Post by Gord on Jun 11, 2013 23:00:01 GMT -8
Inspired by my last two trips to Columbia Valley I decided to go again Saturday morning. The weather was nice but this time there was a bit of light wind. Happily it did not amount to much of anything.
Breeding season is in high gear now as I saw several species feeding young that morning including Orange-crowned Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, European Starling, American Robin, Killdeer and White-crowned Sparrow. I tallied 51 species this morning which really shows the diversity of the area. New birds that I have yet to see up the Columbia Valley this year included Downy Woodpecker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Pileated Woodpecker, Spotted Sandpiper, Cassin's Vireo, Common Yellowthroat and a singing Chipping Sparrow. Counting the species detected over the last two weeks the number exceeds 60 species. For sure a great place to check out.
There were three Cassin's Vireo males all singing. One was close to the road.
Willow Flycatchers have certainly increased in numbers since my last visit.
A busy Orange-crowned Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
This male Western Tanager looked pretty sharp in the morning light.
Since I've been a little AWOL, Ill flip through my field notebook and share some of the more interesting sightings.
June 9 in the cranberry field near Annis Road was a lone male Red-necked Phalarope paddling around.
Today there were a pair of female Wilson's Phalaropes in the same place with three male Green-winged Teal. Definitely a bit late to see a phalarope around here but who knows when it comes to stragglers on migration.
At Cheam Lake an Olive-sided Flycatcher was singing. Just outside the park there were two Western Kingbirds hunting over a field.
From Island 22 I noted two adult Common Loon flying over fairly high heading west. Now where were they going?
Good birding everyone!
Breeding season is in high gear now as I saw several species feeding young that morning including Orange-crowned Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, European Starling, American Robin, Killdeer and White-crowned Sparrow. I tallied 51 species this morning which really shows the diversity of the area. New birds that I have yet to see up the Columbia Valley this year included Downy Woodpecker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Pileated Woodpecker, Spotted Sandpiper, Cassin's Vireo, Common Yellowthroat and a singing Chipping Sparrow. Counting the species detected over the last two weeks the number exceeds 60 species. For sure a great place to check out.
There were three Cassin's Vireo males all singing. One was close to the road.
Willow Flycatchers have certainly increased in numbers since my last visit.
A busy Orange-crowned Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
This male Western Tanager looked pretty sharp in the morning light.
Since I've been a little AWOL, Ill flip through my field notebook and share some of the more interesting sightings.
June 9 in the cranberry field near Annis Road was a lone male Red-necked Phalarope paddling around.
Today there were a pair of female Wilson's Phalaropes in the same place with three male Green-winged Teal. Definitely a bit late to see a phalarope around here but who knows when it comes to stragglers on migration.
At Cheam Lake an Olive-sided Flycatcher was singing. Just outside the park there were two Western Kingbirds hunting over a field.
From Island 22 I noted two adult Common Loon flying over fairly high heading west. Now where were they going?
Good birding everyone!
