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Generally mild fall weather resulted in many larger water bodies, streams,Ìýand rivers remaining open into the early count period, which was conducive to the detection of waterfowl andÌýwaterbirds. Areas with less than average snow cover may have contributed to lower than usual numbers of birds at feeders. Counts conducted later in the period reported extremely cold temperatures, higher snowfall, and very little open water.  Ìý

Noteworthy records in the waterfowl department included bothÌýTrumpeterÌýandÌýTundra swans, oneÌýWood Duck,ÌýfiveÌýGadwall, and oneÌýNorthernÌýShoveler. Diving ducks included oneÌýCanvasbackÌýatÌýWabumunÌýLake, oneÌýGreaterÌýScaupÌýat Medicine Hat, oneÌýHarlequin DuckÌýat Calgary, and twoÌýRed-breasted MergansersÌýat Cold Lake.Ìý

Sharp-tailed GrouseÌýnumbers generally were low and only oneÌýWillow PtarmiganÌýwas counted this season. However,ÌýWild TurkeyÌýnumbers in southwestern Alberta continue to increase with a total of 120 counted.Ìý

OneÌýCommon LoonÌýat Cold Lake was a good find, as was aÌýDouble-crested CormorantÌýin Calgary. FourÌýgrebeÌýspecies were noted during the count period:ÌýPied-billedÌý(cw),ÌýHorned,ÌýRed-necked, andÌýWestern. Almost all (20) of the 21ÌýAmerican CootsÌýin the province were at Medicine Hat.ÌýÌý

OneÌýGreater YellowlegsÌýat Brule was the most notable shorebird species counted and high counts of four and threeÌýKilldeerÌýwere at Banff-Canmore and Calgary respectively. TwoÌýHerring GullsÌýwere at Cold Lake, as was one count weekÌýRing-billed Gull.ÌýÌý

One of only a handful ofÌýMourning DovesÌýwas a new species for Edmonton.ÌýEurasian Collared-DoveÌýnumbers continue to rise with 833 reported in the province. There were fiveÌýBelted KingfishersÌýreported in the province compared to only one last season.  Ìý

A total of 19ÌýSnowy OwlsÌýfrom 11 CBC circles were reported in Alberta, where the eruption noted further east was not experienced. All other owl species were detected in low to average numbers.ÌýÌý

Likely the rarest bird in the province,ÌýaÌýRed-bellied Woodpecker,ÌýwasÌýa new species for theÌýStrathconaÌýcount.ÌýStrathconaÌýalso had a high of twoÌýBlack-backed Woodpeckers, and threeÌýYellow-bellied SapsuckersÌýmaking it the winter woodpecker diversity capital of Alberta.ÌýÌý

Peregrine Falcon, an uncommon winter species, was reported at Dinosaur Provincial Park and Edmonton.  It was a good year forÌýGyrfalconsÌýwith eight reported compared to three last season. A singleÌýAmerican KestrelÌýwas at Medicine Hat.Ìý

CrowsnestÌýPass secured its position as theÌýAmerican DipperÌýcapital of Alberta, reporting 37 individuals. Banff-Canmore reported a respectable 26 dippers followed by seven at Jasper.ÌýÌý

OneÌýVaried ThrushÌýat FortÌýMacMurrayÌýwas out of range while the only others were singles at Banff-Canmore andÌýStrathcona. Banff-Canmore also contributed the highest count ofÌýTownsend’s SolitaireÌýwith 23 out of the 37 reported in the province.ÌýLapland LongspursÌýwere only reported in two circles, five of which were at Milk River.  The highest tallies ofÌýSnow BuntingsÌýcame from Snake’s Head (756), followed byÌýGreenshieldsÌýwith 608, and Cochrane Wildlife Reserve with 400.Ìý

Only oneÌýHarris’s SparrowÌýwas reported this season, a bird at Milk River, compared to four birds last year.ÌýNorthern CardinalsÌýwere reported from Athabasca with a single bird and two individuals atÌýStrachcona, where they had been absent in recent years.  WinteringÌýWhite-throated SparrowÌýnumbers were highest in the central part of Alberta with high counts of eight birds atÌýStrathconaÌýand five at Edmonton.Ìý

A total of 36ÌýRusty BlackbirdsÌýwere counted during the period, 23 of which were in Medicine Hat. A high count of 21ÌýRed-winged BlackbirdsÌýwas also reported from Medicine Hat while the only report ofÌýBrewer’s BlackbirdÌýwas a single bird at Lethbridge. WinterÌýCommon GrackleÌýrecords continue to increase with three birds at Fort McMurray, two at High River, and two at Hinton.Ìý

Conifer cones were not abundant in the foothills this season and some finches, particularly Red Crossbill were reported in low numbers. High River reported the highest number ofÌýCommon RedpollsÌý(1180) while an impressive total of 130ÌýHoary RedpollsÌýwere reported in 22 circles!ÌýAmerican GoldfinchesÌýwere scarce with single individual count day observations at Calgary and Lethbridge.ÌýÌý