1025 Ferncliffe Place Yard List

1025 Ferncliffe Place Bird Yard List

We moved into our new home at the Hi-Mount Estates in Metchosin (Victoria, BC) on July 2, 2015. I have been keeping track of the bird species by sight and sound. After amassing a remarkable 93 species at our previous home at Wild Pond (in just 23 months), I assumed it would take some time up here to near such totals. The habitat and geography is also much different on Ferncliffe, and I suspect it will be better for raptor migration. I also plan on setting up an acoustic nocturnal songbird migration station soon. Needless to say, I am pleased to report that we have tallied 119 species here (in 25 months)!

Update: I am glad I listened to my gut and decided in the spring of 2016 to set up a new hawkwatch site here. I regularly report sightings to the HawkCount.org website (Hawk Migration Association of North American). 16 species of diurnal raptor have already been identified here!

I have recorded the bird list in order of their appearance/record (not taxonomically).

1. Turkey Vulture - July 2, 2015
2. Red Crossbill - July 2, 2015
3. American Robin - July 2, 2015
4. Violet-green Swallow - July 2, 2015
5. Common Raven - July 2, 2015
6. Bald Eagle - July 2, 2015
7. Dark-eyed Junco - July 2, 2015
8. Chipping Sparrow - July 2, 2015
9. House Wren - July 3, 2015
10. Downy Woodpecker - July 3, 2015
11. Northern Flicker - July 3, 2015
12. Warbling Vireo - July 3, 2015
13. Red-breasted Nuthatch - July 3, 2015
14. Chestnut-backed Chickadee - July 3, 2015
15. Common Nighthawk - July 5, 2015
16. Pacific-slope Flycatcher - July 6, 2015
17. Rufous Hummingbird - July 6, 2015
18. Anna's Hummingbird - July 6, 2015
19. Brown Creeper - July 7, 2015
20. American Goldfinch - July 7, 2015
21. Barn Swallow - July 9, 2015
22. Spotted Towhee - July 10, 2015
23. Pileated Woodpecker - July 10, 2015
24. Purple Finch - July 10, 2015
25. Brown-headed Cowbird - July 10, 2015
26. California Quail - July 10, 2015
27. Red-tailed Hawk - July 10, 2015
28. Cooper's Hawk - July 10, 2015
29. Hairy Woodpecker - July 11, 2015
30. White-crowned Sparrow - July 13, 2015
31. Rock Pigeon - July 15, 2015
32. Olive-sided Flycatcher - July 17, 2015
33. Orange-crowned Warbler - July 19, 2015
34. Wilson's Warbler - July 21, 2015
35. Pine Siskin - July 21, 2015
36. Hutton's Vireo - July 22, 2015
37. Vaux's Swift - July 26, 2015
38. Western Tanager - July 26, 2015
39. Band-tailed Pigeon - July 28, 2015
40. Purple Martin - July 29, 2015
41. Barred Owl - July 31, 2015
42. Mallard - August 1, 2015
43. Black-headed Grosbeak - August 2, 2015
44. Bushtit - August 8, 2015
45. House Finch - August 9, 2015
46. Red-winged Blackbird - August 14, 2015
47. Steller's Jay - August 14, 2015
48. Swainson's Thrush - August 16, 2015
49. Hermit Thrush - August 25, 2015
50. Northern Pygmy-Owl - August 28, 2015
51. Sharp-shinned Hawk - August 29, 2015
52. Black Swift - August 29, 2015
53. Great Blue Heron - August 29, 2015
54. Northern Rough-winged Swallow - August 29, 2015
55. Belted Kingfisher - August 30, 2015
56. Townsend's Warbler - September 1, 2015
57. Red-breasted Sapsucker - September 1, 2015
58. Great Horned Owl - September 1, 2015
59. Canada Goose - September 2, 2015
60. Yellow Warbler - September 4, 2015
61. Yellow-rumped Warbler - September 4, 2015
62. Glaucous-winged Gull - September 4, 2015
63. Eurasian Collared-Dove - September 5, 2015
64. Evening Grosbeak - September 5, 2015
65. Cedar Waxwing - September 5, 2015
66. Sandhill Crane - September 7, 2015
67. Hooded Merganser - September 10, 2015
68. Brewer's Blackbird - September 11, 2015
69. Varied Thrush - September 14, 2015
70. Golden-crowned Sparrow - September 15, 2015
71. Ruby-crowned Kinglet - September 17, 2015
72. Osprey - September 17, 2015
73. Black-throated Gray Warbler - September 17, 2015
74. Golden-crowned Kinglet - September 18, 2015
75. Greater White-fronted Goose - September 20, 2015
76. Fox Sparrow - September 21, 2015
77. Savannah Sparrow - October 4, 2015
78. White-throated Sparrow - October 6, 2015
79. Pacific Wren - October 10, 2015
80. Song Sparrow - October 14, 2016
81. Northwestern Crow - October 26, 2015
82. American Wigeon - October 31, 2015
83. Golden Eagle - November 15, 2015
84. Merlin - January 16, 2016
85. Bufflehead - February 1, 2016
86. Bewick's Wren - February 1, 2016
87. Northern Harrier - March 31, 2016
88. California Gull - April 1, 2016
89. Swainson's Hawk - April 2, 2016
90. Northern Goshawk - April 4, 2016
91. Tree Swallow - April 9, 2016
92. Townsend's Solitaire - April 11, 2016
93. European Starling - April 13, 2016
94. Double-crested Cormorant - April 13, 2016
95. Common Loon - April 15, 2016
96. Broad-winged Hawk - April 19, 2016
97. Common Merganser - April 24, 2016
98. American Pipit - April 28, 2016
99. Gray Flycatcher - April 30, 2016
100. Lincoln's Sparrow - May 3, 2016
101. American Kestrel - May 5, 2016
102. Hammond's Flycatcher - May 6, 2016
103. House Sparrow - May 10, 2016
104. MacGillivray's Warbler - May 11, 2016
105. Killdeer - May 20, 2016
106. Mourning Dove - June 1, 2016
107. Western Wood-Pewee - June 2, 2016
108. Cliff Swallow - July 2, 2016
109. Cassin's Vireo - July 12, 2016
110. Lapland Longspur - September 10, 2016
111. Green-winged Teal - September 14, 2016
112. Peregrine Falcon - September 24, 2016
113. White-winged Crossbill - December 11, 2016
114. Barn Owl - February 20, 2017
115. Red-shouldered Hawk - April 15, 2017
116. Red-throated Loon - April 18, 2017
117. Rough-legged Hawk - April 27, 2017
118. Greater Yellowlegs - May 30, 2017
119. Yellow-headed Blackbird -August 15, 2017

