Prairie Provinces 
Rudolf F. Koes 
Peter Taylor 
T emperatures were generally mild 
across the Region, with southern Al- 
berta in particular enjoying a pro- 
longed “Indian Summer.” It was dry, except 
for parts of Manitoba, which experienced 
heavy rains in August and early September. 
Some large bodies of water, such as Beaverhill 
Lake in Alberta and Reed Lake in 
Saskatchewan, were almost or completely dry. 
Shorebird habitat was at a premium. Al- 
though wintry weather arrived in Manitoba in 
early November, it did not become very cold, 
and initial snow accumulations were light. 
Farther west, there was virtually no snow on 
the ground. Outstanding highlights were 2 
Pygmy Nuthatches, a Lucy’s Warbler, and a 
Yellow-throated Warbler, all in Alberta. 
Abbreviations: L.M.B.O. (Last Mountain 
B.O., SK); RS.L. (Piitaistakis-South Living- 
stone, AB). 
GEESE THROUGH RAPTORS 
For the first time in years, large numbers of 
Snow Geese staged in se. Manitoba. For the 
3rd consecutive year, a Bewick’s Swan was in 
s. Alberta, this time an ad. at Clear L. 9 Nov 
(TK). Notable duck concentrations included 
90+ Wood Ducks at Grants L., MB 4 Sep (KG), 
2000 Gadwalls at Weed L., AB 12 Oct (ASl), 
and 30 Cinnamon Teal at the latter location 17 
Aug (RB). A single Cinnamon Teal at White- 
water L., MB 3 Aug was rare (CA et al). Scot- 
ers were in their lowest numbers in years, 
with 30+ Surfs reported in Alberta and only 5 
in Saskatchewan and 8 in s. Manitoba— and 
but a single Black Scoter in each province. No- 
table were 5+ Long-tailed Ducks in Kananask- 
is Country, AB 10-17 Nov (BW, ND) and up to 
4 Barrow’s Goldeneyes at Buena Vista Beach, 
SK 23 Oct-7 Nov (BL, SW). Clear L. hosted 
3000+ Common Goldeneyes 23 Nov and 
3000+ Ruddy Ducks 13 Sep (both TK). 
Balmy weather delayed the arrival of Rock 
Ptarmigan in the Churchill, MB area. Sharp- 
tailed Grouse are becoming a regular species 
near Churchill, with singles noted in town 31 
Oct (ph. EB) and at nearby Dymond L. 7 Nov 
(DF). Loons were scarce: single Red-throated 
Loons were at Last Mountain L., SK 19 Oct 
(BL), Hecla L, MB 23-30 Oct (ph. BSh), and 
Ghost Res., AB 20 Nov QM, MM), and just 4 
Pacific Loons were reported in Alberta 
(m.ob.). Baptiste L., AB held 65 Common 
Loons 7 Aug (DSt), and Yellow-billeds were at 
Diefenbaker Dam, SK 3 Oct (FR, m.ob.), 
Banff N.P., AB 26 Oct QP), and Pine Coulee 
Res., AB 23 Nov (TK). Peak Great Egret num- 
bers in Manitoba were 10 at Whitewater L. 5 
Aug (GG, RK, PT) and 20 in the Shoal Lakes 
area 21 Aug (RK, PT). One between Insinger 
and Sheho 29 Aug provided the only 
Saskatchewan sighting of the year (LdM). Up 
to 3 Snowy Egrets were at Whitewater L. 
Aug-Sep (CC, m.ob.). Outside of s. Alberta 
and Whitewater L., where White-faced Ibis 
are well established, singles were seen near 
Deleau, MB 4 Aug (CA et al.) and at Last 
Mountain Lake N.W.R. 20 Sep (G&RT). 
Reports of late, out-of-range Turkey Vul- 
tures at Churchill, 4 & 20 Oct, probably in- 
volved the same bird (ph. ES; SB). Diurnal 
raptors generated few re- 
ports: most noteworthy 
were 200+ Broad-winged 
Hawks at Windygates, MB 8 
Sep (LB), 86 Swainson’s 
Hawks along 3 km of road 
near Swift Current, SK 4 
Aug (LD, MD, RD), and a 
tardy Eerruginous Hawk at 
Irricana, AB 7 Nov (MC, 
BB). At the RS.L. raptor 
watch, 8059 raptors includ- 
ing 5127 Golden Eagles 
were tallied on 83 days, 25 
Aug-19 Nov (PSh et al.). 
