I can't remember the last time I picked up four new species in one day.... I think it was January 1st.
The weather after work today was perfect for birding, so I did the rounds of a couple of spots, ending up at Little Mount Doug, where Mike McGrenere found a Townsend's Solitaire yesterday. After I made it up to the ridge, passing about 20 Orange-crowned Warblers and my first Chipping Sparrows of the year, I spent about half an hour criss-crossing the ridge. There was nary a quiet moment, as flickers, quail, finches, sparrows, and robins filled the air with their song. But there was also no sign of the Townsend's Solitaire.
I decided to head a touch lower on the ridge, back to where it first opens up. On the way down, I noticed a dull, medium-sized bird sitting in the top of a small oak. A quick look confirmed it was the bird I was looking for, my first (and hard-won) Townsend's Solitaire of the year. When I moved closer for a better view, a second Solitaire flew up into another oak about 20 feet away! I must have walked past both of them on the way up.
Then, this evening, Ian Cruickshank called to say he had just found a pair of Cinnamon Teal at Panama Flats, along with Greater Yellowlegs and 60 Least Sandpipers. I headed down there, and after parking alongside Roy Rd, walked onto the trail that runs the perimeter. I found the teal shining in the sun at the farthest corner of the flats, despite a young girl with a very unruly dog that kept putting the sandpipers and waterfowl into the air. On the way back to the car I also found a single American Pipit, and pulled my first Cliff Swallow of the year out of the swarm.
It looks like migration may finally be happening here in Victoria, now if only the Lower Mainland or Tofino would lend us a couple of their vagrants........
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Baillie Birdathon Update
The Baillie Birdathon supports two great causes - Bird Studies Canada and the Rocky Point Bird Observatory. This is primarily BSC's baby, but RPBO gets a cut of everything I raise, and the more I raise, the bigger the cut is for our local banding station!
I have finalized the date that I will be participating, and the clock will run from 12:00am on May 21, 2011, until 11:59pm on May 21, 2011, in keeping with ABA Big Day Rules. During this 24 hour timeframe, I will be birding pretty much non-stop, in an attempt to see as many species as possible.
Please consider sponsoring me, and please consider passing the below link on to those you know who could support this endeavour! A reminder that all donations/sponsorships over $10 will be receipted by Bird Studies Canada.
http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1914&AID=1491&PID=197376
Now if you are up for a real challenge, consider pledging on a per species basis! What fun would a Big Day be without that? Contact me via email if you are interested.
I also welcome any company for a part or all of the 24 hours, so feel free to drop me a line if you are interested in joining me for some worthwhile birding in your neighbourhood! I am not sure where the day will take me, but I am open to suggestions!
Good birding,
I have finalized the date that I will be participating, and the clock will run from 12:00am on May 21, 2011, until 11:59pm on May 21, 2011, in keeping with ABA Big Day Rules. During this 24 hour timeframe, I will be birding pretty much non-stop, in an attempt to see as many species as possible.
Please consider sponsoring me, and please consider passing the below link on to those you know who could support this endeavour! A reminder that all donations/sponsorships over $10 will be receipted by Bird Studies Canada.
http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1914&AID=1491&PID=197376
Now if you are up for a real challenge, consider pledging on a per species basis! What fun would a Big Day be without that? Contact me via email if you are interested.
I also welcome any company for a part or all of the 24 hours, so feel free to drop me a line if you are interested in joining me for some worthwhile birding in your neighbourhood! I am not sure where the day will take me, but I am open to suggestions!
Good birding,
More Sun, More Birds!
Just after I had boarded a bus at the Empress on Sunday morning to escort National Media and the National Tour team to an event, my phone rang. It was Chris Saunders, passing on that Ian Cruickshank had located a Palm Warbler at Swan Lake!
When compiling my list of birds I needed to make 252, Palm Warbler was very low on my list of likelies, and to have one here in April is a great find! Unfortunately, I was stuck where I was for 3 more hours, giving the bird plenty of time to seek out greener pastures. As it turns out, it didn't, and when I finally made it to Swan Lake Ian was again looking at the bird hopping about in a fir. We got great looks at the bird, number 156 for the year.
Following the Palm Warbler, a mad dash home for a change out of the suit (or maybe I should just keep it on? A trademark of sorts?), and off to Whiffin Spit, where there seems to have been no end to great birds lately. At last, the Mountain Bluebird would be added to my list...... or not. Whiffin Spit was at its finest, with more dogs than birds, and definitely no Bluebirds. As a consolation of sorts, I added Band-tailed Pigeon on the way out, for 157.
The original plan for Monday was a climb up Mount Wells for Sooty Grouse and Townsend's Solitaire, but the rain kaiboshed that, and instead provided an opportunity to hit the Victoria waterfront a bit. I added a single Bonaparte's Gull at Clover Point, plus a flock of 15 or so Least Sandpipers at Panama Flats, but Townsend's Solitaire managed to elude me at 2 recent locations, and warblers kept low and out of the wind.
Seems that Sooke would have been a better destination, as a Whimbrel and a Marbled Godwit were reported from Whiffin Spit on Monday. C'est la vie. I did manage to add 7 species this weekend, to bring the total to 159. 93 species and 8 months to go.
Good birding,
When compiling my list of birds I needed to make 252, Palm Warbler was very low on my list of likelies, and to have one here in April is a great find! Unfortunately, I was stuck where I was for 3 more hours, giving the bird plenty of time to seek out greener pastures. As it turns out, it didn't, and when I finally made it to Swan Lake Ian was again looking at the bird hopping about in a fir. We got great looks at the bird, number 156 for the year.
Following the Palm Warbler, a mad dash home for a change out of the suit (or maybe I should just keep it on? A trademark of sorts?), and off to Whiffin Spit, where there seems to have been no end to great birds lately. At last, the Mountain Bluebird would be added to my list...... or not. Whiffin Spit was at its finest, with more dogs than birds, and definitely no Bluebirds. As a consolation of sorts, I added Band-tailed Pigeon on the way out, for 157.
The original plan for Monday was a climb up Mount Wells for Sooty Grouse and Townsend's Solitaire, but the rain kaiboshed that, and instead provided an opportunity to hit the Victoria waterfront a bit. I added a single Bonaparte's Gull at Clover Point, plus a flock of 15 or so Least Sandpipers at Panama Flats, but Townsend's Solitaire managed to elude me at 2 recent locations, and warblers kept low and out of the wind.
Seems that Sooke would have been a better destination, as a Whimbrel and a Marbled Godwit were reported from Whiffin Spit on Monday. C'est la vie. I did manage to add 7 species this weekend, to bring the total to 159. 93 species and 8 months to go.
Good birding,
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Bluebirds are Jerks, and other Short Stories
I am beginning to think that there is some sort of Avian Conspiracy afoot, and the current scoreboard is beginning to look a little like a Canucks game - Mountain Bluebirds: 5, Intrepid Big Year Birder: 0.
Once again this afternoon, my phone rang with news of a bird. This time it was Mike McGrenere, who had a female Mountain Bluebird in his scope along Welch Rd near Dooley. I was about 15 minutes away at the time, and immediately headed there. Thanks to Sunday drivers and Victoria traffic lights, it took me 20 minutes to make it there, where Mike told me that the bird had flown south about 5 minutes earlier. Maybe I just need special issue flashing lights on my car, warning others on the road that I am doing a Big Year, and that they need to move!
Mike and I searched the surrounding fields without any luck, and I continued south on Welch Rd, checking every field and fence as far as Blenkinsop. No dice.
Apprez dinner, I read a post that mentioned a Mountain Bluebird had also been seen at Whiffin Spit in Sooke. I guess I know where I am going tomorrow, provided the roving canines of Sooke haven't put it off, as they undoubtedly did with the 5 Whimbrel that were also seen there today.
On the bright side, after adding Cassin's Vireo yesterday at Francis King Regional Park, and Caspian Tern (Esquimalt Lagoon) and Western Sandpiper (Albert Head Lagoon and Tower Point) today, I need only 97 more species! Big thanks to all who have helped me out so far with the location and retention of good birds!
