SUMMER 2009 37 Ninth Report of the Bird Record Committee BY JOCELYN HUDON, RICHARD KLAUKE, RICHARD KNAPTON, M. ROSS LEIN, JOHN RIDDELL, BRIAN RITCHIE AND RAY WERSHLER

The past year (2008) produced The bird was fi rst identifi ed by Gulls, Glaucous-winged Gulls, not only fi rsts for Alberta, but David Sibley after he received Eastern Bluebirds and Indigo also one for Canada! Indeed, a series of pictures from Cathy Buntings from the back-log of the documentation of a Lucy’s Mountain, the sole observer of unadjudicated records from the Warbler (Vermivora luciae) in the bird (for a full account check 1980s and 1990s. a yard in Fort McMurray (of all http://sibleyguides.blogspot. Finally, the provincial list is places!) in November becomes com/2008/11/how-many-rare- amended to bring it in line with the fi rst confi rmed report of the birds-did-we-miss-before.html). the 49th supplement to the species in Canada. This is an The past year also saw the American Ornithologists’ Union’s incredible record considering addition of Pygmy Nuthatch “Check-list of North American that the species breeds in (Sitta pygmaea) to the provincial Birds” (Banks et al. 2008). This the dense lowland riparian list, after a few previous reports entailed altering the generic mesquite woodlands of the failed to meet the standard for a assignment and sequence of hot lower Sonoran desert of provincial fi rst. The Offi cial List of genera and species of gulls the southwestern United States the birds of Alberta now stands at in the subfamily Larinae. The and northwestern Mexico, and 415 species. scientifi c names of the following winters in a narrow band along species become: Bonaparte’s the Pacifi c slope of Mexico Since publication of the Eighth Gull (Chroicocephalus (Johnson et al. 1997). The Report (Hudon et al. 2008), the philadelphia), Little Gull possibility that the bird received Alberta Bird Record Committee (Hydrocoloeus minutus) and some assistance on its travels (ABRC) has reviewed and reached Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus to Alberta was ruled as highly decisions on 87 records, including pipixcan). improbable by the Committee. multiple sightings of Iceland

RECORDS ACCEPTED

Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii), Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris Lake, near St. Paul; 5 November 1992; Glenmore Reservoir, Calgary; 14 – 19 acuminata), Namaka Lake; 25 – 26 1 photograph (Richard Klauke). Photo November 2007; written report (Ray September 1995, 6 October 1995; written courtesy of “WildBird General Store” Wershler), 2 digital images (Bill Walker). reports (Olga Droppo, Andrew Slater, John B. (). CODE 1 RECORD. Ovans’ CODE 1 RECORD. Steeves). CODE 2 RECORD. Trapper’s Lake; 4 slough, NW of Cochrane; 25 October 2006; August 1997; written report (Fred Whiley). written report (Jerry Pilny). CODE 3 RECORD. Snowy Egret (Egretta thula), Clear Lake; 24 CODE 3 RECORD. May 2003; written report (Gilles Turcotte Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnea), ranch along fi de Teresa Dolman). From the fi les of “The Ruff (Philomachus pugnax), sloughs along Montagneuse River, W of Hines Creek; 17 Atlas of Breeding Birds of Alberta. A Second RR284 just S of TR231 SE of Shepard; 16 January 2008; multiple [22] digital images Look”. CODE 3 RECORD. Weed Lake, Calgary; August 2007; 1 digital image posted on (Curt & Patty Hale). CODE 1 RECORD. 7 July 2007; 3 digital images posted on Albertabird Yahoo! website (Randy Kimura). Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides), Clover Bar Albertabird Yahoo! website (Reid Barclay). CODE 1 RECORD. landfi ll, Edmonton; 17 October 2000; 1 slide CODE 1 RECORD. Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius), (Randal Hoscheit). CODE 1 RECORD. Cold Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Calgary; 12 Lake; 12 November 2005; digital images Muriel Lake; 30 May 2008; written report August 1990; 1 slide (Ken Rose). Photo posted on Albertabird Yahoo! website and 1 image (Roy Schmelzeisen and Velma courtesy of “Inglewood Bird Sanctuary” (Richard Klauke [1], Ted Hindmarch [1]). Hudson). CODE 1 RECORD. (Calgary). CODE 1 RECORD. Therien CODE 1 RECORD. Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, 38 NatureAlberta

