Week 11 - The Weather Looks F(owl) This Week

Northern Flicker - Christian Kelly

October has arrived and we have entered into the final stretch of fall migration. Though overall banding totals were down at Pedder, Rocky Point saw an increase in numbers as we were able to get in a solid 6 days of banding without any closures due to military activity. The week started out on a bit of a low note as it was the first and only day we could not access the Rocky Point station, and wet weather shut things down at Pedder an hour after opening the nets. However, we were back to business at both stations the following day even though late day showers threatened to shut us down early again. The real excitement came on Oct 1st when we got to experience another post rain push of migrants at both stations. A whopping 135 birds were banded at Rocky this day, and was the second best day of the season for this station. A highlight for several of our volunteers was the banding of our first Red-shafted Flicker at Rocky. We had been observing a lot more of these stunning birds around the station in the last few days, and I think the collective will of our volunteers that day drove the bird into our nets.

Myrtle Warbler - Christian Kelly

Though most of our warbler species have vanished south at this point, we are seeing a huge increase in the number of Yellow-rumped Warblers observed (and banded). Well over 100 of these “butter-butts” were observed on a daily basis this week at Rocky, and we even managed to band 13 of them (9 of which were on our peak day on OCT 1st). Though it is sometimes hard to tell from a distance, there are two subspecies of Yellow-rumps that occur on the island: Audubon’s and Myrtle Warbler. At this point in the season the Myrtle subspecies seems to be the more common of the two, in fact all 13 of the birds we banded were Myrtle. During the breeding season it is much easier to distinguish the two warblers apart as their plumage is quite distinct, but as they make the switch into their basic plumage in the winter the differences between the two become much more subtle. But typically adult Myrtle Warbles will have a white throat, while the Audubon’s will have a yellow throat.

A string of sunny days mid week made for excellent conditions for raptor migration at the southern tip of the island. 11 species of Raptors were observed at Rocky Point on Oct 2nd (!), and Turkey Vulture numbers were at an all time high for the year with 594 individuals seen kettling over the station. Vulture numbers were consistently high throughout the week, but only of the Turkey variety ;-)

Love at first sight - Christian Kelly

On the other side of the gate Pedder was having a somewhat slower than usual, yet consistent week of banding. Once again the vast majority of birds banded this week were of the sparrow variety, though Hermit thrushes and Ruby-crowned Kinglets made up a good portion of the weekly totals. Though not a new bird for the station, I was very excited to have the opportunity to band our second Northern Pigmy Owl of the season! One or two NOPOs have been heard near the Pedder station most days this week, giving its characteristic rapid-fire hoots, and I was over the moon to have the chance to see one up close for the first time.

Speaking of owls! It continues to be another record smashing week for owl migration at RPBO. A jaw dropping 527 Northern Saw-whet Owls were banded between our two stations this week (332 at Rocky, and 195 at Pedder). We are now at a yearly total of 1301 NSWO banded this season!! This is a new record for the observatory, and we still have nearly a full month of owl migration left to go! Despite the bounty of this cute little feather babies were are still having a hard time filling volunteer shifts. Please sign up, we need you now more than ever!!

Other highlights from the week include:

• First of the season Northern Saw-whet Owl banded during the day at Pedder
• Orcas swimming through the channel at Rocky on Oct 4th
• Lapland Longspur flyover at Rocky on Oct 5th

Early morning obs. at Rocky - Christian Kelly 

The Numbers:

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Rocky Point	29th	30th	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	Total
Banded	0	61	135	73	39	25	30	363
Species Banded	0	19	21	17	14	11	12	29
Recap	0	13	8	5	13	8	5	52
Species Recap	0	5	5	4	7	6	3	10

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Pedder Bay	29th	30th	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	Total
Banded	15	32	78	75	50	41	31	322
Species Banded	12	10	15	14	15	11	14	31
Recap	19	18	19	14	20	20	17	127
Species Recap	7	5	9	5	8	7	9	14

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Pedder Bay	29th	30th	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	Total	Season
Northern Saw-whet	14	40	42	28	20	32	19	195	422
Barred	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	1
Rocky Point
Northern Saw-whet	38	63	62	47	24	50	48	332	879
Barred	0	0	0	1	1	1	2	5	12
Long-eared	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1

