The Birding Hub
The Birding Hub

Beaverhill Lake

Alberta · Canada

EasyOfficial Site
Habitat
WetlandGrassland
Best Seasons
SpringSummer
Difficulty

Easy

Best Months

May-August

Entrance Fee

Free

Hours

Dawn to dusk daily

About This Location

Beaverhill Lake east of Edmonton is one of the most important shorebird staging areas in the western prairies and a designated site in the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. When water levels are favorable, the lake's shallow margins attract hundreds of thousands of shorebirds during migration.

The Beaverhill Bird Observatory, one of the oldest in western Canada, operates banding stations and hosts the annual Snow Goose Chase Festival. The surrounding aspen parkland and grasslands support breeding owls, sparrows, and raptors.

Location

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Notable Species

Black-crowned Night-HeronNorthern Saw-whet OwlFranklin's GullAmerican AvocetMarbled Godwit

Live Bird Data

Powered by eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Notable Sightings

Mallard x Northern Pintail (hybrid)

Anas platyrhynchos x acuta

3/4/2026Lethbridge--Henderson Lake1 observed

Wood Duck

Aix sponsa

3/4/2026Lethbridge--Henderson Lake2 observed

Purple Finch

Haemorhous purpureus

3/4/2026Medicine Hat--Police Point Park2 observed

Cackling Goose

Branta hutchinsii

3/4/2026Calgary--Beaver Dam Flats Park1 observed

Cackling Goose

Branta hutchinsii

3/4/2026Calgary--Beaver Dam Flats Park1 observed

Wood Duck

Aix sponsa

3/4/2026Lethbridge--Henderson Lake2 observed

Dark-eyed Junco (cismontanus)

Junco hyemalis

3/4/2026Newcastle1 observed

Chestnut-collared Longspur

Calcarius ornatus

3/4/2026Lethbridge--Paradise Canyon GC (limited access)1 observed

Cedar Waxwing

Bombycilla cedrorum

3/3/2026Home1 observed

American Herring Gull

Larus smithsonianus

3/3/2026Calgary--Rotary/Mattamy Wetlands (68 Street SE)2 observed

Ring-necked Duck

Aythya collaris

3/3/2026Gleniffer Lake--Dickson Dam2 observed

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Larus fuscus

3/3/2026Calgary--Rotary/Mattamy Wetlands (68 Street SE)1 observed

American Herring Gull

Larus smithsonianus

3/3/2026Calgary--Rotary/Mattamy Wetlands (68 Street SE)3 observed

Hooded Merganser

Lophodytes cucullatus

3/3/2026Kananaskis--Mount Lorette/Hay Meadows1 observed

Wood Duck

Aix sponsa

3/3/2026Calgary--Carburn Park1 observed

American Goldfinch

Spinus tristis

3/3/2026Calgary--Griffith Woods Park1 observed

Cedar Waxwing

Bombycilla cedrorum

3/3/2026Medicine Hat--Police Point Park16 observed

Wood Duck

Aix sponsa

3/3/2026Lethbridge--Henderson Lake2 observed

American Herring Gull

Larus smithsonianus

3/3/2026Calgary--Rotary/Mattamy Wetlands (68 Street SE)2 observed

Cassin's Finch

Haemorhous cassinii

3/3/2026CNP - Our acreage Adanac2 observed

Recent Observations

Bohemian Waxwing

Back yard

3/4/2026

10 birds

Rock Pigeon

Back yard

3/4/2026

1 birds

Black-billed Magpie

Back yard

3/4/2026

1 birds

Canada Goose

Highway 2, Willow Creek No. 26 CA-AB 49.82767, -113.52438

3/4/2026

159 birds

Common Raven

Highway 2, Willow Creek No. 26 CA-AB 50.00396, -113.57166

3/4/2026

2 birds

Northern Pintail

Lethbridge--Henderson Lake

3/4/2026

12 birds

Bald Eagle

Lethbridge--Henderson Lake

3/4/2026

1 birds

American Wigeon

Lethbridge--Henderson Lake

3/4/2026

5 birds

Mallard

Lethbridge--Henderson Lake

3/4/2026

500 birds

Redhead

Lethbridge--Henderson Lake

3/4/2026

5 birds

European Starling

Highway 2, Willow Creek No. 26 CA-AB 50.33564, -113.76052

3/4/2026

7 birds

Redpoll

26221 Township Rd 552, Sturgeon County CA-AB (53.7445,-113.7850)

3/4/2026

4 birds

White-breasted Nuthatch

26221 Township Rd 552, Sturgeon County CA-AB (53.7445,-113.7850)

3/4/2026

1 birds

Black-capped Chickadee

26221 Township Rd 552, Sturgeon County CA-AB (53.7445,-113.7850)

3/4/2026

8 birds

Downy Woodpecker

26221 Township Rd 552, Sturgeon County CA-AB (53.7445,-113.7850)

3/4/2026

2 birds

Blue Jay

26221 Township Rd 552, Sturgeon County CA-AB (53.7445,-113.7850)

3/4/2026

2 birds

Northern Flicker

94 Chinook Drive, Cochrane, Alberta, CA (51.195, -114.477)

3/4/2026

1 birds

Merlin

Dovercourt Neighbourhood

3/4/2026

1 birds

Common Merganser

Medicine Hat--Police Point Park

3/4/2026

2 birds

Common Goldeneye

Medicine Hat--Police Point Park

3/4/2026

7 birds

Birding Tips

  1. 1

    Water levels vary dramatically year to year — check with the Beaverhill Bird Observatory before visiting

  2. 2

    The Snow Goose Chase Festival in late April is a great community event for birders

Amenities

Parking
Trails

Nearby Attractions

  • Elk Island National Park
  • Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area

Birding Guides

Bird Identification Tips: How to ID Birds Like a Pro

11 min read

The Beginner's Guide to Birding

8 min read

How to Start a Birding Life List

9 min read

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to visit Beaverhill Lake for birding?▼
The best months to visit Beaverhill Lake for birding are May-August. The best seasons are Spring and Summer.
What birds can I see at Beaverhill Lake?▼
Notable species at Beaverhill Lake include Black-crowned Night-Heron, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Franklin's Gull, American Avocet, Marbled Godwit. The area supports wetland, grassland habitats.
How difficult is birding at Beaverhill Lake?▼
Birding at Beaverhill Lake is rated as Easy. The trails and viewing areas are accessible for birders of all experience levels.
Is there an entrance fee at Beaverhill Lake?▼
There is no entrance fee at Beaverhill Lake. Hours: Dawn to dusk daily.
What amenities are available at Beaverhill Lake?▼
Beaverhill Lake offers the following amenities: Parking, Trails.