The Enthusiastic Birder: June 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.

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