Week 9: This season is in the Palm of our hand!

September 15 - 21

A first-of-the-season: Steller's Jay! (Mara Hanneson)

Week 9 of our migration monitoring program has come to an end - which means we are well past the halfway mark of the season! In some ways, it feels like we have just begun, yet the crisp mornings, falling leaves, and dew-soaked nets make it clear that autumn has truly set in. Unfortunately, another "tradition" we've begun to anticipate is the arrival of wildfire on the landscape. This week, haze from the Bear Gulch fire in Washington State drifted into the area - reportedly the worst fire in the area (Olympic National Park) since the 1950s. (And if anyone else was wondering what differentiates a Gulch from a Gully: simply put, a gulch is larger!).

Fox Sparrow set against a very smoky morning sky at Rocky Point (Gaelin Armstrong)

Migration is continuing to build momentum, with kettles of Turkey Vultures and other raptors filling the skies, while updates from our nocturnal owl monitoring team keep rolling in. It's an exciting time to be out at the stations - the cool air is ripe with anticipation for what we might encounter next!

This week showed the usual contrasts between our two stations. Read on for updates and highlights!

Pedder Bay

Top 5 banded species at Pedder Bay for week 9

Smoke settling over Pedder Bay
(Mara Hanneson)

This week, 214 birds were banded at Pedder Bay, and 62 were recaptured. The vast majority of birds were sparrows and thrushes, led by the Song Sparrow (30 banded)! By Sunday, the station had reached 1767 new birds for this season. Unfortunately, this places 2025 among the bottom two years to date for total birds banded. Last year, at this time, was the worst season to date with 100 fewer birds banded. We're hoping that incoming waves of kinglets and sparrows will turn things around!

We also celebrated the first Northern Saw-whet Owl of the migration monitoring season, caught on September 16th (the morning after the owl program began).

Northern Saw-whet Owl.
Always a special treat to find one during passerine banding! (Andrew Jacobs)

A close view of this warbler's namesake ... check out that rump!
(Mara Hanneson)

Another significant highlight at Pedder Bay this week has been our visitors! We welcomed 57 guests to observe our operations, participate in bird walks, and learn about our local bird migration. Thanks to all of you for coming out to support! 

Rocky Point

Top 5 banded species for Week 9 at Rocky Point

A smoky morning over the meadow at Rocky Point
(Gaelin Armstrong)

As usual, Rocky Point station is a completely different story from Pedder Bay. Week 9 wrapped up with 370 birds banded and 63 recaptures. This resulted in 3,198 birds banded this year - a season record for this point! The 3000th bird banded was a beautiful hatch year Song Sparrow. A first-of-season capture of two Steller's Jays were a big highlight for all present.

Western Palm Warbler (Gaelin Armstrong)

One of the most exciting captures this week was a hatch year male Western Palm Warbler - the 5th ever banding record for Rocky Point! These warblers breed across the northern edges of most Canadian provinces, and overwinter along the southeastern coast of the United States and in the West Indies. In British Columbia, they favour the boreal forests for breeding, but can be found passing through the southern regions during migration.

Even Rough-skinned Newts like to show off!
(Max Hellicar)

Even on slower net runs, observations kept spirits high. Yellow-rumped Warblers, Turkey Vultures, and Band-tailed Pigeons have been increasing in numbers daily. Other notable observations included four Broad-winged Hawks in a single shift, Sandhill Cranes, a Wandering Tattler, and a Long-eared Owl!

Max matching perfectly with a Steller's Jay!
(Mara Hanneson)

White-throated Sparrow looking dapper 
(Mara Hanneson)

While this blog focuses on the migration monitoring program, we'd be remiss not to mention the other exciting initiative running until October 31st at both stations: Nocturnal Owl Migration Monitoring. The team has had an excellent first week, with plenty of Northern Saw-whet Owls in the nets and even a special guest appearance from another species. If you are interested in visiting, please book a spot here.

Long-eared Owl at Rocky Point! (Robyn Byrne)

As always, a heartfelt thank-you to our wonderful volunteers. It is a pleasure to share our mornings with such a passionate and enthusiastic group of people! We're grateful for your efforts and look forward to the weeks ahead!

Great Horned Owl in all of it's glory 
(Mara Hanneson)

Week 8: Achtung (Excel) Baby

September 08-14^th

This week we welcomed a significant wave of migrants passing through our bird observatory. On the night of September the 9^th, BirdCast (birdcast.info) estimated 777,800 birds migrating over the area. As it happened, September 10^th and 11^th were our busiest days this week at both Pedder Bay and Rocky Point, with record high numbers of birds processed (this season). 

This week also brought “computer issues” that we hope have migrated through. On more than one occasion, long-time volunteer Mike Motek came to the rescue and resolved the problem(s). We are very grateful for his time and expertise.

