Return to the Prairies: Birding Alberta 2026 - Three Day Tune Up

Eastern Warbling Vireo was my lone lifer for the period

After a five‑hour, turbulence‑filled flight from Barbados to Toronto, followed by an eight‑hour overnight stretch in Pearson International Airport and then another nearly four‑hour flight to Calgary—also marked by turbulence—I finally arrived on the morning of July 30, carrying more jet lag than I can ever remember. After a short nap, I launched into three intense days of birding in Fish Creek Provincial Park, to lock down the common birds but also to get acclimatize. I averaged over 11,000 steps per day and recording sixty‑four species. Fifty‑two of those were new for the year, and one, the Eastern Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus), was a lifer.

Red‑necked Grebe my bird favorite day 1 bird

The afternoon of Day One found me shaking off the last of the jet lag and heading out around the pond and wooded area at Fish Creek – Burnmead. No lifers turned up, but Merlin, which I always keep running while birding, repeatedly detected a Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). I searched the area thoroughly but never managed to see it. Over the next three days, the app continued to pick up Hermit Thrushes at various points, yet not once did I lay eyes on one. Yes — Hermit Thrush officially became my nemesis bird for this trip. Still, the afternoon was rewarding. I saw several nice species, with my favorite being the Red‑necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena). This Alberta trip is as much about wildlife photography as birding, so each day I’ll be posting a fine‑art photograph on my Fine Art IG page, along with a few species images on my regular birding page. Subscribe to see my selections.

1. My day 1 image of the day was of a Savannah Sparrow, which I captured in here - and additional images here & here

Day Two was when the real walking began. I covered just over four miles, birding from Fish Creek – Burnmead down to the Boat Launch and back. My favorite birds of the day were a Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) and a Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula). And, in the same spot where I found the Swainson’s, Merlin once again recorded a Hermit Thrush. I searched, I waited, I circled back… nothing. At this point, I had to laugh.

1. My day 2 image of the day was of another Sparrow, this time, Clay-colored Sparrow with a mouth full of bugs.  You can see it here - and additional images here & here

Day Three was just as much walking as birding. I worked one side of the Bow River, followed the trail along the golf course, crossed over at the Chinook Rotary Park pedestrian bridge, and made my way back up to Burnmead. It turned out to be a productive route, adding several species to my year list. On this occasion, Merlin didn’t just detect a Hermit Thrush — it also picked up a Slender‑billed Gull. I searched for both, but neither materialized. The highlight of the day, however, was a Common Loon (Gavia immer) flying overhead, calling as it passed. 

1. My day 3 image is a Landscape image of the sunrise at Burnmead Pond.  You can see it here - and additional images here & here.

These first three days in Calgary should set the tone for the trip — long walks, steady birding, and a mix of familiar species, year additions, and stubborn nemesis birds that refused to show themselves. Between the birds, the landscapes, and the photography, Alberta continues to be one of the most rewarding places I’ve ever explored.

If you enjoy following along, subscribe to my blog and Instagram pages to see each day’s fine‑art photo selection and additional bird images throughout the trip. More adventures — and hopefully fewer nemesis birds — are on the way.

Return to the Prairies: Birding Alberta 2026 - Day 3 (August 1st)- Images

 

Eastern Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) Lifer!! 

The ubiquitous - Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)

Northern Yellow Warbler

 (Setophaga aestiva

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)

Return to the Prairies: Birding Alberta 2026 - Day 2 (July 31st)- Images

Return to the Prairies: Birding Alberta 2026 - Day 1 (July 30th) - Images

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

Sora (Porzana carolina)

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)

Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)

Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

From Barbados to Beyond: Chasing 300 Birds (updated July 03)

#64/130. Brown Noddy, lifer #181/442

It’s been a while since I last shared an update on my chase to 300 species, and things have been moving along slowly but surely. Since my last report, the count now stands at 78 species here in Barbados and 140 worldwide. The real push is coming soon: on July 29th I’ll be heading to Canada, and I’m hoping to add more than 120 species during that trip.  If all goes well, this adventure will bring me close to the 300 mark, the milestone I’ve been chasing all year. Numbers aside, it’s the experiences behind them that make the journey worthwhile, and I’m looking forward to sharing those moments as they unfold.

Key: Rare birds; Barbados Purple lifer; W.I Lifers; World Lifer; World total * Rare for the time of year

Alberta Trip August 2026

A Bald Eagle @ Fish Creek Provincial Park in August 2024

This August I’ll be returning to Alberta, a journey I’ve been eagerly anticipating. It’s a chance to reconnect with family, rekindle friendships, and immerse myself once more in the sweeping prairie vistas—and, of course, the birds. Calgary remains one of my favorite places on earth, with Fish Creek Provincial Park playing a central role in that affection. This will be my third visit, following trips in 2019 and 2024, during which I recorded 154 species, 102 of them lifers.

I’ll be based in Calgary for just under four weeks, with a brief detour to Edmonton. To prepare, I’ve already subscribed to the eBird rare bird alerts, with a daily update, and begun mapping routes by bus and train to hotspots like Carburn Park and the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. It will be great also to see my friends and birding pals John and Keith. This year carries extra significance: I’m aiming to reach 300 species in a calendar year for the first time, so every sighting matters, so as the weeks turn to days, I will also subscribe to ebird's Need Alert. Yet there are a few special birds I hope to encounter. Knowing this may be my last Canadian trip for a while, I intend to savor every moment—whether it’s watching birds, photographing wildlife, or capturing the beauty of insects, flowers, and landscapes.

Head over to our "Birding Abroad" to follow my progress on the trip's home page, from preparation to trip conclusion.

ABC Islands: Aruba (February 11, 2026)

Sooty Tern

Aruba was our last stop in the ABC Islands, and even before I was fully awake, I managed to add a new bird to the trip list. My mornings at sea follow a simple ritual: step out onto the balcony with a cup of coffee and a few of the ship’s complimentary cookies, breathe in the fresh air, and watch the sunrise. On this particular morning, a quiet surprise awaited me—a Sooty Tern (Onychoprion fuscatus) resting calmly on one of the lifeboats. I checked it carefully for any signs of injury, but it seemed perfectly fine, simply pausing to rest. I left it be, grateful for the unexpected encounter. For Aruba, my wife had set herself the ambitious goal of climbing all 600 steps of Hooiberg, a high point in the center of the island. My mission was simpler: to find the Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia), known locally as the Shoco. Reports suggested that sightings often occurred near Hooiberg, so our plan was straightforward—she would tackle the climb, and I would bird the surroundings, keeping my eyes peeled for owls. We were among the first passengers off the ship when it docked at Oranjestad, and within minutes we were in a taxi heading toward Hooiberg. The driver was warm and talkative, and when he learned of my quest, he surprised me by saying he knew exactly where I could find a Shoco—guaranteed. He promised to take us there after our Hooiberg adventure. Intrigued but skeptical, I still intended to search on my own while my wife climbed.

Venezuelan Troupial @ Hooiberg

Looking up at the endless steps, I knew I had made the right decision to avoid the full climb. Still, peer pressure nudged me to go partway, and I managed about a quarter of the ascent before stopping to enjoy the view. The slopes were dry and dominated by cacti and acacia trees. Bare‑eyed Pigeons (Patagioenas corensis) were the most numerous, but I also spotted a Venezuelan Troupial (Icterus icterus) and a lively Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola). After descending, I wandered toward the nearby Aruba Water Park, birding along the way. I strayed off the path into the shrubs, which rewarded me with my closest look yet at a Blue‑tailed Emerald (Chlorostilbon mellisugus) —a dazzling hummingbird, though sadly I couldn’t capture a photo. From the steps I had noticed a pond not far away, so I made my way there next. Unfortunately, it was quiet, with no birds present, and my search for the Shoco remained fruitless. The taxi driver’s promise now felt like a lifeline.

Momma Burrowing Owl at Casibari Rock Formations

True to his word, the driver later took us to the Casibari Rock Formations, a popular attraction with striking boulders and plenty of visitors. He led us along a trail to a fenced‑off area, and to our delight, there were five Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) owlets huddled together. Nearby, a parent perched watchfully in a tree. I was elated—finally, the Shoco! A lifer at last.

White‑cheeked Pintail @ Bubali Bird Sanctuary

Afterward, we headed back to the ship. I was eager to check on the Sooty Tern and was pleased to find it gone—no longer perched on the lifeboat. I imagined it had regained its strength and flown off. But my birding wasn’t finished yet. I arranged for the taxi to take us to another hotspot—the Bubali Bird Sanctuary. My son Jason joined me, and almost immediately on the trail we heard the familiar call of a Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis), the second one for the trip. Beneath a tree at the trail entrance was a group of domestic Muscovy Ducks (Cairina moschata), but among them I picked out two more firsts for the trip: White‑cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis) and Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus).

Aruba added one lifer and nine species to the trip checklist, bringing the grand total to 63 species—including five lifers. A fitting finale to a memorable journey to the ABC Islands - Bonaire, Curaçao and Aruba.

The Stats:

Day's New Birds for the Trip:                 Trip Species Tally: 63
Day's New Lifer(s):   1                          Trip Lifer Tally: 5

New species for the trip: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, White-cheeked Pintail, Blue-winged Teal, Purple Gallinule, Sooty Tern, Neotropic Cormorant, Burrowing Owl, Peregrine Falcon, Shiny Cowbird

Home | Bonaire | Curaçao | Trip Report