The Wildbird General Store

The Wildbird General Store Hawk Surveys & Novice Birder Tours

 

What: The Wildbird General Store is hosting surveys of the hawks and other birds of Beaverhill Lake, led by naturalist Jim Lange.
When:  Spring 2010 -  Every Sunday through the migration period, starting April 4 to beginning of June. Surveys begin at 10 am, and last approx. 2.5-4 hrs. Participants are free to stay for as long as they want, and shorter routes will be available for younger birders to learn how to identify birds.

Where: Survey route starts at the Beaverhill Nature Centre in Tofield (1 hour southeast of Edmonton on Highway 14).  Turn left off highway, then right  and follow road to Service Station.  Look for the big Martin pole next to Nature Centre. Pre-arranged carpooling to Tofield available:  Meet at The Wildbird General Store (4712-99St.) at 9:00 am.

* There is no cost for these trips, and participants are involved at their own risk.  For more information contact the Store (780)439-7333).  Results posted weekly.

 

Survey Date: June 6, 2010      # FINAL SURVEY
# Participants: 5
Duration: 10:00 – 3:45 PM
Weather: AM: sunny, +12C, winds NW15km/h
                  PM: cumulus cloud buildup. +20C, winds WSW 20-25 km/h
Sightings: 61 species

Nature Centre Marsh

Red-tailed Hawk – 3
Kestrel – 2
Osprey – 1 soaring high over north end of Tofield & drifting northward
Canada Geese – 18
Mallard – 1
Redhead – 1
Sora – 1
Wilson’s Snipe – 2
Ring-billed Gull – 1
California Gull – 1
Black Tern – 8
Purple Martin – 25
Tree Swallow – 1
Barn Swallow – 2
Yellow Warbler – 1
Red-winged Blackbird – 55
Common Grackle – 4
Starling – 2
Crow – 2
House Sparrow – 4

Survey Totals

Red-tailed Hawk – 7
Swainson’s Hawk – 3
Kestrel – 2
Great Horned Owl – 1 female & 3 young nearly ready to leave the nest
Osprey – 1
Canada Geese – 22
Mallard – 28
Northern Shoveler – 4
Gadwall – 4
American Wigeon – 7
Redhead – 2
Blue-winged Teal – 1
Green-winged Teal -2
Bufflehead – 8
Lesser Scaup – 4
Great Blue Heron – 1
Sora – 1
Wilson’s Phalarope – 38
Red-necked Phalarope – 1
Wilson’s Snipe – 2
Marbled Godwit – 1
Willet - 2
American Avocet – 7
Killdeer – 3
Semipalmated Plover – 3
Black-bellied Plover – 4
Spotted Sandpiper – 3
Baird’s Sandpiper – 3
Red Knot – 10
Northern Flicker – 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 2
Purple Martin – 33
Tree Swallow – 45
Barn Swallow – 12
Cliff Swallow – approx.60
Ring-billed Gull -1
California Gull – 1
Black Tern – 8
Raven – 2
Crow – 13
Black-billed Magpie – 8
Robin – 5
Mountain Bluebird – 12
Eastern Kingbird – 2
Least Flycatcher – 16
Cedar Waxwing – 1
Warbling Vireo – 1
Yellow Warbler – 4
House Wren – 2
Red-winged Blackbird – 65
Common Grackle – 4
Brewer’s Blackbird – 3
Brown-headed Cowbird – 9
Starling – 57
Western Meadowlark – 2
Song Sparrow – 7
Vesper Sparrow – 4
Savannah Sparrow – abundant
Clay-coloured Sparrow – 11
American Goldfinch – 3
House Sparrow – 4

Survey Date: May 30, 2010     #9
# Particpants: 5
Duration : 10:00 – 3:30 PM
Weather: AM: light snow, +1C, winds NW15km/h
                       PM: light rain, +5C, winds NW20km/h 
Sightings: 58 species

