First June Blog

Rufous Hummer

This past Friday my parents  - Peter and Glenys - arrived in Nakusp via a Greyhound bus trip from Vancouver to Revelstoke and then a very rainy 100km drive south with me. The weather could not have been worse. I’ve learned a little about Meteorology over the years and the reason for the rain, as far as I can figure, was because Nakusp Secondary School had planned their ‘Beach Day Fun Afternoon’. The Beach Day featured Volleyball and Sand Sculpture and, this was the bit that interested me, Burgers and Hotdogs. I had but time to scoff a Hotdog huddled under the cover before braving the drive north.

At any rate their grand entrance to Nakusp was less than I had imagined.

Saturday had had a walk around Summit Lake planned but the weather as we woke was dodgy. However Mountain weather is similar to Melbourne’s and by mid morning the weather had softened and by afternoon it was quite sunny.

So a little birding was in the offing with Gary playing guide and driver. Crescent Bay and Brouse produced highlights including singing Bobolinks, Lazuli Buntings, the first definite Willow Flycatcher of the year. Swallows and warblers and the ever present Rufous Hummers all showed well.

Yellow Warbler

Dad and Megan by part of the Summit Lake walking track

Grey Catbird

Sunday morning a very short walk with Megan and Pete was started at the eastern end of Summit Lake and the joint was jumping. Warblers again were very much in evidence. Yellows, American Redstarts, Yellow-rumps, Common Yellowthroats and Northern Water thrushes were singing vociferously [I like that word]. Willow Flycatcher were singing their two note ‘arrangement’. Hummers were humming. Bald Eagles, Ospreys and Turkey Vultures were soaring upon on high. RW Blackbirds, Grey Catbirds were skulking along the wetter edges. A flock of Cedar waxwings were flying around. Great views of Veery  - skulking Thrush - and some feuding Black-headed Grosbeaks provided a satisfying finish. All in all a great little morning walk and enough birds to convince anyone with the mildest interest that birding is the ‘the sport’. Even Megan was impressed.

Black-headed Grosbeak

Sunday afternoon I took the folks on a little run east to New Denver and then visited some spots between the two towns on the return visit. The highlight, again, was adjacent to Summit Lake. Both the rest area and the Provincial Park were visited. Warblers again were the main group of birds seen with great views of yellow, yellow rumps, redstarts and orange crowned was belatedly added to the day’s list. Warbling Vireos showed well as did Northern Waterthrush and, again, Veery.  It was Veery cool. [I’m quite tired]. We also got good views of Black headed Grosbeak near the northern end of Slocan Lake in addition to their first Kildeer.

Song Sparrow

Despite the weather quite a good day with many good birds.