Mountain Bluebird, watch out! I'm coming for you!
Good birding,
Once again this afternoon, my phone rang with news of a bird. This time it was Mike McGrenere, who had a female Mountain Bluebird in his scope along Welch Rd near Dooley. I was about 15 minutes away at the time, and immediately headed there. Thanks to Sunday drivers and Victoria traffic lights, it took me 20 minutes to make it there, where Mike told me that the bird had flown south about 5 minutes earlier. Maybe I just need special issue flashing lights on my car, warning others on the road that I am doing a Big Year, and that they need to move!
Mike and I searched the surrounding fields without any luck, and I continued south on Welch Rd, checking every field and fence as far as Blenkinsop. No dice.
Apprez dinner, I read a post that mentioned a Mountain Bluebird had also been seen at Whiffin Spit in Sooke. I guess I know where I am going tomorrow, provided the roving canines of Sooke haven't put it off, as they undoubtedly did with the 5 Whimbrel that were also seen there today.
On the bright side, after adding Cassin's Vireo yesterday at Francis King Regional Park, and Caspian Tern (Esquimalt Lagoon) and Western Sandpiper (Albert Head Lagoon and Tower Point) today, I need only 97 more species! Big thanks to all who have helped me out so far with the location and retention of good birds!
Mountain Bluebird, watch out! I'm coming for you!
Good birding,
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
100 to go, and in style!
Half an hour before the start of a full day conference yesterday, my phone rang, and the call display again said "Jeremy Gatten". This time, the bird in question was a Horned Lark, in the field between McIntryre Reservoir and McHugh Rd. Unfortunately for me, the conference was scheduled from 8:30am to 4:00pm, and I had absolutely no hope of getting out of it.
As soon as 4:00 came 'round, I made a beeline from the Union Club straight to Martindale without stopping to get changed, and I arrived at McHugh Rd with the weather alternating between sun and dark clouds threatening rain. The location where Jeremy had seen it turned up nothing, so I walked the perimeter of the field. An Osprey flew over, as well as a large flock of 150-200 Greater White-fronted Geese. Savannah Sparrows called from nearly every clump of grass, but the deep furrows in the field made it impossible to tell if there was anything else. Judging by the looks I got from passersby, it isn't often that someone in a suit wanders the fields at Martindale. In hindsight, maybe I should have left the cufflinks in the car.....
Just as I was finishing my loop, Jeremy G. pulled up, and we started through the field again. It didn't take long for Jeremy to call out "over there!" The bird in question had popped out of a furrow, and gave us great looks at its striking plumage! We admired #152 for five or so minutes, before leaving it be.
A further stop at Panama Flats, after fighting traffic on Carey Rd for 20 minutes yielded large numbers of shovelers, Green-winged Teal, swallows, and a Cooper's Hawk.
Just over 8 months and 100 species to go!
Good birding,
As soon as 4:00 came 'round, I made a beeline from the Union Club straight to Martindale without stopping to get changed, and I arrived at McHugh Rd with the weather alternating between sun and dark clouds threatening rain. The location where Jeremy had seen it turned up nothing, so I walked the perimeter of the field. An Osprey flew over, as well as a large flock of 150-200 Greater White-fronted Geese. Savannah Sparrows called from nearly every clump of grass, but the deep furrows in the field made it impossible to tell if there was anything else. Judging by the looks I got from passersby, it isn't often that someone in a suit wanders the fields at Martindale. In hindsight, maybe I should have left the cufflinks in the car.....
Just as I was finishing my loop, Jeremy G. pulled up, and we started through the field again. It didn't take long for Jeremy to call out "over there!" The bird in question had popped out of a furrow, and gave us great looks at its striking plumage! We admired #152 for five or so minutes, before leaving it be.
A further stop at Panama Flats, after fighting traffic on Carey Rd for 20 minutes yielded large numbers of shovelers, Green-winged Teal, swallows, and a Cooper's Hawk.
Just over 8 months and 100 species to go!
