First Nakusp Hummer

This morning – the last day in April – amidst the rain a male Rufous Hummingbird appeared at the feeder placed there but a few days before. It was – for me – an exciting way to start the day and all got a good quick view of the little fella.

Rufous Hummingbird taken in '09

Afternoon update; he's still about visiting the feeder and buzzing around the front yard.

Also this afternoon a quick walk to the waterfront met a few species;White fronted, Savanna and most surprisingly a Fox Sparrow, Yellow-rumped and Orange-crowned Warblers, Horned Grebe, Common Loon, Bufflehead, Coot, Common Merganser.   

Weekend in Creston

Cassin's Finch - female

This weekend in Creston, a few hundred kilometres to the south east, began in Nakusp. The front-yard immediately yielded some cool FOY birds; specifically Orange-crowned Warbler and a speccy male Western Tanager. [A few days earlier I scored another FOY a Cassin’s Finch female.]

Any birding trip was going to have to do very well to beat such an excellent beginning.

Megs and Matt enroute

Beaver habitat between New Denver and Kaslo

The drive down there was –yawn – spectacular. We made a brief stop near a boat jetty and compound and here we saw – briefly as it turned out – a FOY Rock Wren. Nearby was a huge group of coot plus a couple of Common Loon further out in the lake. A small gang of migrants yielded the expected Yellow-rumps and Savanna Sparrows plus yet another FOY a Nashville Warbler.

Duck Lake was the first wetland in Creston Valley and here  we got a FOY mammal – Musk Rat. Adjacent were good numbers of swallows; Tree and Rough winged mainly but with smaller numbers of Barn and Violet-green. A little further were Cliff Swallows eagerly grabbing mud for nesting. A Coyote ran past but at quite a distance. Savanna, Song and White-crowned accounted for the sparrows. The water yielded Canada Goose complete with goslings. Ospreys hunting. Red necked Grebe nesting. Bufflehead, Shoveller, Mallard, Wigeon, Ring-necked, Common Merganser and Pintail were the main waterfowl. Bald Eagle and Red tailed Hawks also did fly bys.

Painted Turtles and American Wood Duck were seen in the more sheltered waterways.

Gary, Marie and Millie

The following morning we were joined by Gary and Marie who had completed an early morning sprint from Nakusp to join us for the Creston Valley Wetland stroll. We arrived, fresh from a Subway breakfast and a twelve km drive from town,to hit the car park seconds before they did. Great Blue Heron and Red-tailed Hawk were the first species seen, the latter, a dark phase bird, decorating a large tree at the car park’s entrance.

Out-of-focus Garter Snake

Painted Turtle

A small frog was caught; probably Pacific Tree Frog. Herps continued with a Common Garter Snake. The birds, save a few common species on the water and the abundant Tree Swallows, were inconspicuous. Our timing seemed to have been poor – the main waterfowl migration seemingly passed and the  passerines, save a very few Ruby crowned Kinglets and a couple of yellow-rumps, invisible. Song Sparrows and Red-winged Blackbirds were abundant and Gary got onto a Lincoln which I was too lazy and / or slow to get onto. The highlight for me was probably hearing two recently returned marshland residents, Sora and Virginia Rail; the former sounding [vaguely] like its name and the latter sounding like a stuttering frog.

Creston Wetlands

More Creston Wetlands

We did however get to plus 50 spp for the day with a little effort so that was a reasonable yard stick. Species number 50 was the magpie.

Leaving the area I go onto a late? Rough legged Hawk. The drive from Creston to Castlegar too was scenic and quite good for mammals. Mule Deer, Bighorn and Yellow-bellied Marmot were seen while the road side signs warning of Caribou were the only clue they were resident.

Butterfly -

We stopped at the Castlegar Super 8 motel and here they had a waterslide and a good breakfast. It was worth the few extra bucks to stay here as the kids had a heap of fun. I  had fun too and it was great to see Millie quickly change from, “I’ll go on it when I’m 5” to her running up by herself and giving a confident thumbs up as the admiring parents looked on.

Late afternoon we returned to Nakusp in time to miss reported Geese – White-fronted and Snow – apparently one of each. Travelling out with Gary we did see FOY Brown-headed Cowbirds in the company of RW and Brewer’s Blackbirds and Starlings. A few Mountain Bluebirds, YR Warblers and Savanna Sparrows were seen in the Brouse - Crescent Bay area.

Reflections - Spring so far...............

