World Migratory Bird Day  (also known to some hardcore birders as Global Big Day), May 8, 2021, was a busy one for Bulkley Valley birders from Houston to Hazelton.  We’ve captured some of the action through photos, quotes, species lists and audio contributions from members, and by harvesting May 8 social media posts from around our valley.

Our first post came from Treasurer Janine Pittman who also coordinates the club’s Bluebird Box project.  Fittingly, Janine has submitted this stunning short of a bluebird spotted on a fencepost along Snake Road.  A loop trip around the High Road – Driftwood area was an excellent way to enjoy bluebirds and a variety of other migratory and resident birds on this weekend.  Click on the photo to view its full splendor.

We received these two crisp photos from visiting out-of-town birder Leo Rankin.

At the Farmer’s Market this morning Loretta told us “There are so many warblers at [Malkow] Lookout right now, including an Orange-crowned Warbler”.  And sure enough, the following day at Tyhee Lake Park, Orange-crowned Warblers were spotted and heard many times along the lakeshore. Most of these were apparently on their migration northward.

One of our favorite vocal spring birds, the Red-winged Blackbird was photographed by Michael Kawerninski, at Tyee Lake. You’ll find both spellings in this post, just as you do when you drive the High Road (Tyhee Lake Provincial Park, Tyee Lake Mobile Home Park, etc.).

Michael also shared this photo of a Red-tailed Hawk. “There seems to be a fair amount of them around this year.” he said. “There are two active nests at present within a two kilometer km radius of Tyee Lake and with their iconic call, [they]’re easily spotted.”

Later in the day, Michael birdwatched at Tyee Lake with Jay Gilden and reported the following sightings:  Yellow-headed Blackbird, American Bittern, 2-3 Wilson’s Snipe, Wilson’s Warbler, Ring-necked Ducks, multiple Common Loons, Red-winged Blackbirds, Red-breasted Nuthatch.

This photo of the Yellow-headed Blackbird was taken a few year’s ago, but according to Michael “today’s appearance was identical… It’s been around the marsh in front all morning — one can’t miss or mistake that distinctive call!”

 

Mel and Evi Coulson returned to their old haunts, prowling around Round Lake, Covert Lake (the pond near the old Quick Church), and over the bridge at Quick to assemble a checklist of 179 birds of 38 species, including 26 Yellow-rumped Warblers and 4 American Coots.  The highlight of their day was an encounter with a randy pair of Quick Ospreys.

 

 

My personal birding moment of the day:  pausing at the viewpoint overlooking Willowvale (Soravale) Marsh near Pacific Avenue to take in the morning chorus. Dave Coates made an audio recording.  You’ll need to maximize your speaker volume to hear this as Dave’s no audio pro. Can you identify the “ker-whit” call?

Birdsong at Willowvale Marsh (10 am, May 8, 2021)- answer at bottom of page.

 

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Hilary Bradnam, Tina Portman and Cindy Verbeek posted a total of 73 observation and 43 species on our iNaturalist World Migratory Bird Day project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Their most-sighted species was (no surprise) the Yellow-rumped Warbler, followed closely by Canada Geese. And it’s clear that the Flycatchers have arrived in the Valley as both Hillary and Tina reported an Olive-sided Flycatcher.

 

 

Several avid birders took part in Global Big Day, posting their results on eBird and on the Bulkley Valley Birders Facebook page.
In Smithers, Ken and Teresa White started at 7 am and finished 14 hours later. Together they tallied 78 species, including 14 new species for the year, moving between hotspots at Toboggan Lake, Glacier Gulch, the Bluff Trails  Tyhee Lake Park, Tatlow and out to Vallee Lake. Highlights for their Big Day included a Wilson’s Phalarope and a Virginia Rail.
Down-river in Hazelton, the Global Big Day adventures of Larry Joseph and his friends included 56 species at eight locations around the Hazeltons including a stop at Hospital Lake (near Two-Mile)  where 78 birds of 17 species were recorded, including Lesser Scaup (18), Ring-Necked Duck (14), Barrow’s Goldeneye (10), and Northern Shoveler (9).

Thanks to all the birders for sharing your bird news!

 

Audio clip answer: that was the eponymous Sora (Porzana carolina) in the audio clip, with a few of the ever-present Red-Winged Blackbirds chiming in.