Rocky Point Bird Observatory: Week 10: Bears in the Orchard

Orchard Oriole (David Bell)

Week 10 with a 10th record for BC! It was an exciting week but not without its hitches. Controlled fires took place at Rocky on the 24th causing the group to have to leave early. Rain caused some short closures this week as well. However on the sunny days the Turkey Vulture kettles have been stealing the show with numbers from a few hundred up to 1000. The surprise of the week was the Orchard Oriole caught at Rocky on the 28th. The hatch-year female was caught in net 1 and is the 10th record for British Columbia.

Steller's Jay (David Bell)

The fall migrants continue to increase in numbers as September comes to a close. Pedder Bay saw its first Yellow-rumped Warbler of the year (finally the Butterbutts are here). A single Wilson’s Warbler and two Orange-crowned said their farewells before heading south. Some volunteers were lucky enough to band some Steller’s Jays this week and with many more around. Three more Steller’s Jays, 53 Fox Sparrows and 31 Golden crowned Sparrows were banded last week. Kinglets, to the delight of all, also continue to increase in numbers. Six Golden-crowned Kinglets and 22 Ruby-crowned Kinglets were banned this week bringing season totals to 13 and 37 of each at Pedder Bay respectively. Lastly 2 Anna’s Hummingbirds helped bring the season total up to 84.

Recap Chestnut-backed Chickadee banded in 2019 as an AHY (Rebecca Golat)

Rocky point had an eventful week of banding full of normal fall migrants and one less than normal visitor. Ten Steller’s Jays, 37 Fox Sparrows and 28 Golden-crowned Sparrows brought season totals to 15, 107 and 74 respectively. Kinglets have also made themselves known with 11 Golden-crowned and 40 Ruby-crowned Kinglets this week. Yellow-rumped Warblers arrived in numbers at Rocky this week with 6 Audubon’s, 8 Myrtle and 2 Intergrades bringing the season totals to 14, 8 and 2 respectively. The highlight of the week however was a hatch-year female Orchard Oriole. A first banding and observation record for Rocky Point as well as a very rare visitor to the west coast! The Oriole was caught in net 1 and was seen later that day hanging out by the front nets in the rose bushes.

Orchard Oriole, check out that fault bar! (David Bell)

Goose migration season! (Rebecca Golat)

Rocky Point’s new observations for the season included a whole lot of geese! Greater White-fronted Goose, Snow Goose, Cackling Goose, as well as more Canada Geese were added to the ETs. Other observations include: Long-billed Dowitcher, Red Phalarope, Lapland Longspur, and Brewer’s Blackbird. The surprises came on the 28th; in addition to the Orchard Oriole, a Gyrfalcon was found on census and a Common Grackle was seen on obs - three firsts for RPBO in one day! The Common Grackle is also the fifth record for Victoria.

Pedder Bay had a few new observations including Snow Goose and Cackling Goose.

Common Grackle (David Bell)

The Rocky Point crew got some drama on the 24th while they were opening the front nets in the morning. A Great Horned Owl swooped down and caught a rabbit right under net 1. Life is a nature documentary when you work at Rocky Point.

A whole family of bears have been seen around Rocky. Papa bear was at the front shore snacking on some marine invertebrates while mama bear was seen in the back field having a breakfast of acorns from the oak trees. Two curious baby bears were seen on census playing "who can spook the human the most".