British Columbia and Yukon Region
Summary of Observations - Spring 1999
(modified from report submitted to North American Birds)Compiled by Michael G. Shepard
Click HERE to view the Winter 1998-1999 summary
Click HERE for a list of other observation summariesThe storms of winter whisking off the Pacific gradually died out in March, leaving a cool but dry and sunny April. This turned out to be just a transition month, though, as May saw the development of an early "Cold Low" season, replete with still cool temperatures and frequent mountain snows. Indeed, the almost record snowpack across the southern half of British Columbia melted little through the period leaving nowhere to go but the valleys for most higher elevation breeding birds. La Nińa treated Yukoners to one of the coldest, wettest springs on record. Conditions southeast of Whitehorse were particularly damp, while Carmacks to the north enjoyed better weather.
LOONS THROUGH EGRETS
A Yellow-billed Loon, rare in the interior, was near the mouth of Evans Cr. on Slocan L. May 9 (EB) to May 21 (SO). A late lingerer was at Iona I. May 20 (RTo). A count of 20 Eared Grebes in the vicinity of Nanoose Harbour and Neck Pt. on Apr. 14 (BC) was one of the highest tallies in coastal B.C. in recent years. The substantial count of 2700 Western Grebes near Kelowna on May 10 (MG) was noteworthy. Such concentrations, although not unheard of, have been rarely reported in recent years. Iona I. had a Clark's Grebe Apr. 18-28 (DB et al.). Very few tubenoses were observered this spring. A Black-vented Shearwater off Amphitrite Pt. May 25 (RWo) was noteworthy. This spring, Am. White Pelicans were more widely reported than usual, both on the coast and in the interior. AR surmised that late thawing of pelican feeding lakes near their Stum L. colony may have resulted in the influx to lower elevations. At Williams L., where the species was previously unrecorded in spring, small flocks came daily (Apr. 22 to the end of May) to forage. On May 15, two Double-crested Cormorants were near the Yukon's only known breeding location at Jackfish Bay on Lake Laberge (CE,YBC). A Great Egret, perhaps an annual visitor to SW B.C., was at Tree I., Richmond May 29 (Mrs. Talboys, m. obs.). Somewhat more unusual were reports of Snowy Egrets at Maple Ridge May 9 (MBa), and the mouth of Moray Channel, Richmond May 15-16 (EG et al.).WATERFOWL THROUGH RAPTORS
A Ross's Goose, likely the same bird that spent much of the winter at Como L., was at nearby Colony Farm along the Coquitlam R. Apr. 20-24 (LC). On May 5, two migrant Ross's Geese, accompanied by 4 Snow Geese and 17 Canada Geese were near Fort Fraser May 5 (LLa, SK). In both B.C. and the Yukon, Eur. Wigeon were more widespread and abundant than usual this spring. Two males, one of which was apparently paired with a female Am. Wigeon, were at Vanderhoof Apr. 11 (PGNC). Yukon sightings (all of males) included one at lower McIntyre Cr. Apr. 24 (LK), one at Tagish Narrows May 2 (HG,YBC) and May 8 (CE,PS), and one at M’Clintock Bay on May 16 (CE,PS). A male Tufted Duck appeared at Stanley Park Apr. 5-18 (CW, JAM et al.), and a bird, thought to be a female of the species, was photographed along the Nautley R. in central B.C. on Mar. 17 (MPh, NK). On Apr. 26, AG, MH and PH witnessed the marvellous spectacle of between 40,000 and 50,000 Oldsquaws sitting on the water and wheeling around in clouds. The birds were southwest of Seal Rocks in NE Hecate Strait and believed to be feeding on large concentrations of krill.White-tailed Kites are pushing their range into British Columbia and are now of regular occurrence almost as far north as Puget Sound in neighbouring Washington. This spring there were observations throughout the Fraser Valley, with individuals reported from Sea I. Apr. 18-20 (DB, m. obs.), near Kilby Apr. 21 (MBr), Aldergrove Apr. 25 (KRS) and Bradner Road, Langley on May 9 (CB). On Vancouver I., one was at Michael L. near Nanaimo on Apr. 28 (DW). Very rare in the Peace River area, a Cooper's Hawk was 25 km SW of Fort St. John May 28 (MPh, DGr). There are very few spring records of Broad-winged Hawks in B.C. This year, one was at the north end of Okanagan L. on May 13 (RJC) and another at Willowbank Mountain in the Blaeberry Valley on June 9 (DL).