Here in Nakusp Spring continues and with it the mystery of migration.

The first flourish was weeks ago when, while snow and ice still covering the ground the first optimistic Robins flew in. They were the first guard only as since then hundreds upon hundreds have joined them and moved through this area. Back in 2009 American Robins were clearly one of the more common and widespread species as it was perhaps the only bird recorded daily throughout our three week visit however that experience could not prepare one for the numbers that are actually here. In spring the fields are full of them; again and again you see Robins; in the yards, by the roadsides. Counting Robins would be a full time job and then some.

And then more Robins come. And then more.

And they’re still here.

Poor photo of two beautiful birds

Dark eyed Juncos were the next wave to move steadily north-ward up the valleys and splash over the streets of. Their long white edged tails flicking and flashing their identity to every driver that passed until they found every yard in town and every bush had felt their tiny feet. Beautiful little birds they are too despite their rather somber colours. Many have since moved on but some have stayed to breed.

As the juncos arrived other flocks amassed to leave. Redpoll, their hundreds disguising the solo hoary spy within, again crowded the roadsides before finally leaving for fertile fields north. Pine Siskins, too, have either spread north or west or east into the forests to breed, abandoning their winter flocks for the relative solitude of mate and nest.

Tree Swallow

Swallows, first Violet Green and then Tree [not American Tree] arrive signaling for some true Spring and not the false Robin version. Now you can’t walk anywhere without hearing their cries from high. Rough winged and finally Cliff have joined them in particular in the fields around Nakusp; in Brouse and Crescent Bay Road.

Violet-green Swallow

Perhaps the most beautiful of the migrants and a bird whose name is in direct opposition to the emotion it brings is the Mountain Bluebird. The bright blue males arrive first followed a few days later by the first of the females. For a while they reside, working the fence lines and ridding the fields of the earliest invertebrates, but they will soon leave for breeding fields leaving many of the optimistically placed nest boxes empty and unused.

Yellow-rumped Warblers in small but ever increasing numbers joined the Bluebirds and pretended to be flycatchers along the fences; trying desperately to convince all that a warbler is a species of the open. The warblers are stunning generally and the yellow rumped particularly so and it’s not a surprise that other warblers take their time to arrive and so do not have to compete with the yellow rumps and their splendor. By the way there are two main kinds – subspecies - of the yellow rumpeds; Audubon warblers – once a specie in its own right – is the common one and has yellow not only colouring his [or her] rump but his throat and crown as well and the second, the Myrtle, he of the white throat and rare; preferring lands to the east of the Rocky Mountains.

'Audubon' Yellow-rumped Warbler [Gary Davidson's photo]

Sparrows have come too. Over winter the resident Song Sparrows survived in the occasional company of the few and the lost; White throated, White crowned and American Tree. The last three have left but the Songs have stayed their breeding song sounding early – even before the arrival of the first Robins.

Savannah Sparrows and Lincoln Sparrows have now entered our valley albeit in small numbers until this week when a new flock rolled into town; White crowned Sparrows. They are every where, attracting the attention of cats, accipiters and birders alike.

Savannah Sparrow [Gary Davidson]

The only slightly downside to all this is that I am trapped in classrooms during the day and I know what is happening outside. My friend Gary Davidson, who is retired, acts like my scout and, at the risk of frustrating me, each day adds new species to my frontier. Yesterday he added his first Orange crowned and Nashville Warblers, a Chipping Sparrow and in news that may even excite my children, his first-of-the-year Rufous Hummingbird.

White-crowned Sparrow

And so I know my plans for this afternoon and beyond.

Weekend in Kamloops 2 – the sequel

Kamloops  grassland

What a great natural history weekend!! With Gary Davidson as driver, companion and guide we left Nakusp early Saturday morning for Kamloops via the Monashee Mountains and the good city of Vernon. We diverted south towards Kelowna to Roberts Lake before heading northwards via a variety of ponds and forests and grasslands before arriving in Kamloops. Sunday involved grassland birding around Kamloops before the drive home; this time east through Salmon Arm and to Revelstoke via Highway 1 before the southward drive to Nakusp.

The highlights? Almost too many to mention. But let’s start with the mammals. 

