Snow geese have continued to overfly the Sunshine Coast for the last few days with many skeins seen and heard, both day and night, with Oct. 17 a particularly busy day. I was out in the garden just before sunset on the 16th when I heard an approaching flock. The sun was very low in the sky with that special October golden sunset glow. The geese were in a mathematically perfect chevron, each individual taking advantage of the aerodynamics achieved by the flight formation. Looking up at the flock, I noticed that every up and down beat of each individual’s wings gave the effect of LED Christmas lights flicking on and off, every wing beat illuminated in the golden glow of the sunset – another magical moment in the beauty and wonder of the natural world!
Two of the commonest of our wintering ducks should arrive any day now, with Oct. 18 often being the first day that Barrow’s goldeneyes and buffleheads begin to reappear from their interior breeding lakes. As we approach November, look and listen for trumpeter swans migrating overhead. These huge, long-necked birds are all white, with a different vocalization, traits that distinguish them from the much more abundant snow geese.
This is the time of the year when northern pygmy owls are frequently seen and heard at sea-level, typically at dawn and dusk, and often their incessant, boring call will indicate their presence. Pygmy owls are crepuscular (dawn and dusk) and therefore often seen. Their relative, the saw-whet owl, is also migrating through our area at this time of the year but goes largely unseen, as it is totally nocturnal. Unfortunately, saw-whets are often casualties of vehicle collisions as they are attracted to car lights after dark.
There have been a couple of reports of peregrine falcons along the coastline and two of our rarer birds have been recorded, a northern shrike at the Wilson Creek estuary on Oct. 13 by John Hodges and a Lapland longspur at the Angus Creek estuary in Porpoise Bay Provincial Park on Oct. 11 by Aspen Wing.
To report your sightings or questions, contact Tony at 604-885-5539 or [email protected]. Good birding!
