The Hummingbirds of Vancouver Island

     On a recent trip to Vancouver Island we had many sightings of the two species of hummingbird regularly seen there.
   
Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)

     In recent years this hardy little bird has taken up permanent residence on Vancouver Island and may be found even during snowy conditions in winter. There is a wide variety of native vegetation on which it feeds and it is further helped by the increased use of sugar water feeders by bird-friendly people.

     There are many incidences of people providing food in sheltered areas around their property and even installing heat lamps to keep water from freezing and providing heated bird baths. And of course the bird enters torpor at night when it needs to conserve energy.

     There were many occasions to observe this bird and Franc was always ready to swing into action with his camera to obtain these memorable shots.

Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)

     

     This species is strictly migratory, travelling as far north as Alaska to breed, and we believe it had just arrived on Vancouver Island coinciding with our visit. 

     The male is pugnacious in defence of his territory and we had ample opportunity to witness his fearless chase of species trespassing in the area he claimed as his own.

     The male above perched for an extended period and obligingly turned several times to allow the light to highlight his brilliant gorget.
     In the following picture a female seemed to be probing in a hole in the bark of a giant coastal cedar for insects, or perhaps sap that might have been oozing out.

     Our encounters with hummingbirds were daily highlights of our trip. And now we are looking forward to the return of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilocus colubris) to Ontario. We can hardly wait!

Gulls of the World, A Photographic Guide, Klaus Malling Olsen, Princeton University Press

     When one sees the name of Klaus Malling Olsen as the author of a book one immediately has high expectations, and one looks for quality of the highest order. This book does not disappoint.

     For many years ornithological works containing only photographs were not viewed as favourably as those featuring drawings and illustrations. This viewpoint has changed dramatically in recent years, no doubt due to the advent of digital photography, improved equipment and the sheer number of people taking pictures around the world. Everyone has a camera, if only as part of a smart phone, and the quality of images from those devices increases exponentially with each new release. Birders with expensive telephoto lenses and high end camera bodies can often achieve astounding results. The dedicated amateur can now achieve the same results as the seasoned professional.
     The book begins with all the customary sections and even these headings are supported by excellent photographs. The only non-photographic illustration in the book is the two pages on topography, and pleasingly it is geared specifically to gulls, highlighting characters such as "new moon," mirror" and "window" - terms used almost exclusively when referring to larid plumage. Examine this section and you will have taken a major step towards describing and identifying gulls.

     All of the gulls of the world have detailed coverage with a pleasing array of images to support each species and range maps to accompany the text showing breeding and post breeding areas, with arrows to indicate dispersal. Sub adult plumages, always a source of consternation for many, are illustrated in their various stages.
     The assignment of species status is quite liberal. The IOC World Bird Names, Version 8.1 and Clements 6th edition (updated 2012) both regard Mew Gull (Larus canus) as a single species, with Kamchatka Gull and Common Gull considered sub species. Olsen assigns full species status to all three forms.

       Of course, in the ever fluctuating world of taxonomy, these decisions may be subjected to review and revision at any time.
     Similarly Thayer's Gull, long considered a valid species, although always controversial, was recently reassigned as a subspecies of Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides). Again Olsen considers them as unique species.

      It is a testament to the long reach of Klaus Malling Olsen, that one of the rarest gulls in the world, Saunders's Gull, with an estimated population of less than 15,000 is supported by a fabulous array of images, mainly by John and Jemi Holmes, those dedicated gull watchers in Hong Kong, where a good many of the birds spend the winter. We are treated to a selection of sterling images of adult and juvenile birds, perched and in flight. It is remarkable that this level of coverage, (and superlative coverage at that), is available for a bird so rare. And these are images of real birds, not an artist's impression of what they look like.

     This book has already become my go-to reference for gulls, nudging out, or probably more correctly complementing Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America, by that same Klaus Malling Olsen. One can never get enough of a good thing!

Gulls of the World: A Photographic Guide, Klaus Malling Olsen
Hardcover, $45.00, 488 pages
Publication date: 11 April 2018

American Dipper (Cincle d'Amérique) at Goldstream Provincial Park, Langford, BC

06 April 2018

     Dippers, it seems to me, are among the most enigmatic of the world's birds. They live in wild, rugged places with rapidly flowing streams, in regions often the least modified by humans. And they are endearing. Their name is derived from their habit of bouncing up and down as though on a spring - "dipping." They plunge into icy rapids with abandon, emerging with caddis fly larva which they pound into submission, ridding the larva of its protective shield of pebbles, to gulp down their prize. Their whole lifestyle is wedded to water and it is only in their mountain haunts that we find them going about their lives.

     There are but five species of dipper in the world, and I consider myself fortunate indeed to have enjoyed four of them. The fifth, the Rufous-throated Dipper (Cinclus schulzi) of the remote, almost inaccessible regions of northern Argentina and southern Bolivia will probably remain a mere vision in my mind.

