A group of seven of us doing a beach survey for RE Sources this
morning found a Rock Wren in the rocks at the end of "South Cape" at
Sandy Point. There were also good numbers of American Pipits present
on the beach and rocks and a flock of Black Turnstones. I also got a
quick glimpse of a possible Lapland Longspur? Please watch for it.
There were a lot of Savannah Sparrows around plus Song and an early
Fox Sparrow.
Paul Woodcock
Sunday, 15 September 2013
Belted Kingfishers Joe Meche 9/13/13
Thanks to Eric Ellingson for the heads up on the Green Heron at the AK ferry terminal. I didn't see the GRHE but we enjoyed the antics of three kingfishers that were putting on quite a show.
Joe Meche
Joe Meche
Swifts? Nancy Taylor 9/13/13
WhatcomBirders,
Does anyone know if the swifts are using the chimney near the high school on Cornwall in Bellingham this year?
What about the chimney at the old customs house in Blaine?
Nancy Taylor
Tern ID Joe Meche 9/10/13
Further to Doug's recent posting of the strange tern, I pondered all day and dug into old photos from the colony site of 2010.
First photo: One of my last duties was to do carcass counts so I was able to get close to a number of dead birds. Here's a juvie with yellowish legs.
Second photo: Here's a typical tail-feather spread of a turning/braking bird.
*I'll echo the vote for juvenile Caspian Tern.
Joe Meche
First photo: One of my last duties was to do carcass counts so I was able to get close to a number of dead birds. Here's a juvie with yellowish legs.
Second photo: Here's a typical tail-feather spread of a turning/braking bird.
*I'll echo the vote for juvenile Caspian Tern.
Joe Meche
Bird movement Fred Sears 9/9/13
For those who do not follow it Cliff Maas weather blog on 9/8 has cool images from radar.
Link as follows
http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/
Fredrick Sears
http://frsphoto.photoshelter.com/
Link as follows
http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/
Fredrick Sears
http://frsphoto.photoshelter.com/
Vancouver, BC RBA for September 6, 2013 Wayne Weber
This is Nature Vancouver's Bird Alert for Friday, September 6th,
sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited in Vancouver and North Vancouver.
If you wish to report a rare, unusual or interesting bird, please
phone the main number at (604) 737-3074, press "2" for the rare bird reporting line, and
follow the instructions given there.
BIRDERS PLEASE NOTE: The Iona Sewage Pond access will be closed to
the public from Saturday, July 20 through to mid-September 2013, between 7 AM and
5 PM (weekends included). After 5:00 PM, access will be allowed into
the evenings (but there will be some evenings when there will be no
access, and this will NOT be posted in advance). There will be a few days
through this closure when access will be permitted, but there is no schedule
for these open days.
Friday, September 6
A flock of 8 HORNED LARKS were seen at the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal
causeway in Delta, near the pay parking lot.
The SOLITARY SANDPIPER is still present at Beach Grove Lagoon in
Tsawwassen, along with several PECTORAL SANDPIPERS.
An AMERICAN KESTREL was seen along the dike east of the coal port
terminal in Delta.
Thursday, September 5
A LEWIS' WOODPECKER was seen at the Pitt Lake parking lot.
Tuesday, September 3
A SOLITARY SANDPIPER along with 3 RUDDY SHELDUCK at Beach Grove
Lagoon in Boundary Bay Park, Tsawwassen.
Monday, September 2
a flock of 52 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen on Boundary
Bay at 112th Street in Delta
For a summary of extremely rare bird sightings throughout British
Columbia, check "British Columbia Bird Alert" at
http://bcbirdalert.blogspot.com .
A brief account of 31 of the best birding locations in the
Vancouver area
can be found on the Nature Vancouver website at
http://www.naturevancouver.ca/Birding_Birding_Sites .
This message was prepared by Julian Hudson and distributed by Wayne Weber.
sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited in Vancouver and North Vancouver.
If you wish to report a rare, unusual or interesting bird, please
phone the main number at (604) 737-3074, press "2" for the rare bird reporting line, and
follow the instructions given there.
BIRDERS PLEASE NOTE: The Iona Sewage Pond access will be closed to
the public from Saturday, July 20 through to mid-September 2013, between 7 AM and
5 PM (weekends included). After 5:00 PM, access will be allowed into
the evenings (but there will be some evenings when there will be no
access, and this will NOT be posted in advance). There will be a few days
through this closure when access will be permitted, but there is no schedule
for these open days.