First my lifer – Moose! Sunday afternoon heading east on HW#1 we passed a number of signs with moose motifs optimistically suggesting that Moose cross the highway. I mused out loud that Moose would indeed be a good way to finish the weekend. Gary smiled politely at my naivety. Several more signs were passed until the idea well and truly faded when suddenly a moose absently ambled onto the highway. I don’t know who was more shocked. The moose looked up in bewildered surprise to find himself on a highway and that large vehicles were speeding rapidly towards him. In serious moose panic mode long limbs sprung energetically into action pumping him up and down on the spot until first gear was found and he stumbled off the road into the trees in an awkward fumbling run. It was one seriously strange animal in and an amusing encounter. I smiled for ten minutes at both my luck and the ‘photo’ of his baffled expression.

Mule Deer

The day before, Saturday, we saw another hind end disappearing quickly into the woods. My FOY Black Bear. Add to these two we saw two beavers – one outside Kamloops adjacent to a small wetland and the second, equally obvious, sitting outside his lodge just north of the ferry linking Revelstoke to Nakusp on Sunday. Good numbers of Mule Deer, a couple of American Red Squirrel, a single Yellow Pine Chipmunk and several Yellow-bellied Marmot created a good mammal list.

Great  Horned  Owl nest

Despite seeing a reasonable but brief view of Ruffed Grouse and enjoying views of the ‘well returned Osprey’, the birding started properly on Saturday at Roberts Lake. We went there initially because of reports of a few passage migrant waders. A few FOY Greater Yellowlegs plus American Avocets were the clear highlights. California Gulls were there too for my FOY; however I’m looking forward to closer views. A variety of waterfowl was there; most notably Ruddy Duck. Red tailed Hawk and Bald Eagles had fly bys.  Killdeer was the only other wader. Another FOY appeared, well was heard before it was seen, the Yellow headed Blackbird. This is a song bird but its song can be likened successfully to the mournful wail produced by a ‘tinned cow’, do you remember them? You tilted them and a strange mooing of sorts was emitted. 

Roberts Lake

Kamloops  grasslands

male Sharp-tailed Grouse

Other wetlands were checked throughout the day and finally we scored our FOY Lesser Yellowlegs – an addition to my North American list. I had missed the species in 2009 but had surprisingly seen it as a vagrant back in Australia. Eurasian Wigeon were seen in fields, again in the company of American Wigeon, my fifth sighting of this species this year. Good numbers of migrating White crowned Sparrows were seen throughout the weekend [and in Nakusp today, Monday].

Doing da dance....

Sunday started with a special treat; a visit to a Lek of Sharp-tailed Grouse. This species is pretty cool and is a genuine North American Chook. It shares its genus with both the Greater and the Lesser Prairie Chicken. One of the things these chook have in common is that the males lek on a Lek. Now if you have ever visited a Lek when Chooks are lekking you would like it. I loved it. The males all dance enthusiastically on a short flat piece of grassland and the idea is that the females cruise past, watch the dancing and, on the strength of a male’s performing prowess or his dominant position in the Lek choose a male for the mating. They then, like the spurned Bowerbird females of Australia, are left to raise eggs and chicks solo. The males dance is elaborate, noisy and enthusiastic and I was surprised at both the frantic burst of energy and the volume of the stamping as the birds rapidly pounded their feet into the grassland soil. I’ll let my poor photos and film illustrate the event however I encourage all to witness the event ‘live’. [It’s moments like these, and sadly many others, that I become almost violently disappointed with my sad excuse for photographic gear as the gap between what I witness and what I record becomes all too vast!] The male chooks were funny in the way that, like guys at a gay bar, they seemed to concentrate on the dancing and each other and ignored pretty much the feeding females strolling through.

grasslands

Snr Gary Davidson on a grouse search.....

The next stage of the morning involved walking high grasslands searching for even more Grouse. The Grouse search was unsuccessful but the walk was anything but. The grasslands abounded in Mule Deer that ran, walked or pronked away as we approached. Western Meadowlarks sang their explosive disorganized assembly of notes and Vesper Sparrows’ songs also added to our soundtrack. Small moving flocks of White crowned Sparrows, Yellow rumped Warblers [including a beautiful white throated, ‘Myrtle’, usually found further east], and occasional Juncos reminded us of the time of year. Harriers, Red tailed, a lone Rough-legged Hawk, several pairs of American Kestrels – the males colouring up attractively- and a distant but distinct view of my FOY Golden Eagle completed the raptors. Rocks supported occasional Horned Larks. Another highlight that I had been forewarned about was large flocks of Sandhill Cranes. In vast ‘V’s they flew over and we were treated to the sight, albeit distant, of a flock of some 500 plus birds on the ground occasionally identifying themselves through their trumpeting. Good views of drumming Red-naped Sapsuckers, kindly responding to Gary’s imitations was another little highlight. Mountain Bluebirds plus a few swallows; Tree, Violet Green and FOY Cliff probably rounded out the list.

