Week 10: Thermal Tango

 

As the weather remains unseasonably warm and sunny, large kettles of Turkey Vultures and hawks have been observed over both Rocky Point (RP) and Pedder Bay (PB), taking advantage of the rising thermals to aid their crossing of the Juan de Fuca strait. Up to 2000 Turkey Vultures were seen at Rocky Point on September 25th. Broad-winged (14 individuals were observed on a single day) and Red-tailed hawks have also been in the mix at both stations.

Turkey Vulture (Sonja Futehally)

 

Turkey Vultures kettling above the station at RP (Sonja Futehally)

                                                                                    

Sandhill Cranes (RP only), Cackling and Greater White-fronted geese are also southbound and have been observed flying over the stations. It is always a treat to see them up close if they choose to stop over in the Greater Victoria Region. Single day high counts of Band-tailed Pigeons (671 at RP), American Robins (219 at RP), American Pipits (295 at RP), and Yellow-rumped Warblers (615 at RP - primarily Audubon's, some Myrtle and intergrades) have been observed at both the stations. Other notable observations include Black Swift, Varied Thrush, Horned Larks and Evening Grosbeak flyover (RP). Horned Grebes and Parasitic Jaegers were also seen during seawatch at Rocky Point.

Most abundant in our nets this week were Fox Sparrows, Lincoln’s Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Hermit Thrushes and Golden-crowned Sparrows, you might have some of these species in your back yard as well! White-throated Sparrows are also starting to trickle in, both at the stations and in the nets.

Banding highlights for the week include a Black-throated Gray Warbler (HY male) and a Marsh Wren (HY) at Pedder Bay (4th record for the station); a Red-breasted Sapsucker (HY) and a recap Purple Finch at Rocky point originally banded in 2019! 

Black-throated Gray Warbler (David Bell)

                                                   

Marsh Wren (Ashlea Veldhoen)

                                                          

Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sonja Futehally)

                                                  

Zygodactyl toe arrangement of a Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sonja Futehally)

                       

Notice the toe arrangement in woodpeckers differs from passerines. Passerines have 3 toes in front and 1 at the back. This arrangement is known as anisodactyl. Owls, Cuckoos and Woodpeckers have two toes  forward and the other two point back, known as zygodactyl. 

Purple Finch, originally banded in 2019 at RP (David Bell)

                                  

We were also able to welcome visiting banders from Delta Marsh Bird Observatory to our Pedder Bay station. Sharing insights and experiences from other stations is always enlightening!

The crew at Pedder Bay station (Daniel Donnecke)

Though some days yielded less than expected from our nets for this time of year, as was the case at Rocky Point on Sept 23rd, we were however lucky to watch two Orcas passing through the channel between Bentinck island and the station. A radio message from the BIC had all volunteers instantly drop their lunch boxes and run to shore. We watched them glide though the water, showing their glossy backs when coming up for air, their aura silencing us, then diving back into the darkness of the ocean. Their undulating movements smooth and effortless. 

Orca at Rocky Point (David Bell)

                                                             

Other wildlife sightings for the week include Humpback whales, Northern Red-legged frog,  Orange Sulphur butterfly, Praying Mantis and Spotted Tussock moth larva.

Northern Red-legged frog  (Aiva Noringseth)

                                               

Orange Sulphur (David Bell)

                                                             

 

Praying Mantis helping out the scribe! (Sonja Futehally)

                                        

Spotted Tussock Moth (Sonja Futehally)

                                                   
 

Sunrise at Rocky Point (Ian Cruickshank)

                                                    

 

There are still volunteer shifts to fill in the coming weeks, for owls and passerines, so if you are interested please sign up on whentohelp.com or email volunteer@rpbo.org if you are new!

 

                                  You can find the details of our banding week in the tables below!

 

                                                          Weekly and Season Species Totals

 

 Pedder Bay            Sept 22    Sept 23    Sept 24    Sept 25    Sept 26    Sept 27    Sept 28    Total
 Banded                      96            64             40           41              47            106             46          440
 Species Banded         20            15             14           15             14             20              17            30
 Recap                         21           16             18           16             12              8                5             96
 Species Recap            8              9               7             6               8               5                5             14
 Rocky Point            Sept 22    Sept 23    Sept 24     Sept 25   Sept 26   Sept 27    Sept 28     Total
 Banded                      34             17            18            35            48             64              33            249
 Species Banded         12            11              9            14             17             18              13             29
 Recap                          0              8              7              7              3                2               5              32
 Species Recap             0              6              6              6              2                2               5              13

                                                                  Week 10: Banding Totals