RECORDS ACCEPTED…continued

Calgary; 29 March 2008; 2 digital images CODE 1 RECORD. Wakamao Lake, near posted on “fl ickr” [http://www.fl ickr.com/ (Brian Elder) and written report (Brian Clyde; 3 June 2007; 2 images (Gerald photos/mama_lumen/2814892348/] Elder, Ray Woods and Bob Storms). CODE Romanchuk). CODE 1 RECORD. Astotin (Eduardo Matoud). CODE 1 RECORD. 1 RECORD. Near Crowchild Trail bridge, Lake, ; 16 May Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio), Calgary. 1 April 2008; written report 2008; 1 image (Terry Thormin). CODE 1 Strathcona Island Park and Police Point (Hank Vanderpol). Possibly the bird seen RECORD. Park, Medicine Hat; from 9 April to at a few days earlier. CODE 3 RECORD. Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas least 27 December 2007, 14 April 2008, Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fasciata), Ogden neighbourhood, Calgary; then again in September 2008; written fuscus), Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, fi rst half of May 1999; 1 image (Bill reports with images (Milt Spitzer [3], Joan Calgary; 2 May 2007; brief description Walker). CODE 1 RECORD. Lakeview & Malcolm McDonald [2]), several images posted on Albertabird and 8 digital district, Calgary; 31 July – 5 August (Gord Court [1], Ken Havard [1], Richard images (Doug Faulder). CODE 1 RECORD. 2002; 3 images (Donna & William Klauke), description of song (Phil Horch). Lentjes). CODE 1 RECORD. Brule (hamlet); CODE 1 RECORD. Probably of the same Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus 29 April 2007; written report (Bob and bird; only the description of the song glaucescens), Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Linda Morgan) and 2 images (Beth identifi es the species. Calgary; 9 May 1984; written reports MacCallum). CODE 1 RECORD. Vermilion; (John B. Steeves, Doug Collister). CODE 2 Lewis’s Woodpecker (Melanerpes 4 – 16 June 2007; 2 images (Greg & RECORD. Carburn Park; 3 – 5 November lewis), atlas square PG61; 18 May Christine Smith). CODE 1 RECORD. 1984; written reports (R.W. Storms, John 1989; 1 photograph (Ken Lange). From B. Steeves). CODE 2 RECORD. Inglewood Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia the fi les of the fi rst “Atlas of Breeding Bird Sanctuary, Calgary; 17 – 22 April decaocto), about 16 km S of Grassy Birds of Alberta”. CODE 1 RECORD. S of 1985; written reports (Andrew Slater, Lake; 28 February 2005; written report Bragg Creek; 20 – 26 May 1991; written Doug Collister). CODE 2 RECORD. Clover (Lloyd Bennett). CODE 3 RECORD. Village description (Ross Dickson). From the fi les Bar landfi ll, Edmonton; 9 November of Grassy Lake; 8 June 2005; written of the fi rst “Atlas of Breeding Birds of 1998; 3 slides (Randal Hoscheit). CODE 1 report (Lloyd Bennett). CODE 3 RECORD. Alberta”. CODE 3 RECORD. Windy Point, RECORD. Inglewood Bird Sanctuary; 6 – 9 Fort Macleod; 19 June 2005; written W of Turner Valley; 25 June 2006; 1 May 2000; written report (M. Ross Lein report (Teresa and Douglas Dolman). image (Bill Walker). CODE 1 RECORD. S and Valerie A. Haines). CODE 3 RECORD. From the fi les of “The Atlas of Breeding of Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park; 25 Cold Lake landfi ll; 27 May 2002; digital Birds of Alberta. A Second Look”. CODE May 2007; video posted at http://www. image posted on Albertabird Yahoo! 