Birding Peace River Part 2

June 13 2017 Dawson Creek Area 

BC Canada

The breeze coming off McQueen's Slough was a welcome change after a long day in the heat. McQueen's Slough is surrounded by rolling farmland and provided some of the best birding of the trip. There were birds everywhere. Black Terns over the marshes and Marsh Wrens scolding us as we walked along the boardwalks. 

          

Tree Swallow with a tasty meal.

  There were plenty of tree swallow boxes with parent birds bringing in what looked like damsel flies.         

McQueen's Slough

Marsh Wren.

Ruddy Duck.

McQueen's Slough, Peace River, British Columbia, CA
Jun 13, 2017 12:53 PM - 3:11 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.1 kilometer(s)
40 species

Canada Goose  9
Trumpeter Swan  4
Gadwall  6
American Wigeon  2
Mallard  12
Blue-winged Teal  6
Northern Shoveler  3
Northern Pintail  3
Green-winged Teal  3
Canvasback  3
Redhead  4
Ring-necked Duck  2
Lesser Scaup  30
Bufflehead  12
Ruddy Duck  12
Pied-billed Grebe  1
Eared Grebe  8
Red-tailed Hawk  2
Sora  15
American Coot  8
Wilson's Snipe  2
Franklin's Gull  20
Black Tern  8
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Alder Flycatcher  1
Eastern Phoebe  1
Eastern Kingbird  1
American Crow  2
Common Raven  2
Tree Swallow  6
Black-capped Chickadee  1
Marsh Wren  12
Common Yellowthroat  7
Yellow Warbler  15
Clay-colored Sparrow  4
Savannah Sparrow  1
Swamp Sparrow  3
Red-winged Blackbird  28
Yellow-headed Blackbird  1
Brown-headed Cowbird  3

The Clay-coloured Sparrow is a favourite of mine when birding outside the Lower Mainland.

Clay-coloured Sparrow.

*****

Swan Lake, Tupper--Road 201 south, Peace River, British Columbia, CA

Jun 13, 2017 6:39 AM - 9:12 AM

Protocol: Traveling

1.4 kilometer(s)

18 species

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  2

Western Wood-Pewee  1

Least Flycatcher  6

Philadelphia Vireo  2

Warbling Vireo  7

Red-eyed Vireo  1

Swainson's Thrush  3

American Robin  2

Tennessee Warbler  1

Mourning Warbler  3

American Redstart  8

Yellow Warbler  7

Blackpoll Warbler  2

Yellow-rumped Warbler  1

Canada Warbler  3

Fox Sparrow  5

White-throated Sparrow  5

Rose-breasted Grosbeak  2

Parting Shot

The Mourning Warbler was another long distance shot but what matters is that it was a lifer for many in the group including myself. The bird gave us a merry chase but eventually gave us great looks.

Mourning Warbler.

The three days of birding was finally coming to an end yet our guide Brian Paterson had one last trick up his sleeve. The weather was worsening as we drove slowly along a rural gravel road listening for any signs of a Connecticut Warbler. Brian was determined to find the bird for us and soon we were on foot and headed into the forest.

We were getting warbler neck, looking up and up and listening hoping for the bird to give away its location. There was no point wearing my glasses and forget about pointing a camera lens skyward, there was just too much rain. Finally after about twenty minutes the diminutive warbler sat out in the open long enough for us all to get really great views. What a way to end the BCFO extension trip.

On the way back to the truck I started to shiver and only then did I realize I was soaking wet. 

Time to buy a new waterproof jacket.

****

"Its never too late to start birding"

John Gordon

Langley/Cloverdale

 BC Canada