Birding in BC Community

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata) by Randy, on Flickr

Forgot about this capture from a few months ago, so adding it now.

Ruff (Calidris pugnax) by Randy, on Flickr

Happy to have caught site of this rare visitor that was capturing a lot of attention recently.

The storms last week did not just blow the Black-necked Stilt into the Nanaimo Estuary. This Red Phalarope was pointed out to me there a few days later. Like the stilt, it was gone the next day.
Red Phalarope by Bill Gyles, on Flickr

Here is a Black Scoter pair from Deep Bay last Tuesday.
Black Scoters by Bill Gyles, on Flickr

Great late additions to the list, Bill! You bumped us up by 7 AND added a couple of rare. Very Nice!
Our updated numbers went from 214 to 221. If we have any other "Lurkers" with some early season "I forgot to post this." Now would be the time! (Zach? Ian? Judy? haha)
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Great year everyone ... here are our numbers from the previous five years:
2019 - 273
2020 - 260
2021 - 282
2022 - 232
2023 - 241
We were a little short this year and I take the blame. I didn't make it out to my usual haunts early in the season. Gonna go big next year! I find it hard to believe we will have been tracking for seven years ...
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Enjoy!
James

Here is the link for the "Birds Outstanding": viewtopic.php?p=92212#p92212

We are short 116 (but several of those are unrealistic. However, there are some common ones that I'm surprised aren't on the list. I could have missed a couple in the post. If anyone sees ones I've missed, please let me know!

I'm going to try and get a couple of gulls at the dump before the year's end. haha.
James

Here are a Rhinoceros Auklet (heavily cropped) from Neck Pt in October and a Sharp-Shinned Hawk from Cowichan Bay a couple of weeks. I have a few more which I should get to before the year's end.
RhAu by Bill Gyles, on Flickr

SSHa by Bill Gyles, on Flickr

Thanks, Bill!
While not a new bird, I did get better shots of the Turkeys in Knox Mountain Park today. My wife noticed them and told me -- I rode over on my bike and was able to locate them. There's a "flock" of four hanging around over there! Here's shots of three of them ... lol.







Knox Mountain Park is very large -- these turkeys hang out in the far Northern Section (near Magic Estates). We've seen them here for the last 3 - 5 years ...
James

Here are a Northern Pygmy Owl from Parksville in September and a visiting Northern Mockingbird in Parksville in March.
A6708038_1-topaz_1-denoise by Bill Gyles, on Flickr

Northern Mockingbird by Bill Gyles, on Flickr

Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) by Randy, on Flickr

Well, its not quite 2025 yet, so still time to add another bird to our list. Captured this image out at Blackie Spit Park, Surrey, as reported on the RBA.

Here are four more unearthed from the 2024 vault. The Yellow-billed Loon is heavily cropped, but fits the picture in Sibley's well. It was seen at Englishman River Estuary, off Mariner Way. The Brant Goose was at Departure Bay, the surfbirds were with Black Turnstones at Neck Point, Nanaimo and the Band-Tailed Pigeons at East Sooke Park summoning up the nerve to fly over the straight to the Olympic Peninsula.
Brant Goose by Bill Gyles, on Flickr

Yellow-Billed Loon by Bill Gyles, on Flickr

Surfbirds by Bill Gyles, on Flickr

Band-Tailed Pigeons by Bill Gyles, on Flickr

Finally, I think, here are some California Gulls at Neck Point Nanaimo. The one in the foreground is mature, but does not have yellow legs yet.
I'm looking forward to the clean slate tomorrow.
CaGu by Bill Gyles, on Flickr

Been a bit remiss with submitting photos this year... lost my focus a bit with other things going on.
Thank you everyone for your contributions... it's always fun to see what people of all areas of the province are finding. Looking ahead for a more focused 2025!
here are a couple to add to the list. Both the Tanager and Flycatcher were from Osoyoos in the Spring. I may have a couple of unprocessed shots to help fill a couple of holes but I might not get them posted before midnight tonight!
Happy New Year everyone!


Western Tanager


Least Flycatcher

lol. Happy New Year! Great adds to end the year GMcD/Randy/Bill/Ian (welcome back). I tried to get a California Gull yesterday, so I was happy to see you post it ... if you add a couple more Ian, we will still count them.

For now, our count stands at 231! Great work!! The one bird I can't believe we didn't get was the Canada Jay. We'll see what fun 2025 brings us! Happy Picture Snapping / Birdwatching / Birding / etc...

James