3 RECORD. Near Taber; 19 October 2005; webfoundations.com/webfx/RareBirds/ website (Ted Hindmarch). CODE 1 written report (Lloyd Bennett). CODE Lewis’s%20Woodpecker.wmv (Brooke RECORD. Inland Cement ponds along 3 RECORD. Several birds, Claresholm; Clibbon). CODE 1 RECORD. 170 Street, Edmonton; 1 – 2 May 2006; observed since 2005; written report (Ruth Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus 2 digital images (Terry Thormin). CODE 1 and Jason Attwell) with 4 photographs ruber), Banff, ; 24 RECORD. (Grace Norgard). CODE 1 RECORD. April 2008; 3 images (Jim Davies). CODE Several (5) birds, Taber; 17 February Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea), 8 – 1 RECORD. 2007 (“Great Backyard Bird Count”); 6 9 adults and three nests with eggs images (Sharon Solvey). CODE 1 RECORD. Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile within the Athabasca Dunes Ecological W Edmonton; 1 April 2007; written rufescens), near Cameron Falls, Waterton Reserve (in extreme NE Alberta) on 19 report and 1 image (Terry Thormin). Lakes National Park; 28 September 2008; June 2000; there were four, possibly CODE 1 RECORD. High River; fi rst week written report (Ray Wershler). CODE 3 fi ve, nests with eggs at the site that of April 2007 to at least 17 April, 2007, RECORD. year (Thomas and Carroll 2001); 2 also, 8 March 2008; multiple images images (Bob Carroll). CODE 1 RECORD. (Sitta pygmaea), (Robert Parker [5]; Eduardo Matoud Pygmy Nuthatch Kinosoo Beach, Cold Lake; 28 August Mountain View; 2 to about 10 October [6] posted athttp://www.fl ickr.com/ 2003; multiple [8] images captured 2008; written report (Nancy West) and photos/mama_lumen/). CODE 1 RECORD. from video (Richard Klauke). CODE 1 several images (Nancy West [4], Ken Acreage between Airdrie and Irricana; RECORD. Eagle Lake, SE of Strathmore; Havard [1]; Malcolm McDonald [1]). CODE 17 May 2008; 1 image posted at http:// 18 – 19 July 2005; written report with 4 1 RECORD. First documented occurrence in talkaboutwildlife.ca/photos/d/6034-1/ photographs (Brian Ritchie, Malcolm & the province. Eurasian+Collard+Dove.JPG (Douglas Joan McDonald). CODE 1 RECORD. At the McQueen). CODE 1 RECORD. Pair (Sialia sialis) NE of weir on the Lesser Slave River N of town Eastern Bluebird in Ralston; 3, 4 and 9 June 2008; Blackfalds ( Management of Slave Lake; 5 – 8 September 2005; written report (Robin Bloom, Beverly Area); late June to at least 23 July 4 images captured from video (Richard Gingras, Brenda Dale). CODE 3 RECORD. 1991, when the only young fl edged; Klauke). CODE 1 RECORD. Chestermere Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Calgary; Lake; 2 – 6 September 2006; several written report (Ross D. Dickson) and 2 30 August 2008; 1 image posted on images (Bill Walker [3]; Reid Barclay [2]). photographs (D. Murray Mackay). CODE Albertabird Yahoo! website, another 1 RECORD. Pair S of Ponoka; from 25 SUMMER 2009 39

