David Scott
@davidrscott.bsky.social
Birder, photographer, author, and librarian based in Lethbridge, Alberta
At this time of year, we see a lot of young White-crowned Sparrows that don't have white crowns. These can trip up a fair number of people—I misidentified my first twenty years ago. Proper White-crowned Sparrows, such as this adult, are more considerate of beginner birders.
#birds #birdphotography
#birds #birdphotography
October 6, 2026 at 5:20 PM
At this time of year, we see a lot of young White-crowned Sparrows that don't have white crowns. These can trip up a fair number of people—I misidentified my first twenty years ago. Proper White-crowned Sparrows, such as this adult, are more considerate of beginner birders.
#birds #birdphotography
#birds #birdphotography
A Vesper Sparrow, true to its name, sings from its badlands perch in the gathering dusk.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
September 27, 2026 at 5:42 PM
A Vesper Sparrow, true to its name, sings from its badlands perch in the gathering dusk.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
Like many other finch species, Evening Grosbeaks are prone to irruptions—drastic fluctuations in numbers, often driven by food availability. Here in southern Alberta, we seem to be in the midst of such an irruption.
This male grosbeak was quietly feeding on Russian olive when I happened by.
#birds
This male grosbeak was quietly feeding on Russian olive when I happened by.
#birds
September 19, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Like many other finch species, Evening Grosbeaks are prone to irruptions—drastic fluctuations in numbers, often driven by food availability. Here in southern Alberta, we seem to be in the midst of such an irruption.
This male grosbeak was quietly feeding on Russian olive when I happened by.
#birds
This male grosbeak was quietly feeding on Russian olive when I happened by.
#birds
Should the American Ornithological Society ever do away with the Wilson's Warbler's eponymous name, what do you think the replacement should be? Black-capped Warbler seems a likely if unimaginative contender. I'm partial to shorter, creative names.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
September 15, 2026 at 1:34 AM
Should the American Ornithological Society ever do away with the Wilson's Warbler's eponymous name, what do you think the replacement should be? Black-capped Warbler seems a likely if unimaginative contender. I'm partial to shorter, creative names.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
This littl'un is one of Alberta's five ground squirrels—that most likely to be confused with a chipmunk, the Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel. Alongside the Columbian Ground Squirrel, these are the mountaineers of the family.
#notabird
#notabird
August 31, 2026 at 1:18 AM
This littl'un is one of Alberta's five ground squirrels—that most likely to be confused with a chipmunk, the Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel. Alongside the Columbian Ground Squirrel, these are the mountaineers of the family.
#notabird
#notabird
This year, I put up no hummingbird feeder. But my bee balm blossomed all the same. And a hummingbird found it! A Rufous Hummingbird—a new yard bird for me.
Perhaps the best feeders are the ones that fill themselves, and look nice while they're at it!
#birds #albertabirds #birdphotography
Perhaps the best feeders are the ones that fill themselves, and look nice while they're at it!
#birds #albertabirds #birdphotography
August 25, 2026 at 2:52 AM
This year, I put up no hummingbird feeder. But my bee balm blossomed all the same. And a hummingbird found it! A Rufous Hummingbird—a new yard bird for me.
Perhaps the best feeders are the ones that fill themselves, and look nice while they're at it!
#birds #albertabirds #birdphotography
Perhaps the best feeders are the ones that fill themselves, and look nice while they're at it!
#birds #albertabirds #birdphotography
Earlier this week, I did a bit of a photo shoot with a family of coots in the pond behind my house. The parents tolerated it, but just barely.
Fortunately, when the cootlets as old as the young one in this photo, they don't induce nausea like the ugly hatchlings do.
#birds #birdphotography
Fortunately, when the cootlets as old as the young one in this photo, they don't induce nausea like the ugly hatchlings do.
#birds #birdphotography
August 18, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Earlier this week, I did a bit of a photo shoot with a family of coots in the pond behind my house. The parents tolerated it, but just barely.
Fortunately, when the cootlets as old as the young one in this photo, they don't induce nausea like the ugly hatchlings do.
#birds #birdphotography
Fortunately, when the cootlets as old as the young one in this photo, they don't induce nausea like the ugly hatchlings do.
#birds #birdphotography
I don't suppose I will ever fail to be impressed at birds' ability to nab insects in mid-air. And that's probably as it should be.
The bird, by the way, is a Baltimore Oriole. They're not known to fly-catch often.
#birds #albertabirds #birdphotography
The bird, by the way, is a Baltimore Oriole. They're not known to fly-catch often.