Kestrel – 1
Mallard – 2
Canada Geese – 2
American Wigeon – 2
Redhead – 1
Common Mergansers – pair flying over
Ring-billed Gull – 5
Franklin’s Gull – 12
Herrring Gull – 1
Black Tern – 5
Sora – 1
Wilson’s Snipe – 2
Purple Martin – 30
Tree Swallow – 1
Red-winged Blackbird – 52
Common Grackle – 4
Yellow-headed Blackbird – 4
Starling – 5
Yellow Warbler – 1
House Sparrow – 4

Survey Totals

Northern Harrier – 1 female
Red-tailed Hawk – 9
Swainson’s Hawk – 1
Kestrel – 1
*Osprey -1  observed drifting southeast over Rowan’s Route near Francis Point turnoff
Great Horned Owl – 1 female & 3 well developed young leaving the nest & onto the branches
Canada Geese – 15
Mallard – 14
American Wigeon – 6
Northern Shoveler – 2
Blue-winged Teal – 9
Gadwall – 4
Lesser Scaup – 2
Redhead = 1 male
Common Merganser – pair flying over
Common Goldeneye – 1
Bufflehead – 4
Pied-billed Grebe – 1   at Amisk Cr. bridge
American Avocet – 4
Willet – 4
Marbled Godwit – 1
Wilson’s Snipe – 2
Spotted Sandpiper – 2
Killdeer – 2
Sora – 1
Northern Flicker – 2
Ring-billed Gull – 5
Herring Gull – 1
Franklin’s Gull – 12
Raven – 1
Crow – 4
Black-billed Magpie – 14
Purple Martin – 30
Tree Swallow – 9
Barn Swall0w – 1
Cliff Swallow – 2
Robin – 3
Mountain Bluebird – 3
House Wren – 1
Least Flycatcher – 3
Eastern Kingbird – 2
Black-cap Chickadee – 2
Red-winged Blackbird – 67
Common Grackle – 4
Yellow-headed Blackbird – 4
Brewer’s Blackbird – 2
Brown-headed Cowbird – 10
Starling – 54
Western Meadowlark – 1
Baltimore Oriole – 1
American Goldfinch – 1
Warbling Vireo – 2
Yellow Warbler – 5
Song Sparrow – 3
Vesper Sparrow – 10
Savannah Sparrow – 15
Clay-coloured Sparrow – 6
House Sparrow – 4

Mammals seen : Richardson’s Groundsquirrel – many, Coyote – 1, White-tailed Deer – 1

Survey Date: May 23, 2010        #8
# Participants:  7
Duration: 10:00 – 3:00 PM
Weather: AM: low cloud, +3C, winds NW25-35km/h
                    PM: low cloud, +6C, winds gusting to 40km/h
Sightings: 58

 

Northern Harrier – 1
Kestrel – 1
Canada Geese – 6
American Wigeon – 2
Lesser Scaup – 1
Sora – 1
Wilson’s Snipe – 1
Ring-billed Gull – 6
Black Tern – 1
Purple Martin – 2
Robin – 1
Red-winged Blackbird – 60
Common Grackle – 6
Yellow-headed Blackbird – 2
Savannah Sparrow – 1
House Sparrow – 1 

Survey Totals

Northern Harrier – 3
Red-tailed Hawk -10
Swainson’s Hawk – 2
Kestrel – 1
Peregrine Falcon – 1     chasing a gull
Great Horned Owl – 1 adult female & 3 well developed young
Canada Geese – 34
Mallard – 11
American Wigeon – 7
Gadwall – 4
Blue-winged Teal – 4
Northern Shoveler – 2
Green-winged Teal -2
Common Goldeneye – 4
Canvasback – 4
Bufflehead – 10
Lesser Scaup – 7
Sora – 1
Wilson’s Snipe – 1
Killdeer – 2
Black-bellied Plover – approx.65
Willet – 2
Spotted Sandpiper – 1
Least Sandpiper – 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper – 2
American Avocet – 12
Ring-billed Gull – 6
California Gull – 1
gull sp. – 20
Black Tern – 1
Raven – 4
Crow – 13
Black-billed Magpie -18
Purple Martin – 6
Tree Swallow – 7 * low numbers due to extreme weather conditions
Barn Swallow – 8
Cliff Swallow – 3
Say’s Phoebe – 2
Robin – 6
Swainson’s Thrush – 1
Mountain Bluebird – 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 2
Northern Flicker – 2
Red-wing Blackbird – 85
Common Grackle – 6
Yellow -headed Blackbird – 2
Brewer’s Blackbird – 4
Brown-headed Cowbird – 25
Starling – 49
Western Meadowlark – 1
Song Sparrow – 2
Vesper Sparrow – 2
Savannah Sparrow – 11
Clay-coloured Sparrrow – 5
Chipping Sparrow - 2  * note: also a flock of 25+ birds  flew up from a farm yard front lawn
Yellow Warbler – 1
Rock Pigeon – 9
House Sparrow – 2

