Canadian Rockies - July 2005
Bird/Species Trip List

Common Loon – seen on almost every lake of sufficient size, first spotted by Joette on Bow Lake. By far the best show was the pair at the inlet of Bow Lake, which caught a large fish, and seemed to linger very close off shore. Another highlight was six birds flying over, calling at Cottonwood Slough in Jasper – a real sound of the north. At Leech Lake, Dave spotted two fluffy large chicks, and parents perfectly reflected in calm jade green water.
Great Blue Heron – seen at Emerald Lake
Canada Goose – one of our first birds seen, en route to Bow Lake, seen on several days with large broods
Mallard – first seen at Cottonwood Slough, with young, then seen more regularly, almost daily
Blue-winged Teal – good numbers in ponds near Calgary, driving back to airport
Lesser Scaup – A female with seven young, just hatched, seen at Patricia Lake in Jasper
Barrow’s Goldeneye – seen on Waterfowl Lake for our first sighting, then several lakes, flew in for great photos on Patricia Lake. Two different females with broods going out towards Pocohantas wetlands and Miette Hot Springs were a real treat. .
Harlequin Duck – gorgeous lone male in breeding plumage seen at outlet of Maligne Lake
Bufflehead – lovely loafing group of birds on Cottonwood Slough
Ruddy Duck – Richard spotted two eclipse plumage birds at the south end of Leech Lake, nice looks.
Common Merganser – a male on Pyramid Lake, two in flight near Pochohantas
Osprey – nest on a bridge of the Bow River, near the Lake Louise Visitor Center, seven or more soaring over the Athabasca River near Jasper
Bald Eagle – an immature bird on Athabasca River flowing north from Columbia Icefields. Another immature seen at Emerald Lake by Gail’s group – perched in a conifer on the lakeshore.
Swainson’s Hawk – a pair, quite visable, likely nesting near Bow Lake, a dark phase bird seen perched and coughing up a pellet. These birds tend to stay on the prairie this far north, so this was a surprise find and a good one!
Red-tailed Hawk – a great look at an adult being chased and hit by a Merlin, small pond on 93A leaving Jasper
Merlin – first heard, then seen perched, and flying, mobbing a Red-tailed Hawk against a background of breathtaking scenery – we’ll long remember this view!
American Kestrel – one bird, seen zipping across the road between subdivisions outside of Calgary.
White-tailed Ptarmigan – what a thrill, two groups were seen above Jasper atop Whistler’s Mountain. Richard found a female with two young, and Peg spotted a lone bird higher up – as we sat watching and photographing it, Janet spotted its two companions nearby – the three allowed very close observation as they fed, preened and moved about this scenic high country.
Killdeer – seen on many days, on gravel bars of the rivers and at Bow Lake
Spotted Sandpiper – very common, seen at most lake and river areas
California Gull – one immature, and one mature bird near the Icefields Center in runoff areas and ponds, then a large group resting on a gravel bar in the river near Jasper
Ring-billed Gull – scope views of a lone bird on the lake at Cave and Basin near Banff
Rock Pigeon – near railroad tracks in Field and Calgary
Rufous Hummingbird – heard at treeline on Parker Ridge, then seen several mornings on the columbines outside our cabins in Jasper.
Black Swift – we tried for these in Jasper, at an overview near Maligne Canyon, one with a broad view where we could possibly see them come in. A local biologist was there and told us much about their habits – said the cold blustery weather kept them away, and that young would be left as much as four days – going into torpor to survive! Perhaps the sunny warm day gave us luck, as we saw two birds fly like jet fighters over the top of Athabasca Falls, disappearing into the steep carved canyon, likely direct to nests. We were very happy to see them!
Northern Flicker – heard at Pyramid Lake, finally seen flying in the river path near the icefields. In general a very strange absence of woodpeckers!
Western Wood Pewee – a young bird, displaying his bright orange gape, posed very close near Castle Mountain at a pullover, another seen well at Cave and Basin marsh trail.
Alder Flycatcher (HO) – several calling birds in Jasper, one at Cottonwood Slough
Least Flycatcher – seen well at eye-level near Castle Rock, heard several other forest / wetland areas
Hammond’s Flycatcher – one bird, perched very high but calling, at Johnson Canyon
Horned Lark – two birds feeding in a swale area above treeline on Whistler’s.
Tree Swallow – common, seen nearly every day
Violet-green Swallow – particularly numerous at Lake Louise and again at Emerald Lake
Cliff Swallow – nesting on buildings and under bridges
No. Rough-winged Swallow – flying over wetlands near Pocohantas
Barn Swallow – nesting near and mixed in with Cliff Swallows at several locations – one very charming at Athabasca Falls under the bridge. Very common.
Clark’s Nutcracker – a signature bird here, seen and heard daily, on the Icefields Parkway we particularly enjoyed seeing adults feeding large begging young.
Gray Jay – finally seen at Emerald Lake, one dark eager chick with a parent.
Black-billed Magpie – seen along the Bow River, near the Lake Louise Visitor’s Center, and again in Yoho at the Visitor’s Center parking lot.
American Crow – seen and heard around our lodge in Jasper, also Cottonwood Slough
Common Raven – constant companions, great flight shows around Bow Lake at our lodge, seen daily. The enormous group feeding at the edge of a cut bank above Maligne Canyon was memorable.
Black-capped Chickadee – seen in Jasper quite commonly
Mountain Chickadee – Richard spotted an individual in a flock in Banff as we hiked up Bow Summit, another at Cave and Basin near the Visitor’s Center
Boreal Chickadee – our first sightings a family group at Johnson Canyon, then again going in to Consolation Lakes. Also seen very well at Cave and Basin in woods off the marsh trail.
Red-breasted Nuthatch – heard from viewpoint in Maligne Canyon, and at Athabasca Falls. Very quick glimpse high in the trees at Emerald Lake.
Winter Wren – great sightings in Johnson Canyon, singing away like Pavorotti… Also seen on the trail up Edith Cavell Meadows, and heard several other places.
American Dipper – creek above Bow Lake, Maligne Canyon and a great look while approaching its nest at Johnson Canyon. Also great looks at a family group at Athabasca Falls.
Golden-crowned Kinglet – another constant companion, often hard to see, but in most heavily forested areas, best views at overview point Maligne Canyon
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – seen most days of our journey
Townsend’s Solitaire – a flyover as we were watching Bighorn Sheep on the Icefields Parkway. Another perched on the tram wire at Jasper, spotted by Richard.
Swainson’s Thrush – great views from overview Maligne Canyon, again at Cave and Basin, and at Takakkaw Falls.
Hermit Thrush – seen well on the trail to Consolation Lakes, singing throughout our climb to Edith Cavell Meadows
Veery – the lovely trilling song of this bird filled many mornings and evenings, got good looks at overview Maligne Canyon
American Robin – very common, adults and emerging young
Varied Thrush – heard at least four going into Consolation Lake, brief sighting in forests near Jasper from overview
American Pipit – one bird seen from high on Parker Ridge, a small flock observed in detail atop the Whistler’s in Jasper
Cedar Waxwing – flocks quite common in Jasper area, also Bow Lake near the lodge, great looks going into Peyto Lake, Athabasca Falls and more.
European Starling – Calgary suburbs
Tennessee Warbler – an adult seen at Cottonwood Slough
Orange-crowned Warbler – two birds seen below eye level (wonderful!) from overview near Maligne Canyon, others heard
Yellow Warbler – family feeding young at Cottonwood Slough
Yellow-rumped Warbler – our most numerous warbler, seen daily, almost all Audubon’s, one Myrtle spotted by Richard at Maligne Lake along the shore, another south of Jasper
Townsend’s Warbler – Emerald Lake and a really great sighting made by Dave at Cave and Basin Marsh trail
Common Yellowthroat – heard at several locations, seen at Cottonwood Slough, Cave and Basin marsh trail.
Wilson’s Warbler – seen near Castle Mountain viewpoint, Banff, and again at Emerald Lake.
House Sparrow – Calgary airport
Chipping Sparrow – very common, seen daily
Fox Sparrow – a very cooperative individual at Num-Ti-Jah lodge, again on the trail by Bow Summit and another at Parker Ridge
Song Sparrow – also in willows around Bow Lake
Savannah Sparrow – Emerald Lake
Lincoln’s Sparrow – Bow Lake and Cottonwood Slough, Emerald Lake
White-crowned Sparrow – everywhere, a signature bird of the mountains, lovely song
Dark-eyed Junco – our most common passerine, delightful to see the young, and to note the different races. Our lodge in Jasper had a webcam on a nest in a garden planter, fun. Three races – Slate-colored, Oregon and Pink-sided.
Brewer’s Blackbird – flocks along the agricultural lands of the Bow coming out of Calgary
Red-winged Blackbird – many in the rushes in the chain of lakes running east towards Miette Hot Springs from Jasper.
Brown-headed Cowbird – mainly between Calgary and Banff, sad to see a large chick being fed by a Common Yellowthroat in Cave and Basin….
Rosy Finch – one bird on the Columbia Icefields, a small flock intermingled with pipits atop Whistler’s.
Pine Grosbeak – a very tame pair on the trail to Peyto Lake Overlook, wow!
Red Crossbill – a flock by the shore of Bow Lake
Pine Siskin - very common, calling and numerous in mountain forests

