En route to the park, we stopped and photographed a hungry looking Shrike. Mary-Jean got the best shot of this one.
Northern Shrike - near Brooks AB - Photo by Mary-Jean Payeur
And then we stopped for a cooperative Western Meadowlark.
Western Meadowlark - near Brooks AB
The last roadside bird was an Eastern Kingbird, once again a photo by Mary-Jean.
Eastern Kingbird near Brooks AB - Photo by Mary-Jean Payeur
The park is situated on a small island on Lake Newell, a fairly large lake by Prairie standards. It is geared towards boaters and campers, but this day was fairly quiet.
It is also recommended for birding, and we had a nice variety of sightings.
There were large numbers of Geese on the lake and they seemed to be employing daycare. This adult pair was shepherding 14+ Goslings, possibly from multiple families.
Canada Goose - Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Rainier AB
Once again we saw a Western Kingbird high up surveying its realm. These birds are common on the prairie grasslands and always welcome to see.
Western Kingbird - Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Rainier AB
I mentioned in the earlier post that I had a good shot of a Common Grackle in the afternoon.
Here it is:
Here it is:
Common Grackle - Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Rainier AB
There were plenty of Ring-billed Gulls here and these were my first of the year. Although this Gull is very common in the Lower Mainland, I had not seen one there in the first six months of 2018.
Ring-billed Gull - Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Rainier AB - 2018 Bird #175
Next we spotted a Cedar Waxwing posing for us momentarily.
Cedar Waxwing - Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Rainier AB
A few minutes later we saw our second Yellow Warbler of the trip, once again singing constantly. This time I got a good photo with the Canon and a short movie using the Nikon video feature. That's why I carry two different cameras...
Yellow Warbler - Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Rainier AB
It quieted down for a while perhaps due to this male Northern Harrier patrolling the skies. The male is mostly gray and is smaller than the brownish female.
Northern Harrier - Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Rainier AB
These birds always seem to have an owlish look to them.
I was taking photos of some of the Ring-billed Gulls on the lake when a largish shorebird flew over. My first thought was a Dowitcher. I followed it, frantically waving at Mary-Jean to come along. Eventually it landed in a tree and I was able to get some clear shots. It was only in reviewing my photos that I determined it was not a Dowitcher, but a Wilson's Snipe. The strong striping and the pronounced eye-ring were the giveaways. I'd seen one in March in Richmond, but I believe this was a lifer for Mary-Jean.
Yellow Warbler - Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Rainier AB
It quieted down for a while perhaps due to this male Northern Harrier patrolling the skies. The male is mostly gray and is smaller than the brownish female.
Northern Harrier - Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Rainier AB
These birds always seem to have an owlish look to them.
Northern Harrier - Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Rainier AB
I was taking photos of some of the Ring-billed Gulls on the lake when a largish shorebird flew over. My first thought was a Dowitcher. I followed it, frantically waving at Mary-Jean to come along. Eventually it landed in a tree and I was able to get some clear shots. It was only in reviewing my photos that I determined it was not a Dowitcher, but a Wilson's Snipe. The strong striping and the pronounced eye-ring were the giveaways. I'd seen one in March in Richmond, but I believe this was a lifer for Mary-Jean.
Wilson's Snipe - Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Rainier AB
After the excitement of the Snips we returned to the lake and Mary-Jean got a great shot of a male Blue-winged Teal.
Blue-winged Teal - Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Rainier AB
Photo by Mary-Jean Payeur
On the ground she spotted a squirrel and took this photo.
Richardson's Ground Squirrel - Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Rainier AB
Photo by Mary-Jean Payeur
Back in the pond, I spotted a male Redhead Duck and took the photo below. The duck on the right is a female Redhead, the other bird might be a Pintail.
Redhead - Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Rainier AB
Meanwhile Mary-Jean was paying attention to the numerous Ruddy Ducks on the lake. She took the following two shots.
Ruddy Ducks - Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Rainier AB - Photo by Mary-Jean Payeur
This shot shows the colourful make and the plainer female.
Ruddy Ducks - Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Rainier AB - Photo by Mary-Jean Payeur
The last duck we saw in the park this Northern Pintail, once again a Mary-Jean shot.
Northern Pintail - Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Rainier AB
Photo by Mary-Jean Payeur
We left the park and returned to Highway 1 heading for Calgary. Suddenly Mary-Jean spotted some American Avocets in a large slough off the road to our right. By the time I'd turned onto a side road we were looking at a 1/2 KM walk back along the highway to see it.
Blue-winged Teal - Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Rainier AB
Photo by Mary-Jean Payeur
On the ground she spotted a squirrel and took this photo.
Richardson's Ground Squirrel - Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Rainier AB
Photo by Mary-Jean Payeur
Back in the pond, I spotted a male Redhead Duck and took the photo below. The duck on the right is a female Redhead, the other bird might be a Pintail.
Redhead - Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Rainier AB
Meanwhile Mary-Jean was paying attention to the numerous Ruddy Ducks on the lake. She took the following two shots.
Ruddy Ducks - Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Rainier AB - Photo by Mary-Jean Payeur
This shot shows the colourful make and the plainer female.
Ruddy Ducks - Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Rainier AB - Photo by Mary-Jean Payeur
The last duck we saw in the park this Northern Pintail, once again a Mary-Jean shot.
Northern Pintail - Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Rainier AB
Photo by Mary-Jean Payeur
We left the park and returned to Highway 1 heading for Calgary. Suddenly Mary-Jean spotted some American Avocets in a large slough off the road to our right. By the time I'd turned onto a side road we were looking at a 1/2 KM walk back along the highway to see it.
Luckily, there was one in a pond where we'd turned off and with a bit of walking, it was in photo range.
American Avocet - Off Highway 1 near Gleichen AB - 2018 Bird #176
After taking a few more shots I noticed a small butterfly that had lit on a nearby grass stem. The ID is a best guess.
Inornate Ringlet Butterfly - near Gleichen AB
Mary-Jean was not quite done with ducks, after photographing the Avocet, she captured a Northern Shoveler pair. This really highlights the size of the beak on the male.
Northern Shovelers - near Gleichen AB - Photo by Mary-Jean Payeur
Mary-Jean was not quite done with ducks, after photographing the Avocet, she captured a Northern Shoveler pair. This really highlights the size of the beak on the male.
Northern Shovelers - near Gleichen AB - Photo by Mary-Jean Payeur
We resumed our journey back to Calgary, but stopped one more time for a Red-tailed Hawk posing nicely on the roadside.
Red-tailed Hawk - near Calgary AB
I dropped Mary-Jean off and headed for my cousin's place. It had been a long, but rewarding day.
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