The 37th Sunshine Coast Christmas Bird Count (CBC) was held on Saturday, Dec. 19. The count circle is centred in Roberts Creek and covers the area from Port Mellon to Mills Road in West Sechelt.
Twenty-six observers in nine separate parties covered the area as completely as possible during the daylight hours. The weather was overcast with occasional light rain (steady rain on the Port Mellon Highway) and it was windy on the Strait. The temperature ranged from 3.5 to 7C.
At day’s end a total of 93 species had been observed and another six species were added in the three days before and after Count Day, making a total of 99 species for Count Week. These are generally average numbers. The highest species total was 105 in 2009. Highlight species recorded were a juvenile golden eagle in the Chaster Beach area of Gibsons, at least three peregrine falcons, and an orange-crowned warbler on the Port Mellon Highway. The best bird of the count was a mourning dove found by Allen Poynter in the King Road area of Gibsons. Allen is a veteran, expert birder with about a hundred CBCs under his belt after a lifetime of birding.
The 25th Pender Harbour CBC was held on Wednesday, Dec. 16 with 25 participants in seven parties, of which three were boat based. The Pender count was conducted in perfect weather with sunshine, clear skies and calm conditions. Temperatures reached a high of 4C. A total of 82 species were observed, slightly above the long-term average for the count. Two species never previously recorded on this count were found, a sooty grouse in the Ruby Lake area and a ring-billed gull in Sechelt Inlet. Other highlight species were a spotted sandpiper and a flock of evening grosbeaks. The high total for this count is 87 species in 1993 and 2003.
Readers of this column will know that I have made a point of monitoring the population of Anna’s hummingbirds on the Sunshine Coast. This hardy hummer, which first appeared in our area in the 1970s, is now very well established as a year round and wintering bird in all of southwestern B.C. In my last column I requested that readers contact me about any Anna’s they had around their feeders. Once again, profuse thanks to all those who responded to this request (too numerous to respond individually). We can safely say that the population of Anna’s is at a record high of over 220 individuals. I still find it hard to believe that we have wintering hummingbirds in Canada! In West Sechelt Robin Merrifield is still hosting a rufous hummer at his feeder along with hordes of Anna’s. Rufous hummers only rarely winter this far north as most winter in Mexico.
To report your sightings, I can be contacted at tony@whiskeyjacknaturetours.com or 604-885-5539.