SHOREBIRDS
Small numbers of Black-necked Stilts invaded southern B.C. this spring. Six were at Kelowna on May 3 (BT), one at Rose's Pond, Vernon on May 11 (PG), a female at the the Iona sewage lagoons, Apr. 28 to May 16 (RTo et al.) and one at Serpentine Fen May 13 (MPL). This spring's high count of Am. Avocets was 45, tallied at the Alki L. colony in Kelowna May 12 (fide LG). A group of 8 avocets were at Elizabeth L., Cranbrook on May 24 (MW). The northward shorebird migration provided no major surprises. However, at M'Clintock Bay, a sizeable shorebird fallout was reported May 11-18. Fifteen species were identified there with a peak of about 3000 birds May 11. Most common were Pectoral Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitcher, Semipalmated Plover and Semipalmated Sandpiper (CE, PS). Four Whimbels at Mackenzie May 26 (JCB) provided the first record for that area. Long-billed Curlews put in unusual outer coast appearances with a single bird May 7 and three May 16 near Tofino (AD). A record-setting 102 Hudsonian Godwits were tallied through May at various Whitehorse area wetlands (CE, PS) with the largest flock being 52 at Tagish Narrows May 2 (CE, HG, YBC). This species is considered rare in the Yukon. A Bar-tailed Godwit, rare at any season, was near Tofino May 7 (AD). A pair of Bar-tailed Godwits discovered at Judas Cr. May 26 (CE, HG, PS) was the highlight of the Yukon's spring shorebird migration, and provided only the second record for the territory. One bird remained until at least May 29 (CE, PS, RCa). The predictable smattering of coastal Marbled Godwits was reported, but much more unexpected were two birds at the Maude-Roxby Bird Sanctuary, Kelowna May 11 (GW et al.). A courting pair of Surfbirds was seen May 23 in the mountains SE of Tombstone Campground along the Dempster Hwy. just S of the known breeding range in the Ogilvie Mts. (RMu). Surfbirds are rarely seen in the Yukon.JAEGERS THROUGH ALCIDS
Light morph Parasitic Jaegers were at Judas Cr. May 26 (JH, YBC), and May 29 (CE, PS). This species is considered very rare in the Whitehorse area. Two Franklin's Gull at Newlands May 22 (CA, MA) provided the first spring record for the Prince George area. Approximately 400 Ring-billed Gull nests were found on Christmas I. near Salmon Arm May 17 (RJC). This is a relatively new colony, establshed approximately 10 years ago. Iceland Gulls are more and more frequently observed in the province, however, spring occurrences are rare. One was encountered just north of French Cr. during the Brant Festival Big Day Apr. 10 (DEA, DC, ADM, BW). Glaucous-winged Gulls, relatively uncommon in the interior, were at the N end of Okanagan L. May 2 & 4 (DGC, RJC). Caspian Terns are rarely observed in the central and northern parts of the province. The six along the Nechako R. at Cottonwood I. (Prince George) May 22-23 (MPh et al.) were noteworthy. Forster's Terns are normally restricted to the Creston area, where a small breeding colony is located. This year, individuals were at the mouth of the Duncan R., Kootenay L. May 16 (GS), Okanagan Landing May 23 (MC, PG, DGe, VS), and at Tranquille, May 29 - June 1 (SR et al.). An unusually large flock of 187 Black Terns was at Big L. NE of Chetwynd on May 28 (MPh, DGr). Very rarely reported in the province, two Kittlitz's Murrelets were in Laredo Sound May 11 (BK). This species likely breeds in the province, but tends to frequent areas unvisited by birders. A Cassin's Auklet spent more than a month (Apr. 4 well into June) near the cruise ship facility in Vancouver Harbour (MPr et al.).OWLS THROUGH THRASHERS
