The goose migration over the Sunshine Coast was very concentrated this spring with thousands (tens of thousands?) of birds flying overhead in the three-day period, April 16 to 18. Flocks of up to 2,000 birds were reported and the stream of birds continued both day and night. Many of the flocks were snow geese heading to Wrangell Island in Siberia, and flocks of Canada geese were also reported.
Keen observers also reported a flock of 250 brant, a flock of 20 greater white-fronted geese and a sprinkling of cackling geese. All of these species summer and breed in high northern latitudes and we look forward to their southern passage to the wintering grounds in October.
On land the spring influx of migrants is well under way with birds returning to our gardens, forests, wetlands and overhead. All of our swallow species are now present and notably the purple martins returned to their nest boxes at the head of Porpoise Bay on April 17.
Orange-crowned warblers are abundant in all treed habitats on the Sunshine Coast and their song, an unmusical trill, can be heard everywhere right now. Yellow-rumped warblers are very abundant as well, and it helps to know their distinctive chip note to detect them.
Yellowthroats, typically a wetland species, first appeared on April 12 and there have been a few reports of both Townsend’s and black-throated gray warbler but we are just on the cusp of their main arrival. Another three warbler species will return during May.
Golden-crowned sparrows are just beginning to pass through our area en route to areas much further north. Gardeners should beware of these birds nibbling at their pea shoots! There have been a few reports of Townsend’s solitaire, a gray coloured thrush that migrates through our area in April and continues on to more northern and interior locations to breed. There has been a western meadowlark in the vicinity of the Wilson Creek estuary.
Two notably uncommon birds reported were Say’s phoebe (Brian McKenney) in the grassy fields of west Porpoise Bay, and a canvasback duck in the Sechelt Marsh (Robert Allen). To report your sightings or questions, contact [email protected] or 604-885-5539.
Good birding.