Friday, September 6
A flock of 8 HORNED LARKS were seen at the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal
causeway in Delta, near the pay parking lot.
The SOLITARY SANDPIPER is still present at Beach Grove Lagoon in
Tsawwassen, along with several PECTORAL SANDPIPERS.
An AMERICAN KESTREL was seen along the dike east of the coal port
terminal in Delta.
Thursday, September 5
A LEWIS' WOODPECKER was seen at the Pitt Lake parking lot.
Tuesday, September 3
A SOLITARY SANDPIPER along with 3 RUDDY SHELDUCK at Beach Grove
Lagoon in Boundary Bay Park, Tsawwassen.
Monday, September 2
a flock of 52 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen on Boundary
Bay at 112th Street in Delta
For a summary of extremely rare bird sightings throughout British
Columbia, check "British Columbia Bird Alert" at
http://bcbirdalert.blogspot.com .
A brief account of 31 of the best birding locations in the
Vancouver area
can be found on the Nature Vancouver website at
http://www.naturevancouver.ca/Birding_Birding_Sites .
This message was prepared by Julian Hudson and distributed by Wayne Weber.
Tern ID Doug Brown 9/9/13
Chirp,
While photographing birds and enjoying the sunset last night at Semiahmoo, this Tern passed in front of my lens.
I'm puzzled by the yellow legs and tail shape. It doesn't fit the description for Caspian, Common, or Elegant.
Possibly a product of cross-breeding? Any help with the ID of this beauty is much appreciated.
cheers, db
Doug:
Overall structure looks like Caspian (i.e. bill size and shape, broad wings). Leg color is confusing but I would say a juvenile
Caspian.
Clark
It strikes me as a Caspian. Rather heavy-set for a tern, with a relatively short tail, and a big thick red bill smacks of Caspian to me.
Barry Ulman
While photographing birds and enjoying the sunset last night at Semiahmoo, this Tern passed in front of my lens.
I'm puzzled by the yellow legs and tail shape. It doesn't fit the description for Caspian, Common, or Elegant.
Possibly a product of cross-breeding? Any help with the ID of this beauty is much appreciated.
cheers, db
Doug:
Overall structure looks like Caspian (i.e. bill size and shape, broad wings). Leg color is confusing but I would say a juvenile
Caspian.
Clark
It strikes me as a Caspian. Rather heavy-set for a tern, with a relatively short tail, and a big thick red bill smacks of Caspian to me.
Barry Ulman
Sandy Point Jaegers and Horned Larks Diane Birsner 9/7/13
Yesterday (Fri, Sept 6, 5:30-8:00pm) we enjoyed all that Sandy Point has to offer this time of year. Phil Calise had a scope on couple of Parasitic Jaegers as we approached the point: one floated on the water offshore and later one chased down about 4 Common Terns. Purple Martins zipped past us. Small flocks of Western Sandpipers & Semi-palmated Plovers picked along the shoreline or posed on the rocks. An Osprey carrying a fish bypassed its usual feasting perch on one of the channel markers and continued to an unknown destination across the strait. A pair of Horned Larks dropped down and foraged for several frustrating minutes in the tall grass before eventually walking out into the path, finally affording us good looks at their worn plumage. Dave scoped a distant flock of about 30 phalaropes in the water, however they were too far out to determine the species. Two White-winged Scoters flew by; we also saw a pair of Red-necked Grebes in the water, some Caspian Terns and more Common Terns.
And then there was the sunset. The sunset alone was worth the trip.
Diane Birsner and Dave Schmalz
And then there was the sunset. The sunset alone was worth the trip.
Diane Birsner and Dave Schmalz
Vancouver, BC RBA for August 30, 2013 Wayne Weber
This is Nature Vancouver's Rare Bird Alert for Friday, August 30th,
sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited in Vancouver and North Vancouver.
If you wish to report a rare, unusual or interesting bird,
please phone the main number at (604) 737-3074, press "2" for the rare bird reporting line, and
follow the instructions given there.
BIRDERS NOTE: The Iona Island Sewage Ponds access will be closed to the
public from Saturday, July 20 through to mid-September 2013, between 7 AM and
5 PM weekends included). After 5:00 PM, access will be allowed into
the evenings (but there will be some evenings when there will be no
access, and this will NOT be posted in advance). There will be a few days
through this closure when access will be permitted, but there is no schedule
for these open days.
