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15 Mar Northern Shoveler at Robert Lake [Chris Charlesworth ] 14 Mar Big Year Blog updated [Russell Cannings ] 14 Mar Nanaimo,Vancouver Island, bird alert--March 14, 2010, ["backyard_store" ] 14 Mar Another sign that spring has sprung! [Laurie Rockwell ] 14 Mar Winter Birding Highlights in Canada - 2009-2010 [Blake Maybank ] 14 Mar sounds like spring to me [Tammy Proctor ] 13 Mar Birding in the valley [Chris Charlesworth ] 13 Mar Prairie Falcon at Tranquille [Russell Cannings ] 13 Mar Re: new website/bird blog [colin clasen ] 13 Mar Meadowlark Festival [Laurie Rockwell ] 13 Mar Re: new website/bird blog [liz bredberg ] 13 Mar Re: new website/bird blog [colin clasen ] 13 Mar Re: new website/bird blog [colin clasen ] 13 Mar Re: new website/bird blog [liz bredberg ] 12 Mar Re: new website/bird blog [colin clasen ] 12 Mar Kumlien's Gull and Eurasian Wigeons [Russell Cannings ] 12 Mar Re: new website/bird blog [Randy Findlay ] 12 Mar new website/bird blog ["Dick Cannings" ] 12 Mar new website/bird blog ["Dick Cannings" ] 12 Mar new website/bird blog ["Dick Cannings" ] 12 Mar Re: Yellow-rumped warbler ["A & J Ginns" ] 12 Mar Vultures ["A & J Ginns" ] 12 Mar Re: some birds of Baja California and other critters [Laure Neish ] 12 Mar Re: Yellow-rumped warbler [Janna Leslie ] 12 Mar Re: Yellow-rumped warbler ["A & J Ginns" ] 12 Mar Yellow-rumped warbler ["A & J Ginns" ] 12 Mar Re: ruby-crowned kinglet [RICK HOWIE ] 12 Mar Re: Northern Hawk Owl in Summerland [Laure Neish ] 11 Mar Birders in Seattle and Oregon coast ["Carol" ] 11 Mar Northern Hawk Owl in Summerland [Laurie Rockwell ] 11 Mar open ponds and lakes [Chris Siddle ] 10 Mar Re: ruby-crowned kinglet [Janna Leslie ] 10 Mar Re: ruby-crowned kinglet [RICK HOWIE ] 10 Mar Re: some birds of Baja California and other critters [Janna Leslie ] 10 Mar Re: some birds of Baja California and other critters ["A & J Ginns" ] 10 Mar Re: some birds of Baja California and other critters [Laure Neish ] 10 Mar ruby-crowned kinglet [Janna Leslie ] 10 Mar Re: some birds of Baja California and other critters [Janna Leslie ] 10 Mar Re: some birds of Baja California and other critters [Janna Leslie ] 10 Mar Re: some birds of Baja California and other critters [Laure Neish ] 10 Mar Re: some birds of Baja California and other critters [Dick Cannings ] 10 Mar Re: some birds of Baja California and other critters [Laure Neish ] 10 Mar Re: some birds of Baja California and other critters [Janna Leslie ] 10 Mar some birds of Baja California and other critters [Laure Neish ] 10 Mar say's phoebe - finally [Janna Leslie ] 09 Mar Big Year Blog updated [Russell Cannings ] 9 Mar greater white-fronted goose [Janna Leslie ] 09 Mar Christmas Bird Counts ["marven007ca" ] 9 Mar FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tundra Swan Festival [Susan Harris ] 08 Mar Re: Turkey Vulture [RICK HOWIE ] 09 Mar Re: Kalamalka Lake Park ["douglasbrown01" ] 08 Mar Rusty Blackbird and Greater White-fronted Goose [Russell Cannings ] 8 Mar Kalamalka Lake Park [Samantha Brett ] 8 Mar Turkey Vulture ["Dick Cannings" ] 08 Mar NMT birding ["douglasbrown01" ] 8 Mar S. Okanagan Birding [Chris Charlesworth ] 07 Mar more signs of spring [Sue Thomson ] 07 Mar Ashnola Birding (rosyfinch, snow bunting, 3-toeds) [Russell Cannings ] 7 Mar more signs of spring [Janna Leslie ] 07 Mar Nanaimo,Vancouver Island, bird alert--March 07, 2010, ["backyard_store" ] 07 Mar Birding in Summerland [Laurie Rockwell ] 06 Mar South Okanagan owling/birding [Russell Cannings ] 07 Mar Anarchist and Bridesville ["douglasbrown01" ] 6 Mar Beaver Lk Rd [Chris Charlesworth ] 6 Mar Re: Mountain Bluebirds and Meadowlarks at White Lake [Tammy Proctor ] 06 Mar South Okanagan birding ["douglasbrown01" ] 06 Mar Mountain Bluebirds and Meadowlarks at White Lake ["jim_deirdre" ] 5 Mar Re: Flying squirrels in nest boxes ["Carol" ] 05 Mar Flying squirrels in nest boxes [Laurie Rockwell ] 05 Mar Re: Larch Hills owling, mooseing and ?? [Dick Cannings ] 4 Mar Larch Hills owling, mooseing and ?? [Emily and Geoff Styles ] 04 Mar Re: RE: Raptorious interlude in Summerland [Russell Cannings ] 4 Mar RE: Raptorious interlude in Summerland [Gwynneth Wilson ] 4 Mar RE: Raptorious interlude in Summerland ["Rick Howie" ] 04 Mar Raptorious interlude in Summerland [Laurie Rockwell ] 04 Mar Re: Lesser Black-backed Gull back in Kelowna [Russell Cannings ] Subject: Northern Shoveler at Robert Lake From: Chris Charlesworth <c_charlesworth23 AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:52:36 -0700 Birders, My first NORTHERN SHOVELER of the year came in the form of a male at Robert Lake early this afternoon. Several other ducks present here as well, but just the usual. Still lots of NORTHERN PINTAIL and GREEN-WINGED TEAL. A SAY'S PHOEBE was calling away here. A quick stop at the Kelowna Dump produced CALIFORNIA, HERRING, GLAUCOUS-WINGED and RING-BILLED GULLS as well as LESSER SCAUP, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE and several BALD EAGLES. Beaver Lake Road was pretty quiet, with highlights being a flock of WESTERN BLUEBIRDS around km 3.5 and two pairs of very vocal PILEATED WOODPECKERS at km 6 and km 10. Munson's Pond had some nice CACKLING GEESE amongst many other regular species. That's all for now, Chris Charlesworth Kelowna, BC _________________________________________________________________ Stay in touch. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9712959 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Big Year Blog updated From: Russell Cannings <russellcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:22:29 -0700 Hi all, After a great week in the Thompson-Okanagan, I've added a few photos and highlight summaries.  As you will see, today was particularly rewarding! bcbigyear.blogspot.com Cheers, Russ Cannings Penticton, BC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Nanaimo,Vancouver Island, bird alert--March 14, 2010, From: "backyard_store" <thebackyard AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:43:51 -0000 NANAIMO BIRD ALERT To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 e-mail us at thebackyard AT shaw.ca call the Bird Alert at 250-390-3029 Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Post your sightings on this site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages Birds of British Columbia: http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html International Birdwatching Guides http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching with: http://www.birdingpal.org/ Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone Number, along with the date, name and location of your sighting. Sunday March 14, 2010: The Sunday bird walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy and the winds were bitterly cold. Yellow-rumped Warblers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets caught our attention when they were singing at different times during the morning. A raft of Buffhead, Barrow's Goldeneye, Harlequin Duck, Red-breasted Merganser and Common Merganser were in the protection of the bay at Sunset Beach. A Glaucous Gull and a pair of Pigeon Guillemots were not far from shore. Small rafts of Pacific Loon, Common Loon and Common Murre were further offshore. Ten hardy birders found the following forty species of birds: Canada Geese, Mallard, Double-crested Cormorant, Brandt's Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Wood Duck, Buffhead, Barrow's Goldeneye, Harlequin Duck, Wood Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Bald Eagle, Mew Gulls, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous Gull, California Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northwestern Crow, European Starling, American Robin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Winter Wren, Bewick's Wren, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin and Dark-eyed Junco. Saturday March 13: Twelve Evening Grosbeaks are visiting feeders along Butler Road in Parksville. Friday March 12: A Glaucous Gull was again spotted among California Gulls, Thayer's Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls in the grassy area at the Community Park in Parksville. A Turkey Vulture was spotted above Sunshine Ridge in Nanaimo. Thursday March 11: Two Cackling Geese, eighteen Northern Shovelers and a Snow Goose were seen in with over seven hundred Canada Geese at Quennell Lake in Cedar. Wednesday March 10: A Glaucous Gull was seen in with a large flock of California Gulls,Thayer's Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls along the grass area at the Community Park in Parksville. Tuesday March 09: The first reported male Rufous Hummingbird of the season was spotted at feeders in the 4100 block of Gulfview Drive in Nanaimo. The Tuesday Bird Walk started in Rathtrevor Provincial Park but we were quickly convinced by the brisk winds to go to the more protected beach at Parksville Community Park. Before we left Rathtrevor we did spot twelve Trumpeter Swans. The morning was cloudy with a strong southeast wind. We were greeted at the Parksville Bay by an estimated one thousand Brant Geese and at least one hundred thousand gulls--Bonaparte's Gulls, Mew Gulls, California Gulls, Herring Gulls,Thayer's Gull, Western Gulls, Glaucous-winged Gulls. We had good close looks and were able to compare the yellow legs, black wingtips and short yellow bill of the Mew Gull with the deep yellow legs, black wingtips and bright yellow bill with a bright red and black marks of the larger California Gull who are in their clean crisp breeding plumage. Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser were seen further offshore. A flock of Black-bellied Plover and Dunlin left the gravel bar in a large cloud flew south down the Strait of Georgia. A Pigeon Guillemot, one Pacific Loon and one Common Loon were seen off the tip of the hovercraft landing pad at the north end of the Bay. We saw two male Yellow-rumped Warblers, one Song Sparrow and three White-crowned Sparrows on the bushes near the RV Park at the north end of the Bay. Eleven birders saw and heard the following thirty-five species of birds: Canada Goose, Brant, Trumpeter Swan, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Pelagic Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Black Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull, Western Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Northwestern Crow, American Robin, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Song Sparrow and White-crowned Sparrow. Monday March 08: A Turkey Vulture was seen soaring over south Nanaimo. For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store AT 250-390-3669 Toll Free AT 1-888-249-4145 e-mail: thebackyard AT shaw.ca ********************************** Arrowsmith Naturalists Guest Speaker-Colin Bartlett, topic Birds and Bees in the Backyard. Monday March 22, 2010 AT 7:30 pm. Springwood School Parksville ********************************** The Nanoose Naturalists Thursday April 08, 2010 AT 7:00 pm Nanoose Library, Nanoose Bay ********************************** Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Tuesday mornings. We leave from the Store at 9 A.M. Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo and from the Parksville Beach.Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area. ************************************************************** The Tuesday Bird Walk on March 09, 2010 will be going to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. We meet the Parksville Beach Community Park at the parking area near the Lions playground at 9 A.M. or at the end of Shelly Road (ocean side of highway 19a) at about 9:15 A.M. ***************************************************** The Sunday Bird Walk on March 21, 2010, will be going to the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the end of Raines Road at about 9: 30 A.M. ******************************************************* Good birding Neil Robins THE BACKYARD Wildbird & Nature Store 6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8 250.390.3669 250.390.1633 fax thebackyard AT shaw.ca CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Subject: Another sign that spring has sprung! From: Laurie Rockwell <hardrock AT vip.net> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:01:31 -0700 Birders, Whike making my monthly tour of the Trout Creek Ecological Reserve I saw my first flock of high flying migrating Canada Geese. I estimated that 150-200 were flying north at approximately 5000' at a speed of 70 mph. Visibility and humidity are unknown! I also had the honoured experience of 4 Mule Deer allowing me to get within 15 and 25 m without bolting! After 18 years they must now realize that I am no threat to them. Cheers...............Laurie R -- Know Thyself Coaching Summerland, BC, Canada 250-494-7558; knowthyselfcoaching AT vip.net Member International Coach Federation If you do not go within,you will go without Subject: Winter Birding Highlights in Canada - 2009-2010 From: Blake Maybank <maybank AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:46:02 -0300 Winter Birding in Canada - 2009-10 - Final Summary 14 March 2010 The birding this past winter season in Canada was less exciting than normal. With two exceptions (see Manitoba and Quebec, below) every province recorded winter season species totals that were lower than average. Here are some possible reasons for this: - The active El Nino circulation in the Pacific caused Canada to experience its warmest and driest winter since 1948. Precipitation was down by nearly 25%, and the average temperatures were 4 degrees Celsius above normal. The Arctic had its warmest winter ever. - Wild food was easier for birds to access, and most feeder-watchers reported less activity at their feeding stations. - There were few irruptions of northern owls and finches. - Though twitchers did have good birds to chase, there were not as many rarities as a typical winter. - The first day of the winter birding season, Dec. 1, fell on a Monday, which meant that, in most areas, the concerted search for winter birds did not begin until the first Saturday of December, six days into the winter season, by which time an early cold snap had pushed waterfowl further south, and likely removed many “half-hard autumn lingerers”. - The first day of the Christmas Bird Count period also fell on a Monday, which meant that most counts were held later in December than is usual, reducing the number of species recorded. Here are the links to the Winter Birding web pages for all ten Canadian provinces, as well as the French islands of Saint-Pierre et Michelon, and the country of Iceland. PROVINCES FROM EAST TO WEST: Newfoundland and Labrador: http://tinyurl.com/2jqo5p 129 species. Highlights: Northern Lapwing (3 separate birds); Yellow-legged Gull (2); Slaty-backed Gull; +++ Ivory Gulls; White-winged Dove (1st winter record); Redwing. There were sufficient gaps between winter storms to allow Newfoundland birders to locate a good variety of rare and regular species, though slightly fewer than in recent years. The province continues to offer superb gull watching in the St. John’s area, but that may change soon, and there are plans to stop pumping sewage in the harbour. And rumours are floating about that authorities might consider changing landfill practices at the famous St. John’s garbage dump. Both actions make sense environmentally, but would cause much anguish to gull-watchers. Nova Scotia: http://tinyurl.com/nswinter 181 species. (average = 195). Highlights: Red Phalarope (3rd winter record); Empidomax flycatcher sp.; Prairie Warbler (2nd winter record); Spotted Towhee (1st winter record, 2nd provincial record). Big Misses: Northern Fulmar, Spruce Grouse (resident), Red Knot, White-crowned Sparrow. We’ve been keeping track of Nova Scotia’s winter birds since 1996, and the total this past winter tied the lowest previous total, set in 1998/99. Almost every observer was complaining about the scarcity of birds. The mood was glum. Prince Edward Island: http://tinyurl.com/peiwinter 107 species (average = 113). Highlights: Cattle Egret (2nd winter record); Broad-winged Hawk (2nd winter record); Black-legged Kittiwake (1st winter record). Big Misses: Sharp-tailed Grouse (resident, introduced). A soft winter made it hard to find winter specialties, and kept the province’s total below the long-term average. New Brunswick: http://tinyurl.com/nbwinter (updated 12 Feb) 151 species (average = 162). Highlights: Virginia Rail (1st winter record); Marsh Wren (2nd winter record); Ovenbird (2nd winter record); Lark Sparrow (2nd winter record). Big Misses: Wilson’s Snipe; Carolina Wren; American Pipit. A dearth of rarities kept the province’s total well below the long-term average. Quebec: http://tinyurl.com/qcwinter 178 species (10 year average = 166, not including exotics). Highlights: Pacific Loon (1st winter record); Great Egret (2nd winter record); Black Vulture (1st winter record); Barnacle Goose (1st winter record); Rock Ptarmigan (1st winter record); Arctic Tern (1st winter record); White-winged Dove (1st winter record); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1st winter record). Quebec birders took advantage of the mild winter to really explore their large province, and ended up with one of their highest totals to date. They added seven species to their 10-year cumulative winter list. Ontario: http://tinyurl.com/onwinter 191 species. Highlights: Barnacle Goose (2nd winter record); Yellow-billed Loon (2nd winter record); Black-tailed Gull (2nd winter record); Ivory Gull; Phainopepla (2nd provincial and Canadian record, 1st Canadian winter record); Northern Waterthrush (2nd winter record). Big Misses: Eurasian Wigeon; Yellow-headed Blackbird. The province had fewer species than the previous two winters, but managed to surpass the Nova Scotia total for the first time. The Phainopepla took pride of place, of course, and attracted many admirers. Manitoba: http://tinyurl.com/mbwinter 109 species (average = 99). Highlights: Wood Duck (2nd winter record); Greater Scaup (1st winter record); Common Loon (2nd winter record); Western Grebe (1st winter record); Sora (1st winter record); Thayer’s Gull (1st winter record); Lincoln’s Sparrow (2nd winter record); Swamp Sparrow (2nd winter record); Yellow-headed Blackbird (2nd winter record); Brambling (1st winter record; 2nd provincial record). Manitoba birders pulled out all the stops in the first few days of December, and their diligence was rewarded when they achieved the highest total since they started keeping records nine years ago. And equally as important – for the first time they bettered the total of their provincial rival, Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan: http://tinyurl.com/skwinter 100 species (average = 111) - Highlights: Wood Duck (1st winter record); Sandhill Crane (2nd winter record); Rustic Bunting (1st provincial record, 2nd Canadian record); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (2nd winter record); Baltimore Oriole (1st winter record). Big Miss: American Three-toed Woodpecker Perhaps if Saskatchewan birders knew how determined their Manitoba neighbours were they might have pushed harder in the first days of December. But, alas, they didn’t, and struggled to reach 100 species, the lowest total since they started winter listing 8 years ago. But there was a great consolation prize in one of the rarest birds across the country this winter. Alberta: http://tinyurl.com/abwinter 136 species (average = 142). Highlights: Cape May Warbler (3rd winter record); Green-tailed Towhee (1st Canadian winter record); Lincoln’s Sparrow (1st winter record). Big Miss: Red-breasted Merganser. Alberta turned in a slightly lower than normal performance, no doubt due to a paucity of rarities, though the Green-tailed Towhee was outstanding. British Columbia: http://tinyurl.com/bcwinter 237 species (average = 250). Highlights: Pectoral Sandpiper (2nd winter record); Oriental Turtle-Dove (1st Canadian record, if accepted); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1st winter record); Western Scrub-Jay; Nashville Warbler; Western Tanager (2nd winter record); Clay-colored Sparrow (3rd winter record); Brambling (3rd winter record). Big Misses: Least Sandpiper; Cassin’s Auklet. B.C. had a lower-than-average winter total, but the weather was mild, and there was the distraction of the Winter Olympics, at which winter birding was not a competition, more’s the pity. And there were no pelagic birding trips, so tubenoses were absent from the list. Several key Christmas Counts have not yet reported in, and there are rumours of a documented Jack Snipe on one of them, so the total could inch up later on. Other Reporting Regions: French Islands of Saint-Pierre et Michelon: http://tinyurl.com/spmwinter2 83 species (average = 84, 14 years of data). Highlights: Hairy Woodpecker (1st winter record); Brown Creeper (3rd winter record); Meadowlark sp. (1st winter record). Big Misses: Purple Finch; Common Redpoll; Pine Siskin. SPM birders enjoyed a winter of above average temperatures, but only an average number of species, among which were only a few finches. Iceland: http://tinyurl.com/iceland-winter 98 species. (average = 91, 10 years of data) Highlights: Bean Goose (1st winter record); Northern Shoveler (1st winter record); Stellar’s Eider (1st winter record); Northern Lapwing (1st winter record); Bonaparte’s Gull (1st winter record); Ross’s Gull (1st winter record); Black Redstart (1st winter record); Brambling (2nd winter record) 30 species of waterfowl, 13 of shorebirds, 13 of gulls, and seven new winter species (in the past 10 years of data) helped Icelandic birders surpass their long-term average. Other Resources: Environment Canada’s Winter Seasonal Forecast: http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/saisons/index_e.html Reference: What is Winter Birding? In Canada, perhaps because of (or in spite of) experiencing a bit of weather during the winter, winter birding has become a very popular activity. The origins of this slightly insane behaviour apparently date from southern Ontario in the 50's and 60's, but the sport's appeal really took off with the promotion afforded it by Gerry Bennett in the 1980's, through his "Birdfinding in Canada" newsletter. Winter Birding remains popular today. The winter birding period comprises the three months of