Good birding,
Sunday, April 17, 2011
And Northern Mockingbird makes 150......
When I saw Jeremy Gatten's name on my call display this morning, I knew he had something good, but I didn't know how good until he told me "Northern Mockingbird near Hastings Flats!".
There has been one other in the Victoria area this year (in fact, this may be the same bird), but that one was not chaseable. Given that as of Jeremy's call I would be stuck in a work commitment for 2 or 3 more hours, I wasn't sure if this one would be either.
After posting a plea for updates on BCVIBIRDS, Ed Pellizon called me an hour or so later, letting me know that he had refound the bird, and that he would keep tabs on it until I could get there. Right around this point, the skies opened up in Colwood, with rain and thick hail coming down. The hail actually started to accumulate on the ground, which left me doubtful about my prospects for relocating this gem.
Finally, two and a half hours after Jeremy's call, I made it to the area around 4040 Holland Ave, which provided the best view of the bird. Jeremy Gatten had returned, and he and Ed had kept tabs on the bird until 20 minutes previously, when it had disappeared. 40 minutes or so of scouring the fences turned up nothing, so we moved down to Hastings for a better view of the area. A male Eurasian Wigeon provided a distraction, but still no Mockingbird. One last chance was to scan from Granville. We walked over that way, looking again at every fence without luck. Just after 2pm, Mike and Barb McGrenere pulled up, and after a couple of minutes, Barb picked the bird out in a field.
Having been discovered, the bird provided stunning views from the top of the fence, and as it flew from post to post. It is always a treat to find one of these so far from home.
I don't think I could have picked a better bird for number 150 (and 151 came on the way home as JG and I had nice views of an Orange-crowned Warbler at Viaduct Flats).
Huge thanks to Jeremy and Ed for keeping track of the bird!
Good rarity hunting,
There has been one other in the Victoria area this year (in fact, this may be the same bird), but that one was not chaseable. Given that as of Jeremy's call I would be stuck in a work commitment for 2 or 3 more hours, I wasn't sure if this one would be either.
After posting a plea for updates on BCVIBIRDS, Ed Pellizon called me an hour or so later, letting me know that he had refound the bird, and that he would keep tabs on it until I could get there. Right around this point, the skies opened up in Colwood, with rain and thick hail coming down. The hail actually started to accumulate on the ground, which left me doubtful about my prospects for relocating this gem.
Finally, two and a half hours after Jeremy's call, I made it to the area around 4040 Holland Ave, which provided the best view of the bird. Jeremy Gatten had returned, and he and Ed had kept tabs on the bird until 20 minutes previously, when it had disappeared. 40 minutes or so of scouring the fences turned up nothing, so we moved down to Hastings for a better view of the area. A male Eurasian Wigeon provided a distraction, but still no Mockingbird. One last chance was to scan from Granville. We walked over that way, looking again at every fence without luck. Just after 2pm, Mike and Barb McGrenere pulled up, and after a couple of minutes, Barb picked the bird out in a field.
Having been discovered, the bird provided stunning views from the top of the fence, and as it flew from post to post. It is always a treat to find one of these so far from home.
I don't think I could have picked a better bird for number 150 (and 151 came on the way home as JG and I had nice views of an Orange-crowned Warbler at Viaduct Flats).
Huge thanks to Jeremy and Ed for keeping track of the bird!
Good rarity hunting,
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Spring might be near????
I have grown a little tired of writing "went looking for Hutton's Vireo. As usual, didn't find it".
On Sunday, finally, I did locate one visually. I had decided to spend the morning walking around Royal Roads University in search of it, as well as any other migrants that may have shown up. There were lots of Ruby-crowned Kinglets singing from nearly every branch of every tree and bush, a noisy flock of Pine Siskins, a calling Pileated Woodpecker, and a calling Cooper's Hawk, plus the bonus Red Crossbill flock overhead. As I was about to give up, I noticed what I took at first for a kinglet on Ritalin, calmly preening in a shrub. Upon closer examination, it turned out to be my long-sought Big Year Nemesis, in the feather! The bird quietly worked through the shrub and a nearby tree, affording incredible views (and me with my camera in it's usual place, at home).