Whitetail Deer – 2

 

Survey Date: May 16, 2010             #7
# Participants:  14
Duration: 10:00 – 3:00 PM
Weather: AM: sunny, +15C, winds SE 20-25km/h
                      PM: partly cloudy, +25C, winds SE35km/h
Sightings: 47 species

Nature Centre Marsh

Canada Geese – 4
Mallard – 1
Sora – 1
Ring-billed Gull – 2
California Gull – 1
Raven – 3
Black-billed Magpie – 1
Purple Martin – 12
Robin – 1
Red-wing Blackbird – 72
Common Grackle – 4
Yellow-headed Blackbird – 1
Starling – 2
Song Sparrow – 1
Rock Pigeon – 1
House Sparrow – 3

Survey Totals

Red-tailed Hawk – 7
Swainson’s Hawk – 3
Great Horned Owl -  1 adult & 2 young
Canada Geese – 25
Mallard – 3
Northern Shoveler – 4
Gadwall – 7
American Wigeon – 5
Blue-wing Teal – 7
Redhead – 2
Canvasback – 2
Bufflehead – 1
Lesser Scaup – 17
Sora – 1
Coot- 5
Ring-billed Gull – 11
California Gull – 1
Lesser Yellowlegs – 1
Greater Yellowlegs – 1
Willet – 3
Avocet – 7
Killdeer – 3
Semipalmated Plover – 1
Black-bellied Plover – 4
Semipalmated Sandpiper – 20
Dowitcher sp. – 12
Red-neck Phalarope – 6
Purple Martin – 12
Tree Swallow – 50
Barn Swallow – 2
Cliff Swallow – 30+
Crow – 10
Raven – 8
Black-billed Magpie – 10
Robin – 2
Mountain Bluebird – 4
Red-winged Blackbird – 84
Common Grackle – 4
Yellow-headed Blackbird – 1
Brewer’s Blackbird – 16
Brown-headed Cowbird – 5
Song Sparrow – 1
Vesper Sparrow – 16
White-crowned Sparrow – 2
Savannah Sparrow – numerous
Rock Pigeon – 1
House Sparrow – 3

*Golden Bean(Buffalo Bean) starting to bloom at Quarry & Auto Salvage yard.

Survey Date: May 09,2010             #6 
#Participants: 19
Duration: 10:00 – 3:30 PM
Weather: AM: partly cloudy with developing cumulus clouds, +3C,
                                 winds light SE increasing to 25km/h by noon   
                     PM: +11C, impending rain showers, winds SE30km/h & gusting
Sightings:  45 species

Nature Centre Marsh

Redtail Hawk – 3
Kestrel – 1 
Canada Geese – 5
Mallard – 5
Ring-billed Gull – 3
California Gull – 1
Franklin’s Gull – 2
Sora – 1
Pectoral Sandpiper – 3
Wilson’s Snipe – 2
Killdeer – 1
Purple Martin – 4
Tree Swallow – 1
Red-winged Blackbird – 45
Yellow-headed Blackbird – 1
Common Grackle – 5
Starling – 1
Crow – 1
Raven – 1
Rock Pigeon – 30
House Sparrow – 2

Survey Totals

Northern Harrier- 3
Redtailed Hawk – 15
Swainson’s Hawk – 1
American Kestrel – 1
Great Horned Owl – 1 female on nest & 2 young
Canada Geese – 80
Mallard – 16
American Wigeon – 2
Northern Shoveler- 4
Gadwall – 14
Blue-winged Teal – 3
Green-winged Teal – 4
Common Goldeneye – 2
Bufflehead – 2
Sora – 1
Ring-billed Gulls – 19
California Gulls – 1
Franklin’s Gulls – 2
Wilson’s Snipe – 2
Pectoral Sandpipers – 3
Semipalmated Sandpipers – 10
Least Sandpipers – 3
Killdeer – 3
Black-bellied Plovers – 2
Willet – 4
Marbled Godwit – 1
American Avocet – 16
Dowitcher sp. – 4
Crow – 13
Raven – 9
Black-billed Magpie – 6
Purple Martin – 4
Tree Swallow – 6
Northern Flicker – 2
Mourning Dove – 2
Robin  – 2
Mountain Bluebird – 11  * considerable increase in numbers over last couple of weeks
Red-winged Blackbird – 47
Yellow-headed Blackbird – 3
Common Grackle – 5
Brewer’s Blackbird – 10
Vesper Sparrow – 4
Savannah Sparrow – numerous
Rock Pigeon – 37
House Sparrow – 5

Whitetail Deer – 2 by owl’s nest
*Note: Prairie Crocus still in full bloom at Coyote Auto Salvage

Survey Date:  May 02, 2010         #5
#Participants: 19
Duration: 10:00 – 3:30 PM
Weather:  AM: cloudy, +8C, winds NW10km/h & increasing with approaching cold front
                        PM:  cloudy, +12C, winds WNW gusting 30-35km/h
Sightings : 50 Species

Nature Centre Marsh

Red-tailed Hawk – 1
Canada Geese – 3
Mallard – 3
Wilson’s Snipe – 2
California Gull – 1
Ring-billed Gull – 1
Franklin’s Gull – 2
gull sp. – 3
Purple Martin – 3   flying between Nature Centre & Golf Course
Crow – 3
Red-winged Blackbird – 57
Common Grackle – 10
Starlings – 2
House Sparrow – 6

Survey Totals

Northern Harrier – 3
Red-tailed Hawk – 8
Swainson’s Hawk – 1
Merlin – 2 females  (Richardson’s race)
Great Horned Owl – 1 adult female & 2 young visible
Canada Geese – 20
Cackling Geese – 96  (all together at Quarry)
Tundra Swan – 1
Mallard – 17
American Wigeon – 3
Blue-winged Teal – 4
Gadwall – 4
Pintail – 1
Green-winged Teal – 7
Lesser Scaup – 8
Redhead – 2
Bufflehead – 1
Common Goldeneye – 2
Great Blue Heron – 1 (on nest east end of Kallal Meadows)
American Avocet – 9
Killdeer – 3
Semipalmated Plover – 1
Wilson’ Snipe – 2
Lesser Yellowlegs – 2
Willet – 1
Coot – 1
Sandhill Cranes – many thousand flying in from SE around noon!
California Gull – 1
Ring-billed Gull – 31
Franklin’s  Gull – 14
gull sp. – 3
Raven – 2
Crows – 16
Black-billed Magpie – 13
Red-winged Blackbird – 63
Common Grackle – 10
Brewer’s Blackbird – 6
Starling – 13
Western Meadowlark – 1
Northern Flicker – 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker- 1
Purple Martin - 3 (flying between Nature Centre & Golf Course)
Tree Swallow – 11
Mountain Bluebird – 4
American Robin – 12
Horned Lark – 3
Vesper Sparrow – 7
Savannah Sparrow – 4
Rock Pigeon – 12
House Sparrow – 8         

Thirteen-lined Groundsquirrel – 1  at Francis Pt.

Date:  April 25, 2010                              #4
#Participants: 3
Duration:  10:00 – 2:00 PM
Weather: AM: cloudy with a few flurries, -1C, winds NW 10-25km/h
                       PM: clearing, +10C, winds NW gusting to 30km/h
Sightings:  42 species

Nature  Centre Marsh

Swainson’s Hawk – 1
Canada Geese – 12
Mallard – 3
Ring-billed Gull – 1
Wilson’s Snipe – 1
Red-winged Blackbird – 65
Common Grackle – 7
Crows – 2
House Sparrows – 3

Survey Totals

Northern Harrier – 2
Red-tailed Hawk – 13
Swainson’s Hawk - 2
Rough-legged Hawk – 2
American Kestrel – 1
Great Horned Owl – 1 adult at nest
Canada Geese – 19
White-fronted Geese – 20
Tundra Swans – 115
Mallard – 23
American Wigeon – 2
Northern Shoveler – 4
Green-winged Teal – 2
Common Goldeneye – 2
Bufflehead – 1
Lesser Scaup – 3
Great Blue Heron – 1
Greater Yellowlegs – 3
Lesser Yellowlegs – 14
Killdeer – 1
American Avocet – 1
Ravens – 7
Crows – 24
Black-billed Magpie – 33
Ring-billed Gulls – 70
California Gulls – 30
Franklin’s Gulls – 35
gull sp. – approx.20
Northern Flicker – 5
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 1
Black-cap Chickadee – 2
Robins – 13
Mountain Bluebird -  5
Western Meadowlark – 2
 Brewer’s Blackbird – 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 67
Starling – 42
Song Sparrow – 2
Vesper Sparrow – 3
Rock Pigeon – 3
House Sparrow – 10

 
Survey Date: April 18, 2010   #3
# Participants: 10
Duration: 10:00 – 2:00 PM
Weather: AM: partly cloudy, +6c winds SE 15 km/h increasing to 30km/h
                       PM: variable cloud, +21C winds SE 25-35 km/h
Sightings: 32 Species

Red-tailed Hawk – 12
Kestrel – 2
Merlin – 1
Great Horned Owl – 1 adult on nest & 1 young briefly visible
Canada Geese – 20
White-fronted Geese – 21
Tundra Swans – 9
Mallard – 15
American Wigeon – 2
Wilson’s Snipe – 2
Lesser Yellowlegs – 2
Killdeer – 4
Ring-billed Gull – 15
California Gull – 1
Crow – 21
Black-billed Magpie – 14
Red-wing Blackbird – 46
Common Grackle – 7
Western Meadowlark – 2
Starling – 3
Robins – 10
Mountain Bluebird – 4
Northern Flicker – 3
Tree Swallow – 1
Black-cap Chickadee – 2
Purple Finch – 2
Song Sparrow – 5
American Tree Sparrow – 1
Snow Buntings – small flocks totaling approx. 150 birds
Rock Pigeons – 8
House Sparrow – 5

 

* several small flocks of what was thought to be possibly Lapland Longspurs kept
flying up over the field but not landing where they were visible.  The result was that
ID was not possible.

Note: a raptor was observed by myself ,using 10X binoculars, flap flying towards our
position from approx. .5 km away.  It then went into a very brief soar & showed the
profile of a falcon (either Peregrine or Prairie).  Unfortunately I had to lower the
glasses due to dust from a passing vehicle & was unable to locate the bird after.
This meant that a positive ID was not possible & therefore it was not counted in
the survey. 

 Survey Date: April 11, 2010   #2
# Participants: 16
 Duration: 10:00 – 2:30 PM
Weather: AM:  sunny, -5C, winds increasing to NW15-20 km/h
                       PM: high cloud moving in from west, +2C, winds WNW 15-20 km/h
Sightings: 20 Species

Northern Harrier: 2
Bald Eagle: 1 adult at Francis Point
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1 adult
Red-tailed Hawk: 34
Rough-legged Hawk: 3
Great Horned Owl: 1 on nest
Canada Geese: 17
Mallard: 37
gull sp: 2
Ravens: 6
American Crow: 43
Black-billed Magpie: 23
Robins: 5
Mountain Bluebird: 2
Horned Larks: 8
Red-winged Blackbird: 2
Snow Bunting: 30
Starlings: 74
Rock Pigeon: 1
House Sparrow: 7

Coyote: 1
Whitetail Deer: 2

 

Survey Date: April 04, 2010  #1
#Participants: 10
Duration: 10:00 – 2:00 p.m. 
Weather: AM: clouding over quickly from west.approaching storm, +2C,
                                  winds 25 gusting to 40km/h
                        PM:  partly cloudy (cumulus) +12C, winds WNW 25-30 km/h
Sightings:  21 Species

