The first hummingbird (Ruby-throat) was reported May 12 from north of Stony Plain, & Bob Gehlert saw one at Lindbrook on afternoon of May17. The first Northern Oriole & Rose-breasted Grosbeak were reported from Hwy 14 & Rge.Rd 212 ( South Cooking Lake area) on May 12/14 by Joyce Sinclair. A female Kingfisher was seen east of Beaumont at Sec.625 & Rge. Rd 232 May 13. A trip to Cross L. on May 12 found a pair of Hooded Mergansers at the bridge going into the park, White-wing Scoters on the lake. Also seen was 1 adult & a 3 year old Bald Eagle although the sighting of only 1 Common Loon was a suprise for this time of year! Gerald Romanchuk, Steve Knight & Jim Morrison reported several Three-toed Woodpeckers, a good selection of Warblers, Blue-headed Vireo & Surf Scoters at Cross L. on May 16. Fred Whiley sighted a Whimbrel at Joseph L. on May 17 as well as Wilson's Phalaropes. The Hawk Survey this week had a Semipalmated Plover, 4 Black-bellied Plovers, & 6 Red-neck Phalarope at the Quarry. Other hightlights this week was an imm. Tundra Swan at Bretona Pond, Surf Scoters (4) N. Sask. River at Groat bridge seen by John Acorn May 13. Have you birded at Bretona Pond lately? Due to low water levels it is now attracting shorebirds. On May 8, we found Avocets, Lesser Yellowlegs, Pectoral, Semipalmated & Least Sandpipers. Richard Klauke reports seeing several pairs of Wilson's Phalarope near Willingdon May 11 as well as Harris Sparrows at Vilna and 1 or 2 female Black-back Woodpecker at Bellis L. which he thought could be nesting in the area. Last weeks Hawk Survey at Beaverhill was treated to 3 Pectoral Sandpipers landing in a mud puddle in the Nature Centre parking lot as the birders where getting ready to leave! The other highlight was a pair of Mourning Doves just south of the quarry.
** If birders are interested, the Wildbird General Store is partnered with the Sherwood Park Fish & Game Assoc. to do 3 Bird Inventory trips on their property through May/June. This is a 3 year project set up by their group. The property is located south of Hwy 14 at Gambling L. (east of Ministik Bird Sanctuary). These trips will be set up to teach bird ID to their members and others. We wil be limited to 8 people per group. If interested talk to either Lu Carbyn or Jim Lange at the Wildbird General Store. The first trip is Sat. May 22 with other dates being either Saturdays or Sundays until the 19th June. The odd trip may be on select Tues. or Thurs. NOTE: These are walking trips of up to 8-10km in length on groomed trails.
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