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3 Jul Re: Finch? Grosbeak? HELP! [Tammy Proctor ] 3 Jul INDIGO BUNTING and ALDER FLYCATCHER still present near Dot Ranch ["Wayne Weber" ] 04 Jul Pink Mountain ["Jim H Davis" ] 04 Jul Re: Finch? Grosbeak? HELP! ["douglasbrown01" ] 3 Jul Re: Finch? Grosbeak? HELP! [Laure Neish ] 03 Jul Finch? Grosbeak? HELP! ["sue_thomson51" ] 03 Jul Re: Spruce Grouse ["drdrdrx" ] 2 Jul Spruce Grouse [Chris Charlesworth ] 29 Jun Re: White Pelicans [Jack Bowling ] 30 Jun Golden atlasing ["douglasbrown01" ] 29 Jun RE: White Pelicans ["Rick Howie" ] 29 Jun Wood Duck on Powers Creek ["drdrdrx" ] 29 Jun RFI birding sites Banff, Jasper, Whistler, Vancouver ["Michael Knoll" ] 29 Jun Re: White Pelicans ["Phil Ranson" ] 29 Jun Re: White Pelicans [Jack Bowling ] 28 Jun Re: Turkey Vultures [Jack Bowling ] 28 Jun White Pelicans ["Rick Howie" ] 28 Jun Turkey Vultures [Randy Rawluk ] 28 Jun Nanaimo,Vancouver Island-- bird alert--June 28, 2009, ["backyard_store" ] 27 Jun Bridesville atlasing ["douglasbrown01" ] 26 Jun RE: South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) ["Rick Howie" ] 26 Jun Re: South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) [Gary Davidson ] 26 Jun RE: Re: South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) ["Katharine Shewchuk" ] 26 Jun Re: South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) ["Dianne C." ] 25 Jun kelowna atlassing [Chris Charlesworth ] 24 Jun Re: South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) ["Dick Cannings" ] 24 Jun Re: sage thrasher ["Dick Cannings" ] 24 Jun Re: Cultivating the Wild ["D. Atwater" ] 24 Jun Re: South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) [Laure Neish ] 24 Jun Re: South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) [Michael Lancaster ] 24 Jun Banding intern position available at Rocky Point Bird Observatory ["Ann Nightingale" ] 23 Jun South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) [Laure Neish ] 23 Jun Re: Fort Nelson [Russell Cannings ] 23 Jun sage thrasher ["douglasbrown01" ] 22 Jun Re: Cultivating the Wild [Gwynneth Wilson ] 22 Jun Cultivating the Wild [Jim Mitchell ] 22 Jun Bridesville atlasing ["douglasbrown01" ] 21 Jun Re: Re: [Terning to Willows [RICK HOWIE ] 21 Jun Kelowna to Calgary [Chris Charlesworth ] 21 Jun Nanaimo,Vancouver Island-- bird alert--June 21, 2009, ["backyard_store" ] 21 Jun Re: How many cavity nesters fit in one tree? [Russell Cannings ] 21 Jun Re: Re: [Terning to Willows [Michael Lancaster ] 20 Jun Re: How many cavity nesters fit in one tree? [RICK HOWIE ] 20 Jun Re: [Terning to Willows [RICK HOWIE ] 20 Jun terns [Gwynneth Wilson ] 20 Jun How many cavity nesters fit in one tree? [Les Gyug ] 20 Jun Re: Arctic Tern [Michael Lancaster ] 20 Jun "Narcissus Flycatcher" ["sue_thomson51" ] 19 Jun Re: Arctic Tern [RICK HOWIE ] 19 Jun Re: Arctic Tern [Jim Mitchell ] 19 Jun Re: Arctic Tern ["Phil Ranson" ] 19 Jun Re: Arctic Tern [Russell Cannings ] 19 Jun Arctic Tern ["Phil Ranson" ] 18 Jun Alki Lake avocets [Michael Force ] 18 Jun Indigo Bunting at Dot Ranch ["Dick Cannings" ] 18 Jun Re: Western Meadowlark [Tammy Proctor ] 18 Jun Western Meadowlark [Greenie ] 17 Jun Osoyoos to Vancouver [Chris Charlesworth ] 16 Jun South Okanagan birding [Chris Charlesworth ] 16 Jun Green Heron and Great Egret ["nogwon2003" ] 16 Jun grebe nest at OK Falls channel [Janna Leslie ] 15 Jun Okanagan birding [Chris Charlesworth ] 16 Jun Pinnacle Lake Area Birds ["drdrdrx" ] 15 Jun Eurasian Collared-Dove Lake Country [Michael Force ] 15 Jun Kelowna birding [Chris Charlesworth ] 14 Jun Nanaimo,Vancouver Island-- bird alert--June 14, 2009, ["backyard_store" ] 14 Jun Black Road 'Cabin' list grows [Emily and Geoff Styles ] 14 Jun Washington Trip Info Needed STAT ["Ryan" ] 13 Jun Kamloops to Kelowna [Chris Charlesworth ] 12 Jun Kamloops Birding [Chris Charlesworth ] 12 Jun possible Ash-throated Flycatcher near Penticton ["Dick Cannings" ] 12 Jun new point count procedure for atlassing ["Dick Cannings" ] 12 Jun new point count procedure for atlassing ["Dick Cannings" ] 12 Jun Townsend's Solitaire - feeding young ["Dianne C." ] 11 Jun Salmon Arm birds [Chris Charlesworth ] 11 Jun Oliver -- Osoyoos birds ["A & J Ginns" ] Subject: Re: Finch? Grosbeak? HELP! From: Tammy Proctor <birdsonly4me AT yahoo.ca> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 22:27:46 -0700 (PDT) It looks like a male House Sparrow to me. If you look in the book you can see that the feather pattern matches. Tammy Ashcroft ________________________________ From: sue_thomson51 To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, July 3, 2009 4:50:01 PM Subject: [bcintbird] Finch? Grosbeak? HELP! I was at Rotary March yesterday and found this little bird in one of the willow trees. Have no idea what it is but I have guessed finches and grosbeaks and am no closer to knowing. I have looked at all the grosbeaks I can think of and am thinking it may be a female "something", but that red on the back of the head has me baffled. I put 4 pics in my album here ... http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/bcintbird/ photos/album/ 702623206/ pic/737086790/ view?picmode= &mode=tn& order=ordinal& start=1&count= 20&dir=asc It appears there are two little ones in the osprey nest there, too. I also heard, but could not identify, a birdsong. It was three sharp whistles followed by a lot of "twiddling" then faded off. It repeated and repeated, but I couldn't see any bird but the osprey at that time - and I highly doubt that was it - LOL Your help is appreciated. Cheers, Sue __________________________________________________________________ The new Internet Explorer® 8 - Faster, safer, easier. Optimized for Yahoo! Get it Now for Free! at http://downloads.yahoo.com/ca/internetexplorer/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: INDIGO BUNTING and ALDER FLYCATCHER still present near Dot Ranch From: "Wayne Weber" <contopus AT telus.net> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 19:38:43 -0700 Birders, The male INDIGO BUNTING and ALDER FLYCATCHER near the Dot Ranch (about halfway between Merritt and Spences Bridge)-- first found by me on June 17th and June 19th respectively-- were both still present and actively singing on June 29th, when I did some point counts for the Breeding Bird Atlas in the vicinity (atlas square 10FA36). In case anyone is interested in looking for the Indigo Bunting-- it is along the Dot Ranch Cutoff Road (a loop road which leaves Highway 8 about 32 km from Merritt, and then returns to the highway about 3 km farther north). Coming from the Merritt end, turn off Highway 8 and proceed 0.5 km along the Dot Ranch Cutoff Road. Just near the bottom of the hill where the road reaches the Nicola River floodplain, you will see some small, half-dead aspen trees on the left (damaged in a fire a year or two ago). The bunting tends to sing from or near these aspens, and is a very persistent singer. I obtained some mediocre (a bit far away) but identifiable photos of the bird on a fence post. If you are coming from the other direction, the Indigo is about 2.2 km past the Dot Ranch itself (conspicuous sign by the roadside). There are lots of Lazuli Buntings in the vicinity as well. The Alder Flycatcher is not far away. From the south junction of the Dot Ranch Cutoff Road with Highway 8 (a look at Google Maps may be helpful), proceed 0.9 km along Highway 8 toward Merritt. You can park on the highway shoulder just before the start of a concrete guard rail, but be careful-- there isn't much room here. The bird is singing from alders and other shrubs near some small ponds on the Nicola floodplain. There are also several Willow Flycatchers nearby. The Alder Fly is only slightly out of range, unlike the Indigo Bunting. However, because of the length of time both have been on territory, they would both be considered "probable" breeders for the Atlas project. For the record, an Alder Flycatcher has been recorded at this same spot on my Canford BBS route almost every year since 2002. If this is the same bird, it's a long-lived one! Wayne C. Weber Delta, BC contopus AT telus.net Subject: Pink Mountain From: "Jim H Davis" <davismpe AT telusplanet.net> Date: Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:05:20 -0000 July 3rd, 2009. Back for a third summer and fall at Pink Mountain - Wonowon. Drove from Sikanni River to the Pink Mountain Plateau. It was a quiet day birdwise, due to the weather, 12C in the valley, 6C on the mountain with sporadic rain and hail! On the plateau, found both a Northern Shrike and one of two Mountain Bluebirds carrying food. Other birds up top: many Horned Lark, and American Pipit, a Townsend's Solitaire, Y-r Warblers, D-e Junco, Savannah and Chipping Sparrows, a Raven, some Robins. In the valley and on the slopes: lots of Tennessee Warblers, a Ruffed Grouse, and a few Barn Swallows. Good birding, Jim Davis, Pink Mountain (Calgary) Subject: Re: Finch? Grosbeak? HELP! From: "douglasbrown01" <douglasbrown01 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:44:47 -0000 Hi Sue; Not the best angles on your bird but you're right that the bird is a finch, actually a weaver finch. The bird is a male House Sparrow. I don't see the reddish you mentioned on the head but they do have reddish brown on the back of the crown/nape. Doug Brown --- In bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com, "sue_thomson51" wrote: > > I was at Rotary March yesterday and found this little bird in one of the willow trees. Have no idea what it is but I have guessed finches and grosbeaks and am no closer to knowing. I have looked at all the grosbeaks I can think of and am thinking it may be a female "something", but that red on the back of the head has me baffled. I put 4 pics in my album here ... > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcintbird/photos/album/702623206/pic/737086790/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc > > It appears there are two little ones in the osprey nest there, too. > > I also heard, but could not identify, a birdsong. It was three sharp whistles followed by a lot of "twiddling" then faded off. It repeated and repeated, but I couldn't see any bird but the osprey at that time - and I highly doubt that was it - LOL > > Your help is appreciated. > > Cheers, > Sue > Subject: Re: Finch? Grosbeak? HELP! From: Laure Neish <natureneish AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 17:18:34 -0700 HI Sue, Your bird looks like a male House Sparrow. Laure On Fri, Jul 3, 2009 at 4:50 PM, sue_thomson51 wrote: > > > I was at Rotary March yesterday and found this little bird in one of the > willow trees. Have no idea what it is but I have guessed finches and > grosbeaks and am no closer to knowing. I have looked at all the grosbeaks I > can think of and am thinking it may be a female "something", but that red on > the back of the head has me baffled. I put 4 pics in my album here ... > > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcintbird/photos/album/702623206/pic/737086790/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc > > It appears there are two little ones in the osprey nest there, too. > > I also heard, but could not identify, a birdsong. It was three sharp > whistles followed by a lot of "twiddling" then faded off. It repeated and > repeated, but I couldn't see any bird but the osprey at that time - and I > highly doubt that was it - LOL > > Your help is appreciated. > > Cheers, > Sue > > > -- Canon 40D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Laure Wilson Neish Penticton, BC Canada http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Finch? Grosbeak? HELP! From: "sue_thomson51" <s_thomson AT telus.net> Date: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:50:01 -0000 I was at Rotary March yesterday and found this little bird in one of the willow trees. Have no idea what it is but I have guessed finches and grosbeaks and am no closer to knowing. I have looked at all the grosbeaks I can think of and am thinking it may be a female "something", but that red on the back of the head has me baffled. I put 4 pics in my album here ... http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcintbird/photos/album/702623206/pic/737086790/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc It appears there are two little ones in the osprey nest there, too. I also heard, but could not identify, a birdsong. It was three sharp whistles followed by a lot of "twiddling" then faded off. It repeated and repeated, but I couldn't see any bird but the osprey at that time - and I highly doubt that was it - LOL Your help is appreciated. Cheers, Sue Subject: Re: Spruce Grouse From: "drdrdrx" <drdrdrx AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:23:43 -0000 There are 2 pairs of Lewis's Woodpeckers on the Westside not far Gellatly Bay, 1 of which is definitely nesting. In all likelihood the second pair is as well but I haven't confirmed this yet. --- In bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com, Chris Charlesworth wrote: > > > Birders, > > > > I joined 13 other Kelowna birders today and we visited the areas E. of Kelowna along Hwy 33. Our first stop, in the brilliant sunshine I might add, was at Penny's Garden Center were we had excellent looks at two LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS entering nest holes and feeding young. Here's a species that has taken a huge hit in recent years. Even just 20 years ago I can remember seeing them nesting at up to half a dozen sites around Kelowna. This, to my knowledge, is the only 'known' nest site in the area now? Please fill me in on more! Also at Penny's Garden Center there were LAZULI BUNTINGS, EASTERN KINGBIRDS, WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, AMERICAN KESTRELS and a GOLDEN EAGLE soaring overhead. > > > > We then headed up to Philpott Road where we did a little atlassing and confirmed breeding for MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET in one particular square. Lots of nice things in the woods up there today including NASHVILLE, ORANGE-CROWNED, YELLOW-RUMPED and TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, CASSIN'S and WARBLING VIREOS, SWAINSON'S THRUSHES and a calling AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. A nice adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen well along Philpott Rd as well > > > > We then made a trek to Ideal Lake where there were few birds. Big highlight today, up near Ideal Lake, was a stunning male SPRUCE GROUSE strolling across the road. Very nice. > > > > > > That's all for now, > > > > Chris Charlesworth > Kelowna, BC > > Avocet Tours > > www.avocettours.ca > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > We are your photos. Share us now with Windows Live Photos. > http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9666047 > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Subject: Spruce Grouse From: Chris Charlesworth <c_charlesworth23 AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 21:57:43 -0700 Birders, I joined 13 other Kelowna birders today and we visited the areas E. of Kelowna along Hwy 33. Our first stop, in the brilliant sunshine I might add, was at Penny's Garden Center were we had excellent looks at two LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS entering nest holes and feeding young. Here's a species that has taken a huge hit in recent years. Even just 20 years ago I can remember seeing them nesting at up to half a dozen sites around Kelowna. This, to my knowledge, is the only 'known' nest site in the area now? Please fill me in on more! Also at Penny's Garden Center there were LAZULI BUNTINGS, EASTERN KINGBIRDS, WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, AMERICAN KESTRELS and a GOLDEN EAGLE soaring overhead. We then headed up to Philpott Road where we did a little atlassing and confirmed breeding for MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET in one particular square. Lots of nice things in the woods up there today including NASHVILLE, ORANGE-CROWNED, YELLOW-RUMPED and TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, CASSIN'S and WARBLING VIREOS, SWAINSON'S THRUSHES and a calling AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER. A nice adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen well along Philpott Rd as well We then made a trek to Ideal Lake where there were few birds. Big highlight today, up near Ideal Lake, was a stunning male SPRUCE GROUSE strolling across the road. Very nice. That's all for now, Chris Charlesworth Kelowna, BC Avocet Tours www.avocettours.ca _________________________________________________________________ We are your photos. Share us now with Windows Live Photos. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9666047 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: White Pelicans From: Jack Bowling <jbinpg AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:28:45 -0700 About 5 or so years ago, maybe more, there was a complete failure of one of the biggest breeding colonies of pelicans in Nebraska (I think it was). Some of these birds definitely made it northwest into the c. interior of BC and we had records from lakes east of Fort St James, the farthest north we had detected them yet. If I recall correctly, flock sizes were in the hundreds. Perhaps there has been another nesting failure somewhere. Jack Bowling PG On Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 06:39:22PM -0700, Rick Howie wrote: > Good grief! This is more than staggering and well exceeds our breeding > population. From whence do they "float" as Jack noted. I have never > heard of such numbers but then again, there is much that I never hear > of. > Rick > > -----Original Message----- > From: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com] On > Behalf Of Phil Ranson > Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 9:18 AM > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > Subject: Re: [bcintbird] White Pelicans > > > > > > Adrian Leather reported a staggering estimate of 1500 Pelicans on > Pantage Lake NW of Quesnel yesterday. > > Phil > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Jack Bowling > To: bcintbird AT yahoogrou ps.com > Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 7:55 AM > Subject: Re: [bcintbird] White Pelicans > > On Sun, Jun 28, 2009 at 09:07:47PM -0700, Rick Howie wrote: > > Enroute to Tatlayoko on June 16, we noted 6 pelicans on Williams Lake > at > > various places. On June 23, there were 90 pelicans circling as if to > > land during the evening near Beaverdam Lake northwest of Clinton. > > Origins of any of these birds are of interest. Non-breeders from the > > Stum Lake population or Washington birds? We also had 2 adult Sandhill > > Cranes with 2 chicks along the Meadow Lake Road northwest of Clinton > on > > June 16. > > > > Rick - There have been a hundred or so "floater" Am. White Pelicans > south > of Vanderhoof on Nulki and Tachick Lakes for at least 15 years now. > Biologists have been doing banding and tagging but I'm not sure if they > have determined if they are from Stum Lk or elsewhere. Some are of > breeding > age with the bill plates, etc., so one wonders if we birders are not > detecting a 2nd breeding colony in BC. > > Jack Bowling > PG > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Subject: Golden atlasing From: "douglasbrown01" <douglasbrown01 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:28:22 -0000 Hi all; Finally getting around to posting on my trip. I spent 10 days (June 10-19) doing point counts and atlasing in the Golden region. All the squares I covered were west of Golden in the Kinbasket Lake and Donald areas. The best bird by far was the adult male Summer Tanager which I found on June 11th along the Bush River FSR on the way to Kinbasket Lake. The bird popped up on top of a bush only 15 metres away, sat for a few seconds and then flew off toward the far side of a large marshy area. I stopped by the spot several more times during my stay but never relocated the bird. Also of interest was 2 singing Gray-cheeked Thrushes, one near the top of the Bush-Bluewater FSR at around 1600 metres elevation, while the second was at similar elevation near the top of the Quartz Creek FSR. Here's the complete list of specoes. Canada Goose Mallard Redhead Ring-necked Duck Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Ruffed