300 species alert! GG!

[ed]

Some of us have noticed that Gord Gadsen has reached the incredible milestone of 300 species for the Fraser Valley Ebird district. This is noteworthy purely on account of the sheer number of species and how I for example would have to find more than 40 more species to get close. How is that possible? Someone suggested horseshoes and while that may be, Gord is simply a great birder. He is that and much more. An encourager, a promoter, an innovator and a good birding companion. If I’m not mistaken the White-breasted Nuthatch is his 300th bird for the area. Congrats and keep up the good work!🙌

[kenneth2019]

Dec 21, 2023 21:10:17 GMT -8 ed said:

Some of us have noticed that Gord Gadsen has reached the incredible milestone of 300 species for the Fraser Valley Ebird district. This is noteworthy purely on account of the sheer number of species and how I for example would have to find more than 40 more species to get close. How is that possible? Someone suggested horseshoes and while that may be, Gord is simply a great birder. He is that and much more. An encourager, a promoter, an innovator and a good birding companion. If I’m not mistaken the White-breasted Nuthatch is his 300th bird for the area. Congrats and keep up the good work!🙌

Congratulations Gord!

[Randy]

Very impressive Gord!

I'd love to hear a summary of the best of those 300 species!

[Dave]

Congrats Gord! 300 is very impressive for the Fraser valley. I too am interested in the top 50 rarities that this list must include! . Congrats on the milestone.
-Dave

[Gord]

Thanks all. Was special to have seen the nuthatch with the boys.

I did a quick scan on my eBird profile and it has it laid out quite nicely from start to finish over the years of species seen. It will be a fun stroll down memory lane to share it. Will do so over the holidays.

[Becke]

Amazing! It's always fun to run into you out there Gord! Happy Birding in 2024!

[Gord]

This turned into quite a long post. But here it is since I did promise!

eBird's life observations offers a easy way to follow along on the birds seen. I've shared some of the notable ones. Or, if there's a good story of one that's not so unusual.

The first notable species was American Avocet in 1987. We did lots of fishing on the Fraser and I still vividly remember this bird feeding in a shallow backwater during one of our annual last week of August fishing trips. I've yet to see one since in the Fraser Valley.

A Black-crowned Night Heron is from 1995 where one spent the winter in someone's yard. It would roost in the fir trees and Denis took me to see it one day. Speaking of, I'm thankful for Denis and his mentoring me as well and keeping me on the straight and narrow as I learned.

Snowy Owl I have three encounters in 1996 and two different birds in 2012 and that's been it.

Then, as expected for the experience level, no real rare birds are on the list until 1999 with a young American White Pelican flying over the house. This bird would be relocated later that day at Salish Pond in downtown Chilliwack. I don't remember what made me go to Salish Pond where I'd see it again but I did. I'd see one at Cheam Lake in 2004 then not again until 2020 where then I've seen at least one each year since including this year. I've often wondered when it comes to increasing encounters of a species, Swamp Sparrow comes to mind, is it because I know what to look/listen for and when and where? Possibly, but let's be honest, it's hard to overlook a giant white bird!

Ash-throated Flycatcher was a one-day-wonder at Cheam Lake near the outflow stream also in 1999. I saw the Tuytten's Wetland one in 2007 and that's been the last since.

Green Heron, while not overly notable, is one that's not as common in recent years. I've seen breeding pairs at Cheam Lake in early 2000's. A fun memory of the species is hearing one call when I was working in the yard one spring. It sounded like it was flying over. Being young and exuberant, I imitated the sound loudly and got back to work. Within a few seconds the yard's robins starting to kick up a big fuss. The reason was a Green Heron had landed near the top of our big tree. I assume it was to investigate my imitation. The robins were assuming that it was coming to raid the nest as herons are wont to do.

Cattle Egret, now known as Western Cattle Egret I see, showed up twice for me. First was at the Chilliwack Airport in 1999. It didn't look healthy sadly. The other were three birds among some sheep at Matsqui Trail in 2001. I saw three and Brent Schmor did as well but seems most others only saw single birds during that time.

I have only one "heard only" bird on this list and it was a Spotted Owl in Manning Park at Sumallo Grove in 2001. Jason and I paused one night on our way to a Okanagan trip to get it. I'm glad we did as that's going to be a tough one to get now.

2006 where a Slaty-backed Gull showed up in Chilliwack. Nice bird that quite a few people managed to see as it fed in the fields. I have two others, likely the same bird, from Abbotsford Transfer Station in winter of 2007/2008 and 2008/2009. I have neglected to put these sightings to eBird I see including some decent photos. We're probably due for another to show up.

2007 had a few interesting ones. I saw my first (of what is up to five now) Blackpoll Warbler this year and two weeks after, a Chestnut-sided Warbler. Both were at Island 22. This site has produced well for me as a week after the Chestnut-sided, a Philadelphia Vireo showed up. I'd get a second vireo, thanks to Chris, in 2010. Last year, I managed to photograph a Chestnut-sided Warbler in Harrison for my second encounter of the species. This year was also when the Ivory Gull showed up in Matsqui Prairie for a few days and I managed to get out to see it.

A Costa's Hummingbird arrived in Abbotsford in 2008. My only other sighting would be in 2015 in Greendale. Fall migration in 2008 had not one but two Tennessee Warblers together at, yes, at Island 22. I've only one other encounter with them in 2014 with a spring migrant at Hope Airport.

Up to 2010 where my only Fraser Valley Black-chinned Hummingbird was seen. A male came to our feeder. He was interesting as he had a couple white secondary wing feathers. Chestnut-collared Longspur in June 2010 at Hope Airport. I would see another the following year. 2010 finished well with an Acorn Woodpecker being discovered on the Abbotsford CBC.

Sage Thrasher I have three encounters. First 2011 at Harrison Lake (good one, Murray) and then two at Hope Airport in the springs of 2015 and 2016. I have three Loggerhead Shrikes; all from Hope Airport in 2011 and two in 2015. The 2015 birds were different individuals based on molt pattern. A pair of Black-necked Stilts showed up on spring migration in East Chilliwack in 2011. I'd see a lone bird that stopped by for most of the day, also in East Chilliwack, in 2013.

Fall migration in 2012 John Vooys found a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper with Pectoral Sandpipers on a turf farm in Sumas Prairie.

Being in the right place at the right time is a big part of birding. Case in point in my only Blue Jay for the Fraser Valley in the spring of 2013. One flew across the road in front of my car in Sardis actually not too far from Jon's house! It landed in a tree (the ornamental white birches, Jon) near the road for a couple seconds but kept going as I tried to get my camera out and make sure no vehicles were coming up behind me.

2013 was a fun year during fall migration. I would see my first Clay-coloured and Brewer's Sparrows one day after the other in early September. A Eastern Pheobe was at Thacker Park in Hope. Happy to have seen another with the boys at Cheam Lake in 2022. Late October was a real neat one by way of a Great Crested Flycatcher.

Hope Airport again for an Upland Sandpiper in 2014. Another would be seen in 2018. Another fall migration gem was a Blackburnian Warbler at good old Island 22. The year finished off with Lesser Black-backed Gull in Abbotsford and Black-billed Magpie at Cheam Lake. Just the one magpie for me and two for the gull to date.

2015 had a surprise of a Surfbird at Harrison Lake. Another for the year was Common Poorwill on Sumas Mountain that I flushed from along the trail several times until it flew further back from the trail. I dropped my phone while watching the poorwill and had a bit of a nervous moment trying to find it. John Vooys again with some Abbotsford magic with a Tropical Kingbird later that fall. Palm Warbler late fall at Hope Airport where I'd see just one other in 2017.

2016 was a good year both spring and fall migration. Spring at the Hope Airport had a Grasshopper Sparrow (I saw my second this year, also Hope Airport). Also at the airport was a Lark Bunting sitting nonchalantly on the fence. I still remember pulling up to it wondering why this male cowbird had a white patches on the wing! The fall brought a Red Phalarope to Harrison Lake that I got really close to. Back up to Hope Airport for a LeConte's Sparrow. This was one of the more challenging birds. I followed it around the same patch of bushes getting just a glimpse each time it flew up from the grass back to the bush. I figured each look would be my last. It was late afternoon, heavy dark clouds were coming and I was expected home soon! Not a fun feeling when you know it's something good but haven't got conclusive views to decide which of the two it was (Nelson's was the other option). However it cooperated as much as the species does and I got the look I needed. The year finished again with a John Vooys find of a November Grey Flycatcher in Abbotsford. I'd find two more up at Hope Airport in 2018 and 2020.

John's run continued with his finding Common Grackle at Hope Airport in 2017. Only one more of this species for me with one at Columbia Valley in 2022. My first of two American Golden Plover was that fall out at Sumas Prairie.

Two notables in 2018, both in the fall. Two Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Sumas Prairie were a nice surprise. I saw my first Parastic Jaeger this fall as well at Island 22. This was a fun one as literally a few minutes after the jaeger passed, a Sabine's Gull followed. I've seen a few of the gull over the years with first in 2016.

If you're still reading this, it's almost done as things are slowing down now from here with most birds probably remembered from reports or even seeing yourself.

2019 had the Cape May Warbler at Mill Lake (nice one, Neal!) finally a Great Grey Owl for me and fall migration produced a Pacific Golden Plover in East Chilliwack. Only one other record for the plover for me which was in 2022 when they were numerous in SW BC.

Nothing in 2020 but 2021 had Magnolia Warbler at Island 22, White-faced Ibis in Rosedale and Brown Pelican at Harrison Lake. Thanks, John Gordon for the pelican find. The year ended in style with the Red-shouldered Hawk.

One new bird for 2022 and was one I've been watching for for quite awhile. Spruce Grouse. I had seen one just outside the checklist area a few years ago. Benny found it at Strawberry Flats in Manning and called me over. Special bird in more ways than one.

Finally, 2023. Spring had the Ross's Goose in Sardis and Lark Sparrow at Hope Airport. The sparrow was another that had shown up in the checklist area a few times but the right place at the right time and I failed to intersect. Bird 299, also Hope Airport, was a male Williamson's Sapsucker. Finally, the nuthatch that Joel, Ed and company found.


It's been fun. The numbers are also fun but as I get older, I'm finding that the simple joy of birding and opportunities to contribute to citizen science efforts surpasses the life list even more and more. No real expectations or pressure and taking it as it comes is peaceful. Doing it with the boys as well brings a new perspective to it all too. All that said, I'm looking forward to what the future brings. With that said, Happy New Year to everyone and all the best in 2024!!

[Randy]

Wow what a fantastic summary! I read every word of it. Some amazing birds!!