Crazy Spring

[Gord]

This is certainly one of the more interesting springs I can remember. Nashville Warblers have been amazing this year. I have over a dozen reports from various locations and people. I myself have seen more in a month than I have in at least 5 years combined. Of course there's been some good rarities spotted with the Costa's Hummingbird, Palm Warbler and so forth.

I've noticed, and wonder of others have as well, some things being a little late. Usually there are a few more Swainson's Thrushes by now and certainly more Black-headed Grosbeaks (although they are starting to pick up) But then lots of species have been on time or in good numbers.

However, I wonder if the good numbers is really such or the fact that there are a lot of birds 'stalling'. Ive never seen so many Hammond's Flycatchers this far into May messing around in willow and cottonwood trees. Yesterday there were at least 10 at Island 22. Usually they're well on their way to their usual summer habitat at higher elevations at the top of conifers where you only find them by their song.

I think one of the biggest are the swallows. At one point they seemed to be getting close to normal distribution but yesterday at my house it was even more abnormal than earlier in the month. I figured there were about 800 swallows. 95% of them were Violet-green. They were feeding low over the field and around the house. They were perched everywhere on the wires, the roof of my house, the shed and even some on the ground (which is a little worrisome) The weather had better warm up! Good thing this did not happen in two or three weeks or there'd be a lot of nest failure without doubt.








They were literally swarming everywhere.


This guy's about to make a catch.


This guy is very unimpressed.

[kastern]

Those are beautiful shots of the Violet Green Swallows! That is a species I have yet to get a decent picture of. As for this weird spring....we've noticed that the Orioles were at least a week later than normal arriving here and where are the Cedar Wax Wings? Has anyone seen any? Evening Grosbeaks are always unpredicatable but it seems we have an awful lot staying around this year...then there are the Hummingbirds...there are so many Hummingbirds as I think I mentioned before and I keep wondering if they are holding back or if that many are with us for the summer.

As for Yellow Rump Warblers....yes there are lots here, but when we drove up the canyon on Sunday and then to Merritt there were ton's of them every where we stopped as well. Goldpan Park was full of them and Orange Crowned, they were all along the Nicola River, along with Wilson's and Yellow (not to mention Northern Tanager's, Western Kingbirds etc. etc.) and when we pulled into a rest area on Nicola Lake the lakeshore was absolutely 'hopping' with Yellow Rump Warblers (males and females) with a few Yellow Warblers as well....so obviously the Warblers have made it that far and considering it has been warmer in the northern half of the province than here, it doesn't seem to make sense that the birds would be 'holding back'.

I saw a couple of Swainson's Thrush a week or so ago but I've yet to actually hear them in the woods like you usually do. Then there are the Band Tail Pigeons (or lack of). I think it was 3 weeks ago at least when we had a few here for a couple of days and then they disappeared. Most Springs we have dozens of them and they stay around for a month or so...everyone starts complaining about them eating them out of house and home! I don't know if those few early ones were all we are getting or if the bulk of them haven't arrived yet. What has arrived are cowbirds...boy do we have cowbirds!

It will be interesting to see what happens when this sudden heat wave arrives that they are talking about!

Kathy

[Wetlander]

Odd numbers at our place as well. More Hummers than I've ever seen, no Cedar Waxwings or Eastern Kingbirds yet. We've had more Black-headed and Evening Grosbeaks than ever. Cowbirds have been increasing year by year. With the lower than normal waterlevels until recently, a Pied-billed Grebe showed only today. Swallow, Warbler and Warbling Vireos numbers are pretty consistant, but I've only seen Bullock's Orioles once so far. Also, the Pine Siskins seem to be hanging around longer than normal.

I've also noticed the lack of owl calls over the past couple of months and I've yet to see a Peregrine this year. That's unusual. Bald Eagles are consistant, but Red-tailed Hawk have been rare lately.

[Gord]

Thanks Kathy.

I was going to agree with you on the Cedar Waxwings (still do!) but they have finally arrived and in good numbers.

Interesting to hear about all the Yellow-rumps further inland.

Kev, your thoughts parallel mine it seems. The owls will settle down on the calling now that they're well into (or some nearly done) nesting. But then maybe you've had different experiences on that.

Now that we've had that heat wave things have certainly changed. Yellow-rumped Warblers have thinned out a lot. I had close to 50 in my yard before the warm weather hit.