Grouse Spruce Grouse Dusky Grouse Common Loon Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Sharp-shinned Hawk Broad-winged Hawk-1 seen along Quartz Creek FSR Red-tailed Hawk Sora American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Wilson's Snipe Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Common Nighthawk Vaux's Swift Rufous Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Red-naped Sapsucker Hairy Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Olive-sided Flycatcher Western Wood-Pewee Alder Flycatcher Willow Flycatcher Hammond's Flycatcher Dusky Flycatcher Cassin's Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Gray Jay Steller's Jay Clark's Nutcracker American Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Mountain Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Boreal Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Winter Wren Marsh Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Townsend's Solitaire Veery Gray-cheeked Thrush-1 singing on Bush-Bluewater FSR, 1 singing on Oldman Creek FSR, both birds near edge of alpine habitat Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush American Robin Varied Thrush Cedar Waxwing Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow Warbler Magnolia Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler-both subspecies Townsend's Warbler American Redstart Northern Waterthrush MacGillivray's Warbler Common Yellowthroat Wilson's Warbler Western Tanager Summer Tanager-adult male on Bush River FSR Chipping Sparrow Clay-colored Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird Pine Grosbeak Purple Finch House Finch Pine Siskin Evening Grosbeak Doug Nrown Subject: RE: White Pelicans From: "Rick Howie" <r.howie AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:39:22 -0700 Good grief! This is more than staggering and well exceeds our breeding population. From whence do they "float" as Jack noted. I have never heard of such numbers but then again, there is much that I never hear of. Rick -----Original Message----- From: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Phil Ranson Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 9:18 AM To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [bcintbird] White Pelicans Adrian Leather reported a staggering estimate of 1500 Pelicans on Pantage Lake NW of Quesnel yesterday. Phil ----- Original Message ----- From: Jack Bowling To: bcintbird AT yahoogrou ps.com Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 7:55 AM Subject: Re: [bcintbird] White Pelicans On Sun, Jun 28, 2009 at 09:07:47PM -0700, Rick Howie wrote: > Enroute to Tatlayoko on June 16, we noted 6 pelicans on Williams Lake at > various places. On June 23, there were 90 pelicans circling as if to > land during the evening near Beaverdam Lake northwest of Clinton. > Origins of any of these birds are of interest. Non-breeders from the > Stum Lake population or Washington birds? We also had 2 adult Sandhill > Cranes with 2 chicks along the Meadow Lake Road northwest of Clinton on > June 16. > Rick - There have been a hundred or so "floater" Am. White Pelicans south of Vanderhoof on Nulki and Tachick Lakes for at least 15 years now. Biologists have been doing banding and tagging but I'm not sure if they have determined if they are from Stum Lk or elsewhere. Some are of breeding age with the bill plates, etc., so one wonders if we birders are not detecting a 2nd breeding colony in BC. Jack Bowling PG [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Wood Duck on Powers Creek From: "drdrdrx" <drdrdrx AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:37:19 -0000 A female wood duck was on powers creek near the Gellatly Nut Farm yesterday. I assume she has young and/or a nest in the area as she did her best to attract my attention with a feigned wing injury. Subject: RFI birding sites Banff, Jasper, Whistler, Vancouver From: "Michael Knoll" <michi_knoll AT gmx.net> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:45:04 +0200 Hi! I'm a birdwatcher from Germany and going to visit British Columbia (and partly Alberta) with my family next week. We're arriving at Calgary and will then drive to Vancouver via Banff, Yoho and Jasper National Parks and Whistler, respectively. It's a family holiday (additionally, during a relatively bad time of year) and no hardcore birding trip, but as I haven't been to the area before, there will still be plenty of new species for me. Therefore I wanted to ask you, if there are any especially good and rewarding sites along the forementioned route, you would recommend. My plan so far would be, to try as many different kinds of habitat as possible, e.g. lakes, marshes, woods at different elevations etc. In Whistler, I'm planning to take one of the skilifts to a higher area - is there a certain mountain, you would recommend? In Vancouver, Reifel Sanctuary and Iona Sewage Ponds seem to be the best bets. Thank you very much in advance for your help!!! All the best, Michael ---------------------------------------- Michael Knoll Munich, Germany michi_knoll AT gmx.net -- Neu: GMX Doppel-FLAT mit Internet-Flatrate + Telefon-Flatrate für nur 19,99 Euro/mtl.!* http://portal.gmx.net/de/go/dsl02 Subject: Re: White Pelicans From: "Phil Ranson" <ranson1 AT telus.net> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:18:26 -0700 Adrian Leather reported a staggering estimate of 1500 Pelicans on Pantage Lake NW of Quesnel yesterday. Phil ----- Original Message ----- From: Jack Bowling To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 7:55 AM Subject: Re: [bcintbird] White Pelicans On Sun, Jun 28, 2009 at 09:07:47PM -0700, Rick Howie wrote: > Enroute to Tatlayoko on June 16, we noted 6 pelicans on Williams Lake at > various places. On June 23, there were 90 pelicans circling as if to > land during the evening near Beaverdam Lake northwest of Clinton. > Origins of any of these birds are of interest. Non-breeders from the > Stum Lake population or Washington birds? We also had 2 adult Sandhill > Cranes with 2 chicks along the Meadow Lake Road northwest of Clinton on > June 16. > Rick - There have been a hundred or so "floater" Am. White Pelicans south of Vanderhoof on Nulki and Tachick Lakes for at least 15 years now. Biologists have been doing banding and tagging but I'm not sure if they have determined if they are from Stum Lk or elsewhere. Some are of breeding age with the bill plates, etc., so one wonders if we birders are not detecting a 2nd breeding colony in BC. Jack Bowling PG [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: White Pelicans From: Jack Bowling <jbinpg AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:55:44 -0700 On Sun, Jun 28, 2009 at 09:07:47PM -0700, Rick Howie wrote: > Enroute to Tatlayoko on June 16, we noted 6 pelicans on Williams Lake at > various places. On June 23, there were 90 pelicans circling as if to > land during the evening near Beaverdam Lake northwest of Clinton. > Origins of any of these birds are of interest. Non-breeders from the > Stum Lake population or Washington birds? We also had 2 adult Sandhill > Cranes with 2 chicks along the Meadow Lake Road northwest of Clinton on > June 16. > Rick - There have been a hundred or so "floater" Am. White Pelicans south of Vanderhoof on Nulki and Tachick Lakes for at least 15 years now. Biologists have been doing banding and tagging but I'm not sure if they have determined if they are from Stum Lk or elsewhere. Some are of breeding age with the bill plates, etc., so one wonders if we birders are not detecting a 2nd breeding colony in BC. Jack Bowling PG Subject: Re: Turkey Vultures From: Jack Bowling <jbinpg AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:00:46 -0700 On Sun, Jun 28, 2009 at 08:35:24PM -0800, Randy Rawluk wrote: > Hi All: > While returning from a trip to Horsefly today we spotted 6 Turkey > Vultures kettling about 5k north of the Macalister siding, north of > Williams Lake. Also 9 American White Pelicans at Scout Island, first > ever for Scout Island for me. > Great sighting, Randy. I don't think there has ever been a sighting of more than a single Turkey Vulture at a time north of 100 Mile House. Jack Bowling PG Subject: White Pelicans From: "Rick Howie" <r.howie AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:07:47 -0700 Enroute to Tatlayoko on June 16, we noted 6 pelicans on Williams Lake at various places. On June 23, there were 90 pelicans circling as if to land during the evening near Beaverdam Lake northwest of Clinton. Origins of any of these birds are of interest. Non-breeders from the Stum Lake population or Washington birds? We also had 2 adult Sandhill Cranes with 2 chicks along the Meadow Lake Road northwest of Clinton on June 16. Rick Howie Kamloops, BC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Turkey Vultures From: Randy Rawluk <rawluk AT fsjames.com> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:35:24 -0800 Hi All: While returning from a trip to Horsefly today we spotted 6 Turkey Vultures kettling about 5k north of the Macalister siding, north of Williams Lake. Also 9 American White Pelicans at Scout Island, first ever for Scout Island for me. Randy Rawluk Fort St. James Subject: Nanaimo,Vancouver Island-- bird alert--June 28, 2009, From: "backyard_store" <thebackyard AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:04:46 -0000 The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store Nanaimo Bird Alert To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 e-mail us at thebackyard AT shaw.ca call the Bird Alert at 250-390-3029 Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Post your sightings on this site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages Birds of British Columbia: http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html International Birdwatching Guides http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching with: http://www.birdingpal.org/ Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number, along with the date, name and location of your sighting. Sunday June 28, 2009: The Sunday Bird Walk went to McGregor Marsh in Nanaimo. The morning was sunny but cool. The highlights included seeing two Belted Kingfishers at the first marsh at the start of the walk. We saw and heard Willow Flycatchers and a Black-headed Grosbeak singing. Cedar Waxwings were perched on snags above a marsh. A Merlin flew in above the marsh to end the walk. Seventeen birders saw and heard the following thirty-six species of birds: Turkey Vulture, Mallard, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Bald Eagle, Merlin, California Quail, Band-tailed Pigeon, Anna's Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Willow Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Belted Kingfisher, Warbling Vireo, Violet-green Swallow, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven ,Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Purple Finch, House Finch and American Goldfinch. The male American Kestrel was seen again on the hydro lines overlooking the Ugly Dwarf Meadows at Nanoose Bay. Evening Grosbeaks have been visiting feeders in the 100 block of Meridian Way in Parksville. Saturday June 27: An American Kestrel was seen on the hydro lines overlooking the Ugly Dwarf Meadows at Nanoose Bay. Six Caspian Terns and two Osprey were seen on the flats at the Nanaimo River Estuary near the Living Forest Campground in south Nanaimo. Thursday June 25: A aberrant brown Pileated Woodpecker was seen in the Departure Bay area of Nanaimo. Wednesday June 24: Two Vesper Sparrows were seen along the fields at the Nanaimo Airport in south Nanaimo. Tuesday June 23: The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The morning was pleasant with periods of sunshine and was filled with bird songs. The highlights of the morning was seeing and hearing Willow Flycatchers and a Yellow Warbler singing. We saw a family of five Belted Kingfishers perched on a snag just above the River giving us close views as the young were being fed. Sixteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-two species of birds. Canada Goose, Common Merganser, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Glaucous-winged Gull, Rock Pigeon, Band-tailed Pigeon, Rufous Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Willow Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Winter Wren, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Brewer's Blackbird, Purple Finch and House Finch. An Evening Grosbeak was spotted near Dawkins Lane in Nanaimo. Monday June 22: A Great Horned Owl was seen perched by the north side trail about 150 meters east of the deep bay, at the western side of Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. A Ring-necked Pheasant was seen in the Chase River area near Beck Creek in south Nanaimo. Sunday June 21: Over ten Cedar Waxwings were seen near the Beaver Ponds at Morrell Wildlife Sanctuary in Nanaimo. Black-headed Grosbeaks are visiting feeders along Extension Road in south Nanaimo. A male and female California Quail with fourteen puffball chicks were seen in a yard in Fairwinds in Nanoose Bay. Saturday June 20: An adult female Lark Bunting was seen in the parking lot at Botanical Beach near Port Renfrew. Wednesday June 10: An Eastern Kingbird was spotted perching and flycatching on Mittlenatch Island. For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store AT (250) 390-3669 Toll Free AT 1-888-249-4145 e-mail: thebackyard AT shaw.ca ********************************** The Nanoose Naturalists Thursday September 10, 2009 AT 7:00 pm Nanoose Library, Nanoose Bay ********************************** Arrowsmith Naturalists Monday September 28, 2009 AT 7:30 pm. Springwood School Parksville ******************************** Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Tuesday mornings. We leave from the Store at 9 A.M. Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo and from the Parksville Beach Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area. ************************************************************** The Tuesday Bird Walk on June 30, 2009 will be going to the Plummer Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park near the parking area at the Lion's Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at about 9:20 a.m. ******************************************************* The Sunday Bird Walk on July 05 will be going to the Beaver Ponds in Nanoose Bay. Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking area about 100 yards past the fourway stop along Powerpoint Road at about 9:20 a.m. ******************************************************* Good birding Neil Robins Nanaimo British Columbia Subject: Bridesville atlasing From: "douglasbrown01" <douglasbrown01 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:14:47 -0000 Hi all; I went out early this morning for some atlasing on the Rock Creek-Bridesville Road. I had a young GREAT GRAY OWL, still showing some down, perched on the powerline by the driveway to #4910 on the road. This is about 500 metres from the area where I thought they may have been nesting. Still not a confirmed nesting but getting closer. Off to work now. Doug Brown Subject: RE: South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) From: "Rick Howie" <r.howie AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:45:33 -0700 HI Gary etal: Chris Charlesworth and I have had territorial calling in the Highland Valley during our past surveys there from 2005-2007 but we never found a nest. Not as far south as Pentincerton but Isuspect that this bird may be locally sprinkled around at upper elevations south of Gray Wells. In the Chilcotin last week, we had 4 very agitated birds dive bombing us so we suspect nesting there as well. Rick Howie Kamloops -----Original Message----- From: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Gary Davidson Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 2:23 PM To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [bcintbird] South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) Three or four years ago, I was camping near the Upper Kettle River south of the Monashee Highway between Cherryville and Needles. I encountered a very agitated Greater Yellowlegs. Further searching yielded 2 fully grown juvenile birds. I have no way of knowing for sure whether they were "local" birds or wheher they had migrated from further north. But the behaviour of the adult suggested that the young birds were still being cared for by the adult. Maybe the occasional pair do nest further south than we realise?! Gary --- On Wed, 6/24/09, Dick Cannings shaw.ca> wrote: From: Dick Cannings shaw.ca> Subject: Re: [bcintbird] South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) To: bcintbird AT yahoogrou ps.com Received: Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 9:49 PM Hi all: Interestingly, Deirdre and Jim Turnbull came across a *pair* of Greater Yellowlegs showing all the signs of defending young in a marsh north of Idleback Lake this morning. This is on the plateau east of Penticton--quite a breeding range extension for this species; the closest previous record is around Wells Gray Park I think. cheers Dick Cannings Penticon, BC ----- Original Message ----- From: Laure Neish To: BC interior birds list Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 2:14 PM Subject: [bcintbird] South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) Yesterday I heard a Clay-colored Sparrow singing near the Penticton airport, actually on the Penticton Indian band land. It has been a few years since I've heard this species here but it seems to be the same location as previous times. Kaleden was home to 2 pairs of confirmed nesting Lewis's Woodpeckers. One was gathering food and the other was entering a hole in a wooden powerline pole. http://natureniche. zenfolio. com/p49828674/ h23897441# h23897441 As I sat for quite awhile here I also noticed a Pygmy Nuthatch making repeated visits to an antelope brush plant and it too was feeding young in a nearby snag, with a hole only about 1.5 m off the ground. http://natureniche. zenfolio. com/p327466921/ h2af14bcf# h35429919 Compare this nuthatches head with the image just before it. They are different birds and one looks like its going through a molt of head feathers, not very attractive! At Sawmill Lake west of Oliver today, I found a few confirmed nesting birds for the Atlas. Chipping Sparrows were visiting a nest in a low hanging clump of ponderosa branches, a Red-naped Sapsucker pair was feeding young in a cavity along the dirt road and I was surprised to hear and then see yet another LARK SPARROW singing in the dry marsh off the south end of the lake (fenced off area). One more neat bird was a GREATER YELLOWLEGS. First I heard it calling at the west end of the lake, with the Killdeer pestering it. (They had chicks nearby) and later as I was leaving it was foraging along the shoreline. I took a few distant shots which I'll post later on zenfolio. Now, can I even include this as an X on the Atlas data? Laure -- Canon 40D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Laure Wilson Neish Penticton, BC Canada http://natureniche. zenfolio. com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.89/2197 - Release Date: 06/23/09 05:54:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] __________________________________________________________ Connect with friends from any web browser - no download required. Try the new Yahoo! Canada Messenger for the Web BETA at http://ca.messenger .yahoo.com/webmessengerpromo.php [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) From: Gary Davidson <gsd37 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:23:07 -0700 (PDT) Three or four years ago, I was camping near the Upper Kettle River south of the Monashee Highway between Cherryville and Needles.  I encountered a very agitated Greater Yellowlegs.  Further searching yielded 2 fully grown juvenile birds.  I have no way of knowing for sure whether they were "local" birds or wheher they had migrated from further north.  But the behaviour of the adult suggested that the young birds were still being cared for by the adult.  