This tree obviously fulfilled the nourishment needs for 7 woodpeckers and a nuthatch. Eventually, my final count of woodpeckers came up to 3 Hairy Woodpeckers, 4 Downy Woodpeckers and the lone White-breasted Nuthatch. I then heard a tapping coming from the opposite side of the tree and found it to be a male Hairy Woodpecker tapping away. Much to my surprise I heard another Downy Woodpecker calling high up in the tree and I looked up to see a male Downy Woodpecker and a White-breasted Nuthatch. I approached the tree for closer inspection and I was surprised to see 2 Downy Woodpeckers and a large female Hairy Woodpecker. I abruptly stopped on the dirt path I was riding on because I had heard a Hairy Woodpecker calling. Standing proud and tall on the banks of the creek, this poplar tree seemed to be a gathering place for woodpecker food. I have started calling it: The Woodpecker Tree. While on my latest bike ride into Fish Creek Provincial Park, I came across one very special tree. Red Squirrels are also common, and it is one of the few places in the city where you can reliably find Northern Flying Squirrels. The Weaselhead is also one of the best places in the city to see Snowshoe Hares and, in the summer, Least Chipmunks. To see more photos of this one and the rest of its family, see this post. They are the preferred prey for Northern Pygmy-Owls.īobcats are seen more often in the Weaselhead than anywhere else in the city. In the winter look for them scurrying under feeders to quickly grab a seed. I seem to see more Meadow Voles in the Weaselhead than anywhere else. Meadow Vole, Weaselhead, January 28, 2017. Meadow Vole, Weaselhead, February 28, 2016. Again, I haven’t heard of any this winter. They will come to seeds under the feeders in the Weaselhead. Tree Sparrows pass through on migration but we often have some overwinter here. Usually a few overwinter in Calgary, but I haven’t heard of any in the Weaselhead this winter.Īmerican Tree Sparrow, Weaselhead, February 28, 2016. White-throated Sparrows are common breeders in the Weaselhead and you can hear them singing loudly there in the spring. White-throated Sparrow, Weaselhead, December 6, 2015. When there are big flocks around you will find them in the Weaselhead. Siskins are erratic in their movements and there are very few in the city right now. Pine Siskin, Weaselhead, February 28, 2016. These sparrows are more commonly seen in the winter, and it is far more common to see the Slate-colored subspecies of Dark-eyed Junco. In winter you can sometimes find Black-backed and American Three-toed Woodpeckers as well.ĭark-eyed Junco (Oregon subspecies), Weaselhead, December 6, 2015. Other resident woodpeckers are the Pileated Woodpecker and Northern Flicker (Flickers are migratory but we have some here year-round). Hairy Woodpecker, male, Weaselhead, January 21, 2017. You can also find Boreal Chickadees and occasionally Mountain Chickadees there.ĭowny Woodpecker, Weaselhead, January 21, 2017. They are easy to find in the Weaselhead as they also go to the feeders.īlack-capped Chickadee, Weaselhead, January 8, 2017.īlack-capped Chickadees are one of the most common songbirds in the Weaselhead year-round. They readily come to the feeding stations along the main path.īohemian Waxwing, Weaselhead, January 21, 2017.īohemian Waxwings roost overnight in the Weaselhead in huge numbers but might be found there at any time of the day in winter.Ĭommon Redpoll, Weaselhead, January 8, 2017.Ĭommon Redpoll, Weaselhead, January 21, 2017.Īnother of our visiting winter finches, redpolls (common and Hoary) are here in small numbers this winter. Pine Grosbeaks are here in small numbers this winter and the Weaselhead is probably the best place to find them. Pine Grosbeak, male, Weaselhead, January 21, 2017. Pine Grosbeak, female/immature, Weaselhead, January 8, 2017. Pine Grosbeak, male, Weaselhead, January 8, 2017. Below are some birds and mammals of the Weaselhead photographed by Tony LePrieur. The Weaselhead is a great place for winter birds as it attracts the visiting winter finches as well as many of our resident birds, and it has a variety of mammals as well. Northern Saw-whet Owl, west Weaselhead, January 25, 2017. In the Weaselhead proper there have been sightings of a Northern Pygmy Owl, Great Horned Owls, and a Northern Saw-whet Owl this month. The Barred Owl is usually seen on the north-facing slope of South Glenmore Park just above the Weaselhead. Many local birders have been heading down to the Weaselhead Nature Area recently to see several owl species, notable a Barred Owl, which is a species not often seen in the city.īarred Owl, Weaselhead (South Glenmore Park), January 24, 2017.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |