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Spring Migration — Shorebirds and Flycatchers
Celebrate the return of spring as a flood of migratory birds travel along Vancouver Island. See 20,000 Brant geese and 250 other species in a variety of habitats.
In Victoria, spring is generally the time to bird-watch on hills and mountains. Many rare birds turn up there and, if not, you can always enjoy native flowers and panoramic views. This is the best time of year to experience a dawn chorus.
Most warblers arrive at this time of year. MacGillivray's warbler can be found in highlands, common yellowthroat and yellow warbler in marsh areas, Townsands' warbler in the Douglas fir forests, black-throated grey warblers in deciduous stands and yellow-rumped and orange-crowned warbler on hillsides and hedgerows. Large concentrations of various swallow species also migrate in the spring.
May is the month for spring shorebird migration including whimbril, wandering tattler, marbled godwit and smaller species. Watch for the Caspian tern as well. May is also the month to find olive-sided flycatcher, western wood peewee, willow flycatcher, Vaux swift and common nighthawk.
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Summer — Shorebirds and Juveniles
Summertime produces an abundance of young birds. July is the month to watch for the juveniles of all breeding species. This can be a confusing time for bird watchers, as many young birds look nothing like their parents and often they look like another species altogether.
One of the better clues to look for when observing a questionable bird at this time of year, is to note whether the feathers look fresh or if they are more weathered and somewhat tattered. If they look fresh, chances are you are observing a juvenile bird.
Post-breeding adult shorebirds begin migrating south and July is the best time to watch for them, as most still retain their breeding plumage. Watch for semi-palmated sandpiper in flocks and western sandpipers. July is also the month for rare shorebirds as a number of rare and accidental species have been recorded at this time. Heermann's gull begin arriving. Large flocks and many individual birds can be seen from most viewpoints along the waterfront.
Once the warmth of summer arrives, many songbirds will quiet down, though some species are still singing in their breeding territory. Sky larks will continue to sing for the better part of July but, as the weather warms up, they will quiet down and spend most of the day foraging and resting. Even late in summer, the dawn chorus can still be enjoyable; try the hilly and mountain parks for a dawn chorus of warbler, vireos and other summer residents. Also watch for red crossbill when in forested and hilly areas around Victoria.
Fall/Winter — Raptors and Winter Arrivals
Fall is migration season and usually offers great birding opportunities around Greater Victoria. The fringe of trees and bush near southern Vancouver Island shorelines can offer the most productive fall birding. This is because species end up here after aborted attempts to cross Juan de Fuca Straight or other bodies of water.
When there is a morning chill in the autumn air, it takes a little more time for the songbirds and warblers to warm up. Most of the bird chatter you hear at this time of year is often a bird call rather then birdsong. Listen carefully and you may be able to distinguish the differences between species.
On warmer, sunnier days, keep an eye open for migrating raptors. The unique geography of Vancouver Island tends to funnel migrating raptors down to the southernmost tip of the Island and up to 14 species of raptors have been recorded here during migration.
Migrating raptors kettle in large numbers as they try to gain altitude and wait for favorable conditions before attempting to cross the Straight of Juan de Fuca. One of our known birding wonders is the large concentration of turkey vultures that gather annually over East Sooke Park. On some days, you can observe 200 to 300 birds kettling over the park. On rare occasions, when conditions are right, the number of kettling Turkey Vultures can soar to over 1000.
Winter songbirds, waterfowl and raptors increase in number as the season changes. Sky larks group together in loose flocks and spend much of their day foraging in fields. Listen for the "chirrup" as they move. Various gull species can be found all around our coastline. Watch for Heermann's, mew, Bonaparte's, California, glaucous-winged and western (including western and glaucous-winged hybrids). More than 2,000 trumpeter swans choose to winter in the Comox Valley and arrive there in February.
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