** Randy asked -

> The Red-eyed Vireos are still singing in the Fort St.James area of
> central B.C.. Jack Bowling, when do they leave for the sunny south?
> It hit 0 on Friday night and -1 on Sat. night. I observed Barn Swallows
> still feeding young on a nest on Aug.27. We have hundreds of American
> Pipits hanging around the open fields for the last week or so and I
> a group of 3 Great Blue Herons fly over on Aug.30.

Red-eyeds are on their way south soon but we have records into the 3rd week
of September for the P.G. area. Indeed they are late singers: one at the
Fort Nelson airport was still going strong when I left Aug. 28th last year.
I had two young Red-eyeds at 10 feet last weekend, in with the usual fall
mixed flock of chickadees and warblers. Quite the beautiful bird in new
feathers; much greener wing feather edging than in the adults' worn
plumage.

Barn Swallows always try to get off a 2nd brood out your way and usually
manage it despite the first frosts usually coming just as the young are
fledging in late August. The pipits are right on time. The herons are
interesting because they do not nest colonially at these latitudes,
although there is evidence to suggest that a couple of pairs will nest
together. If you know of any nesting locations for them, please document it
since they are few and far between. Near the end of July, young Great Blues
suddenly appear at local lakes in c. B.C. where they spend the next 6-8
weeks or more foraging. A few of us did a Vanderhoof trip last weekend and
saw three herons at the Sanctuary there, as well as another couple on the
Nautley R. farther west.

cheers,
Jack








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