Friday, August 30
A BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was reported near the pilings west of
104th St. at Boundary Bay in Delta.
Thursday, August 29
A juvenile WANDERING TATTLER was found on the Iona Island South Jetty in Richmond.
Wednesday, August 28
A LONG-BILLED CURLEW and a MARBLED GODWIT were at Blackie Spit in Surrey;
another MARBLED GODWIT was at Beach Grove Lagoon, Boundary Bay Regional
Park, in Delta.
An adult PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER was at Boundary Bay near 104th St. In Delta.
Tuesday, August 27
Two RED KNOTS were at Boundary Bay near 104th St., Delta
For a summary of extremely rare bird sightings throughout British
Columbia, check "British Columbia Bird Alert" at
http://bcbirdalert.blogspot.com .
A brief account of 31 of the best birding locations in the
Vancouver area can be found on the Nature Vancouver website at
http://www.naturevancouver.ca/Birding_Birding_Sites .
Thank you for calling the Vancouver Rare Bird Alert, and good
birding.
This message was prepared by Julian Hudson and forwarded by Wayne Weber.
sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited in Vancouver and North Vancouver.
If you wish to report a rare, unusual or interesting bird,
please phone the main number at (604) 737-3074, press "2" for the rare bird reporting line, and
follow the instructions given there.
BIRDERS NOTE: The Iona Island Sewage Ponds access will be closed to the
public from Saturday, July 20 through to mid-September 2013, between 7 AM and
5 PM weekends included). After 5:00 PM, access will be allowed into
the evenings (but there will be some evenings when there will be no
access, and this will NOT be posted in advance). There will be a few days
through this closure when access will be permitted, but there is no schedule
for these open days.
Friday, August 30
A BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was reported near the pilings west of
104th St. at Boundary Bay in Delta.
Thursday, August 29
A juvenile WANDERING TATTLER was found on the Iona Island South Jetty in Richmond.
Wednesday, August 28
A LONG-BILLED CURLEW and a MARBLED GODWIT were at Blackie Spit in Surrey;
another MARBLED GODWIT was at Beach Grove Lagoon, Boundary Bay Regional
Park, in Delta.
An adult PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER was at Boundary Bay near 104th St. In Delta.
Tuesday, August 27
Two RED KNOTS were at Boundary Bay near 104th St., Delta
For a summary of extremely rare bird sightings throughout British
Columbia, check "British Columbia Bird Alert" at
http://bcbirdalert.blogspot.com .
A brief account of 31 of the best birding locations in the
Vancouver area can be found on the Nature Vancouver website at
http://www.naturevancouver.ca/Birding_Birding_Sites .
Thank you for calling the Vancouver Rare Bird Alert, and good
birding.
This message was prepared by Julian Hudson and forwarded by Wayne Weber.
Brown Pelican at Point Roberts, WA Wayne Weber 9/6/13
Birders,
Yesterday afternoon (September 4th), David Schutz of Coquitlam, BC reported a BROWN PELICAN flying past Lighthouse Marine Park at Point Roberts. This is the first sighting I have heard of this year in the Puget Sound/Georgia Strait area.
Also seen by David at Point Roberts were 40 COMMON TERNS and a PARASITIC JAEGER. Brian Self, birding Point Roberts at a different time yesterday, found 130 COMMON TERNS, but missed the pelican.
Who knows what will show up next? We are looking hard for Elegant Terns, but no luck yet!
Birds at Sandy Point-- September 3rd Wayne Weber 9/5/13
Birders,
On Tuesday afternoon, following a report by Fanter Lane of many phalaropes and terns at Sandy Point, I checked the place out.
At the tip of the point, I met Jim Duemmel, who had arrived a few minutes earlier. The highlights of the birds seen included a single flock of 46 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES a short distance offshore (the biggest flock of this species that either Jim or I had ever seen in the county, although down from the 80 seen the previous day by Fanter); at least 33 COMMON TERNS, which at one point included a flock of 20 birds on the water for a couple of minutes; and at least 10 PURPLE MARTINS, which at one time were all perched on the mast of a large sailboat in the harbor. The water was very calm, making it possible to see and identify birds on the water a long way offshore.
