Northern Alberta Birding Hotline

A trip to Misty Ridge NE of Barrhead on Oct. 30 produce no raptors due to lavk of wind.  After refiiling my suet feeder I was treated to Downy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch (m&f), Black-capped Chickadee (2) all coming to the suet.  3 Pine Grosbeaks landed in the trees nearby and a Northern Shrike appeared at the edge of the field just south of the bldg.  It wiped its bill several times on a branch & then flew off carrying in its feet what appeared to be the remains of a vole.  I was not close enough for positive ID, nor did time allow me to change my position.  Leaving Misty Ridge I headed NE through the Vega Sandhills with the Cross Lake area as the next destination.  Seeing no birds in the Sandhills I headed east on Twp Rd.635 & flushed a male Spruce Grouse off the edge of the road beside the vehicle.  Next reat was an adult Bald Eagle in a tree next to the Pembina R. bridge west of Fawcett.  The grand prize was a Hawk Owl which flew uo onto the power line at the corner of Sec. 663 & 801.

  Yesterday, Nov.01, under the forecast of strong NW winds (which did not happen) I once again headed to Misty Ridge.  2 adult Bald Eagle flew by in the PM & other than the feeder birds nothing was seen.  Headed east on Sec.661 & found a Rough-legged Hawk hovering over a field at Rge.Rd 30.  At Rge. Rd 21, turned north to make the loop up and around the Goodridge L. Peat Moss Plant (now Dapp Power) in search of owls.  Just before the crossover onto Twp 632 a Hawk Owl was seen approx. 150 m west of the road sitting in a small tree.  Shortly after turning east onto Twp 632, a male Merlin (Taiga sudspecies) was seen sitting in a poplar tree.  At first the bird was facing away then kindly turned to face me (very considerate of him).
  Snow Buntings were widely scattered at each dugout & in a cultvated field south of the Plant.  Lots of Mallards & Canada Geese in a field at Hwy 2 approx. 1.5 km south of Clyde corner.

Jim