Calgary, Alberta - Days 16 - August 16th (Last Day)

This was the rainiest, coldest day of them all,  about 9^oC with intermittent rain.  If it was not my last day in Canada, it would have been a day I stayed indoors, but I still have birds to see and places to explore.   So it was off to Mallard Point to see what the weather brought in, and unwisely without rain protection.  I got to the public area at 7:30 AM,  checked the area opposite the shrubs across from the car park before following the trail into the woods.  As I was walking a warbler flew to a dried tree branch and started foraging.  It was a

Townsend's Warbler  (Setophaga townsendi)!  I was so excited.  My excitement grew even more when I saw four chicken-like birds foraging on the ground, two adults and two chicks. I thought I hit the jackpot and scored Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix) but a closer examination said it to be Female Ring-necked Pheasants  (Phasianus colchicus).

On leaving the woods I continued to follow the trail adjacent to Diamond View SE.  I had my best looks at Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) and Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) along the path.  I also picked and ate my last Saskatoon Berries (Amelanchier alnifolia). Yummy!. By this time it was drizzling, but I continued along the path and took shelter under the Ivor Strong Bridge.  When the rain paused, I made my way back to Mallard Point. Along the way, the rain came pouring down. Needless to say, I was wet and cold when I arrived at the public area at Mallard, where I took shelter for more than an hour before heading home when the rain subsided.

Later that day I said goodbye to my friends, family, and to Calgary, a place I was reluctant to visit but has now taken a special place in my heart.  Until next time, see you Fish Creek, Burnsmead, and Mallard Point. At 12:20 AM, the morning of August 17^th, I boarded an Air Canada flight to Toronto, a 6-hour flight, then another 6 hours flying before I felt the warm 30^o C sunshine of Barbados on my face.

On my last day of birding, I added just one more bird to my tally. See the full checklist Here

Trip Tally

New Species for the Days: 1

New Lifers for the Days: 1

Total Species for the Trip: 105

Total Lifers for the Trip: 74

Townsend's Warbler 

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Gray Partridge

Baltimore Oriole

Spotted Sandpiper

American White Pelican

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Cedar Waxwing