Beyond the LabBirdwatchingAlbertaSeptember 2026

Fall at Frank Lake

Fall is here, and with it comes bird migration. Taking advantage of the beautiful September weather, I headed to Frank Lake, one of Alberta’s birdwatching gems. This restored wetland near High River is a haven for waterfowl, shorebirds and the smaller, often elusive birds tucked away among the cattails.

I was exceptionally lucky: I added eleven new species to my life list! Highlights included White-faced Ibis, Long-billed Dowitcher and American Bittern, as well as Common Yellowthroat and Marsh Wren. From a bittern in flight to tiny birds balancing on cattail stems, there was always something to catch my eye.

Alberta’s natural diversity never ceases to amaze me. What a wonderful way to welcome the new season.

A wetland with a comeback story

Frank Lake was not simply built from scratch: it is a natural wetland that dried out during drought in the 1980s. In 1988, Ducks Unlimited Canada joined government and industry partners to secure a long-term water supply. A pipeline, dikes and water-control structures helped restore the lake—a conservation success behind all those wings.

Read Frank Lake’s story at Ducks Unlimited Canada

From the wetlands

11 photographs · Select a photo to view it larger.

A flock of American White Pelicans preening in shallow water, reflected against a backdrop of prairie fields. — American White Pelicans gathering in the shallows.

An olive-brown Common Yellowthroat with a pale yellow throat perched sideways on a cattail. — Common Yellowthroat among the cattails.

A Marsh Wren with a pale eyebrow balancing on a fluffy cattail head in warm autumn light. — Marsh Wren on a cattail perch.

An American Coot with a white bill and red eye floating on blue water, framed by out-of-focus reeds. — American Coot on still blue water.

An American Bittern flying across a clear blue sky with broad brown wings extended. — American Bittern in flight.

A male Common Yellowthroat showing its bright yellow throat and dark face mask through tangled reeds. — A male Common Yellowthroat peeks through the reeds.

A dark chestnut ibis preening on the muddy shore, with its reflection in the water below. — White-faced Ibis preening at the water’s edge (field identification).

A Great Blue Heron standing still beside dense green and golden reeds at the water’s edge. — Great Blue Heron at the edge of the marsh.

A small brown wren perched on a weathered yellow CAUTION sign beside the lake. — A wren finds an unconventional perch.

Four American Avocets in black-and-white nonbreeding plumage resting on long legs in still, misty water. — American Avocets resting in the mist.

A mixed flock of gulls taking flight above a low bank, with the lake and prairie landscape behind them. — Gulls taking flight over Frank Lake.