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Ganso Canadiense Mayor (Branta canadensis)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
This pair of geese were observed resting (after taking advantage of the nearby exposed grassy areas?) alongside the footpath around the eastern end of the Enmax Conservatory to the Dorothy Harvie Gardens at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo. Based upon the relative bill size and chinstrap (suggesting Canada vs Cackling goose to me), although these features combined with the relative size of the geese (body and neck) made me think that they might be examples of the "Lesser" Canada Goose subspecies (Branta canadensis ssp. parvipes)?
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Urraca de Hudson (Pica hudsonia)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
This magpie made a brief appearance inside the Red River Hogs exhibit, in the African Savannahs building of Destination Africa at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo. It flew in through the access door (visible in the background) to this perch, called a few times (over the period of a minute or two) and flew back outside again.
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Gorrión Doméstico (Passer domesticus)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
One (of many) groups of House Sparrows taking advantage of the habitat (indoors and outside) and feeding opportunities on the grounds and exhibits at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo. These sparrows were perched in plants along the visitor's walking ramp near the African crested porcupines, in the African Savannahs building of Destination Africa.
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Oligoquetos (Subclase Oligochaeta)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
A relatively large, robust dew worm (about 16-18 cm in length) with distinctive darker to light colouration from anterior to posterior, but not much else in terms of features (in contrast to my previous earthworm observation https://inaturalist.ca/observations/80535465). Also crawling across the sidewalk this morning after a wet rainy night.
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Lombrices de Tierra (Familia Lumbricidae)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
A relatively small (8-10 cm long) and narrow earthworm, with pink to grey colouration (particularly at the clitellum). Bears a resemblance to other worms that others have suggested to be Lumbricus terrestris, although the appearance seems quite different (e.g., with https://inaturalist.ca/observations/80536251) and looks more like the worms I find deep in the soil of the garden or the flower bed (substantial intraspecific variation or different species?). After a night with consistent light rainfall, it was observed crawling across a wet sidewalk.
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Catarina de Siete Puntos (Coccinella septempunctata)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
This lady beetle was perched among the buds, near the apex of a stem of new poplar growth. A couple of asymmetrical dark spots on the back of the left elytron initially made me think this might be a different species, but upon closer examination at the time (and then later in the photos) I suspect that the spots are the result of mechanical/chemical damage (possibly from ants guarding aphids, which seem pretty common on the new stem growth in this poplar grove).
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Subgénero LasiusObserv.
msnewelDescripción
A group of ants, which appeared to be shepherding a large aggregation of aphids (https://inaturalist.ca/observations/79435826) that were feeding on a fresh stem of poplar (about 1-1.5 m off the ground). Although they also seemed quite interested in a small amount of 'sap' that was on one of the leaves a short distance away from the aphids (so perhaps they were simply interested in the same food source the aphids were exploiting?).
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Pulgones (Familia Aphididae)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
A large aggregation of aphids, feeding on the new spring growth of a poplar tree (about 1-1.5 m off the ground). A group of ants seemed to be shepherding them (https://inaturalist.ca/observations/79436254), although perhaps they were also attracted to the flowing sap that the aphids were tapping into?
Observ.
msnewelDescripción
A very small, brown leaf beetle perched on the edge of a new poplar leaf. Unfortunately, the beetle dropped off the leaf and disappeared when I moved to reposition myself for a photo from the side (and closer).
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Ardilla Gris de Las Carolinas (Sciurus carolinensis)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
A melanistic gray squirrel foraging in the stand of poplars along the western edge of the University Research Park pond. A short time later the squirrel ran across 37th Street into the Varsity Village residential area.
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Ganso Canadiense Mayor (Branta canadensis)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
A pair of Canada geese in the recently filled pond in the NW corner of the University of Calgary Research Park. One of the pair was almost continuously 'dabble feeding' on the fresh pondweed on the bottom (the depth is only 50-100cm at maximum?), while its partner was standing sentry (I thought they might trade off...but that never happened while I was watching).
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Pato Norteño (Anas platyrhynchos)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
The pond at the NW corner of the University Research Park has finally been filled for the summer (some time between Friday morning and Sunday afternoon). Although thus far the most conspicuous inhabitants, on this cold wet day, are these four male mallard ducks.
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Carpintero Velloso-Menor (Dryobates pubescens)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
This little (male) woodpecker was observed moving from trunk to trunk foraging in the small grove of Poplars. Shortly after these photos were taken, this woodpecker joined by another (that appeared to be a female) flew into a small group of conifers on the small 'island' in the (still drained) University of Calgary Research Park pond. During the previous winter, I frequently observed a pair of Downy Woodpeckers in this grove of trees, although I can't be certain they were the same pair of (resident) birds.
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Mirlo Primavera (Turdus migratorius)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
A pair of American Robins were observed this morning, foraging in the accumulated leaf litter, at the edge of this grove of Poplars along the NW side of the (still drained) University of Calgary Research Park pond.
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Carbonero de Capucha Negra (Poecile atricapillus)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
On my way out of the park, I heard and then observed another pair of Black-capped Chickadees. There may have been more, I could certaily hear them down in the trees along with what sounded like House Finches. Again they approached very closely briefly, but rapidly retreated when they realized I wasn't going to be offering them any food.
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Arañas Lobo de Patas Delgadas (Género Pardosa)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
This interesting spider (in my rush to post this morning I'm embarrassed to say that I haven't even tried to classify it further) was one of many that I spotted (mostly very briefly, which is why this is the only one I've photographed) moving about in the leaf litter alongside the pathways in Dale Hodges and Bowmont Park. This individual rapidly moved from the litter onto the gravel road/path, which made it considerably easier to photograph. It even paused to pose on a couple of occasions, which I greatly appreciated! In terms of scale, in the final photograph the spider was kind enough to pause in the fresh tread mark of what appeared to be a pretty standard mountain bike.
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Carbonero de Capucha Negra (Poecile atricapillus)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
A small group of 4 or 5 Black-capped Chickadees were foraging in this section of woods between the pathway and the river. I heard them calling and they rapidly surrounded me when I wandered down a small path through the brush, although they quickly lost interest and moved on when they realized I wasn't going to be offering them any treats (which is why I've only photographed this one lingering and persistent individual).
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Gayuba (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
One of first bits of green that I've seen, the (what I have presumed to be) Bearberry plants are pretty dominant in places all along the riverbank and pathway network. There were even a few berries evident in places that have remained overwinter.
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Pato Norteño (Anas platyrhynchos)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
Four pairs (only 8 individuals, which is a few dozen less then I've seen here for the past few months) were resting and swimming around in the Nautilus Pond in Dale Hodges Park. One pair appeared to be diving, fully submerging for 20-30 seconds at time in between bouts of simply splashing in the water. In some of the open water wetland areas closer to the Bow River, there were higher densities of mallards (a few dozen at a time in places).
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Pato Chillón (Bucephala clangula)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
A pair of Common Goldeneye were foraging in the Nautilus Pond in Dale Hodges Park. The female was making frequent dives, while the male was predominantly keeping watch at the surface.
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Cuervo Norteamericano (Corvus brachyrhynchos)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
Two pairs of crows were observed interacting (I'm not sure if they were members of the same group or two competing pairs), but I could hear them calling back and forth and occasionally flying together before separating again (immediately north of Market Mall for at least a block west towards Bowmont Park).
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Carbonero de Capucha Negra (Poecile atricapillus)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
A solo Black-capped Chickadee foraging and calling intermittently among the branches of a number of bare trees and shrubs next to the entrance to the Core Research Facility in the University Research Park.
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Pato Norteño (Anas platyrhynchos)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
A pair of feeding mallards, taking advantage of the recent meltwater that has accumulated in the drained pond bed, in the University Research Park.
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Urraca de Hudson (Pica hudsonia)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
A small flock of 6 or 7 magpies have been foraging in this area over (at least) the past few days at this time in the evening, moving back and forth across 37th ST. Although this is the first time they've been on my side and I could at least try and photograph them. They were very interested in this last remaining snowbank, and a similar pile off to the right (out of frame) between a separate utility building and and a cluster of trees. Unfortunately, between the evening light and heavy shade from the trees there wasn't enough light to see the birds in photographs.
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Carpintero de Pechera Común (Colaptes auratus)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
This Northern Flicker was perched near the top of a Poplar tree in the centre of a grove just west of the Geological Survey, in the University Research Park. I first heard it calling from ~20-30 metres away, while I was near the NW corner of the Core Research Centre parking lot (audio obs. 1) before successfully locating the bird and photographing it (and recording audio obs. 2-6). For the 15 minutes or so that I watched (and listened) to this bird it remained in place and called consistently 2 or 3 times a minute, without any responses that I was able to detect.
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Carbonero de Capucha Negra (Poecile atricapillus)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
This solitary chickadee was feeding on seed, placed in a makeshift feeder that had been hung (not by me...I stumbled upon it while walking near the river) on a tree just off a small path between the Bow River Pathway and the river. The chickadee was picking up seed and then flying 3-4 m away to perch in shrubs to actually feed. In addition to appearing to be alone it was also completely quiet, perhaps attempting to monopolize the food source?
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Urraca de Hudson (Pica hudsonia)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
This solitary magpie was foraging (and calling) in the upper branches of trees along the Bow River paths, It flew from one tree to another about 50m west where it chased off a small hawk or falcon (presumably a merlin although I only saw it for 10 seconds or so as it flew east up the river).
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Pato Norteño (Anas platyrhynchos)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
A large flock of 100-150 mallard ducks were observed at the Nautilus Pond in Dale Hodges Park. On previous occasions I've seen other species mixed in, but today I only noticed mallards.
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Piquituerto Aliblanco (Loxia leucoptera)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
At least one pair (possibly more but I only saw two individuals at any given time moving around in the trees) of White-winged Crossbills were foraging in a clump of conifers on the western edge of the parking lot of the Core Research Centre in the University Research Park. Unfortunately, they remained within the boughs near the tops of the trees, while I tried to photograph them (which is why there are photos here...you couldn't make out a single bird in any of the pictures that I tried to take). They were calling the entire time I was able to observe them (just under 10 minutes), before they went silent and disappeared. The sound recordings were made in between separate attempts to photograph them, while trying to avoid the noise of nearby construction projects in the park. I suspect that they flew out the far side of the tree while I was fussing with my camera or phone (but I didn't hear or see them again in the park).
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Camachuelo Picogrueso (Pinicola enucleator)Observ.
msnewelDescripción
A small flock of approximately 6-12 grosbeaks were observed foraging on the grass and in some adjacent shrubs on the hill on the south side of the creek, in the Queen's Park Cemetery.