23 June 2012 Atlassing Needs Update

The table below is also available to view here:

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B6XfZdJdfWtgcGNQWGtlbHF4Mk0

 

BC Breeding Bird Atlas

Region 1 – Southern Trench

2012 Square Recommendations

Updated 23 June 2012

 – prepared  by Dianne Cooper

Square	Name	PC / BE to Go		Assignment
11NQ86	Moyie Lake North	10 / 6		Patrick S.
11NQ85	Moyie Lake South	10/10		Pierre J.
11NQ95	Teepee FSR East	10/10		Pierre J.
11NQ87	Hidden Valley	9 / 0		(Dianne C.)
11NQ97	Gold Creek	3/		Dianne C.
11NR75	Findlay Creek FSR Mid E	9 / 0
11NR84	Island Pond to Torrent	5/		Cam G.
11NR92	Skookumchuck Prairie	4 / 6		Dianne C.
11PQ16	Colvalli Road	5 / 6		(Dianne C.)
11PQ18	Bull River	10 / 8
11PQ24	Englishman Creek Newgate	10 / 4
11PQ35	Baynes Lake East	10 / 10
11QQ13	Kishinena Peak	6 / 4
11PR37	Connor Lakes	8/
11PR50	Michel - Olson	10 / 6
11PR	Upper Elk Squares			Dean N.

Done so far in 2012

Square	Name	PC / BE to Go		Assignment
11NQ89	Cranbrook Airport	4 / 0	Done	Dianne C.
11NQ89	Cranbrook Airport	4 / 0	Done	Dianne C.
11NR80	LD Ranch Rd	8 / 6	Done	Dean N.
11NR82	Moen Rd	1 / 0	Done	Dianne C.
11NR83	Larchwood Lake	10 / 10	Done	Dianne C.
11NR85	Canal Flats	7 / 5	Done	Cam G.
11NR90	Bummer's Flats	8 / 0	Done	Dean N.
11NR93	Premier Lake		Done	Cam G.
11PQ04	Cherry Lake	4 / 5	Done	Dianne C.
11PQ17	Wardner	7 / 0	Done	Dean N.
11PQ33	Edwards Lake		Done	Dean N.
11PQ34	Dorr Cut Off Road	10 / 0	Done	Dean N.
11PQ36	Elko		Done	Dean N.
11PQ39			Done	Kevin K.
11PQ43	Grasmere Roosville Rd		Done	Dean N.
11PQ49	Fernie E	5 / 0	Done	Kevin K.
11PR43	Weigert Cr		Done	Dean N.
11PR44	Elkford W.		Done	Dean N.
11PR51	Sparwood		Done	Kevin K.
11PR54	Fording R Rd S	10 / 0	Done	Dean N.
11PR60	McGillivray	10 / 8	Done	Kevin K.

Region 1 Summary Statistics

Number of species: 190
Nr of point counts:   760
Nr of spp on point counts: 144
Nr of squares with point counts: 61

We have reached our target of 50 percent coverage for point counts. Yay!

Up the Skookumchuck, 11 June 2012

A little adventure to entertain a visiting sister, and an opportunity do to some point counts was indeed an enjoyable day.


En Route to Square NR83

What are all those big birds in the field?

A FLOCK of Long-billed Curlews ! Very unusual for this time of year.

My theory is that these are all the Dads gathering for morning coffee klatch, just like the OAPs (old-age pensioners) who go to the local A&W for the cheap coffee. There were about a dozen and half dodging the irrigation sprinkler.

A few other surprises were in store for us up in squares NR82 and 83.

An expansive rocky outcrop beside a point count yielded an unusual species - ROCK WREN ! Not a lot of records from this regional district. We triple checked the id because there was a possible sighting of a Canyon Wren further north earlier in the year; but alas, no. Yet, it is still a wonderful sight and sound.

Also, a flock of COMMON NIGHTHAWK, almost two dozen of them, skimmed along at road level over the drop off  of a rocky cliff. 

Our first good view of the countryside revealed the Skookumchuck River drainage off to our west and Wasa Lake in the distance to the south.

Skookumchuck River drainage

The whole crew: me and the Ross' and Chase - the Rockies in the background.

Some people were slightly more interested in flowers. Here are some Glacier Lilies, I think.

Our goal was to reach the old fire lookout tower atop the little mountain but a Tamarack had fallen across the road and we did not bring a chainsaw.  So we hung around the landing, ate some lunch, chased a Hairy Woodpecker up into the slash, then prepared to depart with the last task of finding a good bush biffy spot. Good things are sometimes found when one steps right in to the forest - I got a lifer!

Spruce Grouse, female - a Lifer AND the first species on my 'Birds Seen While Peeing' list - just kidding.

Down at Tamarack Lake, we saw an interesting thing - a BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD repeatedly visiting the sapwell of a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER on a water birch beside the lake then going to perch and digest atop another little bush. I was hoping it was gathering insects to feed babies and would go directly back to its nest, but no, it was just resting in between.  Also, the Common Loon babies way up the lake were nice to see.

So much fun!  Thanks Ross' !!!!!