British Columbia and Yukon Region
Summary of Observations - Summer 1999
(modified from report submitted to North American Birds)

Compiled by Michael G. Shepard

Click HERE to view the Spring 1999 summary
Click HERE for a list of other observation summaries

The summer can be summed up as dull, dreary and wet. The few hot spells that occurred only lasted a few days at a time. The one exception was the Yukon which started out hot but it, too, joined the damp party by the end of June. A turn to hotter weather took hold at the very end of the reporting period. One of the more salient repercussions of a wet summer following last year's scorcher was the triggering of heavy conifer cone crops in the boreal forest of the central and northern interior. And as occurred in the previous 1992 (hot)/1993 (cool, wet) pairing, crossbills invaded in droves to feast on the abundant seeds. The cool weather allowed a very gradual meltdown of the heavy winter snowpacks through spring and summer.  Widespread flooding was thus avoided over the southern half of the Region but lake and river levels remained very high through the period.

LOONS THROUGH EGRETS
An apparent late-migration wave on June 11 at Larsen L, se. Yukon produced an impressive concentration of breeding plumage loons with 30 Pacific, 15 Com., and a record-setting seven Yellow-billed Loons (Cameron Eckert, Mike Gill).  Very rare in the Yukon, a Pied-billed Grebe was at Larsen L. June 14 (Cameron Eckert, Mike Gill).  A July 11 census at Cecil Lake in the Peace River tallied an astounding 2451 Eared Grebes (Don Cecile).   Richard Cannings reported that the Western Grebe breeding season at Salmon Arm and Okanagan Lake was a total "washout".   No nests were successful.  Predation and high water appeared to be the main causes of failure.  A few Clark's Grebes were found in the interior this summer.  A male was at Salmon Arm June 16 (Frank Kime), and another bird, apparently a female paired with a Western Grebe, was seen later the same day (Richard Cannings, Kayla Feldman).  A single Clark's Grebe was at the north end of Okanagan Lake on July 29 (Richard Cannings). 

For the second time this year, an immature Short-tailed Albatross was reported from the Queen Charlotte Islands.  The most recent bird was east of Cape St. James July 25 (fide Tracee Geernaert).  Most surprising was the presence of small flocks of Am. White Pelicans in the southern interior in mid-June.  Kayla Feldman found 17 at Salmon Arm June 14, Peter Axhorn observed 24 at Vaseux Lake on June 17, and 25 birds (the same group?) were reported from Swan Lake, Vernon June 18 (fide Mary Collins).  At least three visited the Strait of Georgia area in the spring and early summer, ranging as far north as Campbell River where two frequented Tyee Spit and vicinity July 4-7 (Keith Hudson et al.).  A Red-faced Cormorant in definitive alternate plumage was well seen during a fly past at the entrance to Dixon Entrance June 20 (Michael Force).  Great Egrets are unusual in the interior of B.C.  A single bird was observed in the vicinity of Campbell Creek/ Shumway Lake June 20-22 (Katherine Shewchuk et al.).  Snowy Egrets at Salmon Arm July 23-26 (Jeff Morgan, Hilary Gordon, Roger Wysocki et al.) and Williams Lake July 28 into early August (Steve Howard et al.) were also rare interior occurrences.

WATERFOWL THROUGH TERNS
Four Brant at Judas Cr. June 7 (Cameron Eckert, Pam Sinclair) were late spring migrants.  Three Harlequin Ducks along the upper Beaver R., two males on June 18 and a female on June 25, added to the few records of this species for the se. Yukon (Helmut Grünberg, Clive Osborne).  Very rare in the Yukon, three Black Scoters (an ad. male, a 1st year male and a female) at Judas Cr. on June 7 provided the first-documented Whitehorse area record (Cameron Eckert, Pam Sinclair, Helmut Grünberg).  Another species unusual in the Yukon was a male Hooded Merganser, observed at Larsen L. June 13 (Cameron Eckert, Mike Gill).

The June 9 appearance of a Broad-winged Hawk at Willowbank Mountain in the Blaeberry Valley (Doug Leighton) was unexpected.  An adult at Mackenzie July 27 (Laird Law, David Bostock, Sandra Kinsey) provided the first documented record for that area.  Even more exciting was the discovery of an immature at the same location on July 30 (David Bostock, Laird Law, Sandra Kinsey).  The bird was reported to be calling frequently as though begging.  This area is considerably further southwest than other suspected breeding locations.

