Post by Gord on May 25, 2013 22:17:33 GMT -8
This morning I awoke early and threw around the idea of doing some birding before work. I won the battle between deciding to stay in a nice warm bed or going out into the cool morning, so off I went.
I figured Columbia Valley would be a nice change to the East Chillliwack Field circuits I have been doing of late and I was really glad I went. I started on Kosikar Road and enjoyed a flock of Evening Grosbeaks flying past. Soon after early in on Maple Falls Road MacGillvray's Warblers were singing away. This would end up being the most common warbler of the morning. There were a few Wilson's Warbler about.
The little wooded pond area on Maple Falls Road had plenty of swallows buzzing around including a few Vaux's Swifts. A Killdeer was in the field. Pacific-slope Flycatchers were very abundant throughout the morning.
Just past the wooded pond there is a nice stretch of woods I enjoy walking as it is away from people's homes and is very birdy. Not only was it birdy, but it produced a very good bird for the area by way of a Veery. I saw it first and the brighter reddish back and tail is always surprisingly eye-catching. I hoped for a picture but it responded to my pishing by just making some call notes (rude comments?) from the thicker understory. Of course the Swainson's Thrushes were much more willing to come out in the open than their more retiring cousin is. While Veery is quite common in Boston Bar and I have one record of them in the Skagit Valley, this was the first for me in Chilliwack.
On my way back to my car this Dark-eyed Junco was very friendly and fed at the edge of the road and did not seem to mind me. I guess all that singing makes one hungry as it was singing near the top of a tree as I approached and then came down for dandylion seeds. I enjoyed watching it for a few minutes.
Black-headed Grosbeaks were quite numerous throughout the area. This guy was belting out his song.
White-crowned Sparrows were everywhere. I did not come across one Song Sparrow. I think this has happened before.
As mentioned, MacGillvray's Warbler were very common this morning and were singing every few hundred meters. Usually, they're rather secretive and difficult to see but this one was way at the top of a hemlock tree.
Near the intersection of Maple Falls Road and Columbia Valley Road I heard what I thought was a Hutton's Vireo. As I got closer, yup, was indeed! I enjoyed watching it feed along the roadside. Very likely they are breeding which is quite exciting!
In all, I tallied 49 species of birds. I saw/heard pretty well all the warblers one might expect to find in the area save for Nashville Warbler and Common Yellowthroat. A Barred Owl called several times and I also heard a Sooty Grouse. Two Cooper's Hawks flew over. They were young birds; probably from last year. The size difference suggested a male and female. I heard my first Willow Flycatcher of the spring (just a single bird) but didnt come across a Red-eyed Vireo as I half-expected to. Weather was varied with a few light showers but clearing towards the end. The sun brought a nice Tiger Swallowtail feeding on a dandylion flower.
Because it's late at night here and I dont think I have the energy to make a new thread, I will mention a couple finds at Harrison Lake from later in the day. While checking on the boat launch parking lot I stumbled across a Vesper Sparrow. It was still around later and I managed a photo.
Just over the side in the Lagoon was this first summer Bonaparte's Gull.
Other than that Harrison appeared to be fairly quiet.
Thanks for reading. Good birding to all.
I figured Columbia Valley would be a nice change to the East Chillliwack Field circuits I have been doing of late and I was really glad I went. I started on Kosikar Road and enjoyed a flock of Evening Grosbeaks flying past. Soon after early in on Maple Falls Road MacGillvray's Warblers were singing away. This would end up being the most common warbler of the morning. There were a few Wilson's Warbler about.
The little wooded pond area on Maple Falls Road had plenty of swallows buzzing around including a few Vaux's Swifts. A Killdeer was in the field. Pacific-slope Flycatchers were very abundant throughout the morning.
Just past the wooded pond there is a nice stretch of woods I enjoy walking as it is away from people's homes and is very birdy. Not only was it birdy, but it produced a very good bird for the area by way of a Veery. I saw it first and the brighter reddish back and tail is always surprisingly eye-catching. I hoped for a picture but it responded to my pishing by just making some call notes (rude comments?) from the thicker understory. Of course the Swainson's Thrushes were much more willing to come out in the open than their more retiring cousin is. While Veery is quite common in Boston Bar and I have one record of them in the Skagit Valley, this was the first for me in Chilliwack.
On my way back to my car this Dark-eyed Junco was very friendly and fed at the edge of the road and did not seem to mind me. I guess all that singing makes one hungry as it was singing near the top of a tree as I approached and then came down for dandylion seeds. I enjoyed watching it for a few minutes.
Black-headed Grosbeaks were quite numerous throughout the area. This guy was belting out his song.
White-crowned Sparrows were everywhere. I did not come across one Song Sparrow. I think this has happened before.
As mentioned, MacGillvray's Warbler were very common this morning and were singing every few hundred meters. Usually, they're rather secretive and difficult to see but this one was way at the top of a hemlock tree.
Near the intersection of Maple Falls Road and Columbia Valley Road I heard what I thought was a Hutton's Vireo. As I got closer, yup, was indeed! I enjoyed watching it feed along the roadside. Very likely they are breeding which is quite exciting!
In all, I tallied 49 species of birds. I saw/heard pretty well all the warblers one might expect to find in the area save for Nashville Warbler and Common Yellowthroat. A Barred Owl called several times and I also heard a Sooty Grouse. Two Cooper's Hawks flew over. They were young birds; probably from last year. The size difference suggested a male and female. I heard my first Willow Flycatcher of the spring (just a single bird) but didnt come across a Red-eyed Vireo as I half-expected to. Weather was varied with a few light showers but clearing towards the end. The sun brought a nice Tiger Swallowtail feeding on a dandylion flower.
Because it's late at night here and I dont think I have the energy to make a new thread, I will mention a couple finds at Harrison Lake from later in the day. While checking on the boat launch parking lot I stumbled across a Vesper Sparrow. It was still around later and I managed a photo.
Just over the side in the Lagoon was this first summer Bonaparte's Gull.
Other than that Harrison appeared to be fairly quiet.
Thanks for reading. Good birding to all.