The past few days have been spent looking for arrivals at a few key locations. Observatory Hill has been my first stop on the way into the office every day this week, and after Monday's snow and Tuesday's wind, I had almost given up. This morning was calm and warm, but despite a thorough search, I only turned up my first Checklist Area Rufous Hummingbird of the year, plus a singing Yellow-rumped Warbler.
Afterward, a quick jaunt down to Viaduct Flats yielded two more species for my Big Year total in the form of 4 Northern Rough-winged Swallows and a male Common Yellowthroat. Up to 148, only 104 species and eight and a half months left!
All of the usual spots have failed to turn up a migrant teal, though there are still 8 or so representatives of the Green-winged variety at the pond at the corner of Burnside and Charlton. This afternoon, none of them seemed to mind the Red-tailed Hawk that was gathering nesting material on the edge of the pond 10ft away.
Still awaiting the arrival of Townsend's Solitaire........
Good birding,
On Sunday, finally, I did locate one visually. I had decided to spend the morning walking around Royal Roads University in search of it, as well as any other migrants that may have shown up. There were lots of Ruby-crowned Kinglets singing from nearly every branch of every tree and bush, a noisy flock of Pine Siskins, a calling Pileated Woodpecker, and a calling Cooper's Hawk, plus the bonus Red Crossbill flock overhead. As I was about to give up, I noticed what I took at first for a kinglet on Ritalin, calmly preening in a shrub. Upon closer examination, it turned out to be my long-sought Big Year Nemesis, in the feather! The bird quietly worked through the shrub and a nearby tree, affording incredible views (and me with my camera in it's usual place, at home).
The past few days have been spent looking for arrivals at a few key locations. Observatory Hill has been my first stop on the way into the office every day this week, and after Monday's snow and Tuesday's wind, I had almost given up. This morning was calm and warm, but despite a thorough search, I only turned up my first Checklist Area Rufous Hummingbird of the year, plus a singing Yellow-rumped Warbler.
Afterward, a quick jaunt down to Viaduct Flats yielded two more species for my Big Year total in the form of 4 Northern Rough-winged Swallows and a male Common Yellowthroat. Up to 148, only 104 species and eight and a half months left!
All of the usual spots have failed to turn up a migrant teal, though there are still 8 or so representatives of the Green-winged variety at the pond at the corner of Burnside and Charlton. This afternoon, none of them seemed to mind the Red-tailed Hawk that was gathering nesting material on the edge of the pond 10ft away.
Still awaiting the arrival of Townsend's Solitaire........
Good birding,
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Brant Festival Big Day!
April 9th was the Brant Festival Big Day competition. This year, the competition took a different form, as it was not officially attached to the Brant Festival. However, Rhys Harrison and Sandra Gray did a fantastic job organizing and setting it up, with 57 birders from 15 teams taking part. The weather was also very cooperative, and even an accident south of Ugly Dwarf Fields that caused delays and detours for most of the afternoon couldn't dampen spirits.
My team, The Stellar J's, made up of myself, Jeremy Gatten, Jamie Fenneman, and Jason Kimm, had a great time of it, taking advatage of the great weather and racking up a total of 114 species. We ended up losing about 45 minutes of birding (and never made it to Ugly Dwarf) because of the accident, but managed to laugh it off (I don't think our team actually stopped laughing between 3am and 5pm, I was very fortunate to have such a fantastic and fun team!) and pick up two new species for the day, one while stuck in traffic (Rufous Hummingbird) and one on the detour (American Kestrel).
As for the birding, our total of 114 was good enough to finish first overall, and Jeremy Gatten's eagle eyes pulled an adult Iceland Gull out from the masses at the Englishman River Estuary, which was voted Bird of the Day. We had a few notable misses (Hairy Woodpecker being the big one) and some tense moments when we thought we were also going to miss Tree Swallow and Northern Shoveler. We also ended up running very short on time, and arrived at our last destination, a revisit to Hamilton Marsh, with about five minutes left in regulation time. What a sight it must have been to see four birders with scopes running down the trail to the marsh, dodging the others on the trail without a look back. We made it down to the marsh with about 60 seconds left, and managed to pick up Cliff Swallow and Tree Swallow to end with our 114 (actually 115 minus Collared Dove).