RECORDS ACCEPTED…continued

May to at least 2 July 1998 (raised 1 or 2 Western Bluebird (Sialia currucoides), Eastern Towhee (Pipilo young); 4 photographs (Murray Mackay). along Hwy 541 W of the Eden Valley erythrophthalmus), Red Deer; fi rst half of CODE 1 RECORD. Pair about 10 km E of access Rd., near Longview; 6 and January 2009; several images (G. Murray Millet; from 3 July to at least 24 July 1998; 8 March 2005; image posted on [3], Bill Heinsen [1], Richard Klauke [1]). raised 3 young; 1 photograph of male Albertabird Yahoo! website (Reid CODE 1 RECORD. (Linda Morgan). CODE 1 RECORD. Aitkens Barclay), and written report with 2 Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) Acres, near Redwater; summer of 1998; 1 images (Joan & Malcolm McDonald). North Glenmore Park, Calgary; 15 July photograph (Bob Carroll). CODE 1 RECORD. CODE 1 RECORD. W from the access to 1988; written report (F.J. Walker). CODE Family, including 2 fl edglings, near Turner Eden Valley, near Longview; 25 – 26 May 3 RECORD. Beaverhill Lake; 24 May Valley; 13 – 15 September 1998; written 2007; written report (Jim H Davis). CODE 1990; 1 slide (Edgar T. Jones). CODE 1 report with drawings (Lynn Vogt). CODE 3 RECORD. RECORD. Near Dewinton; 25 May 1994; 3 RECORD. Near Lindbrook, W of Tofi eld; Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus), written report (Allan Shoults). CODE 3 from 22 April to at least 7 June 1999; W of Rolling Hills; 21 May 2006; written RECORD. Jasper, ; several slides (Randal Hoscheit) and image report with 1 image plus 2 close-ups 23 and 24 May 1997; 2 images (Gord captured from video (Richard Klauke). (Simone Marler). CODE 1 RECORD. Ruddy). CODE 1 RECORD. Near Knight CODE 1 RECORD. Pair and nest with eggs Lake, Waterton Lakes National Park; 8 in the Cypress Hills; 6 – 7 June 2000; Lucy’s Warbler (Vermivora luciae), Fort June 1998; written report (Burke Korol). 5 images captured from video (Richard McMurray; 8 – 10 November 2008; CODE 3 RECORD. Devon; 13 – 15 May Klauke). CODE 1 RECORD. Female near 7 images (Cathy Mountain). CODE 1 2003; written report with 6 photographs Madden, NE of Cochrane; 13 and 21 June RECORD. First documented occurrence in (Shirley Hayday). CODE 1 RECORD. 2004; written report with 2 photographs the province and the country!. Claresholm; 24 May 2008; written report (Rob Worona). CODE 1 RECORD. Near (Jason Attwell); 3 photographs (Rob Empress; from 12 June 2004 for about Yellow-throated Warbler (Dendroica Macodrum). CODE 1 RECORD. three weeks; brief written report (Laura dominica), Medicine Hat; 7 November 2008; 4 images (Pat Harding). CODE 1 O’Connor). CODE 3 RECORD. Pair nesting at Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla), E RECORD. Stoney Mountain, near Anzac; discovered Drumheller; 4 – 5 May 2008; written on 9 July 2006, also seen on 16 July Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrina), report with several [5] photos (Lena and 2006; fl edged at least 2 young; written Cave and Basin, Banff National Park; Dennis Braman, Jim McCabe). CODE 1 report with several [6] images (Dawn Hall 10 June 2008; brief written description RECORD. and Jane Elser). CODE 1 RECORD. Along posted on bcintbird Yahoo! group (Chris Eagle Butte Road, S of Medicine Hat, W of Charlesworth). CODE 3 RECORD. Elkwater; 29 June 2008; 1 image (Gerald Romanchuk). CODE 1 RECORD.

