My wife and I are back from teaching and doing conservation work in South Korea for the past three years, and so are getting to know B.C. birds again. This process has started in our backyard, and the list over the past 2 weeks has grown to 32 species.

Birds that are heard or seen every day include Rufous, Calliope and possible Black-chinned Hummingbird, Mountain and Black-capped Chickadee, Spotted Towhee, Evening Grosbeak, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audobon's race, with nest), Kestrel (with nest), Northern Flicker, Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon race), White-crowned Sparrow, American Goldfinch, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and the ever present Pine Siskin. California Quail have also been recorded a few times, which I don't remember being around here during my childhood or even before we left the country 5 years ago - is their range expanding?

Birds that have been spotted moving through include one Golden Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, a pair of Western Tanager, Ring-necked Duck and Mallard and one distant Turkey Vulture.

I will post anything different that comes through here in the coming weeks.

Well that didn't take long . . . a quick look in the mixed forest on the edge of the fields where the Kestrel are nesting revealed a couple new species for the area also showing nesting behaviour.

2 pair of Bullock's Northern Oriole are nesting on the edge of the forest, marking the furthest North I've seen them - has anyone seen them this far north or in Salmon Arm before? Both pair are not shy and are giving fantastic looks.

Also added to the list was a Song Sparrow that is none too shy about telling you where it's territory is. A few noises from the nearby hedge of bushes that sounds like a species of Warbler, but that will have to be discovered next time.

I also spoke with a friend who lives up Silver Star road who was saying that they have California Quail around their place for the first time this year, so it seems as though their range may indeed be expanding, any thoughts or other observations on this?

Also the nesting Great Horned Owls are back for another go on the Vernon Golf and Country Club course, on the 9th fairway. The 2 immature have just fledged last Thursday, much to the delight of the golfers!

wow, what a great bunch right now!

thanks for the reports

_________________
Paul Kusmin
http://www.flickr.com/photos/revs45
http://45revs.blogspot.com

Digital (photo) Life List:
283 birds B.C. / 427 birds N.A. / 706 birds World (including NA)

A few more species to add to the seemingly ever-growing list. Two Western Kingbirds are nesting on a telephone pole where the wire meet, while a dead Lazuli Bunting was found on the road yesterday.

Excitement came a couple of days ago as we heard two owls calling back and forth to each other at around 4 pm in the afternoon. After consulting our favourite owl-call site, we found out that they're Barred Owls! A Yellow Warbler was also seen flitting among the tops of the Poplar trees, and we've now confirmed Black-chinned Hummingbird at the feeder.

Killdeer also occupy the fields of a nearby miniature horse farm, as well as a Chipping Sparrow. More to come . . ?

Some time at home in the past week has led to a few more discoveries in our neighbourhood. Pileated Woodpecker is always a highlight, and one was seen down by a small swamp and stream.

That same location yesterday held a few more suprises. New to the list were Willow Flycatcher giving it's disctinctive call (thankfully) and 2 Warbling Vireo that were chasing each other around giving their harsh calls, some of which sounded faintly like a Towhee - juvenile Vireos? Calliope Hummingbird seem to have bred there, or at least been successful elsewhere as a female and 2 juveniles were enjoying the flowers and often sitting on the fence line together. Song Sparrow was also evident and vocal while Barn Swallows (including the new hatch) were swarming the power lines.

In the open field near the mixed forest, a Red-eyed Vireo sang its heart out, while the juvenile Flickers made mad dashes from tree to tree. The Hairy Woodpecker that has been hanging around was seen too.

A pair of Empidomax Flycatchers were also seen in the low trees of some people's back yard. At distance it was tough to get a good digiscope image, but the overall very yellow wash, slight eye ring, and the more open habitat lead me to think they were Pacific-slope instead of Dusky or Hammond's. They weren't making any noise, unfortunately, and we'll have to investigate further in the coming days/weeks.

Killdeer numbers in the adjacent farm have reached epic proportions - last count was 16 in one field, many of them juvenile. Back at the feeders this past week have been Red-breasted Nuthatch, Mountain Chickadee, Calliope and Rufous Hummingbird, Pine Siskin and lovely American Goldfinch.

With Fall migration starting soon (or already started), we look forward to seeing what else we can spot in the coming weeks!