Alberta 2026 - Preparation & Goals

American Golden Finch,
 Fish Creek Provincial Park, 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.

Contents

• First Days - July 30 - August 1st
• Week 1 - August 2nd - 8th
• Week 2 - August 9th - 15th
• Week 3 - August 16th - 22nd

Goals:

• Over 120 yearbirds
• Over 20 lifers
• Photograph as many bird species as possible
• Photograph mammals, flowers and insects

Targeted Bird Species

• Sandhill Crane – iconic prairie bird, a must‑see. A bucketlist bird
• Between my last visit and now, the Warbling Vireo was split into two species. A because they ranges interlap in Calgary I “lost” my one lifer, but this trip gives me the chance to see both—the Western and the Eastern.
• Western Warbling Vireo – the more common form in Alberta.
• Eastern Warbling Vireo – rarer cousin, a special target.
• Long‑billed Curlew – striking shorebird with its sweeping bill, probably at Frank's Lake
• Cinnamon Teal – a splash of color among Alberta’s wetlands.
• Gray Partridge – elusive upland game bird, often seen in agricultural fields.

Gear Packed

• Canon 7D Mark II
• Canon SL1
• Sigma 150‑600mm lens
• Canon 100-400mmL
• Tripod
• Vortex Diamondback binoculars
• Scope

 Beyond Birds

This trip isn’t just about lifers—it’s about reconnecting with family, rekindling friendships, and savoring Alberta’s sweeping prairie vistas. Every bird, every photograph, every walk through the parks will be a reminder of why Calgary remains one of my favorite places on earth.