Dusky Fallout etc May 19

[Gord]

Stormy weather isn't usually enjoyable, but afterwards it can mean some good birding is to be had.

I popped by the Hope Airport and it was pretty busy. Six species of warbler including my first MacGillvray's of the spring. There were several Nashville as well. No shortage of warblers with double digits of some species. The most interesting was the amount of Dusky Flycatchers. I settled on nine. Likely there were more. One area had three together and another two with singles throughout. Easily the most I've put on a checklist for the Fraser Valley. Vesper Sparrows are still kicking around with three being seen. There was also a Townsend's Solitaire and my first Lazuli Buntings of the spring.

Nashville Warbler
_0221912 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr

Dusky Flycatcher. Not a great photo but it looks a bit long winged but the bill is broad. It also went "Whit whit" a lot. Putting it up as there's been lots of discussion on telling them from Hammond's (which I did see along with a Pacific-slope)
_0221923 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr

Vesper Sparrow
_0221937 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr


Kawkawa Lake had 10 Surf Scoter but not as much waterfowl otherwise as I thought I might see given the weather we had.


Cheam Lake there was another Dusky Flycatcher and the four Redhead continue as well.


Along the Vedder River in Yarrow I had my first of the spring Swainson's Thrush. Nice to see them back.


This evening I stopped in at Sardis Pond. Jon's female Redhead continues and posed nicely for a photo. There were a great many swallows over the pond and among them were at couple Bank Swallows. There was a lot of small bird activity including a nice Western Tanager and lots of Orange-crowned and Wilson's Warbler including others.

Redhead
_0221963 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr

Male Myrtle Warbler
_0221955 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr

Bank Swallow
_0222016 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr

I bet tomorrow will still be active. Worth going out for sure.