The status of Snowy Owls in the northern Yukon during the spring is unknown. A single bird on the Old Crow Flats Apr. 25 (SW) was noteworthy. A warden's patrol at Vuntut N.P. produced one of the very few n. Yukon records of Great Gray Owl Apr. 20 (DF, DH, ALa, RMa). Costa's Hummingbirds, casual visitors to B.C., were observed at feeders in Sooke, Apr. 9-13 (GL) and Sardis, May 15-23 (JS, BSk et al.). An imm. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was discovered in the Nanaimo area Mar. 4 (GM). Of rare occurrence in the Queen Charlotte Is., a Downy Woodpecker was at Juskatla Mar. 28 (MH, PH). Dusky Flycatchers are turning up more and more frequently on the coast, particularly during spring migration. There are still, however, very few records from Vancouver I. A single bird observed on May 22 (DEA) provided the third record for Rocky Pt. Another flycatcher in the news was an Eastern Phoebe, found at the Alaksen Wildlife Management Area, Delta May 31 (KDG, WE). This is one of only a handful of coastal B.C. reports. A Say's Phoebe near Port Alberni Apr. 18 (RCr, BSl) was somewhat out of range. Am. Crows barely make it into the Yukon. At least two roamed the Whitehorse area in May (m. obs.). A cloud of 1500+ Tree Swallows was at Cluculz L. in the central interior on May 11 (LLa, SK). A window-killed Golden-crowned Kinglet at Mary L., Yukon on Mar. 30, provided a record-early (albeit short-lived) spring arrival (KKn). A male Mountain Bluebird at Sandspit Apr. 4 & 5 (MH, PH) provided the first spring record for the Queen Charlotte Is. Throughout the interior of B.C. Townsend's Solitaires were reported in greater than usual numbers. Eight were at Johnsons Landing May 8 (GS). A Sage Thrasher at Iona I. May 8-13 (LJ et al.) provided only the second record for the Vancouver checklist area. It was followed later in the month with one at Pitt Meadows May 24 (JL, DT, RTy).WARBLERS THROUGH ROSY FINCHES
Several species of warblers rarely found on the coast in spring were observed this year. A singing male Nashville Warbler was near Port Renfrew May 8 (DEA), a Tennessee Warbler at Rocky Pt. May 16 (DEA), a Hermit Warbler at Queen Elizabeth Park, Vancouver May 6 (MT), Palm Warblers at Sea I. May 4 (MKM) and Iona I. May 8 (JAM), and a N. Waterthrush near the Dinsmore Bridge in Richmond May 19 (MKM). At Marsh L., a singing male "Audubon’s" Yellow-rumped Warbler May 29 (PS, CE), provided one of very few documented Yukon records. Unusual in the southern B.C., male Blackpoll Warblers were at Queen Elizabeth Park May 9 (BGS) and Vaseux L. May 31 (RWe). A Yellow-breasted Chat, a species of irregular occurrence on the Lower Mainland, was found at Sea I. May 31 (KKl, GT et al.). An Am. Tree Sparrow, rare in spring on Vancouver I., was at Port Alberni Apr. 29 (SA). According to Anna Roberts, Clay-colored Sparrows have increased in the Cariboo over the last 20 years to occupy almost all suitable habitat. This spring, a one hectare site close to an industrial development in Williams L. was home to an estimated 7-8 pairs (fide AR, PR). A Black-headed Grosbeak, unusual in central B.C., was in Prince George in early May (BR). Very rare north of the southern interior, a Lazuli Bunting was in Vanderhoof May 25 (LLe). A Bobolink at Mackenzie May 22-23 (GH et al.) was outside its normal range. It was photographed, thus providing the first documented record for that area, and one of the northernmost for the province. A female Yellow-headed Blackbird at Queen Charlotte City May 11 & 12 (BE, JW, MH, PH) furnished the first record for the QCIs. The leftovers from