Manning Park Sunday

[kastern]

Sounds like we all had the same idea this past weekend!

We headed up to Manning on Sunday. Didn't stop at the lodge but headed straight up to the alpine meadows.



Spotted one, then four of these grouse. Think they are Blue Grouse....I guess the Sooty's that others are refering to



Walked the Heather Trail. Shortly after this picture was taken a small falcon type bird flew past. Probably a Merlin, and moments later saw a Northern Harrier - didn't seem like Harrier territory to me (I'm used to them down on the grasslands) but there was no mistaking the white across the rump. Only other birds we saw along the trail were some Junco, spooked another grouse but couldn't see what type and heard a Three Toed Woodpecker, could even see the flakes of bark falling, but couldn't find the bird...had to be on the back of a tree that was on a bit of a cliff.



Of course, lot's of Gray Jays around. This guy was one of a bunch helping us eat our lunch. Stopped at the Dry Ridge Trail and walked out to where we could over look the lodge. There was a small flock of Golden Crown Kinglets moving through the trees, but nothing else.



Stopped at the lookout to see the Clark's Nutcrackers.


and the chipmunks.....



not sure what this raven was doing, he just sort of sat on the side of the bank. There were also some Robins eating Mountain Ash berries just across the road from the lookout.

Drove down to the very sad picnic site at Lightning Lakes (If you haven't been there, now all the beetle kill trees have been removed, it is a sorry looking place. Lots of young trees have been planted but it is going to take time before it starts to look like anything again.) My husband wandered off along the Lightning Lakes trail with the big dog while the little old one and me poked around the parking lot. Lots of Juncos, heard Red Breasted Nuthatch and Mountain Chickadee. Saw a couple of Golden eye on the lake and a Song Sparrow at the lakeside and heard a Belted Kingfisher. Lots of crows and of course more Nutcrackers and Gray Jays.

Lastly we headed up to Strawberry Flats



This guy was not amused with us being there and made the strangest noise as he tried to yell at us 'with his mouth full'



Spooked another grouse - this time a Spruce Grouse (correct me if I'm wrong!)



and more Gray Jays. My husband took this photo of me with my 'friend'....this guy thought he'd hit the jackpot...a piece of dog biscuit was mixed in with my pocketful of peanuts!

Heading back to the car we saw more Junco and also 3 Yellow Rump Warblers.

Kathy

[tmanson]

Kathy: Awesome pictures. You really captured the essence of the place this weekend with this great weather!! I am starting to get lazy about carrying my point and shoot digital camera. I should have waited a bit, and bought a digital SLR.
Without necessarily wanting to start a debate, I am wondering whether your first grouse might also be a Spruce. Its distinctive throat patch is one clue. On the other hand, the tail may be a little long, and I don't see any yellowish/tan tail band. Maybe some other Fraser Valley birders will " weigh into " this discussion.
I forgot to mention, in my report that, on Saturday, in almost the same location, we saw a Sharp tailed Hawk where you saw a Merlin, so there must quite a bit of good grub around.
The weather is so good my wife and I are heading back up there tomorrow. Nature, at its best!! Cheers, Thor

Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.

[kastern]

Thanks Thor.....those pictures were taken with my digital SLR although the last one my husband took with his point & shoot digital. As for the Grouse....I'm open to suggestions. I did take some more pictures at different angles.....I can post them if others are curious to ID as well. Don't know if it helps with ID'ing them but we drove past the first one, stopped, backed up, I got out of the car and walked right up to them to take the pictures.....also there were a total of 4 of them....so a little group (possibly a family group?) rather than individual birds.

Kathy

[tmanson]

Kathy: First of all, a correction on my post. I meant to say Sharp shinned Hawk, not Sharp tailed. Secondly; sure it would be great to see your other grouse pics from different angles. Always fun. Cheers, Thor

Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.

[Deleted]

It's hard to call the second grouse (in the tree), but I think the first one is a Blue grouse. The long tail and hint of a gray band at the tip are quite convincing to me. Barring or lack of barring on the breast, not visible on this photo, would be another important characteristic to look for in separating female Spruce from female Blue.

The question of whether it's a Sooty or a Dusky Grouse, one or other of the two very similar looking species Blue Grouse is now split into, is beyond me. I have seen discussions about the geographical border area between these two species, and I think Manning Park is in the discussion, but I can't remember the details.

If you want to post more photos, Kathy, that would be helpful, or at least interesting.

As to their tameness, that is helpful, but it could apply to either Spruce or Blue (Sooty/Dusky) Grouse, and to a lesser extent also to Ruffed. We had similar experiences with Ruffed and Spruce Grouse in the Chilcotin earlier this month.

Stan Olson
Abbotsford. BC

[murraybrown]

Kathy, I cant resist the challenge: I agree with your ID call. The first is a sooty/Dusky (probably a hybrid) and the second defintely a Spruce.
As usual the pictures are first rate.

Murray

[Gord]

Nice photos and report Kathy. I really would like to join the club and get out there soon too!

I agree on the grouse even though the first one does demand a close look.

I think that raven looks sick and could be why it was just sitting there. The disheveled look combined with a slight droopy look in the wings suggests an illness or injury. Poor guy if this is the case.