 Northern Harrier: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 4
Rough-legged Hawk: 2
Merlin: 1
Great Horned Owl: 1  on nest, unable to determine if young present
Canada Geese: 42
Mallard: 4
Common Goldeneye: 2
gull sp.: 2
Raven: 2
American Crow: 17
Black-billed Magpie: 14
Starling: 9
Mountain Bluebird: 3
Townsend’s Solitaire: 1
Horned Larks: 2    * male doing courtship display to nearby female
Black-cap Chickadee: 3
Dark-eyed Junco- 2
Snow Bunting: 12
Rock Pigeon: 1
House Sparrow: 9

 

Survey Date: June 7, 2009  FINAL SURVEY FOR THIS YEAR
#Paricipants: 4
Duration: 10:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Weather: AM: cloudy, +7C ,winds SE 15km/h
PM: heavy cloud cover, approaching showers, +12C, winds gusting 30+km/h

Sightings: 53 species

*Note: for the first time in the 2 years of the survey, except for March 29/2009, no Canada Geese were seen!

Northern Harrier: 4
Red-tail Hawk: 8
Swainson’s Hawk: 2
Kestrel: 1
Merlin: 1
Mallard: 9
Blue-wing Teal: 3
Gadwall: 5
American Wigeon: 6
Redhead: 3
Lesser Scaup: 4
Common Goldeneye: 2
Bufflehead: 1
Marbled Godwit: 4
Willet: 4
Killdeer: 2
Spotted Sandpiper: 2
Baird’s Sandpiper: 2
Golden Plover: 1
Black-bellied Plover: 1
Wilson’s Phalarope: 2
Avocet: 16 with many birds sitting on nests at the Quarry
Raven: 4
Crow: 15
Black-billed Magpie: 7
Northern Flicker: 1
Ring-billed Gull: 3
California Gull: 2
Black Terns: 11
Robin: 2
Mountain Bluebird: 4
Yellow-headed Blackbird: 2
Red-wing Blackbird: 40
Common Grackle: 4
Brown-headed Cowbird: 4
Brewer’s Blackbird: 4
Starling: 5
Purple Martin: 7
Barn Swallow: 5
Tree Swallow: 35
Cliff Swallow: 20
Eastern Kingbird: 2
Least Flycatcher: 2
American Goldfinch: 1
Cedar Waxwing: 2
Yellow Warbler: 2
Vesper Sparrow: 4
Song Sparrow: 1
Savannah Sparrow: 15
House Wren: 1
Rock Pigeon: 1
House Sparrow: 4

Mule Deer: 4

 

Survey Date: May 31, 2009
#Participants: 8
Duration: 10:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Weather: AM: sunny, +8C, winds NW20km/h.
PM: heavy cloud cover, +14C, winds gusting NW40-50km/h

Sightings: 43 species

Redtail Hawk: 3
Swainson’s Hawk: 1
Canada Geese: 12
Mallards: 17
American Wigeon: 9
Shoveler: 3
Blue-wing Teal: 7
Common Goldeneye: 1
Bufflehead: 1
Lesser Scaup: 9
Willet: 3
Avocet: 6
Spotted Sandpiper: 1
Black-bellied Plover: 200+ – possibly Golden-Plovers
Marbled Godwit: 6
Killdeer: 3
Peeps:  approx. 25 unidentified due to distance & weather conditions
Ring-billed Gulls: 2
Black Terns: 5
Ravens: 1
Crow: 10
Black-billed Magpie: 9
Common Grackle: 2
Brewer’s Blackbird: 15
Red-wing Blackbird: 28 at Nature Center- some elsewhere
Yellow-headed Blackbird: 2
Starling: 10
Northern Flicker: 3
Least Flycatcher: 1
American Goldfinch: 2
Mountain Bluebird: 3
Robin: 3
Purple Martins: 3
Cliff Swallow: numerous
Tree Swallow: many
Barn Swallow: 5
Yellow Warbler: 3
Clay-coloured Sparrow: 3
Vesper Sparrow: 5
Savannah Sparrow: abundant
Song Sparrow: 2
House Sparrow: 1