Maybe the occasional pair do nest further south than we realise?! Gary   --- On Wed, 6/24/09, Dick Cannings wrote: From: Dick Cannings Subject: Re: [bcintbird] South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Received: Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 9:49 PM Hi all: Interestingly, Deirdre and Jim Turnbull came across a *pair* of Greater Yellowlegs showing all the signs of defending young in a marsh north of Idleback Lake this morning. This is on the plateau east of Penticton--quite a breeding range extension for this species; the closest previous record is around Wells Gray Park I think. cheers Dick Cannings Penticon, BC ----- Original Message ----- From: Laure Neish To: BC interior birds list Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 2:14 PM Subject: [bcintbird] South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) Yesterday I heard a Clay-colored Sparrow singing near the Penticton airport, actually on the Penticton Indian band land. It has been a few years since I've heard this species here but it seems to be the same location as previous times. Kaleden was home to 2 pairs of confirmed nesting Lewis's Woodpeckers. One was gathering food and the other was entering a hole in a wooden powerline pole. http://natureniche. zenfolio. com/p49828674/ h23897441# h23897441 As I sat for quite awhile here I also noticed a Pygmy Nuthatch making repeated visits to an antelope brush plant and it too was feeding young in a nearby snag, with a hole only about 1.5 m off the ground. http://natureniche. zenfolio. com/p327466921/ h2af14bcf# h35429919 Compare this nuthatches head with the image just before it. They are different birds and one looks like its going through a molt of head feathers, not very attractive! At Sawmill Lake west of Oliver today, I found a few confirmed nesting birds for the Atlas. Chipping Sparrows were visiting a nest in a low hanging clump of ponderosa branches, a Red-naped Sapsucker pair was feeding young in a cavity along the dirt road and I was surprised to hear and then see yet another LARK SPARROW singing in the dry marsh off the south end of the lake (fenced off area). One more neat bird was a GREATER YELLOWLEGS. First I heard it calling at the west end of the lake, with the Killdeer pestering it. (They had chicks nearby) and later as I was leaving it was foraging along the shoreline. I took a few distant shots which I'll post later on zenfolio. Now, can I even include this as an X on the Atlas data? Laure -- Canon 40D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Laure Wilson Neish Penticton, BC Canada http://natureniche. zenfolio. com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.89/2197 - Release Date: 06/23/09 05:54:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] __________________________________________________________________ Connect with friends from any web browser - no download required. Try the new Yahoo! Canada Messenger for the Web BETA at http://ca.messenger.yahoo.com/webmessengerpromo.php [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: Re: South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) From: "Katharine Shewchuk" <ka_shewchuk AT telus.net> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:05:10 -0700 Only if they lie a lot. Katharine _____ From: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Dianne C. Sent: June 26, 2009 1:26 PM To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [bcintbird] Re: South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) Re: Pygmy Nuthatch. Wow! Look at that scruffy bird! Maybe it is really old? And it has a much longer bill than the other one. Do bird's bills keep growing throughout their lives, like people's noses? I came across a blind Least Sandpiper once that also looked scruffy and 'grizzled' and assumed it was very old. Dianne C. --- In bcintbird AT yahoogrou ps.com, "Dick Cannings" wrote: > > Hi all: > > Interestingly, Deirdre and Jim Turnbull came across a *pair* of Greater Yellowlegs showing all the signs of defending young in a marsh north of Idleback Lake this morning. This is on the plateau east of Penticton--quite a breeding range extension for this species; the closest previous record is around Wells Gray Park I think. > > cheers > Dick Cannings > Penticon, BC > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Laure Neish > To: BC interior birds list > Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 2:14 PM > Subject: [bcintbird] South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) > > > > > > Yesterday I heard a Clay-colored Sparrow singing near the Penticton airport, > actually on the Penticton Indian band land. It has been a few years since > I've heard this species here but it seems to be the same location as > previous times. Kaleden was home to 2 pairs of confirmed nesting Lewis's > Woodpeckers. One was gathering food and the other was entering a hole in a > wooden powerline pole. > http://natureniche. zenfolio.com/p49828674/h23897441#h23897441 > As I sat for quite awhile here I also noticed a Pygmy Nuthatch making > repeated visits to an antelope brush plant and it too was feeding young in a > nearby snag, with a hole only about 1.5 m off the ground. > http://natureniche. zenfolio.com/p327466921/h2af14bcf#h35429919 > Compare this nuthatches head with the image just before it. They are > different birds and one looks like its going through a molt of head > feathers, not very attractive! > > At Sawmill Lake west of Oliver today, I found a few confirmed nesting birds > for the Atlas. Chipping Sparrows were visiting a nest in a low hanging clump > of ponderosa branches, a Red-naped Sapsucker pair was feeding young in a > cavity along the dirt road and I was surprised to hear and then see yet > another LARK SPARROW singing in the dry marsh off the south end of the lake > (fenced off area). One more neat bird was a GREATER YELLOWLEGS. First I > heard it calling at the west end of the lake, with the Killdeer pestering > it. (They had chicks nearby) and later as I was leaving it was foraging > along the shoreline. I took a few distant shots which I'll post later on > zenfolio. > Now, can I even include this as an X on the Atlas data? > > Laure > > -- > Canon 40D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > Laure Wilson Neish > Penticton, BC Canada > http://natureniche. zenfolio.com/ > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.89/2197 - Release Date: 06/23/09 05:54:00 > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) From: "Dianne C." <dicooper AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:26:20 -0000 Re: Pygmy Nuthatch. Wow! Look at that scruffy bird! Maybe it is really old? And it has a much longer bill than the other one. Do bird's bills keep growing throughout their lives, like people's noses? I came across a blind Least Sandpiper once that also looked scruffy and 'grizzled' and assumed it was very old. Dianne C. --- In bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com, "Dick Cannings" wrote: > > Hi all: > > Interestingly, Deirdre and Jim Turnbull came across a *pair* of Greater Yellowlegs showing all the signs of defending young in a marsh north of Idleback Lake this morning. This is on the plateau east of Penticton--quite a breeding range extension for this species; the closest previous record is around Wells Gray Park I think. > > cheers > Dick Cannings > Penticon, BC > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Laure Neish > To: BC interior birds list > Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 2:14 PM > Subject: [bcintbird] South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) > > > > > > Yesterday I heard a Clay-colored Sparrow singing near the Penticton airport, > actually on the Penticton Indian band land. It has been a few years since > I've heard this species here but it seems to be the same location as > previous times. Kaleden was home to 2 pairs of confirmed nesting Lewis's > Woodpeckers. One was gathering food and the other was entering a hole in a > wooden powerline pole. > http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/p49828674/h23897441#h23897441 > As I sat for quite awhile here I also noticed a Pygmy Nuthatch making > repeated visits to an antelope brush plant and it too was feeding young in a > nearby snag, with a hole only about 1.5 m off the ground. > http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/p327466921/h2af14bcf#h35429919 > Compare this nuthatches head with the image just before it. They are > different birds and one looks like its going through a molt of head > feathers, not very attractive! > > At Sawmill Lake west of Oliver today, I found a few confirmed nesting birds > for the Atlas. Chipping Sparrows were visiting a nest in a low hanging clump > of ponderosa branches, a Red-naped Sapsucker pair was feeding young in a > cavity along the dirt road and I was surprised to hear and then see yet > another LARK SPARROW singing in the dry marsh off the south end of the lake > (fenced off area). One more neat bird was a GREATER YELLOWLEGS. First I > heard it calling at the west end of the lake, with the Killdeer pestering > it. (They had chicks nearby) and later as I was leaving it was foraging > along the shoreline. I took a few distant shots which I'll post later on > zenfolio. > Now, can I even include this as an X on the Atlas data? > > Laure > > -- > Canon 40D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > Laure Wilson Neish > Penticton, BC Canada > http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/ > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.89/2197 - Release Date: 06/23/09 05:54:00 > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Subject: kelowna atlassing From: Chris Charlesworth <c_charlesworth23 AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:48:47 -0700 Birders, I've been atlassing the area E. of Kelowna over the past few days. The areas in particular that I've been birding in are the Philpott Road and Three Forks Road. I've had a ton of SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, CHIPPING SPARROWS, CASSIN'S VIREOS, DARK-EYED JUNCOS and such in the mostly coniferous forests in these squares. Today I had a chickadee grand slam, finding BLACK-CAPPED, MOUNTAIN, BOREAL and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES on Philpott Road. I even managed to confirm breeding in one square. Also nice over the past couple of days have been both AMERICAN THREE TOED and BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS along Philpott Road. I ran intoBLACK BEAR and SNOWSHOE HARE today in the area. Down along Mission Ck in one particular square I had AMERICAN DIPPER and VEERY, both nice additions to the list. That's about all for now, Chris Charlesworth Kelowna, BC _________________________________________________________________ Create a cool, new character for your Windows Live™ Messenger. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9656621 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ To contact the moderator email bcintbird-owner AT yahoogroups.com Also, consider joining these groups. bcbirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com an all BC group. If you have pictures to share try this group. http://groups-beta.google.com/ From here you have to join the bcintbird-pics group before you can see the pictures. Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcintbird/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcintbird/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:bcintbird-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:bcintbird-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: bcintbird-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Re: South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) From: "Dick Cannings" <dickcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:49:06 -0700 Hi all: Interestingly, Deirdre and Jim Turnbull came across a *pair* of Greater Yellowlegs showing all the signs of defending young in a marsh north of Idleback Lake this morning. This is on the plateau east of Penticton--quite a breeding range extension for this species; the closest previous record is around Wells Gray Park I think. cheers Dick Cannings Penticon, BC ----- Original Message ----- From: Laure Neish To: BC interior birds list Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 2:14 PM Subject: [bcintbird] South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) Yesterday I heard a Clay-colored Sparrow singing near the Penticton airport, actually on the Penticton Indian band land. It has been a few years since I've heard this species here but it seems to be the same location as previous times. Kaleden was home to 2 pairs of confirmed nesting Lewis's Woodpeckers. One was gathering food and the other was entering a hole in a wooden powerline pole. http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/p49828674/h23897441#h23897441 As I sat for quite awhile here I also noticed a Pygmy Nuthatch making repeated visits to an antelope brush plant and it too was feeding young in a nearby snag, with a hole only about 1.5 m off the ground. http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/p327466921/h2af14bcf#h35429919 Compare this nuthatches head with the image just before it. They are different birds and one looks like its going through a molt of head feathers, not very attractive! At Sawmill Lake west of Oliver today, I found a few confirmed nesting birds for the Atlas. Chipping Sparrows were visiting a nest in a low hanging clump of ponderosa branches, a Red-naped Sapsucker pair was feeding young in a cavity along the dirt road and I was surprised to hear and then see yet another LARK SPARROW singing in the dry marsh off the south end of the lake (fenced off area). One more neat bird was a GREATER YELLOWLEGS. First I heard it calling at the west end of the lake, with the Killdeer pestering it. (They had chicks nearby) and later as I was leaving it was foraging along the shoreline. I took a few distant shots which I'll post later on zenfolio. Now, can I even include this as an X on the Atlas data? Laure -- Canon 40D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Laure Wilson Neish Penticton, BC Canada http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.89/2197 - Release Date: 06/23/09 05:54:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: sage thrasher From: "Dick Cannings" <dickcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:39:12 -0700 Hi Doug et al.: My brother Syd and Dave McCorquodale of Sydney NS were out atlassing this morning along the Shingle Creek Road west of Penticton and found a Sage Thrasher singing a few hundred metres south of the Bobtail Ranch. Together with Doug's sighting an interesting pattern here--no recent sightings at White Lake or Chopaka, but two or more in unusual spots.... cheers Dick Cannings Penticton, BC ----- Original Message ----- From: douglasbrown01 To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 8:05 PM Subject: [bcintbird] sage thrasher Hi all; I used the wet weather this morning for a chance to check the west Osoyoos bench for Black-throated Sparrow. Unfortunately almost nothing was singing in the cold damp weather but there was a Sage Thrasher out there singing from the top of one of the Russian Olive trees. A nice bonus bird. Doug Brown ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.88/2196 - Release Date: 06/22/09 18:11:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Cultivating the Wild From: "D. Atwater" <dorthea.atwater AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:51:32 -0000 If still looking, did you try The Bookshop in Penticton? Although primarily used books, they often carry new books by local authors. --dorthea --- In bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com, Jim Mitchell <2butcher AT ...> wrote: > > > I have been trying to find the book Cultivating the Wild by Eva > Durance. Does anyone know where I can find a copy of it. I have > looked everywhere. > > thanks > jim > Subject: Re: South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) From: Laure Neish <natureneish AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:42:47 -0700 Thanks Barry, I thought it was the female for the reasons you mentioned. The head feathers look quite sparse too besides being whitish. Do they molt like jays I wonder, where all the head feathers seem to shed at once and you see these late summer scruffy almost bald corvids lurking around in the neighbourhood.? Laure On Wed, Jun 24, 2009 at 6:03 AM, Michael Lancaster < mbl.tenbel AT googlemail.com> wrote: > > > Hi Laure, > There are several indications on the 'moulting' bird which indicates that > it is a worn first summer bird. My guess is that it is the female, since > only the female does the incubating and brooding and would therefore be more > likely to have worn feathers. > > Possibly the grey head feathers are white underneath anyway - they have a > white spot as you noted at the back of the head. Primaries and coverts are > brown and worn. Compare with the other bird. > > Barry > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Laure Neish > To: BC interior birds list > Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 2:14 PM > Subject: [bcintbird] South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill > Lake) > > Yesterday I heard a Clay-colored Sparrow singing near the Penticton > airport, > actually on the Penticton Indian band land. It has been a few years since > I've heard this species here but it seems to be the same location as > previous times. Kaleden was home to 2 pairs of confirmed nesting Lewis's > Woodpeckers. One was gathering food and the other was entering a hole in a > wooden powerline pole. > http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/p49828674/h23897441#h23897441 > As I sat for quite awhile here I also noticed a Pygmy Nuthatch making > repeated visits to an antelope brush plant and it too was feeding young in > a > nearby snag, with a hole only about 1.5 m off the ground. > http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/p327466921/h2af14bcf#h35429919 > Compare this nuthatches head with the image just before it. They are > different birds and one looks like its going through a molt of head > feathers, not very attractive! > > At Sawmill Lake west of Oliver today, I found a few confirmed nesting birds > for the Atlas. Chipping Sparrows were visiting a nest in a low hanging > clump > of ponderosa branches, a Red-naped Sapsucker pair was feeding young in a > cavity along the dirt road and I was surprised to hear and then see yet > another LARK SPARROW singing in the dry marsh off the south end of the lake > (fenced off area). One more neat bird was a GREATER YELLOWLEGS. First I > heard it calling at the west end of the lake, with the Killdeer pestering > it. (They had chicks nearby) and later as I was leaving it was foraging > along the shoreline. I took a few distant shots which I'll post later on > zenfolio. > Now, can I even include this as an X on the Atlas data? > > Laure > > -- > Canon 40D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > Laure Wilson Neish > Penticton, BC Canada > http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/ > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > -- Canon 40D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Laure Wilson Neish Penticton, BC Canada http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) From: Michael Lancaster <mbl.tenbel AT googlemail.com> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:03:35 -0700 Hi Laure, There are several indications on the 'moulting' bird which indicates that it is a worn first summer bird. My guess is that it is the female, since only the female does the incubating and brooding and would therefore be more likely to have worn feathers. Possibly the grey head feathers are white underneath anyway - they have a white spot as you noted at the back of the head. Primaries and coverts are brown and worn. Compare with the other bird. Barry ----- Original Message ----- From: Laure Neish To: BC interior birds list Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 2:14 PM Subject: [bcintbird] South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) Yesterday I heard a Clay-colored Sparrow singing near the Penticton airport, actually on the Penticton Indian band land. It has been a few years since I've heard this species here but it seems to be the same location as previous times. Kaleden was home to 2 pairs of confirmed nesting