December through February, matching the reporting period of "North American Birds" journal. "For those who may be unfamiliar with the concept, it basically involves a frenzied search during the first couple of weeks to squeeze in as many late migrants as possible before the onslaught of usually more severe weather conditions. Christmas Bird Counts often jack up our total, as do normal winter activities. Plus, it gives us birders something to do for the three slowest birding months of the year other than sitting idle on our hands until March. To me, at least, a winter list is great for maintaining birding enthusiasm, and gets a person active and out of the house to ward off the winter doldrums that tend to creep up mid season." - Ryan Dudragne, Saskatchewan Good (winter) birding, ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Blake Maybank maybank AT ns.sympatico.ca White's Lake, Nova Scotia, Canada Editor, "Nova Scotia Birds" author, "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" http://maybank.tripod.com/BSNS.htm “A true Canadian loves the Winter, revels in it, especially in the North. . . .Winter is on, the air becomes like rich wine that strengthens and invigorates; pure, crisp and health-giving. Those who have not travelled in the vast, snowbound lake country of the North, or tramped on snowshoes in the Winter forest, where the brilliant sun, shining out of a sky that is pure, clear blue; those who have never witnessed the wild, majestic spectacle of a swiftly marching snowstorm—To them I will say that no matter what they may have seen and done, life still holds something for them that they should not miss. Not every country has these things and I, for one, say we are fortunate. ” - Grey Owl [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: sounds like spring to me From: Tammy Proctor <birdsonly4me AT yahoo.ca> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:39:52 -0700 (PDT) This morning I thought I heard a Red-winged Blackbird. So I looked out in our backyard and there he was. The other birds even allowed him to have breakfast on the seeds that feel from the feeder. In our backyard we also had White-crowned Sparrows (juv.), House Finches, House Sparrows, Robins (by the 100's), Spotted Towhee, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrows and Starlings. Our property looks out onto a farm so the robins and starlings are in huge flocks. So far there has only been one marmot and it's probably a female just waiting to give birth. It's nice to hear all the birds and even nicer to see all the robins. Tammy Ashcroft __________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Birding in the valley From: Chris Charlesworth <c_charlesworth23 AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:51:49 -0700 Birders, This morning Ryan Tomlinson and I visited Munson's Pond where the highlight were a pair of CACKLING GEESE amongst the Canada's in the fields. Next stop was at Maude Roxby where best bird was a first year GLAUCOUS GULL. There were several THAYER'S GULLS amongst the usual species out there as well. Our viewing was cut short by a bunch of idiots who let their dog loose in Mud Bay. Robert Lake had quite a few ducks including AMERICAN WIGEON, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL and GADWALL. The Vernon Commonage produced a few goodies as well. Bailey Pond had all sorts of ducks including COMMON and BARROW'S GOLDENEYES, LESSER SCAUP, REDHEAD, CANVASBACK, AMERICAN WIGEON, and more. Along Commonage Road we had a pair of GREAT HORNED OWLS at a nest! Loads of RED-TAILED HAWKS of all sorts were seen in the area. We heard WESTERN MEADOWLARK singing in the grasslands along Allan Brooks Way and we had a pair of MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS investigating a nest box. There was a SAY'S PHOEBE singing in the distance as well. We made our way up towards Head of the Lake where we explored the Desert Cove area. No Gray Partridge unfortunately. We did hear a calling SWAMP SPARROW at the extreme S.E. corner of Desert Cove in a wetland. Check out my pics from today at http://www.flickr.com/charlesworth30 Chris charlesworth Kelowna, BC _________________________________________________________________ IM on the go with Messenger on your phone http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9712960 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Prairie Falcon at Tranquille From: Russell Cannings <russellcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:37:49 -0800 Hi all, Today Jared Hobbs and I hiked up Tranquille Creek checking for rattlesnake dens an doing some casual birding. Fairly quiet in terms of birds but the raptors were in good evidence. Several GOLDEN and BALD EAGLES and a lone NORTHERN HARRIER soared above us, a MERLIN and probably his nest were also located. The big highlight though, at least for me, was a close fly-by view of a PRAIRIE FALCON that passed over us when we got back to the car. They're back! Regards, Russell Cannings Kamloops, BC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: new website/bird blog From: colin clasen <colinc AT shawlink.ca> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:50:20 -0800 Hi again Liz, Sorry, another Meadowlark Festival clarification on my part. On the opening page of their website it shows its on May 20th to 24th this year. However, the registration dates I noted were from their "ticket info" menu item, which are from last year. Therefore, you do have to keep checking their website to find out the registration dates for this year. Colin Clasen ----- Original Message ----- From: liz bredberg Date: Saturday, March 13, 2010 9:52 am Subject: Re: [bcintbird] new website/bird blog > Yes, great Blog, Dick.� Thanks for undertaking it.� And I'll look > forward to the new book. > > Colin (or someone else in the know), please.� May I know more about > the Meadowlark Festival, please? > > Liz > > What would the world be, once bereft > > Of wet and wildness? Let them be left, > > O let them be left, wildness and wet; > > Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet. > > > > --Gerald Manley Hopkins, Inversnaid > > --- On Fri, 3/12/10, colin clasen wrote: > > From: colin clasen > Subject: Re: [bcintbird] new website/bird blog > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > Date: Friday, March 12, 2010, 10:43 PM > > > > > > > > � > > > > > > > > > > Hi Dick, > > Great new website and enjoyable blog. > > After thoroughly enjoying Enchantment of Birds, I'm looking forward > to reading Flights of Imagination and hopefully getting an > autographed copy at the Meadowlark Festival this year. > > I attempted twice the other day on the "pix" site to complement you > on your new Cooper's Hawk photo, but for some reason the message > part of the email didn't go through, only the header and footer > showed up. > > Since you started off with the Cooper's Hawk photo, your > observations on Cooper's Hawk vs Sharp-Shinned Hawk ID and > behaviour might be a topic of interest, as it always seems to > generate discussion amongst birders. > > Regards, > > Colin Clasen > > Coquitlam, B.C. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Dick Cannings > > Date: Friday, March 12, 2010 7:46 pm > > Subject: [bcintbird] new website/bird blog > > > > > Hi birders: > > > > > > After much cajoling from various quarters, I've "launched" my own > > > bird & book website/blog at http://dickcannings .shawwebspace. > ca/ . > > > If you have any comments or ideas for blog topics, please let me > > > know! > > > cheers > > > Dick Cannings > > > Penticton, BC > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > Subject: Meadowlark Festival From: Laurie Rockwell <hardrock AT vip.net> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:10:30 -0800 Liz, Like Colin noted,many events sell out quickley like # 35 on day three! Cheers.........Laurie R liz bredberg wrote: >Thanks, Colin. I can see this linking with the BCFO conference in Revelstoke, with maybe a stopover in Creston enroute to the BCFO event. Lovely. > >Liz > > Subject: Re: new website/bird blog From: liz bredberg <ebredberg AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:20:10 -0800 (PST) Thanks, Colin.  I can see this linking with the BCFO conference in Revelstoke, with maybe a stopover in Creston enroute to the BCFO event.  Lovely. Liz What would the world be, once bereft Of wet and wildness? Let them be left, O let them be left, wildness and wet; Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet. --Gerald Manley Hopkins, Inversnaid --- On Sat, 3/13/10, colin clasen wrote: From: colin clasen Subject: Re: [bcintbird] new website/bird blog To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Date: Saturday, March 13, 2010, 10:13 AM   Hi again Liz, I forgot to check the Meadowlark Festival website myself before I sent you their website address. They've actually already posted their registration dates, which are Saturday April 18th for in-person registration and Sunday April 19th for online registration. Colin Clasen ------------ --------- ------- ----- Original Message ----- From: liz bredberg Date: Saturday, March 13, 2010 9:52 am Subject: Re: [bcintbird] new website/bird blog > Yes, great Blog, Dick.� Thanks for undertaking it.� And I'll look > forward to the new book. > > Colin (or someone else in the know), please.� May I know more > about the Meadowlark Festival, please? > > Liz > > What would the world be, once bereft > > Of wet and wildness? Let them be left, > > O let them be left, wildness and wet; > > Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet. > > > > --Gerald Manley Hopkins, Inversnaid > > --- On Fri, 3/12/10, colin clasen wrote: > > From: colin clasen > Subject: Re: [bcintbird] new website/bird blog > To: bcintbird AT yahoogrou ps.com > Date: Friday, March 12, 2010, 10:43 PM > > > > > > > > � > > > > > > > > > > Hi Dick, > > Great new website and enjoyable blog. > > After thoroughly enjoying Enchantment of Birds, I'm looking > forward to reading Flights of Imagination and hopefully getting an > autographed copy at the Meadowlark Festival this year. > > I attempted twice the other day on the "pix" site to complement > you on your new Cooper's Hawk photo, but for some reason the > message part of the email didn't go through, only the header and > footer showed up. > > Since you started off with the Cooper's Hawk photo, your > observations on Cooper's Hawk vs Sharp-Shinned Hawk ID and > behaviour might be a topic of interest, as it always seems to > generate discussion amongst birders. > > Regards, > > Colin Clasen > > Coquitlam, B.C. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Dick Cannings > > Date: Friday, March 12, 2010 7:46 pm > > Subject: [bcintbird] new website/bird blog > > > > > Hi birders: > > > > > > After much cajoling from various quarters, I've "launched" my > own > > > bird & book website/blog at http://dickcannings .shawwebspace. > ca/ . > > > If you have any comments or ideas for blog topics, please let me > > > know! > > > cheers > > > Dick Cannings > > > Penticton, BC > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: new website/bird blog From: colin clasen <colinc AT shawlink.ca> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:13:46 -0800 Hi again Liz, I forgot to check the Meadowlark Festival website myself before I sent you their website address. They've actually already posted their registration dates, which are Saturday April 18th for in-person registration and Sunday April 19th for online registration. Colin Clasen ---------------------------- ----- Original Message ----- From: liz bredberg Date: Saturday, March 13, 2010 9:52 am Subject: Re: [bcintbird] new website/bird blog > Yes, great Blog, Dick.� Thanks for undertaking it.� And I'll look > forward to the new book. > > Colin (or someone else in the know), please.� May I know more > about the Meadowlark Festival, please? > > Liz > > What would the world be, once bereft > > Of wet and wildness? Let them be left, > > O let them be left, wildness and wet; > > Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet. > > > > --Gerald Manley Hopkins, Inversnaid > > --- On Fri, 3/12/10, colin clasen wrote: > > From: colin clasen > Subject: Re: [bcintbird] new website/bird blog > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > Date: Friday, March 12, 2010, 10:43 PM > > > > > > > > � > > > > > > > > > > Hi Dick, > > Great new website and enjoyable blog. > > After thoroughly enjoying Enchantment of Birds, I'm looking > forward to reading Flights of Imagination and hopefully getting an > autographed copy at the Meadowlark Festival this year. > > I attempted twice the other day on the "pix" site to complement > you on your new Cooper's Hawk photo, but for some reason the > message part of the email didn't go through, only the header and > footer showed up. > > Since you started off with the Cooper's Hawk photo, your > observations on Cooper's Hawk vs Sharp-Shinned Hawk ID and > behaviour might be a topic of interest, as it always seems to > generate discussion amongst birders. > > Regards, > > Colin Clasen > > Coquitlam, B.C. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Dick Cannings > > Date: Friday, March 12, 2010 7:46 pm > > Subject: [bcintbird] new website/bird blog > > > > > Hi birders: > > > > > > After much cajoling from various quarters, I've "launched" my > own > > > bird & book website/blog at http://dickcannings .shawwebspace. > ca/ . > > > If you have any comments or ideas for blog topics, please let me > > > know! > > > cheers > > > Dick Cannings > > > Penticton, BC > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > Subject: Re: new website/bird blog From: colin clasen <colinc AT shawlink.ca> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:07:27 -0800 Hi Liz, The Meadowlark Festival is an annual event based in Penticton, that usually runs for 5 days in mid-May, with many interesting nature field trips, including birding. You can find out more at their website, which is: http://www.meadowlarkfestival.bc.ca/ Its very popular and events fill up quickly, therefore its a good idea to keep checking their website for the in-person and online registration dates and be sure to register early. Regards, Colin Clasen Coquitlam, B.C. --------------------------------------- ----- Original Message ----- From: liz bredberg Date: Saturday, March 13, 2010 9:52 am Subject: Re: [bcintbird] new website/bird blog > Yes, great Blog, Dick.� Thanks for undertaking it.� And I'll look > forward to the new book. > > Colin (or someone else in the know), please.� May I know more > about the Meadowlark Festival, please? > > Liz > > What would the world be, once bereft > > Of wet and wildness? Let them be left, > > O let them be left, wildness and wet; > > Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet. > > > > --Gerald Manley Hopkins, Inversnaid > > --- On Fri, 3/12/10, colin clasen wrote: > > From: colin clasen > Subject: Re: [bcintbird] new website/bird blog > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > Date: Friday, March 12, 2010, 10:43 PM > > > > > > > > � > > > > > > > > > > Hi Dick, > > Great new website and enjoyable blog. > > After thoroughly enjoying Enchantment of Birds, I'm looking > forward to reading Flights of Imagination and hopefully getting an > autographed copy at the Meadowlark Festival this year. > > I attempted twice the other day on the "pix" site to complement > you on your new Cooper's Hawk photo, but for some reason the > message part of the email didn't go through, only the header and > footer showed up. > > Since you started off with the Cooper's Hawk photo, your > observations on Cooper's Hawk vs Sharp-Shinned Hawk ID and > behaviour might be a topic of interest, as it always seems to > generate discussion amongst birders. > > Regards, > > Colin Clasen > > Coquitlam, B.C. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Dick Cannings > > Date: Friday, March 12, 2010 7:46 pm > > Subject: [bcintbird] new website/bird blog > > > > > Hi birders: > > > > > > After much cajoling from various quarters, I've "launched" my > own > > > bird & book website/blog at http://dickcannings .shawwebspace. > ca/ . > > > If you have any comments or ideas for blog topics, please let me > > > know! > > > cheers > > > Dick Cannings > > > Penticton, BC > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > Subject: Re: new website/bird blog From: liz bredberg <ebredberg AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 09:52:09 -0800 (PST) Yes, great Blog, Dick.  Thanks for undertaking it.  And I'll look forward to the new book. Colin (or someone else in the know), please.  May I know more about the Meadowlark Festival, please? Liz What would the world be, once bereft Of wet and wildness? Let them be left, O let them be left, wildness and wet; Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet. --Gerald Manley Hopkins, Inversnaid --- On Fri, 3/12/10, colin clasen wrote: From: colin clasen Subject: Re: [bcintbird] new website/bird blog To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Date: Friday, March 12, 2010, 10:43 PM   Hi Dick, Great new website and enjoyable blog. After thoroughly enjoying Enchantment of Birds, I'm looking forward to reading Flights of Imagination and hopefully getting an autographed copy at the Meadowlark Festival this year. I attempted twice the other day on the "pix" site to complement you on your new Cooper's Hawk photo, but for some reason the message part of the email didn't go through, only the header and footer showed up. Since you started off with the Cooper's Hawk photo, your observations on Cooper's Hawk vs Sharp-Shinned Hawk ID and behaviour might be a topic of interest, as it always seems to generate discussion amongst birders. Regards, Colin Clasen Coquitlam, B.C. ----- Original Message ----- From: Dick Cannings Date: Friday, March 12, 2010 7:46 pm Subject: [bcintbird] new website/bird blog > Hi birders: > > After much cajoling from various quarters, I've "launched" my own > bird & book website/blog at http://dickcannings .shawwebspace. ca/ . > If you have any comments or ideas for blog topics, please let me > know! > cheers > Dick Cannings > Penticton, BC > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: new website/bird blog From: colin clasen <colinc AT shawlink.ca> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:43:02 -0800 Hi Dick, Great new website and enjoyable blog. After thoroughly enjoying Enchantment of Birds, I'm looking forward to reading Flights of Imagination and hopefully getting an autographed copy at the Meadowlark Festival this year. I attempted twice the other day on the "pix" site to complement you on your new Cooper's Hawk photo, but for some reason the message part of the email didn't go through, only the header and footer showed up. Since you started off with the Cooper's Hawk photo, your observations on Cooper's Hawk vs Sharp-Shinned Hawk ID and behaviour might be a topic of interest, as it always seems to generate discussion amongst birders. Regards, Colin Clasen Coquitlam, B.C. ----- Original Message ----- From: Dick Cannings Date: Friday, March 12, 2010 7:46 pm Subject: [bcintbird] new website/bird blog > Hi birders: > > After much cajoling from various quarters, I've "launched" my own > bird & book website/blog at http://dickcannings.shawwebspace.ca/ . > If you have any comments or ideas for blog topics, please let me > know! > cheers > Dick Cannings > Penticton, BC > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > Subject: Kumlien's Gull and Eurasian Wigeons From: Russell Cannings <russellcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:00:38 -0800 Hi all, I drove to Kamloops today and along the way I had some nice sightings: Maude Roxby (Kelowna): We might not have a herring spawn but it's still pretty good here! Today I had an adult KUMLIEN'S GULL and 2 other birds intermediate between Thayer's and Kumlien's... perhaps hybrids or simply normal products of clinal variation. THAYER'S GULLS were in good numbers too (20+) including one extremely pale-eyed individual and a 3rd-cycle bird (rare in the valley). Other highlights were 2 GLAUCOUS GULLS (1rst and 2nd winter birds), a 3rd winter GLACOUS-WINGED x HERRING GULL (very interesting bird!), and a newly arrived flock of 23 TRUMPETER SWANS. From now until late April will be a very interesting time to check gulls in Kelowna, as last year we had a small influx of subadult Kumlien's Iceland Gulls and a few other nice things... should be good again this year! The other big surprise for the day was finding 5 yes 5 EURASIAN WIGEON along the creek/river south of Otter Lake (south of Armstrong). This is the largest number I've ever recorded in one spot in the Okanagan (3 males and 2 females). In the area there were also hundreds of RING-BILLED GULLS, MALLARDS, COMMON RAVENS, AMERICAN WIGEON, smaller numbers of NORTHERN PINTAIL, BUFFLEHEAD, REDHEAD, and a few singing MARSH WRENS (along the edges of the lake). All the best, Russell Cannings Kamloops, BC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: new website/bird blog From: Randy Findlay <hawkowl AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:21:12 -0800 Hi Dick, Really enjoyed reading your first blog! ...reminded me a little of my days growing up in Penticton . Aside from all your other great books, it looks like " Flights of Imagination" will be an excellent read. All the best with your new website! Randy Findlay, Burnaby, B.C. On 12-Mar-10, at 7:46 PM, Dick Cannings wrote: > Hi birders: > > After much cajoling from various quarters, I've "launched" my own > bird & book website/blog at http://dickcannings.shawwebspace.ca/ . > If you have any comments or ideas for blog topics, please let me know! > > cheers > Dick Cannings > Penticton, BC > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ To contact the moderator email bcintbird-owner AT yahoogroups.com Also, consider joining these groups. bcbirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com an all BC group. If you have pictures to share try this group. http://groups-beta.google.com/ From here you have to join the bcintbird-pics group before you can see the pictures. Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcintbird/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcintbird/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: bcintbird-digest AT yahoogroups.com bcintbird-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: bcintbird-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: new website/bird blog From: "Dick Cannings" <dickcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:46:19 -0800 Hi birders: After much cajoling from various quarters, I've "launched" my own bird & book website/blog at http://dickcannings.shawwebspace.ca/ . If you have any comments or ideas for blog topics, please let me know! cheers Dick Cannings Penticton, BC Subject: new website/bird blog From: "Dick Cannings" <cannings AT zoology.ubc.ca> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:46:19 -0800 Hi birders: After much cajoling from various quarters, I've "launched" my own bird & book website/blog at http://dickcannings.shawwebspace.ca/ . If you have any comments or ideas for blog topics, please let me know! cheers Dick Cannings Penticton, BC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: new website/bird blog From: "Dick Cannings" <dickcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:46:19 -0800 Hi birders: After much cajoling from various quarters, I've "launched" my own bird & book website/blog at http://dickcannings.shawwebspace.ca/ . If you have any comments or ideas for blog topics, please let me know! cheers Dick Cannings Penticton, BC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Yellow-rumped warbler From: "A & J Ginns" <ginnsj AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:02:57 -0800 Oh woe! My excuse is still being a bit addled after Panama. Thanks the reminder. the Lesser Scaup will bring my March Okanagan total to a big 35. Hey, is that rain out there? Jim ----- Original Message ----- From: Janna Leslie To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 8:31 AM Subject: Re: [bcintbird] Yellow-rumped warbler And let's not forget the lesser scaup and the ubiquitous starlings. Janna --- On Fri, 3/12/10, A & J Ginns wrote: From: A & J Ginns Subject: Re: [bcintbird] Yellow-rumped warbler To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Received: Friday, March 12, 2010, 11:13 AM WITH APOLOGIES! PLEASE DELETE THE SENDING OF 8:08AM AS IT LACKED 3 SPECIES. THE REVISED REPORT IS BELOW. Jim Ginns The birders of the South Okanagan Naturalists' Club did a loop from Penticton south to White Lake through Willowbrook by Green Lake down to Okanagan Falls and back to Penticton via East Side Road. We had pictured a sunny spring-like day but found the snow moving horizontally! The highlights were a Yellow-rumped Warbler, a male Eurasian Wigeon, Say's Phoebe, Killdeer, several singing W. Meadowlarks, a dozen W. Bluebirds and a flock of over 70 Robins. The complete list is Canada Goose Eurasian Wigeon American Wigeon Mallard Barrow's Goldeneye Bufflehead California Quail Ring-necked Pheasant Killdeer Ring-billed Gull Rock Dove Northern Flicker Say's Phoebe American Dipper Western Bluebird American Robin Black-capped Chickadee Pygmy Nuthatch Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Steller's Jay Black-billed Magpie Common Raven Yellow-rumped Warbler Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Cheers, Jim Ginns [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] __________________________________________________________ Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk email the boot with the All-new Yahoo! Mail. Click on Options in Mail and switch to New Mail today or register for free at http://mail.yahoo.ca [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.436 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2741 - Release Date: 03/12/10 09:42:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Vultures From: "A & J Ginns" <ginnsj AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:26:56 -0800 Only two TUVUs? I wonder if Panama City is the only metropolitian area where Black and Turkey Vultures soar between the 30 or so story hi-rises? We saw undreds in the 2 w of travels around Panama. In Bocas del Toro, on the east coast, the Black Vultures hopped about the sidewalks and roads early in the morning, almost ignoring the tourists. Jim Ginns ----- Original Message ----- From: "Laure Neish" To: Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 7:50 AM Subject: Re: [bcintbird] Northern Hawk Owl in Summerland > No Hawk owls on the east side that I know of but I did see 2 Turkey > Vultures > tilting in the wind over our Columbia neighbourhood yesterday afternoon. > > Laure > > On Thu, Mar 11, 2010 at 8:33 PM, Laurie Rockwell wrote: > >> >> >> Birders, >> >> At 7.30 pm I got a call from Lisa Scott who reliably described what >> could have only been a NHOW sitting on a pole on Lewes Avenue,just >> before Hillborn St,about 5.30pm. She described the long tail that >> was"flicked",barring on the breast/belly,no tufts and "mid-sized". I >> immediately dispatched myself to the site and drove the perimeter of the >> marshy area,but no luck. This may be the same bird that was seen in >> Naramata earlier this year? >> >> I also had a report fron David Lane of a Turkey Vulture near his home >> along Canyon View Road near Munroe Ave.,close to the above site. >> >> Cheers........Laurie R >> >> -- >> >> Know Thyself Coaching >> Summerland, BC, Canada >> 250-494-7558; knowthyselfcoaching AT vip.net >> Member International Coach Federation >> >> If you do not go within,you will go without >> >> >> > > > > -- > Canon 50 D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > Laure Wilson Neish > Penticton, BC Canada > http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/ > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > ------------------------------------ > > To contact the moderator email > bcintbird-owner AT yahoogroups.com > Also, consider joining these groups. > bcbirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com an all BC group. > If you have pictures to share try this group. > http://groups-beta.google.com/ > From here you have to join the bcintbird-pics group before you can see the > pictures. > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.436 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2739 - Release Date: 03/11/10 21:50:00 Subject: Re: some birds of Baja California and other critters From: Laure Neish <natureneish AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:24:31 -0800 Sorry to hear about your soggy experience Jim. You know where to go next time! It was sunny the whole time in Baja. YOu must have seen some cool hummers though. Laure On Wed, Mar 10, 2010 at 7:16 PM, A & J Ginns wrote: > > > Well the Baja has one big thing going for it -- it doesn't rain! > > Just back from 2 w in Panama and their "dry season" where it rained nearly > every day or the humidity was 110 percent or we were in the cloud forests. > One deluge left me with a leaky umberella and 4 cms water in knapsack. Seems > the manufacturer had done a good job of waterproofing the bottom so the rain > stayed in!!! > > But tallied 260 or so species, including (to you Baja people) the mundane > Three-wattled Bell bird, Montezuma Oropendula, Respelnt Quetzel, > White-necked Jacobin and Black-crowned Tityra. > > But nothing beats the shape of a dried-out, soaring Magnificent > Frigatebird. > > Cheers, Jim Ginns > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Janna Leslie > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 4:20 PM > Subject: Re: [bcintbird] some birds of Baja California and other critters > > Highlights included the Belding's yellowthroat, scott's oriole, snowy > plover, xantu's hummingbird and gilded flicker (all lifers for me). > > Janna > > --- On Wed, 3/10/10, Laure Neish > > wrote: > > From: Laure Neish > > Subject: Re: [bcintbird] some birds of Baja California and other critters > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > Received: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 5:09 PM > > Well, I had no idea so many local birders went down there! What birds did > you see Janna? > > On Wed, Mar 10, 2010 at 1:50 PM, Janna Leslie > > wrote: > > > > > > > Nice photos Laure. Rick and I were also down in Cabo, staying at El > > Presidente beside El Estero estuary, so it brought back some memories. We > > actually arrived the day that Jim and Dierdre left! > > > > Cheers, > > Janna > > > > --- On Wed, 3/10/10, Laure Neish > > > > wrote: > > > > From: Laure Neish 40gmail.com>> > > Subject: [bcintbird] some birds of Baja California and other critters > > To: "BC interior birds list" > > > > > > Received: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 4:03 PM > > > > > > > > > > We took a trip to Los Cabos, the southern most tip of Baja California > from > > > > Feb. 25-March 5. It was a bit of an adventure driving in Mexico with the > > > > rental car, but we didn't want to stay in an all-inclusive resort and > > > > needed the car to get around from a small inn on the Corridor and to > drive > > > > up the Pacific coast to a town called Todos Santos. The corridor is the > > less > > > > developed area between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. In fact, we > > > > could walk right into the desert/scruba area from the Inn. There are some > > > > interesting endemic birds - like the Xantus's Hummingbird, which I got > many > > > > shots of and other birds I had only seen along the southern US states, > like > > > > Scott's Oriole and Zone-tailed Hawk. Some birds I couldn't get photos of > - > > > > like the Blue-footed Booby offshore from the Lands End or the Belding's > > > > Yellowthroat which was adept at hiding. Some hotspots in the area are the > > > > Estuary at San Jose del Cabo (El Estero) right next to the El Presidente > > > > resort and the inn we stayed at was a bird magnet too with its waterfall > > and > > > > red flowers. I am puzzled over why Baja is not included in the ABA list > of > > > > birds, yet the string of Aleutians in Alaska are! Many of the bird in > Baja > > > > are those seen in California itself. I only got a list of 75 bird species > > > > because I came down with a bad sinus infection on Day 2 and I was also > > > > trying for photos as much as anything. > > > > Many thanks to Jim Turnbull, who I ran into the day before we left, for > > > > providing us with a lot of valuable info on what birds to look for and > > where > > > > to find them, a list from eBird plus suggesting awesome out-of-the-way > > lunch > > > > location! > > > > Here is the link to my gallery and if you hit the "Slideshow" button the > > > > photos appear larger. http://natureniche. zenfolio. com/p731998110 > > > > Laure > > > > -- > > > > Canon 50 D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex > > > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > > > Laure Wilson Neish > > > > Penticton, BC Canada > > > > http://natureniche. zenfolio. com/ > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > __________________________________________________________ > > Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! > > > > http://www.flickr.com/gift/ > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > -- > Canon 50 D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > Laure Wilson Neish > Penticton, BC Canada > http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/ > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > ------------------------------------ > > To contact the moderator email > bcintbird-owner AT yahoogroups.com > Also, consider joining these groups. > bcbirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com an > all BC group. > If you have pictures to share try this group. > http://groups-beta.google.com/ > From here you have to join the bcintbird-pics group before you can see the > pictures. > Yahoo! Groups Links > > __________________________________________________________ > Connect with friends from any web browser - no download required. Try the > new Yahoo! Canada Messenger for the Web BETA at > http://ca.messenger.yahoo.com/webmessengerpromo.php > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.436 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2734 - Release Date: 03/10/10 > 07:33:00 > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > -- Canon 50 D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Laure Wilson Neish Penticton, BC Canada http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ To contact the moderator email bcintbird-owner AT yahoogroups.com Also, consider joining these groups. bcbirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com an all BC group. If you have pictures to share try this group. http://groups-beta.google.com/ From here you have to join the bcintbird-pics group before you can see the pictures. Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcintbird/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcintbird/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: bcintbird-digest AT yahoogroups.com bcintbird-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: bcintbird-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Re: Yellow-rumped warbler From: Janna Leslie <jannamles AT yahoo.ca> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:31:55 -0800 (PST) And let's not forget the lesser scaup and the ubiquitous starlings. Janna --- On Fri, 3/12/10, A & J Ginns wrote: From: A & J Ginns Subject: Re: [bcintbird] Yellow-rumped warbler To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Received: Friday, March 12, 2010, 11:13 AM   WITH APOLOGIES! PLEASE DELETE THE SENDING OF 8:08AM AS IT LACKED 3 SPECIES. THE REVISED REPORT IS BELOW. Jim Ginns The birders of the South Okanagan Naturalists' Club did a loop from Penticton south to White Lake through Willowbrook by Green Lake down to Okanagan Falls and back to Penticton via East Side Road. We had pictured a sunny spring-like day but found the snow moving horizontally! The highlights were a Yellow-rumped Warbler, a male Eurasian Wigeon, Say's Phoebe, Killdeer, several singing W. Meadowlarks, a dozen W. Bluebirds and a flock of over 70 Robins. The complete list is Canada Goose Eurasian Wigeon American Wigeon Mallard Barrow's Goldeneye Bufflehead California Quail Ring-necked Pheasant Killdeer Ring-billed Gull Rock Dove Northern Flicker Say's Phoebe American Dipper Western Bluebird American Robin Black-capped Chickadee Pygmy Nuthatch Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Steller's Jay Black-billed Magpie Common Raven Yellow-rumped Warbler Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Cheers, Jim Ginns [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] __________________________________________________________________ Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk email the boot with the All-new Yahoo! Mail. Click on Options in Mail and switch to New Mail today or register for free at http://mail.yahoo.ca [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Yellow-rumped warbler From: "A & J Ginns" <ginnsj AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:13:26 -0800 WITH APOLOGIES! PLEASE DELETE THE SENDING OF 8:08AM AS IT LACKED 3 SPECIES. THE REVISED REPORT IS BELOW. Jim Ginns The birders of the South Okanagan Naturalists' Club did a loop from Penticton south to White Lake through Willowbrook by Green Lake down to Okanagan Falls and back to Penticton via East Side Road. We had pictured a sunny spring-like day but found the snow moving horizontally! The highlights were a Yellow-rumped Warbler, a male Eurasian Wigeon, Say's Phoebe, Killdeer, several singing W. Meadowlarks, a dozen W. Bluebirds and a flock of over 70 Robins. The complete list is Canada Goose Eurasian Wigeon American Wigeon Mallard Barrow's Goldeneye Bufflehead California Quail Ring-necked Pheasant Killdeer Ring-billed Gull Rock Dove Northern Flicker Say's Phoebe American Dipper Western Bluebird American Robin Black-capped Chickadee Pygmy Nuthatch Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Steller's Jay Black-billed Magpie Common Raven Yellow-rumped Warbler Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Cheers, Jim Ginns [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Yellow-rumped warbler From: "A & J Ginns" <ginnsj AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:08:36 -0800 The birders of the South Okanagan Naturalists' Club did a loop from Penticton south to White Lake through Willowbrook by Green Lake down to Okanagan Falls and back to Penticton via East Side Road. We had pictured a sunny spring-like day but found the snow moving horizontally! The highlights were a Yellow-rumped Warbler, a male Eurasian Wigeon, Say's Phoebe, Killdeer, several singing W. Meadowlarks, a dozen W. Bluebirds and a flock of over 70 Robins. The complete list is Canada Goose Mallard Barrow's Goldeneye Bufflehead California Quail Ring-necked Pheasant Killdeer Ring-billed Gull Northern Flicker Say's Phoebe American Dipper Western Bluebird American Robin Black-capped Chickadee Pygmy Nuthatch Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Steller's Jay Black-billed Magpie Common Raven Yellow-rumped Warbler Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Cheers, Jim Ginns [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: ruby-crowned kinglet From: RICK HOWIE <r.howie AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:52:07 -0700 Yes Janna: sacrifices of some sort seem to be in order. So I sacrificed birds. I abandoned most thoughts of anything resembling serious birding and went to a gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone. As luck would have it, weather is improving and by the time we leave, temps could soar. Saw 2 Kestrels yesterday which was the only hint of a possible start to the raptor migration. But perhaps it is happening in western Arizona where the weather has been somewhat warmer. Rick Howie ----- Original Message ----- From: Janna Leslie Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 10:24 pm Subject: Re: [bcintbird] ruby-crowned kinglet To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > Rick -- sorry to hear the weather gods are not co-operating with > your visit. More vestal virgins for sacrifice must be in order. > > Janna > > > --- On Wed, 3/10/10, RICK HOWIE wrote: > > From: RICK HOWIE > Subject: Re: [bcintbird] ruby-crowned kinglet > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > Received: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 11:41 PM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Janna: you should feel fortunate > to see a migrant. I am in Tucson and it is colder than > blazes here. The past several days have been nothing but high > winds, cold temperatures, heavy rain and new snow on the > mountains. Migration seems some distance off in the future. > Today was sunny but quite cool and windy. It was the first sunny > day since Saturday. > > > > I spent most of the day in Madera Canyon. The lower canyon was > nearly birdless and it was not until reaching the feeders at > Santa Rita Lodge at 5000' did we find any birds. It was very > busy there with lots of Yellow-eyed Juncos driven down from > higher elevations by the snows. Bridled Titmice were around and > lots of Acorn Woodpeckers, Lesser Goldfinches, Mexican Jays and > other resident species. Missed Arizona Woodpecker. In the lower > grasslands, Canyon Towhees, Phainopeplas, Mockingbirds, Cactus > Wrens, Curve-billed Thrashers and Pyrruloxias were evident > enough but no real sense of migration except for 2 White- > throated Swifts and 1 Pacific-slope Flyctacher up in the canyon. > I have seen 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler in 3 days and 1 Barn > Swallow. No other swallows period. Even Robins are not > around in any numbers. > > > > So birds that are getting to Canada are avoiding this "sun" > capital where my bathing trunks are staying at the bottom of the > suitcase. Had to spend a day in the mall buying warm clothes. > > > > I find it amusing to see the locals walking around town in > fleece jackets with hoods up and tourists in shorts pretending > they are not nearing frost bite as the rains pelt down like a > good blustery winter day in Vancouver. > > > > Rick Howie > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Janna Leslie > > Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 5:39 pm > > Subject: [bcintbird] ruby-crowned kinglet > > To: bcintbird > > > > > Hi all, > > > > > > My first of the year ruby-crowned kinglet was seen at the > Adam's > > > bird sanctuary (Summerland) today. > > > > > > Cheers, > > > Janna Leslie, > > > Naramata > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ > _Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! > > > > > > http://www.flickr. com/gift/ > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________________________Get the name you've always wanted AT ymail.com or AT rocketmail.com! Go to http://ca.promos.yahoo.com/jacko/ > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Northern Hawk Owl in Summerland From: Laure Neish <natureneish AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:50:56 -0800 No Hawk owls on the east side that I know of but I did see 2 Turkey Vultures tilting in the wind over our Columbia neighbourhood yesterday afternoon. Laure On Thu, Mar 11, 2010 at 8:33 PM, Laurie Rockwell wrote: > > > Birders, > > At 7.30 pm I got a call from Lisa Scott who reliably described what > could have only been a NHOW sitting on a pole on Lewes Avenue,just > before Hillborn St,about 5.30pm. She described the long tail that > was"flicked",barring on the breast/belly,no tufts and "mid-sized". I > immediately dispatched myself to the site and drove the perimeter of the > marshy area,but no luck. This may be the same bird that was seen in > Naramata earlier this year? > > I also had a report fron David Lane of a Turkey Vulture near his home > along Canyon View Road near Munroe Ave.,close to the above site. > > Cheers........Laurie R > > -- > > Know Thyself Coaching > Summerland, BC, Canada > 250-494-7558; knowthyselfcoaching AT vip.net > Member International Coach Federation > > If you do not go within,you will go without > > > -- Canon 50 D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Laure Wilson Neish Penticton, BC Canada http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ To contact the moderator email bcintbird-owner AT yahoogroups.com Also, consider joining these groups. bcbirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com an all BC group. If you have pictures to share try this group. http://groups-beta.google.com/ From here you have to join the bcintbird-pics group before you can see the pictures. Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcintbird/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcintbird/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: bcintbird-digest AT yahoogroups.com bcintbird-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: bcintbird-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Birders in Seattle and Oregon coast From: "Carol" <ctaffy2 AT shaw.ca> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:50:12 -0800 Hi All, I must talk to an experienced birder in the Seattle and Oregon coast area. Thanks, Carol Subject: Northern Hawk Owl in Summerland From: Laurie Rockwell <hardrock AT vip.net> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:33:35 -0800 Birders, At 7.30 pm I got a call from Lisa Scott who reliably described what could have only been a NHOW sitting on a pole on Lewes Avenue,just before Hillborn St,about 5.30pm. She described the long tail that was"flicked",barring on the breast/belly,no tufts and "mid-sized". I immediately dispatched myself to the site and drove the perimeter of the marshy area,but no luck. This may be the same bird that was seen in Naramata earlier this year? I also had a report fron David Lane of a Turkey Vulture near his home along Canyon View Road near Munroe Ave.,close to the above site. Cheers........Laurie R -- Know Thyself Coaching Summerland, BC, Canada 250-494-7558; knowthyselfcoaching AT vip.net Member International Coach Federation If you do not go within,you will go without Subject: open ponds and lakes From: Chris Siddle <chris.siddle AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:03:53 -0800 Hi birders, For those of you planning birding trips around the North Okanagan, here are the current ice conditions: Otter Lake - ice-free O'Keefe Pond - ice-free Bailey Road Pond - ice-free Swan Lake - about half the lake is open with ice cover shifting with the winds. Rose's Pond - still frozen as of 10 March. Today (11 March) small numbers of Mallards, American Wigeons, and Northern Pintails were in ponds along Deep Creek which runs from Armstrong to Head-Of-the-Lake, Okanagan Lake, while very small numbers of diving ducks (Redhead, Canvasback, both goldeneyes, buffleheads) were beginning to appear on local ponds. I didn't find any swans or Northern Shovelers yet. Ring-billed Gulls are on the move with 200 in a wet field along Otter Lake Road opposite the gravel operation. Also there is a male Eurasian Wigeon with the Mallards and Americans (wigeons, that is) along the creek at this point. Chris Siddle [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: ruby-crowned kinglet From: Janna Leslie <jannamles AT yahoo.ca> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:13:28 -0800 (PST) Rick -- sorry to hear the weather gods are not co-operating with your visit.  More vestal virgins for sacrifice must be in order. Janna --- On Wed, 3/10/10, RICK HOWIE wrote: From: RICK HOWIE Subject: Re: [bcintbird] ruby-crowned kinglet To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Received: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 11:41 PM   Janna: you should feel fortunate to see a migrant. I am in Tucson and it is colder than blazes here. The past several days have been nothing but high winds, cold temperatures, heavy rain and new snow on the mountains. Migration seems some distance off in the future. Today was sunny but quite cool and windy. It was the first sunny day since Saturday. I spent most of the day in Madera Canyon. The lower canyon was nearly birdless and it was not until reaching the feeders at Santa Rita Lodge at 5000' did we find any birds. It was very busy there with lots of Yellow-eyed Juncos driven down from higher elevations by the snows. Bridled Titmice were around and lots of Acorn Woodpeckers, Lesser Goldfinches, Mexican Jays and other resident species. Missed Arizona Woodpecker. In the lower grasslands, Canyon Towhees, Phainopeplas, Mockingbirds, Cactus Wrens, Curve-billed Thrashers and Pyrruloxias were evident enough but no real sense of migration except for 2 White-throated Swifts and 1 Pacific-slope Flyctacher up in the canyon. I have seen 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler in 3 days and 1 Barn Swallow. No other swallows period. Even Robins are not around in any numbers. So birds that are getting to Canada are avoiding this "sun" capital where my bathing trunks are staying at the bottom of the suitcase. Had to spend a day in the mall buying warm clothes. I find it amusing to see the locals walking around town in fleece jackets with hoods up and tourists in shorts pretending they are not nearing frost bite as the rains pelt down like a good blustery winter day in Vancouver. Rick Howie ----- Original Message ----- From: Janna Leslie Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 5:39 pm Subject: [bcintbird] ruby-crowned kinglet To: bcintbird > Hi all, > > My first of the year ruby-crowned kinglet was seen at the Adam's > bird sanctuary (Summerland) today. > > Cheers, > Janna Leslie, > Naramata > > > > > ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! > > http://www.flickr. com/gift/ > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] __________________________________________________________________ Get the name you've always wanted AT ymail.com or AT rocketmail.com! Go to http://ca.promos.yahoo.com/jacko/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: ruby-crowned kinglet From: RICK HOWIE <r.howie AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:41:39 -0700 Janna: you should feel fortunate to see a migrant. I am in Tucson and it is colder than blazes here. The past several days have been nothing but high winds, cold temperatures, heavy rain and new snow on the mountains. Migration seems some distance off in the future. Today was sunny but quite cool and windy. It was the first sunny day since Saturday. I spent most of the day in Madera Canyon. The lower canyon was nearly birdless and it was not until reaching the feeders at Santa Rita Lodge at 5000' did we find any birds. It was very busy there with lots of Yellow-eyed Juncos driven down from higher elevations by the snows. Bridled Titmice were around and lots of Acorn Woodpeckers, Lesser Goldfinches, Mexican Jays and other resident species. Missed Arizona Woodpecker. In the lower grasslands, Canyon Towhees, Phainopeplas, Mockingbirds, Cactus Wrens, Curve-billed Thrashers and Pyrruloxias were evident enough but no real sense of migration except for 2 White-throated Swifts and 1 Pacific-slope Flyctacher up in the canyon. I have seen 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler in 3 days and 1 Barn Swallow. No other swallows period. Even Robins are not around in any numbers. So birds that are getting to Canada are avoiding this "sun" capital where my bathing trunks are staying at the bottom of the suitcase. Had to spend a day in the mall buying warm clothes. I find it amusing to see the locals walking around town in fleece jackets with hoods up and tourists in shorts pretending they are not nearing frost bite as the rains pelt down like a good blustery winter day in Vancouver. Rick Howie ----- Original Message ----- From: Janna Leslie Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 5:39 pm Subject: [bcintbird] ruby-crowned kinglet To: bcintbird > Hi all, > > My first of the year ruby-crowned kinglet was seen at the Adam's > bird sanctuary (Summerland) today. > > Cheers, > Janna Leslie, > Naramata > > > > > __________________________________________________________________Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! > > http://www.flickr.com/gift/ > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: some birds of Baja California and other critters From: Janna Leslie <jannamles AT yahoo.ca> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:05:44 -0800 (PST) The frigatebird certainly can soar.  Congrats on the bell bird -- one of the many I missed in my travels in the general area. Cheers, Janna --- On Wed, 3/10/10, A & J Ginns wrote: From: A & J Ginns Subject: Re: [bcintbird] some birds of Baja California and other critters To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Received: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 10:16 PM   Well the Baja has one big thing going for it -- it doesn't rain! Just back from 2 w in Panama and their "dry season" where it rained nearly every day or the humidity was 110 percent or we were in the cloud forests. One deluge left me with a leaky umberella and 4 cms water in knapsack. Seems the manufacturer had done a good job of waterproofing the bottom so the rain stayed in!!! But tallied 260 or so species, including (to you Baja people) the mundane Three-wattled Bell bird, Montezuma Oropendula, Respelnt Quetzel, White-necked Jacobin and Black-crowned Tityra. But nothing beats the shape of a dried-out, soaring Magnificent Frigatebird. Cheers, Jim Ginns ----- Original Message ----- From: Janna Leslie To: bcintbird AT yahoogrou ps.com Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 4:20 PM Subject: Re: [bcintbird] some birds of Baja California and other critters Highlights included the Belding's yellowthroat, scott's oriole, snowy plover, xantu's hummingbird and gilded flicker (all lifers for me). Janna --- On Wed, 3/10/10, Laure Neish wrote: From: Laure Neish Subject: Re: [bcintbird] some birds of Baja California and other critters To: bcintbird AT yahoogrou ps.com Received: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 5:09 PM Well, I had no idea so many local birders went down there! What birds did you see Janna? On Wed, Mar 10, 2010 at 1:50 PM, Janna Leslie wrote: > > > Nice photos Laure. Rick and I were also down in Cabo, staying at El > Presidente beside El Estero estuary, so it brought back some memories. We > actually arrived the day that Jim and Dierdre left! > > Cheers, > Janna > > --- On Wed, 3/10/10, Laure Neish > > wrote: > > From: Laure Neish > > Subject: [bcintbird] some birds of Baja California and other critters > To: "BC interior birds list" > > > Received: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 4:03 PM > > > > > We took a trip to Los Cabos, the southern most tip of Baja California from > > Feb. 25-March 5. It was a bit of an adventure driving in Mexico with the > > rental car, but we didn't want to stay in an all-inclusive resort and > > needed the car to get around from a small inn on the Corridor and to drive > > up the Pacific coast to a town called Todos Santos. The corridor is the > less > > developed area between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. In fact, we > > could walk right into the desert/scruba area from the Inn. There are some > > interesting endemic birds - like the Xantus's Hummingbird, which I got many > > shots of and other birds I had only seen along the southern US states, like > > Scott's Oriole and Zone-tailed Hawk. Some birds I couldn't get photos of - > > like the Blue-footed Booby offshore from the Lands End or the Belding's > > Yellowthroat which was adept at hiding. Some hotspots in the area are the > > Estuary at San Jose del Cabo (El Estero) right next to the El Presidente > > resort and the inn we stayed at was a bird magnet too with its waterfall > and > > red flowers. I am puzzled over why Baja is not included in the ABA list of > > birds, yet the string of Aleutians in Alaska are! Many of the bird in Baja > > are those seen in California itself. I only got a list of 75 bird species > > because I came down with a bad sinus infection on Day 2 and I was also > > trying for photos as much as anything. > > Many thanks to Jim Turnbull, who I ran into the day before we left, for > > providing us with a lot of valuable info on what birds to look for and > where > > to find them, a list from eBird plus suggesting awesome out-of-the-way > lunch > > location! > > Here is the link to my gallery and if you hit the "Slideshow" button the > > photos appear larger. http://natureniche. zenfolio. com/p731998110 > > Laure > > -- > > Canon 50 D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > Laure Wilson Neish > > Penticton, BC Canada > > http://natureniche. zenfolio. com/ > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ > Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! > > http://www.flickr. com/gift/ > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > -- Canon 50 D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Laure Wilson Neish Penticton, BC Canada http://natureniche. zenfolio. com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------ --------- --------- ------ To contact the moderator email bcintbird-owner AT yahoogroups. com Also, consider joining these groups. bcbirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups. com an all BC group. If you have pictures to share try this group. http://groups- beta.google. com/ From here you have to join the bcintbird-pics group before you can see the pictures. Yahoo! Groups Links ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ Connect with friends from any web browser - no download required. Try the new Yahoo! Canada Messenger for the Web BETA at http://ca.messenger .yahoo.com/ webmessengerprom o.php [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.436 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2734 - Release Date: 03/10/10 07:33:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] __________________________________________________________________ The new Internet Explorer® 8 - Faster, safer, easier. Optimized for Yahoo! Get it Now for Free! at http://downloads.yahoo.com/ca/internetexplorer/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: some birds of Baja California and other critters From: "A & J Ginns" <ginnsj AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:16:17 -0800 Well the Baja has one big thing going for it -- it doesn't rain! Just back from 2 w in Panama and their "dry season" where it rained nearly every day or the humidity was 110 percent or we were in the cloud forests. One deluge left me with a leaky umberella and 4 cms water in knapsack. Seems the manufacturer had done a good job of waterproofing the bottom so the rain stayed in!!! But tallied 260 or so species, including (to you Baja people) the mundane Three-wattled Bell bird, Montezuma Oropendula, Respelnt Quetzel, White-necked Jacobin and Black-crowned Tityra. But nothing beats the shape of a dried-out, soaring Magnificent Frigatebird. Cheers, Jim Ginns ----- Original Message ----- From: Janna Leslie To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 4:20 PM Subject: Re: [bcintbird] some birds of Baja California and other critters Highlights included the Belding's yellowthroat, scott's oriole, snowy plover, xantu's hummingbird and gilded flicker (all lifers for me). Janna --- On Wed, 3/10/10, Laure Neish wrote: From: Laure Neish Subject: Re: [bcintbird] some birds of Baja California and other critters To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Received: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 5:09 PM Well, I had no idea so many local birders went down there! What birds did you see Janna? On Wed, Mar 10, 2010 at 1:50 PM, Janna Leslie wrote: > > > Nice photos Laure. Rick and I were also down in Cabo, staying at El > Presidente beside El Estero estuary, so it brought back some memories. We > actually arrived the day that Jim and Dierdre left! > > Cheers, > Janna > > --- On Wed, 3/10/10, Laure Neish > > wrote: > > From: Laure Neish > > Subject: [bcintbird] some birds of Baja California and other critters > To: "BC interior birds list" > > > Received: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 4:03 PM > > > > > We took a trip to Los Cabos, the southern most tip of Baja California from > > Feb. 25-March 5. It was a bit of an adventure driving in Mexico with the > > rental car, but we didn't want to stay in an all-inclusive resort and > > needed the car to get around from a small inn on the Corridor and to drive > > up the Pacific coast to a town called Todos Santos. The corridor is the > less > > developed area between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. In fact, we > > could walk right into the desert/scruba area from the Inn. There are some > > interesting endemic birds - like the Xantus's Hummingbird, which I got many > > shots of and other birds I had only seen along the southern US states, like > > Scott's Oriole and Zone-tailed Hawk. Some birds I couldn't get photos of - > > like the Blue-footed Booby offshore from the Lands End or the Belding's > > Yellowthroat which was adept at hiding. Some hotspots in the area are the > > Estuary at San Jose del Cabo (El Estero) right next to the El Presidente > > resort and the inn we stayed at was a bird magnet too with its waterfall > and > > red flowers. I am puzzled over why Baja is not included in the ABA list of > > birds, yet the string of Aleutians in Alaska are! Many of the bird in Baja > > are those seen in California itself. I only got a list of 75 bird species > > because I came down with a bad sinus infection on Day 2 and I was also > > trying for photos as much as anything. > > Many thanks to Jim Turnbull, who I ran into the day before we left, for > > providing us with a lot of valuable info on what birds to look for and > where > > to find them, a list from eBird plus suggesting awesome out-of-the-way > lunch > > location! > > Here is the link to my gallery and if you hit the "Slideshow" button the > > photos appear larger. http://natureniche. zenfolio. com/p731998110 > > Laure > > -- > > Canon 50 D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > Laure Wilson Neish > > Penticton, BC Canada > > http://natureniche. zenfolio. com/ > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > __________________________________________________________ > Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! > > http://www.flickr.com/gift/ > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > -- Canon 50 D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Laure Wilson Neish Penticton, BC Canada http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ To contact the moderator email bcintbird-owner AT yahoogroups.com Also, consider joining these groups. bcbirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com an all BC group. If you have pictures to share try this group. http://groups-beta.google.com/ From here you have to join the bcintbird-pics group before you can see the pictures. Yahoo! Groups Links __________________________________________________________ Connect with friends from any web browser - no download required. Try the new Yahoo! Canada Messenger for the Web BETA at http://ca.messenger.yahoo.com/webmessengerpromo.php [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.436 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2734 - Release Date: 03/10/10 07:33:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: some birds of Baja California and other critters From: Laure Neish <natureneish AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:36:45 -0800 Interesting, I brought National Geo. 5th edition for the same reason. It was good for species ranges. Laure On Wed, Mar 10, 2010 at 4:10 PM, Janna Leslie wrote: > > > Hi Laure. > > Actually, National Geographic's "Birds of North America" covers the Baja > quite nicely. That is where I first bought my guide when we visited Loreto > back in 2001 (and it was my first bird guide -- the start of it all. I was > seeing all these neat birds and didn't know what they were). There's just a > few species not listed in it. > > Janna > > --- On Wed, 3/10/10, Laure Neish > > wrote: > > From: Laure Neish > > Subject: Re: [bcintbird] some birds of Baja California and other critters > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > Received: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 6:16 PM > > Thanks Dick and for the positive ID on the whale. If you were there in '82, > I can imagine you and Marg would just cringe at the rampant development > going on there now. San Jose was a much more enjoyable town that Cabo San > Lucas we discovered. > I think if we went back I would be interested staying at El Presidente for > its great birding hotspot location. > Jim Turnbull referred me to eBird to get a list of Baja birds because the > only field guide available, I believe, is the Birds of Mexico and N. > Central America by Howell and Webb and that is like carrying a large brick, > so it stayed home. > > Laure > > On Wed, Mar 10, 2010 at 2:25 PM, Dick Cannings > > wrote: > > > > > > > Hi Laure: > > > > Lovely shots. Marg and I stayed in San Jose del Cabo when the only > "hotel" > > on the beach was called the "Nuevo Sol"--it was the ATCO trailers > formerly > > used by the highway construction workers ($5/night). The El Presidente > was > > just being built (this was 1982 as I recall). Lovely desert for hiking > as > > you found, though I totally dipped on Xantus's Hummingbird (all we saw > were > > Costa's). > > > > cheers > > Dick Cannings > > Penticton, BC > > > > PS: those are pictures of Hump-backed Whales for sure > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Laure Neish 40gmail.com>> > > Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 1:03 pm > > Subject: [bcintbird] some birds of Baja California and other critters > > To: BC interior birds list > > > > > > > > > We took a trip to Los Cabos, the southern most tip of Baja > > > California from > > > Feb. 25-March 5. It was a bit of an adventure driving in > > > Mexico with the > > > rental car, but we didn't want to stay in an all-inclusive > > > resort and > > > needed the car to get around from a small inn on the Corridor > > > and to drive > > > up the Pacific coast to a town called Todos Santos. The corridor > > > is the less > > > developed area between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. In > > > fact, we > > > could walk right into the desert/scruba area from the Inn. > > > > There are some > > > interesting endemic birds - like the Xantus's Hummingbird, which > > > I got many > > > shots of and other birds I had only seen along the southern US > > > states, like > > > Scott's Oriole and Zone-tailed Hawk. Some birds I couldn't get > > > photos of - > > > like the Blue-footed Booby offshore from the Lands End or the > > > Belding'sYellowthroat which was adept at hiding. Some hotspots > > > > in the area are the > > > Estuary at San Jose del Cabo (El Estero) right next to the El > > > Presidenteresort and the inn we stayed at was a bird magnet too > > > > with its waterfall and > > > red flowers. I am puzzled over why Baja is not included in the > > > ABA list of > > > birds, yet the string of Aleutians in Alaska are! Many of > > > the bird in Baja > > > > are those seen in California itself. I only got a list of 75 > > > bird species > > > because I came down with a bad sinus infection on Day 2 and I > > > was also > > > trying for photos as much as anything. > > > > > > Many thanks to Jim Turnbull, who I ran into the day before we > > > left, for > > > providing us with a lot of valuable info on what birds to look > > > for and where > > > to find them, a list from eBird plus suggesting awesome out-of- > > > the-way lunch > > > location! > > > > > > > Here is the link to my gallery and if you hit the "Slideshow" > > > button the > > > photos appear larger. http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/p731998110 > > > > > > Laure > > > > > > > > > -- > > > Canon 50 D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex > > > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > > Laure Wilson Neish > > > Penticton, BC Canada > > > http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/ > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > -- > Canon 50 D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > Laure Wilson Neish > Penticton, BC Canada > http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/ > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > ------------------------------------ > > To contact the moderator email > bcintbird-owner AT yahoogroups.com > Also, consider joining these groups. > bcbirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com > an all BC group. > If you have pictures to share try this group. > http://groups-beta.google.com/ > From here you have to join the bcintbird-pics group before you can see the > pictures. > Yahoo! Groups Links > > __________________________________________________________ > Get the name you've always wanted AT ymail.com or AT rocketmail.com! Go to > http://ca.promos.yahoo.com/jacko/ > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > -- Canon 50 D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Laure Wilson Neish Penticton, BC Canada http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ To contact the moderator email bcintbird-owner AT yahoogroups.com Also, consider joining these groups. bcbirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com an all BC group. If you have pictures to share try this group. http://groups-beta.google.com/ From here you have to join the bcintbird-pics group before you can see the pictures. Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcintbird/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcintbird/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: bcintbird-digest AT yahoogroups.com bcintbird-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: bcintbird-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: ruby-crowned kinglet From: Janna Leslie <jannamles AT yahoo.ca> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:39:36 -0800 (PST) Hi all, My first of the year ruby-crowned kinglet was seen at the Adam's bird sanctuary (Summerland) today. Cheers, Janna Leslie, Naramata __________________________________________________________________ Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! http://www.flickr.com/gift/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: some birds of Baja California and other critters From: Janna Leslie <jannamles AT yahoo.ca> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:20:33 -0800 (PST) Highlights included the Belding's yellowthroat, scott's oriole, snowy plover, xantu's hummingbird and gilded flicker (all lifers for me). Janna --- On Wed, 3/10/10, Laure Neish wrote: From: Laure Neish Subject: Re: [bcintbird] some birds of Baja California and other critters To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Received: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 5:09 PM Well, I had no idea so many local birders went down there!  What birds did you see Janna? On Wed, Mar 10, 2010 at 1:50 PM, Janna Leslie wrote: > > > Nice photos Laure.  Rick and I were also down in Cabo, staying at El > Presidente beside El Estero estuary, so it brought back some memories.  We > actually arrived the day that Jim and Dierdre left! > > Cheers, > Janna > > --- On Wed, 3/10/10, Laure Neish > > wrote: > > From: Laure Neish > > Subject: [bcintbird] some birds of Baja California and other critters > To: "BC interior birds list" > > > Received: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 4:03 PM > > > > > We took a trip to Los Cabos, the southern most tip of Baja California from > > Feb. 25-March 5. It was a bit of an adventure driving in Mexico with the > > rental car, but we didn't want to stay in an all-inclusive resort and > > needed the car to get around from a small inn on the Corridor and to drive > > up the Pacific coast to a town called Todos Santos. The corridor is the > less > > developed area between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. In fact, we > > could walk right into the desert/scruba area from the Inn. There are some > > interesting endemic birds - like the Xantus's Hummingbird, which I got many > > shots of and other birds I had only seen along the southern US states, like > > Scott's Oriole and Zone-tailed Hawk. Some birds I couldn't get photos of - > > like the Blue-footed Booby offshore from the Lands End or the Belding's > > Yellowthroat which was adept at hiding. Some hotspots in the area are the > > Estuary at San Jose del Cabo (El Estero) right next to the El Presidente > > resort and the inn we stayed at was a bird magnet too with its waterfall > and > > red flowers. I am puzzled over why Baja is not included in the ABA list of > > birds, yet the string of Aleutians in Alaska are! Many of the bird in Baja > > are those seen in California itself. I only got a list of 75 bird species > > because I came down with a bad sinus infection on Day 2 and I was also > > trying for photos as much as anything. > > Many thanks to Jim Turnbull, who I ran into the day before we left, for > > providing us with a lot of valuable info on what birds to look for and > where > > to find them, a list from eBird plus suggesting awesome out-of-the-way > lunch > > location! > > Here is the link to my gallery and if you hit the "Slideshow" button the > > photos appear larger. http://natureniche. zenfolio. com/p731998110 > > Laure > > -- > > Canon 50 D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > Laure Wilson Neish > > Penticton, BC Canada > > http://natureniche. zenfolio. com/ > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > __________________________________________________________ > Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! > > http://www.flickr.com/gift/ > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > >  > -- Canon 50 D +  Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Laure Wilson Neish Penticton, BC  Canada http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ To contact the moderator email bcintbird-owner AT yahoogroups.com Also, consider joining these groups. bcbirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com  an all BC group. If you have pictures to share try this group.  http://groups-beta.google.com/ From here you have to join the bcintbird-pics group before you can see the pictures. Yahoo! Groups Links __________________________________________________________________ Connect with friends from any web browser - no download required. Try the new Yahoo! Canada Messenger for the Web BETA at http://ca.messenger.yahoo.com/webmessengerpromo.php [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: some birds of Baja California and other critters From: Janna Leslie <jannamles AT yahoo.ca> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:10:03 -0800 (PST) Hi Laure. Actually, National Geographic's  "Birds of North America" covers the Baja quite nicely.  That is where I first bought my guide when we visited Loreto back in 2001 (and it was my first bird guide -- the start of it all.  I was seeing all these neat birds and didn't know what they were).  There's just a few species not listed in it. Janna --- On Wed, 3/10/10, Laure Neish wrote: From: Laure Neish Subject: Re: [bcintbird] some birds of Baja California and other critters To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Received: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 6:16 PM Thanks Dick and for the positive ID on the whale. If you were there in '82, I can imagine you and Marg would just cringe at the rampant development going on there now. San Jose was a much more enjoyable town that Cabo San Lucas we discovered. I think if we went back I would be interested staying at El Presidente for its great birding hotspot location. Jim Turnbull referred me to eBird to get a list of Baja birds because the only field guide available, I believe,  is the Birds of Mexico and N. Central America by Howell and Webb and that is like carrying a large brick, so it stayed home. Laure On Wed, Mar 10, 2010 at 2:25 PM, Dick Cannings wrote: > > > Hi Laure: > > Lovely shots.  Marg and I stayed in San Jose del Cabo when the only "hotel" > on the beach was called the "Nuevo Sol"--it was the ATCO trailers formerly > used by the highway construction workers ($5/night).  The El Presidente was > just being built (this was 1982 as I recall).  Lovely desert for hiking as > you found, though I totally dipped on Xantus's Hummingbird (all we saw were > Costa's). > > cheers > Dick Cannings > Penticton, BC > > PS:  those are pictures of Hump-backed Whales for sure > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Laure Neish > > Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 1:03 pm > Subject: [bcintbird] some birds of Baja California and other critters > To: BC interior birds list > > > >  > We took a trip to Los Cabos, the southern most tip of Baja > > California from > > Feb. 25-March 5.  It was a bit of an adventure driving in > > Mexico with the > > rental car, but we didn't want to stay in an all-inclusive > > resort and > > needed the car to get around from a small inn on the Corridor > > and to drive > > up the Pacific coast to a town called Todos Santos. The corridor > > is the less > > developed area between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. In > > fact, we > > could walk right into the desert/scruba area from the Inn. > > There are some > > interesting endemic birds - like the Xantus's Hummingbird, which > > I got many > > shots of and other birds I had only seen along the southern US > > states, like > > Scott's Oriole and Zone-tailed Hawk. Some birds I couldn't get > > photos of - > > like the Blue-footed Booby offshore from the Lands End or the > > Belding'sYellowthroat which was adept at hiding. Some hotspots > > in the area are the > > Estuary at San Jose del Cabo (El Estero) right next to the El > > Presidenteresort and the inn we stayed at was a bird magnet too >  > with its waterfall and > > red flowers. I am puzzled over why Baja is not included in the > > ABA list of > > birds, yet the string of Aleutians in Alaska are!  Many of > > the bird in Baja > > are those seen in California itself. I only got a list of 75 > > bird species > > because I came down with a bad sinus infection on Day 2 and I > > was also > > trying for photos as much as anything. > > > > Many thanks to Jim Turnbull, who I ran into the day before we > > left,  for > > providing us with a lot of valuable info on what birds to look > > for and where > > to find them, a list from eBird plus suggesting awesome out-of- > > the-way lunch > > location! > > > > Here is the link to my gallery and if you hit the "Slideshow" > > button the > > photos appear larger. http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/p731998110 > > > > Laure > > > > > > -- > > Canon 50 D +  Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > Laure Wilson Neish > > Penticton, BC  Canada > > http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/ > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > >  > -- Canon 50 D +  Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Laure Wilson Neish Penticton, BC  Canada http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ To contact the moderator email bcintbird-owner AT yahoogroups.com Also, consider joining these groups. bcbirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com  an all BC group. If you have pictures to share try this group.  http://groups-beta.google.com/ From here you have to join the bcintbird-pics group before you can see the pictures. Yahoo! Groups Links __________________________________________________________________ Get the name you've always wanted AT ymail.com or AT rocketmail.com! Go to http://ca.promos.yahoo.com/jacko/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: some birds of Baja California and other critters From: Laure Neish <natureneish AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:16:17 -0800 Thanks Dick and for the positive ID on the whale. If you were there in '82, I can imagine you and Marg would just cringe at the rampant development going on there now. San Jose was a much more enjoyable town that Cabo San Lucas we discovered. I think if we went back I would be interested staying at El Presidente for its great birding hotspot location. Jim Turnbull referred me to eBird to get a list of Baja birds because the only field guide available, I believe, is the Birds of Mexico and N. Central America by Howell and Webb and that is like carrying a large brick, so it stayed home. Laure On Wed, Mar 10, 2010 at 2:25 PM, Dick Cannings wrote: > > > Hi Laure: > > Lovely shots. Marg and I stayed in San Jose del Cabo when the only "hotel" > on the beach was called the "Nuevo Sol"--it was the ATCO trailers formerly > used by the highway construction workers ($5/night). The El Presidente was > just being built (this was 1982 as I recall). Lovely desert for hiking as > you found, though I totally dipped on Xantus's Hummingbird (all we saw were > Costa's). > > cheers > Dick Cannings > Penticton, BC > > PS: those are pictures of Hump-backed Whales for sure > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Laure Neish > > Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 1:03 pm > Subject: [bcintbird] some birds of Baja California and other critters > To: BC interior birds list > > > > > We took a trip to Los Cabos, the southern most tip of Baja > > California from > > Feb. 25-March 5. It was a bit of an adventure driving in > > Mexico with the > > rental car, but we didn't want to stay in an all-inclusive > > resort and > > needed the car to get around from a small inn on the Corridor > > and to drive > > up the Pacific coast to a town called Todos Santos. The corridor > > is the less > > developed area between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. In > > fact, we > > could walk right into the desert/scruba area from the Inn. > > There are some > > interesting endemic birds - like the Xantus's Hummingbird, which > > I got many > > shots of and other birds I had only seen along the southern US > > states, like > > Scott's Oriole and Zone-tailed Hawk. Some birds I couldn't get > > photos of - > > like the Blue-footed Booby offshore from the Lands End or the > > Belding'sYellowthroat which was adept at hiding. Some hotspots > > in the area are the > > Estuary at San Jose del Cabo (El Estero) right next to the El > > Presidenteresort and the inn we stayed at was a bird magnet too > > with its waterfall and > > red flowers. I am puzzled over why Baja is not included in the > > ABA list of > > birds, yet the string of Aleutians in Alaska are! Many of > > the bird in Baja > > are those seen in California itself. I only got a list of 75 > > bird species > > because I came down with a bad sinus infection on Day 2 and I > > was also > > trying for photos as much as anything. > > > > Many thanks to Jim Turnbull, who I ran into the day before we > > left, for > > providing us with a lot of valuable info on what birds to look > > for and where > > to find them, a list from eBird plus suggesting awesome out-of- > > the-way lunch > > location! > > > > Here is the link to my gallery and if you hit the "Slideshow" > > button the > > photos appear larger. http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/p731998110 > > > > Laure > > > > > > -- > > Canon 50 D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > Laure Wilson Neish > > Penticton, BC Canada > > http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/ > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > -- Canon 50 D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Laure Wilson Neish Penticton, BC Canada http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ To contact the moderator email bcintbird-owner AT yahoogroups.com Also, consider joining these groups. bcbirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com an all BC group. If you have pictures to share try this group. http://groups-beta.google.com/ From here you have to join the bcintbird-pics group before you can see the pictures. Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcintbird/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcintbird/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: bcintbird-digest AT yahoogroups.com bcintbird-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: bcintbird-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Re: some birds of Baja California and other critters From: Dick Cannings <dickcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:25:58 -0800 Hi Laure: Lovely shots.  Marg and I stayed in San Jose del Cabo when the only "hotel" on the beach was called the "Nuevo Sol"--it was the ATCO trailers formerly used by the highway construction workers ($5/night).  The El Presidente was just being built (this was 1982 as I recall).  Lovely desert for hiking as you found, though I totally dipped on Xantus's Hummingbird (all we saw were Costa's). cheers Dick Cannings Penticton, BC PS:  those are pictures of Hump-backed Whales for sure ----- Original Message ----- From: Laure Neish Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 1:03 pm Subject: [bcintbird] some birds of Baja California and other critters To: BC interior birds list > We took a trip to Los Cabos, the southern most tip of Baja > California from > Feb. 25-March 5.  It was a bit of an adventure driving in > Mexico with the > rental car, but we didn't want to stay in an all-inclusive > resort and > needed the car to get around from a small inn on the Corridor > and to drive > up the Pacific coast to a town called Todos Santos. The corridor > is the less > developed area between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. In > fact, we > could walk right into the desert/scruba area from the Inn.  > There are some > interesting endemic birds - like the Xantus's Hummingbird, which > I got many > shots of and other birds I had only seen along the southern US > states, like > Scott's Oriole and Zone-tailed Hawk. Some birds I couldn't get > photos of - > like the Blue-footed Booby offshore from the Lands End or the > Belding'sYellowthroat which was adept at hiding. Some hotspots > in the area are the > Estuary at San Jose del Cabo (El Estero) right next to the El > Presidenteresort and the inn we stayed at was a bird magnet too > with its waterfall and > red flowers. I am puzzled over why Baja is not included in the > ABA list of > birds, yet the string of Aleutians in Alaska are!  Many of > the bird in Baja > are those seen in California itself. I only got a list of 75 > bird species > because I came down with a bad sinus infection on Day 2 and I > was also > trying for photos as much as anything. > > Many thanks to Jim Turnbull, who I ran into the day before we > left,  for > providing us with a lot of valuable info on what birds to look > for and where > to find them, a list from eBird plus suggesting awesome out-of- > the-way lunch > location! > > Here is the link to my gallery and if you hit the "Slideshow" > button the > photos appear larger. http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/p731998110 > > Laure > > > -- > Canon 50 D +  Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > Laure Wilson Neish > Penticton, BC  Canada > http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/ > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: some birds of Baja California and other critters From: Laure Neish <natureneish AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:09:47 -0800 Well, I had no idea so many local birders went down there! What birds did you see Janna? On Wed, Mar 10, 2010 at 1:50 PM, Janna Leslie wrote: > > > Nice photos Laure. Rick and I were also down in Cabo, staying at El > Presidente beside El Estero estuary, so it brought back some memories. We > actually arrived the day that Jim and Dierdre left! > > Cheers, > Janna > > --- On Wed, 3/10/10, Laure Neish > > wrote: > > From: Laure Neish > > Subject: [bcintbird] some birds of Baja California and other critters > To: "BC interior birds list" > > > Received: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 4:03 PM > > > > > We took a trip to Los Cabos, the southern most tip of Baja California from > > Feb. 25-March 5. It was a bit of an adventure driving in Mexico with the > > rental car, but we didn't want to stay in an all-inclusive resort and > > needed the car to get around from a small inn on the Corridor and to drive > > up the Pacific coast to a town called Todos Santos. The corridor is the > less > > developed area between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. In fact, we > > could walk right into the desert/scruba area from the Inn. There are some > > interesting endemic birds - like the Xantus's Hummingbird, which I got many > > shots of and other birds I had only seen along the southern US states, like > > Scott's Oriole and Zone-tailed Hawk. Some birds I couldn't get photos of - > > like the Blue-footed Booby offshore from the Lands End or the Belding's > > Yellowthroat which was adept at hiding. Some hotspots in the area are the > > Estuary at San Jose del Cabo (El Estero) right next to the El Presidente > > resort and the inn we stayed at was a bird magnet too with its waterfall > and > > red flowers. I am puzzled over why Baja is not included in the ABA list of > > birds, yet the string of Aleutians in Alaska are! Many of the bird in Baja > > are those seen in California itself. I only got a list of 75 bird species > > because I came down with a bad sinus infection on Day 2 and I was also > > trying for photos as much as anything. > > Many thanks to Jim Turnbull, who I ran into the day before we left, for > > providing us with a lot of valuable info on what birds to look for and > where > > to find them, a list from eBird plus suggesting awesome out-of-the-way > lunch > > location! > > Here is the link to my gallery and if you hit the "Slideshow" button the > > photos appear larger. http://natureniche. zenfolio. com/p731998110 > > Laure > > -- > > Canon 50 D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > Laure Wilson Neish > > Penticton, BC Canada > > http://natureniche. zenfolio. com/ > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > __________________________________________________________ > Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! > > http://www.flickr.com/gift/ > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > -- Canon 50 D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Laure Wilson Neish Penticton, BC Canada http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ To contact the moderator email bcintbird-owner AT yahoogroups.com Also, consider joining these groups. bcbirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com an all BC group. If you have pictures to share try this group. http://groups-beta.google.com/ From here you have to join the bcintbird-pics group before you can see the pictures. Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcintbird/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcintbird/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: bcintbird-digest AT yahoogroups.com bcintbird-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: bcintbird-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Re: some birds of Baja California and other critters From: Janna Leslie <jannamles AT yahoo.ca> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:50:24 -0800 (PST) Nice photos Laure.  Rick and I were also down in Cabo, staying at El Presidente beside El Estero estuary, so it brought back some memories.  We actually arrived the day that Jim and Dierdre left! Cheers, Janna --- On Wed, 3/10/10, Laure Neish wrote: From: Laure Neish Subject: [bcintbird] some birds of Baja California and other critters To: "BC interior birds list" Received: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 4:03 PM   We took a trip to Los Cabos, the southern most tip of Baja California from Feb. 25-March 5. It was a bit of an adventure driving in Mexico with the rental car, but we didn't want to stay in an all-inclusive resort and needed the car to get around from a small inn on the Corridor and to drive up the Pacific coast to a town called Todos Santos. The corridor is the less developed area between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. In fact, we could walk right into the desert/scruba area from the Inn. There are some interesting endemic birds - like the Xantus's Hummingbird, which I got many shots of and other birds I had only seen along the southern US states, like Scott's Oriole and Zone-tailed Hawk. Some birds I couldn't get photos of - like the Blue-footed Booby offshore from the Lands End or the Belding's Yellowthroat which was adept at hiding. Some hotspots in the area are the Estuary at San Jose del Cabo (El Estero) right next to the El Presidente resort and the inn we stayed at was a bird magnet too with its waterfall and red flowers. I am puzzled over why Baja is not included in the ABA list of birds, yet the string of Aleutians in Alaska are! Many of the bird in Baja are those seen in California itself. I only got a list of 75 bird species because I came down with a bad sinus infection on Day 2 and I was also trying for photos as much as anything. Many thanks to Jim Turnbull, who I ran into the day before we left, for providing us with a lot of valuable info on what birds to look for and where to find them, a list from eBird plus suggesting awesome out-of-the-way lunch location! Here is the link to my gallery and if you hit the "Slideshow" button the photos appear larger. http://natureniche. zenfolio. com/p731998110 Laure -- Canon 50 D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Laure Wilson Neish Penticton, BC Canada http://natureniche. zenfolio. com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] __________________________________________________________________ Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! http://www.flickr.com/gift/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: some birds of Baja California and other critters From: Laure Neish <natureneish AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:03:14 -0800 We took a trip to Los Cabos, the southern most tip of Baja California from Feb. 25-March 5. It was a bit of an adventure driving in Mexico with the rental car, but we didn't want to stay in an all-inclusive resort and needed the car to get around from a small inn on the Corridor and to drive up the Pacific coast to a town called Todos Santos. The corridor is the less developed area between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. In fact, we could walk right into the desert/scruba area from the Inn. There are some interesting endemic birds - like the Xantus's Hummingbird, which I got many shots of and other birds I had only seen along the southern US states, like Scott's Oriole and Zone-tailed Hawk. Some birds I couldn't get photos of - like the Blue-footed Booby offshore from the Lands End or the Belding's Yellowthroat which was adept at hiding. Some hotspots in the area are the Estuary at San Jose del Cabo (El Estero) right next to the El Presidente resort and the inn we stayed at was a bird magnet too with its waterfall and red flowers. I am puzzled over why Baja is not included in the ABA list of birds, yet the string of Aleutians in Alaska are! Many of the bird in Baja are those seen in California itself. I only got a list of 75 bird species because I came down with a bad sinus infection on Day 2 and I was also trying for photos as much as anything. Many thanks to Jim Turnbull, who I ran into the day before we left, for providing us with a lot of valuable info on what birds to look for and where to find them, a list from eBird plus suggesting awesome out-of-the-way lunch location! Here is the link to my gallery and if you hit the "Slideshow" button the photos appear larger. http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/p731998110 Laure -- Canon 50 D + Canon 300mm IS f/2.8 x 1.4 telex - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Laure Wilson Neish Penticton, BC Canada http://natureniche.zenfolio.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: say's phoebe - finally From: Janna Leslie <jannamles AT yahoo.ca> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:40:59 -0800 (PST) Hi all. Well, the Say's phoebe has finally arrived in the neighbourhood -- only a week later than last year!  I was starting to wonder when I would hear him, after seeing my first of the year down at Road 22 on Feb 25. Cheers, Janna Leslie, Naramata __________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Big Year Blog updated From: Russell Cannings <russellcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:54:06 -0800 Hi all, After a good few days of birding, I've updated the blog so ch-check it out! http://bcbigyear.blogspot.com/ Kind regards, Russell Cannings Penticton, BC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: greater white-fronted goose From: Janna Leslie <jannamles AT yahoo.ca> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 16:18:47 -0800 (PST) Hi all, Today a small flock of canada geese were hanging about the small pond north of Skaha Lake (along East Side road) among which was a greater white-fronted goose.  First seen about 10:30 and still there about 3:30. Cheers, Janna Leslie, Naramata __________________________________________________________________ Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! http://www.flickr.com/gift/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Christmas Bird Counts From: "marven007ca" <marven007ca AT yahoo.ca> Date: Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:49:32 -0000 Okay Birders Don't panic it's not time yet to make decisions, but it is way past time for all of you compilers out there who have failed to send in your details for the past count. As the keeper of the British Columbia Winter Bird List for Blake Maybank's Winter Bird List site AT http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/maybank/other/bcwinter.htm I find it very frustrating that you compilers cannot get your totals posted to the Audubon data site in a timely manner, there is no excuse for taking so long, why it's nearly summer for pete's sake. Here are just some of the counts who have failed to post their results yet: Saltspring/Saanich Peninsular Ladner White Rock All counts on the Queen Charlotte's and a few others that should have sent in their numbers by now, so come on you folks lets have your results, so that i can finish up the Winter List and pack it away for another year. Derrick Marven North Cowichan, BC Subject: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tundra Swan Festival From: Susan Harris <susanh AT msn.com> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 14:02:27 -0800 Press Release 2010 Tundra Swan Festival Newport, WA, February, 2010: Join us to celebrate the Tundra swans on Saturday, March 20! Come and witness this beautiful spectacle! The event is co-hosted by the Natural Resources Department of the Kalispel Tribe of Indians and the Pend Oreille River Tourism Alliance (PORTA). Hundreds of swans migrate through the Pend Oreille River Valley in February and March, resting and feeding on Calispell Lake, designated an Important Bird Area, during the journey to their breeding grounds. We will unveil the Audubon Society’s Eastern Washington “Palouse to Pines” map of the Great Washington State Birding Trail. http://wa.audubon.org/birds_GreatWABirdingTrail.html. Hillary Hilscher, Audubon Washington Communications, will present the map at the unveiling. KXLY (Ch. 4, ABC) will be filming the event and the map presentation. Ø We will gather at the Camas Wellness Center, 1981 N. LeClerc Road in Usk and travel via bus to Calispell Lake at 10 a.m. The owners of the lake property have graciously afforded us access to the site. Ø We will return to the Camas Wellness Center for lunch by noon. Ø Visit our website www.porta-us.com/birding for downloads of the Agenda, Maps, Lodging, What to Bring List, Swan/birding links, and Pend Oreille County video. Ø Please register via PayPal by Friday, March 12. You may register by check. Please send to P.O. Box 1182, Newport, WA 99156 Space is limited. Ø Website: http://www.porta-us.com for information and registration Ø Fees: $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under. Presenters during lunch are: Ray Entz, Wildlife Program Manager, Natural Resources Department. Kalispel Tribe of Indians TOPIC: “Kalispel Tribe – A Review of the Wildlife Program and Projects.” Ray has focused his career with the Tribe on Floodplain and wetland restoration as well as shoreline erosion bio-engineered stabilization techniques. Ray has a B.S. and M.S. in Biology from EWU. He serves on the Mountain Caribou Recovery Team and Chairs the International Mountain Caribou Technical Committee. Martha Jordan, also affectionately known as “The Swan Lady.” TOPIC: “White Birds of Winter.” Come, share and learn the facts, myths and legends of Washington’s white birds. Martha Jordan is a well-known biologist who will speak about our native trumpeter and tundra swans. She is director of the Washington Swan Working Group, an Affiliate of the Trumpeter Swan Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to assuring the vitality and welfare of wild swan populations. Bart George, Resources Biologist, Pend Oreille County PUD. TOPIC: Survey of osprey, Eagle, Great Blue Heron and Cormorant along the Pend Oreille River. Hillary Hilscher, Communications, Washington Audubon Society. TOPIC: Swans, bobolinks, and other sundries. Free skiing, cross-country and alpine, and free rentals are offered by 49 Degrees North, Chewelah. Please register for skiing by visiting the 49 Degrees North website: http://www.ski49n.com/ Susan Harris Executive Director PORTA Pend Oreille River Tourism Alliance P.O. Box 1182 Newport, WA 99156 509-447-5286 home office 509-671-2147 mobile susan AT porta-us.com www.porta-us.com The purpose of the Pend Oreille River Tourism Alliance is to create a responsible tourism economy in the Pend Oreille River Community in ways sensitive to the culture, heritage and environment of the region. _______________________________________________ Inland-nw-birders mailing list Inland-nw-birders AT uidaho.edu https://www.lists.uidaho.edu/mailman/listinfo/inland-nw-birders Subject: Re: Turkey Vulture From: RICK HOWIE <r.howie AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:45:33 -0700 HI Dick et al: I am currently in Tucson, Arizona- and it is cold, windy and rainy. Feels like Vancouver in December. Saw one Turkey Vulture yesterday and it is certainly not vulture weather. Saw a single yellow-rumped warbler as well. If the weather here is any indication, migration could be stalled. Brrrr. New snow on the mountains so I headed to the mall to buy suitable clothes to bird in the cold. Shorts and T-shirt just won't cut it. Rick Howie ----- Original Message ----- From: Dick Cannings Date: Monday, March 8, 2010 9:57 am Subject: [bcintbird] Turkey Vulture To: bcintbird > Hi birders: > > I cycled down to Skaha Lake yesterday in hopes of adding a few > species to my non-motorized list. I did see my first > Killdeer, but no sign of swallows, teal, or Wood Ducks. > The big surprise on the way back was a Turkey Vulture tilting > over the grasslands south of my house--a couple of weeks early > I'd say. > > cheers > Dick Cannings > Penticton, BC > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Kalamalka Lake Park From: "douglasbrown01" <douglasbrown01 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:54:44 -0000 Hi Sam; Varied Thrush start migrating very early and their peak numbers passing through is right around this time. Doug Brown Osoyoos --- In bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com, Samantha Brett wrote: > > > Hi birders! > > I was mountain biking in Kalamalka Lake Park on Saturday and I saw two Varied-Thrush in a coniferous tree, up high on a north-facing slope. Is it uncommon to see this bird in mid-March? Anyhow, they were beautiful, one seemed to be a lighter grey than the other (perhaps a female?). I saw a few other birds such as a Red-tailed Hawk, a Bald Eagle, and a few falcons that I couldn't identify without binoculars. Also a Downy woodpecker, and about 10 Goldfinch in a friends backyard! Spring is upon us. > > Cheers, > > Samantha > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > IM on the go with Messenger on your phone > http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9712960 > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Subject: Rusty Blackbird and Greater White-fronted Goose From: Russell Cannings <russellcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:43:36 -0800 Hi all, Today Denny and I saw a male RUSTY BLACKBIRD at the Oliver feedlot.  The bird is coming into alternate plumage so it's getting tougher to pick him out amongst the Brewer's.  This must be the same bird that has been in the area since Jan 2. Later on in the day we noticed a single GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE feeding with Canadas in the field opposite the Nature Trust House overlooking Vaseux Lake. All the best, Russ Cannings Penticton, BC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Kalamalka Lake Park From: Samantha Brett <sammieb7 AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 14:01:13 -0500 Hi birders! I was mountain biking in Kalamalka Lake Park on Saturday and I saw two Varied-Thrush in a coniferous tree, up high on a north-facing slope. Is it uncommon to see this bird in mid-March? Anyhow, they were beautiful, one seemed to be a lighter grey than the other (perhaps a female?). I saw a few other birds such as a Red-tailed Hawk, a Bald Eagle, and a few falcons that I couldn't identify without binoculars. Also a Downy woodpecker, and about 10 Goldfinch in a friends backyard! Spring is upon us. Cheers, Samantha _________________________________________________________________ IM on the go with Messenger on your phone http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9712960 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ To contact the moderator email bcintbird-owner AT yahoogroups.com Also, consider joining these groups. bcbirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com an all BC group. If you have pictures to share try this group. http://groups-beta.google.com/ From here you have to join the bcintbird-pics group before you can see the pictures. Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcintbird/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcintbird/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: bcintbird-digest AT yahoogroups.com bcintbird-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: bcintbird-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Turkey Vulture From: "Dick Cannings" <dickcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 08:57:16 -0800 Hi birders: I cycled down to Skaha Lake yesterday in hopes of adding a few species to my non-motorized list. I did see my first Killdeer, but no sign of swallows, teal, or Wood Ducks. The big surprise on the way back was a Turkey Vulture tilting over the grasslands south of my house--a couple of weeks early I'd say. cheers Dick Cannings Penticton, BC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: NMT birding From: "douglasbrown01" <douglasbrown01 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:28:46 -0000 Hi all; After yesterday's untensive driving I figured I'd better do another NMT day so I walked up Strawberry Creek to Blue and Kilpoola Lakes and back via Kilpoola Estates and Highway 3. The day started out very nicely with a Say's Phoebe (nmt year bird) being heard as soon as I opened the door to go out. It was only one of 5 or 6 phoebes seen today. As I headed up Strawberry Creek a Spotted Towhee (nmt year bird) was singing away from the underbrush. A scan of Osoyoos Lake from one of the many vantage points turned up a flock of Western Grebes (nmt year bird) which had come in overnight. The birds were quite active and cooperative despite the presence of at least 14 trail bikes and 8 ATV's roaring up and down the road. The number of these vehicles using this area is expanding rapidly and despite the fact that most of the area is protected parkland where no motorized vehicles are allowed off the main road I find spots every time I go here where the vehicles have chewed up a new hillside or game trail and the main road, which is very rough 4 wheel drive at best, gets steadily worse. A few years ago parks blocked off a few of the old sideroads but the trail bikers just cut new paths around the blockages and tore down the "no motorized vehicles" signs. Kilpoola Lake is still mostly ice covered but a few pairs of Mallards were feeding in the narrow strip of open water along the shore and pairs of Killdeer are actively running around on the muddy edges. Turtle Pond also had a few Mallards as well as a male Redhead and a pair of Green-winged Teal. A Cassin's Finch (nmt year bird) was singing away from the slopes above the pond and a walk down the draw below the pond turned up a Varied Thrush (nmt year bird). Round Lake in Kilpoola Estates had 105 Northern Pintails, 20 Green-winged Teal and small numbers of Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, Redhead and Greater Scaup. An adult Bald Eagle passed over scattering the resting ducks while an adult Golden Eagle soared over the upper hillside persued by a raven. Further down the road several Steller's Jays scolded a perched Sharp-shinned Hawk. A number of Western and Mountain Bluebirds(nmt year bird) were flycatching from wires and fenceposts along the road. Here's my list for the day. Canada Goose Mallard Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Redhead Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Ruffed Grouse California Quail Western Grebe (NMT species #96) Bald Eagle-2 adults Northern Harrier-1 male Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Golden Eagle-1 adult Killdeer Great Horned Owl-1 at it's usual roost along the Canal Trail Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Say's Phoebe (NMT species #97) Steller's Jay Black-billed Magpie Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Mountain Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird (NMT species #98) American Robin Varied Thrush (NMT species #99) European Starling Spotted Towhee (NMT species #100) Dark-eyed (Oregon)Junco Red-winged Blackbird Cassin's Finch (NMT species #101) House Finch Red Crossbill Pine Siskin American Goldfinch House Sparrow Total-43 species Doug Brown Osoyoos Subject: S. Okanagan Birding From: Chris Charlesworth <c_charlesworth23 AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 00:48:54 -0800 Birders, Chris Siddle and I birded the S. Okanagan today. We started off under beautiful sunny skies. By the afternoon it had clouded over. There was a little bit of a chilly breeze today, but otherwise it was a nice day. Our first stop was at the S. end of Nixon Rd in Summerland where we had the LEWIS'S WOODPECKER. Our next stop was at Vaseux Lake where we scanned through the ducks finding COMMON MERGANSERS, RING-NECKED DUCKS, CANVASBACKS, GREATER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD etc. At the cliffs we had nice looks at a CANYON WREN and heard two more singing. We also heard several CHUKAR calling away. River Road was pretty quiet but we did have a pair of SPOTTED TOWHEES and a singing WESTERN MEADOWLARK. At Hack's Pond we had at least 2 VIRGINIA RAILS calling. Deadman's Lake had several ducks but highlights were 4 male MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS flying over and a calling VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW. Road 22 produced NORTHERN HARRIER, RED-TAILED HAWK, a singing ad. NORTHERN SHRIKE etc. At the Throne we had a PRAIRIE FALCON perched on top of a Ponderosa Pine. The bird took flight and headed S. into the Native Reserve along the E. side of Osoyoos Lake. From 89th Ave on the W,. side of Osoyoos Lk. we had great looks at the continuing YELLOW-BILLED LOON. From the bridge in Osoyoos we had 5 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, a couple of LESSER SCAUP, RED-NECKED GREBE, WESTERN GREBE etc. We took the White Lk Rd on our way home, adding WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, CLARK'S NUTCRACKER and another nice male MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD. We carried on along the Marron Valley Road, adding WESTERN BLUEBIRD along the way. Back in Kelowna we stopped at Maude Roxby in the late afternoon. Chris Siddle spotted an immature GLAUCOUS GULL here. There were a few THAYER'S GULLS, lots of GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS and the usual HERRING, CALIFORNIA and RING-BILLED GULLS. Two male EURASIAN WIGEON were with about a hundred AMERICAN WIGEON here. All in all a good day, Chris Charlesworth Kelowna, BC _________________________________________________________________ Take your contacts everywhere http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9712959 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: more signs of spring From: Sue Thomson <s_thomson AT telus.net> Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:16:22 -0800 That's so awesome that spring is so early. I was out in the yard today and noticed the Shepherd's Purse is blooming, too. Subject: Ashnola Birding (rosyfinch, snow bunting, 3-toeds) From: Russell Cannings <russellcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:49:29 -0800 Hi all, This morning and early afternoon Denny Hodsdon and I birded the upper reaches of the Ashnola River Road hoping to relocate Chris and Ryan's famous ptarmigan.  