RECORDS INSUFFICIENTLY DOCUMENTED ERROR IN IDENTIFICATION

Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii), Red Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis), female Grey-headed Chickadee (Poecile Deer; 3 October 2003; written report (Helga near Dewberry, NE of Vermilion; 30 cinctus), acreage W of Rocky Mountain Sinton). From the fi les of “The Atlas of April – 30 July 2000; paired with male House; 25 December 2008; brief Breeding Birds of Alberta. A Second Look”. Mountain Bluebird; fl edged one young; description on bcbirdingvanisland Yahoo! written report and 3 photographs (Iris group and written report (Neil Robins). Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), & Ralph Davies). Hybrid could not be second Vermilion Lake, Banff National Park; ruled out. 27 October 2007; written report (Jerry Pilny and Alan Fishkin). Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea), NE Calgary; June 1989; brief description Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus), (W.T. Korolyk). Along Hwy 533, about Chestermere Lake; 23 September 2008; 20 km W of Nanton; 2 December 2006; brief description (Terry Korolyk, transcribed description in posting on Albertabird by Mike Mulligan). “Yahoo” (Bill Wilson). Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe), Moraine Lake, Banff National Park; 16 June 2008; written report (Pat and Jim Woodford). The authors are members of the Alberta Bird Record Committee, chaired by Jocelyn Hudon, Curator of Ornithology at The Royal Alberta Museum. 40 NatureAlberta

Literature Cited Hudon, J., R. Klauke, R. Knapton, M.R. Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of Banks, R.C., R.T. Chesser, C. Cicero, Lein, J. Riddell, B. Ritchie and R. North America Online: http://bna.birds. J.L. Dunn, A.W. Kratter, I.J. Wershler. 2008. Eighth Report of cornell.edu/bna/species/318 Lovette, P.C. Rasmussen, J.V. the Alberta Bird Record Committee. Thomas, R.G. and B. Carroll. 2001. Remsen, Jr., J.D. Rising, D.F. Nature Alberta 38(2):28-31. Preliminary bird inventory for three Stotz, and K. Winker. 2008. Johnson, R.R., H.K. Yard and B.T. Wildland Provincial Parks (and their Forty-ninth supplement to the Brown. 1997. Lucy’s Warbler environs) in Northeast Alberta. Prepared American Ornithologists’ Union (Vermivora luciae), The Birds for Parks and Protected Areas Division, Check-list of North American of North America Online (A. Alberta Community Development. Birds. Auk 125:758-768. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Edmonton, Alberta. 57pp.

THE CODE DEFINITIONS REPORTED ARE:

ACCEPTED, CODE 1. Records supported by material identity, and which receive fi ve favourable to eliminate all other possibilities, or to evidence, i.e. specimens, identifi able body parts, votes and no dissenting vote. A Code 3 is support conclusively the identifi cation of identifi able photographs or sound recordings, the minimum for inclusion in the offi cial the species as presented. Placement in this whose origin from within the borders of Alberta provincial list. category should in no way be interpreted is in no doubt, that are accompanied by written ACCEPTED, CODE 4. Sight records by single as a refl ection on the veracity of the reports of the circumstances of the observation. observers that receive four favourable votes observation, but should be looked upon as an ACCEPTED, CODE 2. Sight records (without and no more than one dissenting vote. For encouragement to substantiate occurrence of supporting material evidence) by multiple record adjudication purposes, such a record the species in the province more fully. observers that are supported by written is acceptable, but does not pass the more ERROR IN IDENTIFICATION. Records that are descriptions that leave no doubt as to the species stringent requirements for inclusion on the not supported by the documentation available identity. A Code 1 or 2 sighting must receive four offi cial provincial list. A list of species that to the committee, or that describe another favourable votes and no more than one dissenting have no higher than a Code 4 record may be species from that suggested. vote to be accepted. published as an appendix to the offi cial list. QUESTIONABLE ORIGIN. Records that concern ACCEPTED, CODE 3. Sight records by single INSUFFICIENTLY DOCUMENTED. Records species that are of questionable origin, observers that are supported by a written supported by material evidence or written possibly escapees, and whose wild status description that leaves no doubt as to species descriptions that are not detailed enough cannot be determined accurately.

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