January 2021 Monthly Challenge

[Gord]

It's a New Year and while not necessarily the most busy in terms of numbers of species, there's still plenty to see at the feeders or on a walk between the rain. Winter raptors are to be found in the agricultural areas and for those interested in gulls; often large flocks are in the fields. Uncommon birds still pop up in this month and might be hiding in a flock of juncos or quietly spending the winter in an unlikely location at a local park. In two months we might have our first swallow of 2021 so hang in there!

Breakdown by year for January

2008 – 113 species recorded
2009 – 104 species recorded
2010 – 99 species recorded
2011 - 116 species recorded
2012 - 102 species recorded
2013 - 108 species recorded
2014 - 116 species recorded
2015 - 117 species recorded
2016 - 106 species recorded
2017 - 91 species recorded
2018 - 103 species recorded
2019 - 118 species recorded
2020 - 96 species recorded

Average species for January 114

Last updated January 31

Species seen to date97

Less common species to watch for as you travel in our region this month:
Manning Park: Clark's nutcracker, American Three-toed woodpecker, Mountain Chickadee, Pine Grosbeak, Red Crossbill
Harrison (Lake and Lagoon): All ducks and divers, gulls (Beach) Sparrows, Lapland Longspur, Snow Bunting
Sumas Prairie: All five falcons (Peregrine, Merlin, Kestrel, Prairie, Gyrfalcon), Barn Owl, Northern Shrike, Tundra swan, gulls

To view a list of missing species for the month, click here.

Tundra Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Snow Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
Canada Goose
Cackling Goose
Northern Pintail
Mallard
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
Northern Shoveler
Green-winged Teal
Barrow's Goldeneye
Common Goldeneye
Bufflehead
Lesser Scaup
Greater Scaup
Ring-necked Duck
Redhead
Canvasback
Ruddy Duck
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Mew Gull
Iceland Gull (Thayer's)
Herring Gull
Glaucous Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Western Gull
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Golden Eagle
Northern Harrier
Rough-legged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
White-tailed Ptarmigan
Ruffed Grouse
Sooty Grouse
Ring-necked Pheasant
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared Dove
Gyrfalcon
Peregrine Falcon
Merlin
American Kestrel
Northern Pygmy Owl
Western Screech Owl
Barred Owl
Barn Owl
Great Horned Owl
Anna's Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Shrike
Northwestern Crow
American Crow
Common Raven
Steller's Jay
Canada Jay
Horned Lark
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Black-capped Chickadee
Mountain Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Pacific Wren
Bewick's Wren
Marsh Wren
American Dipper
European Starling
American Pipit
Cedar Waxwing
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Mountain Bluebird
Orange-crowned Warbler
House Sparrow
House Finch
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Lapland Longspur
Brown-headed Cowbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark

[Gord]

Let's get 2021 off to a good start. I've put up what we've seen in our yard yesterday and this morning to get it started.

[imperialbirders]

Hi Gord
We saw our little Northern Pygmy Owl this morning at dawn at our birdbath. Also, there was a Ruffed Grouse at our front porch and in our front garden on January 1st. Of course the Trumpeters fly out and back from Cheam Lake daily. We hear the resident Pileated Woodpecker but have not had a sighting yet.

Happy New Year.

[Harrier]

From Vedder Mountain yesterday:
-Common raven
-Pacific wren
-Golden-crowned kinglet

[imperialbirders]

We have several Hairy Woodpeckers visiting as well as a pair of Varied Thrushes

[graeme45]

In the yard yesterday:

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Driving through Sumas Prairie today:

Great Blue Heron
Rock Pigeon
Trumpeter Swan
Snow Goose
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Bald Eagle
Western Meadowlark

[Dave]

I can add Eurasian Wigeon, Barn Owl, American Dipper as well

[ed]

Canada Jay, Elk Mtn

[dpeppar]

I can add

Common Merganser
Hooded Merganser
Kingfisher
Cooper Hawk
Green Wing Teal
Mountain Bluebird - three were seen today as I drove west on Industrial Way just after the intersection with Progress Way in Chilliwack.

DaveP
Chilliwack

[Gord]

Mike, nice Ruffed Grouse visitor! Not a species we get every month; great addition. Same with the Pygmy Owl.

Dave, super find on the bluebirds. Not many times have we added them in the winter.

Ed, thanks for getting a tough-to-reach species with the Canada Jay

[graeme45]

Sardis Pond had Bufflehead and Pied-billed Grebe this afternoon.

[Harrier]

There were two Great-horned owls hootin’ it up at Sardis library at 4:30 this morning. They woke me up!

[Gord]

Up to 62

Coles notes of other additons
Golden Eagle - Raymond has seen them in Sumas Prairie
Common and Barrow's Goldeneye - Great Blue Heron Reserve
Horned Grebe - Harrison Lake
Marsh Wren - Cheam Lake

We need to take a closer look at the gull flocks I see! I'll accept that challenge joyfully.

Thanks all. Looking forward to the next update in the coming days.

[Dave]

Greetings,

Gyrfalcon from Sumas Prairie and Canvasback from Kilby can be added.

[ed]

Juvenile Northern Shrike, Matsqui Prairie