October 2023 Monthly Challenge

[Randy]

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
2022 - 116 species recorded

Average species for October 128


Last updated November 1, 2023

Species seen to date: 146

To view the missing species for the month please click here

Greater White-fronted Goose
Canada Goose
Cackling Goose
Snow Goose
Tundra Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Wood Duck
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Blue-winged Teal
Green-winged Teal
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Canvasback
Redhead
Ruddy Duck
Long-tailed Duck
Barrow's Goldeneye
Common Goldeneye
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Double-crested Cormorant
Ruffed Grouse
Sooty Grouse
White-tailed Ptarmigan
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Western Grebe
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
American Bittern
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Golden Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Osprey
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Prairie Falcon
American Coot
Killdeer
Wilson's Snipe
Spotted Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Glaucous-winged Gull
Iceland Gull
Herring Gull
Short-billed Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian-collared Dove
Band-tailed Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Northern Pygmy-owl
Western Screech-owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Vaux's Swift
Violet-green Swallow
Anna's Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-breasted Sapsucker
American Three-toed Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Western Kingbird
Western Wood-pewee
Northern Shrike
Steller's Jay
Common Raven
American Crow
Horned Lark
Black-capped Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Mountain Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bushtit
Bewick's Wren
Marsh Wren
Pacific Wren
American Dipper
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Cedar Waxwing
Bohemian Waxwing
Townsend's Solitaire
European Starling
American Pipit
Orange-crowned Warbler
Townsend's Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Snow Bunting
Lapland Longspur
Western Meadowlark
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Gray-crowned Rosy Finch
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin
House Finch
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
Pine Grosbeak
American Goldfinch
Evening Grosbeak
House Sparrow

[kenneth2019]

Canada Goose
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
Glaucous-winged Gull
Steller's Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Horned Lark
European Starling
American Robin
American Pipit
House Finch
White-crowned Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler

[Chris]

From Flatiron today

Sooty Grouse
White-tailed Ptarmigan
Golden Eagle
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Three-toed Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Mountain Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Townsend's Solitaire
Varied Thrush
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
Pine Siskin
Dark-eyed Junco

[Dave]

We had a few sightings this morning for October

Tuyttens Rd had a lateish flock of Vauxs Swifts with a couple Violet-green Swallows mixed in. There was a Mourning Dove there along with 3 Greater Yellowlegs, Wilson’s Snipe, and a Spotted Sandpiper. 34 species for a short stroll. No Phoebe that we saw.

Harrison Lake was quite quiet with some Ring-necked Ducks, Hooded Megansers, several flocks of Canada Geese heading south, and small flocks of sparrows including Golden-crowned, White-crowned, and Savannahs. A Merlin was in the Harrison area as well.

[Randy]

Wow great start to the month!!

Nice alpine species Chris!

I had a good day at my place yesterday and I added a bunch, including:

Red-breasted sapsucker
White-throated sparrow
Warblers (orange-crowned, Wilson's, Townsend's)
Western tanager

Chris and I went to Willband today and ran into Len (great to see you Len!) who directed us to a bittern in the southwest pond.

[kenneth2019]

Common Loon - Kawkawa Lake
Western Grebe - Fraser River ?
Common Merganser And Bald Eagle - Fraser & Cogh.

[ed]

Band-tailed Pigeon, Columbia Valley
Redhead at Willband

[Bentley]

Snow Goose - Flatiron
Green-winged Teal - Harrison Lagoon
Tundra Swan - Kitchen Hall Rd
Wood Duck - Kitchen Hall Rd
Lesser Scaup - Jesperson Dike
Common Merganser - Jesperson Dike
Rock Pigeon - Downtown Chwk
Eurasian Collared Dove - Downtown Chwk
Killdeer - Downtown Chwk
Turkey Vulture - East Chwk
Cooper's Hawk - Downtown Chwk
Belted Kingfisher - Cheam Wetlands
Peregrine Falcon - Rosedale
Pacific Wren - Whippoorwill Point
American Dipper - Whippoorwill Point
Hermit Thrush - Jesperson Dike
Cedar Waxwing - Flatiron
House Sparrow - Downtown Chwk
Evening Grosbeak - Flatiron
Lapland Longspur - Flatiron
Brewer's Blackbird - East Chwk

[Randy]

Great start everyone, the list is updated.

I added pied-billed grebe from Willband with Chris last weekend and pileated woodpecker from my place this morning.

[old coot]

Bufflehead (Dave) and I saw a Ruby-Crowned Kinglet and a Ruffed Grouse on Friday. Klaus

[Bentley]

Couple flocks of Bushtits in Midtown today

[kenneth2019]

Greater Scaup - Harrison Lagoon
Red-breasted Merganser - Rockwell Drive, Harrison
Bonaparte's Gull - Rockwell Drive, Harrison

[Chris]

Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Barred Owl
American Kestrel

[Randy]

Nice additions everyone.

I also added an osprey from Willband yesterday - I was surprised to see it as it seems to be getting late for them.

The bittern was still hanging out at the southwest bridge as well.

[kenneth2019]

Western Meadowlark - Harrison Lagoon
Canvasback = Limbert Rd

Ken From Hope