     On a recent trip to Vancouver Island off Canada's west coast one of our targets was American Dipper (C. mexicanus) and we were able to locate it in Goldstream Provincial Park.

     Miriam and I have had several previous encounters with this species, but for Franc, Carol, Jim, Francine and Judy, our fellow birders, it was a first. Fittingly, it seemed, the first four individuals mentioned above saw their first dipper ever last year, White-throated Dipper (C. cinclus), in Slovenia when we also travelled together. With two species under their belt they have already seen 40% of the world's dippers!

     Dippers use their nictitating membranes frequently to protect their eyes from hazards in the water and Miriam was able to capture this photograph of a bird drawing the membrane across its eye while on a log.

     There were at least two individuals and possibly three in the area and they put on a show for us for at least ten minutes.

     It gave us ample opportunity to really enjoy them and observe many facets of their unique lifestyle.

    A complete report of our trip will be posted in the next few days.

Butterfly Gardening - The North American Butterfly Association Guide, Princeton University Press

     Given the precarious state of insect pollinators these days any attempt by citizens to adapt their gardens for native insects is laudable and contributes in no small measure to a healthier and more appealing environment for all.
    Butterflies are without question the most visible and most appealing of the insects we can attract to our gardens, and they add beauty, interest and knowledge to the tiny pocket of land most of us have attached to our dwelling. How much more vivid and soul-satisfying is a riot of colour, both plant and butterfly, than the sterility of a green lawn, aptly described by some as a green desert? Native plants, flowers, shrubs and trees are well adapted to climatic conditions where they occur, and they have developed a symbiotic relationship with their insect pollinators over time. Lawns contribute little to environmental purity and in the process consume excessive amounts of water, need a good deal of attention and unfortunately still receive excessive chemical treatment.
     Jane Hurwitz has authored a fine book which will help readers to reevaluate the choices they make about their gardens, and perhaps for the first time, cause them to look at a garden as habitat rather than as mere decoration for humans.

     The chapters are organized as a "how to" instruction guide and the sections on butterfly basics are especially helpful to those creating butterfly habitat for the first time. 

      Doubtless many homeowners have seen butterflies on their property, other than ubiquitous Cabbage Whites and have wondered what species they are observing. There are myriad common butterflies that are, or can be attracted to a garden and putting a name to them is often a first step. Chapter 2 provides extensive coverage - and is followed immediately by chapter 3 dealing with Caterpillar Cuisine"" and  Chapter 4, "Butterfly Banquet." By the end of the first four chapters even the most raw novice already has a very good idea of what is involved in making a garden a suitable haven for butterflies.

     Great attention is paid to the different climate and vegetational zones throughout the continent; with a series of charts for each region delivering information presented in a very readable format.

    A fascinating secondary activity of creating a butterfly-friendly garden is the search for eggs and caterpillars, with the possibility of bringing them indoors to raise until the adult butterfly emerges from its cocoon. 

  
     By knowing the host plant species for various butterflies and by observation of the adults using those plants it is possible to identify the species right from the egg stage and to know which adult is going to emerge. The caterpillars of different species have individual marking and are usually quite easy to identify. Children are especially enthralled by observing the butterfly life cycle, in the process gaining significant scientific knowledge and developing an appreciation for environmental stewardship.
     This book, in its entirety is well done, and is produced at a critical time in our attempts to restore the earth to what it was like before we degraded it so much. Hopefully, it will lead the curious reader to want to know more and seek out other references and expand his or her environmental awareness beyond the sanctuary created in their own urban landscape.

Butterfly Gardening: The North American Butterfly Association Guide
Jane Hurwitz, $29.95, 288 pages, 8"x 10", Flexibound, 300 colour illustrations.
Publication date:11 April 2018 

Weekend in Algonquin Provincial Park 24- 25 March 2018

     Last year we decided to take a late winter break in Algonquin Provincial Park and enjoyed it so much we decided to make it an annual event.

     Thus, for the second time, most of the members of The Tuesday Rambles with David group, namely Franc and Carol, Jim and Francine, Judy, and Miriam and I prepared for a couple of days of birding in the near north. This year we were joined by my daughter, Caroline, and son-in-law, Andrew, who journeyed from Ottawa and met us in the park.
     Last year we arranged with Spring Lake Resort in Dwight, ON to open up four rooms for us ahead of their normal opening date of 1 May, and this year they kindly obliged us with five rooms. It is an ideal spot for us to stay, about sixteen kilometres from the west gate of the park. Irene Pobojewski, our congenial host, permitted us last year and again this year, to swing by in the morning to plug in a crock pot of chili which was Francine's contribution to the dinner we would all enjoy together in one of the rooms that evening.
     Having taken care of this chore, we headed for the Spruce Bog Trail where Caroline and Andrew awaited us in the parking area. It was cold, minus 11.5°C, with a bit of a wind, but in the shelter of the dense stand of spruce the effect of the wind was mitigated. This is the best spot in the park for Spruce Grouse (Falcipennis canadensis), a species that will sometimes walk right up to you, but at other times can be frustratingly difficult to find. We had no luck today.

