Post by Chris on Dec 29, 2012 20:07:36 GMT -8
Cliff, Damion, Gord and myself did the Abbotsford CBC, area 'C' today. The area goes from Clearbrook Rd, to Cole Rd south of the highway.
We started off at Angus Campbell where we added Pipits to the list. There were also two Marsh Wrens and two Yellow-rumped Warblers as well. Waterfowl were flying over us too. The rain started to ease up and we began adding to our sparrow list, Song, White-crowned and Savannah which was a nice surprise.
The west end of South Parallel Rd, resulted in two Bewick's Wrens and a Varied Thrush in an unusual location. In a field on Whatcom Rd, was a huge flock of mostly American Wigeons. If I remember correctly there were 7 Eurasians in this one flock alone. Later on, we drove by this field again and there was a male Ring-necked Pheasant. We had a high count for both American and Eurasian. There were two more large flocks of Wigeons in our area. We finished off with over 4700 American and 13 Eurasian.
In an area on South Parallel we had an Orange-crowned Warbler. This seems to be a good location for winter warblers. Also had our first swan fly over. Took us a while to get one.
Hougen Park was very productive. Added to our waterfowl list with Scaup, Bufflehead, Teal, Mallards and one Common Merganser. Also had our only Belted Kingfishers and Common Redpolls.
White-crowned Sparrow at Hougen
Two Lesser Scaup and Buffleheads
In one field in the far east in our area we had lots of Tundra Swans present with over 100 Trumpeter. Surprisingly, there were six Greater White-fronted Geese as well.
We headed over to UFV and added Anna's Hummingbird, Cooper's Hawk and Brown Creeper. The dump only one non hybrid and Glaucous-winged, a Thayer's.
Anna's
We struggled getting raptors until the end of the day. For over half of the day we only had Red-tailed Hawks and Bald Eagles. A trip again through the east part of our area produced Merlin, Northern Harrier and Peregrine Falcon. We also got two Short-eared Owls. When Gord and I were viewing the Peregrine through the scope, we saw a swallow. Not sure what species though.
We finished off with 72 species which is very good. Low 60's for this area is the norm.
Very enjoyable outing!
List
Greater White-fronted Goose 6
Trumpeter Swan 143
Tundra Swan 26
Eurasian Wigeon 13
American Wigeon 4774
Mallard 1152
Northern Shoveler 5
Northern Pintail 33
Green-winged Teal 85
Ring-necked Duck 2
Lesser Scaup 3
Bufflehead 14
Common Goldeneye 13
Hooded Merganser 4
Common Merganser 1
Ring-necked Pheasant 1
Double-crested Cormorant 6
Great Blue Heron 9
Northern Harrier 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 19
Red-tailed Hawk 17
Killdeer 26
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 1
Thayer's Gull 1
Glaucous-winged Gull 510
Rock Pigeon 164
Eurasian Collared-Dove 58
Short-eared Owl 2
Anna's Hummingbird 3
Belted Kingfisher 2
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 15
Merlin 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Northern Shrike 1
Steller's Jay 5
Northwestern Crow 291
Common Raven 7
Black-capped Chickadee 16
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2
Brown Creeper 2
Pacific Wren 4
Marsh Wren 4
Bewick's Wren 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 18
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 7
American Robin 2
Varied Thrush 1
European Starling 2640
American Pipit 11
Orange-crowned Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Spotted Towhee 9
Savannah Sparrow 9
Fox Sparrow 8
Song Sparrow 89
Lincoln's Sparrow 8
White-crowned Sparrow 111
Golden-crowned Sparrow 36
Dark-eyed Junco 82
Red-winged Blackbird 45
Brewer's Blackbird 155
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
House Finch 21
Common Redpoll 6
Pine Siskin 22
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 16
We started off at Angus Campbell where we added Pipits to the list. There were also two Marsh Wrens and two Yellow-rumped Warblers as well. Waterfowl were flying over us too. The rain started to ease up and we began adding to our sparrow list, Song, White-crowned and Savannah which was a nice surprise.
The west end of South Parallel Rd, resulted in two Bewick's Wrens and a Varied Thrush in an unusual location. In a field on Whatcom Rd, was a huge flock of mostly American Wigeons. If I remember correctly there were 7 Eurasians in this one flock alone. Later on, we drove by this field again and there was a male Ring-necked Pheasant. We had a high count for both American and Eurasian. There were two more large flocks of Wigeons in our area. We finished off with over 4700 American and 13 Eurasian.
In an area on South Parallel we had an Orange-crowned Warbler. This seems to be a good location for winter warblers. Also had our first swan fly over. Took us a while to get one.
Hougen Park was very productive. Added to our waterfowl list with Scaup, Bufflehead, Teal, Mallards and one Common Merganser. Also had our only Belted Kingfishers and Common Redpolls.
White-crowned Sparrow at Hougen
Two Lesser Scaup and Buffleheads
In one field in the far east in our area we had lots of Tundra Swans present with over 100 Trumpeter. Surprisingly, there were six Greater White-fronted Geese as well.
We headed over to UFV and added Anna's Hummingbird, Cooper's Hawk and Brown Creeper. The dump only one non hybrid and Glaucous-winged, a Thayer's.
Anna's
We struggled getting raptors until the end of the day. For over half of the day we only had Red-tailed Hawks and Bald Eagles. A trip again through the east part of our area produced Merlin, Northern Harrier and Peregrine Falcon. We also got two Short-eared Owls. When Gord and I were viewing the Peregrine through the scope, we saw a swallow. Not sure what species though.
We finished off with 72 species which is very good. Low 60's for this area is the norm.
Very enjoyable outing!
List
Greater White-fronted Goose 6
Trumpeter Swan 143
Tundra Swan 26
Eurasian Wigeon 13
American Wigeon 4774
Mallard 1152
Northern Shoveler 5
Northern Pintail 33
Green-winged Teal 85
Ring-necked Duck 2
Lesser Scaup 3
Bufflehead 14
Common Goldeneye 13
Hooded Merganser 4
Common Merganser 1
Ring-necked Pheasant 1
Double-crested Cormorant 6
Great Blue Heron 9
Northern Harrier 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 19
Red-tailed Hawk 17
Killdeer 26
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 1
Thayer's Gull 1
Glaucous-winged Gull 510
Rock Pigeon 164
Eurasian Collared-Dove 58
Short-eared Owl 2
Anna's Hummingbird 3
Belted Kingfisher 2
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 15
Merlin 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Northern Shrike 1
Steller's Jay 5
Northwestern Crow 291
Common Raven 7
Black-capped Chickadee 16
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2
Brown Creeper 2
Pacific Wren 4
Marsh Wren 4
Bewick's Wren 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 18
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 7
American Robin 2
Varied Thrush 1
European Starling 2640
American Pipit 11
Orange-crowned Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Spotted Towhee 9
Savannah Sparrow 9
Fox Sparrow 8
Song Sparrow 89
Lincoln's Sparrow 8
White-crowned Sparrow 111
Golden-crowned Sparrow 36
Dark-eyed Junco 82
Red-winged Blackbird 45
Brewer's Blackbird 155
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
House Finch 21
Common Redpoll 6
Pine Siskin 22
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 16
And of course it would be great to get a Snowy Owl in our circle this year, with several being reported to date in the central and upper valley. 