Sandy Point looks like it may be hot for the next few days-- better get out there before all the good stuff leaves!
Wayne C. Weber
Subject: eBird Report - Sandy Point, 3-Sep-2013
Sandy Point, Whatcom, US-WA
3-Sep-2013 4:20 PM - 5:55 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: With Jim Duemmel most of the time at the tip of the point (~40 minutes)
28 species
Surf Scoter 100
White-winged Scoter 5
Horned Grebe 1
Red-necked Grebe 2
Double-crested Cormorant 8
Pelagic Cormorant 3
Great Blue Heron 3
Osprey 1
Semipalmated Plover 1
Western Sandpiper 16
Red-necked Phalarope 46
Ring-billed Gull 15
Glaucous-winged Gull 80
Common Tern 33
Rhinoceros Auklet 2
Eurasian Collared-Dove 3
Northern Flicker 2
Common Raven 2
Purple Martin 10
Barn Swallow 10
European Starling 40
Common Yellowthroat 2
White-crowned Sparrow 3
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Brewer's Blackbird 20
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 1
House Sparrow 1
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15093811
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
On Tuesday afternoon, following a report by Fanter Lane of many phalaropes and terns at Sandy Point, I checked the place out.
At the tip of the point, I met Jim Duemmel, who had arrived a few minutes earlier. The highlights of the birds seen included a single flock of 46 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES a short distance offshore (the biggest flock of this species that either Jim or I had ever seen in the county, although down from the 80 seen the previous day by Fanter); at least 33 COMMON TERNS, which at one point included a flock of 20 birds on the water for a couple of minutes; and at least 10 PURPLE MARTINS, which at one time were all perched on the mast of a large sailboat in the harbor. The water was very calm, making it possible to see and identify birds on the water a long way offshore.
Sandy Point looks like it may be hot for the next few days-- better get out there before all the good stuff leaves!
Wayne C. Weber
Subject: eBird Report - Sandy Point, 3-Sep-2013
Sandy Point, Whatcom, US-WA
3-Sep-2013 4:20 PM - 5:55 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: With Jim Duemmel most of the time at the tip of the point (~40 minutes)
28 species
Surf Scoter 100
White-winged Scoter 5
Horned Grebe 1
Red-necked Grebe 2
Double-crested Cormorant 8
Pelagic Cormorant 3
Great Blue Heron 3
Osprey 1
Semipalmated Plover 1
Western Sandpiper 16
Red-necked Phalarope 46
Ring-billed Gull 15
Glaucous-winged Gull 80
Common Tern 33
Rhinoceros Auklet 2
Eurasian Collared-Dove 3
Northern Flicker 2
Common Raven 2
Purple Martin 10
Barn Swallow 10
European Starling 40
Common Yellowthroat 2
White-crowned Sparrow 3
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Brewer's Blackbird 20
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 1
House Sparrow 1
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15093811
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Black-bellied Plover Joe Meche 9/5/13
In the scattered flocks of >500 birds at Semiahmoo on Monday, a few individuals stood out with most of their breeding plumage still intact.
Joe Meche
Joe Meche
Peregrine Falcons: not local Eric Ellingson 9/3/13
Hello Friends,
This was my 8th year observing, documenting and keeping a daily chronology of the behavior of a breeding pair of Peregrine Falcons. The Falcon (female) mated with the same Tiercel who came into the habitat last year. They re-occupied their original eyrie (used for 6 years) and successfully raised and fledged 3 very healthy juveniles, 2 Falcons and a Tiercel (male). The last juvenile, a female who was approximately 77 days old, dispersed from the local habitat on June 22.
The very next day, something highly unusual occurred, the Falcon went into eyrie #2 and began laying a second clutch of eggs. I do not think this phenomena, known as a "double clutching" has ever been documented in the wild or published in Peregrine Falcon scientific literature. Earlier in June, I made detailed notes in my chronological journal that the Tiercel and Falcon were performing courtship behavior; mutual ledge displays at the scrape (eyrie); high speed figure 8 flight displays by the Tiercel; lastly the Tiercel increased copulation with the Falcon up to seven times a day.
