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| Frank Lake |
On our last visit in 2010 Frank Lake was one of my favourite spots. A large open body of water in the prairies about an hour south of Calgary. Reedy fringes and wet grassland make this a must for any birder. We started at the large hide and were soon watching dozens of Black-necked (Eared) Grebes with their young right underneath our watching position. Forster's Terns were nesting nearby and White-faced Ibises and Franklin's Gulls were flying back and forth to their nesting areas. Out on the open water 2 pairs of Western Grebes floated lazily with their chicks and large rafts of Redheads were present.
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| Black-necked (Eared Grebe) |
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| Forster's Tern |
Before leaving we heard a Sora Rail but failed to call it out in the open and also added Willet and Wilson's Phalarope to our list. A sudden commotion as we headed back to the car saw the Forster's Terns chasing off a young Black-crowned Night Heron. We moved on around to the east shore of the lake and drove down a quiet track past some farms. We had great fortune to find a Western Kingbird on overhead wires but could not get any pictures. Parking up here I walked down a lane to a point where lagoons and reeds spread out on either side of me. Several Black-necked Stilts, Killdeers and Lesser Yellowlegs were feeding in shallow areas with about 30 Wilson's Phalaropes. The reversed activity of the sexes meant that I only noticed one female but the rest were all males presumably looking after eggs or young. I would guess most had hatched as I did get a glimpse of a couple of chicks. Willet called overhead and hordes of Gadwall, Blue-winged Teal and Shovelers were everywhere. I walked back to the car and I noticed a small orange-headed sparrow on a post. A quick glance with the binoculars revealed a Le Conte's Sparrow a new species for me. I raised my lens but once again failed to get a shot.
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| Black-necked Stilt |
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| Male Wilson's Phalarope |
We continued our tour around the lake checking prairie fields. A pair of Marbled Godwits were displaying over one damp field and close scrutiny of small birds revealed quite a few Horned Larks and Vesper Sparrows.
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| Horned Lark |
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| Vesper Sparrow |
We moved on to the western shore but added little else except for a friendly Eastern Kingbird.
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| Eastern Kingbird |
We left the lake and heading back there was one more exciting moment as a Swainson's Hawk perched on a post with its prey.
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| Swainson's Hawk with prey |
We shall certainly come back to Frank Lake before returning to the UK.
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