Other highlights for the day (aside from the great company and camraderie) were an immature Glaucous Gull at French Creek, a breeding plumage Eared Grebe at Qualicum Beach, and huge numbers of scoters and loons. Notably absent were expected warblers (we had only 1 Orange-crowned Warbler and small numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers).
Huge thanks again to Rhys and Sandra, and a special thank you to the rest of the Stellar J's for an incredible day!
Looking forward to next year!
Good birding,
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Baillie Birdathon
Yes Ladies and Gentlemen, it is that time of year again!
This year I have decided to do the Baillie Birdathon (my first), figuring that if I am already doing a Big Year, why not take just one of those days, make it really, really Big, and help out Rocky Point Bird Observatory and Bird Studies Canada!
To sponsor me, please visit My Sponsorship Page. A portion of everything raised will come home to RPBO, and help us where we need it! My personal goal is to raise $500, but I sure hope to top that! Bird Studies Canada also provides a tax receipt for all donations above $10!
I haven't yet decided on the day, but it will be a 24 hour period in May.... stay tuned!
Good birding,
This year I have decided to do the Baillie Birdathon (my first), figuring that if I am already doing a Big Year, why not take just one of those days, make it really, really Big, and help out Rocky Point Bird Observatory and Bird Studies Canada!
To sponsor me, please visit My Sponsorship Page. A portion of everything raised will come home to RPBO, and help us where we need it! My personal goal is to raise $500, but I sure hope to top that! Bird Studies Canada also provides a tax receipt for all donations above $10!
I haven't yet decided on the day, but it will be a 24 hour period in May.... stay tuned!
Good birding,
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
First Osprey!
Well, it has been a week of not much birding at all. Between work and the weather, I haven't been able to make it out nearly as much as I would have liked, and the times I have gotten out have been almost unbearably quiet. I spent a few days chasing down Mountain Bluebird reports to no avail, as well as checking other likely spots for them.
Yesterday, finally, a new species for the year! I was doing some banking at Colwood Corners, when I heard a familiar, but lately absent, call. Looking up, I saw a pair of Ospreys circling their former nesting location near Juan de Fuca Rec Centre (the nest was blown down over the winter, and the poles in the area altered to make them unsuitable for nest construction). I can imagine the confusion of the returning birds, wondering where their nest had gone. Hopefully the new pole and nesting platform that have been promised will be put up in time for this years nesters to take advantage of it!
Aside from that, the migrants have yet to appear. I spent this morning looking (again) for Hutton's Vireo, and hoping for a Townsend's Solitaire, but Observatory Hill had only juncos, and a gathering of perhaps 25 ravens that were taking great and vocal delight in harrassing an immature Bald Eagle. I can't recall running into this many ravens at once, nor being unable to hear anything else through the sound of them all croaking and calling at once. Oh well, the year is still young.
Good birding,
Yesterday, finally, a new species for the year! I was doing some banking at Colwood Corners, when I heard a familiar, but lately absent, call. Looking up, I saw a pair of Ospreys circling their former nesting location near Juan de Fuca Rec Centre (the nest was blown down over the winter, and the poles in the area altered to make them unsuitable for nest construction). I can imagine the confusion of the returning birds, wondering where their nest had gone. Hopefully the new pole and nesting platform that have been promised will be put up in time for this years nesters to take advantage of it!
Aside from that, the migrants have yet to appear. I spent this morning looking (again) for Hutton's Vireo, and hoping for a Townsend's Solitaire, but Observatory Hill had only juncos, and a gathering of perhaps 25 ravens that were taking great and vocal delight in harrassing an immature Bald Eagle. I can't recall running into this many ravens at once, nor being unable to hear anything else through the sound of them all croaking and calling at once. Oh well, the year is still young.
Good birding,
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