May 27th onward to the Rockies

May 27^th:

A cloudy start to the day with light rain but calm at Dungarvan a quick look around the property reveals that the drumming Ruffed Grouse is still proving elusive, the Belted Kingfisher returns, there is an Eastern Kingbird and Savannah Sparrow present and a Goshawkflies by probably my first record in Canada. Drive down to the marsh and lake near the entrance to Waterton Park for a last quick look and have 3 Sandhill Cranesen route, American Wigeon on the lake along with 30 American Coots that appeared to be new in, Ring-necked Ducks, 3 American Black Terns, Ruddy Duck, Bald Eagle and flush a Virginia Railfrom the grass by the side of the car park. The rain soon cleared but with a long drive in prospect today we set off north on the 23 towards Canmore. From the road American Kestrel Merlin, Swainson’s Hawk and Red-tailed Hawks plus the usual variety of waterfowl on roadside ponds then stop off at the Bar U ranch historic site for lunch and a walk around. Arriving Canmore late afternoon we walk the Bow Valley trail in town in increasingly high temperatures of 21C and get Common Yellowthroat, a singing Sora in the marsh, Violet-green Swallows and two Myrtle Warblers but the highlight is a Boreal Chickadee. After dinner at the Rose and Crown we drive up the Spray Lakes road but it is in terrible condition after the winter snow and its very slow going with a lack of the hope for mammals and no Moose but four Snowshoe Hares feeding on the road are compensation and at the Kananaskis end a Coyote is wandering around on the roadside. A long drive back to the Best Western Pocaterra Inn where we are staying, well recommended Hotel. 

Black-billed Magpie split from Eurasian birds I thought it best to take at least one record shot of a widespread species; Bufflehead, Sandhill Cranes and Horned Grebes saying goodbye from Waterton area; Dungarvan Creek B&B, 

The Snowshoe Hares up the Spray Valley road very late evening, appeared to be eating grit from damp patches on the gravel road -- looking up on the net only revealed that diet sometimes includes faeces and sand -- maybe something to do with he change of diet in spring? 

Canada 2019

two weeks in Alberta mainly the Prairies from Frank Lake to Medecine Hat then Writing on Stone, Lethbridge, Head Smashed in to Waterton then on to Canmore and Golden and back to Calgary. Weather was distinctly variable from 1C some mornings to a peak of 32C in the Rockies at the end of the trip with wind and rain on a good day in the Prairies south of Medecine Hat and heavy rain for 20 hours at Waterton. Not counted up properly but saw about 150 species and could have chased after another 30 or so but it was a fairly relaxed trip; seeing 6 life birds was pretty impressive as I have been to Canada 12 times now and Arizona, Texas and California but still missed out on two sparrows and Lazuli Bunting so will have to go back!
A few iPhone pics of some fo the locations as a taster -- lots of images to sort through

 The Bow River Valley at Canmore on the edge of the Rockies

 Cottonwood trees in river valley at Fort Macleod

 The pond in the garden at Dungarvan B&B looking to the Rockies -- the pond had breeding Slavonian grebes and Buffleheads, Blue-winter Teal and regular Ring-necked Ducks and Audubon's Warblers same below

 Emerald Lake Yoho PP above and below

 Fort Macleod

 Frank Lake south of Calgary and amazing place for wetland birds

 above and below Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump  --

 Not near enough tot eh snow line at the top of the Lake Loise Gondola and you couldn't walk and higher -- a real disappointment

 The seemingly endless Prairies near the US border south of Medecine Hat

 The Skunk Cabbage Trail at Revelstoke -- finally nailed MacGillivray's warbler

 Spray Lakes PP the lakes were still Locked in ice

 Waterton PP showing the devastating effects of the 2017 wildfires

Writing on Stone PP 

and so another amazing trip ends

a last evening up the Spray Lakes with a couple of Moose and a nice sunset then a repeat on out last morning with some nice views of American Emerald and more Barrow's Goldeneye plus a Sharp-shinned Hawk and it was time to return to the airport at Calgary -- an easy trip until the last 3kms - WHY are roads into airports so badly signed and overly complicated and Sat Navs simply do not pick them up!!! the only remotely near miss of the trip and missed the only gas station so got ripped off to fill the car up but after 10 days of such brilliant scenery and wildlife a few $$ between fiends was nothing - here's to next year

Spray Lakes and Kananaskis Valley

the people at the Lake Louise visitor centre suggested the Spray lakes round out of Canmore was the best place to look for our, so far, missing Moose so a quick recky on the late evening of the 4th revealed a superb site with so few people compared to the Banff area; the next morning we were up there bright and early; an American Osprey nest on the track side, Spruce Grouse scuttling off into the trees, 50+ Chipping Sparrows, Hermit Thrush, Audubon's warblers, Common Loons, Spotted Sandpipers with a nest, Ruddy Duck with a pair of Barrow's Goldeneye, my first birds since the drenched Scottish bird, Cooper's Hawk, 3 Bufflehead, singing Swainson's Thrushes (one in typical tree summit pose here), Northern Flicker, Tree and Violet Green Swallows all made for a good start -- how many people would identify this female Barrow's in the UK?