2012 Crocus Walk

The object of our affections

This year's "Crocus Walk" by the Rocky Mountain Naturalists was held on 21 April 2012 and a lovely day it was.

We take a short leisurely hike up onto the bench behind Wasa Lake Provincial Park Campground looking for various plants and birds, hoping we have timed the field trip for when the Mountain Avens are in bloom. We were pleased to have done so.

View from the edge - Wasa Lake below, Kimberley Ski Hill in distance on left

Pardon me for not keeping a list of plants but I do remember the words antenaria and macrocaudus, nodding onion and moss campion. But my favorite since childhood is the Mountain Avens as above.

This field trip, and the one previous, are held in honour and to reminisce about two of our long-time members who have passed on, Anne Redfearn and Mildred White, whom every year faithfully searched for the first buttercups and crocuses.  They were also active birders and contributors to the Birds of British Columbia, and Mildred's historical records have been transcribed onto eBird.

After the walk at Wasa, we returned to 'Mildred's Meadow' where the previous field trip had been, to check on the flowering progress of the Buttercups. Many were now out in full bloom - and the patch seems to be spreading between the pines.

Then we went in search of interesting birds and were rewarded with the now regularly-found EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, whom appear to be nesting in a residential area of Wasa, and two of our favorite species, the SANDHILL CRANE, of which we saw four striding through the marsh at Bummer's Flats, and the BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER in a recent burn.


49 species

 

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Species
Red-necked Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Canada Goose
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
Killdeer
California Gull
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Black-backed Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Clark's Nutcracker
Black-billed Magpie
American Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Mountain Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Marsh Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Mountain Bluebird
American Robin
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Brewer's Blackbird
House Finch
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin

Lifer and Winter Seeker Challenge Engaged

Bird-checklisting buddy and I toured around yesterday (Friday) to start gathering species for the Winter Seeker Challenge held by our Naturalist Club - 30 designated species recorded between Jan. 1 and Mar. 31

There was a slight breeze but the day and roads were otherwise fine. NOT much snow on them there fields and hills. We could still get several large snowfalls, that is what it would take to get us to average. Not time to panic, yet.

Reminding us to always look behind yourself, was an adult BALD EAGLE ripping up the last of a dead deer, a half dozen feet from the edge of the highway across from North Star Landing (Bummers' Flats).

The bacon burger at Wasa Diner was pretty good, and they have free beverages for seniors AND free wi-fi! So iPad lesson ensued between bites.

Driving in to Kimberley, we congratulated ourselves on ticking off several Winter Challenge species and were planning on upping the number on our next effort when what should we spy but a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL along Mark Creek, and a PINE GROSBEAK further up Gerry Sorenson Way ... Two more for the list!

Plus! BCB (birding-checklist buddy) pulled a lifer for me out of a flock of Redpolls at a feeder. Yes, a HOARY REDPOLL! Thank you, so much! And thank you feeder person for filling your feeders and welcoming us in your yard.

Now, I am pretty confident that it was a HORE. Several times when others have id'd a redpoll as Hoary, I have not counted it myself, wanting to be absolutely confident. This one, I am happy to call it. Very white where it should be - check yer books - (although I didn't see its private regions which should be unstreaked or only very light. "show me your butt!" I did not yell, being respectful of other's dignity, even this species', and their winter feeding requirements.)

Dianne C.

List:

* Winter Challenge species

Bald Eagle
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk*
Eurasian Collared-Dove*
Northern Pygmy-Owl*
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Northern Shrike*
Clark's Nutcracker
Black-billed Magpie
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Mountain Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Red-winged Blackbird*
Pine Grosbeak*
Red Crossbill
Common Redpoll*
Hoary Redpoll
American Goldfinch
Evening Grosbeak*