What the Swallow Saw

Wednesday, 12 March 2014

Five of us headed south to bird - three people from Fernie, one from Cranbrook and one from Kimberley.

It was a more typical early spring day, weatherwise, and our optomism was high that we would finally get some migrants, considering the late snow and bitter cold and dreariness of past weeks. 

Like many bird species, birders are drawn to water - so we headed to Tie Lake first - Incredulously incredulous to find most of it still frozen over.  But the drive there turned up:

- three calling BROWN CREEPER on either side of the road in one spot.  Although unsuccessful in actually seeing them, we imagined what it was like for them to keep in touch with each other using their wee little calls.

- three TUNDRA SWANS flying high and far off in the sunny wind, northward. (they must be just bypassing still frozen Wasa Lake as the following day they were not there but reported from Columbia Lake)

- a brief discussion about how to sing 'cheeseburger': the almost two tones of the Black-capped Chickadee or the three definite tones of the Mountain. 

At Tie Lake, we were lucky enough to come across a well-attended feeder, and while pinning down the actual number of EVENING GROSBEAKS, our awareness eventually registered the soft song of some VARIED THRUSH, blended in with the background noise of breeze and human activity. Some years, I've missed seeing them altogether, so it was beautiful to get good views this day.

Greg Ross photo

Our next highlight was at the big bridge/causeway over Koocanusa Lake, west of Kikomun Provincial Park.  One sleeping duck amongst a few Canada Geese, held our attention for half an hour, at least, and while waiting for it to show it's head or turn itself to better light, one lone VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW considerately flew over, only two meters above our heads, flashing its top-side - vibrant violet and green, and blue and white and ...  

This is what the Swallow saw: the icy scales of the dragon of winter clinging to the earth. 

Greg Ross photo

Scanning the grassy flats south of the bridge turned up the rusty flash of a lone KILLDEER hopping to a slightly different spot, but otherwise just standing there, staring at the ice maybe. 

And the sleeping duck? A lone male Blue-winged Teal, another species sometimes missed all season by some.

Continuing on our journey, the nest boxes at the main corner were already hotly contested by 6 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, my first of the year. 

Further on, a Wildlife Official parked in their truck chose the following view for her office-of-the-day, and we chose it to startle 3 RUFFED GROUSE on the way in, and to scan a flock of CANADA GEESE etc. down below on the banks of the Elk River.

Greg Ross photo

Touring south to the border, including McDonald Loop Road - site of the infamous White-headed Woodpecker report of several years ago - and Edwards Lake, revealed mostly more frozen waters, another GOLDEN EAGLE, and a 26 cent data roaming charge from the auto-updates of my cell phone apps (which I can't get rescinded until my next billing period, and now I know to turn off data roaming)

Our last great gasp of birdiness was encountered on the Elko-Grasmere Road where we picked up, among other things, 2 MOURING DOVE perched together low in the hedgerow, and half a dozen WILD TURKEY skittishly crossing the road.

A good day of feathered-friend encounters made longer by the recent spring-forward time change. 

Canada Goose 12

Tundra Swan  3

American Wigeon  3

Mallard  5

Blue-winged Teal  1

Northern Pintail  3

Bufflehead  1

Common Goldeneye  2

Common Merganser  20

Ruffed Grouse  3

Wild Turkey  6

Golden Eagle  1

Bald Eagle  3

Red-tailed Hawk  2

Rough-legged Hawk  1

Killdeer 1

Mourning Dove  2

Belted Kingfisher 1

Northern Flicker 2

Pileated Woodpecker2

Steller's Jay 2

Black-billed Magpie 1

American Crow 18

Common Raven 12

Violet-green Swallow1

Black-capped Chickadee 9

Mountain Chickadee 8

Red-breasted Nuthatch 2

Brown Creeper 3

American Dipper 1

Western Bluebird 6

American Robin 7

Varied Thrush 4

European Starling 38

Song Sparrow 3

Dark-eyed Junco 20

Red-winged Blackbird 11

House Finch 1

Evening Grosbeak 6

Cranbrook CBC Dec 2013 - Daryl Calder guest blogger

Pileated Woodpecker - Greg Ross photo

'Unusual' is a good word to describe the 114th Annual Christmas Bird Count as it occurred in Cranbrook on the Saturday following Christmas Day. We had an unusually large number of participants, both field and feeder counters. The weather was unusually good for counting, with clear skies, mild temperatures and light winds. However, the species count was below average partly due to the unusual absence of several common species. About 20 people divided themselves into 4 groups and got down to business of using their eyes and ears to detect birds in each of the 4 quadrants of our 14 km radius circle. Inexperienced birders welcomed the opportunity to partner with more knowledgeable naturalists, learning useful skills such as keeping quiet and focussing the binoculars quickly.

