Tunkwa

[kastern]

Spent this past long weekend at Tunka Provincial Park. One of our favorite places, but the first time we've made it there this year. Tunkwa's claim to fame is the fishing....but we've always found it one of the best birding places.

Please forgive the length of this report but I just have to share some of the pictures (I downloaded 278 so this is just a sampling!) ;D ;D

The weather or Saturday felt more like the beginning of October than August and in the afternoon a wall of black moved in and the lake was immediately whipped into a frenzy. Within moments literally hundreds of Common Nighthawks and Swallows of every description appeared over the lake, I had no idea there were so many Nighthawks in B.C., let alone in this one place.


This is a poor picture and doesn't even begin to show the incredible numbers that were there. As the storm moved over and the lake calmed they moved higher into the area and then just disappeared.



Sunday and Monday it was calm enough to get out on the lake in my kayak. There weren't a lot of geese still there. A few still had about half grown young. I wasn't able to cover more than about a third of the lakeshore, so it is possible they were hiding in the back if they were still molting. This was one of about 8 that flew onto the lake while I was there, so obviously had finished their molt.



I had hoped that Shorebird Migration would be underway but didn't spot any migrants on Tunkwa, however a walk over to adjacent Leighton Lake turned up a flock of 8 Greater Yellowlegs Sandpipers. Unfortunately I had left the SLR camera at the trailer so only had my small camera with me.



There were a pair of Herring Gull (think they are Herring Gull) on the small island off of the camping area. Everytime any Raptor - and there were Bald Eagles, Merlin & American Kestral - flew over, these Gulls would give chase. We thought they must have a nest but it seemed awfully late for that and no one was actually 'sitting'......



When I got out in the kayak and made it to the far shore of the island....this was the object that was being protected. Managed one shot, which fortunately turned out, as I was being dive bombed.



Looked and looked for some young Killdeer but couldn't spot any. This adult was busy 'luring' me away, so there must have been some there somewhere!



There were several families of young Mallards. These were so tame they kept me company as I paddled.



There were also several families of almost fully grown Canvasbacks. Not nearly as freindly as the Mallards...this was the best I could do of one of the females.



Of course there were Chipmunks busy eating the wild raspberries and currents



Lots of American Coot



In fact there were young coot right from almost fully grown to really young. This was one of 3 that this particular mother had.



The reeds everywhere were full of Marsh Wren....some younsters were still at the fledgling stage.



Lots of Muskrat in those reeds as well.



Saw quit a few young Red Neck Grebe but only 1 adult. Did spot an Eared Grebe and a couple of Horned Grebe, all of which were changing into their winter colors.



Saw several families of Ruddy Ducks. Most were at this age although did see one family of slightly older ducklings.



Lots of young Lesser Scaup....in fact counted one 'flotilla' of 43 of the busy little things.



Lots of Savannah Sparrows



It was obvious that this one still had a family in a nest somewhere near by. It seemed late, but we were told that the ice didn't come off of the lake until May 4th this year and then May and June were very wet and cold so I guess some nesting was delayed.



Managed to spot this Snipe, one of several, in a little wet spot just across the road from where our trailer was parked.



Couldn't find any young Killdeer, but there were lots of young Spotted Sandpipers.



Can't forget the Yellow Bellied Marmot.....



Large flocks of Yellow Headed Blackbirds flying about.



Here is a juvenile one.

Other bird of note that we saw that I couldn't get a photo of was a Sabine's Gull. Actually we saw 3 of them. I have seen them here before and managed a photo before (of a juvenile) but not this time. This time, they were adults.

Anyway, this is probably enough for now.

Kathy

[onejay]

Beautiful pictures Kathy!

Go right ahead if you want to post some more! I love seeing your photos and I won't complain at all!

[murraybrown]

Beautiful pictures Cathy, I especially liked the one of the Red-necked Grebe. I used to fish those lakes many years ago and had forgotten just how "birdy" a place it is!

Murray

[ryjay]

Wow, where exactly is Tunkwa? I think ive heard of it, looks like a great place to visit. Love the pictures.

