Post by paulos on Jul 26, 2019 18:03:03 GMT -8
Hi everyone,
I just returned from a brief trip birding, in, around, to and from Creston, BC.
My first bird stop was Nighthawk Road near Cawston, which produced Brewer's, Lark and Vesper sparrows. Two adult Brewer's sparrows were near this noisy little guy, but I honestly can't tell if it is a Brewer's (it was larger than the adults) or a Vesper juvenile (though I am leaning Brewer's because of the gray tones on the head). I'd appreciate any feedback.
I camped at Jolly Creek rec site just off Mount Baldy road near Rock Creek. I saw upwards of 20 nighthawks nearby, and all three nuthatches. I took the Pend Oreille Valley between Montrose and Nelway, which produced a nice number of Lewis's Woodpeckers and way too many Gray Catbirds.
Stagleap park was a nice quick alpine stop on the way down to the Creston Valley, though pretty quiet birdwise safe for a few alpine regulars and some downy Barrow's Goldeneyes.
Creston valley itself is gorgeous. It looks something like a smaller Fraser Valley without all the development, and if Sumas Lake had never been drained. Here is a shot facing south from Duck Lake.
I did not see any Forster's Terns (this is their only breeding colony in BC). But true to its name, there were plenty of ducks (mostly mallards), a nice big flock of mixed blackbirds, and three unseasonable swans (at least two were Tundras).
Lots of the usual riparian birds around the Creston Valley Wildlife area, though here that includes catbirds, redstarts and least flycatchers. A view from the lookout:
I also checked out the south end of Kootenay Lake, which looks like if Harrison lake had a large mudflat on the south end. Not much more than spotted sandpipers, but in migration it could easily be fantastic for shorebirds.
I made a few quick stops on the ride home, including the college trails at Castlegar and White Lake in Oliver.
My primary purpose in the Creston area, however, was not birding. I was making arrangements to move, and my wife and I will be heading there in the next couple weeks. So this post is also something of a goodbye. The place certainly has a lot of birding potential (including a birding festival in the spring!). If any of you ever come to visit I would be happy to show you around!
Also, thank you to all of the birders I've met out and around the valley in the last four years, or who helped me identify confusing birds on this forum and point me to good spots. I'll miss running into many of you around Great Blue Heron Reserve, Hope Airport, Island 22 and the latest rarity stakeout.
Peace!
Paul
I just returned from a brief trip birding, in, around, to and from Creston, BC.
My first bird stop was Nighthawk Road near Cawston, which produced Brewer's, Lark and Vesper sparrows. Two adult Brewer's sparrows were near this noisy little guy, but I honestly can't tell if it is a Brewer's (it was larger than the adults) or a Vesper juvenile (though I am leaning Brewer's because of the gray tones on the head). I'd appreciate any feedback.
I camped at Jolly Creek rec site just off Mount Baldy road near Rock Creek. I saw upwards of 20 nighthawks nearby, and all three nuthatches. I took the Pend Oreille Valley between Montrose and Nelway, which produced a nice number of Lewis's Woodpeckers and way too many Gray Catbirds.
Stagleap park was a nice quick alpine stop on the way down to the Creston Valley, though pretty quiet birdwise safe for a few alpine regulars and some downy Barrow's Goldeneyes.
Creston valley itself is gorgeous. It looks something like a smaller Fraser Valley without all the development, and if Sumas Lake had never been drained. Here is a shot facing south from Duck Lake.
I did not see any Forster's Terns (this is their only breeding colony in BC). But true to its name, there were plenty of ducks (mostly mallards), a nice big flock of mixed blackbirds, and three unseasonable swans (at least two were Tundras).
Lots of the usual riparian birds around the Creston Valley Wildlife area, though here that includes catbirds, redstarts and least flycatchers. A view from the lookout:
I also checked out the south end of Kootenay Lake, which looks like if Harrison lake had a large mudflat on the south end. Not much more than spotted sandpipers, but in migration it could easily be fantastic for shorebirds.
I made a few quick stops on the ride home, including the college trails at Castlegar and White Lake in Oliver.
My primary purpose in the Creston area, however, was not birding. I was making arrangements to move, and my wife and I will be heading there in the next couple weeks. So this post is also something of a goodbye. The place certainly has a lot of birding potential (including a birding festival in the spring!). If any of you ever come to visit I would be happy to show you around!
Also, thank you to all of the birders I've met out and around the valley in the last four years, or who helped me identify confusing birds on this forum and point me to good spots. I'll miss running into many of you around Great Blue Heron Reserve, Hope Airport, Island 22 and the latest rarity stakeout.
Peace!
Paul
