Found this out-of-range California Tortoiseshell in Cypress Hills Provincial Park. They’re typically found in southern BC and down into the western US. This summer we’re seeing an unprecedented irruption of this species north and east into Alberta, Saskatchewan and as far east as Ontario.

The short-grass prairie region SE of Drumheller put on a spectacular show today. The skies were moody & the songbirds were out in full song. I had great views of Sprague’s Pipit, Horned Lark, Lark Bunting and of course the star of the day…our 2025 Avian Ambassador the Chestnut-collared Longspur.

Today I am participating in the Birds Canada Birdathon here in southern Alberta to help raise $ to support bird conservation in Canada. A fun highlight so far was a nesting Common Goldeneye.

To donate go to: www.canadahelps.org/en/charities...

#birdathon2025 #birds #birdingforconservation

On May 23rd I will be taking part in the Birds Canada Birdathon here in southern Alberta to help raise $ to support bird conservation in Canada. Please consider donating using the link below.

#birdathon2025 #birds #birdingforconservation

www.canadahelps.org/me/ngYdTdj

Another memorable Dinosaur Park #christmasbirdcount. Highlights included a pair of Golden Eagles hunting in the canyon, Prairie Falcon, numerous Porcupines and Coyotes, incredible sun-dogs, and for the second year in a row a Common Grackle (pictured here). #birds

Had an incredible morning looking for White-tailed Ptarmigan up at Highwood Pass in Kananaskis, AB. These masters of camouflage can be tricky to find in deep snow, but we lucked out with some amazingly close views. #birds

Very windy conditions across southern Alberta (sustained gusts of 60km/hr) made birding a bit challenging today. However, one nice consolation was watching a flock of 6 Eastern Kingbirds flycatching for a couple hours from the Manitoba Maple tree in our yard.

Spring migration isn’t over yet. Several of our longest distance neotropical migrant songbirds are just now returning to Canada. I happened to find one of these super migrant songbirds—a stunning Olive-sided Flycatcher—yesterday evening in a park near my house.

www.birdscanada.org/introducing-...

A few highlights from an amazing trip to Costa Rica while guiding with Eagle-eye Tours.

Photos: Resplendent Quetzal, Prong-billed Barbet, Buff-fronted Quail-Dove and nesting Sunbittern.

Northern Flickers getting pushed to the limit as they try and manage -40 C temperatures here in southern AB.

Learn how birds survive such extreme weather events on the latest episode of the Warblers Podcast: www.birdscanada.org/warblerspodc...

A few highlights from our 2023 Horseshoe Canyon #ChristmasBirdCount. We had surprisingly warm & sunny weather and managed to detect 32 species - our highest tally in several years.

Photos: Townsend’s Solitaire, Bohemian Waxwings, Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker, Drumheller Valley

This adult Sharp-shinned Hawk visited the yard recently attempting to catch some of the resident House Sparrows.

Stuck close to home for this year’s eBird #OctoberBigDay. Sightings included great views of Prairie Falcon, a late Common Yellowthroat (no photos unfortunately), along with a rather cooperative moose.

Alberta’s 8th record of Red-bellied Woodpecker showed up at a friend’s house just down the road this morning. A nice adult male with a fair bit of red on the belly.