Prairie Provinces

pring "came grudgingly" to southern Alberta (TK), was generally cool and wet with widespread late frosts in Saskatchewan (GK), and was interrupted in Manitoba by prolonged northerly winds in the first half of April and cool, wet weather in the second half of May.Migration was lackluster and late overall, though there were some early arrivals for dedicated observers, especially in the passefine "gravy'" for Mt.Lorette, Alberta raptor watchers.Several observers remarked on relatively sparse shorebird and warbler numbers.Only one major wave of Neotropical migrants was noted at Winnipeg 21 May.Rarities were sprinkled evenly but sparingly across the three provinces.WATERFOWL THROUGH RAPTORS A figure rarely used in these reports, one million or more Snow Geese were reported along the Souris R. in Saskatchewan 7 Apr (MB, CB) and at Davidson, SK the following day (GK).Trumpeter Swans, mostly first-year birds, made a good showing in se.Manitoba, with up to 6 near Brightstone 29-30 May (C&LB, ph.PT) and a probable 3 at Moose L. near Lake of the Woods about 20 May (fide RP).Early waterfowl arrivals included a Ross's Goose at Windygates, MB 22 Mar (PT, RK, A&DS) and 14 Northern Pintails near Taber, AB 5 Mar ß (LB).As usual, there were 25+ reports of Eurasian Wigeon in Alberta, including 211 at Pine Coulee Res. 31 Mar (TK).A male Smew photographed near Mountain View, AB 7 Apr (GKu) furnished a first provincial record, with the usual questions about provenance.Rare in spring in s.Alberta, 4 Pacific Loons visited Herbert L. in Banff N.P 24 May OH, fide JR).An American White Pelican was early at Taber 27 Mar (LB), as were 2 at Saskatoon, SK 4 Apr (NS), while one was far n. at Churchill 29 May (LM).A pair of Great Egrets returned to the Hastings L., AB breeding site in early May (fide JW), and one wsited Pense, SK 25 Apr (LS).A Catde Egret was found near Last Mountain Wildlife Refuge, SK 14 May (RD).An ad.Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was at Oak Hammock Marsh, MB 27 May (VR et al.).Four Turkey Vultures, including 3 on 30 Apr, was a high season's total at Mt. Lorette, with just nine previous records since 1993.Record seasonal and daily Bald Eagle totals were tallied at Windygates: 1267 between 5 Mar and 18 Apr, with a peak of 318 on 24 Mar (A&DS, m.ob.).About 60 Bald Eagles gathered to gorge on Richardson's Ground Squirrels at Pine Coulee Res.18 Mar, along with 200+ Common Ravens (TK).Three Redshouldered Hawks appeared ]n Manitoba: one near Whitemouth 25 Mar (ph.PT) and 2 at the St. Adolphe hawkwatch 30 Mar (BS, ACs).A good movement of Rough-legged Hawks included 26 near McTaggart, SK 15 Mar (VT, DT) and 80 in the Whitemouth-Hadashville area, MB 15 Apr (PT).The Golden Eagle total of 2141 at Mr. Lorette, AB was 35% below the 1993-2006 average, noted at Kitsira Res.near Brooks, AB 18 May OD).Black-necked Stilts made an excellent showing in Alberta, with 300+ estimated altogether (TK); 7 were found between four Saskatchewan locations (m.ob.).A pair at Reed L., SK already had 3 young 31 May, but Although there were at least three previous reports of Audubon's Warbler in Manitoba, this bird in Winnipeg on 2 May 2007 was the first one documented photographically.Photograph byBob McKoy.though coverage at 1019 hours was 20% above average (PS).The 91 Golden Eagles at Windygates 5 Mar-18 Apr (A&DS, m.ob.) comprised a new seasoh's record for that site.SHOREBIRDS THROUGH WOODPECKERS A fine total of 323 Black-bellied Plovers wasq s.Alberta (m.ob.), including 8 males at Fincasde L. 24 Mar (LB).Cinnamon Teal made a fair showing in Saskatchewan, with a pair in the Qu'Appelle Valley 29 Apr (BL) and singles 26 May at Nickle L. (VT, DT) and near Morse (MD, LD).Apparently changing their migration patterns in recent years, Greater Scaup were reported in large numbers throughout s.Red-shouldered Hawk is a less-than-annual visitor to Manitoba, so three birds documented in one season was above the norm.This bird was near Whitemouth on 25 March 2007.Photograph by Peter Taylor.last year's breeders did not return to Whitewater L., MB.The Whimbrel migration near Taber has become a regular feature of the Alberta birding calendar; this year, several large flocks totalled 1458 birds 12 May (LB, m.ob.).Elsewhere, 5 Whimbrels were noteworthy near Regina 24-25 May 0C, m.ob.), with a few scattered individuals in s.Manitoba (m.ob.).Almost annual in the Region, a Western Sandpiper visited Tyrrell L., AB i May (LB).Three California Gulls were early at Calgary 7 Mar (BB).Lesser Black-backed Gulls made a good showing at Calgary:.a second-cycle bird 18-22 Mar (RSt, m.ob.), 2 ads.14 Apr 0P, m.ob.) and single ads.29 Apr (TK) and 2 May (DF).An ad.Great Black-backed Gull paused at Grand Beach, MB 16-20 May (B&SS, ph.NSy).A first-cycle Iceland Gull visited Saskatoon 18-20 Apr (RJ, m.ob., ph.), and there was a possible Kumlien's at Calgary 28 Apr (TK).An Arctic Tern was a surprise visitor to Blackstrap L., SK 26 May (SS, JS).

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