A late migrant Am. Golden-Plover was at the Nanaimo River Estuary June 1 (Guy Monty).   A single Semipalmated Plover at Alki L., Kelowna June 20 (Jason Weir) provided one of the very few June records of the species in the Okanagan Valley.  In British Columbia, the number of breeding Am. Avocets appears to be on the rise.  Northwest of Clinton, a previously unreported colony recently came to light (fide Les Gyug).  On June 1 at least 32 avocets were present, including 12 sitting on nests.  Although this species has probably bred in the Cariboo for many years (Cooper 1983), this was the first documentation of a "large" colony in the region, and only one of two currently known in the province.  The other is the aggregation at Alki L.  Fourteen nests were occupied as of June 2 (fide Les Gyug), four of them on man-made floating platforms.   A Willet was at Alki L. June 11 (Jason Weir).   There are but a handful of reports of this species from the interior of B.C.  An Upland Sandpiper was seen on several occasions at Fort Nelson airport June 24 to July 18 (Jack Bowling, Don Cecile).  Although rare in the breeding season in that area, the nesting habitat for this species is good at the airport.  The southward movement of shorebirds was evident by mid June with scattered reports of a number of species from around the province.  By the beginning of July, shorebird migration was in full swing, with thousands already at Iona I. by July 2 (Rick Toochin).  Semipalmated Sandpipers put in a strong showing with 250 at Iona I. July 2, 200 there on July 8 (Rick Toochin) and 80 at Robert L., Kelowna July 16 (Chris Charlesworth).

A Long-tailed Jaeger at Lake Laberge June 23 provided the first record for the Whitehorse area (Mark Connor, Angela Milani). This spring and summer, Franklin's Gulls were reported in southern B.C. more frequently than usual.  One was at Iona I. June 16 (Rick Toochin).  A group of 10 Franklin’s Gulls were at Alki L. on June 17, 7 or 8 adults in breeding plumage and 2 or 3 intermediate between winter and summer plumage (Jason Weir).  Seven were still there on June 29 (Jason Weir).  A first year Little Gull was at Iona I., June 16 - July 21 (Tom Plath, m.obs.).  It is interesting to note that there had been many Little Gull observations in the western states in the late winter and spring.  A 1st summer Ring-billed Gull at Turner L., ne. Yukon July 2-3 was well beyond its normal range (Cameron Eckert, Mike Gill).  On June 24, a pair of aggressively territorial Glaucous-winged Gulls greeted Don Cecile at the Grant I. gull colony on Okanagan L.   Although their nest was not pinpointed, it is well possible that they were breeding there.  This species rarely breeds away from the coast.  Daily checks of a small flock of Mew Gulls perched on the only rock in Tabour L., ne. Yukon produced a crescendo of rarities with a 1st summer Glaucous Gull June 24, a 1st summer Glaucous-winged Gull June 25 and a breeding plumage Sabine’s Gull June 26 (Cameron Eckert, Mike Gill). Eight Caspian Terns at Cottonwood Beach, Stuart Lake (Fort St. James) on July 28 (Randy Rawluk) furnished a noteworthy central B.C. record.  Two Caspian Terns at M’Clintock Bay June 12 provided the fourth Yukon record (Jim Hawkings).  Nisutlin Delta hosted 60 Arctic Terns (48 adults and 12 juveniles) July 30 (Cameron Eckert, Pam Sinclair). A Forster's Tern at Iona I. June 17 & 18 (Mark Wynja) was at an unusual location for this time of year.

OWLS THROUGH WAXWINGS
On July 17 a one day aerial survey of Herschel I. (112 km2) on the Yukon’s North Coast tallied a stunning 104 Snowy Owls including 35 pairs (4 confirmed nests), and 34 singles (Dorothy Cooley, Sandy Koep, Elena Jones, Frank Elanik, Liz Gordon).  Although we occasionally find large wintering concentrations (eg.the 107 tallied on the Ladner CBC December 22, 1973) this amazing summer count at Herschel I. is unprecedented.  A Red-naped Sapsucker photographed on Quadra I. in June (Craig T. Smith) provided the first record of the species for the Campbell River area. A Pileated Woodpecker along the La Biche R. June 11 (Cameron Eckert) put in a rare Yukon appearance.  Eight Yellow-bellied Flycatchers singing on territories were tallied at Larsen L. June 11-14 (Cameron Eckert, Mike Gill). Two singing individuals on a June 20 Breeding Bird Survey provided a first Whitehorse area record (Cameron Eckert).  Rare on the coast, a Least Flycatcher was found at Currie Cr. near Duncan June 4 (Michael Shepard).  Two were at Pitt Meadows in June (Rick Toochin, Danny Tyson et al.), and one was in Vancouver June 22 (Kitty Shipper).  The Eastern Phoebe, first reported at the Alaksen Wildlife Management Area, Delta May 31, was present until at least June 11 (Wendy Easton).   Unusual on the coast during the summer, individual Say's Phoebes were in Langley near Campbell River Park June 24 & 25 (Allen Turner) and at Rocky Point July 25 (David Allinson).  Well beyond its normal range, an Eastern Kingbird was at Jackfish Cr. headwaters, ne. Yukon July 3 (Cameron Eckert, Mike Gill).   Although Eastern Kingbirds are regular visitors to the eastern side of Vancouver Island, they rarely make it over the mountains to the western slopes.  A single bird at the Somass River Estuary on June 20 (Sandy McRuer) provided the first record for the Alberni Valley.  A singing Blue-headed Vireo at the upper Whitefish R. June 15 (Cameron Eckert) provided se. Yukon’s northernmost record.  Three Blue-headed Vireos tallied during the Rancheria BBS June 13 were at the western limit of this species’ Yukon range (Helmut Grünberg).   A pair of Blue Jays, a rare breeding species west of the Rockies, was discovered nesting in Kimberly June 5 (Betty and Hughie Aitchison).   Rarely reported from the Yukon, a Gray-headed Chickadee along Thomas Cr., northwest of Old Crow Flats (Vuntut N. P.)  June 8 was an excellent find (David Henry, Rhonda Markel).  A confused Gray Catbird landed on the foc'sle railing of a research vessel 6 nautical miles west of Triangle I. June 24 (Michael Force), providing a surprising outer coastal record of this interior species.  Rarely reported in s. Yukon, Cedar Waxwing reports included one at Larsen L. on June 14 (Cameron Eckert), and one at the upper Whitefish R. on June 17 (Cameron Eckert, Mike Gill).

