Birdwatching

Northern Pygmy Owl and birders on the 2022 PWPA Bird watching field trip. (James Jansen/Peachland Water Protection Alliance)

Pygmy owl bird watching tour in Peachland will be a hoot

The bird watching event starts at 9:00 a.m. at Hardy Falls on June 3

 

The spotting of a white-tailed kite this far north is rare according to local wild bird enthusiasts. This viewing created a birdwatching frenzy for a few days in North Langley’s Glen Valley neighbourhood. Fort Langley’s Lou Fasullo was among those who stopped in for a peek. (Lou Fasullo/Special to Langley Advance Times)

Birdwatchers flock to Langley to glimpse rare hawk

A white-tailed kite was spotted in Glen Valley Sunday through Tuesday, but has vanished since

 

A bald eagle dubbed ‘Brit’ shows the egg laid on March 24, 2023. She and partner Rey live in a South Surrey nest near 0 Avenue and 172 Street and followers are watching closely to see if there will be any more eggs for the pair. (Hancock Wildlife Foundation/Facebook)

UPDATE: One egg observed in second B.C. bald eagle nest

VIDEO: White Rock and South Surrey bald eagles hopeful parents-to-be with three eggs laid

 

A pair of bald eagle parents-to-be are carefully taking care of two eggs, laid March 17 and March 20. Two other pairs in Delta and South Surrey appear to be making efforts toward breeding eggs of their own, all visible on 24/7 live camera streams on the Hancock Wildlife Foundation website. (Hancock Wildlife Foundation/Facebook)

VIDEO: This pair of B.C. bald eagles are expecting: 2 eggs seen in nest through livestream

Live cameras streaming other nests where watchers are hopeful more eggs will appear

A pair of bald eagle parents-to-be are carefully taking care of two eggs, laid March 17 and March 20. Two other pairs in Delta and South Surrey appear to be making efforts toward breeding eggs of their own, all visible on 24/7 live camera streams on the Hancock Wildlife Foundation website. (Hancock Wildlife Foundation/Facebook)
A total of 27 Hooded Mergansers were counted in the annual Christmas bird count in Penticton held on Dec. 18. This stunning bird even has a Penticton restaurant named after it. This beautiful male merganser was photographed by Jodi Forster on Dec. 28. (Jodi Forster photo)

Lowest Christmas bird count in Penticton since 1975

Only 82 bird species were counted at the annual event held Dec. 27

A total of 27 Hooded Mergansers were counted in the annual Christmas bird count in Penticton held on Dec. 18. This stunning bird even has a Penticton restaurant named after it. This beautiful male merganser was photographed by Jodi Forster on Dec. 28. (Jodi Forster photo)
A Prothonotary Warbler is shown in this handout image. A tiny warbler spotted flying in a Vancouver parking garage is not only on the wrong side of the country, its on the wrong continent for this time of year. The Wildlife Rescue Association says it captured the Prothonotary warbler without incident out of concern for its health. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Wildlife Rescue Association of BC-Melissa Hafting

B.C. rescue group captures wrong-way warbler that should be wintering far south

Endangered bird rarely in B.C. and should be in South America the Gulf of Mexico right now

A Prothonotary Warbler is shown in this handout image. A tiny warbler spotted flying in a Vancouver parking garage is not only on the wrong side of the country, its on the wrong continent for this time of year. The Wildlife Rescue Association says it captured the Prothonotary warbler without incident out of concern for its health. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Wildlife Rescue Association of BC-Melissa Hafting
A Nazca booby rests on driftwood approximately four nautical miles south from the Trial Islands Ecological Reserve on July 24. Whale watcher Tasli Shaw sighted the bird, which only breeds as far north as southern California, for the first time on record in the Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary the day before. (Photo by Matt Stolmeier)

Rare bird sighting off B.C. coast excites whale watchers, leaves birders jealous

Bird the first Nazca booby ever observed in Victoria area, and just the 3rd ever in B.C.

