Chestermere AB

Bufflehead Duck

Our first day out this year bird watching on a cold rainy Easter weekend!

But we saw a few new birds on Chestermere lake including the Common Merganser, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Canvasback and Lesser Scaup.  We also spotted a Sharp-tailed Grouse in a nearby field and closer to Calgary a Bald Eagle overhead near the Bow River.

Unable to get a photo today due to weather but this image from MrTinDC sets the mood on the lake today perfectly.

Shawnna

Potteric Carr

Photo by Johnson Cameraface

Spent a few hours at Potteric Carr Nature Reserve today and were lucky enough to spot a Merlin circling overhead but not lucky enough to get a glimpse of the Bittern that we could hear very close by.

Another new bird spotted though was the Gadwall.

Despite a lack of new birds spotted though it was a fantastic location and a great day out for a nature walk.

Shawnna

New Bird!

It's been tough to spot new birds in the neighbourhood but we found a Merlin hanging out at a nest box on a farm in Markington today.  Not sure if it's actually nesting or not as we didn't have time to hang out and wait but it was a nice spot nonetheless.

Shawnna

Birding in Portugal

Finally after many months of busy schedules we've got two relaxing weeks in Portugal's Algarve and several days spent bird watching.

We added a new bird almost daily and found several good spots for some great bird spotting.  Even without a scope we racked up 73 total birds with 20 brand new birds for us.

Avocet, Spoonbill, Black-winged Stilt, Crag Martin, Stonechat, Sardinian Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Winchat, Black-tailed Godwit, Black-eared Wheatear, Common Waxbill, Blue Rock Thrush, Sanderling, Thekla Lark, Fire Crest, Little Owl, Rock Bunting, Grey Plover and Ring Plover.


Shawnna

Sedge Warbler

Sedge Warbler

We've been seeing a lot of these lately now that we know what they are!  We spent a beautiful morning at Staveley today and although it seemed quite quiet on the wildlife front we had several close looks at the Sedge Warbler.

There were quite a few Grey wagtails on the far pond as well as 2 Snipe, another bird for our list!  There were 6 juvenile Shelducks, about a hundred Greylag geese, a couple cormorants, heron, a swan family and a ringed plover.

We saw many dragon flies and hawkers but are not knowledgeable enough to identify them, easily 4 - 5 different species spotted though.  We also saw a vole running along the footpath in front of us which quickly dove into the undergrowth and proceeded to swim away through the reeds.  Was this a water vole? 

Shawnna