October 2022 Monthly Challenge

[Gord]

We're into fall and many of the warblers, vireos and flycatchers have left southwards but some can still be found. There's lots of waterfowl to come as well as gulls. Harrison Lake is a great place to visit in October for loons, waterfowl and the likes. The month can have as low as 109 species or up to 150.


Breakdown by year for October

2008 - 127 species recorded
2009 - 139 species recorded
2010 - 134 species recorded
2011 - 135 species recorded
2012 - 150 species recorded
2013 - 144 species recorded
2014 - 130 species recorded
2015 - 123 species recorded
2016 - 112 species recorded
2017 - 109 species recorded
2018 - 122 species recorded
2019 - 112 species recorded
2020 - 128 species recorded
2021 - 142 species recorded

Average species for October 129


Last updated November 1

Species seen to date 116
To view the missing species for the month please click here

Trumpeter Swan
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Northern Pintail
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
Greater Scaup
Canvasback
Redhead
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
American Bittern
Double-crested Cormorant
Sooty Grouse
Spruce Grouse
Virginia Rail
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Northern Harrier
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Anna's Hummingbird
Barred Owl
Great Horned Owl
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collard-Dove
Mourning Dove
Band-tailed Pigeon
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Thayer's Gull
Herring Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Killdeer
Greater Yellowlegs
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Red-naped Sapsucker
Belted Kingfisher
Hammond's Flycatcher
Cassin's Vireo
Northern Shrike
Common Raven
American Crow
Steller's Jay
Canada Jay
California Scrub-Jay
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Black-capped Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Mountain Chickadee
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
American Pipit
European Starling
Varied Thrush
American Robin
Swainson's Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Townsend's Solitaire
Cedar Waxwing
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Orange-crowned Warbler
Black-throated Grey Warbler
Townsend's Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Western Tanager
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Western Meadowlark
Purple Finch
House Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Evening Grosbeak
House Sparrow

[Gord]

Got it started with what we've been seeing at home the last couple days.

[Chris]

From Harrison,

Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grene
Savannah Sparrow

and from the yard in the evening about 1000 Cackling Geese

[birder1942]

Barred Owl in Horn Creek Park, Abbotsford

[oldfulica]

Oct 2, 2022 12:18:03 GMT -8 Gord said:

Got it started with what we've been seeing at home the last couple days.

From Manning:
Sooty Grouse
Stellars Jay
Canada Jay
Raven
Brewers Blackbird

[birder1942]

From Sumas Prairie: Turkey Vultures, Rock Pigeon, Common Raven, American Pipit, Savanna Sparrow, Great Blue Heron, Killdeer. Also some Cackling Geese of the Aleutian type with the white collar. John Vooys

[Krissi]

Here are my additions, so far:

Mallard (Judson Lake)
Hooded Merganser (Harrison)
Spruce Grouse (Manning - lifer!)
Western Grebe (Harrison, Kawkawa Lake)
Eurasian Collared Dove (Home)
American Coot (Judson Lake)
Glaucous Winged Gull (Harrison, Glen Valley)
Double Crested Cormorant (Glen Valley)
Bald Eagle (Glen Valley)
Red Tailed Hawk (Hwy 1 @ McCallum, Glen Valley)
Merlin (Glen Valley)
Mountain Chickadee (Manning)
Chestnut Backed Chickadee (Manning)
Golden Crowned Kinglet (Manning)
Brown Creeper (Manning)
European Starling (Home, Gladwin Flats, Glen Valley)
Varied Thrush (Manning)
House Sparrow (Glen Valley)
Dark Eyed Junco (Manning)
Lincoln’s Sparrow (Glen Valley)
Red Winged Blackbird (Gladwin Flats)
Brown Headed Cowbird (Gladwin Flats)

[oldfulica]

I have seen pictures of a Bittern at Wilband taken today.. Do you still need this bird Bentley? South arched bridge.

[Randy]

I had 2 Hammond's flycatchers at my place 2 days ago.

[Krissi]

I did a drive around Matsqui this morning, which got me American Kestrel, Hairy Woodpecker and Purple Finch to add to the list.

I saw a photo of an American Bittern that was seen today at Willband, and I was able to change my plans for the evening and head there. After not having found it in the last four years of searching, I didn’t expect today to be any different… but it was! Just as I was about to leave, it popped up out of the reeds. Holy Moly! The nemesis bird has been “vanquished” haha!

In addition to the Bittern I also have the following species to add from Willband:

Ruddy Duck
Green Winged Teal
Northern Pintail
Gadwall
Northern Shoveler
Wood Duck
Pied Billed Grebe
Belted Kingfisher
Common Yellowthroat

[Bentley]

California Scrub Jay near Chilliwack Secondary yesterday

[birder1942]

We may add Bewick’s Wren from Willband Park. John V

[Dave]

We have Band-tailed Pigeons continuing on our feeders.

[Krissi]

Cedar Waxwings flying over at Fish Trap yesterday.

[Krissi]

Adding Pine Siskin and Pacific Wren from yesterday at Fish Trap Creek.