Tweets - Thought I better get in on the fanfare here. A group of locals went
out west to Vanderhoof, 100 km W of Prince George, last Sunday on one of our
traditional outings. Vanderhoof is famous as a major stopoff point for
waterfowl which find lots to like on the sandbars of the Nechako R. flowing
eastward through town (the Nechako joins the Fraser R. at P.G.). In fact, the
town emblem is a Canada Goose, one of the few places on this planet where the
species has not overgrown its welcome (because its mostly a migrant!).

Weather: Cloud ahead of an offshore warm front thickening up through the day.
Temperature 8-12 C with a brisk easterly wind made standing outside a
challenge. One of the first stops was the mouth of Cluculz Creek where 28
Trumpeter Swans were honking away. In the trees around us were a Merlin, Tree
Swallows, N. Flicker (all plumage variations this area), C. Redpoll (mostly
gone now), R.-C. Kinglet, D.-E. Junco, Hairy Woodpecker, Am. Crows. Across the
creek was a Bald Eagle perched atop a spruce. Various ducks amid the swans. A
nice scene.

The Vanderhoof sandbars did not disappoint: about 3000 Canada Geese (mostly
small-medium races viz. parvipes with a few minima), 2 white-morph Snow Geese,
and a single Gr. White-fronted Goose. Two of the Canadas were neck-collared:
white collars labelled B52 and E69. I think there is a web page where one can
input band numbers now, n'est-ce pas? Also in with the geese were 9 Tundra
Swans. Most of the N. Pintail had already moved through with Mallards and Am.
Wigeon by far the most common duck. Of great interest was a pair of Wood Ducks
at the floatplane base, the first record for the Vanderhoof area. This species
continues to spread out in c. B.C. (the range map in the latest Birds of N.
America misses this fact).

Vanderhoof also is home to quite a few Mountain Bluebirds since this is hay
country with the preferred open fields in abundance and many nest boxes
erected. Ran into about 20-30 bluebirds by the end of the day. The males so
intensely blue this time of year! Also of note were the seven N. Shrikes
hassling the songbirds. All told, we tallied 57 species for the day which is
on the high side. Only one serious miss: the W. Meadowlarks at the airport
decided to stay out of the wind although the male was there singing the
previous weekend.

Spring migration continues apace in central BC. It just keeps getting better.

- Jack
Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca