Bird Sightings from the BLESS Platform
	(estimated early morning numbers seen in about 30 minutes using binoculars)
	Observers are encouraged to send/email BLESS their sightings. Use address below:
		email@bless.ab.ca
	Zone 1 - Inner circle (radius 170m): Birds identifiable with naked eye.			Abundant=100+
	Zone 2 - Second circle (radius 460m): Identifiable with binoculars.			Numerous=10-100
	Zone 3 - Third zone (radius 1.65km): Identifiable with scope.			Present=<10>2
	RP - Riel Pond	M - marsh south of Riel Pond		Rarer=1-2
	OCTOBER 24th
	Abundant	Numerous	Present	Rarer Sightings
	Canada goose	lesser scaup	ring billed gull (sp?)	northern harrier
		common redpoll	ruddy duck (sp?)	magpie
				sparrows (not identified)
	Observations above made Sunday (9:30 am cold, overcast, very slight breeze)
	Significant or Notable things to consider …
	1. Hundreds of Canada geese seen flying in v-formation to west of platform. Hundreds on lake as well west
	towards the narrows between the east and west ends of the lake.
	2. Redpolls seen in flock of about 20 feeding on seeds from thistles along Sturgeon shore beside platform.
	3. Ducks forming a 'raft' of about 50+ birds in centre of Riel Pond … difficult to make out the species.
	4. Harrier seen flying near the platform. Bird feathers (perhaps a coot) on the platform probably a kill.
	5. Gulls seen with ducks and sitting in a few other locations (near kayak club buildings) on Riel Pond.
	6. 99.9 percent of the lake covered in ice as with Riel Pond. 100 percent of river covered.
	SEPTEMBER 21st
	Abundant	Numerous	Present	Rarer Sightings
	American coot	ring-billed gull	white pelican (3)	pied-billed grebe (1)
	buffleheads	common goldeneye	hooded merganser (RP)	western grebe (3)
		mallard	green-winged teal (M)	raven
		blue-winged teal		greater yellowlegs
	Observations above made Tuesday (8:30 am mild, partly cloudy, calm)
	Significant or Notable things to consider …
	1. Thousands of birds are present on Big Lake but the fall plumage of the ducks makes it difficult for identification at a distance.
	2. Only three white pelicans could be spotted far across the lake. The light is perfect in the early morning to view birds at a distance.
	3. A pair of beaver have returned to the north-west corner of Riel Pond and are busy collecting food (willow, aspen, sedges) for the
	winter food cache.
	SEPTEMBER 15th
	Abundant	Numerous	Present	Rarer Sightings
	American coot	white pelican (2,3)	bufflehead	red-necked grebe
	Franklin's gull	common goldeneye
	ring-billed gull	mallard
		blue-winged teal
	Observations above made Wednesday (2:30 pm mild, cloudy, calm)
	Significant or Notable things to consider …
	1. Hundreds of birds on Riel Pond are present but the fall plumage of the ducks makes it difficult for identification.
	2. Viewing at 2:30 in the afternoon meant that few birds were seen close to the viewing platform even though
	thousands of birds could be spotted with binoculars and a scope in Zone #3.
	3. Only 11 pelicans were spotted.
	SEPTEMBER 1st
	Abundant	Numerous	Present	Rarer Sightings
	American coot	blue-winged teal	eared grebe	northern harrier
	Franklin's gull	common goldeneye	gadwall	common yellowthroat
	white pelican (2,3)	ring-billed gull	song sparrow	red-winged blackbird
		bufflehead	clay-colored sparrow	sora rail (sound)
		mallard	lesser yellowlegs	hooded merganser
	Many hundreds of birds	wigeon	greater yellowlegs
	in zone 3 remain		red-necked grebe
	unidentified.		pied-billed grebe
	Observations above made Wednesday (9:30 - 10:00 coolish, very cloudy, calm)
	Significant or Notable things to consider …
	1. Approximately 125 white pelicans were spotted throughout the east end of the lake feeding heavily on plant material.
	2. An eared grebe continues to stay close to the platform with a couple of chicks.
	3. Huge numbers of Franklin's gulls spending time in Riel Pond and on the adjacent soccer fields.
	A Feature Bird to look for from the viewing platform currently is the White Pelican.
	Previous AUGUST 8th
	Abundant	Numerous	Present	Rarer Sightings
	American coot	blue-winged teal	eared grebe	northern harrier
		goldeneye	common tern	kestrel
	Hundreds of birds	wigeon	bufflehead	American goldfinch
	in zone 3 remain		savanna sparrow
	unidentified.
	Observations above made Sunday (11:00 - noon coolish, partly cloudy, windy)
	Significant or Notable things to consider …
	1. A number of species have young at this time: Blue-winged teal, widgeon, bufflehead, goldeneye, coots.
	2. An albino goldeneye is still on Riel Pond feeding with its siblings (now 2/3 adult size).
	3. The near absence of redwing blackbirds is in stark contrast to a month ago.
	A Feature Bird to look for from the viewing platform currently is the Eared Grebe
	Click here for June - July sightings