WARBLERS THROUGH ORIOLES
A singing Nashville Warbler found along the Copper Haul Rd. June 20 & 21 (Cameron Eckert, Pam Sinclair, m.ob.) established the Yukon’s first well-documented record.  Close examination of the bird indicated that it belonged to the eastern subspecies, Vermivora ruficapilla ruficapilla.  Another individual well north of its normal range was at Fort Nelson in late June (fide Jack Bowling).  Although not as much out of range, a single Nashville at the Ralph River Campground, Buttle Lake June 12 (Jamie Fenneman) was noteworthy.  Rare but regular in B.C., a Chestnut-sided Warbler was at Tranquille June 27, 1999 (Ralph and Clara Ritcey).  Two singing Palm Warblers in ne. Yukon, one at Tabour L. June 25-26 (Cameron Eckert, Mike Gill), and another at Turner L. July 1 (Cameron Eckert) provided the first documented Yukon records for this species as well as a notable range extension. A Black-and-white Warbler, usually found only in the northeast corner of the province, was at Pitt Meadows June 6 (Hilary Maguire, Jim Thrimbul). In B.C., Am. Redstarts occur mainly east of the Cascade/Coast Mountains.   A single bird at Port Hardy June 11 (Jack Bowling) provided one of the few Vancouver I. observations ever reported.  The Yellow-breasted Chat, first reported at Sea I. May 31, was present until at least June 23 (fide Vancouver RBA).  On June 21-22, a rare bird survey conducted by members of the B.C. Field Ornithologists tallied 19 chats in the Okanagan and adjacent Similkameen Valley (fide Richard Cannings).

An almost completely albino Chipping Sparrow was a curious sight at Larsen L. June 12 (Cameron Eckert).  An extraordinary count of 18 "Timberline" Brewer’s Sparrows was made at treeline along Mount Granger in Whitehorse July 9-10 (Mike Gill).  Two Brewer's Sparrows were near the Duncan River, Kootenay Lake, on June 10 (Gail Spitler).  This species is rarely reported from southeastern B.C.  The rare bird survey in the Okanagan and and adjacent Similkameen watershed June 21-22 produced an amazing 75 Lark Sparrows, probably representing at least 50 pairs (fide Richard Cannings).  On July 12 Don Cecile tallied a high count of 8 Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows at Boundary L. (Peace River area).  A single Swamp Sparrow near Meadow Creek in the Kootenays, seen and heard on July 6 (Gary Davidson, Gail Spitler, Rita Wege) provided the first summer record of the species for southern B.C.  Rare anywhere in the north, a male Yellow-headed Blackbird was at the south end of Teslin Lake, B.C. just south of the Yukon border in early June (Mark Connor) and 6 Brewer's Blackbirds at Upper Liard June 28 (Margo Hearne, Peter Hamel).  A male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was at Willowbank Mountain in the Blaeberry Valley on June 9 (Doug Leighton).  Although normally rare west of the Rockies, there have been numerous reports of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks from the western U.S.A. this spring and summer.   Unusual north of southern B.C., a Lazuli Bunting was at Francois L. June 3 (Keith Walker).  Even more noteworthy was a Lazuli alongside the Hart Highway 17 km west of Chetwynd on June 30 (Mark Phinney, Cathy Antoniazzi) and two individuals found 23 & 25 kms west of Chetwynd on July 9 (Don Cecile).  A putative hybrid Indigo x Lazuli Bunting was at Tranquille May 30-July 4 (Ralph Ritcey et al.).  Descriptions and notes were provided by Ralph Ritcey, Wayne Weber and Syd Roberts.  In the breeding season, Rusty Blackbirds are rare and local in the southern part of B.C.  On July 4, east of Vernon, Phil Gehlen and Mary Collins located a pair taking food to a nest.  A first year male Bullock's Oriole at Race Point Road, north of Campbell River June 9 (Vicki Hansen) provided the northernmost Vancouver Island record of this species.

Literature Cited:
Cooper, J.M.  1983.  Recent occurrences of the American Avocet in British Columbia.  Murrelet 64:47-48.

Click HERE to view the Spring 1999 summary
Click HERE for a list of other observation summaries