We parked at KM 46 alongside several other trucks-- yes unfortunately we shared ptarmigan country with ~12 snow mobiles.  We walked the track up to KM 48, taking a few side trips through the deep snow, then turned back.  As expected there were lots of ptarmigan sign: tracks, tracks, and more tracks, droppings, and wing-markings.  Despite all this fresh sign though we couldn't find any actual birds...  I bet those machines flushed them off the path JUST before we got there.  But it wasn't all failure, no we did get some nice birds.  The forest below the clearcuts was chalk-full of AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS drumming and calling away; I figured there were at least 11 along a 2 km stretch.  Also in there were a couple HAIRY WOODPECKERS, a single PILEATED WOODPECKER, a calling male GREAT HORNED OWL (speak of the devil!), flocks of MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES, and a flyover GRAY-CROWNED ROSYFINCH.  Another great highligt came after we had accepted defeat and started driving down the hill-- from the roadside a bird with white outer tail feathers flushed and landed 50 meters further along... a junco I thought?  Better check.........  after a bit of scrutiny it dawned on us that it was a SNOW BUNTING albeit a very drab one (first-winter female?).  Down on the road collecting grit evidentally, and BC Year Bird # 189 (not counting grouse sp.)!!! Cheers, Russ Cannings Penticton, BC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: more signs of spring From: Janna Leslie <jannamles AT yahoo.ca> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 15:59:57 -0800 (PST) Hi all. This morning I was up at the Ecological reserve below the throne in Osoyoos.  There were lots of yellow bells in bloom, along with the buttercups and greyer's lomatium. Also heard in the distance were meadowlarks -- always nice to hear them. The yellow-billed loon continues at the lake. Cheers, Janna __________________________________________________________________ Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! http://www.flickr.com/gift/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Nanaimo,Vancouver Island, bird alert--March 07, 2010, From: "backyard_store" <thebackyard AT shaw.ca> Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:56:48 -0000 NANAIMO BIRD ALERT To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 e-mail us at thebackyard AT shaw.ca call the Bird Alert at 250-390-3029 Also check the birdstore blog for the latest bird alerts and updates: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Post your sightings on this site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bcbirdingvanisland/messages Birds of British Columbia: http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/SpeciesChecklists.html International Birdwatching Guides http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com Birdwatching contacts and information find a local birder to go birdwatching with: http://www.birdingpal.org/ Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone Number, along with the date, name and location of your sighting. Sunday March 07, 2010: The Sunday bird walk went to Buttertubs March in Nanaimo. The morning was cloudy, but winds were cold. We saw our first Yellow-rumped Warblers, Violet-green Swallows and Tree Swallows of the season--- spring is near! A Wilson's Snipe flushed out over the trail as we walked by. A Northern Shrike perched across the fields from us and eventually flew over and perched on a tall snag near the trail giving us close up views. We saw both the male and female Anna's Hummingbirds. The female was gleaning insects from the branch of a tree and the male was perched close to the trail, giving us great views of his colorful gorget. A pair of colorful Wood Ducks swam slowly past us. Eighteen birders found the following forty-five species of birds: Canada Goose, Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Pied-billed Grebe, Bufflehead, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, California Quail, Virginia Rail, Wilson's Snipe, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Northern Shrike, Glaucous-winged Gull, Rock Pigeon, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Common Raven, Northwestern Crow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Marsh Wren, Belted Kingfisher, Anna's Hummingbird, American Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Violet-green Swallow, Tree Swallow, Red-winged Blackbird, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, House Finch, Pine Siskin, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco and House Sparrows. Saturday March 06: Western Meadowlarks, Golden-crowned Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, White-throated Sparrow. Fox Sparrow,Red-tailed Hawk and Red Crossbills were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo. Twenty Trumpeter Swans were spotted flying north over the 2500 block of Glenayr Drive in Nanaimo. Anna's Hummingbird was feeding on hyacinth blooms in the same yard. Wednesday March 03: Two Tree Swallows were checking Purple Martin nest boxes at Cowichan Bay. Eight California Quail were feeding in a backyard in the 2500 block of Glenayr Drive in Nanaimo. The Wednesday Bird Walk this week visited Famosa Marsh and Mission Bay in San Diego, California. There were many highlights, pick a favorite. One exhausted (but ecstatic) birder saw the following 77 species: Pied-billed Grebe, Horned Grebe, Eared Grebe, Western Grebe, Clark's Grebe, Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Brant, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, Red-tailed Hawk, Clapper Rail, American Coot, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Killdeer, Long-billed Dowitcher, Marbled Godwit, Whimbrel, Long-billed Curlew, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Willet, Ruddy Turnstone, Black Turnstone, Sanderling, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, Heermann's Gull, Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Western Gull, Caspian Tern, Elegant Tern, Royal Tern, Forster's Tern, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Red-masked Parakeet, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Black Phoebe, Horned Lark, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Bewick's Wren, Marsh Wren, Northern Mockingbird, Bushtit, Western Scrub-Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, European Starling, House Sparrow, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle. Cheers Graham Gillespie Tuesday March 02: The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum River Estuary in Qualicum Beach. The water was turquoise blue with the Herring spawn. A huge raft of thousands upon thousands of seabirds, including Brant Geese, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye and Barrow's Goldeneye were offshore at the viewing platform in Qualicum Beach. Black-bellied Plovers, Black Oystercatchers, Black Turnstones and Dunlin along with Mew Gulls, California Gulls, one lone Herring Gull, Thayer's Gulls and Glaucous-winged Gulls were roosting along the shoreline. A pair of Bald Eagles appeared overhead and all the seabirds, shorebirds and gulls lifted in a spectacular display. We saw an Eurasian Wigeon and a Northern Shoveler in among American Wigeon feeding along the Little Qualicum River. Twenty-one Trumpeter Swans swam lazily in the Estuary. Thirteen birders saw and heard the following forty-eight species of birds: Canada Goose, Brant, Trumpeter Swan, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific Loon, Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle , Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Dunlin, Bonaparte's Gull, Mew Gull, California Gull, Herring Gull, Thayer's Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, American Robin, European Starling, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird and Red Crossbill. For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a bird please call The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store AT 250-390-3669 Toll Free AT 1-888-249-4145 e-mail: thebackyard AT shaw.ca ********************************** The Nanoose Naturalists Thursday March 11, 2010 AT 7:00 pm Guest Speaker, Guy Monty, topic Black Brant. Nanoose Library, Nanoose Bay ********************************** Arrowsmith Naturalists Guest Speaker-Colin Bartlett, topic--The Birds and Bees in the Backyard. Monday March 22, 2010 AT 7:30 pm. Springwood School Parksville ********************************** Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and Tuesday mornings. We leave from the Store at 9 A.M. Sunday Mornings and go to a different location in and around Nanaimo and from the Parksville Beach.Community Park at 9 A.M. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside area. ************************************************************** The Tuesday Bird Walk on March 09, 2010 will be going to Rathtrevor Provincal Park in Parksville. We meet the Parksville Beach Community Park at the parking area near the Lions playground at 9 A.M. or at the main parking area near the beach at Rathtrevor Park at about 9:15 A.M. Please note there is a parking fee at the park. ***************************************************** The Sunday Bird Walk on March 14, 2010, will be going to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Meet at the Birdstore at 9:00 A.M. or at the parking lot off Hammond Bay Road at about 9: 20 A.M. ******************************************************* Good birding Neil Robins THE BACKYARD Wildbird & Nature Store 6314 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2L8 250.390.3669 250.390.1633 fax thebackyard AT shaw.ca CHECK OUT OUR BLOG---> www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com Subject: Birding in Summerland From: Laurie Rockwell <hardrock AT vip.net> Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2010 12:17:16 -0800 Birders, I made my usual tour along the Summerland lake shore from Crescent beach to Trout Creek this morning. It was reasonably productive, with 25 species in 1.5 hours,but 4 of them were noteworthy. Only one gull sp.a few Canada Geese,no coots and no dicing ducks.I always tour the Adams Bird Sanctuary and the Peach Orchard Campsite across the road first, as I make my way to Crescent Beach.After missing the WINTER WREN last week,that has been in the sanctuary all winter(I saw 2 at the same time recently) It was singing lustily and calling this morning. I counted 11 MOUNTAIN GOATS of the 17 in the herd that forages on the steep,open hillside about 1km north of Summerland. At the boat launch in Peach Orchard Park I scoped the lake for my much anticipated WESTERN GREBES and was not disappointed,seeing 495! I was blessed with the calmest water ever that allowed me to count them easily as they lined up in almost single file in the middle of Okanagan Lake. Even more fortuitous than during past scopings, they were not diving as well as bobbing in the waves. I saw 2 KILLDEER,my first of the year, on a sandbar along Landry Crescent,just south of the Illahie RV Park. And once again the lone LEWIS`S WOODPECKER was in the stand of cottonwoods at the corner of Williams Av.e and Stoner St. It look lonely as it sat motionless,looking around and then calling, no doubt waiting for Mr. or Miss Right to show up. I have yeat to see 2 LEWO there,so alas this bird may not find a mate .....It was a day bereft,however, of any raptors. Cheers............LaurieR -- Know Thyself Coaching Summerland, BC, Canada 250-494-7558; knowthyselfcoaching AT vip.net Member International Coach Federation If you do not go within,you will go without Subject: South Okanagan owling/birding From: Russell Cannings <russellcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:05:18 -0800 Hi all, Yes as Doug hinted there were a couple other birders out and about recently.  Denny Hodsdon (from Sierra Vista, Arizona) I started off our weekend with a couple hours of owling up the Carmi and 201 Roads above Penticton and OK Falls.  First stop was Ellis Dam on the Carmi Road where a pair of BARRED OWLS were calling away; then while tooting for Boreal Owl Denny saw a small owl fly across the road but try as we might, we couldn't coax the guy to vocalize for us-- nor could we find him with a flashlight... they get away sometimes!  For the most part the rest of the evening was very quiet other than a few brief moments of excitement when a male BOREAL OWL gave some agitated whistles at one of our stops on the 201 Road.  Once again though, we could not convince the beauty to show himself.  Will have to try again later perhaps. This morning we birded the southern part of the valley concentrating mostly in the upper elevations.  First we spent an hour patroling the back roads of Summerland and Penticton trying to find a Bohemian Waxwing (a novelty bird for an Arizonite).  After seeing 400 in my parents yard 3 days ago, it seems as if these birds have mostly departed north.  Anybody else see any today?  Anyways, we did eventually get 1-- staked out at Mom and Dad's front yard... this guy must have sqeezed out a couple extra minutes at the bird bath and missed the flock! Next we headed up Shuttlework (out of OK Falls) where the sunshine provided great conditions for birding.  Loads of GRAY JAYS and CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS everywhere we went, and the juncos have moved up there already.  I suppose the top three highlights up there were a single male PINE GROSBEAK (great in the sun!), a soaring adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK (ditto), and a drumming AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER.  We also heard several singing BROWN CREEPERS and flushed an unIDed grouse... pah. On our drive down we stopped at km 3 hoping to whistle up a Black-back but instead we had to settled for all 3 species of nuthatch, a western bluebird, and a small flock of red crossbills all in the same small pine tree!  At one point there were 8 WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES in the same tree-- what a treat! I finally found my year-bird SAY'S PHOEBE singing at the classic spot at the gravel-end of River Road in Oliver, then we moved along to Osoyoos Lake where no yellow-billed loons were to be found.  Scoping conditions were perfect but 6 COMMON LOONS was our best attempt (including 1 bird in close to full breeding plumage).  Then it was up Anarchist to follow in Doug's footsteps; first we cruised through Regal Ridge with not much doing, then up around Sidley Mountain Road where my year-bird MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS we waiting, along with a few WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, and a couple RED-TAILED HAWKS and BALD EAGLES (unfortunately no Harlan's detected!).  A side-trip through "downtown" Bridesville produced another surprise SAY'S PHOEBE as well as hoards of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS (waiting patiently for their marshes to unfreeze).  Then it was onto the Bridesville-Rock Creek Back Road which didn't turn up much out of the ordinary on our first pass, but when we returned just after dark we picked up a beauty--- GREAT GRAY OWL, perched in a Ponderosa Pine right beside the road.  Not a bad way to finish the day, and good to see that these birds are still in the area after Doug found them breeding here last spring. Chasing Chris and Ryan's ptarmies tomorra! Russ Cannings Penticton, BC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Anarchist and Bridesville From: "douglasbrown01" <douglasbrown01 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2010 03:57:30 -0000 Hi all; I decided to head up high today (apparently not the only one), hoping to find some Horned Larks or Snow Buntings on the Anarchist grasslands. I started out on Sidley Mountain Road where there were lots of MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS, small flocks of AMERICAN ROBINS and DARK-EYED JUNCOS and a few WESTERN MEADOWLARKS. I then headed for the Rock Creek-Bridesville Road where I had a lovely HARLAN'S RED-TAIL and a lot of the usual stuff. Just at the eastern edge of Bridesville I had a perched ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and overhead were immature BALD and GOLDEN EAGLES and 2 adult RED-TAILS enjoying the thermals. I checked out a few of the Regal Ridge sideroads finally heading up Bullmoose Road and then walking the snowmobile tracks on the road to Sidley Meadows. I managed to find a nice male AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER, a singing PINE GROSBEAK and several families of GRAY JAYS. Just as I was leaving the woods I heard the familiar staccato drumming of a sapsucker. I figured I better track it down and finally after over an hour of bushwacking through half a metre of snow a shadow passed over me and a lovely male WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER landed on a snag 15 metres away. I knew from the drumming the bird was going to be a Williamson's but this must be one of the earliest records ever so I really made an effort to confirm the bird. On my way home I stopped at the bridge in Osoyoos to check the lake and had a mixed flock of NORTHERN PINTAIL, GADWALL and AMERICAN WIGEON resting on the water and several flocks of GREATER and LESSER SCAUP, all newly arrived. Here's my list for the day. Canada Goose Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Northern Pintail Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Common Goldeneye Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Ruffed Grouse California Quail Bald Eagle-immature Red-tailed Hawk Red-tailed (Harlan's) Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Golden Eagle-immature Williamson's Sapsucker Hairy Woodpecker Am. Three-toed Woodpecker Northern Flicker Gray Jay Steller's Jay Clark's Nutcracker Black-billed Magpie American Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Mountain Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Pygmy Nuthatch Canyon Wren Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Townsend's Solitaire American Robin European Starling Song Sparrow Dark-eyed (Oregon)Junco Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Pine Grosbeak House Finch Red Crossbill Pine Siskin House Sparrow Total-47 species Doug Brown Osoyoos Subject: Beaver Lk Rd From: Chris Charlesworth <c_charlesworth23 AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 14:34:09 -0800 Birders, This morning Ann Gibson, Tayna Seebacher and I went up Beaver Lake Road in Lake Country. Before we'd even really left the industrial area of the road we had a pair of SAY'S PHOEBES playing tag with an immature NORTHERN SHRIKE amongst some mullein. A little farther up and we ran into WESTERN BLUEBIRDS and singing WESTERN MEADOWLARKS. At km 10 we had some great birds! After a lot of searching we finally had excellent looks at a BARRED OWL. A female BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was working away on a Lodgepole Pine at km 10, and we also had NORTHERN FLICKER, HAIRY WOODPECKER, PILEATED WOODPECKER and AM. THREE-TOED WOODPECKER here. Singing were several VARIED THRUSHES. Overhead there were a large number of scavengers due to some nearby dear carcasses. There were several COMMON RAVENS, both adult and immature BALD EAGLES and an adult GOLDEN EAGLE. The woods were full of songbirds around km 10. We had BLACK-CAPPED and MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, PINE SISKINS, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, AMERICAN ROBINS and a single PINE GROSBEAK. We saw a cryptic little BROWN CREEPER hitching up a some large trees. We flushed a grouse which could have either been a Dusky or a Ruffed. Not too sure, but we're leaning towards Ruffed. That's all for now, Chris Charlesworth Kelowna, BC http://www.flickr.com/charlesworth30 _________________________________________________________________ IM on the go with Messenger on your phone http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9712960 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Mountain Bluebirds and Meadowlarks at White Lake From: Tammy Proctor <birdsonly4me AT yahoo.ca> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 09:00:13 -0800 (PST) Its nice to hear the meadowlarks. now it seems like spring. Tammy Ashcroft ________________________________ From: jim_deirdre To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Fri, March 5, 2010 8:19:12 PM Subject: [bcintbird] Mountain Bluebirds and Meadowlarks at White Lake Birders, A walk in the hills to the east of White Lake on Friday March 5th produced our first Mountain Bluebirds of the year,(about 5 pairs). We also heard Western Meadowlarks in the sage close to White Lake, but did not see them. Other notable birds included a pair of Green-winged Teal in one of the vernal ponds, lots of Western Bluebirds, a Spotted Towhee and a Cooper's Hawk. White Lake has water in it, with Mallards and American Wigeon coming and going. The Sagebrush Buttercups and some Geyer's Lomatium are flowering. An excellent day's outing in fine weather. Jim & Deirdre Turnbull __________________________________________________________________ The new Internet Explorer® 8 - Faster, safer, easier. Optimized for Yahoo! Get it Now for Free! at http://downloads.yahoo.com/ca/internetexplorer/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: South Okanagan birding From: "douglasbrown01" <douglasbrown01 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Sat, 06 Mar 2010 05:59:39 -0000 Hi all; I got out today for a few hours in that glorious weather. Round Lake in Kilpoola Estates is now fully thawed and was full of ducks. There were over 120 NORTHERN PINTAIL, 20 GREEN-WINGED TEAL and smaller numbers of MALLARD, REDHEAD and GREATER SCAUP. There were several pairs of KILLDEER and the WESTERN BLUEBIRDS were at boxes in the area. Turtle Pond is now mostly thawed but Blue Lake is still ice covered and Kilpoola has just a little strip of water along one edge. I checked out Osoyoos Lake from 89th Street and had both the YELLOW-BILLED LOONS, one quite close and putting on a nice show as it preened itself. There were also a number of small flocks of HORNED GREBES and two pairs of RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. Doug Brown Osoyoos Subject: Mountain Bluebirds and Meadowlarks at White Lake From: "jim_deirdre" <jim.turnbull AT telus.net> Date: Sat, 06 Mar 2010 04:19:12 -0000 Birders, A walk in the hills to the east of White Lake on Friday March 5th produced our first Mountain Bluebirds of the year,(about 5 pairs). We also heard Western Meadowlarks in the sage close to White Lake, but did not see them. Other notable birds included a pair of Green-winged Teal in one of the vernal ponds, lots of Western Bluebirds, a Spotted Towhee and a Cooper's Hawk. White Lake has water in it, with Mallards and American Wigeon coming and going. The Sagebrush Buttercups and some Geyer's Lomatium are flowering. An excellent day's outing in fine weather. Jim & Deirdre Turnbull Subject: Re: Flying squirrels in nest boxes From: "Carol" <ctaffy2 AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 14:06:55 -0800 Hi Laurie, Flying squirrels are jut like mice..they make themselves fit thru any little hole...one inch is quite big..We rehabbed a baby flyer's and they got into and thru everything, They are so cute and never bothered the birds at all. Their mannerisms and personality is much different than the regular squirrel. Carol ----- Original Message ----- From: Laurie Rockwell To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, March 05, 2010 1:33 PM Subject: [bcintbird] Flying squirrels in nest boxes Dick, The hardeast thing for me to understand is how a flying squirrel can get into a Johnson Slot-Box bluebird box, As you know, this box has a horizontal slot right under the roof of only 1 3/16 "! It is quite exillarating for both the squirrel in the box and the birder opening the box to confront each other unexpectedly! Cheers..........Laurie R Dick Cannings wrote: >Hi Geoff: > >Flying squirrels are actually quite common in the forests of the southern Interior, but rarely seen because of their nocturnal habits. I didn't realize how common they were until I put up lots of nest boxes for saw-whet owls in the south Okanagan--flying squirrels turned out to be the main occupants of those boxes. They certainly seemed to be just as common as the diurnal red squirrels. The other thing that makes them hard to see is that they generally don't look out of their nest holes when you tap on the tree trunk. I only saw them when I opened the boxes for inspection and cleaning and saw their large soft nest, invariably made from moss and/or hair lichens (red squirrels use grass to make their nests). I'd poke the mass of material and out would rocket a flying squirrel, often using my shoulder as a launch pad to the next tree. I've only seen one come out of a natural cavity once, when I banged hard on an aspen tree in Manning Park. You can also see them comin! g to sunflower seed feeders, but you'd have to put your big light on the feeder to see that of course! > >cheers >Dick Cannings >Penticton, BC > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Flying squirrels in nest boxes From: Laurie Rockwell <hardrock AT vip.net> Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:33:42 -0800 Dick, The hardeast thing for me to understand is how a flying squirrel can get into a Johnson Slot-Box bluebird box, As you know, this box has a horizontal slot right under the roof of only 1 3/16 "! It is quite exillarating for both the squirrel in the box and the birder opening the box to confront each other unexpectedly! Cheers..........Laurie R Dick Cannings wrote: >Hi Geoff: > >Flying squirrels are actually quite common in the forests of the southern Interior, but rarely seen because of their nocturnal habits. I didn't realize how common they were until I put up lots of nest boxes for saw-whet owls in the south Okanagan--flying squirrels turned out to be the main occupants of those boxes. They certainly seemed to be just as common as the diurnal red squirrels. The other thing that makes them hard to see is that they generally don't look out of their nest holes when you tap on the tree trunk. I only saw them when I opened the boxes for inspection and cleaning and saw their large soft nest, invariably made from moss and/or hair lichens (red squirrels use grass to make their nests). I'd poke the mass of material and out would rocket a flying squirrel, often using my shoulder as a launch pad to the next tree. I've only seen one come out of a natural cavity once, when I banged hard on an aspen tree in Manning Park. You can also see them coming to sunflower seed feeders, but you'd have to put your big light on the feeder to see that of course! > >cheers >Dick Cannings >Penticton, BC > > Subject: Re: Larch Hills owling, mooseing and ?? From: Dick Cannings <dickcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:19:22 -0800 Hi Geoff: Flying squirrels are actually quite common in the forests of the southern Interior, but rarely seen because of their nocturnal habits.  I didn't realize how common they were until I put up lots of nest boxes for saw-whet owls in the south Okanagan--flying squirrels turned out to be the main occupants of those boxes.  They certainly seemed to be just as common as the diurnal red squirrels.  The other thing that makes them hard to see is that they generally don't look out of their nest holes when you tap on the tree trunk.  I only saw them when I opened the boxes for inspection and cleaning and saw their large soft nest, invariably made from moss and/or hair lichens (red squirrels use grass to make their nests).  I'd poke the mass of material and out would rocket a flying squirrel, often using my shoulder as a launch pad to the next tree.  I've only seen one come out of a natural cavity once, when I banged hard on an aspen tree in Manning Park.  You can also see them coming to sunflower seed feeders, but you'd have to put your big light on the feeder to see that of course! cheers Dick Cannings Penticton, BC ----- Original Message ----- From: Emily and Geoff Styles Date: Thursday, March 4, 2010 10:48 pm Subject: [bcintbird] Larch Hills owling, mooseing and ?? To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > Birders, > > >   > > > >   > > > > > > > > > It being a clear night with no wind I decided to kick start my > Spring Break with some owling up Larch Hills road above Salmon > Arm.  Earlier in the night I had heard the Saw-whet owl calling > as I stood on our second-story deck, so thought that was a good > omen.  A few nights back we had a wonderful call and answer > experience with them before we went quiet and let them be. >  We've heard them two of the past three nights since. > Along the 6 km of road between the Larch Hills ski lodge and > Grandview Bench, I heard one Great Horned Owl hooting 4.4 km > from the lodge, and possibly one bouncing ball call from a > Screech Owl further on, but it happened just before a vehicle > started up nearby so who knows what it was.  I'll have to head > back there in the coming weeks to try again. > I have heard through the grapevine that we have Screech Owls up > here on Black Road and up Larch Hills Road as well, and my > neighbour and I just put up a nest box for them at the bottom of > our meadow, so we'll see what transpires. > As I returned home, I again headed out onto our deck to see if > the local GHOW would join the Saw-whet but instead was met with > the sounds of our two local Moose stumbling through the > underbrush.  I ran back in for our 10-million candle flashlight > (who counts that?), and was just getting onto them as they moved > towards the house when - whoosh - something flew through the > beam of light.  'Owl!' I thought, though I heard it land on the > side of a tree. Strange . . I moved the light to where it landed > and lo and behold, it was a Northern Flying Squirrel!! > It was quickly joined by another gliding in from the opposite > angle, and they proceeded to scamper up the cedar tree and out > of sight.  Wow.  My neighbour Mark and I were talking about them > while making the owl box last week, and here they are!  That's a > new mammal for me, that's for sure. > So, you never know what you'll find out there at night - has > anyone else laid eyes on or heard of these Northern Flying Squirrels?? > Good birding (plus extras), > Geoff StylesSalmon Arm > > >       > __________________________________________________________________Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now > http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Larch Hills owling, mooseing and ?? From: Emily and Geoff Styles <gem_styles AT yahoo.ca> Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 22:41:30 -0800 (PST) Birders, It being a clear night with no wind I decided to kick start my Spring Break with some owling up Larch Hills road above Salmon Arm.  Earlier in the night I had heard the Saw-whet owl calling as I stood on our second-story deck, so thought that was a good omen.  A few nights back we had a wonderful call and answer experience with them before we went quiet and let them be.  We've heard them two of the past three nights since. Along the 6 km of road between the Larch Hills ski lodge and Grandview Bench, I heard one Great Horned Owl hooting 4.4 km from the lodge, and possibly one bouncing ball call from a Screech Owl further on, but it happened just before a vehicle started up nearby so who knows what it was.  I'll have to head back there in the coming weeks to try again. I have heard through the grapevine that we have Screech Owls up here on Black Road and up Larch Hills Road as well, and my neighbour and I just put up a nest box for them at the bottom of our meadow, so we'll see what transpires. As I returned home, I again headed out onto our deck to see if the local GHOW would join the Saw-whet but instead was met with the sounds of our two local Moose stumbling through the underbrush.  I ran back in for our 10-million candle flashlight (who counts that?), and was just getting onto them as they moved towards the house when - whoosh - something flew through the beam of light.  'Owl!' I thought, though I heard it land on the side of a tree. Strange . . I moved the light to where it landed and lo and behold, it was a Northern Flying Squirrel!! It was quickly joined by another gliding in from the opposite angle, and they proceeded to scamper up the cedar tree and out of sight.  Wow.  My neighbour Mark and I were talking about them while making the owl box last week, and here they are!  That's a new mammal for me, that's for sure. So, you never know what you'll find out there at night - has anyone else laid eyes on or heard of these Northern Flying Squirrels?? Good birding (plus extras), Geoff StylesSalmon Arm __________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: RE: Raptorious interlude in Summerland From: Russell Cannings <russellcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:15:09 -0800 Hi Laurie, The Great Horns in my parents yard hoot sporadically throughout the day, pretty much every day.  I'm not sure if it's a matter of having owls nearby constantly or if this is a particularly vocal duo.  Although the owls in Naramata hooted occasionally in the day, they certainly didn't do it as frequently as these guys (who have been hooting literally every night since my parents moved in May 1rst!). Otherwise I have noted day-time GH hoots a couple times at White Lake and Robert Lake among other places.  In addition to Barred Owls (as Rick mentioned) I have also heard Common Poorwills, and even Western Screech-Owls vocalize in the middle of the day.  Usually the screeches give a single bouncing ball trill then shut up. Cheers, Russ C Penticton ----- Original Message ----- From: Rick Howie Date: Thursday, March 4, 2010 5:23 pm Subject: RE: [bcintbird] Raptorious interlude in Summerland To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > HI Laurie: Occasionally I have heard Great Horned and Barred > Owls utter > forth with daytime hooting. Most often it has been in mid-winter > but Barred > occasionally at other times as well. > >   > > Rick Howie > > Kamloops > > -----Original Message----- > From: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > [mailto:bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf > Of Laurie Rockwell > Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2010 4:20 PM > To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > Subject: [bcintbird] Raptorious interlude in Summerland > >   > >   > > Birders, > > Whilst riding my NMT bicycle on Giant's Head Road about .5 km NW > of the > famous Summerland Sweets after eating a monstrous ice-cream > cone, I was > assailed by what I thought was a Red-tailed Hawk at about 2.50 > pm.I have > heard this bird make this infrequent call before. I cannot > describe it > and even a Steller's Jay does not try to imitate it. As I was > watching > what I presume was an agitated hawk flapping about, a Great > Horned Owl > uttered a brief sequence of it famous hooting call and stopped > abruptly.I am not sure that I have heard this owl hoot in the > daytime,much less > in the mid afternoon. My only owl book, Johnsgard's NA Owls, > does not > address this,so I am hoping that those of you with the Birds of > NA and > other reference materials can give me some information on this > species,or owls in general, calling in the daytime. > > Cheers.......Laurie R > > -- > > Know Thyself Coaching > Summerland, BC, Canada > 250-494-7558; knowthyselfcoaching > AT vip.net > Member International Coach Federation > > If you do not go within,you will go without > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: Raptorious interlude in Summerland From: Gwynneth Wilson <gwynnethwilson AT yahoo.ca> Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 18:59:00 -0800 (PST) I have heard barred owls calling in the day time .The most amazing was at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Florida at noon ,one March a few years ago . Two birds calling back and forth made the most incredible cacophony which went on for at least the hour I was there , They sat out in the open in the blazing sun ,around 30C. Many tourists there could not believe that sound was made by a bird. As I associate owls with cold and dark I can never forget it.  Gwynneth Wilson     --- On Thu, 3/4/10, Rick Howie wrote: From: Rick Howie Subject: RE: [bcintbird] Raptorious interlude in Summerland To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Received: Thursday, March 4, 2010, 5:03 PM   HI Laurie: Occasionally I have heard Great Horned and Barred Owls utter forth with daytime hooting. Most often it has been in mid-winter but Barred occasionally at other times as well. Rick Howie Kamloops -----Original Message----- From: bcintbird AT yahoogrou ps.com [mailto:bcintbird AT yahoogrou ps.com] On Behalf Of Laurie Rockwell Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2010 4:20 PM To: bcintbird AT yahoogrou ps.com Subject: [bcintbird] Raptorious interlude in Summerland Birders, Whilst riding my NMT bicycle on Giant's Head Road about .5 km NW of the famous Summerland Sweets after eating a monstrous ice-cream cone, I was assailed by what I thought was a Red-tailed Hawk at about 2.50 pm.I have heard this bird make this infrequent call before. I cannot describe it and even a Steller's Jay does not try to imitate it. As I was watching what I presume was an agitated hawk flapping about, a Great Horned Owl uttered a brief sequence of it famous hooting call and stopped abruptly. I am not sure that I have heard this owl hoot in the daytime,much less in the mid afternoon. My only owl book, Johnsgard's NA Owls, does not address this,so I am hoping that those of you with the Birds of NA and other reference materials can give me some information on this species,or owls in general, calling in the daytime. Cheers...... .Laurie R -- Know Thyself Coaching Summerland, BC, Canada 250-494-7558; knowthyselfcoaching AT vip.net Member International Coach Federation If you do not go within,you will go without [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] __________________________________________________________________ Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk email the boot with the All-new Yahoo! Mail. Click on Options in Mail and switch to New Mail today or register for free at http://mail.yahoo.ca [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: Raptorious interlude in Summerland From: "Rick Howie" <r.howie AT shaw.ca> Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 17:03:59 -0800 HI Laurie: Occasionally I have heard Great Horned and Barred Owls utter forth with daytime hooting. Most often it has been in mid-winter but Barred occasionally at other times as well. Rick Howie Kamloops -----Original Message----- From: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Laurie Rockwell Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2010 4:20 PM To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [bcintbird] Raptorious interlude in Summerland Birders, Whilst riding my NMT bicycle on Giant's Head Road about .5 km NW of the famous Summerland Sweets after eating a monstrous ice-cream cone, I was assailed by what I thought was a Red-tailed Hawk at about 2.50 pm.I have heard this bird make this infrequent call before. I cannot describe it and even a Steller's Jay does not try to imitate it. As I was watching what I presume was an agitated hawk flapping about, a Great Horned Owl uttered a brief sequence of it famous hooting call and stopped abruptly. I am not sure that I have heard this owl hoot in the daytime,much less in the mid afternoon. My only owl book, Johnsgard's NA Owls, does not address this,so I am hoping that those of you with the Birds of NA and other reference materials can give me some information on this species,or owls in general, calling in the daytime. Cheers.......Laurie R -- Know Thyself Coaching Summerland, BC, Canada 250-494-7558; knowthyselfcoaching AT vip.net Member International Coach Federation If you do not go within,you will go without [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Raptorious interlude in Summerland From: Laurie Rockwell <hardrock AT vip.net> Date: Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:20:22 -0800 Birders, Whilst riding my NMT bicycle on Giant's Head Road about .5 km NW of the famous Summerland Sweets after eating a monstrous ice-cream cone, I was assailed by what I thought was a Red-tailed Hawk at about 2.50 pm.I have heard this bird make this infrequent call before. I cannot describe it and even a Steller's Jay does not try to imitate it. As I was watching what I presume was an agitated hawk flapping about, a Great Horned Owl uttered a brief sequence of it famous hooting call and stopped abruptly. I am not sure that I have heard this owl hoot in the daytime,much less in the mid afternoon. My only owl book, Johnsgard's NA Owls, does not address this,so I am hoping that those of you with the Birds of NA and other reference materials can give me some information on this species,or owls in general, calling in the daytime. Cheers.......Laurie R -- Know Thyself Coaching Summerland, BC, Canada 250-494-7558; knowthyselfcoaching AT vip.net Member International Coach Federation If you do not go within,you will go without Subject: Re: Lesser Black-backed Gull back in Kelowna From: Russell Cannings <russellcannings AT shaw.ca> Date: Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:31:23 -0800 I forgot to mention that the gull is coming into alternate plumage and has a completely white head now (no streaks).  As far as I can tell.  This is the first March record since 2006-- I guess he's enjoying the weather! Russ ----- Original Message ----- From: Russell Cannings Date: Wednesday, March 3, 2010 11:49 pm Subject: [bcintbird] Lesser Black-backed Gull back in Kelowna To: bcintbird AT yahoogroups.com > Hi all, > > No surprise I guess but the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at > Maude Roxby this afternoon along with another 1500 gulls (yes > the Cali Gs are comin back!).  In addition to the usual 5 > species mix there was also a second winter GLAUCOUS GULL.  Also > at Maude Roxby was a single drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL (these along > with GADWALL and NORTERN PINTAIL) are starting to arrive in > numbers to most of the local wetlands.  No shovelers yet though > (not seen by me anyways).... soon. > > Russ Cannings > Currently in Kelowna, BC > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]