The summer of 2016 is almost over and the late August weather has been exceptionally fine after a somewhat disappointing July. Late August and September are transitional months for the birdlife of the Sunshine Coast as our summer birds depart for the south while the winter birds arrive from the north and east and descend to sea level from the mountains.
Shorebirds of about 12 species are a prime August objective for local birders as they transit through the Sunshine Coast from northern breeding locations to warmer, often tropical habitats for the winter. These birds include six species of sandpiper, yellowlegs, dowitchers, semi-palmated plover, wandering tattler and red-necked phalarope. A further six species of shorebirds, mainly those specializing in rocky shoreline habitats such as black oystercatcher, black turnstone and surfbird, will stay to winter with us.
By late August, the six species of swallows that summer with us are down to two, the barn swallow and purple martin. The martins appear to have had a successful breeding season at their strongholds at the head of Porpoise Bay and the Wilson Creek estuary where they utilize the artificial nestboxes on the pilings. Barn swallow numbers have declined dramatically in recent years, and we wish them luck on their hazardous migration and winter sojourn in the tropics until they reappear on the Sunshine Coast in late April next year.
Through September, familiar birds will reappear in the lowlands where we live as the seed eaters return to bird feeders for the winter. Dark-eyed juncos, one of our commonest winter birds, will reappear in the week after Sept. 15 and be with us until next April. Juncos move upslope into the local mountains to breed in the summer.
September is notable for the almost complete absence of bald eagles on the Sunshine Coast as they disperse around coastal B.C. to wherever the salmon are running. They begin to reappear in the first week of October.
To report your sightings or questions, contact [email protected] or 604-885-5539.
Good birding!