[kastern]

Tunkwa is just north of the town of Logan Lake, head to Merritt then either continue on the Coquilla until the Lac la Jeune turn off or if you are like us and never take a main road if a secondary goes the same place, take the Mamet Lake Road from just outside Merritt. Tunkwa has only been an provincial park for a short while (maybe 10 years if that). There is a private fishing camp on the south end of the lake and some private cabins that were there prior to it becoming a park. There are two provincial park campgrounds, one on Tunkwa Lake and one on Leighton Lake. The Leighton Lake one allows ATV's and dirt bikes, in fact has actual trails for them.....which is why we always stay at the campground on Tunkwa Lake. It isn't the most scenic place anymore thanks to the pine beetle. They have cleared most of the dead trees out of the actual campground so it is now grassland with Aspens. There is really diverse birdlife there. There are a number of smaller lakes and wet areas besides the two main lakes, so lots of waterfowl, shorebirds (especially during migration), raptors and other grassland specialists with still enough forest for things like Mountain Chickadees, Nuthatches etc. etc. We find it never disappoints. It is one of the few campgrounds where you can actually camp right on the lakeshore so your canoe, kayak etc. can be left right at the water's edge. We've been there as early in the season as mid April when the ice is still on the lake and as late as Thanksgiving. We've also been known to pack a picnic lunch sometime in February when a high pressure system settles in so we know the roads will be clear, and just drive up there for a winter picnic. Don't see much in the way of birds then but can often see the herd of Wild Horses that winter in the campground.

Kathy

[Gord]

Kathy, Ive enjoyed your photos and report very much. I think Ive looked at it three times now! I second OneJay in being very open to seeing more!

Your Sabine Gulls are very interesting! Ive never heard of them outside of rare sightings. I remember seeing the photos of the juvenile one from last year.

How is this area for taking the family camping? Im easing them into roughing it so at the moment, will need a few amenities.

Oh yes, and you are right. That is a Herring Gull.

[kastern]

Hi Gord.....regarding your question about Tunkwa and family camping....if you need a few amenities then the campground right at Tunkwa probably isn't right for you. It is a typical 'rustic' provincial park, picnic tables, pit toilets (clean but still pit toilets) and hand pumps for water. Temperatures tend to be extreme. Check out Kamloops and Merritt and if it is going to be hot, it will be just as hot at Tunkwa and if it is cool, it will be cold at Tunkwa as it is much higher up, it also tends to be very windy a lot of the time.

HOWEVER, there is a very reasonably priced municipal campground right in the town of Logan Lake, right on the lake with all the amenities.....electricity, flush toilets, water coming out of taps etc. We have never stayed there as it is too civilized for us, but we have driven in to see what it was like. There is a nice paved, landscaped walkway from the campground all around the lake (which is small) with a nice playing field and playground at the far end of the lake. The shops in town (there aren't that many) are also within walking distance, so that would probably be your better option. I'm terrible at remembering numbers, but Tunkwa is only 15 min. or so away.

As for the Sabine Gulls.....only saw them very briefly Sunday morning. Could see, what I thought at first were Terns out over the water, but realized then that they weren't terns. I knew they weren't Franklin after seeing so many in Alberta and they didn't seem like Bonaparte either. I had gone and got out my field guide and was studying it when one flew by really close and I got a really good look at it and it was definitely a Sabine.

This is one of the things I love about Tunkwa (I tend to wax poetic about the place) but you never know what you will see there, especially during migration periods. One year there was a Ross' Goose there along with the Canada's. Last year I saw a flock of Red Neck Phalorope there, by the way Wilson's Phalarope nest in a little puddle of water right beside the road in. A couple of years ago I spent a week there in early May and although I never saw them, there were Sandhill Cranes somewhere out behind me. Pelicans and Swans stop there during migration as well.

If you are at the campsite and walk across the grasslands and over the far 'hump' where there is another large marshy area full of waterfowl etc., there is a grove of Aspens that are a veritable bird nursery.....Tree Swallows, Flickers, Mountain Bluebirds, Sapsuckers....just to name a few that nest there. I love to just sit and watch. A pair of Bald Eagle have nested on the 'bump' for many years and a pair of Red Tail Hawks also nest in the vacinity.

As you can tell....I could go on and on.....one word of caution to anyone planning to go there, don't go on the May 24th long weekend. It is an absolute zoo then. It is the start of fishing season and there are all kinds of derbies. There area something like 200 sites in the campground at Tunkwa, many of which are 'group' meant for 4 units. We were told that this past May long weekend, there were almost 500 units ....even the park operators couldn't drive anywhere to get at anything....they had to walk. The rest of the year, things are much calmer and if you can get there mid week, especially in the off season, you'll have the place pretty much to yourself.

Kathy

[ryjay]

sounds like a great place, ill have to plan a trip out there