B.C. Trip Epilogue

Four months have now past since Jean and I travelled to British Columbia. This was my first time exploring western Canada and in addition to the birding I was also looking forward to the impressive terrain of the Rockies and the Kootenays.

Image by Jill Hampson

Though lifers can still occur in Ontario (three since my June vacation), visiting two western provinces was sure to add a bountiful number of birds to the life list.

On Day One of our vacation we ticked three lifers in Alberta. Black-billed Magpie and Franklin's Gull in the city of Calgary and a Swainson's Hawk while travelling south on Highway 2. I do find it interesting that Black-billed Magpies (described as a common and very conspicuous bird of western North America) were only observed in Calgary and no where else during our travels.

Day Two, a total of 5 lifers. Without leaving the grounds of the Tara Shanti we were able to tick Rufous Humming Bird and MacGillivray's Warbler. While waiting for the ferry in Kootenay Bay, Violet-green Swallows were seen. On the west side of Kootenay Lake we found Varied Thrush and a Barrow's Golden Eye while visiting Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park.

Day Three, a resplendent male Lazuli Bunting was heard singing and spotted with our bins while exploring the shops on the Artisan Way in Crawford Bay. After digiscoping Bald Eagles at the Crawford Bay Wetlands we returned to the Tara Shanti and ticked a Chestnut-backed Chickadee.

Day Four, before crossing Kootenay Lake for a day in Nelson, we ticked our lifer Cassin's Vireo.

Day Five would be our biggest day for lifers. A total of six. During the four hours we visited the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area, we ticked Say's Phoebe, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Kingbird and Cinnamon Teal.

In the afternoon, Jean and I were rewarded with a lifer Pine Grosbeak (male) while hiking a trail at the Kootenay Pass.

Day Six we visited Greg and Keith and while birding on their property we ticked Vaux's Swift and Western Tanager.

On Day Seven, we would add Hammond's Flycatcher to the life list before leaving the Kootenay's behind.

Arriving in Lake Louise, we ticked a lifer Clark's Nutcracker on Day Eight.

Our last day out west would yield one more lifer, Mountain Bluebird.

A total of 22 lifers added over 9 days. My favourite lifer observed during our trip to British Columbia was the Western Tanager pair observed on Greg and Keith's property, The Summit. Jean spotted the female first and a moment or two later, the male responded to my pishing. What colours on this bird! This was one of the species on our target list.

Other target birds observed included, Clark's Nutcracker (much easier than I thought it would be), Rufous Hummingbird and Mountain Bluebird.

A target species that eluded Jean and I was a bird we thought for sure we would find. Keith and Greg had informed us that the bird visited their kitchen on a daily basis last year. Unfortunately we would only see this bird on a banner while visiting the town of Kaslo.

Yes, a Stellar's Jay was not seen during our trip out west.

The number of species observed in B.C. was 78. The newly added provincial list shares second spot with New York on my State/Provincial lists. Alberta sits in ninth (22 species) behind the state lists of Florida, Kentucky, Georgia, Ohio and South Carolina. I don't see any changes occurring too soon with the majority of these lists but a simple crossing to Niagara Falls, New York could easily put the state list back into second spot on its own.

At this time, we have no plans to travel outside of Ontario in 2010. While the life birds observed in B.C. and Alberta will be forever etched in my memory, it's back to local birding and monitoring the Ontbirds report in order to add species to the life list.

B.C. Trip Part XIII

June 21


It was Sunday, Father's Day as well as the annual Great Lake to Lake Classic back home in the Niagara Region. Since 1999, Steve, Tim and crew, with help from the St Catharines Cycling Club, have organized the citizen's mountain bike race that travels across the Niagara Peninsula from Port Colborne to Port Dalhouise. I had participated in every race, some dry and some not so dry, until this year.

Image by Frank Hampson Sr., 2004

I was on vacation in western Canada travelling to Lake Louise while cyclists covered in mud were crossing the finish line at Lakeside Park. We had travelled from Radium Hot Springs to Lake Louise and had found some accommodation for the evening.

After settling into our room Jean and I explored the property of the hotel while her mum rested. We ticked Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Dark-eyed Junco, Chipping Sparrow, American Robin and Yellow-rumped Warbler while walking through the Paradise Lodge property. We found a trail east of the hotel and followed it to a picnic area where we entered into the forest. While hiking behind the picnic area we found a few Gray Jay.

Returning to the picnic area we observed this Common Raven exhibit some interesting behaviour. This bird was enormous!

Taking a closer look we can see it held a piece of bread in its beak. A very stale, hard piece of bread. Even by raven standards.

The raven carried the bread it had found to a small pile of snow. It then dropped the pieces into the snow. Within a short period of time, the bread had softened and the raven could now swallow the morsels of bread with little discomfort.

Later in the evening, we encountered a Common Porcupine running along the road. A rare sight as this species of rodent is usually spotted dead at the side of the road. We were happy to see the porcupine leave the roadside for the carless environment of the forest.

June 22

Our last day out west. We had visited Lake Louise the previous day. The morning of the 22nd we would visit Moraine Lake (our own Lake to Lake). Little did I know that this was the lake on the back of the old twenty dollar bill.

I was the only brave soul wearing shorts this day.

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

Some great scenery was seen between Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.

Image by Bob

Image by Bob

When travelling from the village of Lake Louise to Banff one can either use the Trans Canada or the Bow Valley Parkway. The parkway includes 18 kilometres of a seasonal road with restrictions from March 1 to June 25 (evenings 6 pm -9 am). This helps protect wildlife at a critical time of year. And we saw first hand why this is necessary. While travelling along the parkway, a truck towing a motor home ahead of us started to weave, eventually pulling off to the side of the road. We slowed down, anticipating that they had stopped to view some wildlife. Jill (Jean's mum) spotted it first. A young Grizzly Bear was in a clearing to our right. A third vehicle stopped and the occupants got out to capture some images as the Grizzly Bear crossed the road behind us. Though an attempt was made we were unable to capture any images of the fleeing bear. Another first!!

