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Post by Harrier on Jul 29, 2014 8:34:22 GMT -8
I was driving home from the Kane Valley last night, and I was thinking about some of the interesting birds that I regularly see in that area, less than two hours from home. I thought it would be fun to start a thread that might help people boost their life lists by giving them some tips on reliable locations for birds that you might not see in most parts of our area. I realize that birding is about exploration and enjoying nature and not just building a list, but sometimes a new bird or two can rekindle my love of the hobby and motivate me to get out more. Here are a few that might help:
Black Tern - Kidd Lake - Aspen Grove (on Highway 5A between Merritt and Princeton). I'm sure that you could watch them from the highway, but a canoe or other small boat would get you right into the feeding frenzy. I went at the beginning of July and I could see 12 feeding at one time. This is a great location for marsh birds in general. One thing I found very interesting to watch last time I was there was how similar swallows, Black Terns, and Common Nighthawks are. It was almost like watching three sizes of the same bird. What a great example of convergent evolution.
Common Poorwill - Find a seldom-travelled gravel road in the Merritt area, and drive it at night. I saw them on Kane Valley Road between Englishmen Lake and the Coldwater exit from the Coquihalla last night. You will see small, dark birds with white wing bars flushing up from the road. I'm not sure why they like sitting on the gravel road, but I see them doing it fairly consistently. You could walk with a flashlight as well, but I haven't tried that yet.
White-Tailed Ptarmigan - Needle Peak - Coquihalla Rec Area. These birds are fairly common in the alpine, but Needle Peak is a great intermediate hike, is only an hour from Chilliwack, and doesn't require a 4x4 to access. Drive up the Coq and park by the green sand/salt shed across the freeway from the Zopkios rest area. This is a good spot for alpine and subalpine birds: Pine Grosbeak, Clarke's Nutcracker, Rosy Finches, etc. There are also some interesting mammals, like Hoary Marmots and Pika. Be bear-aware, of course.
Please add any others that you can think of.
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Post by Harrier on Jul 29, 2014 8:37:02 GMT -8
The breeding Dusky Flycatchers at the top of Elk that someone mentioned earlier in the year would be a good one for this list as well. I don't have that one on my list yet. I'll have to check it out next time I'm up there.
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Post by Chris on Jul 29, 2014 19:52:15 GMT -8
I can add a few. I didn't know that Poorwills were up in that area.
Veery - Up the Fraser Canyon from Hope. I always have had them in North Bend but they seem to arrive late, Early June.
Lapland Longspur/Snow Bunting - Some years are better than others but usually in October/November both species are seen along Harrison Lagoon. Wouldn't say easy but if they are there they will be seen.
American Three-toed Woodpecker - Strawberry Flats in Manning Park. They are located throughout the park but Strawberry Flats I have had the most success. I just park in the parking lot and walk the road.
Williamson's Sapsucker - Copper Mountain Rd in Princeton. Late April and early May would be the best time. Can also get Pygmy and White-breasted Nuthatch.
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Post by Gord on Jul 31, 2014 11:26:08 GMT -8
Excellent thread! Thanks, Christian, for starting it.
Black Tern is one Im keen to see. Nice to have a spot in mind to try for it. Poorwill as well. I did not know they could be that close and having a hard time picturing them. I did not know they had wingbars, but then again, I've never seen one!
Dusky Flycatcher I think is worth trying along the Coquihalla Highway. I've found a few on territory in old cut blocks but would like to check it out a bit more to confirm if this is regular or not. Elk Mountain I was surprised to see. Again, needs more data to see if they're annual or just once in a while and here and there.
I cant think of a species to add at this time.
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Post by Harrier on Jul 31, 2014 22:57:27 GMT -8
Excellent thread! Thanks, Christian, for starting it. Black Tern is one Im keen to see. Nice to have a spot in mind to try for it. Poorwill as well. I did not know they could be that close and having a hard time picturing them. I did not know they had wingbars, but then again, I've never seen one! Dusky Flycatcher I think is worth trying along the Coquihalla Highway. I've found a few on territory in old cut blocks but would like to check it out a bit more to confirm if this is regular or not. Elk Mountain I was surprised to see. Again, needs more data to see if they're annual or just once in a while and here and there. I cant think of a species to add at this time. The Black Terns on Kidd Lake are such a treat to see. I've only ever seen them on one other lake in the area, so it feels like you're in other part of the world when you're there. If you end up going, take the Coldwater exit from the Coq, turn left and cross under the freeway to Coldwater Rd, then turn right onto Kane Valley Rd after a few kms. That whole area is amazing for birding, with great grassland and riparian habitats. After the first lake on the right, about 10-15kms up the road (an unnamed water retention pond, the other place I've seen Black Terns occasionally) take a right on Cantlon Rd. and follow that down to highway 5A. It pops out right by Kidd Lake. You could probably spend a week birding that route between the Coq and Highway 5A if you wanted to. The Kane Valley, as well as Aspen Grove area around Kidd are just rotten with birds. It's just a beautiful part of the province. |
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Post by Harrier on Aug 1, 2014 16:03:18 GMT -8
Black Crowned Night Herons and Saw Whet Owls are pretty reliable at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta. I don't know of any other locations for those two species in the Lower Mainland.
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Post by oldfulica on Aug 2, 2014 8:03:16 GMT -8
Excellent thread! Thanks, Christian, for starting it. Black Tern is one Im keen to see. Nice to have a spot in mind to try for it. Poorwill as well. I did not know they could be that close and having a hard time picturing them. I did not know they had wingbars, but then again, I've never seen one! Dusky Flycatcher I think is worth trying along the Coquihalla Highway. I've found a few on territory in old cut blocks but would like to check it out a bit more to confirm if this is regular or not. Elk Mountain I was surprised to see. Again, needs more data to see if they're annual or just once in a while and here and there. I cant think of a species to add at this time. The Black Terns on Kidd Lake are such a treat to see. I've only ever seen them on one other lake in the area, so it feels like you're in other part of the world when you're there. If you end up going, take the Coldwater exit from the Coq, turn left and cross under the freeway to Coldwater Rd, then turn right onto Kane Valley Rd after a few kms. That whole area is amazing for birding, with great grassland and riparian habitats. After the first lake on the right, about 10-15kms up the road (an unnamed water retention pond, the other place I've seen Black Terns occasionally) take a right on Cantlon Rd. and follow that down to highway 5A. It pops out right by Kidd Lake. You could probably spend a week birding that route between the Coq and Highway 5A if you wanted to. The Kane Valley, as well as Aspen Grove area around Kidd are just rotten with birds. It's just a beautiful part of the province. We saw a Black Tern at Guischon Flats (probably spelled that wrong) aka Beaver Flats, just north of Nicola Lake on Hwy 5A a few weeks ago. |
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Post by Chris on Aug 3, 2014 19:57:35 GMT -8
Len, that is another good area for Black Tern as well.
A few others.
Black Oystercatcher and Black Turnstone the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal along the rocks.
White-throated Swift - There is a small colony of them near Spences Bridge. Drive Highway 8 and just passed the railroad crossing there is a nice rocky cliff and that is where they are.
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Post by Harrier on Aug 3, 2014 21:58:00 GMT -8
Lighthouse Park in Point Roberts is usually a lock for Black and Ruddy Turnstones in the summer as well.
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