Distant  Sandhill Cranes

The Yellow  belly of the Williamson  Sapsucker

The birding was not over yet as we sped off for another twitch for the Red-naped’s cousin – my second lifer for the day – Williamson’s Sapsucker. We quickly got great views of an obliging male who was industriously excavating a beautifully symmetrical hole in what has become a traditional nesting tree.   The female remained hodden in the woods but was, no doubt, closely observing the male’s labour. Enroute we scored an enchanting view of a Snowy Owl slowly sailing over the road – this was possibly the same bird I had seen a few weeks previously when, with Megan and kids, we arrived in Kamloops. Coming out from the Sapsucker Tree a large migrating flock of American Pipits passed us by, my second encounter with this specie.

Williamson 's Sapsucker

A great two days birding and almost impossible to remember all of the species seen without stealing Gary’s note book which I will soon do.

Canadians are Nice!

Canadians are very, very nice. The whole world thinks so. If you have a maple leaf attached it is a good sign and people treat you right. I’ve met a few Americans who realise this too and disguise themselves when travelling with sundry maple leaves with the hope of welcome invitations and decent treatment.

But it’s a two way street. Canadians are very nice in Canada. Very welcoming. Very polite.

Teaching in Nakusp all of the students that I’ve had to deal with have been very well mannered and obedient [at least so far.] A couple of students, who for very small transgressions I’ve had to correct, have immediately and sincerely offered apologies. I’ve even received unsolicited apologies from students for reasons that I remain unclear about. This rarely happens I’m afraid at home.

Yesterday Megan encountered some of Nakusp’s ‘bad element’. As she and Millie approached the lads were engaging in bad language. Before long however they realised that they had been overheard and yelled out an apology and an explanation.

A few weeks ago we met a lovely family in a Kamloops Hotel’s breakfast room. They were African; Nigerian to be precise and had been living in Edmonton in Alberta for some six years. The man of the family was quick to share his view of Canadians as the nicest people in the world. He shared a story which is told among African ex-pats that claims that if you stood on a Canadian’s head he would say sorry for having it there under your foot. He laughed to the point of tears and literally slapped his thigh as he re-told the tall story. I can vouch for the authenticity of the story as often I’ve received apologies when the minor transgression was mine.

No wonder Americans want to be identified as Canadians……………

You haffta Love Spring!!

Migration is wonderful. It’s a wonderful thing to read about and learn about; it’s a fascinating natural phenomenon. 

But it’s even better to experience first- hand.  

And experiencing North American migration from the perspective of an Australian naturalist is truly a fantastic experience which I already know I am going to miss. 

How good is it to see great numbers of birds everywhere when the previous day there was none?  I’ve had this experience first with Robins who suddenly appeared overnight to claim key positions around the town of Nakusp and then went on to swell their population further filling every field around town in numbers that are clearly in the hundreds. Now Dark eyed Juncos have arrived, their little flocks seemingly in every backyard and flitting by every roadside; their bright white tails like bold banners declaring their identity loudly and clearly. 

The last few days in and around Nakusp have reminded me [as if I need reminding] why I love birding. The first migrants of many species are coming through and one never knows exactly what to expect. 

Two visits to Brouse, near Nakusp, in two days saw Canada Geese and dwindling numbers of Wigeon, Pintail and Mallard, some five Kildeer, a small plover at home on moist meadows, Five or Six Turkey Vultures soaring and swooping around the birth sites of a few calves. Tree Swallows and Violet Green Swallows taking insects whose last thoughts, sadly were, “It’s Spring!” Noisy Northern Flickers using the technology of Telegraph Poles to amplify their territorial percussions across the land. Robins everywhere. A single FOY Yellow-rumped warbler flycatching from the fenceline. And perhaps best of all Mountain Bluebirds conspicuously making their way north in small groups of fives and sixes.

Also at Brouse a great FOY mammal - ground squirrel; heaps of them in fact. Their calls and scurrying activity attracting the attention of a creeping coyote.