Rocky Point:

Observations at Rocky Point never seem to disappoint. This week’s notable species were Greater White-fronted Goose, Northern Fulmar, Sooty/Short-tailed Shearwaters (over 2000 on Sunday!), Black-legged Kittiwake, Herring Gull, Sabine's Gull, Brown Pelican, Lewis's Woodpecker and Sora. 

A total of 492 birds were banded at Rocky Point this week. Our top 3 captures were Puget Sound White-crowned Sparrow (63), Spotted Towhee (52) and Fox Sparrow (46). Notable captures included a Clay-colored Sparrow, Audubon’s Warbler and Sharp-shinned Hawk. 

A great recapture for us was a Chestnut-backed Chickadee banded at our station in 2019. The recapture prompted me to reflect on this species, one that I don’t often dwell upon because it is a common bird here in the Greater Victoria area.

Chestnut-backed Chickadee originally banded in 2019

But in fact, the Chestnut-backed Chickadee which belongs to the family Paridae, a well-studied group of birds, has provided some interesting particulars. Many species in this family have a good memory for food caches which can help them survive during the winter months. Chestnut-backed Chickadees (and others in the family Paridae) are often the nuclear species of mixed species foraging flocks, vocalizing to alert other species of their presence and choosing foraging locations. In the winter, we often find Brown Creepers, kinglets and Red-breasted Nuthatches in these flocks. The use of different microhabitats while foraging together is remarkable, the chickadees inspecting the foliage of trees, creepers preferring deeply furrowed bark, and the nuthatches descending head-first down tree trunks.

Mysteriously, this week at Pedder Bay we captured an adult Red-breasted Nuthatch, and an adult Brown Creeper. 

AHY male Red-breasted Nuthatch

 Red-breasted Nuthatch rectrices

AHY Brown Creeper

Pedder Bay banded 315 birds this week; the top captures were Fox Sparrow (58), Golden-crowned Sparrow (31), Lincoln’s Sparrow (30) and Hermit Thrush (30).

Notable species banded include Townsend’s Warbler, White-throated Sparrow and Cassin’s Vireo. A female Anna’s Hummingbird was recaptured, originally banded here in 2021. Aside from banding, avian observations included a Northern Pygmy-Owl, Western and Least Sandpipers, Varied Thrush, Steller’s Jay, increasing numbers of Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, and American Pipit. Almost all the Barn Swallows nesting under the eaves of the café have now fledged, the remaining chicks presumably enjoying their last few days in the nest before preparing for the perils of migration with many others. 

Recently fledged Barn Swallows at the Pedder Bay Cafe

Week 7: What The Fluff!? - Spizella's smallest sparrow visits Rocky Point

01-07 September

Less than one month has passed since I arrived in Metchosin to work at Rocky Point’s two migration stations. Since then, I have had the honor of seeing many birds that were new in the hand including Hutton’s Vireo and Red-breasted Sapsucker. While new birds are always a treat, I have most enjoyed observing variation in morphology among the species already familiar to me. The Rocky Mountains, Cascades, and Sierras divide western North America’s breeding zones and migratory routes. Over time, species adapt to their local environments and population pressures. This results in differences in size, color, and pattern within a single species across their range. Seeing new subspecies and color variations of Song Sparrow, Swainson’s and Hermit Thrush, Orange-crowned Warbler, and Fox Sparrow has been a wonderful opportunity to expand my understanding of these species. 

Song Sparrow from RPBO 🖼: Megan Miller

Song Sparrow from Fountain, Colorado Fall 2014 🖼: Megan Miller

The photos to the above are both Song Sparrows! The top was captured here at the Rocky Point last week while the lower image was taken in Fountain, Colorado in fall of 2024. Song Sparrows from Victoria forage in deep thickets and dark forest floors. On the east side of the Rockies, Song Sparrow forage along streams, shrubby willows, and gardens. Their coloration helps break up their silhouette while they forage. 

Pedder Bay

This week at Pedder Bay we caught 309 new birds and 53 recaptures. Captures were dominated by White-crowned Sparrows and Swainson’s Thrushes. The top ten species on the graph above make up 74% of our captures this week.  Highlights include Pedder Bay's first Ruby- and Golden-crowned Kinglet captured for the season. 

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 🖼:Sonja Futehally

Rocky Point

Rocky Point banded 520 new birds this week and processed 98 recaptures. White-crowned Sparrow shares 1st place as most banded species at both stations, followed by a surprising uptick in Savannah Sparrows! Rocky Point had many weekly highlights including Cassin’s Vireo, two Clay-colored Sparrows, Western Sandpiper, and Least Sandpiper. Again, the top ten most banded species made up 73% of total captures.

The first Western Sandpiper (left) to be banded at Rocky Point since 1999, and only the fourth-ever Least Sandpiper (right) to be banded here, following three last year 🖼: Andrew Jacobs

Strange Brew

I have spent many seasons banding and birding in the high plains and deserts of Colorado and Utah. The sparrows that dominate these dusty habitats look as if they themselves sprang from the sandy soil. No sparrow represents that more accurately than the Brewer’s Sparrow. Small and somewhat nondescript, in the fall adults can be so worn that their major plumage features can be undeterminable. This was not the case for the unique capture from Rocky Point this past Sunday. A “taverneri” AKA Timberline Brewer’s Sparrow graced the banding station. The Timberline Sparrow has darker features, a stronger facial pattern and differences in song structure. This allows them to blend with darker vegetation and rocks of their north range. Typical "breweri" Brewer’s Sparrows have a less distinct facial pattern but has maintained a strong complete eye-ring.  This is the first ever Brewer's Sparrow to be banded at Rocky Point.  

"Timberline" Brewer's Sparrow at Rocky Point (7th September)

"Breweri" Brewer's Sparrow- Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA 🖼:Julie Shieldcastle

As the season continues, a noticeable shift in species composition is beginning to occur. Fox Sparrow numbers have increased and both stations are catching kinglets almost daily. I am looking forward to watching summer slip into fall and I’m eager to see what the change of season brings with it.

Week 6 – When Fog Clears, The Birds Appear

25-31 August 2025

One of the two Say’s Phoebes seen at the back ponds at Rocky Point (Mark Byrne)

Fall migration is gaining momentum! Leaves are beginning to fall into the nets, but they aren’t the only things being caught. Warblers, sparrows, and flycatchers were plentiful this week, marking a noticeable uptick in migration as we pass the halfway point of the season. Foggy mornings were the theme at both stations. Volunteers were kept busy with extensive training in extractions and net setup. The majority of birds processed this week were new captures, with fewer recaptures than earlier in the season—a clear sign that fresh migrants are moving through. 

Rocky Point 

It was a busy week at the Rocky Point station, with 351 new birds banded and 81 recaptures processed. 

The top five species banded were: 

* White-crowned Sparrow (59) 

* Yellow Warbler (39)

* Orange-crowned Warbler (26)

* Lincoln’s Sparrow and Western Flycatcher (21 each)

Banding highlights from this week were the first of season Northern Waterthrush, Barred Owl (x2!), Fox Sparrow and Savannah Sparrow, a Black-throated Gray Warbler, and a Red-breasted Sapsucker.

Max evaluating the age of a Barred Owl (it was a hatch year!) (Adam Ross)

The first of the year and soon to be one of many - Fox Sparrow (Max Hellicar)

This week at our Rocky Point station, we had foggy mornings, which made sea watching tricky, but once the fog cleared, there were many interesting birds to see, such as: Surfbird, Greater Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Plover, Spotted Sandpiper and Wilson’s Snipe were all seen or heard, along with “peeps”—Least and Western Sandpipers—feeding in the front bay. Other interesting observations included: Brown Pelican, the first Golden-crowned Sparrow of the season, and, perhaps the most exciting, were two Say’s Phoebes, found by Jannaca at the back ponds. Other nice additions included Sora, Virginia Rail, and Vaux’s Swifts. Goldfinches were also plentiful, their calls carrying overhead throughout the week. Gull numbers were steady along the water, with mostly California, Glaucous-winged, and Olympic Gulls, but with the odd Heermann’s, Short-billed, and even a single Western Gull.

This bull Roosevelt Elk also put in an appearance at Rocky Point this week! (Max Hellicar)

Pedder Bay 

The Pedder Bay station was much slower this week, with 160 new birds banded and 57 recaptures processed. The top five species banded were: 

* Swainson’s Thrush (22)

* Puget Sound White-crowned Sparrow (18) 

* Wilson’s Warbler (11) 

* Lincoln’s Sparrow (10) 

* Song Sparrow (10) 

Some banding highlights from Pedder Bay this week were: Northern Waterthrush, Cassin’s Vireo, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Hammond’s Flycatcher and Red-breasted Nuthatch.

One of two Northern Waterthrushes banded between our two stations this week (Max Hellicar) 

An average of 1.8 Cassin's Vireos are caught per season at Pedder Bay (2012-2024) (Mara Hanneson)

An Orange-crowned Warbler with an unusual colouration to the primaries (Gaelin Armstrong)

Juncos have started to trickle back - just a few in the nets so far, but they’re showing up more often around the station. Swainson’s Thrushes were heard calling in the early mornings, and the fields have been full of hatch year White-crowned Sparrows eating Himalayan Blackberries. Overhead, swallows and martins continue to pass through, though in much smaller numbers than earlier in the season; a clear sign they’re on their way south. Turkey Vultures are slowly building in number, and both American Kestrel and Merlin made appearances during the week. An exciting observation this week was a rarity found by Adam Ross - a Clay-colored Sparrow; a grassland sparrow normally only found as far west as the Okanagan.

It’s always a pleasure to see our logo bird – the Black-throated Grey Warbler (Max Hellicar)

Mara and Max discussing the age and sex of a hatch year male Black-throated Grey Warbler (Jannaca Chick)

With migration ramping up, the next few weeks promise even more diversity in the nets. Thank you to all the volunteers who dedicated their time and energy this week. The leaves may be falling, but the season’s excitement is just beginning.