Week 3 – Distracting mammals

Hello Birders, Banders and Bird Lovers. 

At both sites we had continuing above average numbers of birds with a total of 745 new bands at Rocky Point and 639 at Pedder Bay. To date this is the second most birds that have been banded, only in 2000 were there more. Fall is in the air as we continue to see more and more raptors every day. Red-Tailed hawks, Merlin, American Kestrels, Peregrine Falcon and Northern Harriers have all been seen. Also around are lots of Turkey Vulture, with one special bird now back in the air. Last year, while leaving Rocky Point, Rebecca Golat along with Dave, Siobhan and Mitchell found and retrieved a Turkey Vulture from the side of Rocky Point Road. After a trip to Wild Arc, we can gladly say the bird was released last month after a year in recovery, so keep your bins up looking for TUVU. 

The wildlife taking interest in wildlife monitoring(David Bell)

Pedder set the pace with 19 new hummingbirds banded this week, 8 Anna’s and 11 Rufous. Also noteworthy for Pedder Bay are three species of woodpecker being banded, 1 Downy woodpecker, 1 Red-breasted sapsucker and 2 Hairy woodpeckers. The highlight of the week for Pedder, however, was a Type 4 Red crossbill, two Type 3s were banded earlier in the season taking the total to 3 for the year. The Type 4 Red crossbill was a third record for Pedder Bay.

Type 4 Red crossbill (David Bell)

Rocky Point banded the first Savannah sparrows of the year, with three new birds being banded. Two Black-throated gray warblers were also banded at Rocky Point, bringing the season total to 3. Another Red-winged blackbird also made its way into the nets, which provided some entertainment for the local deer as they stood and watch the extraction. Both stations are catching large numbers of Puget Sound White-crowned sparrows, with 49 at Rocky Point and 30 at Pedder Bay.

The new season observations this week include Black-bellied plover and Long-billed dowitcher for Rocky Point and Black Swift for both stations. Shorebirds have been showing up at Rocky Point in pretty good numbers and diversity including; Western sandpiper, Least sandpiper, Greater yellowlegs, Lesser yellowlegs, and Semipalmated plover. The Yellow-Billed Loon has been spotted again and the Gray catbird has been heard several times at Rocky Point as well. 

 The 4th Olive-sided flycatcher of the season.(David Bell)

What really stole the show this week was a wonderful visit from some mammals! First with a sighting of the lone wolf swimming from one of the rocky islands to shore, making a close pass by the Black-bellied Plover who did not seem to mind this large predator. After the wolf walked up shore, an Anna's hummingbird buzzed around his face until he had enough and took off back up the beach. Those hummingbirds are not scared of much! David Bell spotted a Gray whale which was also spotted the same day by Mark and Robyn Byrne with Daniel Donnecke over at Beechey Head for seawatch. A family of river otters has been seen a few times as well as our resident Sea Otter. The deer at Pedder Bay have made it their pastime to put holes in our nets. 

The resident Sea Otter "Ollie" (Rebecca Reader-Lee)

An exciting day for two of our long-time volunteers happened last Saturday. Rebecca and Emma Reader-Lee had their very first shift at Rocky Point! The two young birders have been volunteering since 2013 and now that Rebecca has reached the age requirement for entry to Rocky the two sisters were very excited about their first day. And Rocky did not disappoint. They both got great looks at the Sea Otter and Rebecca Reader-Lee managed to get a quick look at the lone wolf. They also got to see a Common nighthawk fly dangerously close to net 1 and 2 first thing in the morning. Maybe they will catch it next time!

Emma and Rebecca Reader-Lee's
first Rocky Point shift.

Most banders have a list of banding “ticks” and have birds they dream of banding. This year, all four of the banders have their eye on one common bird that is uncommonly banded. A Pileated woodpecker! One has not been banded since 2004 and only 7 have been banded in the 10 years before that at Rocky Point and only one at Pedder Bay. So, is it possible? Well last year we got a Brown shrike so anything could happen! Which bander do you think is feeling lucky this year?