This afternoon along the Nakusp waterfront Common Loons celebrated their arrival with their most Canadian of calls. Another FOY for my Nakusp list.  Horned Grebes are now wearing their spring finery complete with bold yellow ear tufts; a vision from my past visit to Scotland back in 1992 where I first saw them as breeding Slavonian Grebes on a small pond outside of the famous Cairngorms NP. FOY Savannah Sparrows, their eyebrows more brightly yellow than any I remember from 2009. A single Townsend’s Solitaire trying to disguise itself by fluffing up, perhaps unwilling to let go of the idea of winter just yet. And most surprisingly a single Say’s Phoebe – another from the flycatcher group – a bird not recorded annually from Nakusp – but indeed a welcome addition to my growing local list!

And in-between times? My FOY Nakusp Coopers Hawk landing unannounced in the neighbouring block. Another screaming past view of Merlin. Spotted Towhee making the backyard list [which I’m not really keeping].  And Juncos – lots of Juncos of different races.

It’s a pity school is getting in the way of my education!

Easter Long Weekend

Easter weekend promised four days without the burden of formal education so the decision was made to leave Nakusp and head for the hills. To the east of Nakusp lie the Selkirk Ranges and east of them the Purcell Mountains and east of them the Rockies. Our itinerary had us driving through all of these mountains to see the scenery British Columbia and western Alberta have become world renowned for.

It did not disappoint.

Golden Mountains, or more correctly, Mountains from Golden

Our first day was, appropriately enough, Good Friday and we travelled north to Revelstoke and then east along Highway one up into the mountain town of Golden. A short drive south of Golden late in the day revealed my FOY [first of year] Osprey and my first Kootenay record of Turkey Vulture plus magpies and the ever increasing spring flocks of Dark eyed Juncos.

Lake Louise

Clark's Nutcracker

Saturday saw the iconic Lake Louise, its turquoise waters frozen solid and covered in its winter coat of snow. Lake Louise, it must also be said, was further decorated with more than a sprinkling of tourists, all undeterred by the cool of the surrounds and all excitedly talking in their many tongues as they waded above the waters through the slushy snow.

Lake Louise Carpark

Birds were few but conspicuous; Grey Jays and their more gregarious and bold friends, Clark's Nutcrackers and a few not so silently circling Ravens. The scenery was beautiful, as expected.






On the outskirts of Banff were the Vermillion Lakes, another spot visited in 2009. Today beautiful waters remained largely beautiful ice yet Spring had started to make its mark even here high in the hills and areas of water were becoming more and more apparent.

Water / Ice / Snow fall in Banff

Vermillion Lake View

Vermillion Lake View

Banff followed and a visit to the waterfall and areas adjacent to the Banff Golf Course was made. My first Boreal Chickadees were enjoyed, as were a few feeding Varied Thrushes plus swarms of Juncos before the illmannered cries of my daughter Millie ended by brief birding excursion. Leaving Banff we headed further east to the underated town of Canmore.

The Fam

Sunday fulfilled its luke warm promise of Easter Egg delivery - we had warned the children that the Easter Bunny may not be able to find us deep in the mountains and perhaps eggs could be found back in our house in Nakusp or even Mapleton in Australia. Miraculously however the bunny had tracked us down and had evaded all of the Canadians with guns to whom a large Rabbit with a huge supply of chocolate would have been a trophy indeed.

above Canmore

Canmore, or more specifically the hills adjacent to Canmore provided more great scenery and the promise of a repeat summer visit.

Canmore view

Canmore view - the other way........

We then returned westwards via Banff and a slower route of 1A.

Sulphuy Summit View showing the Banff Golf Course in the centre

Another Sulphur Summit Panorama

Me and my missus Megan [photo by Tom]

 Sulphur Mountain is a large mountain close to Banff that has the great advantage of a cable car or Gondola ride to the summit. Here, at the summit there is a board walk of about a kilometre in length which allows some wonderful views of the surrounding Rockies and the valleys below, if the weather is right. Thankfully it was perfect. One employee claimed to me that it was the best day of the last three months. Not knowing the history i could only truthfully claim i could not have designed a better day to visit. The Gondola ride and the walk and the view was very much a highlight of our time in Canada thus far and it is to be recommended to all.

The slower drive along route 1A goes through the heart of Banff  National Park and boasts less traffic and more wildlife and the promise of some lovely little hikes albeit when the snow melts more.Here my family encountered their first Bighorn Sheep, sadly though no adult Rams.

Small horned Big Horn

View from Revelstoke picnic spot

Monday took us home via Revelstoke.