June 27 Part 1 - Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park

We left Pincher Creek early in the morning, heading south and east through Cardston and then east towards Milk River. On the second leg we saw more gophers on the road than I've ever seen in my life.  They'd dart out to the median, hunch down and hope the cars would not hit them. The road was not too busy so their chances were good.

Apparently Hunter S. Thompson has an answer, I leave it to the reader to Google his quote.

It was past noon by the time we reached the park and we were booked into a 2:00 PM tour. This left me some time to look for birds down in the campground along the river.


Near the campground at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta

At first I was disappointed as there didn't seem to be much bird life. But I wandered into an empty group campsite near the Milk River and found something to look at. The first bird was the familiar Magpie.

Black-billed Magpie - Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta

The next sighting was a Gray Catbird, and it wasn't too concerned about my proximity.


Gray Catbird - Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta

This shot shows the rufous undertail coverts.

Gray Catbird - Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta

Across the river, I could hear a Belted Kingfisher. It may have had a nest in a cavity in the riverbank.


Belted Kingfisher - Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta

I'd exhausted the area around the river and decided to tour the campground. It was a weekday, so there were many empty campsites.

I was very excited to see the next bird, even though it is common in the Okanagan and can be seen on the coast. It was my first Mourning Dove of the year. It can be told from the Eurasian Collared Dove by the pointed tail, the single mark on the cheek (each side), and the richer colours.


Mourning Dove  - Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta - 2017 Bird #170

Another first sighting of the year flew over, it was a Common Nighthawk - 2017 Bird #171. I couldn't get a photo, but would the next day at Dinosaur Provincial Park (see subsequent posts).

As I walked through one campsite, I flushed a large reddish-brown bird. I immediately thought of a Brown Thrasher. It did stay around and I took a couple of poor shots. I'd see one again the next day as well.


Brown Thrasher - Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta - 2017 Bird # 172

This shot shows the face, the large yellow eyes give this bird a sinister look. The Thrasher is about 11.5 inches long and has a 13" wingspan. Thrashers like semi-arid habitats, they are related to Mockingbirds and Catbirds.


Brown Thrasher - Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta

A more common bird is this immature American Robin.

American Robin - Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta

Here's a close-up of a Rabbit that was wandering around the campground. It may be a Mountain Cottontail.

Mountain Cottontail?  - Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta

The last good shot was of a singing House Wren, if you can call the chatter they make singing.

House Wren - Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta

It was time to return to the Visitor's Center for our tour, a short introduction to the Rock Art of the Park. It also gave us some views of the Milk River and the Hoodoo formations in the park. You can see how the river gets its name.


Milk River - Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta

Of course, I'm always on alert for birds or butterflies, there were many of these Swallowtails flying around.


Anise Swallowtail - Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta

I thought this rock looked like a giant petrified Frog, but no one else mentioned it.



Here's some of the rock art we saw. Most of it is about 300 years old.



This one depicts a hanging of a native person for a murder. It's hard to see.

There has been some graffiti added over the original artwork.



One last look at the Hoodoos and it was time to move on.


Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta