magpies and a single Blue Jay. Last winter, this area was a hot spot for the Brown Creeper. Has anyone seen any around the city so far this season? The day finished on a high note with a female Snowy Owl on a power pole near HWY 26 east of Camrose. This owl has been seen in the same area for the past five days. Also, in the dying days of 2010, I observed a Hawkowl three times on the powerpoles along HWY 834 between TWP 472 and 474, northeast of Camrose. Hope everyone has a great new year!