So on June 23 I started a new nesting chronology, remaining at my observations post 7 days a week. Both the Tiercel and Falcon shared incubation duty, performing next exchanges every 2-4 hours throughout the day. On day 34 & 35 I was hoping to see food being delivered to the eyrie (eggs normally take 33.5 days of incubation) indicating that an egg had hatched Instead the adults continued performing nest exchanges for the next 23 days. After that they gave up and began perching outside of the eyrie. I believe the eggs were infertile.
Attached are a few photos from this season. They tell a story of 2 juveniles being bound to a prey bird in mid air, neither is willing to let go, they fly/fall toward my observation post and past me. I capture a few clear images and then they land at the base of the bluffs. To see the rest of the story you can find it on my website under the new 2013 portfolios.
My new homepage slide show features old and new photos. I hope you will check it out. Thanks. All the best to everyone,
Cheers, Will
www.sharpeyesonline.com
"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better" Albert Einstein
This was my 8th year observing, documenting and keeping a daily chronology of the behavior of a breeding pair of Peregrine Falcons. The Falcon (female) mated with the same Tiercel who came into the habitat last year. They re-occupied their original eyrie (used for 6 years) and successfully raised and fledged 3 very healthy juveniles, 2 Falcons and a Tiercel (male). The last juvenile, a female who was approximately 77 days old, dispersed from the local habitat on June 22.
The very next day, something highly unusual occurred, the Falcon went into eyrie #2 and began laying a second clutch of eggs. I do not think this phenomena, known as a "double clutching" has ever been documented in the wild or published in Peregrine Falcon scientific literature. Earlier in June, I made detailed notes in my chronological journal that the Tiercel and Falcon were performing courtship behavior; mutual ledge displays at the scrape (eyrie); high speed figure 8 flight displays by the Tiercel; lastly the Tiercel increased copulation with the Falcon up to seven times a day.
So on June 23 I started a new nesting chronology, remaining at my observations post 7 days a week. Both the Tiercel and Falcon shared incubation duty, performing next exchanges every 2-4 hours throughout the day. On day 34 & 35 I was hoping to see food being delivered to the eyrie (eggs normally take 33.5 days of incubation) indicating that an egg had hatched Instead the adults continued performing nest exchanges for the next 23 days. After that they gave up and began perching outside of the eyrie. I believe the eggs were infertile.
Attached are a few photos from this season. They tell a story of 2 juveniles being bound to a prey bird in mid air, neither is willing to let go, they fly/fall toward my observation post and past me. I capture a few clear images and then they land at the base of the bluffs. To see the rest of the story you can find it on my website under the new 2013 portfolios.
My new homepage slide show features old and new photos. I hope you will check it out. Thanks. All the best to everyone,
Cheers, Will
www.sharpeyesonline.com
"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better" Albert Einstein
Semi Spit birding Eric Ellingson 9/3/13
Along with Joes spotting of the juv Pigeon Guillemot I spotted a solitary Spotted Sandpiper, a few flocks of Western Sandpipers numbering 50 in Drayton Harbor and 100 on Semiahmoo Bays side, a handful of very young Double-crested Cormorants, one dead one, one wing-injured one, and the hundreds of Black-bellied Plovers on the Semiahmoo Bay side. Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters and I believe I saw a pair of Red-necked Grebes are also arriving.
Grosbeaks Gayle Stebbings 9/3/13
Saw for the first time at my back-yard feeders a lone female Evening Grosbeak. What a surprise and great fun. She was gone in a flash :(
This has prompted me to report the lone, what I think, was a female Pine Grosbeak seen at the summit of Dock Butte yesterday, Sunday, September 1. This was at 5,000 feet on the west slope of the North Cascades in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest (Skagit County). Perhaps the location was far enough north to be located in the most southern of the Pine Grosbeak's habitat range.
Sure do wish now that I had gotten a photo! Have looked at many photos on-line but the cone-shaped bill, wing bars, and breast with little or no markings are helpful in eliminating other possibilities.
Gayle Stebbings
This has prompted me to report the lone, what I think, was a female Pine Grosbeak seen at the summit of Dock Butte yesterday, Sunday, September 1. This was at 5,000 feet on the west slope of the North Cascades in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest (Skagit County). Perhaps the location was far enough north to be located in the most southern of the Pine Grosbeak's habitat range.
Sure do wish now that I had gotten a photo! Have looked at many photos on-line but the cone-shaped bill, wing bars, and breast with little or no markings are helpful in eliminating other possibilities.
Gayle Stebbings
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