The peak Golden Eagle 
count was 626 on 13 Oct 
(BWn), with 386 the same 
day at Mt. Lorette (DP), while 140 Northern 
Goshawks in Oct provided a new monthly 
high at RS.L. 
RAILS THROUGH WOODPECKERS 
Virginia Rail is a scarce species in Alberta, so 
reports of 3 ads. at Calling L. 6 Aug and 3 
juvs. at Charron L. 7 Aug (both DSt), plus 
one near Strathmore 4 Oct (RWo), were no- 
table. A Sora at Red Rock L., MB 2 63 : 4 Nov 
was very late QCh). Shorebirds elicited few 
comments, mainly because they were very lo- 
calized. A flock of 400 American Golden- 
Rlovers at Whitewater L. 18 Sep was one of 
the largest reported in recent years (CC). Two 
Semipahnated Rlovers at Whitewater L. 18 
Oct were very late (MY, MR), as were 24 
American Avocets at Whitewater L. 24 Oct 
(CC), a Greater Yellowlegs at Clear L. 9 Nov 
(TK), 5 Stilt Sandpipers at Oak Hammock 
Marsh, MB 15 Oct (RK), and a Long-billed 
Dowitcher at Weed L. 11 Nov (TK). A Ruff 
near Langdon, AB 10-11 Aug was the only 
real rarity (BS, m.ob.). 
Eive Sabine’s Gulls were reported in Alber- 
ta 6-27 Sep (m.ob.). A Little Gull was at 
Chestermere L., AB 23 Sep (TK); another vis- 
ited Buffalo Rt., MB 4-5 Oct (VR). Mew Gulls 
were prominent in Alberta, especially at Cal- 
gary, where 17+ were noted (TK et al.). A pos- 
sible Vega Herring Gull was at Calgary 22 
Nov (TK). Over 40 Thayer’s Gulls were tallied 
in Alberta, again mainly at Calgary (TK), 
while 4 were found at Wascana Marsh, SK 9- 
1 1 Nov (DS, BE, SW, BL) and one was at Vic- 
toria Beach, MB 16 & 27 Oct (ph. RRo; 
m.ob.). A large Calgary landfill site attracted 3 
different Lesser Black-backed Gulls, variously 
13 Oct-8 Nov, plus a Slaty-backed Gull 13 
Oct (all TK), Wascana Marsh, SK held an 
imm. Glaucous Gull 9 Nov and 2 ads. 14-17 
Nov (BL). A first-cycle Great Black-backed 
Gull visited Edmonton, AB 7-21 Nov (GR, 
m.ob., ph.). Two Caspian Terns at Eireweed 1. 
near Churchill 8-9 Aug were rare so far north 
(QP). A Parasitic Jaeger at RS.L. 10 Oct was a 
rare flyby (VM). 
Snowy Owl reports started to come in on 
18-19 Oct from across the s. prairies, much 
earlier than usual. There was a high propor- 
tion of juvs., and some of those in 
Saskatchewan were apparently weak. Num- 
bers remained fairly high into winter. Near 
Brooks, AB, 21 were counted in about 4 km of 
road on 15 Nov (JM, MM, JR), while 28 were 
nearby along 2 km of road 27 Nov (PS). 
Northern Hawk Owls were prominent in se. 
Manitoba (m.ob.), while 10 were tallied in the 
Chisholm, AB area 29-30 Nov (GR et al.). 
Dried-out Beaverhill L. continues to attract 
Turkey Vultures are rare at Churchill, Manitoba at any time of year, but this one, 
found 4 October 2008, was also quite late. Another Turkey Vulture there 20 October 
was probably the same bird. Photograph by Elaine Sinclair. 
VOLUME 63 (2009) 
NUMBER 1 
109 