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Species	Rocky Week 11 Totals	Rocky Season Totals	Pedder Week 11 Totals	Pedder Season Totals
Virginia Rail	0	1	0	0
Sharp-shinned Hawk	1	3	0	2
Cooper's Hawk	0	0	0	3
Northern Pygmy-Owl	0	0	1	2
Barred Owl	0	3	0	0
Northern Saw-whet Owl	0	1	1	1
Anna's Hummingbird	0	1	1	17
Rufous Hummingbird	0	28	0	46
Belted Kingfisher	0	0	0	1
Red-breasted Sapsucker	0	0	1	6
Downy Woodpecker	0	3	0	4
Hairy Woodpecker	0	1	0	3
Northern Flicker	1	1	1	3
Olive-sided Flycatcher	0	4	0	0
Willow Flycatcher	0	60	0	33
Least Flycatcher	0	1	0	0
Hammond's Flycatcher	0	23	0	11
Pacific-slope Flycatcher	2	206	0	60
Cassin's Vireo	0	0	1	5
Hutton's Vireo	0	8	3	4
Warbling Vireo	0	24	0	18
Steller's Jay	2	25	0	7
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	0	2	0	0
Chestnut-backed Chickadee	1	48	1	75
Bushtit	0	17	1	37
Red-breasted Nuthatch	0	2	0	1
Brown Creeper	1	18	0	9
Bewick's Wren	1	35	1	26
House Wren	0	14	0	33
Pacific Wren	21	39	4	17
Golden-crowned Kinglet	18	25	6	10
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	61	94	31	76
Swainson's Thrush	1	71	5	192
Hermit Thrush	24	40	36	144
American Robin	3	10	11	45
Varied Thrush	0	2	1	2
European Starling	0	2	0	0
Cedar Waxwing	0	14	0	14
Orange-crowned Warbler	3	112	0	92
Yellow Warbler	5	92	0	44
"Audubon's" Yellow-rumped Warbler	0	5	0	1
"Myrtle" Yellow-rumped Warbler	13	27	3	7
Unidenitified Yellow-rumped Warbler	0	2	1	1
Black-throated Gray Warbler	0	7	0	7
Townsend's Warbler	1	5	1	4
American Redstart	0	1	0	0
MacGillivray's Warbler	0	31	1	46
Common Yellowthroat	4	49	1	34
Wilson's Warbler	0	158	1	124
Western Tanager	0	4	1	18
Black-headed Grosbeak	0	4	1	7
Spotted Towhee	26	112	16	177
Chipping Sparrow	0	18	0	35
Savannah Sparrow	9	81	0	3
Vesper Sparrow	0	0	0	1
Fox Sparrow	36	126	71	584
Song Sparrow	15	130	31	210
Lincoln's Sparrow	16	164	7	172
Swamp Sparrow	0	0	0	1
White-throated Sparrow	2	4	3	5
White-crowned Sparrow	11	164	2	249
Golden-crowned Sparrow	59	116	61	288
Dark-eyed Junco	24	55	15	167
Red-winged Blackbird	0	7	0	0
Brown-headed Cowbird	0	17	0	0
Purple Finch	1	17	1	17
House Finch	0	1	1	2
Pine Siskin	1	5	3	4
American Goldfinch	0	60	0	7
TOTALS	363	2400	327	3214

Week 10: A Black Vulture and Oodles of Owls

It was another action packed week here as migration continued unabated on the heels of last weeks’ record numbers. Unfortunately we once again had to content with closure at Rocky Point so we only got 4 days of banding in there; luckily we were still able to do the full complement of owling shifts.

Varied Thrush by Avery Bartels

It is starting to feel like “late season” now in these parts with hardly any Warblers or Cedar Waxwings, Swallows and Flycatchers all but non-existent and Sparrows in every bush and foraging all along the roadsides. Some of our other late-fall migrants such as Pacific Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Northern Flicker are now more prevalent as well though it seems like it will be a slow year for each of those species based on this weeks’ numbers. It is also shaping up to be a slow year for Yellow-rumped Warblers as well with only very low numbers present at each station throughout the week.

Despite only getting in four days of operation at Rocky we managed to band 188 birds with nearly half of those, 92, coming on the 23^rd. The day saw us catching season highs for Pacific Wren (8) and Ruby-crowned Kinglet (14) as well as our first Northern Saw-whet Owl of our daytime banding. Also notable were 2 Pectoral Sandpipers seen, one of which hung around the bay for the next few days.

American Redstart by Courtney Cameron

The following day was quieter but did see us get another first for the season, White-throated Sparrow, of which we banded 2! Unfortunately, the 25^th was a wet day and neither station got in really any banding and the teams at each station packed it in early. With nicer weather on the 26^th though things improved and the highlight of the day was the second American Redstart of the season that was observed late morning! Judging by the photos obtained this individual looks like probably a hatch-year male, it was also evident from the pics that it was not banded so for sure a different bird from the one last week! Though most of us missed the Redstart, consolation came in the form of the 2^nd banded Varied Thrush of the season that found its way into net 10.

Pedder Bay's 500th Fox Sparrow of the season by Avery Bartels

Over at Pedder it was busy for much of the week with the 23^rd being the 3^rd busiest day of the season at 128 birds banded and a whopping 53 recaptures!  Once again, Fox Sparrows accounted for a large percentage of those with 37 new and 26 recaptures on the day. Later in the week we banded our 500th Fox Sparrow of the season!!! The 23^rd also saw Pedder precede Rocky by a day on catching their own 2 White-throated Sparrows. A Re-breasted Sapsucker brightened up the banding lab as well. Despite their raucous demeanour their colours are always much admired when we have one in the hand.

Likely the highlight of the season arrived late in the morning on the 27th while watching the kettles of Turkey Vultures trying to pick out any hawks in their midst. Suddenly, a Black Vulture appeared, joining its more common cousins. Fortunately it seemed content to continue soaring to the northwest of the station and was watched by everyone present as well as some other local birders who were able to make it out to Pedder Bay before it was last seen, around 2:45pm that same day. This was likely the same individual that was spotted up on Balaklava Island a few weeks ago which was just the 5^th documented record for the province of this southern species. Needless to say we were thrilled to have it visit us!

A composite of the mega-rare Black Vulture by Blair Dudeck

After getting off to a rip-roaring start the owl numbers only dropped a tad during the second week of Owl Banding. Both sites had busy nights through most of the week with the peak night being the 27^th when 72 Saw-whets were banded at Rocky and 35 banded at Pedder. 

A fantastic recap Saw-whet! by Ann Nightingale

We also found out this week that we recaptured a hatch-year female Saw-whet on the 27th that was originally banded 9 days previous at the Tatlayoko Lake Bird Observatory(TLBO) in the Chilcotin! TLBO is located near the head of the Homathko River which is one of only 3 river valleys that drains from the interior of the province out to the coast so it is placed on a natural migratory pathway and this is actually the 3^rd Saw-whet that RPBO has recaptured that was originally banded at TLBO over the past few years!

Another interesting sighting this week was a non-avian one. A Monarch butterfly visited the Rocky Point station briefly on the 26th. This species is famed for its extraordinary migration and the massive groups that gather on the wintering grounds but here on the west coast they are a very rare sight.

The wonderful thing about banding is that there is always something interesting each day, so here’s to 21 more interesting days before we pack it up for another year!

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Owls
Pedder Bay	22nd	23rd	24th	25th	26th	27th	28th	Total	Season
Northern Saw-whet	12	12	0	14	16	35	17	106	227
Barred	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Rocky Point								0
Northern Saw-whet	24	61	12	23	47	72	31	270	547
Barred	0	2	0	1	1	0	0	4	7
Long-eared	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1

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Songbirds

Rocky Point	22nd	23rd	24th	25th	26th	27th	28th	Total
Banded	0	92	60	8	28	0	0	188
Species Banded	0	24	19	5	13	0	0	33
Recap	0	5	11	1	6	0	0	23
Species Recap	0	3	7	1	5	0	0	10

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Pedder Bay	22nd	23rd	24th	25th	26th	27th	28th	Total
Banded	128	86	56	5	37	47	51	410
Species Banded	19	15	15	4	11	11	14	33
Recap	53	47	40	3	31	15	19	208
Species Recap	9	8	8	2	7	5	5	15

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