Rusty and White-Throated!

[Gord]

Had an afternoon walk at Island 22 before the rain came. It started off fairly blandly with not much to see.

Found a small flock of mixed song birds. Two fairly late Warbling Vireos went by together. I looked closely, no doubt they are Warbling.

Then came upon a larger flock of migrants. I did not get far when two blackbird sized birds flew up from a mud puddle in the middle of the equestrian area. At first, I thought brown-headed cowbird. One was black with brown on the head, the other light coloured. Since we're in the trees a bit far from pasture that's what came to mind at first as I was raising the binoculars. Once they got in the binoculars, I saw I had a pair of Rusty Blackbirds!! I think their habits are a little different from Brewer's Blackbirds. This is a species Ive been watching for in BC. Only seen a few in Alberta. As I was drawing my camera, dogs roared in and scared them away. GRRRR. I think they caught my glare as they kept going. Much to my delight I found them again poking around in the weedy pond soon after. They seem to be in moult.







Cool!!

It was not done yet. As I was working on a warbler species and pishing at it (please come down lower!) I heard loud metallic PINK from low down. Of course I think waterthrush as Im very hungry for one but I knew Id heard this before. I was pleased to see two White-throated Sparrows! One adult and one juvenile. They did not stay in the open for long but I did hear one sing a couple times! Neat! Ive never heard one sing before. One must wonder if they came with the blackbirds as I found them right where the blackbirds were 15 minutes earlier.



As for the warbler, I did not get anything concrete due to the distractions. I was working on a Blackpoll Warbler theory but wanted more and better looks. Never did relocate.

A very worthwhile hour!! ;D ;D ;D

[Wetlander]

I liked the joke in an earlier thread...
Best way to find a rare bird?
Stand next to Gord!!!!!!!!!!

[Dave]

I don't know about you, but I have lost count of the rare birds Gord has pulled out of the woods this fall. How many pages is the Island 22 checklist going to be??

I am getting prepared for the hike Saturday...I wonder what Gord will find there? Hmm...a Bicknell's Thrush on Needle Peak? Or maybe a Colima Warbler? Black-whiskered Vireo?

Great finds, Gord....no slowing down now!!!

Dave

[tmanson]

Gord: Great finds!! Is Island 22 the new hotspot for birding in southern B.C.? Or is this just more Gord magic? Probably both, with the emphasis on the latter. Certainly with all the good birds that Gord has found there, I think an ariticle should be written for publication. I notice in Birding World, that every issue they feature an article on local birding hotspots. They have done some dried up lake in Edmonton, and Island 22 certainly sounds better than that!! Cheers, Thor

Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.

[Gord]

db said:

I am getting prepared for the hike Saturday...I wonder what Gord will find there? Hmm...a Bicknell's Thrush on Needle Peak? Or maybe a Colima Warbler? Black-whiskered Vireo?

Great finds, Gord....no slowing down now!!!

Dave

If anything like that happens (without anyone to share the sighting with or photograph), Im going to be checking on what the wife's putting in my Cheerios each morning. ;D

Thor, good idea. Im doing a site guide for our website but maybe others will be interested in spotlighting it.

Mind you, this all could be fluke combined with a good year for weird species. I wish Ive birded it longer to get a feel for trends. Mind you, Jason and I got that Scarlet Tanager two falls ago along with Tennessee Warbler, and Chipping Sparrow. Not a lot of time was put in then either. This year is the first where Im getting there at any free moment I have.

Regardless, there is very good numbers of 'common' species moving through which does lead me to believe there is something special in that location.