Newsmagazine of the British Columbia Field Ornithologists ISSN 1206-1611 BCFO.ca Volume 27 Number 4 / December 2017 Blue Jay photographed at Old Summit Lake Road, Prince George, by Jeff Dyck. BC Birding December 2017 Edition 27 (4) Publisher BC Birding is published four times a year by the British Columbia Field Ornithologists, P.O. Box 61670, RPO BCFO Officers & Brookswood, Langley, BC V3A 1K0. A subscription to this quarterly is a benefit of member- ship in the society. Members will also receive a copy of the Directors annual journal, British Columbia Birds. Officers President: Mike McGrenere, Victoria, 250-658-8624, About the BCFO [email protected] Membership in BCFO is open to anyone interested in the Vice President: Art Martell, Courtenay, 250-334-2979, study and enjoyment of wild birds in British Columbia. [email protected] BCFO objectives include: fostering cooperation between Secretary: Marian Porter, Salt Spring Island, 250-653-2043, amateur and professional ornithologists, promoting cooper- [email protected] ative bird surveys and research projects, and supporting Treasurer: Josh Inman, Langley, 604-532-0455, conservation organizations in their efforts to preserve birds [email protected] and their habitats. Membership Other Directors See the website (bcfo.ca) for details, or write to the BCFO Jude Grass, Surrey, 604-538-8774, [email protected] Clive Keen, Prince George, 250-963-9520, address given above under “Publisher.” clive_keen@ hotmail.com Annual Membership Dues Adrian Leather, Quesnel, 250-249-5561, General Membership (Canada): $30 q-birds@xplornet. com Junior Membership (Canada): $20 Monica Nugent, New Westminster, 604-220-8816, U.S. and International Membership: $35 [email protected] Gary Davidson, Nakusp, 250-265-4456, [email protected] Newsmagazine Submissions To submit material to this publication, contact the Editor by Ex Officio email ([email protected]) or by mail at 10790 Immediate Past President: George Clulow, Burnaby, Grassland Road, Prince George, BC V2K 5E8. 604-438-7639, [email protected] Submissions may include articles about birding experi- ences, casual observations about bird behaviour, site guides, BCFO Committees & Representatives photographs, and other topics of broad interest to birders, AGM Planning Committee: TBA preferably, but not necessarily, in British Columbia. Over- Archivist/ Librarian: Les Gyug seas trip reports are welcome but should be kept to a maxi- British Columbia Birds (Journal) Editor: Art Martell mum of 2,000 words. Deadlines are: BC Birding Editor: Clive Keen; Associate Editor: Virginia Rasch • March edition: February 15 BC Bird Records Committee Chair: Nathan Hentze • June edition: May 15 BCFO Two-day Trips: Adrian Leather Canadian International Joint Venture: Wayne Weber • September edition: August 15 Cannings Award Committee: Wayne Weber • December edition: November 15 Featured Photographer Committee: Carlo Giovanella IOC Vancouver 2018: George Clulow Membership Committee: Larry Cowan Advertising Rates Website: George Clulow, Neil Dawe Full page: $125 per issue or $112.50 each for four or more Young Birder Awards Committee: Carlo Giovanella issues Young Birders Program: Melissa Hafting Half page: $75 per issue or $67.50 each for four or more issues Quarter page: $40 per issue or $36 each for four or more issues BCFO members are welcome to include classified ads, of up to 25 words, at no cost. Right: a dream sighting for many of us: a Laysan Albatross photographed by Mark Yunker on a pelagic trip out of Tofino. This was one of four, and possibly five, Laysan Albatross seen on the trip. Page 2 BC Birding December 2017 Edition 27 (4) Contents Notices President’s Message ................................................................................................ 4 Welcome New Members ........................................................................................ 4 Notes ....................................................................................................................... 5 Bird Listers’ Corner ................................................................................................ 7 BCFO Two-day Trips Trip Report: Mini-Pelagic, October 28–29, 2017 .................................................. 8 Upcoming Meetings & Events ..................................................................... 9 Trip Reports A Likely Tale ........................................................................................................ 11 Birding Somerset, UK ......................................................................................... 12 Spotted Owls! ....................................................................................................... 