Wild Pond Lane Bird Yard List

989 Wild Pond Lane Bird Yard List

We moved into our new home at the Valley View Estates in Happy Valley, Langford (Victoria, BC) on July 1, 2013. I have been keeping track of the bird species by sight and sound. After amassing a remarkable 83 species at our previous home at Shawnigan Lake (and after only 10 months), I expected it to take a long time to get anywhere near to that total for here on Wild Pond. Needless to say, I am pleased to report that we have now tallied 93 species here! I further anticipate that the ponds next to us continue to attract a rarity or two during migration.

I have recorded the bird list in order of their appearance/record (not taxonomically).

Stay tuned for updates!

1. Turkey Vulture - July 1, 2013
2. Common Raven - July 1, 2013
3. American Robin - July 1, 2013
4. Violet-green Swallow - July 1. 2013
5. Mallard - July 1, 2013
6. Song Sparrow - July 1, 2013
7. Red-winged Blackbird - July 1, 2013
8. Brewer's Blackbird - July 1, 2013
9. Chestnut-backed Chickadee - July 1, 2013
10. Red-breasted Nuthatch - July 1, 2013
11. Brown Creeper - July 1, 2013
12. Northwestern Crow - July 1, 2013
13. American Goldfinch - July 2, 2013
14. Spotted Towhee - July 2, 2013
15. European Starling - July 2, 2013
16. Brown-headed Cowbird - July 2, 2013
17. California Quail - July 2, 2013
18. Steller's Jay - July 2, 2013
19. Pacific-slope Flycatcher - July 2, 2013
20. Anna's Hummingbird - July 2, 2013
21. Pine Siskin - July 2, 2013
22. Great Horned Owl - July 2, 2013
23. Swainson's Thrush - July 3, 2013
24. Downy Woodpecker - July 3, 2013
25. House Sparrow - July 3, 2013
26. Orange-crowned Warbler - July 3, 2013
27. Rufous Hummingbird - July 3, 2013
28. Warbling Vireo - July 3, 2013
29. Chipping Sparrow - July 3, 2013
30. Common Nighthawk - July 3, 2013
31. Red-tailed Hawk - July 4, 2013
32. Dark-eyed Junco - July 4, 2013
33. House Finch - July 4, 2013
34. Yellow-rumped Warbler - July 4, 2013
35. Bald Eagle - July 4, 2013
36. Northern Flicker - July 6, 2013
37. Belted Kingfisher - July 7, 2013
38. Black-headed Grosbeak - July 7, 2013
39. Evening Grosbeak - July 7, 2013
40. Purple Finch - July 11, 2013
41. Olive-sided Flycatcher - July 12, 2013
42. Bewick's Wren - July 14, 2013
43. LONG-BILLED CURLEW - July 14, 2013
44. Cedar Waxwing - July 20, 2013
45. Wilson's Warbler - July 20, 2013
46. Hairy Woodpecker - July 22, 2013
47. Great Blue Heron - July 23, 2013
48. Barred Owl - July 28, 2013
49. Eurasian Collared-Dove - August 8, 2013
50. Canada Goose - August 9, 2013
51. Barn Swallow - August 12, 2013
52. Bushtit - August 15, 2013
53. MacGillivray's Warbler - August 18, 2013
54. Golden-crowned Kinglet - August 21, 2013
55. Band-tailed Pigeon - August 23, 2013
56. Townsend's Warbler - August 24, 2013
57. Western Tanager - August 24, 2013
58. Red Crossbill - August 26, 2013
59. Glaucous-winged Gull - August 27, 2013
60. Rock Pigeon - August 28, 2013
61. Purple Martin - August 30, 2013
62. Ruby-crowned Kinglet - September 1, 2013
63. Yellow Warbler - September 3, 2013
64. Golden-crowned Sparrow - September 7, 2013
65. Black-throated Gray Warbler - September 7, 2013
66. Northern Pygmy-Owl - September 21, 2013
67. Greater White-fronted Goose - September 23, 2013
68. Fox Sparrow - September 29, 2013
69. Hermit Thrush - October 1, 2013
70. Pacific Wren - October 6, 2013
71. Killdeer - October 12, 2013
72. Merlin - October 15, 2013
73. Varied Thrush - October 16, 2013
74. California Gull - October 23, 2013
75. Ring-necked Duck - December 12, 2013
76. Hooded Merganser - March 3, 2014
77. Wilson's Snipe - March 3, 2014
78. Sharp-shinned Hawk - April 7. 2014
79. House Wren - May 7, 2014
80. Red-breasted Sapsucker - June 8, 2014
81. Cooper's Hawk - June 21, 2014
82. Least Sandpiper - July 17, 2014
83. Cliff Swallow - July 28, 2014
84. Northern Rough-winged Swallow - July 28, 2014
85. Savannah Sparrow - August 26, 2014
86. Northern Saw-whet Owl - September 4, 2014
87. NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (2) - September 16, 2014
88. American Kestrel - September 16, 2014
89. BROAD-WINGED HAWK - October 9, 2014
90. RUSTY BLACKBIRD - October 20, 2014
91. Bufflehead - December 27, 2014
92. GOLDEN EAGLE - March 3, 2015
93. Osprey - May 23, 2015