Along the route are a number of interpretive displays at pull-offs. We stopped at the first pull-off when we observed a small group of photographers sitting on a concrete barrier overlooking the Bow River. What could they be waiting for? All were checking their watches periodically. Running along side the river was a set of railway tracks. They're waiting for a train!

This was a beautiful view but for some train enthusiasts and photographers a train travelling through the valley would be an added bonus.

Timing is everything (with some luck thrown in). A few minutes later and I would not have been able to capture this image.

Or this one.

Our next stop, the Storm Mountain pull off with views of Mount Ball and Storm Mountain.

Image by Bob

We ticked a White-crowned Sparrow during our break in the picnic area.

A short stop at the Moose Meadows pull off with a view of Castle Mountain. Most likely a good spot for birding if one did not have a flight to catch.

We viewed our last lifer of our trip near Johnston Canyon. I was driving and from the back seat Jean caught a flash of blue to our left. A pair of Mountain Bluebirds (#283).

Approaching Banff, mountains are in every direction.

Mt. Rundle

Sulphur Mountain

Mt. Howard Douglas

And it just would not be the same without a cattle image when one is travelling out west.

Next stop, Calgary airport for the flight back to southern Ontario. Boy, did I have a lot of checklists to enter on eBird Canada.

B.C Trip Part XII

June 21

Radium Hot Springs to Lake Louise

To reach Lake Louise we had to pass through two national parks, Kootenay and Banff.

Within minutes of entering Kootenay N.P. we encountered our first large mammal of the day. As we approached the Hot Springs, a male bighorn sheep ran past us in the opposite lane. You can't get much closer than that!

Near the parking area for the Radium Hot Springs pools we observed a flock of bighorn sheep (mostly males).

Our next stop, the Kootenay Valley Viewpoint (elevation 1370 m).

During the 10-15 minutes of taking in the dramatic view, we observed an American Robin and a Dark-eyed Junco. The junco was not the "slate-coloured" variety we normally observe in our back yard. This one, a first for Jean and I, was a male "Oregon Junco".

Hector Gorge, Elevation 1266 m

In the valley we had some great views of a flock of mountain goats.

We stopped by the Simpson River to observe the results of the 2001 Mount Shanks Fire.







In 2003, 12.6% of the park was burned when two large, lightning-caused fires merged. Fire good! New growth rapidly occurs in the nutrient rich earth (created by the fire).


Continuing through the valley along Highway 93, two vehicles ahead of us came to a stop. A gray wolf was crossing the highway. We managed to catch a quick glimpse of the wolf as it was completing its crossing. It then climbed a bank and disappeared into the forest. This was my first viewing of a wolf in the wild.


We stopped for a break and a short hike on a trail that led to the Paint Pots. Though in a valley we were at a higher elevation (1450 m) than we were at the Kootenay Valley Viewpoint. We were approaching the Vermilion Pass. The Continental Divide and Alberta were only 10 kilometres away. This would be our last attempt to add birds to the British Columbia list.

We crossed the Vermilion River while hiking the Paint Pots Trail.

We hiked through the ochre beds. Native tribes from the mountains and prairies used the "red earth" powder mixed with fish oil or animal grease for use in painting bodies, teepees, clothing and pictures on rocks.

The Paint Pots (3) were formed by the accumulation of iron oxide around the outlets of three cold mineral springs.

Image by Bob

Unfortunately no additions to the B.C. list. Common Raven, Chipping Sparrow and Yellow-rumped Warbler were the only birds seen.

We crossed the Continental Divide into Alberta. Next stop Lake Louise.

We arrived in the mid-afternoon and parked the car in a very busy lot. Jean and her mum started off without me as I grabbed a few things from the car. They were not too far ahead when Jean called out to alert me of a new bird. One I thought would not be so easy. Sitting at the top of a tall conifer was a lifer Clark's Nutcracker (#282)! A woman walking by wondered what was so interesting to us. A bird of course. I did tell her the type but she did not share the same level of excitement that we three did. As we reached the viewing area I was amazed at the number of Clark's Nutcracker we saw. Four more adults and one juvenile were in the trees in the lake's viewing area. The birds had no fear of the tourists. In fact, they took handouts from any tourist willing to feed them. I had no idea that we would be able to tick a lifer Clark's Nutcracker so easily. Birders visiting Banff N.P. for the first time. Don't worry. Clark's Nutcracker will not take a considerably amount of energy to find. In fact, all that is required is a short walk to this amazing view.

Capturing an image of a Clark's Nutcracker did not prove difficult at all.

Another bird looking for handouts, a fellow member of the Jay family, was a Gray Jay. One adult taking care of this juvenile was seen amongst the Clark's Nutcrackers.

We spotted a pair of Common Loons on Lake Louise.

Image by Jill (mum)

After a late lunch in the Lakeview Lounge of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise we birded from the paths surrounding the lake for a while longer. Chipping Sparrow, Pine Siskin and American Robin were added to the Alberta list. It was time to find some accommodation for the night. Why not the Fairmont you ask? Yeah, right.

Staying in Canmore (further down the Trans Canada) was a more economical choice but a quick check of rates (off season and within our budget) at Paradise Lodge and Bungalows had us staying one more night in the national park. Jean and I would have another chance to bird the Lake Louise area before leaving for Calgary. Stay tuned for B.C Trip Part XIII.

Images by Jean unless stated otherwise.