Mammals
Pika – seen very well by Bow Lake, on the hike to Cavell Meadows and other mountain areas with their preferred rock pile habitat.
Snowshoe Hare – seen by several of the group near Bow Lake.
Least Chipmunk – seen several locations, particularly cooperative for photos near Emerald Lake.
Hoary Marmot – seen on every day we hiked in the mountains – lots of great behavior.
Columbia Ground Squirrel – seen daily, its bird like chip always alerting us to its presence.
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel – very common at all locations
Red Squirrel – also very common in conifer forests – the one eating a huge mushroom as a treat will be remembered well!
Beaver – Cottonwood Slough, spotted by Gingy
Muskrat – also at Cottonwood Slough
Coyote – Gail spotted a pair along the drive out to the hot springs, both in fine condition.
Black Bear – we saw three or four on the trip – two likely two-year olds we were able to watch at length.
Elk – very regular near Banff, but our first bull near Lake Louise was a real van stopper! Two huge bulls kept our eye keen going to the hot springs, and we found yet another coming back from Takakkaw Falls.
Mule Deer – seen on several days
White-tailed Deer – seen near Calgary, and again en route to the hot springs
Mountain Goat – very distant sightings were our first, then we were able to observe a group of females with young, and young males at a very close salt lick area – great photos.
Bighorn Sheep – seen on several days, going north from Banff, at Columbia Icefields and in the Maligne Canyon area.

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