Carol, Caroline, Francine, Miriam, Judy, Jim

     Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) were both numerous and noisy and they were quite happy to feast on the bird seed we left for them.

     As we moved across the exposed area of the bog, a classic northern peat bog by the way, the wind made its presence felt, and we were happy when we finally returned to the car to go down to the Visitor Centre to have lunch and check the feeders there.
     We had seen both Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) and Two-barred (White-winged) Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) feeding on minerals and grit at the side of the highway, but at the visitor centre we had much better views; with the male Two-barred Crossbill being the star of the show. Many Pine Siskins (Spinus pinus) were still present and a lingering cohort of about twenty Evening Grosbeaks (Hesperiphona vespertina) took advantage of the feeders.

Red Crossbill

Two-barred Crossbill (male)

Pine Siskin

Evening Grosbeak

      And a pair of Purple Finches (Haemorhous purpureus) was an added bonus and a lifer for Franc and Carol.

Purple Finch - male

Purple Finch - female

     It was good to sit inside with hot coffee and the lunches we had brought from home. There is a great book store to check out, but unlike last year, I don't recall anyone buying anything this year.
     After lunch we went back out on the deck where it was quite a bit warmer than it had been earlier and I ran into my old friend, Rayfield Pye, and it was great to do a little catching up. It was incredible to look back on the time we have known each other, and birded together and manned hawk watches - almost thirty-five years! Where does time go?
     Northern Raven (Corvus corax) has expanded its range south in recent years, but it is still one of the signature birds of the park, a wily opportunist that survives the worst of winter's challenges.

     After lunch we went down the Opeongo Road, one of the very best locations to see Grey Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) and we were not disappointed. This was the species Caroline had looked forward to seeing most of all and they put on a show for her. 

     Following the encounter with the Grey Jays we moved on to the Logging Museum where we spotted a Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus  almost right away and even though it played hide-and-seek with us a little we finally managed to get some fairly decent shots.

     Miriam decided this was a great spot for a group photograph.

Franc, Jim, Carol, Francine, Caroline, Andrew, David, Judy

     It was already late afternoon and we decided to head back to the motel. The Logging Museum is almost at the east gate of the park and from the east gate to the west gate is 57 km and we had a further 16 km beyond there to get to Spring Lake Resort. This is a big park, and the Highway 60 corridor cuts through the narrow part of it in the south.

     We checked in with Irene and paid our bills, then all assembled in Jim and Francine's room where the wine flowed and the food was plentiful. This really is a perfect way to end the day, much better than having to drive and find a restaurant. And the variety of food we all brought was fabulous.
    Following a good night's sleep we went to Judy's room where she made copious quantities of coffee for everyone, and even filled our thermoses for later in the day, and provided her homemade Morning Glory muffins, bran muffins and Caroline contributed a fresh fruit salad for a great breakfast. Birding on a full belly is always better than feeling hungry!
     Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus), one of the two three-toed species in the park, is always high on the list of the special birds, but it is not an easy target to locate. We had checked the locations for recent sightings and tried our luck at the Tea Lake area, but we came up empty. The other area where a bird had been seen was the Mizzy Lake parking lot. Here we hit the jackpot. We parked and stationed ourselves at different spots around the perimeter of the parking area, and within about ten minutes Franc called with great glee, "I have it!" 

   
     We all saw the bird, but it then flew back and we lost sight of it. Again we all fanned out and checked different sections of the stand of dead trees where we had first seen it. Finally, Jim called us all over and the woodpecker was there in front of him feeding on a downed log.

      We watched it for at least fifteen minutes and even when it flew farther back it was still visible for us. 

     This is only the second time that I have had this kind of protracted session with this species. It was very special indeed.
     Following this excitement we went to the Visitor Centre where we had lunch from the ample leftovers from dinner the previous night and checked out the feeders again, but the activity was relatively subdued as more and more birds are moving off into their breeding territories. We decided to head home from there and bade farewell to each other, well satisfied with our weekend. We needed to go into Whitney for gas, but everyone else left to get on their way.
     We had an uneventful drive home happy in the knowledge that we will do it all again next year. Francine already has me on notice that she wants a Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus)!

All species: Ruffed Grouse, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, Grey Jay, Blue Jay, American Crow, Northern Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Purple Finch, Red Crossbill, Two-barred Crossbill, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, Evening Grosbeak.  Total: 18