Red-bellied Woodpecker!!!

On March 19, Milt Spitzer, Phil Cram, and Mike Mulligan reported a Red-bellied Woodpecker in Etzikom Alberta, southwest of Medicine Hat. I believe that this is the third record for Alberta; the last one was in High River in the winter of 2011/2012. I tried for that bird on two separate occasions and missed it both times even though I think every other birder in Alberta got it... All that means is that I had to get this bird!

If I didn't have a huge test later on in the week I would have gone the next morning but since I did I called up Mack Fai and decided to make a full day trip of it, but had to wait until Saturday March 23. That morning I met up with Mack and Kristen Mancuso. Kristen is new to the province and had a few species that she hoped to pick up.

We met up around 11am because Mack needs his beauty sleep and headed on the road. About 10km north of Etzikom we picked up our first and only Northern Shrike of the day. When we got into Etzikom we drove right to the house with the feeder that the bird had been frequenting and immediately saw a woodpecker fly over our heads but none of us got a good enough view to say it was THE bird for sure. We decided to drive around the three roads in the town and eventually ended up walking even though it was bitterly cold. Kristen is from Ontario and said she was familiar with the Red-bellied's call and as we were discussing what the bird sounded like a very distinct call cut through the cold air! All three of us yelled THERE IT IS! Sure enough, there was the Red-bellied Woodpecker halfway up a tree about a block away. We all got good views and attempted to get pictures. The bird eventually flew back to the feeders and we followed in Mack's car. The owners of the house were waiving frantically in the window and pointing to the bird so we gave them the thumbs up. Mission Accomplished!

Red-bellied Woodpecker, Etzikom, Alberta. Photo by Mack Fai. 

We decided to drive south to Pakowki Lake on the 885, but that section was frozen over so we decided to head west and see if there was open water north of the hutterite colony. On our way there a Western Meadowlark flew across the road and landed on a fence post. This was a lifer for Kristen and put on a show by singing right on cue. When we arrived at the lake there was a good number of Canada Geese, Tundra Swans, Northern Pintail, and Mallards. There were also a couple Northern Shovelers, a few American Wigeon, Common Goldeneye, half a dozen Cackling Geese and a single Male Hooded Merganser. 
After searching through the flock we decided to continue down the 885, drive the south side of Pakowki and head back north through Manyberries. We saw at least 12 Rough-legged Hawks, and 4 Bald Eagles, but more importantly managed to find 1 Golden Eagle and 3 Ferruginous Hawks which were also lifers for Kristen. We saw at least 5 Coyotes and herds of both Mule Deer and Pronghorn. 

Ferruginous Hawk on Highway 501. Photo by Mack Fai. 

Just before we were back in Medicine Hat we realized that we had missed on of our main targets, Sharp-tailed Grouse, so we turned down a side road that Mack and I had seen some on a few weeks before. Within a kilometer we found 7 on the road but what was more exciting was the three Porcupines in the tree next to them! 

Porcupines! Taken with my Yashica FX-3

Mack and Kristen watching the not so cuddly critters. 

We spent a few minutes taking pictures and yeah, we all touched one just to prove we could... Then we headed home and I took a well deserved nap!

I'm hoping to do quite a bit of birding over Easter so stay tuned!