A Nazca booby rests on driftwood approximately four nautical miles south from the Trial Islands Ecological Reserve on July 24. Whale watcher Tasli Shaw sighted the bird, which only breeds as far north as southern California, for the first time on record in the Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary the day before. (Photo by Matt Stolmeier)
The rare white raven Blizzard has taken centre stage at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre. (NIWRC photo)

Rare white raven grabs the spotlight at Vancouver Island wildlife centre

Iconic bird Blizzard can now be viewed by the public and is soaking up the attention

The rare white raven Blizzard has taken centre stage at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre. (NIWRC photo)
A Great Blue Heron takes time out for some people-watching at the Salmon Arm Wharf in October 2021. (Photo by John G. Woods)

COLUMN: Appreciating bird-watching bounty of Salmon Arm Bay

Birdwatchers come from B.C. and beyond to see and hear the inhabitants of the foreshore

  • Jan 3, 2022
A Great Blue Heron takes time out for some people-watching at the Salmon Arm Wharf in October 2021. (Photo by John G. Woods)
A total of 11 sightings of Anna’s Hummingbirds were counted in the annual Penticton Christmas bird count on Dec. 19, 2021. (Shirley Sobkow photo)

102 bird species spotted in Penticton Christmas count

Anna’s hummingbirds, rare Harlequin ducks and Hermit Thrush just some of the rare birds counted

A total of 11 sightings of Anna’s Hummingbirds were counted in the annual Penticton Christmas bird count on Dec. 19, 2021. (Shirley Sobkow photo)
The Steller’s Jay eats seeds and insects, and is also fond of peanut butter and…baby birds. They are known to raid nests and are especially partial to Hummingbirds. Photo Nienke Klaver
The Stellar’s Jay eats seeds and insects, and is also fond of peanut butter and…baby birds. They are known to raid nests and are especially partial to Hummingbirds. Photo Nienke Klaver

COLUMN: Exploring the world of birds

Plenty of information is available for aspiring bird watchers

  • May 21, 2021
The Steller’s Jay eats seeds and insects, and is also fond of peanut butter and…baby birds. They are known to raid nests and are especially partial to Hummingbirds. Photo Nienke Klaver
The Stellar’s Jay eats seeds and insects, and is also fond of peanut butter and…baby birds. They are known to raid nests and are especially partial to Hummingbirds. Photo Nienke Klaver
The ospreys in this photo are working on a nest beside Skimikin Lake on April 23, 2021. While just two ospreys can be seen, there is a third adult crouched deep inside the nest. (John Woods photo)

Osprey-watching provides Shuswap photographer with unexpected observation

Ospreys carrying branches a common sight in Salmon Arm skies

The ospreys in this photo are working on a nest beside Skimikin Lake on April 23, 2021. While just two ospreys can be seen, there is a third adult crouched deep inside the nest. (John Woods photo)
The Osoyoos Osprey cam is live for 2021 and already the osprey have moved back in. (Osoyoos Osprey Cam)

Osprey cam is back live in Osoyoos

The hawks have already returned to the nest

The Osoyoos Osprey cam is live for 2021 and already the osprey have moved back in. (Osoyoos Osprey Cam)
A Great Blue Heron carries a stick on April 16, 2021 on its way to its nesting colony in Salmon Arm, high up in large Douglas Fir trees. (Photo courtesy of John Woods)

Great Blue Herons seen carrying construction materials across Salmon Arm

Marsh birds move high into trees to build their large nests

A Great Blue Heron carries a stick on April 16, 2021 on its way to its nesting colony in Salmon Arm, high up in large Douglas Fir trees. (Photo courtesy of John Woods)
A group of American White Pelicans sits on a sandbar near the mouth of the Salmon River and preens in July 2020. (Glynne Green photo)

Shuswap Lake becomes important layover for flight of pelicans

Birdwatchers say the number of birds stopping to and from their nesting grounds is increasing

A group of American White Pelicans sits on a sandbar near the mouth of the Salmon River and preens in July 2020. (Glynne Green photo)
Summerland woman observes waxwings in crabapple tree

Summerland woman observes waxwings in crabapple tree

Flock of around 20 Bohemian waxwings gather in Canyonview area of community

Summerland woman observes waxwings in crabapple tree
The yellow-rumped warbler tends to arrive on Vancouver Island in early March. (Black Press Media file)

Despite reports of decline, birds flocking to national parks in Canadian Rockies

Recent studies suggest overall bird population has slid by three billion since 1970

The yellow-rumped warbler tends to arrive on Vancouver Island in early March. (Black Press Media file)