I met my sister and her friend at YVR after a flight from London, England. Then we caught a Langdale ferry and drove to Halfmoon Bay. Within a couple of hours of arriving in Vancouver my sister and friend had already observed a pod of orcas and a black bear! The orcas were seen from the ferry, off Gambier Island, likely the same pod seen swimming around the floats in Horseshoe Bay in previous days. Then, as we drove south down Rat Portage Hill in Roberts Creek a black bear ran across the road directly in front of us. This was a dangerous maneuver for the bear as the road was busy and the light from the setting sun blinding. Orcas and a bear were a significant welcome to Canada for the visitors.
Late August and early September is a prime birding window with millions (actually billions!) of birds on migratory journeys, bringing the possibility of rarities showing up in unexpected places. The first evidence of this was the black phoebe that John Hodges found at the bird sanctuary adjacent to the Wilson Creek estuary on Aug. 19. This was a First Sunshine Coast Record for the species, always a significant event. The total species reliably recorded within our checklist area is now about 320.
Pelicans, being such a charismatic species, always create a stir when they appear locally. Both species of pelican (white and brown) have appeared on the Sunshine Coast, with brown being the more common. A brown pelican roamed the area from Roberts Creek to Mission Point and White Islet on Aug. 31 and was seen by a few lucky observers, with excellent photos by Harry Hill. Brown pelicans have appeared in almost every month of the year, but late summer is the most likely. There have been more than 20 records since the first in 1995.
In the first week of September, we can expect the last records for this year of rufous hummingbirds and common nighthawks. The excellent weather in the last few days of August encouraged some late sightings of various swallow species, but usually only tardy barn swallows and purple martins remain into September. On the other hand, many species are arriving for the winter (or passing through to areas farther south). Dabbling ducks such as pintail, shoveler, teal and wigeon are arriving in Porpoise Bay, but the sea-ducks such as scoters, goldeneyes and bufflehead generally appear from late October. The first winter sparrows are starting to arrive.
Other notable, recent sightings in our area include a Bullock’s oriole in Egmont, a peregrine falcon in Porpoise Bay, and four Heermann’s gulls at Mission Point.
To report your sightings or questions contact me at [email protected] or 604-885-5539. Good Birding.