last fall's Brambling irruption were report Apr. 5 in Campbell R. (HA) and Apr. 8 in Port Clements (ALo, BL). The flock of Gray-crowned Rosy Finches frequenting a feeder at Jakes Corner through the winter peaked at a record-setting 140 birds (mostly interior with 2 coastal race) on Apr. 12 (CE). On the B.C. coast, Gray-crowned Rosy Finches were unusually widely reported in the lowlands. Up to 27 birds (May 8 - N. Burnaby - HC) were seen at a time. A few birds lingered into late May. Perhaps the heavy snowpack at higher elevations kept the birds down. Birders in s. Yukon wondered why some of the Com. Redpolls were not leaving their feeders and heading north as they normally all do in early May. The answer came on May 16 with the observation of an ad. Com. Redpoll feeding a recently fledged dependent young at M’Clintock Bay (PS). A pair of Com. Redpolls frequenting a Whse. feeder appeared with four recently fledged (still slightly downy) young in the last week of May (PS,CE). These are the first documented lowland breeding records for the Com. Redpoll in the s. Yukon.Sub-regional Compilers: Tony Greenfield (AGG - Sunshine Coast), Max Gotz (BMG - Whistler), Bryan Gates (BRG - Victoria), Cathy Antoniazzi (CA - Prince George), Cameron Eckert (CE - Yukon), David Allinson (DEA - Victoria), Don Cecile (DGC - Vernon), Gary Davidson (GSD - Kootenays), Helmut Grünberg (HG - Yukon), Hank vander Pol (HVP - Victoria), John Chandler (JC - Vancouver), Jack Bowling (JCB - Prince George & weather summaries), Larry Cowan (LC - Vancouver), Peter Hamel (PH - Queen Charlotte Is.), Phil Ranson (PR - Cariboo), Richard Cannings (RJC - Okanagan), Michael Shepard (MGS - Southern Vancouver I.), Steve Baillie (SJB - Nanaimo), Sandra Kinsey (SK - Prince George), Sandy McRuer (SMcR - Alberni Valley), Vicki Hansen VH - Campbell River).
Other Cited Observers
Adrian Dorst (AD), Andrew MacDonald (ADM), Al Grosvenor (AG), Anne Landry (ALa), Adelia Lowrie (ALo), Anna Roberts (AR), Bruce Cousens (BC), Brian Eccles (BE), Brian Self (BGS), Burke Korol (BK), Brian Lowrie (BL), Barb Robertson (BR), Brad Skimming (BSk), Brian Slater (BSl), Brenda Thomson (BT), Bruce Whittington (BW), Chris Bewis (CB), Carson Wade (CW), Daniel Bastaja (DB), Darren Copley (DC), Dennis Frost (DF), Dolly Gehlen (DGe), Dave Gravelle (DGr), David Henry (DH), Doug Leighton (DL), Danny Tyson DT), Dan Wilson (DW), Ed Beynon (EB), Eric Greenwood (EG), Gordon Haley (GH), Gary Lewis (GL), Guy Monty (GM), Gail Spitler (GS), Glen Thomson (GT), Gwynneth Wilson (GW), Heather Asplin (HA), Harold Craven (HC), Jo Ann Mackenzie (JAM), Jim Hawkings (JH), John Luce (JL), Jocelyne Skimming (JS), Julian Wake (JW), Krista de Groot (KDG), Ken Klimko (KKl), Ken Knutson (KKn), Ken Summers (KRS), Larry Cowan (LC), Les Gyug (LG), Len Jellicoe (LJ), Lee Kubica (LK), Laird Law (LLa), Louise Levy (LLe), Maria Antoniazzi (MA), Michael Bates (MBa), Mary Collins (MC), Murray Brown (MBr), Martin Gebauer (MG), Margo Hearne (MH), Martin McNicholl (MKM), Mark Phinney (MPh), Mary Peet-Leslie (MPL), Michael Price (MPr), Mike Toochin (MT), Mildred White (MW), Nancy Krueger (NK), Phil Gehlen (PG), Prince George Naturalists Club (PGNC), Pam Sinclair (PS), René Carlson (RCa), Rela Cripps (RCr), Rhonda Markel (RMa), Richard Mueller (RMu), Rick Toochin (RTo), Rick Tyson (RTy), Ray Wershler (RWe), Robert Worona (RWo), Stan Acton (SA), Steve Ogle (SO), Syd Roberts (SR), Stuart Withers (SW), Virginia Stewart (VS), Wendy Easton (WE), Yukon Bird Club (YBC).Click HERE to view the Winter 1998-1999 summary
Click HERE for a list of other observation summaries