Since 1971, 315 species of birds have been reliably recorded on the Sunshine Coast and just over 200 of these are reported in any one year. About 150 of these are abundant or easily observed species such as bald eagle, mallard or spotted towhee. The remainder appear with varying regularity, some recorded every year in small numbers, some only recorded once every few years and others have only ever been recorded once. In most years, a species never recorded before will put in an appearance, and we add a new species to the all-time checklist.
In 2017 two new species were added: ferruginous hawk and blue-gray gnatcatcher. My vote for the Bird of the Year goes to the ferruginous hawk, a species I had never expected to see on the Sunshine Coast. These hawks are fairly common on the Prairies, but very rare anywhere in B.C., and almost unrecorded on the coast of B.C. The bird was present Aug. 8 to 19 in the vicinity of the Wilson Creek estuary and was first identified from photographs taken by Lynne Dunham. It was subsequently observed by numerous birders, both local and visiting. A close second for Bird of the Year was the blue-gray gnatcatcher found by John Hodges on Oct. 17, also at Wilson Creek estuary. This species is rarely recorded north of southern Oregon, but they do stray northwards on occasion.
Three species this year were recorded for only the second time on the Sunshine Coast: a Brewer’s sparrow at Wilson Creek estuary by John Hodges on May 25, two sharp-tailed sandpipers on Oct. 27 by John Hodges again at the Wilson Creek estuary, and a Swainson’s hawk was photographed by Janet Ritchey in Grantham’s Landing on Oct. 28.
Rounding out the year’s top ten rarest birds were a gray catbird (third record, Mission Point area June 9, Arnold Skei), a flock of five white pelicans (fourth record) observed in the Ruby Lake area by Aldo Cogrossi, an ash-throated flycatcher (fifth record) at Wilson Creek estuary by Marie Revoy, a Lewis’s woodpecker (sixth record) at Madeira Park, and an American three-toed woodpecker at Hidden Grove in East Porpoise Bay. This latter bird was especially notable for being an extremely rare sea-level occurrence of a species usually found above 1,000m. It was well photographed on July 4 by Brian McKenney.
Two interesting factors emerge from the above. Firstly, five of the 10 records were from the Wilson Creek estuary, which highlights the unique importance of this location in Sunshine Coast ornithology. Secondly, eight of the 10 records are documented by photographs, an important element of contemporary birding.
To ask a question or report your sightings contact [email protected] or 604-885-5539.
Good birding!