On some occasions only a bird of a particular species was detected, heightening the need to observe as many characteristics before the bird disappeared. We looked at the perching silhouette, beak size and shape, and wing and tail configuration even if we couldn't discern color or pattern of plumage. In flight, we noted the frequency of wingbeats, whether steady or intermittent, strong or weak, hovering, dipping or soaring. The type of habitat also provided strong clues; wetland or open forest, dense shrubbery  or open grassland and of course shopping cart ‘corrals’ at Superstore for the English House Sparrow. Occasionally, identification is a no-brainer in the case of a Ruffed Grouse walking in slow motion, an American Robin catching the sun or Bald Eagles overhead.

Feeder finches - Greg Ross photo

Absent from our list were the Pine Grosbeaks, Common Redpolls and Pine Siskins. It's possible that the lack of heavy snow in the mid-elevations has not forced some birds into the lower elevations. Snow-encrusted trees make it more difficult for birds to access conifer cones and shelter. Several regular 'hot spots' continued to provide an interesting selection of birds. Slaterville has a good variety of habitats with open water in lower Hospital Creek, diverse tree species and shrubbery (Shrike), and numerous active feeders. Green Bay also has 'fish bearing' open water (Pied-billed Grebe) and proximity to several forest types as does the vicinity of the St Eugene Mission (American Dipper).

Urban areas have some good feeders and varied vegetation (Bohemian Waxwing). Of course, a visit to the primary treatment lagoons and nearby Joseph Creek ponds yielded Green-winged Teal, Goldeneye, Kingfisher and Song Sparrow. One highlight of the day occurred as we began counting at Elizabeth Lake: A Rough-legged Hawk circled and hovered conveniently off to the east. A hawk of the north, these large birds breed in northern tundra and taiga regions around the northern hemisphere. Both dark and light forms are common, with many birds intermediate between the extremes. In flight, one good field clue is the dark marks at the 'wrists' of the long, broad wings. The name 'Rough-legged' refers to the feathered legs. The Ferruginous Hawk and Golden Eagle are the only other North American Hawks to have legs feathered all the way to the toes. These birds prefer open coniferous forests, tundra and generally barren country, breeding on cliffs or in trees. They winter also in grasslands and open cultivated areas of the East Kootenay where they eat small mammals and some birds. Rough-legged hawks will hunt from an elevated perch, or will hover frequently if in flight.There is no evidence of any change in North American breeding populations.

As can be seen from the list, the bird count is a useful exercise; we are fortunate to have a wide range of species frequenting our area. Thank you to all participants; we look forward to seeing you throughout the year.

The List:

Cranbrook CBC 114  December 28, 2013

Total Individuals 1325

Total Species Reported 39

Mallard 254

American Green-winged Teal 3

Common Goldeneye 43

Ruffed Grouse 1

Pied-billed Grebe 1

Bald Eagle 4

Rough-legged Hawk 1

Golden Eagle 1

Rock Pigeon 63

Northern Pygmy-Owl 1

Belted Kingfisher 3

Downy Woodpecker 12

Hairy Woodpecker 10

American Three-toed Woodpecker 1

Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker 34

Pileated Woodpecker 9

Northern Shrike 1

Gray Jay 7

Steller's Jay 15

Blue Jay 20

Clark's Nutcracker 34

American Crow 66

Common Raven 226

Black-capped Chickadee 97

Mountain Chickadee 64

chickadee species 28

Red-breasted Nuthatch 43

White-breasted Nuthatch 1

American Dipper 6

Golden-crowned Kinglet 4

Townsend's Solitaire 15

American Robin 1

European Starling 30

Bohemian Waxwing 11

Song Sparrow 12

Dark-eyed Junco 5

Red-winged Blackbird 8

House Finch 158

Evening Grosbeak 12

House Sparrow 2

Submitted by Daryl Calder on behalf of Rocky Mountain Naturalists