Lewis's Woodpeckers. One was gathering food and the other was entering a hole in a wooden powerline pole. http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/p49828674/h23897441#h23897441 As I sat for quite awhile here I also noticed a Pygmy Nuthatch making repeated visits to an antelope brush plant and it too was feeding young in a nearby snag, with a hole only about 1.5 m off the ground. http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/p327466921/h2af14bcf#h35429919 Compare this nuthatches head with the image just before it. They are different birds and one looks like its going through a molt of head feathers, not very attractive! At Sawmill Lake west of Oliver today, I found a few confirmed nesting birds for the Atlas. Chipping Sparrows were visiting a nest in a low hanging clump of ponderosa branches, a Red-naped Sapsucker pair was feeding young in a cavity along the dirt road and I was surprised to hear and then see yet another LARK SPARROW singing in the dry marsh off the south end of the lake (fenced off area). One more neat bird was a GREATER YELLOWLEGS. First I heard it calling at the west end of the lake, with the Killdeer pestering it. (They had chicks nearby) and later as I was leaving it was foraging along the shoreline. I took a few distant shots which I'll post later on zenfolio. Now, can I even include this as an X on the Atlas data? Laure -- Canon 40D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Laure Wilson Neish Penticton, BC Canada http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Banding intern position available at Rocky Point Bird Observatory From: "Ann Nightingale" <motmot AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:32:34 -0000 Hi Everyone, Once again, the Science Horizons Youth Internship Program is funding a position at RPBO. The details can be found here: http://rpbo.org/sciencehorizons.html To qualify for this particular program, the applicant must: * have graduated from a recognized post-secondary academic institution in one of the biological, environmental or related disciplines * be out of school (fulltime studies) * be unemployed or under-employed young scientists or post-secondary graduates in the sciences who are 30 years of age or under * be legally entitled to work in Canada (This includes permanent residents of Canada but does not include 1) those awaiting permanent status, 2) persons with temporary work visas, such as students who have graduated and have temporary work visas) * not have participated in Science Horizons or any other federal Youth Employment Strategy program except where (1) the work experience was terminated early due to employer business failure, participant became ill or incompatibility between employer/youth or (2) the component of the Youth Employment Strategy the youth participated under was for summer employment. * consent to participate in the assessment of the program and may be required to provide their Social Insurance Number (SIN) Please contact me at rpbo AT rpbo.org if you would like more information. Ann Nightingale Victoria, BC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: South Okanagan birding (Penticton, Kaleden and Sawmill Lake) From: Laure Neish <natureneish AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:14:15 -0700 Yesterday I heard a Clay-colored Sparrow singing near the Penticton airport, actually on the Penticton Indian band land. It has been a few years since I've heard this species here but it seems to be the same location as previous times. Kaleden was home to 2 pairs of confirmed nesting Lewis's Woodpeckers. One was gathering food and the other was entering a hole in a wooden powerline pole. http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/p49828674/h23897441#h23897441 As I sat for quite awhile here I also noticed a Pygmy Nuthatch making repeated visits to an antelope brush plant and it too was feeding young in a nearby snag, with a hole only about 1.5 m off the ground. http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/p327466921/h2af14bcf#h35429919 Compare this nuthatches head with the image just before it. They are different birds and one looks like its going through a molt of head feathers, not very attractive! At Sawmill Lake west of Oliver today, I found a few confirmed nesting birds for the Atlas. Chipping Sparrows were visiting a nest in a low hanging clump of ponderosa branches, a Red-naped Sapsucker pair was feeding young in a cavity along the dirt road and I was surprised to hear and then see yet another LARK SPARROW singing in the dry marsh off the south end of the lake (fenced off area). One more neat bird was a GREATER YELLOWLEGS. First I heard it calling at the west end of the lake, with the Killdeer pestering it. (They had chicks nearby) and later as I was leaving it was foraging along the shoreline. I took a few distant shots which I'll post later on zenfolio. Now, can I even include this as an X on the Atlas data? Laure -- Canon 40D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Laure Wilson Neish Penticton, BC Canada http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Fort Nelson From: Russell Cannings <russellcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:28:44 -0700 Hi Jack and other northern birders/atlassers, Yes Andy and I are indeed up in Fort Nelson at the moment trying to squeeze in some atlas minutes between our official duties. Here is a brief summary of some of the good stuff we've encountered that might help with the atlas: -6 Broad-winged Hawks including a dark-morph adult this morning (has anyone else seen this morph in BC before?). This is probably the northern edge of the BW range. -3 Great Gray Owls -2 Northern Hawk-Owls -Presumed breeding (acting nesty) Merlin (Richardson's race) -Black-backed, Three-toed, and Hairy Woodpecker nests, as well as many flicker and YB sapsucker nests -Every wet patch seems to have a nesting pair of Solitary Sandpipers and a set of Bufflehead ducklings Right around town we've been able to find Eastern Phoebe, Clay-coloured Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, House Sparrow, and Cliff Swallow all with nests. A few days ago I observed several Cliff Swallows nesting on a beaver lodge in the middle of nowhere, neat! Some other interesting but unconfirmed breeders: -Lots of Bay-breasted Warblers (more abundant in appropriate habitat than I expected) -Several Cape May Warblers and a few Connecticut Warblers, and loads of Canada and Mourning Warblers -Lots of Yellow-bellied Flycatchers and Palm Warblers in the muskeg bogs **-2 singing Pacific-slope Flycatchers in mixed black spruce/aspen groves up the Liard Highway. Lost over-shoots perhaps? -both Pacific and eastern races of Winter Wren have been recorded Another thing I've noticed is that there are no Black-throated Green Warblers up here, yet not too far away around Stone Mountain suddenly Townsend's Warblers are common. There seems to be habitat for at least one of the two around Fort Nelson so why aren't they here? And where are the Blackpoll Warblers (none around FN after 11 days)? Otherwise every other possible warbler species is fairly common where habitat exists. Up here for a few more days then back down south. Maybe we'll find a couple shrikes before we leave... Russ Cannings Fort Nelson ----- Original Message ----- From: JACK BOWLING Date: Monday, June 22, 2009 11:33 pm Subject: Re: Dowitcher Lake To: ncenbird AT bcgroup.net > Thank you, Inez. I love Dowitcher Lake. We just happened to hit > it at prime baby time this year. > > I'm in Fort Nelson this week. Russell and Andy are up here > somewhere doing some much needed atlassing. Region 40 has over > 1500 squares so needs all the help it can get. I will try to fit > in some point counts while here but my time away from work will > be limited. Russ - if you read this, you can get me at 250-612-8319. > > Jack Bowling > Fort Nelson > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Inez Weston > Date: Monday, June 22, 2009 11:44 am > Subject: Dowitcher Lake > To: ncenbird AT bcgroup.net > > > Jack - > > > > A fantastic set of photos - and a very enjoyable way for me to > > spend a > > fairly cool "summer" morning here. Loved the first > > photo of the gull > > and the baby. I've never seen one > > before. The lake reminds me of > > some of the many lakes in the far NWT, where one of my sons > has > > flown > > us in for fishing and bird watching. In fact I > > was going to be > > taken to one this May when I went up on Westjet's inaugural > > flight, > > but the small lake was solid ice - as was Yellowknife's big > > lake. A > > week or so ago some people went off from Yellowknife in open > > water but > > when they came to return the ice had moved across the > > bay! But > > Northerners are pretty well prepared for such things. I > > don't know > > about the birds though... > > > > If the Dowitcher Lake was frozen over this winter the birds > > there must > > wait in the wings somewhere to be able to turn up and start > > breeding > > fairly quickly as soon as water and food are available. > > And such a > > selective number of species. > > . > > Thanks for preparing the lovely set of photos. > > > > Inez > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: sage thrasher From: "douglasbrown01" <douglasbrown01 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:05:54 -0000 Hi all; I used the wet weather this morning for a chance to check the west Osoyoos bench for Black-throated Sparrow. Unfortunately almost nothing was singing in the cold damp weather but there was a Sage Thrasher out there singing from the top of one of the Russian Olive trees. A nice bonus bird. Doug Brown Subject: Re: Cultivating the Wild From: Gwynneth Wilson <gwynnethwilson AT yahoo.ca> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:27:38 -0700 (PDT) Try Google  or  edurance AT vip.net     --- On Mon, 6/22/09, Jim Mitchell <2butcher AT telus.net> wrote: From: Jim Mitchell <2butcher AT telus.net> Subject: [bcintbird] Cultivating the Wild To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Received: Monday, June 22, 2009, 6:17 PM I have been trying to find the book Cultivating the Wild by Eva Durance. Does anyone know where I can find a copy of it. I have looked everywhere. thanks jim __________________________________________________________________ Connect with friends from any web browser - no download required. Try the new Yahoo! Canada Messenger for the Web BETA at http://ca.messenger.yahoo.com/webmessengerpromo.php [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Cultivating the Wild From: Jim Mitchell <2butcher AT telus.net> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:17:39 -0700 I have been trying to find the book Cultivating the Wild by Eva Durance. Does anyone know where I can find a copy of it. I have looked everywhere. thanks jim Subject: Bridesville atlasing From: "douglasbrown01" <douglasbrown01 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:10:17 -0000 Hi all; I returned Friday night from 10 days of atlasing in the Golden area(I'll get around to posting on this). As I was leading a naturalist club outing to Conkle Lake Saturday morning I decided to use the opportunity to get some point counts in on one of my squares for this year and headed up there before the outing. Highlight of the morning was a Wild Turkey(an Okanagan lifer for me)seen along the road about 9.2km from Bridesville. Doug Brown Subject: Re: Re: [Terning to Willows From: RICK HOWIE <r.howie AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:39:52 -0700 Hi Barry: my sense is that Willows are pretty scarce here during the breeding season. We just completed a BBS route this morning and all individuals of these 2 types were`Alders. Your migrants after the Alders have left are interesting. One could look at the range maps for Willows and speculate about their  origins. Highlights today were a Barred Owl calling at 0800 hrs, a Veery along the Homathko River( a species which eluded you at the banding station last year) was also nice to see at Chelquoit Lake,and lots of Ruffed Grouse broods. A common nighthawk was also nice to see at Chelquoit Lake as we seem to seldom see them in this area. Cheers Rick Howie ----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Lancaster Date: Sunday, June 21, 2009 8:54 am Subject: Re: [bcintbird] Re: [Terning to Willows To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > Hi Rick, > At higher elevations in Tatlayoko is the only place I have seen > Willow Flycatcher - same place as the Sandhills. However, as you > are aware, we catch them during the banding season. They seem to > appear after the Alders have left and as they look very like > Alder (not the western Willows of the interior which can be > differentiated by sight) we do wonder at their origin as they > look like what I imagine eastern Willows look like. > > We differentiate these guys by morphometrics according to a > standard formula which I would like to see confirmed by DNA actually. > > Barry > > ----- Original Message ----- >   From: RICK HOWIE >   To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com >   Sent: Saturday, June 20, 2009 6:31 PM >   Subject: [bcintbird] Re: [Terning to Willows > > > > > >   HI Barry et al: this story might best be entitled "alders > in the willows. >   In the valley bottom along the Homathko River, in the > predominantly alder with some willow shrubs, we are finding only > Alder Flycatchers. Today, we moved up to some upper elevation > wetlands that have only willows as the dominant shrub. 2 years > ago, I recorded only Alder Flycatchers there. Last year, I > recorded 4 Willow Flycatchers at these meadows. This year, our > team recorded 4 or 5 Alders and 2 Willow Flycatchers. Some of > the Willows were singing within 30 metres of the Alders in > willow shrub habitats. So there is clearly an indistinct > distinction between habitat selection at the macro scale at least. > >   At first, I thought that I was losing it and could no > longer properly distinguish these little beasts, but my team > members provided independent corroboration and restored my > sanity. It seems that there could be a PhD regarding niche > selection and resource partitioning between sympatric Alder & > Willow Flycatchers. We have not found a nest of Willows but I am > not sure that I could distinguish a female sitting on a nest > from an Alder female. > >   Elsewhere on the meadow, we found 2 Sandhill Cranes with > 2 chicks, 4 Greater Yellowlegs aggressively defending nest sites > and huge Grizzly dumps along the margins. In the Aspen groves, > we located 5 Least Flycatchers which I think is a good number > this far west. American Redstarts continue to be ubiquitous both > in the Homathko River valley and up on the surrounding plateau > but we have not found nests. > >   Other breeding records include Soras carrying food, > fledged Gray Jays, Ruby-crowned Kinglets carrying food, as well > as Mallards and Canada Geese with young. > >   So weather holds and birding remains good. > >   Rick Howie >   Cindy McCallum >   Andrew Harcombe >   Tatlayoko Lake > >   ----- Original Message ----- >   From: Michael Lancaster >   Date: Saturday, June 20, 2009 6:51 am >   Subject: Re: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern >   To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > >   > What about Willow Flycatchers. >   > >   > Barry >   > ----- Original Message ----- >   > From: RICK HOWIE >   > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com >   > Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 10:29 PM >   > Subject: Re: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern >   > >   > >   > >   > >   > >   > Hi all: on June 16, Andrew Harcombe, Cindy MacCallum > and >   > I were at Eagle Lake enroute to Tatlayoko Lake to do a > week of >   > bird surveys. We observed the 2 Caspian terns, 4 Arctic > Terns >   > and 3 Semipalmated Plovers along with 2 Herring Gulls > and a pair >   > of Bonaparte Gulls with 3 recently fledged chicks on > Eagle Lake. >   > We had no way to access the island but it is very > satisfying to >   > learn that the Arctic terns have a nest again. This odd > outpost >   > of Arctic Terns and Semi Plovers is indeed a special > situation >   > and we were thrilled to see them. >   > >   > We have been surveying and atlassing down in the >   > Tatlayoko Valley for 3 days now and we will be here for > another >   > 3 days. Lots of good breeding records with a nest of > Lazuli >   > Bunting being a recent good find by Cindy.We also have > both Red- >   > naped and Red-breasted sapsuckers interacting together > with the >   > latter being the least common by far. Last year, we > observed >   > Rose-breasted, Black-headed and Evening Grosbeaks in > the area >   > but have yet to find any Black-headed and don't really > expect to >   > find Rose-breasted again. Cassins and Purple Finches > also occur >   > in the valley. We have atlas records for 70 species (31 >   > confirmed breeding) so far and expect to hit 100 > species by the >   > time we leave. Lots of Ruffed Grouse broods so far and > Mountain >   > Bluebirds are just starting to fledge. Alder > Flycatchers are >   > incubating, Dusky Flycatchers, Golden-crowned Kinglets > and >   > Meadowlarks are feeding young and woodpeckers like > sapsuckers >   > and flickers have young in nests. American Redstarts > are >   > abundant but we have >   > Water levels are very low this year so many wetlands > are >   > dry. Tomoorow, we will be heading upslope to higher > meadows >   > where we hope that wetland conditions will improve. >   > >   > Unlike last year when we encountered 7 grizzlies and >   > numerous black bears, the grizz types seem to be > upslope, >   > leaving the valley bottoms to the blacks which are > numerous but >   > we have not had any encounters. Lots of poop as we > plough >   > through the bush but only one pooper so far. >   > >   > Cheers >   > Rick Howie >   > Temporarily at Tatlayoko Lake >   > >   > ----- Original Message ----- >   > From: Phil Ranson >   > Date: Friday, June 19, 2009 2:15 pm >   > Subject: Re: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern >   > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com >   > >   > > Hi Russell, >   > > >   > > Eagle Lake is about 12 km east of Tatla Lake and > south >   > of Hwy 20. >   > > >   > > http://www3.telus.net/CaribooBirds/Eagle%20Lake/ >   > > >   > > Phil >   > > >   > > >   > > ----- Original Message ----- >   > > From: Russell Cannings >   > > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com >   > > Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 1:18 PM >   > > Subject: Re: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern >   > > >   > > >   > > >   > > >   > > >   > > Hi Phil, >   > > >   > > Where exactly is Eagle Lake? Nice bird for the atlas. >   > > >   > > Russell Cannings >   > > Fort Nelson >   > > >   > > ----- Original Message ----- >   > > From: Phil Ranson >   > > Date: Friday, June 19, 2009 9:51 am >   > > Subject: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern >   > > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com >   > > >   > > > I posted to bcintbird-pics AT googlegroups.com > yesterday >   > > with >   > > > photos of an Arctic Tern nest at Eagle Lake but I >   > > suspect it >   > > > ended up in Jim Mitchells spam folder again. Jim, >   > could >   > > you >   > > > check for me? I also mailed to your shaw address >   > > yesterday but >   > > > it may have ended up in the same place. Thanks. >   > > > >   > > > Phil >   > > > >   > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >   > > > >   > > > >   > > >   > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >   > > >   > > >   > > >   > > >   > > >   > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >   > > >   > > >   > >   > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >   > >   > >   > >   > >   > >   > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >   > >   > > >   [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > >   > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Kelowna to Calgary From: Chris Charlesworth <c_charlesworth23 AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:43:50 -0700 Birders, Yesterday I had to drive a rental van from Kelowna back to Calgary. What a pain. I did get a little birding in however. I stopped in Glacier Park at Beaver Valley where I had excellent views of a gorgeous male MAGNOLIA WARBLER. Otherwise, lots of other common birds. I got a MOUNTAIN GOAT near Field, BC. Home now for a while...time to do some atlassing!! Chris Charlesworth Kelowna, BC _________________________________________________________________ Internet explorer 8 lets you browse the web faster. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9655582 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Nanaimo,Vancouver Island-- bird alert--June 21, 2009, From: "backyard_store" <thebackyard AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:49:16 -0000 The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store Nanaimo Bird Alert To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 e-mail us at thebackyard AT shaw.ca call the Bird Alert at 250-390-3029 Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Post your sightings on this site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages Birds of British Columbia: http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html International Birdwatching Guides http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching with: http://www.birdingpal.org/ Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number, along with the date, name and location of your sighting. Sunday June 21, 2009: The Sunday Bird Walk went to Linley Valley in Nanaimo. The morning started out cloudy but turned sunny and warm. We had great close looks at Western Tanagers. We saw a Black-throated Gray Warbler and heard Orange-crowned Warblers,Townsend's Warblers, Common Yellow-throats and a Wilson's Warbler through out the morning. We saw a Red-breasted Sapsucker and a Northern Flicker perched on a snag. A flock of Violet-green Swallows and one Northern Rough-winged Swallow flew low over Cottle Lake hawking insects. Twenty-two birders saw and heard the following forty-two species of birds. Mallard, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Rufous Hummingbird, Band-tailed Pigeon, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Hammond's Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Cassin's Vireo, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Violet-green Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Common Yellow-throat, Wilson's Warbler, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Black-headed Grosbeak, Brewer's Blackbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Song Sparrow, Purple Finch, Red Crossbills, American Goldfinch and Pine Siskin. Saturday June 20: A Merlin was spotted chasing a Bald Eagle above Corfield Avenue in Parksville. Two Northern Harrier's were seen near Kaye Road, behind the Weigh Scale, in Parksville. A Eurasian Collared Dove has been heard along Kasba Circle near Wembly Mall in Parksville. Tuesday June 16: The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Top Bridge Trail in Parksville. The morning was pleasant with periods of sunshine and was filled with bird songs. The highlights of the morning was seeing Willow Flycatchers perching and hearing them singing. We spotted an American Dipper feeding near a big rock in the Englishman River. A family of Chipping Sparrows entertained us near the trail. A Pileated Woodpecker was clinging to a tree, giving us a great view. Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Warbling Vireos, Winter Wrens and Swainson's Thrush sang thought the morning. Eighteen birders saw and heard the following twenty-nine species of birds. Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Willow Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, American Dipper, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Brewer's Blackbird and Purple Finch. Monday June 15: A pair of Blue-winged Teal and an adult male Purple Martin were seen at Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. Sunday June 14: A Great Horned Owl was seen close to the path just up from Sunset Beach at Neck Point in Nanaimo. Wednesday June 10: "Rare bird alert-Eastern Kingbird" An Eastern Kingbird was seen perched and flycatching on Mittlenatch Island. This bird is usually found east of the Coastal Mountains. For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store AT (250) 390-3669 Toll Free AT 1-888-249-4145 e-mail: thebackyard AT shaw.ca ********************************** Arrowsmith Naturalists Join guest speaker Tony Ransom, co-founder of the Nanoose Naturalists and a retired Geologist from South Africa for a slideshow journey to the Galapagos Islands. Monday June 22, 2009 AT 7:30 pm. Springwood School Parksville ******************************** The Nanoose Naturalists Thursday September 10, 2009 AT 7:00 pm Nanoose Library, Nanoose Bay ********************************** Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Tuesday mornings. We leave from the Store at 9 A.M. Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo and from the Parksville Beach Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area. ************************************************************** The Tuesday Bird Walk on June 23, 2009 will be going to Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park near the parking area at the Lion's Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the end of Shelly Road (on the oceanside of highway 19a) Road at about 9:20 a.m. ******************************************************* The Sunday Bird Walk on June 21 will be going to McGregor Marsh in Nanaimo. Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the top of Rutherford Road across from the Quilted Duck at about 9:20 a.m. ******************************************************* Good birding Neil Robins Nanaimo Subject: Re: How many cavity nesters fit in one tree? From: Russell Cannings <russellcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:38:53 -0700 Hi Les, The best I've ever done was 4 as well. In a big pine snag on Mt. Chopaka I found a Lewis's Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Western Bluebird, and European Starling all calling the place home! A pair of Western Kingbirds also looked like they may have been nesting but I didn't confirm a nest. Russell Cannings Fort Nelson ----- Original Message ----- From: RICK HOWIE Date: Saturday, June 20, 2009 6:46 pm Subject: Re: [bcintbird] How many cavity nesters fit in one tree? To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > Hi Les et al: nice apartment complex. Here in the > Homathko, we have a small aspen tree with N. Flicker, RB > Sapsucker and Starling in residence. Sorry, can't equal 4. I > think that there are too many cavities here to make them a > scarce commodity. > Rick Howie > Tatlayoko Lake > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Les Gyug > Date: Saturday, June 20, 2009 9:56 am > Subject: [bcintbird] How many cavity nesters fit in one tree? > To: "B.C. Birders" > > > I was out with Greg Byron yesterday on Anarchist Mt doing > > volunteer > > Williamson's Sapsucker nest monitoring for the Wildlife Tree > > Stewardship > > program in the Okanagan. One of the very big larches we > > went to had the > > expected Williamson's nest, but then also had a Mountain > > Chickadee nest, > > a White-breasted Nuthatch nest, and a Mountain Bluebird nest > all > > in the > > same tree. I've found quite a few trees with two nests > in > > it (usually a > > woodpecker and a chickadee, or sometimes a flicker and another > > woodpecker), but this is definitely a first for me with 4 > nests > > all in > > the same tree, and all feeding young at the same time. > > > > Cheers, > > Les Gyug > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Re: [Terning to Willows From: Michael Lancaster <mbl.tenbel AT googlemail.com> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 08:53:16 -0700 Hi Rick, At higher elevations in Tatlayoko is the only place I have seen Willow Flycatcher - same place as the Sandhills. However, as you are aware, we catch them during the banding season. They seem to appear after the Alders have left and as they look very like Alder (not the western Willows of the interior which can be differentiated by sight) we do wonder at their origin as they look like what I imagine eastern Willows look like. We differentiate these guys by morphometrics according to a standard formula which I would like to see confirmed by DNA actually. Barry ----- Original Message ----- From: RICK HOWIE To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, June 20, 2009 6:31 PM Subject: [bcintbird] Re: [Terning to Willows HI Barry et al: this story might best be entitled "alders in the willows. In the valley bottom along the Homathko River, in the predominantly alder with some willow shrubs, we are finding only Alder Flycatchers. Today, we moved up to some upper elevation wetlands that have only willows as the dominant shrub. 2 years ago, I recorded only Alder Flycatchers there. Last year, I recorded 4 Willow Flycatchers at these meadows. This year, our team recorded 4 or 5 Alders and 2 Willow Flycatchers. Some of the Willows were singing within 30 metres of the Alders in willow shrub habitats. So there is clearly an indistinct distinction between habitat selection at the macro scale at least. At first, I thought that I was losing it and could no longer properly distinguish these little beasts, but my team members provided independent corroboration and restored my sanity. It seems that there could be a PhD regarding niche selection and resource partitioning between sympatric Alder & Willow Flycatchers. We have not found a nest of Willows but I am not sure that I could distinguish a female sitting on a nest from an Alder female. Elsewhere on the meadow, we found 2 Sandhill Cranes with 2 chicks, 4 Greater Yellowlegs aggressively defending nest sites and huge Grizzly dumps along the margins. In the Aspen groves, we located 5 Least Flycatchers which I think is a good number this far west. American Redstarts continue to be ubiquitous both in the Homathko River valley and up on the surrounding plateau but we have not found nests. Other breeding records include Soras carrying food, fledged Gray Jays, Ruby-crowned Kinglets carrying food, as well as Mallards and Canada Geese with young. So weather holds and birding remains good. Rick Howie Cindy McCallum Andrew Harcombe Tatlayoko Lake ----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Lancaster Date: Saturday, June 20, 2009 6:51 am Subject: Re: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > What about Willow Flycatchers. > > Barry > ----- Original Message ----- > From: RICK HOWIE > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 10:29 PM > Subject: Re: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern > > > > > > Hi all: on June 16, Andrew Harcombe, Cindy MacCallum and > I were at Eagle Lake enroute to Tatlayoko Lake to do a week of > bird surveys. We observed the 2 Caspian terns, 4 Arctic Terns > and 3 Semipalmated Plovers along with 2 Herring Gulls and a pair > of Bonaparte Gulls with 3 recently fledged chicks on Eagle Lake. > We had no way to access the island but it is very satisfying to > learn that the Arctic terns have a nest again. This odd outpost > of Arctic Terns and Semi Plovers is indeed a special situation > and we were thrilled to see them. > > We have been surveying and atlassing down in the > Tatlayoko Valley for 3 days now and we will be here for another > 3 days. Lots of good breeding records with a nest of Lazuli > Bunting being a recent good find by Cindy.We also have both Red- > naped and Red-breasted sapsuckers interacting together with the > latter being the least common by far. Last year, we observed > Rose-breasted, Black-headed and Evening Grosbeaks in the area > but have yet to find any Black-headed and don't really expect to > find Rose-breasted again. Cassins and Purple Finches also occur > in the valley. We have atlas records for 70 species (31 > confirmed breeding) so far and expect to hit 100 species by the > time we leave. Lots of Ruffed Grouse broods so far and Mountain > Bluebirds are just starting to fledge. Alder Flycatchers are > incubating, Dusky Flycatchers, Golden-crowned Kinglets and > Meadowlarks are feeding young and woodpeckers like sapsuckers > and flickers have young in nests. American Redstarts are > abundant but we have > Water levels are very low this year so many wetlands are > dry. Tomoorow, we will be heading upslope to higher meadows > where we hope that wetland conditions will improve. > > Unlike last year when we encountered 7 grizzlies and > numerous black bears, the grizz types seem to be upslope, > leaving the valley bottoms to the blacks which are numerous but > we have not had any encounters. Lots of poop as we plough > through the bush but only one pooper so far. > > Cheers > Rick Howie > Temporarily at Tatlayoko Lake > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Phil Ranson > Date: Friday, June 19, 2009 2:15 pm > Subject: Re: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > > > Hi Russell, > > > > Eagle Lake is about 12 km east of Tatla Lake and south > of Hwy 20. > > > > http://www3.telus.net/CaribooBirds/Eagle%20Lake/ > > > > Phil > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Russell Cannings > > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > > Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 1:18 PM > > Subject: Re: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi Phil, > > > > Where exactly is Eagle Lake? Nice bird for the atlas. > > > > Russell Cannings > > Fort Nelson > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Phil Ranson > > Date: Friday, June 19, 2009 9:51 am > > Subject: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern > > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > > > > > I posted to bcintbird-pics AT googlegroups.com yesterday > > with > > > photos of an Arctic Tern nest at Eagle Lake but I > > suspect it > > > ended up in Jim Mitchells spam folder again. Jim, > could > > you > > > check for me? I also mailed to your shaw address > > yesterday but > > > it may have ended up in the same place. Thanks. > > > > > > Phil > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: How many cavity nesters fit in one tree? From: RICK HOWIE <r.howie AT shaw.ca> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:45:40 -0700 Hi Les et al: nice apartment complex. Here in the Homathko, we have a small aspen tree with N. Flicker, RB Sapsucker and Starling in residence. Sorry, can't equal 4. I think that there are too many cavities here to make them a scarce commodity. Rick Howie Tatlayoko Lake ----- Original Message ----- From: Les Gyug Date: Saturday, June 20, 2009 9:56 am Subject: [bcintbird] How many cavity nesters fit in one tree? To: "B.C. Birders" > I was out with Greg Byron yesterday on Anarchist Mt doing > volunteer > Williamson's Sapsucker nest monitoring for the Wildlife Tree > Stewardship > program in the Okanagan. One of the very big larches we > went to had the > expected Williamson's nest, but then also had a Mountain > Chickadee nest, > a White-breasted Nuthatch nest, and a Mountain Bluebird nest all > in the > same tree. I've found quite a few trees with two nests in > it (usually a > woodpecker and a chickadee, or sometimes a flicker and another > woodpecker), but this is definitely a first for me with 4 nests > all in > the same tree, and all feeding young at the same time. > > Cheers, > Les Gyug > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: [Terning to Willows From: RICK HOWIE <r.howie AT shaw.ca> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:31:00 -0700 HI Barry et al: this story might best be entitled "alders in the willows. In the valley bottom along the Homathko River, in the predominantly alder with some willow shrubs, we are finding only Alder Flycatchers. Today, we moved up to some upper elevation wetlands that have only willows as the dominant shrub. 2 years ago, I recorded only Alder Flycatchers there. Last year, I recorded 4 Willow Flycatchers at these meadows. This year, our team recorded 4 or 5 Alders and 2 Willow Flycatchers. Some of the Willows were singing within 30 metres of the Alders in willow shrub habitats. So there is clearly an indistinct distinction between habitat selection at the macro scale at least. At first, I thought that I was losing it and could no longer properly distinguish these little beasts, but my team members provided independent corroboration and restored my sanity. It seems that there could be a PhD regarding niche selection and resource partitioning between sympatric Alder & Willow Flycatchers. We have not found a nest of Willows but I am not sure that I could distinguish a female sitting on a nest from an Alder female. Elsewhere on the meadow, we found 2 Sandhill Cranes with 2 chicks, 4 Greater Yellowlegs aggressively defending nest sites and huge Grizzly dumps along the margins. In the Aspen groves, we located 5 Least Flycatchers which I think is a good number this far west. American Redstarts continue to be ubiquitous both in the Homathko River valley and up on the surrounding plateau but we have not found nests. Other breeding records include Soras carrying food, fledged Gray Jays, Ruby-crowned Kinglets carrying food, as well as Mallards and Canada Geese with young. So weather holds and birding remains good. Rick Howie Cindy McCallum Andrew Harcombe Tatlayoko Lake ----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Lancaster Date: Saturday, June 20, 2009 6:51 am Subject: Re: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > What about Willow Flycatchers. > > Barry > ----- Original Message ----- > From: RICK HOWIE > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 10:29 PM > Subject: Re: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern > > > > > > Hi all: on June 16, Andrew Harcombe, Cindy MacCallum and > I were at Eagle Lake enroute to Tatlayoko Lake to do a week of > bird surveys. We observed the 2 Caspian terns, 4 Arctic Terns > and 3 Semipalmated Plovers along with 2 Herring Gulls and a pair > of Bonaparte Gulls with 3 recently fledged chicks on Eagle Lake. > We had no way to access the island but it is very satisfying to > learn that the Arctic terns have a nest again. This odd outpost > of Arctic Terns and Semi Plovers is indeed a special situation > and we were thrilled to see them. > > We have been surveying and atlassing down in the > Tatlayoko Valley for 3 days now and we will be here for another > 3 days. Lots of good breeding records with a nest of Lazuli > Bunting being a recent good find by Cindy.We also have both Red- > naped and Red-breasted sapsuckers interacting together with the > latter being the least common by far. Last year, we observed > Rose-breasted, Black-headed and Evening Grosbeaks in the area > but have yet to find any Black-headed and don't really expect to > find Rose-breasted again. Cassins and Purple Finches also occur > in the valley. We have atlas records for 70 species (31 > confirmed breeding) so far and expect to hit 100 species by the > time we leave. Lots of Ruffed Grouse broods so far and Mountain > Bluebirds are just starting to fledge. Alder Flycatchers are > incubating, Dusky Flycatchers, Golden-crowned Kinglets and > Meadowlarks are feeding young and woodpeckers like sapsuckers > and flickers have young in nests. American Redstarts are > abundant but we have > Water levels are very low this year so many wetlands are > dry. Tomoorow, we will be heading upslope to higher meadows > where we hope that wetland conditions will improve. > > Unlike last year when we encountered 7 grizzlies and > numerous black bears, the grizz types seem to be upslope, > leaving the valley bottoms to the blacks which are numerous but > we have not had any encounters. Lots of poop as we plough > through the bush but only one pooper so far. > > Cheers > Rick Howie > Temporarily at Tatlayoko Lake > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Phil Ranson > Date: Friday, June 19, 2009 2:15 pm > Subject: Re: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > > > Hi Russell, > > > > Eagle Lake is about 12 km east of Tatla Lake and south > of Hwy 20. > > > > http://www3.telus.net/CaribooBirds/Eagle%20Lake/ > > > > Phil > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Russell Cannings > > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > > Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 