12 Young Birders Program Trip Report: Hawk Watch .................................................................................... 13 Essay: A Birding Mecca in Delta ......................................................................... 14 Christmas Bird Counts YB Notes .............................................................................................................. 16 2017 – 2018 Feature Birding at the Fire Zone Edge............................................................................... 18 The 118th CBC takes place this year between December 14, 2017 and Jan- Book Review uary 5, 2018. Information on dates Birdmania: A Remarkable Passion for Birds ....................................................... 21 and contacts for the 106 BC counts, as well as the Bird Counts4Kids, are Briefing available at bcfo.ca . Phorusrhacids ........................................................................................................ 22 Gone Pishing Magpie 2 ............................................................................................................... 23 The Reflective Birder Have Binoculars, Will Travel ............................................................................... 26 Not Just an LBJ On November 3, 2017, Langley birder Cos van Vermerskerken had found a Clay-coloured Sparrow at Brydon La- goon, close to photographer John Gor- don’s house. Clay-coloured are com- mon enough in the interior, but much less so in the Lower Mainland. John went looking, and waited at the expected spot for two hours, ap- parently in vain. But then he heard a rustling behind him. He very slowly turned around and there, perched on a stem of grass about two metres away, was the bird. If only all such hunts could be so satisfying. Page 3 BC Birding December 2017 Edition 27 (4) looking at the banquet room we ob- comment. The Board will be review- served Varied Thrushes, Robins, a ing all comments received by the end President’s Hairy Woodpecker, Steller’s Jays of November and a new draft will be and four other species just outside placed in the Members Section of the the building. A detailed outline of the website in the new year for your con- Message events and field trips will be in the sideration. A vote on the new draft March issue of BC Birding as well as will take place at the Hope AGM. Mike McGrenere, President on the website. Shorter daylight hours and colder There will be a two-day pre- temperatures mean that winter is ap- In early November I joined Jude and conference field trip and post- proaching and it will be time to par- Al Grass on a trip to Hope to look at conference extension trip. Adrian ticipate in your local Christmas Bird possible venues for the 2018 confer- Leather is organizing these two ac- Count. Whether you will be counting ence and AGM. Jude had made en- tivities with the pre-conference trip in snow or more balmy conditions on quiries with the Hope community planned to take place in the Princeton the West Coast, the Christmas centre about use of their banquet area and the post-conference exten- Counts are a great way to wind up room. She also arranged to meet with sion heading to the Williams Lake the birding year. A list of the Christ- Scott Denkers and Kelly Pearce from area for some great birding. Details mas Bird Counts in British Columbia the Hope Mountain Centre who have of these two birding events will also is available on the website. This is agreed to assist with the organization be available in the March issue of BC the 118th year that Christmas Bird of the conference. Birding and on the website. Counts have been held in North Scott and Kelly suggested that we An e-mail message to all mem- America. The website also has infor- look at the Hope Golf and Country bers was sent in late September re- mation about Christmas Bird Counts Club which has a banquet room that garding revisions to the BCFO Con- for Kids. is popular for weddings. The golf stitution and Bylaws required by the club is in a gorgeous location and new BC Societies Act. A draft of the On behalf of the Board, I wish you looks very suitable for our event so revised Constitution and Bylaws was all the best for an enjoyable holiday we have secured the facility for the placed in the Members Section of the season and a happy new year. weekend of June 1, 2 and 3. While website for members to view and Page 4 BC Birding December 2017 Edition 27 (4) versity of Alberta, where he completed North Island regions, and put in over his Ph.D. dissertation on the demogra- 300 hours in the field as an atlasser. He Notes phy of tundra and taiga populations of has also contributed almost 2,000 red-backed voles. He acknowledges checklists to eBird over the last several being mentored by Dr. Bill Fuller, re- years. In addition, he has been active in Tumbler Ridge nowned