Allinson Connection from Vietnam War

Image via Wikipedia

Given that my last name is somewhat "different" (and notoriously misspelled!), years ago while I was Googling my name I came across a news byte for a US Air Force Captain who went MIA during a mission in 1966 over Vietnam. Captain David Jay Allinson went missing after ejecting from his F-105 Thunderchief plane on August 12, 1966 after taking automatic arms fire (he was later declared dead and awarded DFC and Silver Star and promoted to Colonel). Of interest, yours truly (David Eric Allinson) was born on August 24, 1966! Kinda freaky to think that I was born just 12 days after his death! Furthermore, like me he was also a Virgo as he was born on September 17. (I have only come across a handful of David Allinson's over the years). Of interest, Colonel Allinson was from Helena, Montana -- and who knows, he could indeed be a distant, long lost direct relative?!

The Big Year

Image via Wikipedia

Soon to be a major motion picture, like most birders I cannot wait to see how Hollywood portrays birding in 'The Big Year' (due out in October 2011). Even better, I can only imagine how funny it will be to see Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, and Jack Black as focused, competitive birders setting out to break the birder's Holy Grail -- seeing the most species of bird in a single year in North America. Mark Obmascik book is an easy-read, but no less fascinating take on both the serious and humorous side of expert birding. Highly recommended.

Related articles

• New image of Steve Martin, Jack Blck and Owen Wilson in THE BIG YEAR (geektyrant.com)
• THE BIG YEAR gets a poster and trailer (geektyrant.com)

Kindle World

Cover via Amazon

Finally joined the Kindle world and I must say after just a couple of days I absolutely love the product! Downloads using Kindle's Whispernet over WiFi are both fast and easy to use. I especially enjoy and recommend personalizing the font size and type for easier viewing (depending on your eyesight).

No doubt lots of great books to purchase, but don't forget that there are a vast number of both free or inexpensive books to download. See here for more info on free classics for example:

http://www.amazon.com

One other cool feature is the custom e-mail feature. You'll get a personalized kindle.com e-mail address which you can use to send PDF's, Word documents, and even JPEG's or GIF's directly to your Kindle.

I've also signed up for free 14-day trials for a number of big newspapers, such as the New York Times or the National Post. Every morning when you turn on your Kindle's WiFi, Amazon's Whispernet will immediately update your Kindle with new newspaper subscriptions. It is so nice to have the world's newspapers at your fingertips every morning.

Finally, my first purchase and download was my father's latest book "Kruger's Gold". I've read his book before of course, but am enjoying it all over again via my Kindle. See here for more info on his book.

Look for more postings here in near future as I learn more about my Kindle.

Garden birds

Just some random bird pictures from the garden...spring is definitely in the air!

Winking Golden-crowned Sparrow.

Just getting its breeding colours -- Golden-crowned Sparrow.

Red-breasted Nuthatch (female) at squirrel-proof feeder.

Spring in Backyard

This morning I was pleased to see this year's "crop" of mason bees actively hatching today. I quickly set up my camera in macro mode and managed to capture some decent pics!

Mason bees are native to BC (unlike our introduced honeybee!), and are excellent pollinators especially if you have fruit trees in your garden.

For those in Victoria, check out Wild Bird Center of Langford for more info and to get your mason box now (it is not too late to put up your box -- but if you want to ensure your mason bee population is kickstarted, consider also buying dormant bee larvae). Tell Chris I sent you ;)!

See their Facebook page here for more info:

Wild Bird Center of Langford

Mason bees just waking up!

Early riser checking on his slower compadres!

Are you sure it is warm enough?

Close-up...love their blonde hair-do's!