Alberta - British Columbia March 25 - April 6 2005

Matti Koivula

I had to make a congress trip to Victoria, BC, but managed to see some birds as well. Weather was mostly fine, although some days were rather rainy. Temperatures in Alberta (AB) roughly +5, in BC +10 C. Alberta was snow covered (5-15 cm), in BC snow was patchy at high elevations. Got a heavy snowfall 2.4. while driving from Nanaimo to Tofino. Other observers Hanna Koivula & some unidentified local birders in Vancouver Island.

Abbreviations used in the table: AB = Alberta, Van = Vancouver, Tof = tofino, Vic = Victoria, sexes separated with slash, e.g. 2/1 = 2 males 1 female, ad = adult, juv = juvenile, imm = immature, a = flock (e.g. a50 = a flock of 50 birds). Flight directions marked with capitals, e.g. N = north. Note: "BC coast" includes coastal Vancouver Island. Total 117 bird species, subjective highlights marked with bold.

Route & schedule

Dates	Activity & route
25.-26.3.	driving Edmonton-Valemount-Kamloops-Vancouver
27.3.	birding at Vancouver, Boundary Bay area, evening ferry to Victoria (56 CAD)
28.3.	birding at Victoria region (southern Vancouver Island)
29.-30.3.	congress days, mostly inside the hotel Laurel Point Inn
31.3.	congress day, afternoon birding in Victoria
1.4.	birding in Victoria, driving Nanaimo-Qualicum (east coast of Vancouver Island)
2.4.	birding at Qualicum Beach, driving to Tofino
3.-4.4.	birding in Tofino and Ucluelet, 4.4. evening drive to Nanaimo, ferry to Vancouver, & driving to Hope
5.4.	driving Hope-Kamloops-Clearwater-Jasper
6.4.	driving Jasper-Edmonton, birding at Wabamun region