1:18 PM > > Subject: Re: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi Phil, > > > > Where exactly is Eagle Lake? Nice bird for the atlas. > > > > Russell Cannings > > Fort Nelson > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Phil Ranson > > Date: Friday, June 19, 2009 9:51 am > > Subject: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern > > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > > > > > I posted to bcintbird-pics AT googlegroups.com yesterday > > with > > > photos of an Arctic Tern nest at Eagle Lake but I > > suspect it > > > ended up in Jim Mitchells spam folder again. Jim, > could > > you > > > check for me? I also mailed to your shaw address > > yesterday but > > > it may have ended up in the same place. Thanks. > > > > > > Phil > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: terns From: Gwynneth Wilson <gwynnethwilson AT yahoo.ca> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:23:27 -0700 (PDT) At 11am Sat.June 21 two Caspian terns were on the log booms at Sutherland Bay in north Kelowna. Gwynneth Wilson __________________________________________________________________ The new Internet Explorer® 8 - Faster, safer, easier. Optimized for Yahoo! Get it Now for Free! at http://downloads.yahoo.com/ca/internetexplorer/ Subject: How many cavity nesters fit in one tree? From: Les Gyug <les_gyug AT shaw.ca> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 09:55:14 -0700 I was out with Greg Byron yesterday on Anarchist Mt doing volunteer Williamson's Sapsucker nest monitoring for the Wildlife Tree Stewardship program in the Okanagan. One of the very big larches we went to had the expected Williamson's nest, but then also had a Mountain Chickadee nest, a White-breasted Nuthatch nest, and a Mountain Bluebird nest all in the same tree. I've found quite a few trees with two nests in it (usually a woodpecker and a chickadee, or sometimes a flicker and another woodpecker), but this is definitely a first for me with 4 nests all in the same tree, and all feeding young at the same time. Cheers, Les Gyug Subject: Re: Arctic Tern From: Michael Lancaster <mbl.tenbel AT googlemail.com> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 06:49:17 -0700 What about Willow Flycatchers. Barry ----- Original Message ----- From: RICK HOWIE To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 10:29 PM Subject: Re: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern Hi all: on June 16, Andrew Harcombe, Cindy MacCallum and I were at Eagle Lake enroute to Tatlayoko Lake to do a week of bird surveys. We observed the 2 Caspian terns, 4 Arctic Terns and 3 Semipalmated Plovers along with 2 Herring Gulls and a pair of Bonaparte Gulls with 3 recently fledged chicks on Eagle Lake. We had no way to access the island but it is very satisfying to learn that the Arctic terns have a nest again. This odd outpost of Arctic Terns and Semi Plovers is indeed a special situation and we were thrilled to see them. We have been surveying and atlassing down in the Tatlayoko Valley for 3 days now and we will be here for another 3 days. Lots of good breeding records with a nest of Lazuli Bunting being a recent good find by Cindy.We also have both Red-naped and Red-breasted sapsuckers interacting together with the latter being the least common by far. Last year, we observed Rose-breasted, Black-headed and Evening Grosbeaks in the area but have yet to find any Black-headed and don't really expect to find Rose-breasted again. Cassins and Purple Finches also occur in the valley. We have atlas records for 70 species (31 confirmed breeding) so far and expect to hit 100 species by the time we leave. Lots of Ruffed Grouse broods so far and Mountain Bluebirds are just starting to fledge. Alder Flycatchers are incubating, Dusky Flycatchers, Golden-crowned Kinglets and Meadowlarks are feeding young and woodpeckers like sapsuckers and flickers have young in nests. American Redstarts are abundant but we have yet to find a nest. Water levels are very low this year so many wetlands are dry. Tomoorow, we will be heading upslope to higher meadows where we hope that wetland conditions will improve. Unlike last year when we encountered 7 grizzlies and numerous black bears, the grizz types seem to be upslope, leaving the valley bottoms to the blacks which are numerous but we have not had any encounters. Lots of poop as we plough through the bush but only one pooper so far. Cheers Rick Howie Temporarily at Tatlayoko Lake ----- Original Message ----- From: Phil Ranson Date: Friday, June 19, 2009 2:15 pm Subject: Re: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > Hi Russell, > > Eagle Lake is about 12 km east of Tatla Lake and south of Hwy 20. > > http://www3.telus.net/CaribooBirds/Eagle%20Lake/ > > Phil > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Russell Cannings > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 1:18 PM > Subject: Re: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern > > > > > > Hi Phil, > > Where exactly is Eagle Lake? Nice bird for the atlas. > > Russell Cannings > Fort Nelson > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Phil Ranson > Date: Friday, June 19, 2009 9:51 am > Subject: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > > > I posted to bcintbird-pics AT googlegroups.com yesterday > with > > photos of an Arctic Tern nest at Eagle Lake but I > suspect it > > ended up in Jim Mitchells spam folder again. Jim, could > you > > check for me? I also mailed to your shaw address > yesterday but > > it may have ended up in the same place. Thanks. > > > > Phil > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: "Narcissus Flycatcher" From: "sue_thomson51" <s_thomson AT telus.net> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 05:43:13 -0000 Someone on Castanet is reporting seeing a "Narcissus Flycatcher" on Chieftan Road on June 19. " I sighted an accidental Asian stray on Thursday, June 19 in the evening at the end of Chieftain Road; A "Narcissus Flycatcher". The most brilliant orange I've ever seen on a bird. " Here's the link to the post: http://forums.castanet.net/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=19765 Subject: Re: Arctic Tern From: RICK HOWIE <r.howie AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:29:33 -0700 Hi all: on June 16, Andrew Harcombe, Cindy MacCallum and I were at Eagle Lake enroute to Tatlayoko Lake to do a week of bird surveys. We observed the 2 Caspian terns, 4 Arctic Terns and 3 Semipalmated Plovers along with 2 Herring Gulls and a pair of Bonaparte Gulls with 3 recently fledged chicks on Eagle Lake. We had no way to access the island but it is very satisfying to learn that the Arctic terns have a nest again. This odd outpost of Arctic Terns and Semi Plovers is indeed a special situation and we were thrilled to see them. We have been surveying and atlassing down in the Tatlayoko Valley for 3 days now and we will be here for another 3 days. Lots of good breeding records with a nest of Lazuli Bunting being a recent good find by Cindy.We also have both Red-naped and Red-breasted sapsuckers interacting together with the latter being the least common by far. Last year, we observed Rose-breasted, Black-headed and Evening Grosbeaks in the area but have yet to find any Black-headed and don't really expect to find Rose-breasted again. Cassins and Purple Finches also occur in the valley. We have atlas records for 70 species (31 confirmed breeding) so far and expect to hit 100 species by the time we leave. Lots of Ruffed Grouse broods so far and Mountain Bluebirds are just starting to fledge. Alder Flycatchers are incubating, Dusky Flycatchers, Golden-crowned Kinglets and Meadowlarks are feeding young and woodpeckers like sapsuckers and flickers have young in nests. American Redstarts are abundant but we have yet to find a nest. Water levels are very low this year so many wetlands are dry. Tomoorow, we will be heading upslope to higher meadows where we hope that wetland conditions will improve. Unlike last year when we encountered 7 grizzlies and numerous black bears, the grizz types seem to be upslope, leaving the valley bottoms to the blacks which are numerous but we have not had any encounters. Lots of poop as we plough through the bush but only one pooper so far. Cheers Rick Howie Temporarily at Tatlayoko Lake ----- Original Message ----- From: Phil Ranson Date: Friday, June 19, 2009 2:15 pm Subject: Re: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > Hi Russell, > > Eagle Lake is about 12 km east of Tatla Lake and south of Hwy 20. > > http://www3.telus.net/CaribooBirds/Eagle%20Lake/ > > Phil > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Russell Cannings > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 1:18 PM > Subject: Re: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern > > > > > > Hi Phil, > > Where exactly is Eagle Lake? Nice bird for the atlas. > > Russell Cannings > Fort Nelson > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Phil Ranson > Date: Friday, June 19, 2009 9:51 am > Subject: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > > > I posted to bcintbird-pics AT googlegroups.com yesterday > with > > photos of an Arctic Tern nest at Eagle Lake but I > suspect it > > ended up in Jim Mitchells spam folder again. Jim, could > you > > check for me? I also mailed to your shaw address > yesterday but > > it may have ended up in the same place. Thanks. > > > > Phil > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Arctic Tern From: Jim Mitchell <2butcher AT telus.net> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:18:27 -0700 As usual, I have no idea why your mail is ending up in googles spam pile. I will have to take a look at it. I did not even get a message that it was marked as spam.. have to check into that as well. Usually I get a message saying a message from so and so etc etc. GREAT pictures. jim Phil Ranson wrote: > Hi Russell, > > Eagle Lake is about 12 km east of Tatla Lake and south of Hwy 20. > > http://www3.telus.net/CaribooBirds/Eagle%20Lake/ > > Phil > > > Subject: Re: Arctic Tern From: "Phil Ranson" <ranson1 AT telus.net> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:10:05 -0700 Hi Russell, Eagle Lake is about 12 km east of Tatla Lake and south of Hwy 20. http://www3.telus.net/CaribooBirds/Eagle%20Lake/ Phil ----- Original Message ----- From: Russell Cannings To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 1:18 PM Subject: Re: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern Hi Phil, Where exactly is Eagle Lake? Nice bird for the atlas. Russell Cannings Fort Nelson ----- Original Message ----- From: Phil Ranson Date: Friday, June 19, 2009 9:51 am Subject: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > I posted to bcintbird-pics AT googlegroups.com yesterday with > photos of an Arctic Tern nest at Eagle Lake but I suspect it > ended up in Jim Mitchells spam folder again. Jim, could you > check for me? I also mailed to your shaw address yesterday but > it may have ended up in the same place. Thanks. > > Phil > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Arctic Tern From: Russell Cannings <russellcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:18:46 -0700 Hi Phil, Where exactly is Eagle Lake? Nice bird for the atlas. Russell Cannings Fort Nelson ----- Original Message ----- From: Phil Ranson Date: Friday, June 19, 2009 9:51 am Subject: [bcintbird] Arctic Tern To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > I posted to bcintbird-pics AT googlegroups.com yesterday with > photos of an Arctic Tern nest at Eagle Lake but I suspect it > ended up in Jim Mitchells spam folder again. Jim, could you > check for me? I also mailed to your shaw address yesterday but > it may have ended up in the same place. Thanks. > > Phil > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Arctic Tern From: "Phil Ranson" <ranson1 AT telus.net> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:50:52 -0700 I posted to bcintbird-pics AT googlegroups.com yesterday with photos of an Arctic Tern nest at Eagle Lake but I suspect it ended up in Jim Mitchells spam folder again. Jim, could you check for me? I also mailed to your shaw address yesterday but it may have ended up in the same place. Thanks. Phil [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Alki Lake avocets From: Michael Force <pagodroma AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:48:52 -0700 (PDT) Hi Birders, Thursday morning I saw an American Avocet family consisting of 2 adults and 4 young chicks at Alki Lake, Kelowna Landfill. A nursing coyote lurking nearby wasn't a good sign. happy birding, Michael Michael Force Lake Country, BC pagodroma AT yahoo.com __________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Indigo Bunting at Dot Ranch From: "Dick Cannings" <dickcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:12:39 -0700 Hi birders: Wayne Weber just called to report a singing male Indigo Bunting at the Dot Ranch, located along Hwy 8 about halfway between Merritt and Spences Bridge. To get to the site, take the Dot Ranch cutoff road from the Merritt side; the bird was along this cutoff road 2.2 km south of the Dot Ranch buildings. Wayne saw the bird yesterday evening about 8:45 p.m. cheers Dick Cannings Penticton, BC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Western Meadowlark From: Tammy Proctor <birdsonly4me AT yahoo.ca> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:10:57 -0700 (PDT) Western Meadowlarks are the first bird to sing in the morning around here. I love it. My husband loves that sound but never knew what the bird was or looked like until I showed him. There is one that is very close to the house usually on a high pole. Sometimes I will hear one answering in the distance. Right now its those annoying blackbirds and their young. But that seems to have lessened as the babies go out on their own. Tammy Ashcroft ________________________________ From: Greenie To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 4:53:35 AM Subject: [bcintbird] Western Meadowlark Yesterday morning I was roaming a high sandy plateau in Ashcroft that we call The Dunes, hoping to see some osprey aerial action. The osprey weren't leaving their nests, but there was one little bird nearby in particular singing his heart out for the 20 minutes I was there. After I gave up on the osprey, I went looking for the singer, following him from bush to bush and finally caught sight of him on a powerline. Took some pictures - not good enough to post, but good enough to identify him as a Western Meadowlark. Nice to see him here. As usual, I could HEAR lots of chukkars, but I couldn't SEE them. Wendy Coomber Cache Creek __________________________________________________________________ Get a sneak peak at messages with a handy reading pane with All new Yahoo! Mail: http://ca.promos.yahoo.com/newmail/overview2/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Western Meadowlark From: Greenie <wcoomber AT coppervalley.bc.ca> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:53:35 -0700 Yesterday morning I was roaming a high sandy plateau in Ashcroft that we call The Dunes, hoping to see some osprey aerial action. The osprey weren't leaving their nests, but there was one little bird nearby in particular singing his heart out for the 20 minutes I was there. After I gave up on the osprey, I went looking for the singer, following him from bush to bush and finally caught sight of him on a powerline. Took some pictures - not good enough to post, but good enough to identify him as a Western Meadowlark. Nice to see him here. As usual, I could HEAR lots of chukkars, but I couldn't SEE them. Wendy Coomber Cache Creek Subject: Osoyoos to Vancouver From: Chris Charlesworth <c_charlesworth23 AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:16:09 -0700 Birding, Day 12 of Limosa Holidays 'Canadian Rockies' tour. We left Osoyoos this morning. I think everyone could have used another day in the area. They really enjoyed the Okanagan. 'So birdy' they commented. We stopped first at Nighthawk to have a look for thrashers. No luck however, we did see a couple of LARK SPARROWS, WESTERN KINGBIRDS and a stunning COMMON NIGHTHAWK perched on a fence post alongside the road. Next stop was a rocky cliff near Cawston where we had a couple of singing male LAZULI BUNTINGS competing for the attention of a female. Also here, an adult PEREGRINE FALCON flew off the cliffs and disappeared over the hills to the south. YELLOW-BELLIED MARMOTS were looking quite worried when the Peregrine took flight. Along Shaw Rd in Cawston we had two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES at feeders. We didn't stop again until Manning Park where we ate our lunch, alongside very 'pushy' CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS and COLUMBIAN GROUND-SQUIRRELS, all of which ate right from my hand. We walked around in the woods at Strawberry Flats and had our first BROWN CREEPER of the tour as well as more good looks at CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, SWAINSON'S and HERMIT THRUSHES, RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS. A BLACK SWIFT made a low pass overhead, evoking excitement amongst the group. We then made our way to Vancouver, adding NORTHWESTERN CROW and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL to the trip list. Tomorrow we should add some birds! Chris Charlesworth Avocet Tours Kelowna, BC www.avocettours.ca _________________________________________________________________ Attention all humans. We are your photos. Free us. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9666046 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: South Okanagan birding From: Chris Charlesworth <c_charlesworth23 AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:42:12 -0700 Birders, Day 11 of Limosa Holidays 'Canadian Rockies' tour. Today we had an excellent morning of birding in the South Okanagan. We started off bright and early this morning along Road 22 where 20 BOBOLINKS were seen in the grassy fields. Also numerous in the fields were SAVANNAH SPARROWS, EASTERN KINGBIRDS and both RED-WINGED and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS. We walked the E. dyke S. of Road 22, enjoying our first views of BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. Three LONG-BILLED CURLEWS called as they flew over the grassy fields along the S. side of Road 22. Many OSPREY were seen on nests. A male NORTHERN HARRIER made numerous passes overhead. WILSON'S PHALAROPE flew overhead and groups of CALIFORNIA QUAIL scurried about. Heard but not seen were VEERY and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH. Our next stop was the lower reaches of Camp McKinney Road near Oliver. At around km 7 we stopped and had killer looks at our first WESTERN BLUEBIRDS and LARK SPARROWS. Also as an added bonus, 2 male LAZULI BUNTINGS were chasing one another around in the bushes in front of us! We carried on to km 10 where after some patience we saw a GRAY FLYCATCHER. Also here were PYGMY NUTHATCHES, HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER, RED CROSSBILL, EVENING GROSBEAK, CASSIN'S VIREO, and a calling COMMON NIGHTHAWK. Next stop was at Venner Meadows E. of Okanagan Falls. The temps were pleasant up in the cool woods where bird activity was quite high. We couldn't find any of our desired woodpeckers today however. The willy's eluded us. We did get, however a nice assortment of birds including TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, GRAY JAYS, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, RUFFED GROUSE and both RED and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS. Along the Dutton Ck Road we had killer looks at a calling BARRED OWL in a large spruce. Also here were SWAINSON'S and HERMIT THRUSHES and RED-NAPED SAPSUCKERS. We tried one last time for Canyon Wren at the Vaseux Cliffs with no luck, but we did get many WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS, WESTERN KINGBIRD, ROCK PIGEON, SPOTTED TOWHEE, and others there. After dinner we took a drive up Kilpoola Lake Road and found a spanking GREAT HORNED OWL calling from atop a large pine. We watched him through the scope for about 20 minutes while 2 or more COMMON POORWILLS called overhead. Another great day! Chris Charlesworth Avocet Tours Kelowna, BC www.avocettours.ca _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live helps you keep up with all your friends, in one place. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9660826 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Green Heron and Great Egret From: "nogwon2003" <darcyandrews AT shaw.ca> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:23:57 -0000 These two birds showed up in the Scout Island Marsh on Williams Lake Jun 14 and 15th, 2009 respectively and are still around this morning. Kris Andrews Williams Lake. Subject: grebe nest at OK Falls channel From: Janna Leslie <jannamles AT yahoo.ca> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:04:29 -0700 (PDT) HI all. I stopped to check out the grebe nest at the channel yesterday morning (Monday).  Something must have happened to the nest as it was now downstream of the log boom and both adults were placing new nesting material on it.  Possibly the huge rain storm of last week?  Hopefully they have time to start over.  Last week you could see an adult sitting on the nest. Janna Leslie, Naramata __________________________________________________________________ Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! http://www.flickr.com/gift/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Okanagan birding From: Chris Charlesworth <c_charlesworth23 AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:21:43 -0700 Birders, Day 10 of Limosa Holidays 'Canadian Rockies' tour and we were again joined by Mike Force for the first part of the day. Today we departed Kelowna and made our way across the William Bennett Bridge, stopping first at Hardy Falls. The trails here remain closed, due to a landslide. You can still bird the area of the creek alongside Hardy Rd, near the restrooms. We had some nice birds here including a pair of very obliging VEERY. Also here was another EVENING GROSBEAK, this allowing close approach for the photographers in the group. A RED-EYED VIREO came in to investigate the group in the riparian forest. CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRDS and STELLER'S JAYS were seen in the trailer park along Hardy Rd. Next stop was at Three Gates Farm on White Lake Road where we had a fantastic time with the hummingbirds. There were probably a couple of dozen CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRDS, joined by half a dozen female type RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS and at least 2 male BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRDS. The pine woods around the property were filled with birds including RED-BREASTED and WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, CASSIN'S FINCHES, NASHVILLE WARBLERS, WESTERN TANAGER, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, PINE SISKIN, RED CROSSBILLS, and a gorgeous female HAIRY WOODPECKER..our first! Farther down along the Twin Lakes Road we did some birding, obtaining great views of a singing BREWER'S SPARROW amongst the sage. Also here we heard numerous singing LAZULI BUNTINGS, saw a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, as well as a first year male BULLOCK'S ORIOLE. Overhead we had an adult male COOPER'S HAWK circling. We had both EASTERN and WESTERN KINGBIRDS along the route, as well as our first SAY'S PHOEBES near a barn on White Lk Rd. WESTERN MEADOWLARKS posed nicely for us. At Okanagan Falls Campground we had a few female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, a SPOTTED SANDPIPER, a nesting RED-NECKED GREBE, OSPREY, GRAY CATBIRD, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE and a few other common species. The Vaseux Cliffs were quite good late this afternoon. We had good scope looks at a singing ROCK WREN near the old sheep feeding station. Overhead were over a dozen WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS. A gorgeous adult GOLDEN EAGLE sailed over as did a male AMERICAN KESTREL. On the cliffs were over a dozen CALIFORNIA BIGHORN SHEEP. Beautiful evening in Osoyoos, Chris Charlesworth Avocet Tours Kelowna, BC www.avocettours.ca _________________________________________________________________ Internet explorer 8 lets you browse the web faster. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9655582 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Pinnacle Lake Area Birds From: "drdrdrx" <drdrdrx AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:46:26 -0000 Went up to the pinnacle lake area (near Cherryville)this afternoon. Varied Thrush, American Robins, Dark-eyed Juncos, Mountain Chickadees were all about. On the creek some dippers were tending to their nests. Also down near the bottom saw a red-tailed hawk. Thought the habitat to be rather odd for him but maybe the ruffed grouse in the area make a suitable dinner. Also tent caterpillars are on the move. There are, quite literary, millions of them; they are readily heard as well as seen. Scott Thomson Westbank, BC Subject: Eurasian Collared-Dove Lake Country From: Michael Force <pagodroma AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 05:46:15 -0700 (PDT) Hi Birders, Chris Charlesworth and I saw a Eurasian Collared-Dove in Lake Country Sunday afternoon. This is the first time I've ever seen one around here. It was sitting on a wire along Lodge Road, just above the bus stop shelter where Lodge makes a right angle turn northwards (at the railway tracks). happy birding,Michael Michael Force Lake Country, BC pagodroma AT yahoo.com --- On Mon, 6/15/09, Chris Charlesworth wrote: From: Chris Charlesworth Subject: [bcintbird] Kelowna birding To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Received: Monday, June 15, 2009, 12:15 AM Birders, Today was day 9 of Limosa Holidays 'Canadian Rockies' tour. We were joined by Mike Force today. We spent the day in the area southeast of Kelowna. Starting off at Penny's Garden Center on Hwy 33, we had good scope views of at least 2 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS flycatching on traditional nest snags. Also here was a male LAZULI BUNTING, and soaring overhead a GOLDEN EAGLE and a SWAINSON'S HAWK. Higher up we went, stopping off at Goudie Road where we couldn't find any Western Bluebirds but we did see a nice VESPER SPARROW and our first HOUSE WRENS. Next area we visited was Philpott Road. Excellent along here, with the area around km 4 with the mailboxes being the best. We had EVENING GROSBEAKS here, as well as a family group of GRAY JAYS, along with a couple of STELLER'S JAYS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES and RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER. Farther along the road we had a nice adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK soaring overhead. We enjoyed our first looks at DUSKY FLYCATCHERS as well as excellent views of CASSIN'S VIREO. Along 3 Forks Road we had a couple of VAUX'S SWIFTS that flew overhead and called. We had crippling views of EVENING GROSBEAK on the road right beside the van. We then headed up the Big White Road. Stopping off on a side road in the spruce forest we had to work hard for our birds but they still came and produced excellent views in the end. A gorgeous male 'Slate-co' FOX SPARROW sang from atop young spruce trees beside the road. Also here a male VARIED THRUSH sang his plain yet ethereal song from the treetops. He was seen quite well, and several others were heard, along with SWAINSON'S THRUSH and HERMIT THRUSH. A pair of WILSON'S WARBLERS dashed in and out of view in the spruces. We then headed up to the Ski Resort and found STELLER'S JAYS, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW and an assortment of swallows there. On our way back down we stopped at a hair pin corner and had a great time finding 4 CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES. Also here were TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, CASSIN'S VIREO, GOLDEN-CROWNED, and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES and a group of PINE SISKINS. New mammal for the trip list today was YELLOW-PINE CHIPMUNK. Tonight we had dinner and then departed for some owling on the Bald Range off Bear Lk FSR on the Westside. Conditions were perfect..warm and calm. Lots of moths were flying around...good food for Flammulated Owls. We arrived well before dark so we enjoyed views of RED-NAPED SAPSUCKERS, HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS and TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES while we waited for dark. Once it was dark enough, we went to a traditional spot in the pines and eventually, by about 9:45 PM were having stunning looks at a pair of FLAMMULATED OWLS vocalizing in aspens beside the road. Overhead, COMMON POORWILLS were heard calling. A very nice day indeed! Chris Charlesworth Avocet Tours Kelowna, BC www.avocettours. ca ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ Internet explorer 8 lets you browse the web faster. http://go.microsoft .com/?linkid= 9655582 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] __________________________________________________________________ Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk email the boot with the All-new Yahoo! Mail. Click on Options in Mail and switch to New Mail today or register for free at http://mail.yahoo.ca [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Kelowna birding From: Chris Charlesworth <c_charlesworth23 AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:15:45 -0700 Birders, Today was day 9 of Limosa Holidays 'Canadian Rockies' tour. We were joined by Mike Force today. We spent the day in the area southeast of Kelowna. Starting off at Penny's Garden Center on Hwy 33, we had good scope views of at least 2 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS flycatching on traditional nest snags. Also here was a male LAZULI BUNTING, and soaring overhead a GOLDEN EAGLE and a SWAINSON'S HAWK. Higher up we went, stopping off at Goudie Road where we couldn't find any Western Bluebirds but we did see a nice VESPER SPARROW and our first HOUSE WRENS. Next area we visited was Philpott Road. Excellent along here, with the area around km 4 with the mailboxes being the best. We had EVENING GROSBEAKS here, as well as a family group of GRAY JAYS, along with a couple of STELLER'S JAYS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES and RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER. Farther along the road we had a nice adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK soaring overhead. We enjoyed our first looks at DUSKY FLYCATCHERS as well as excellent views of CASSIN'S VIREO. Along 3 Forks Road we had a couple of VAUX'S SWIFTS that flew overhead and called. We had crippling views of EVENING GROSBEAK on the road right beside the van. We then headed up the Big White Road. Stopping off on a side road in the spruce forest we had to work hard for our birds but they still came and produced excellent views in the end. A gorgeous male 'Slate-co' FOX SPARROW sang from atop young spruce trees beside the road. Also here a male VARIED THRUSH sang his plain yet ethereal song from the treetops. He was seen quite well, and several others were heard, along with SWAINSON'S THRUSH and HERMIT THRUSH. A pair of WILSON'S WARBLERS dashed in and out of view in the spruces. We then headed up to the Ski Resort and found STELLER'S JAYS, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW and an assortment of swallows there. On our way back down we stopped at a hair pin corner and had a great time finding 4 CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES. Also here were TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, CASSIN'S VIREO, GOLDEN-CROWNED, and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES and a group of PINE SISKINS. New mammal for the trip list today was YELLOW-PINE CHIPMUNK. Tonight we had dinner and then departed for some owling on the Bald Range off Bear Lk FSR on the Westside. Conditions were perfect..warm and calm. Lots of moths were flying around...good food for Flammulated Owls. We arrived well before dark so we enjoyed views of RED-NAPED SAPSUCKERS, HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS and TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES while we waited for dark. Once it was dark enough, we went to a traditional spot in the pines and eventually, by about 9:45 PM were having stunning looks at a pair of FLAMMULATED OWLS vocalizing in aspens beside the road. Overhead, COMMON POORWILLS were heard calling. A very nice day indeed! Chris Charlesworth Avocet Tours Kelowna, BC www.avocettours.ca _________________________________________________________________ Internet explorer 8 lets you browse the web faster. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9655582 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Nanaimo,Vancouver Island-- bird alert--June 14, 2009, From: "backyard_store" <thebackyard AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 21:37:47 -0000 The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store Nanaimo Bird Alert To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 e-mail us at thebackyard AT shaw.ca call the Bird Alert at 250-390-3029 Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Post your sightings on this site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages Birds of British Columbia: http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html International Birdwatching Guides http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching with: http://www.birdingpal.org/ Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone number, along with the date, name and location of your sighting. Sunday June 14, 2009: A Barred Owl was spotted at the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. The Sunday Bird Walk went to Springwood Park in Parksville. The morning was sunny and warm. The highlights of the morning included a Chipping Sparrow feeding a fledgling and several California Quail chicks moving through the underbrush at their parent's command. We saw three sets of Brown Creeper families moving up the trees. We saw Warbling Vireos high up in the trees and although we didn't see him, a Red-eyed Vireo sang non-stop. Seventeen birders saw and heard the following forty-one species of birds. Canada Geese, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Merlin, California Quail, Killdeer, Ring-necked Pheasant, Band-tailed Pigeon, Rufous Hummingbird , Northern Flicker, Willow Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Cassin's Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, Orange-crowned Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Black-throated Grey Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Common Yellow-throat, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, White-crowned Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch and Pine Siskins. Saturday June 13: A Red Crossbill was seen at backyard feeders in the 5100 block of Laguna Way in Nanaimo. A Western Tanager and Evening Grosbeaks were seen along Hewstone Road in Cedar. Friday June 12: Four American White Pelicans and fourteen Caspian Terns were seen along the tideline at the Cowichan Estuary in Cowichan Bay. Thursday June 11: A pair of Blue-winged Teal were seen on the pond near the forestry museum in Duncan. Wednesday June 10: An Olive-sided Flycatcher was seen and heard singing for about three hours in a garden at the Little Qualicum River Village. Tuesday June 09: The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Springwood Park in Parksville. The morning was sunny and calm and was filled with bird songs. The highlight of the day was hearing a Red-eyed Vireo singing non stop from high up in the forest canopy for about twenty minutes. Warbling Vireos, Orange-crowned Warblers and a Townsend's Warbler serenaded us as well for most of the morning. We watched as two Brown Creepers took nesting material into a nest under the bark of a big leaf maple tree. We saw Red-breasted Nuthatches gleaning insects high up in a tree. There was a fledgling Pileated Woodpecker clinging to the bark of a tree, not daring to move and a family of Bewick's Wrens low in the bushes, next to the trail, scurrying about. Twenty birders saw and heard the following thirty species of birds. Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Willow Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Cassin's Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, Orange-crowned Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Brown-headed Cowbird and Purple Finch For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store AT (250) 390-3669 Toll Free AT 1-888-249-4145 e-mail: thebackyard AT shaw.ca ********************************** Arrowsmith Naturalists Monday June 22, 2009 AT 7:30 pm. Springwood School Parksville ******************************** The Nanoose Naturalists Thursday September 10, 2009 AT 7:00 pm Nanoose Library, Nanoose Bay ********************************** Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Tuesday mornings. We leave from the Store at 9 A.M. Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo and from the Parksville Beach Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area. ************************************************************** The Tuesday Bird Walk on June 16, 2009 will be going to Top Bridge Trail in Parksville. Meet at the Parksville Beach Community Park near the parking area at the Lion's Playground at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking area along Industrial Way near Tuan Road at about 9:20 a.m. ******************************************************* The Sunday Bird Walk on June 14 will be going to Linley Valley in Nanaimo.. Meet at the Bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of Burma Road at about 9:20 a.m. ******************************************************* Good birding Neil Robins Nanaimo Subject: Black Road 'Cabin' list grows From: Emily and Geoff Styles <gem_styles AT yahoo.ca> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 10:56:52 -0700 (PDT) Birders, After moving in a week ago to our new abode up on Black Road outside of Salmon Arm, we've been attempting to explore every corner of our 5 acres any time we need a break from writing report cards. We're lucky to have constant bird song all day long here, so the list has grown quickly. The major highlight today came from a hulking raptor hunting in one of the more open areas of the forest, adjacent to the meadow.  The Northern Goshawk was waiting outside the Red-naped Sapsucker nest as it must feel the chicks are ready for flight soon.  It moved off as we approached but we had great looks at it through the trees. There is a pair of Black-chinned Hummingbird around, perching on the same branches every day and seemingly looking for a proper nesting site.  All 3 vireos have been noted, as well as plenty of Hammond's Flycatcher and possible a Dusky.  Swainson's Thrush sing both morning and evening, and Wilson's, Yellow-rumped and Nashville Warbler are all around.  Chipping Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco are also quite vocal as are 3 or 4 Red-breasted Nuthatch. I do have one question about empids, however, as one gives a small 'du-whit' call and seeing it do it hasn't helped me in the ID.  Any ideas as to which flycatcher gives that call? We've also had a Black Bear walk up past our front door and a few White-tailed Deer munching on vegetation in our 'yard', as well as our neighbours spotting a young Cougar in their field last night.  