Black Phoebe, Gray Catbird, and more Sep 5

[Jamie]

On my last "official" day off from school i decided to go out. I wanted to go to Tuyttens Wetland and see the phoebe.

On my way there on the highway 9, just before the bridge, I saw an odd crow fly across the highway. It was a Lewis's Woodpecker, I could tell by that distinct way of flying. I was going too fast to take a picture😋 It was right before the bridge, where there are trees (the south side of the river, I guess) flying from one stand of trees to the other.

I arrived at Tuyttens Wetland. There was a single Solitairy Sandpiper there, + 2 Greater Yellowlegs. In blackberry bushes along Cutler Road I heard the meowing of a Gray Catbird. The phoebe was down at the end of the road on a log in the middle of the slough, calling a lot.

On the way home, checked the field along Chilliwack Central with the orange floating things. There were 4 Red-necked Phalaropes, as well as 3 Pectoral Sandpipers (new FV bird) as well as many yellowlegs and 2 Least Sandpipers.Ive drove past that spot on the highway many times and thought it'd be good for shorebirds.

[Dave]

It was still there at dusk this evening. Easily heard calling before seen. Noisy individual!

[Gord]

Nice to see it has shown back up. There are two Black Phoebes in the Fraser Valley as another has been photographed at a different location that the finder didn't wish to share.

Nice find on the Lewis's Woodpecker. There's been a few around.

Stopped by the cranberry field with four Red-necked Phalaropes and a nice assortment of other shorebirds and ducks.

_0231174 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr

_0231185 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr


Pectoral Sandpiper
_0231178 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr

_0231121 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr

Greater Yellowlegs
_0231119 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr

Lesser Yellowlegs. It's been a good fall for them as we don't generally get this many
_0231065 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr

[Jamie]

It definitely seems that the Black Phoebe's range is expanding northwards, with all these sightings compared to past years. There's been I think 6 or 7 in BC from August to September alone. 4 or 5 in the Lower Mainland and a couple on Van Island.
I looked on eBird and it was interesting to see a greater number of sightings expanding northwards starting around 2015.

[Gord]

Three Red-necked Phalaropes were in the cranberry field/pond this morning.

[Krissi]

How do you access the cranberry field? I drove by yesterday on the highway and saw shorebirds along the orange floating structure, and I wondered how I could possibly access the area aside from walking along the shoulder of the highway… clearly not an option.

[Jon]

just off chilliwack central. take Annis road (or Prest if you prefer)