Birds of the Juan de Fuca Region

by Jack McLeod

Highlights – Spring/Summer

Urban Settings

In early spring Rufous Hummingbirds arrive when Red Flowering Currants and Salmonberry are in bloom. Soon after, Golden-crowned Sparrows, winter residents, will have moulted to spectacular breeding plumage, and waves of them move through the gardens. Look for flocks of Band-tailed Pigeons in the tops of tall Douglas firs; Eurasian Collared Doves are now common year-long residents and nest in similar sites. The first warblers, Yellow-rumped and Orange-crowned pass through. Look for them in Bigleaf Maple trees; they love the flowers. Violet-green Swallows compete with House Sparrows and Chestnut-backed Chickadees for backyard nest boxes. American Goldfinches, now abundant, join the resident House Finches at feeders. Black-headed Grosbeaks and Cedar Waxwings gorge themselves on fruit.

The Woods

The Galloping Goose and East Sooke Parks are rewarding sites. The mournful whistling calls of Varied Thrushes echo through the forest. If you hear a monotonous repeated “Suuit!”, it is probably a Pacific Slope Flycatcher, our common Empidonax species. Patience will reward a view of this constantly moving reclusive bird at mid-crown. In late April and May, the warbler migration is in full swing, and McGillvary’s, Wilson’s, Red-breasted Sapsuckers are permanent residents; listen for their soft tapping. Townsends and Black-throated Gray Warblers are easier to see at this time than later in the summer. Cassin’s, Red-eyed, and Warbling Vireos are more often heard than seen. A hoarse robin-like sound from maple trees announces the presence of the Western Tanager, one of our most beautiful summer residents. All summer, Turkey vultures wheel lazily overhead.

The Sea

Three sites are good for migrating shorebirds; Whiffin Spit, Billings Spit, and Gordon’s Beach. Late April and May, and July and August are the best months. Whiffin Spit and Billings Spit are good sites for viewing large flocks of Western and Least Sandpipers as well as Dunlin. Look for Semipalmated Plover and Sanderlings at Gordon’s Beach. The inside passage of the Spit in summer’s a great time for viewing Marbled Murrelet and Pigeon Guillemot in breeding plumage. Black-legged Kittiwakes frequent the shoals off Jordan River. Bald Eagles scan the waters for feathered prey and Great Blue Herons spear fish.

HIGHLIGHTS – FALL

Urban Settings

In the fall, Fox Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows, and White-crowned Sparrows begin to take up residence in Sooke back yards. House Finches and Purple Finches congregate around the feeders. Spotted Towhees skulk in the bushes, occasionally emerging for a handout and the raucous call of the Steller’s Jay is heard in the trees. Huge flocks of Pine Siskins arrive after the leaves have dropped. From time to time, Red Crossbills and Evening Grosbeaks are sighted. Flocks of blackbirds and robins stay. Look at them carefully too; in addition to the common Brewer’s and Red-winged Blackbirds, look for the rare Brown-headed Cowbird and Yellow-headed Blackbird. Raptors follow the flocks and take up residence; Sharp-shinned Hawks and Merlins are the back-yard terrorists.

The Woods

Galloping Goose and East Sooke Parks are rewarding sites. Varied Thrushes (locals call them “swamp robins”) are almost as common as robins and are much easier to see than in the summer. In September and October, Turkey Vultures and many species of raptors gather near Alyard Farm, East Sooke Park prior to migration. They wheel on thermals, hoping to catch a favourable wind for the trip south. Warbler migrants pass through in late September and early October but some stay, notably Townsend’s, Yellow-rumped and Orange-crowned Warblers. Among the flocks of Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Bushtits, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches and Brown Creepers, you may spot a Hutton’s Vireo. Pileated, Hairy, and Downy Woodpeckers patrol the forests looking for bugs in snags. Raptors to watch for include Northern Pygmy Owl, and Great-horned, Barred, and Western Screech Owls, Red-tailed Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks, Northern Goshawk, and the occasional Peregrine Falcon. Search for Common Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers, Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Pied-billed Grebes and Northern Dippers along the local rivers, and Ring-necked Ducks in lakes and ponds.

The Sea

Sooke Harbour and Basin, as well as the Strait of Juan de Fuca (if you have a scope) are great sites for sea birds. The action starts in September when thousands of gulls move through, feeding on the baitfish chased by migrating salmon. The local Glaucous-winged Gulls and their hybrids (many) are joined by California and Heerman’s Gulls which move up temporarily from the south. These are followed by Mew Gulls and Bonaparte’s Gulls; the Mew Gulls stay and the Bonaparte’s Gulls move on south. Later, a few Thayer’s Gulls from the Arctic join the crowd; they are more common in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. A score of Harlequin Ducks arrives at Whiffin Spit in late September, as well as American and Eurasian Wigeons, Buffleheads, Red-breasted Mergansers, Scoters, Scaups, Oldsquaws, Pintails, Double-crested and Pelagic Cormorants. Alcids include Common Murre, Rhinoceros Auklet, Pigeon Guillemot and Marbled Murrelet. On Whiffin Spit, you can take a break from the seabirds and search along the trail for such rarities as Palm Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Northern Shrike, Townsend’s Solitaire, Western Meadowlark, Lapland Longspur, Snowbird, and even Tropical Kingbird!

HIGHLIGHTS – WINTER

Urban Settings

The Fall action continues through Winter. Fox Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows, and White-crowned Sparrows are found in Sooke back yards. Look for rare eastern White-throated Sparrows. House Finches and Purple Finches congregate around the feeders. Spotted Towhees skulk in the bushes, occasionally emerging for a handout and the raucous call of the Steller’s jay is heard in the trees. Huge flocks of Pine Siskins forage on catkins in Alder trees. From time to time, Red Crosbills and Evening Grosbeaks are sighted. Look carefully at the flocks of blackbirds; in addition to the common Brewer’s and Red-winged Blackbirds, look for the rare Brown-headed Cowbird and Yellow-headed Blackbird. Keep your hummingbird feeders filled over the winter with 50/50 sugar/water mixture, no colouring; Anna’s Hummingbirds are Winter residents. Raptors follow the flocks and take up residence; Sharp-shinned and Coopers Hawks, and Merlins are back-yard terrorists.

The Woods

Galloping Goose and East Sooke Parks are rewarding sites. In Winter a few Turkey Vultures stay in the vicinity of Alyard Farm, East Sooke Park. Warbler sightings in forests in Winter include Townsend’s, Yellow-rumped and Orange-crowned. Among the flocks of Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Bushtits, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches and Brown Creepers, you may spot a Hutton’s Vireo. Pileated, Hairy, and Downy Woodpeckers patrol the forests looking for bugs in snags. Raptors to watch for include Northern Pygmy Owl, and Great-horned, Barred, and Western Screech Owls, Red-tailed Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks, Northern Goshawk, and the occasional Peregrine Falcon. Search for Common Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers, Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Pied-billed Grebes and Northern Dippers along the local rivers and estuaries, and Ring-necked Ducks in fresh water ponds.

The Sea

Sooke Harbour and Basin, as well as the Strait of Juan de Fuca (if you have a scope) are great sites for sea birds. The local Glaucous-winged Gulls and their hybrids (many) are joined by Thayer’s Gulls. On occasion, California and Ring-billed Gulls are seen. Boneparte’s Gulls move through in early winter. Large flocks of Mew Gulls remain through the season. Harlequin Ducks at Whiffin Spit pair up in December and stay the winteras do. American and Eurasian Wigeons, Buffleheads, Red-breasted and Common Mergansers, Scoters, Scaups, Long-tailed Ducks, Northern Pintails, Double-crested and Pelagic Cormorants. Brandt’s Cormorants move into the Harbour in February to feed on migrating Herring. Alcids include Common Murre, Rhinoceros Auklet, Pigeon Guillemot and Marbled Murrelet. On the Whiffin Spit, you can take a break from the seabirds and search along the trail for such rarities as Palm Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Northern Shrike, Townsend’s Solitaire and Western Meadowlark.

The Photographers

Jack McLeod, a retired forest biologist has lived in Sooke Since 1989. He and wife Jean have travelled extensively though North America in search of their feathered friends. Jack is a member of the Victoria Natural History Society, and is a long-time volunteer with the Sooke Salmon Enhancement Society. His equipment: Nikon D40X camera and Nikkor 80-400 AF lens.

Bill Pednault, a life-long Sooke resident, fisherman, businessman, and volunteer with the Sooke Salmon Enhancement Society for over 35 years, has recently taken a keen interest in bird photography and some of his photos are presented here. His equipment: Nikon D300 camera, Nikkor 200-400AFS lens.