Bowman Family Saskatchewan Trip - June 19-30, 2026

June 23: Cypress Hills Centre Block

We were up in good time and were off on a southern approach to Cypress Hills. We saw many perched Swainson’s Hawks, but more importantly, our first two Ferruginous Hawks – a LIFER.

There was the usual assortment of interesting waterfowl, and we noticed our first Pronghorn. At the registration building, Barn Swallows were nesting in the eaves. Red-necked Grebes were constructing a floating nest in Loch Leven across the street.

We hiked the Windfall Interpretive Trail which had lots of birds singing, but few seen. There were a distant Red Crossbill and a lovely Western Tanager right in our face.

We drove to Lookout Point, then cruised many of the campground roads. On one of these, we saw a red-shafted Northern Flicker and a pair of Mountain Bluebirds.

After an ice cream beak, we drove to a remote spot in the park where we hiked a short trail to a boardwalk. It was fairly quiet, so Bill played the mobbing tape with good results including an American Redstart, Dark-eyed Junco, Least Flycatcher, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-crowned Sparrow and others.

On the way back to Eastend, we saw some Red-tailed Hawks, a Mule Deer, Vesper Sparrows, Horned Larks, a Northern Harrier and another Ferruginous Hawk.

We drove into the campground at Eastend to look for an Eastern Screech Owl that was reported on eBird, but could not locate it. There was, however, a nest full of noisy Black-billed Magpies.

We returned to the house and Craig BBQed some burgers for us for supper.

The forecast for the next day was excellent, so we decided to make it our day for Grasslands National Park. We dreamed of more lifers!