December, 2022 - Monthly Challenge

[Randy]

December is typically a quiet month but it still has great bird watching opportunities. Raptors are abundant, especially in the farmlands such as Sumas Prairie and East Chilliwack. Keep an eye out for a potential Golden Eagle. December is also a great opportunity to observe large gull flocks in fields. Sardis Park is another great spot for a short walk to view various species of waterfowl.

Breakdown by year for December

2008 – 107 species recorded
2009 – 107 species recorded
2010 – 124 species recorded
2011 - 112 species recorded
2012 - 128 species recorded
2013 - 110 species recorded
2014 - 114 species recorded
2015 - 108 species recorded
2016 - 111 species recorded
2017 - 116 species recorded
2018 - 103 species recorded
2019 - 105 species recorded
2020 - 110 species recorded
2021 - 116 species recorded

Average species for December: 112

Last updated: January 2, 2023

Species seen to date: 111

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


Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Trumpeter Swan
Tundra Swan
Wood Duck
American Wigeon
Eurasian Wigeon
Mallard
Gadwall
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Ring-necked Duck
Canvasback
Redhead
Lesser Scaup
Greater Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Ring-necked Pheasant
Ruffed Grouse
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Golden Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Northern Harrier
Merlin
American Kestrel
Gyrfalcon
Prairie Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Black Phoebe
American Coot
Wilson's Snipe
Short-billed Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Iceland Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Western Gull
Barn Owl
Barred Owl
Great Horned Owl
Short-eared Owl
Anna's Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared Dove
Mourning Dove
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Pileated Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Northern Shrike
Steller's Jay
California Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Common raven
Horned Lark
Black-capped Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bushtit
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren
Bewick's Wren
American Dipper
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Hermit Thrush
European Starling
American Pipit
Bohemian Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Lapland Longspur
Western Meadowlark
Brewer's Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Pine Siskin
House Finch
Purple Finch
Cassin's Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

[Chris]

A few sightings

Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan
Mallard
Bald Eagle
Glaucous-winged Gull
European Starling
American Crow
Anna's Hummingbird
Varied Thrush
American Robin
Bohemian Waxwing (four from the yard)
Dark-eyed Junco
House FInch
House Sparrow

[kenneth2019]

A few from Chilliwack Hospital, Salish Pond and Sardis Park

Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
American Coot
Black-capped Chickadee
Pied-billed Grebe
Rock Pigeon
Ring-billed Gull
Common Raven
Song Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler

[Randy]

Sorry about the delay. The list is updated. I also added Pacific wren, which interestingly I've had an individual finding it's way into my garage a couple time! I also added Golden-crowned Kinglet.

[Bentley]

Iceland Gull
American Pipit
Horned Lark
Rough-legged Hawk

[josterhold]

Some birds to add from the yard:
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Steller’s Jay
Fox Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Red-tailed Hawk
Ruffed Grouse - this one was nice to see as I have not seen one here for at least 7 years. They used to breed here in the past but haven’t for at least 12 years. Was a pleasant surprise to look out the window and seeing one feeding on catkins of a Beaked Hazelnut.

Jason

[ed]

Cassin’s Finch upper Ryder Lake

[Gord]

A quick add is the three owl day I had yesterday. On the way home was a Short-eared Owl at Sumas Central. That evening along Bailey Road near the dump was a Barn Owl cruising along the road. In bed that night a Barred Owl woke me up in the back yard. I checked the time to confirm that it was still on the left side of midnight so it could go for a three-owl day. The concerns of a birder, huh?

[Randy]

Dec 6, 2022 23:03:56 GMT -8 Gord said:

A quick add is the three owl day I had yesterday. On the way home was a Short-eared Owl at Sumas Central. That evening along Bailey Road near the dump was a Barn Owl cruising along the road. In bed that night a Barred Owl woke me up in the back yard. I checked the time to confirm that it was still on the left side of midnight so it could go for a three-owl day. The concerns of a birder, huh?

Showoff!!! Hahaha

[ed]

From Sumas Prairie Ring-necked Pheasant (8 males) and 32 W Meadowlarks. Lincoln and WC Sparrow.

[Bentley]

White-throated Sparrow in the yard today

[Krissi]

Dec 8, 2022 17:09:00 GMT -8 Bentley said:

White-throated Sparrow in the yard today

Great yard bird!

[Krissi]

I think I’ve got my list sorted. I went off the Dec 6 update, and left off Western Meadowlark and Short Eared Owl as someone has mentioned them.

Cackling Goose - farm field off highway 1
Northern Shoveler - Hougen Park, Heron Reserve
Gadwall - Heron Reserve
American Wigeon - Heron Reserve
Ring Necked Duck - Heron Reserve
Lesser Scaup - Heron Reserve
Common Goldeneye - Heron Reserve
Double Crested Cormorant - North Parallel
Great Blue Heron - Sumas Prairie
Sharp Shinned Hawk - Number 2 rd fields
Cooper’s Hawk - Sumas Prairie
Northern Harrier - Sumas Prairie, Greendale
American Kestrel - Sumas Prairie, Greendale
Prairie Falcon - Sumas Prairie
Herring Gull - Abbotsford Transfer Station
Belted Kingfisher - Hougen Park (dike)
Eurasian Collared Dove - Home
Pileated Woodpecker - Hougen Park (dike)
Northern Shrike - Hougen Park (dike)
Bushtit - Home
American Dipper - Chilliwack River
Pine Siskin - Chilliwack Lake Rd up in mountains above snow line
Brewer’s Blackbird - Dixon Rd

[Chris]

Peregrine Falcon, WC, and GC Sparrow can be added.

[Krissi]

New additions from the last couple days:

Red-Breasted Nuthatch - Ryder Lake
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet - Ryder Lake
Black Phoebe - Jesperson Dike
American Coot -Sardis Park
Wood Duck - Sardis Park
Red-Winged Blackbird - Heron Reserve
Great Horned Owl - Heron Reserve