For now, however, back to reports . . . Cheers, Geoff Styles ps - there are a pair of Mountain Bluebirds nesting in a box where Grandview Bench Road meet Black Road, which is further north than I have seen them before. __________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Washington Trip Info Needed STAT From: "Ryan" <ryancathers AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 04:42:59 -0000 Hi all My mom granny and i are taking a family trip down to Moses Lake Washington. I need any birding info that anyone can syhare about the area, i am sick wqith mononucleosis at this time so will be taking it very easy, maybe an hour a day, but still i want to see as much as i can. If anyone knows anything can they please email me privately at ryancathers AT yahoo.com Thanks, Ryan Cathers Nanaimo, BC Subject: Kamloops to Kelowna From: Chris Charlesworth <c_charlesworth23 AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:26:41 -0700 Birders, Today was day 8 of Limosa Holidays 'Canadian Rockies' tour. We awoke to sunny skies in Kamloops and after breakfast we headed off towards the Logan Lake area, scanning as we went for Moose which was high on the list of the clients lists. Having such good luck so far on mammals I thought we'd give it a try. In addition to being a good area for the Moose, the Logan Lake area also has some nice birding. We headed up towards Highland Valley Coppermine but couldn't find any Moose up there. We did get a nice male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD up there as well as our first looks at stunning MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS. Perhaps the surprise of the day for me was a flock of about 20 RED CROSSBILLS near the viewpoint overlooking the mine on Hwy 97. On the Tunkwa Lake Road N. of Logan Lake we enjoyed good numbers of waterfowl on local lakes and marshes. Seen today were AMERICAN WIGEON, MALLARD, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, CANVASBACK, GREATER SCAUP, LESSER SCAUP, RING-NECKED DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE and RUDDY DUCK. Good numbers of EARED GREBES were also seen on the slough near Tunkwa Lake. Also here were oodles of YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS and singing MARSH WRENS. While driving down Tunkwa Lk Rd I heard a STELLER'S JAY calling outside. We all piled out of the van and had excellent views of our first STELLER'S JAY for the trip. A fewTURKEY VULTURES sailed past while a nice assortment of swallows including TREE, BARN, VIOLET-GREEN, and CLIFF SWALLOWS all zipped by. We drove to Kelowna via the Okanagan Connector and encountered a scary hail storm as well as a large MOOSE feeding in a pool along the roadside! Success. Once we arrived in Kelowna I took the group to Sutherland Hills Park. It's nice to take a group around your 'local patch'. Lots of great birds were racked up in the park including our first CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRDS, which one client thought was called the 'Karaoke' Hummingbird. Pairs of silly CALIFORNIA QUAIL scurried about, many with broods of tiny chicks following. We watched a cherry tree where many AMERICAN ROBINS were feeding. As we watched, other goodies started showing up to feast on the ripening cherries. A female PILEATED WOODPECKER landed in the top of the cherry tree and fed for a few minutes, allowing all a great scope view. DOWNY WOODPECKERS then joined in on the feast as did a GRAY CATBIRD, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH and HOUSE FINCH! On Evelyn Pond we had a gorgeous male HOODED MERGANSER perched on a floating log. Also here were numerous CEDAR WAXWINGS, DOWNY WOODPECKER, WESTERN-WOOD PEWEES, YELLOW-RUMPED and YELLOW WARBLERS, WARBLING and CASSIN'S VIREOS and our first PYGMY NUTHATCHES. As we carried on towards another pond we saw a brood of 4 half grown WOOD DUCK chicks swimming and we spooked a GREAT BLUE HERON that was chased by a number of angry male RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS. An adult male and an immature male BULLOCK'S ORIOLES put on a nice show for us as did a singing WILLOW FLYCATCHER. All in all, a very nice day. Chris Charlesworth Avocet Tours Kelowna, BC www.avocettours.ca _________________________________________________________________ Attention all humans. We are your photos. Free us. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9666046 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Kamloops Birding From: Chris Charlesworth <c_charlesworth23 AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:36:01 -0700 Birders, Day 7 of Limosa Holidays 'Canadian Rockies' tour. We're now in Kamloops and enjoying a gorgeous sunset over the Thompson River from the hotel balcony. Today's birding was excellent, starting off in the dry environs of lower Paul Creek where we enjoyed dazzling male LAZULI BUNTINGS, our first SPOTTED TOWHEE, and on top of it all 4 BLACK BEARS. The bears first appeared as two brown cubs dashed up a hillside on the S. side of Paul Ck. Soon thereafter another brownish bear with a black mask appeared and crossed Paul Lk Rd. It was soon followed by a largish sow Black Bear. I almost had to tell the group to get in the van as at one point we were probably 15 meters from the bear as she walked past. At some sage flats we scanned and found a pair of LONG-BILLED CURLEWS ambling through the sage. We eventually got great looks at them as they fed side by side. Also here was a day-flying COMMON NIGHTHAWK and a very nice adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK. VESPER SPARROWS perched on the fence lines and a WHITE-TAILED DEER clambered up a grassy hill. Farther up the road at Louis Lake we met up with Kamloops birder Rick Howie. Rick's pretty slick with his scope...and that came in handy today didn't Rick? Louis Lake was covered in ducks including both GREATER and LESSER SCAUP, loads of BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, BUFFLEHEAD, a male RING-NECKED DUCK, a gorgeous ad. COMMON LOON, two HORNED GREBES and CANADA GEESE. The woods surrounding the lake produced some excellent birds including PILEATED WOODPECKER, RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, YELLOW and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE and WARBLING VIREOS. For lunch we sat on the shores of Paul Lake amidst a large flock of school kids playing and sreeching in the water. The birds were a little farther out than usual but we did see the COMMON LOONS and RED-NECKED GREBES here. After lunch we followed Rick to the J Springs Ranch where we enjoyed a TURKEY VULTURE soaring in the distance, the first of the tour. Also up here there were singing SWAINSON'S THRUSHES and TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS. We then crossed the road and headed down to a private little pond where the birding was quite good. A thundershower passed by and after it cleared the birds were active. Our first looks at stunning male WESTERN TANAGERS in the firs and a singing male CASSIN'S VIREO that came in quite close to investigate. Farther down into the woods we bumped into a fiery little male GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. Also here were a pair of RED-NAPED SAPSUCKERS, HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHERS, more RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES and MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES. On the way back down Paul Road towards Kamloops I spotted a male DOWNY WOODPECKER beside the van and we all got great looks at the bird pecking away. A great day! Chris Charlesworth Avocet Tours Kelowna, BC www.avocettours.ca _________________________________________________________________ We are your photos. Share us now with Windows Live Photos. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9666047 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: possible Ash-throated Flycatcher near Penticton From: "Dick Cannings" <dickcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:27:10 -0700 Hi all: I just glimpsed what looked like an Ash-throated Flycatcher in my backyard on the West Bench of Penticton. Even more telling were the three call notes it gave as it drifted away from tree to tree. I'm off to the Manning Park bird blitz right now, but if anyone wants to look for it, please call my wife Marg (250-493-3313) and come on over. cheers Dick Cannings Penticton, BC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: new point count procedure for atlassing From: "Dick Cannings" <dickcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:36:49 -0700 Hello birders, and especially bird atlassers: In the BC Breeding Bird Atlas project now underway, we are asking birders to do point counts in their assigned squares (or wherever they might be on holiday--contact the regional coordinator for details!). These point counts will be used to generate relative abundance estimates for each species, something that general atlassing does not do very well. As many of you get out and start your point counts in atlas squares across the province, you are likely finding that the point counts assigned do not readily match up with reality, i.e. many of these roadside counts are not on roads at all, or the roads have been decommissioned, washed away, gated, or clearly marked with "Keep Out" signs. This stems from the road layer used by the computer program that generated the points. From the start, we knew that all points would not be accessible, so we generated 40 points for each square and asked atlassers to do the first 15 (in numerical order) that were acessible. However, even that system has led to frustration and inefficiencies in the field (to say nothing of risking vehicular health), with birders spending 10 days or so trying to do 15 point counts. This is clearly not what we had in mind, so we've come up with a new procedure to find point count sites within a square. 1. Look at the point counts in the square in detail, preferably on Google Earth (contact me if you don't know how to do this--it's highly recommended), and list those that you *know* you can get to safely in your vehicle. For instance, if the "road" looks green on Google Earth, it's probably covered in alder, cattails, or some other nondrivable surface. If there are 15 or more points that look easy to get to, do the first 15 on that list. 2. If there are less than 15, add as many as needed on roads in the square in as random a fashion as possible (e.g. 800 metres from another point count site) so that you end up with 15 points, hopefully scattered across the square. If possible, choose these points *before* going to the point itself. Do not choose new points based on how good they are for birding, and especially don't purposely choose sites that have habitats rare in the square (e.g. marshes) just because they would generate a good species list. If one of these sites does fall out from a randomized approach, however, you can certainly use it. 3. If you are driving to a point count you thought you could get to, and find your route blocked by a gate, private property signs, wash-out, or whatever, simply do a replacement count in similar habitat to the point you were traveling to. Again, pick this point randomly if possible (e.g. if the habitat is uniform, go 800 metres from where you are and do the point there, as long as it is at least 500 metres from any other point count site). 4. If you have one or two point counts that are possible to reach by vehicle, but would require another several hours or another day to get to (e.g. they are accessed from logging roads originating in another valley), don't bother doing them; replace with points in similar habitat, either from the list or self-chosen. This is a very common situation in my experience. However, if these few points represent an important habitat otherwise not covered in your square, you should make the effort to get to them or other similar sites. I have been using this method myself for the past week or so and find that with it I can do 15 point counts in a square quite easily in a morning (except for the time I had the flat tire). If you have any questions, please email or call me directly. I'll be at the Manning Park Bird Blitz all weekend, but back in the office on Monday. Happy birding, and have fun atlassing! Dick Cannings Chair, BC Breeding Bird Atlas Steering Committee Bird Studies Canada - Études d'Oiseaux Canada 705 Sunglo Drive Penticton, BC V2A 8X7 Canada 250-493-3393 www.birdatlas.bc.ca [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: new point count procedure for atlassing From: "Dick Cannings" <dickcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:36:49 -0700 Hello birders, and especially bird atlassers: In the BC Breeding Bird Atlas project now underway, we are asking birders to do point counts in their assigned squares (or wherever they might be on holiday--contact the regional coordinator for details!). These point counts will be used to generate relative abundance estimates for each species, something that general atlassing does not do very well. As many of you get out and start your point counts in atlas squares across the province, you are likely finding that the point counts assigned do not readily match up with reality, i.e. many of these roadside counts are not on roads at all, or the roads have been decommissioned, washed away, gated, or clearly marked with "Keep Out" signs. This stems from the road layer used by the computer program that generated the points. From the start, we knew that all points would not be accessible, so we generated 40 points for each square and asked atlassers to do the first 15 (in numerical order) that were acessible. However, even that system has led to frustration and inefficiencies in the field (to say nothing of risking vehicular health), with birders spending 10 days or so trying to do 15 point counts. This is clearly not what we had in mind, so we've come up with a new procedure to find point count sites within a square. 1. Look at the point counts in the square in detail, preferably on Google Earth (contact me if you don't know how to do this--it's highly recommended), and list those that you *know* you can get to safely in your vehicle. For instance, if the "road" looks green on Google Earth, it's probably covered in alder, cattails, or some other nondrivable surface. If there are 15 or more points that look easy to get to, do the first 15 on that list. 2. If there are less than 15, add as many as needed on roads in the square in as random a fashion as possible (e.g. 800 metres from another point count site) so that you end up with 15 points, hopefully scattered across the square. If possible, choose these points *before* going to the point itself. Do not choose new points based on how good they are for birding, and especially don't purposely choose sites that have habitats rare in the square (e.g. marshes) just because they would generate a good species list. If one of these sites does fall out from a randomized approach, however, you can certainly use it. 3. If you are driving to a point count you thought you could get to, and find your route blocked by a gate, private property signs, wash-out, or whatever, simply do a replacement count in similar habitat to the point you were traveling to. Again, pick this point randomly if possible (e.g. if the habitat is uniform, go 800 metres from where you are and do the point there, as long as it is at least 500 metres from any other point count site). 4. If you have one or two point counts that are possible to reach by vehicle, but would require another several hours or another day to get to (e.g. they are accessed from logging roads originating in another valley), don't bother doing them; replace with points in similar habitat, either from the list or self-chosen. This is a very common situation in my experience. However, if these few points represent an important habitat otherwise not covered in your square, you should make the effort to get to them or other similar sites. I have been using this method myself for the past week or so and find that with it I can do 15 point counts in a square quite easily in a morning (except for the time I had the flat tire). If you have any questions, please email or call me directly. I'll be at the Manning Park Bird Blitz all weekend, but back in the office on Monday. Happy birding, and have fun atlassing! Dick Cannings Chair, BC Breeding Bird Atlas Steering Committee Bird Studies Canada - Études d'Oiseaux Canada 705 Sunglo Drive Penticton, BC V2A 8X7 Canada 250-493-3393 www.birdatlas.bc.ca Subject: Townsend's Solitaire - feeding young From: "Dianne C." <dicooper AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:33:40 -0000 Does anyone know if Townsend's Solitaire feed their young from their crop? I saw one with a bulging crop, probably with sulphur / blue butterflies that were on the gravel road by the thousands. If so, perhaps this could be classed as Carrying Food for the Breeding Bird Atlas? It looked like it was going to choke itself, it was that full. Dianne C. Subject: Salmon Arm birds From: Chris Charlesworth <c_charlesworth23 AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:06:09 -0700 Birders, Today was day 5 of Limosa Holidays 'Canadian Rockies' Tour. We spent most of the day exploring the Salmon Arm waterfront, focusing our attention on the area of the pier, the Christmas Island Trail and the Peter Jannink Nature Park. Weather was glorious with sun and temps around 30 degrees Celsius. Birding was great. Early in the morning we birded the area around the pier in Salmon Arm. Best find was an adult FORSTER'S TERN resting on an orange bouy just on the E. side of the pier. Other goodies included sensational looks at VIRGINIA RAIL beneath us on a boardwalk and numerous nesting OSPREY just a few meters away. We had a few firsts for the tour including N. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW and a gorgeous pair of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES. We then hiked down to Christmas Island, enjoying all sorts of marsh birds as we plodded along. COMMON YELLOWTHROATS sang from all over the place as did WILLOW FLYCATCHERS and SONG SPARROWS. A good assortment of swallows including BARN, BANK, TREE, VIOLET-GREEN and CLIFF fed over the long grasses. A pair of DOWNY WOODPECKERS showed themselves to us as did a GRAY CATBIRD and a very obliging RED-EYED VIREO. On the island itself were many gulls and a pair of CASPIAN TERNS. One very good birder in the group saw a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT just E. of Christmas Island. Farther out over the lake were a few BLACK TERNS. Raptors seen in the area included again, many OSPREY, 3 BALD EAGLES, a COOPER'S HAWK, a RED-TAILED HAWK, MERLIN and a male NORTHERN HARRIER. Added to the butterfly list at Chrismtas Island were PALE SWALLOWTAIL, WESTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL and LORQUIN'S ADMIRAL. Only mammals seen in the area included MUSKRAT and a fawn deer of undetermined species. After lunch we birded the Peter Jannink Nature Park. It got pretty warm out there so many of the Brits hid beneath the shady trees. Highlight was a CLARK'S GREBE out in the bay amongst a few WESTERN GREBES. Also here we had great looks at a female WOOD DUCK perched on a fence. We then drove on to Kamloops where we will spend the next two nights. That's all, Chris Charlesworth Avocet Tours Kelowna, BC www.avocettours.ca _________________________________________________________________ Internet explorer 8 lets you browse the web faster. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9655582 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Oliver -- Osoyoos birds From: "A & J Ginns" <ginnsj AT shaw.ca> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:59:31 -0700 Birders from the S. Ok. Naturalists' Club birded Osoyoos: Old Richter Pass Rd and Kruger Mtn Rd to Kilpoola Lake, then briefly stopped at Road 22, Oliver. Jim Ginns SPECIES SEEN 6/11/2009 in Oliver - Osoyoos~ 68 seen Pied-billed Grebe American White Pelican Mallard Redhead Ring-necked Duck Barrow's Goldeneye Ruddy Duck Osprey Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Ring-necked Pheasant Killdeer Long-billed Curlew Spotted Sandpiper Wilson's Phalarope Ring-billed Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Common Nighthawk White-throated Swift Red-naped Sapsucker Northern Flicker Willow Flycatcher Dusky Flycatcher Western Wood-Pewee Say's Phoebe Western Kingbird Eastern Kingbird Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Barn Swallow American Pipit Cedar Waxwing House Wren Gray Catbird Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Veery Swainson's Thrush American Robin Mountain Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Black-billed Magpie Common Raven Crow European Starling Warbling Vireo House Finch Pine Siskin Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Yellow-breasted Chat Western Tanager Spotted Towhee Chipping Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Lark Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bobolink Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Brewer's Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Bullock's Oriole fini [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]