#birds #albertabirds #birdphotography
August 13, 2026 at 5:35 PM
I don't suppose I will ever fail to be impressed at birds' ability to nab insects in mid-air. And that's probably as it should be.
The bird, by the way, is a Baltimore Oriole. They're not known to fly-catch often.
#birds #albertabirds #birdphotography
The bird, by the way, is a Baltimore Oriole. They're not known to fly-catch often.
#birds #albertabirds #birdphotography
They say one good tern deserves another, so here's a Black Tern cruising over the prairie. It was foraging at the same slough as the Forster's Tern of yestermonth's post.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
August 8, 2026 at 12:49 AM
They say one good tern deserves another, so here's a Black Tern cruising over the prairie. It was foraging at the same slough as the Forster's Tern of yestermonth's post.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
Common Grackles are not a much-loved bird. (See, for instance, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, season 2, episode 23.) But when the light hits their plumage just right, their iridescent feathers shine blue and bronze.
They're still nuisances at the bird feeder, to be sure.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
They're still nuisances at the bird feeder, to be sure.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
August 1, 2026 at 11:15 PM
Common Grackles are not a much-loved bird. (See, for instance, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, season 2, episode 23.) But when the light hits their plumage just right, their iridescent feathers shine blue and bronze.
They're still nuisances at the bird feeder, to be sure.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
They're still nuisances at the bird feeder, to be sure.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
As nesting season draws to a close, it's becoming less common to find pairs of breeding birds. But these Lazuli Buntings are holding their territory well into the dog days of summer.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
July 26, 2026 at 4:15 PM
As nesting season draws to a close, it's becoming less common to find pairs of breeding birds. But these Lazuli Buntings are holding their territory well into the dog days of summer.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
The Forster's Tern is a common tern in my part of the world. Indeed, it is the most common tern. But it is not a Common Tern; that's a different species.
And this serves as an example of why I capitalize species' names.
#birds #albertabirds #birdphotography
And this serves as an example of why I capitalize species' names.
#birds #albertabirds #birdphotography
July 23, 2026 at 11:28 PM
The Forster's Tern is a common tern in my part of the world. Indeed, it is the most common tern. But it is not a Common Tern; that's a different species.
And this serves as an example of why I capitalize species' names.
#birds #albertabirds #birdphotography
And this serves as an example of why I capitalize species' names.
#birds #albertabirds #birdphotography
I absolutely love Birds of the World's description of the Brewer's Blackbird's song: "a rush of air with little vocal accompaniment... a short, harsh, toneless, whirring gurgle lacking in musical quality." Ouch! It's a good thing Brewer's Blackbirds can't read.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
July 11, 2026 at 2:33 AM
I absolutely love Birds of the World's description of the Brewer's Blackbird's song: "a rush of air with little vocal accompaniment... a short, harsh, toneless, whirring gurgle lacking in musical quality." Ouch! It's a good thing Brewer's Blackbirds can't read.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
I was today years old when I learned that Alberta has no moles. This is, quite frankly, shocking, and it has me questioning my life decisions. I mean, if the province isn't even good enough for moles...
#alberta
#alberta
July 2, 2026 at 5:18 PM
I was today years old when I learned that Alberta has no moles. This is, quite frankly, shocking, and it has me questioning my life decisions. I mean, if the province isn't even good enough for moles...
#alberta
#alberta
I'm always struck by the amount of effort blackbirds appear to put into their, um, "songs." Whether an airy hiss, a grating wail, or a disjointed noisy jumble, the vocalization is at least delivered with unrivalled vigour.
#birds #birdphotogrpahy #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotogrpahy #albertabirds
June 21, 2026 at 9:52 PM
I'm always struck by the amount of effort blackbirds appear to put into their, um, "songs." Whether an airy hiss, a grating wail, or a disjointed noisy jumble, the vocalization is at least delivered with unrivalled vigour.
#birds #birdphotogrpahy #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotogrpahy #albertabirds
Inclement weather often brings interesting birds to the pond behind my house. This evening, three Caspian Terns dropped by between rain showers. I'm very grateful for those occasions when something unexpected turns up right outside my window.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
June 11, 2026 at 3:00 AM
Inclement weather often brings interesting birds to the pond behind my house. This evening, three Caspian Terns dropped by between rain showers. I'm very grateful for those occasions when something unexpected turns up right outside my window.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
One would be hard-pressed to identify a bird of the Great Plains more iconic than the Western Meadowlark. Their bubbly song serves as a fine welcome to visitors to their expansive haunts. To residents of the open prairie, the song heralds the arrival of spring.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
June 7, 2026 at 7:51 PM
One would be hard-pressed to identify a bird of the Great Plains more iconic than the Western Meadowlark. Their bubbly song serves as a fine welcome to visitors to their expansive haunts. To residents of the open prairie, the song heralds the arrival of spring.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
For a woodpecker, this dapper bird wasn't pecking all that much wood. At times, it played the warbler, gleaning what it could find among the twigs and leaves. At other times, it would play the flycatcher, sallying out to catch insects on the wing.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
June 4, 2026 at 12:35 AM
For a woodpecker, this dapper bird wasn't pecking all that much wood. At times, it played the warbler, gleaning what it could find among the twigs and leaves. At other times, it would play the flycatcher, sallying out to catch insects on the wing.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
Reposted by David Scott
On The Warblers Podcast @davidrscott.bsky.social and Gavin McKinnon share why they wrote a brand new field guide for Alberta's birds, expand on the effort involved, and relish in their favourite birding stories. If you've ever been curious about the guide in your backpack - this episode is for you!
June 2, 2026 at 8:10 PM
On The Warblers Podcast @davidrscott.bsky.social and Gavin McKinnon share why they wrote a brand new field guide for Alberta's birds, expand on the effort involved, and relish in their favourite birding stories. If you've ever been curious about the guide in your backpack - this episode is for you!
This wee bird on a wire is a female Chestnut-collared Longspur, a denizen of the native prairie. Sadly, the latest State of Canada's Bird Report finds that this species' numbers have declined by 95% since 1970. We need to keep what grasslands we still have if these birds are to have any hope.
#birds
#birds
June 1, 2026 at 2:41 AM
This wee bird on a wire is a female Chestnut-collared Longspur, a denizen of the native prairie. Sadly, the latest State of Canada's Bird Report finds that this species' numbers have declined by 95% since 1970. We need to keep what grasslands we still have if these birds are to have any hope.
#birds
#birds
This female Yellow-headed Blackbird looks a little worse for wear, but that didn't stop her from posing for the camera whilst foraging on the beach. She offered much better photo ops than did the flyby jaeger offshore, and so the limelight is hers.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
May 28, 2026 at 6:05 PM
This female Yellow-headed Blackbird looks a little worse for wear, but that didn't stop her from posing for the camera whilst foraging on the beach. She offered much better photo ops than did the flyby jaeger offshore, and so the limelight is hers.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
This crow didn't take kindly to the interloping Broad-winged Hawk in its neighbourhood. Fortunately, the hawk was just passing through on its way to more northerly forests. Both birds executed some impressive aerial maneuvers before the hawk bid the crow adieu.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
May 25, 2026 at 7:08 PM
This crow didn't take kindly to the interloping Broad-winged Hawk in its neighbourhood. Fortunately, the hawk was just passing through on its way to more northerly forests. Both birds executed some impressive aerial maneuvers before the hawk bid the crow adieu.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
House Finches are building a nest in my yard. Or, should I say, "House Finch." The female is building the nest. The male follows her around assiduously. While she's gathering material or weaving it into the nest, he sings. I'm sure she appreciates the help.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
May 19, 2026 at 9:39 PM
House Finches are building a nest in my yard. Or, should I say, "House Finch." The female is building the nest. The male follows her around assiduously. While she's gathering material or weaving it into the nest, he sings. I'm sure she appreciates the help.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
There are a lot of dazzling ducks out there, but in North America, the Wood Duck is definitely a contender for top spot. Unlike the Harlequin Duck, its lacklustre name doesn't conjure much in the way of expectation. Yet, to my mind, it is no less stunning.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
May 16, 2026 at 5:15 PM
There are a lot of dazzling ducks out there, but in North America, the Wood Duck is definitely a contender for top spot. Unlike the Harlequin Duck, its lacklustre name doesn't conjure much in the way of expectation. Yet, to my mind, it is no less stunning.
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds
Grasshopper Sparrows are one of our native grassland specialists; you'd be hard-pressed to find one in cropland. Their short-necked appearance, big head, and short tail give them a more borb-like physique than most other sparrows!
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds #borbs
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds #borbs
May 13, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Grasshopper Sparrows are one of our native grassland specialists; you'd be hard-pressed to find one in cropland. Their short-necked appearance, big head, and short tail give them a more borb-like physique than most other sparrows!
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds #borbs
#birds #birdphotography #albertabirds #borbs