Observations

Nr	Species	Scientific	Information
1	Red-throated loon	Gavia stellata	Trip total ca 50, of which 27.3. Van White Rock ca 30
2	Pacific loon	Gavia pacifica	BC coast total only ca 30
3	Common loon	Gavia immer	BC common (several tens)
4	Slavonian grebe	Podiceps auritus	Victoria-Tofino common (100+)
5	Red-necked grebe	Podiceps grisegena	Victoria-Tofino common (100+)
6	Western grebe	Aechmophorus occidentalis	27.3. Van Tsawwassen 2
7	Brandt's cormorant	Phalacrocorax penicillatus	Victoria-Tofino total 5-6
8	Pelagic cormorant	Phalacrocorax pelagicus	BC coasts common (hundreds)
9	Double-crested cormorant	Phalacrocorax auritus	BC coasts common (1000+); interesting evening flight 3.4. Tofino harbour, where a total of 550 flew to sea at 20:00-20:20
10	Great blue heron	Ardea herodias	Trip total ca 50; also in AB: 6.4. Wabamun dock 1 ad
11	Trumpeter swan	Cygnus buccinator	26.3. Valemount 10 ad 4 juv; 5.4. Nanaimo-Horseshoe Bay ferry Cygnus sp ca 40 local at sea
12	Mute swan	Cygnus olor	28.3. Esquimalt Lagoon 12
13	White-fronted goose	Anser albifrons	28.3. Esquimalt Lagoon 1 ad, 3.4. Ucluelet a38 N
14	Canada goose	Branta canadensis	Common (several hundreds)
15	"Dusky canada goose"	B. canadensis?	3.4. Tof Sharp Rd a18 local
16	Brent goose	Branta bernicla nigricans	27.3. Van Tsawwassen ca 400, 3.4. Ucluelet a8 N
17	Wood duck	Aix sponsa	26.3. Kamloops 1/-, 5.4. Kamloops 4/2
18	Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Common
19	Pintail	Anas acuta	Common (total several hundreds)
20	Gadwall	Anas strepera	27.3. Kamloops 1/1, 5.4. Kamloops 1/-, 6.4. Wabamun-Keephills AB ca 60
21	American wigeon	Anas americana	Common; e.g. 27.3. Van Boundary Bay ca 5000
22	Eurasian wigeon	Anas penelope	26.3. Kamloops 1/- (HWY 5, 3 km past intersection 362), 27.3. Van Boundary Bay (104 st) a minimum of 10/-, 2.-3.4. Tof Sharp Rd 5/-, 4.4. Kamloops 1/1, 5.4. Clearwater 1/-
23	Shoveler	Anas clypeata	5.4. Kamloops 1/1
24	Green-winged teal	Anas carolinensis	Common, e.g. 3.4. Tof Sharp Rd ca 250
25	Lesser scaup	Aythya affinis	26.3. Kamloops 4, 5.4. Kamloops 5, 6.4. Wabamun-Keephills AB ca 30
26	Greater scaup	Aythya marila	BC coasts abundant, e.g. 27.3. Tsawwassen ca 500, 28.3. Esquimalt Lagoon ca 350 & 1.-2.4. Qualicum ca 500; others: 26.3. Kamloops 8, 5.4. Kamloops ca 40, 6.4. Wabamun-Keephills AB 7/6
27	Ring-necked duck	Aythya collaris	4.4. Tofino-Nanaimo road 3/-, 5.4. Kamloops 5/3
28	Canvasback	Aythya valisineria	6.4. Wabamun AB 8/6, Keephills AB 3/2
29	Redhead	Aythya americana	6.4. Wabamun AB 2/2
30	Harlequin duck	Histrionicus histrionicus	Victoria-Tofino common (total 50+)
31	Long-tailed duck	Clangula hyemalis	27.3. Van White Rock 2, 2.4. Qualicum ca 40
32	Surf scoter	Melanitta perspicillata	Victoria-Tofino common; movements 2.4. Qualicum ca 1400 N (7:15-8:45)
33	Black scoter	Melanitta nigra	BC coast total ca 10
34	White-winged scoter	Melanitta fusca	Victoria-Tofino common (ca 300)
35	Goldeneye	Bucephala clangula	Common (1000+)
36	Barrow's goldeneye	Bucephala islandica	26.3. Kamloops 1/1, 2.4. Qualicum 4/4, 6.4. Jasper 1/1
37	Bufflehead	Bucephala albeola	Common (1000+)
38	Goosander	Mergus merganser	Trip total ca 50
39	Red-breasted merganser	Mergus serrator	Victoria-Tofino common, e.g. 28.3. Vic Clover Point ca 100 & Esquimalt Lagoon ca 120
40	Hooded merganser	Mergus cucullatus	26.3. Valemount 1/-, Kamloops 1/1, 2.-3.4. Tof Sharp Rd 3/8
41	Ruddy duck	Oxyura jamaicensis	Only 5.4. Kamloops 1/-
42	Turkey vulture	Cathartes aura	26.3. Little Fort 1 subad N
43	Northern harrier	Circus hudsonicus	27.3. Van Boundary Bay ca 10, 5.4. Merritt 1/-
44	Cooper's hawk	Accipiter cooperi	1.4. Victoria 1 (2cy)
45	Sharp-shinned hawk	Accipiter striatus	27.3. Van Boundary Bay 1
46	Red-tailed hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	BC common (total tens), 5.-6.4. Jasper-Wabamun AB 8
47	Golden eagle	Aquila chrysaetos	25.3. Hinton 1 imm N
48	Bald eagle	Haliaeetus leucocephalus	Trip total ca 50; interesting observation 27.3. in Van Boundary Bay, where 1 ad Bald forced a Glaucous-winged gull to throw up food in the air; eagle caught the falling piece using talons & ate it while still flying!
49	American kestrel	Falco sparverius	5.4. Kamloops 1
50	Merlin	Falco columbarius	3.4. Tof Sharp Rd 1, 5.4. Jasper 1
51	Peregrine	Falco peregrinus	3.4. Tof Sharp Rd 1
52	Ruffed grouse	Bonasa umbellus	5.4. Little Fort 1 dead on a road
53	American coot	Fulica americana	BC relatively common
54	Black-bellied plover	Pluvialis squatarola	27.3. Van Boundary Bay ca 30, 2.4. Tof Sharp Rd ca 30, 3.4. same site 1
55	American/Pacific golden plover	Pluvialis dominica/fulva	3.4. Tof Sharp Rd 1 eclipse
56	Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus	Only 27.3. Van Boundary Bay 1
57	Black oystercatcher	Haematopus bachmani	Victoria-Tofino total ca 20
58	Long-billed curlew	Numenius americanus	5.4. Clearwater 2
59	Greater yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca	BC total ca 70
60	Black turnstone	Arenaria melanocephala	Victoria-Tofino total ca 100
61	Sanderling	Calidris alba	28. & 31.3. Vic Ogden Point 18
62	Dunlin	Calidris alpina	27.3. Van Boundary Bay, 104 st ca 30 + ca500 Calidris sp; 2.4. Tof Sharp Rd shore ca1200 Calidris sp
63	Common snipe	Gallinago delicata	3.4. Wickaninnish 1
64	Black-legged kittiwake	Rissa tridactyla	3.4. Ucluelet 5 ad 1 juv N (11:30-12:45)
65	Bonaparte's gull	Larus philadelphia	Nanaimo-Qualicum common; e.g. 1.-2.4. Qualicum ca 1400; otherwise only 2.4. Tof Sharp Rd 1 ad local
66	Mew gull	Larus brachyrhynchus	BC coast common (thousands)
67	Ring-billed gull	Larus delawarensis	26.3. Chilliwack ca 40; otherwise 2.4. Tof Sharp Rd 1 (2cy) local, 6.4. Wabamun AB ca 10
68	California gull	Larus californicus	25.3. Hinton 1 ad (smi/cal); BC coast common (hundreds); 6.4. Wabamun AB ca10 (+ ca 70 big Larus)
69	Thayer's gull	Larus thayeri	1.4. Vic Clover Point 1 ad W, 2.4. Qualicum 1 ad local
70	American herring gull	Larus smithsonianus	BC coast relatively common, e.g. Tofino ca 30; 6.4. Wabamun AB 5 ad
71	Glaucous-winged gull	Larus glaucescens	BC coast common (a few thousands), also "intermediates" of glaucescens-smithsonianus ca 10
72	Western gull	Larus occidentalis	2.4. Tof Sharp Rd 1 ad 1 imm, 3.4. Tof harbour 2 ad 1 imm
73	Common murre	Uria aalge	Victoria total 6, Tofino total 3
74	Pigeon guillemot	Cepphus columba	Victoria-Tofino common (100+)
75	Marbled murrelet	Brachyramphus marmoratus	Victoria-Tofino common (ca 30)
76	Rhinoceros auklet	Cerorhinca monocerata	Victoria-Tofino common (50+)
77	Rock dove	Columba livia	common, unfortunately found also e.g. in Hope, Ucluelet & Tofino
78	Belted kingfisher	Ceryle alcyon	Trip total 5
79	Rufous hummingbird	Selasphorus rufus	Vancouver Island total ca 10 (incl. hummingbird sp)
80	Northern flicker	Colaptes auratus	Trip total ca 20
81	Pileated woodpecker	Dryocopus pileatus	2.4. Little Qualicum Falls 1 & Macmillan Park 1
82	Gray jay	Perisoreus canadensis	25.3. Hinton 1
83	Steller's jay	Cyanocitta stelleri	Vancouver Island common, elsewhere only 5.4. Jasper 1
84	Black-billed magpie	Pica hudsonica	Common, except at BC coast
85	American crow	Corvus brachyrhynchus	Common inland BC & AB
86	Northwestern crow	Corcus caurinus	BC coast common
87	Raven	Corvus corax	Common
88	Skylark	Alauda arvensis	28.3. Victoria airport 4-5
89	Tree swallow	Tachycineta bicolor	Total in BC ca 20; also 28.3. Victoria airport swallow sp ca 100
90	Violet-green swallow	Tachycineta thalassina	26.3. Kamloops 1, 5.4. Kamloops 2
91	Bushtit	Psaltriparus minimus	31.3. Victoria 2
92	Black-capped chickadee	Parus atricapillus	Relatively common
93	Mountain chickadee	Parus gambeli	26.3. Valemount 1
94	Chestnut-backed chickadee	Parus rufescens	2.4. Macmillan Park 1-2
95	Brown creeper	Certhia americana	2.4. Macmillan Park 1 singing
96	Winter wren	Troglodytes troglodytes	BC common
97	Golden-crowned kinglet	Regulus satrapa	BC total ca 5
98	Ruby-crowned kinglet	Regulus calendula	BC common
99	Mountain bluebird	Sialia sialis	26.3. Kamloops 1/-, 6.4. Road 627 (Keephills-Edmonton) 2
100	Varied thrush	Ixoreus naevius	Trip total ca 20; also in AB: 5.4. Jasper 2 singing
101	American robin	Turdus migratorius	BC common, 5.-6.4. Jasper ca 10
102	Bohemian waxwing	Bombycilla garrulus	25.3. Edmonton AB calls
103	Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	Common
104	Orange-crowned warbler	Vermivora celata	Only 3.4. Wickaninnish 1
105	Spotted towhee	Pipilo maculatus	Vancouver Island total 5
106	Savannah sparrow	Passerculus sandvichensis	Only 27.3. Van Boundary Bay 8
107	Fox sparrow	Passerella iliaca	Only 3.4. Ucluelet 1-2
108	Song sparrow	Melospiza melodia	BC common (total several tens)
109	Dark-eyed junco	Junco hyemalis	BC common (all "oregon"), 5.-6.4. Jasper 2-3
110	White-crowned sparrow	Zonotrichia leucophrys	27.3. Van Boundary Bay 1, 4.4. Tofino 2 singing
111	Golden-crowned sparrow	Zonotrichia atricapilla	Only 27.3. Van Boundary Bay 1
112	Western meadowlark	Sturnella neglecta	26.3. Kamloops 3
113	Red-winged blackbird	Agelaius phoeniceus	BC scarce, total ca 50, of which 26.3. Kamloops ca 20; elsewhere 6.4. Jasper 1/- (2cy)
114	Brewer's blackbird	Euphagus cyanocephalus	26.3. Kamloops-Vancouver ca 20
115	House finch	Carpodacus mexicanus	BC common
116	Pine siskin	Carduelis pinus	BC total ca 15
117	House sparrow	Passer domesticus	Common