Bird # 318 for Vancouver - another Vancouver Mega!

Today I successfully chased a Philadelphia Vireo. Although these birds breed in Northern BC they never come down to the south coast of BC. The bird was photographed yesterday by Quentin Brown and identified as a Warbling Vireo I mean who would think they are seeing a Philadelphia Vireo in Vancouver? A late Warbling would make much more logical sense! Well I asked Quentin for some photos because I wanted to rule out Philadelphia and as soon as I saw the 1/2 dozen photos and video I said it looked good to me for Philadelphia Vireo. It was so bright yellow ventrally and the head looked right for Philadelphia. Since I am cautious I listed it on the RBA as Possible and sent it to a few friends and experienced birders, banders and ornithologist Peter Pyle who all confirmed it. It was a HY bird.

When I got to Hastings Park,  Mike Toochin and Mike Tabak were searching in the pouring rain. After an hour of searching with Peter Candido who drove in right beside me Mike Toochin spotted the bird in a mixed Kinglet/Chickadee flock. It was so brilliant yellow with dark lores between the eye and bill, it was also smaller than a Warbling Vireo. It gave quick but clear views allowing no doubt on the id and then it and the whole flock disappeared. Try as we might we couldn't relocate it for another couple of hours and then it gave us another 2 brief views but nice and in the open by this time Rob Lyske had arrived and shows us a Barred Owl. We were all happy for him and were chit-chatting by the bridge when Mario Lam was still actively looking and said there it is above our heads! We looked up and sure enough there it was giving the best and longest views yet and we snapped off some more decent pics. Peter and I had got awful pics before so were glad we got more decent ones this time.  Mike Klotz had also got good views after his arrival and just like that it was gone again..

An hour and 1/2 later Joachim Bertrands relocated it in the NW corner of the park for very happy Carlo Giovanella and Roger Foxall. It was not seen again after 3:00pm despite multiple observers looking but others did find a Swamp Sparrow. Even though it was pouring rain most of the day I was comfy in full rain gear and I found it super enjoyable because the park was so birdy! We saw a Cooper's Hawk, Golden and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Hermit Thrush, Downy Woodpecker, Wood Duck, Mallards, Juncos, Brown Creepers, Robins, Crows, Barred Owl, Spotted Towhees, Song and Fox Sparrows, Bushtits and Black-capped Chickadees. Wherever we looked there were birds so it made birding in the rain fun.

The last recorded sighting of a Philadelphia Vireo in Metro Vancouver was Oct 28, 1973 and the bird stayed until Nov 17th so there is a very good chance that with all this rain the bird will continue and remain for several days for people to see. I sure hope so! This bird just requires lots of patience and for people to look for the large flock of Chickadees and Kinglets and then to study that flock hard. When you see the bird it really stands out like a sore thumb. The bird today vocalized for us and it sounds like a Red-eyed Vireo in a way but slower and more high pitched.

This was a new Metro Vancouver Bird for me and bird #318. This year we have had some great Vanouver megas. I got 5 new Vancouver Birds in the past 3 months! A Little Stint, Snowy Plover, Arctic Tern, Red Phalarope and now this Philly Vireo!

It also is a new Metro Vancouver year bird for me. I am currently in the 260's so I am hoping with a few more rarities I can get to my goal of 270.

Who knows if I'll get there but it sure is fun to try.

Congrats again to Quentin Brown on his incredible find for Vancouver!

Record shot of a Philadelphia Vireo at Hastings Park in Vancouver 

Comments

  1. Bryony AngellNovember 1, 2018 at 4:12 PM

    Congratulations! I am envious of all Vireo sightings as my son is named for a Vireo. This one and your photo of it are really special, obviously. Congrats to you too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Melissa HaftingNovember 2, 2018 at 10:21 AM

      Thanks bryony which vireo did you name him after?

      Delete
    2. Bryony AngellJune 27, 2019 at 10:48 AM

      It would have to be a hutton's or a warbling vireo, as they are the most common around seattle!

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Dowitcher Identification

Image
Birders notoriously find it difficult to tell Short-billed and Long-billed Dowitchers apart. I have got a request to do an identification explanation on them so here goes, I hope it will be helpful. Short-billed Dowitchers and Long-billed look so similar. Using their habitat is helpful but not diagnostic. Short-billed Dowitchers tend to prefer Salt water and brackish water and Long-billed Dowitchers tend to prefer fresh water. However, I have OFTEN seen Short-billeds in freshwater and Long-billeds in brackish and salt water. Therefore, DO NOT rely on habitat. Another feature many people will tell you to rely on is spotting on the side of the flanks of Short-billeds and barring on the side of Long-billeds. Usually this is a mark that you can use but it is not always as distinct as you like. I have seen Short-billeds with a barred appearance to the flanks. It is only at the side of the breast where you have to look for this diagnostic feature for the spots on a Short-billed and t...
Read more

Hawk Identification Tips from every angle (Sharpie vs Cooper and Red-tailed Subspecies)

Image
I get several questions about the difference between accipiters. The most common ones are between Sharp-shinned Hawks and Cooper's Hawks and between Cooper's Hawks vs Northern Goshawks (to a lesser degree). Next, I get many questions dealing with a certain race of buteos the Western Red-tailed Hawk and Harlan's. So I thought I would do a post on these to help answer those questions. I will deal with Cooper's and Sharpies and not Goshawks because they are much more common here and look much more alike. My friend John Reynolds inspired me to write this up. COOPER'S AND SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS EYE COLOUR - YELLOW OR ORANGE? RED? Normally a juvenile Cooper's hawk has a bright yellow eye and a Juvie Sharpie has a orange eye but some cooper's can have a dull yellow eye that looks a bit orangish. Cooper's Hawks usually only transition to the orange eye colour when they are sub adults, so in good light, it's a very very reliable feature. However you ...
Read more

STINT IDENTIFICATION

Image
As per request, here are some tips that I hope will be helpful in identifying and differentiating Red-necked Stint from Little Stint. I will also do a brief intro on Long-toed and Temminck's Stint... if you build it they will come right?😉 Red-necked and Little Stints look very much alike in worn breeding plumage. The amount of Red on the face, throat and breast in Red-necked Stint is vary variable). They look even more alike in non-breeding plumage, that is why it is essential to learn structural differences to separate the two. They are similar to Semipalmated Sandpipers as well as Sanderlings. Both species are often confused for Red-necked Stints. Little Stints rarely get confused with Sanderling because they have a hind toe which helps differentiate it from this species. Sanderlings in breeding or worn breeding are usually confused with Red-necked Stints but they are much larger than Red-necked Stints. Let's first start with Bills in this complicated ID proces...
Read more

*Updated - The most famous Red-tailed Hawk is eating fish on the ground just like a Bald Eagle!

Image
Update - There are plans in the works to make a documentary film on this young Red-tailed Hawk who thinks he's an Eagle. You can read the latest news about that on CBC HERE . Watch this incredible footage of the little Red-tailed Hawk who grew up in a family of three Eaglets and 2 Bald Eagle Parents. He is imprinted now on Bald Eagles. He looks and acts just like one, as you can see here in the video below. He is standing over a large salmon carcass, just like a Bald Eagle would and he's eating the decaying flesh. Red-tailed Hawks like to eat voles and rabbits etc. not fish! Imprinting is usually irreversible according to raptor expert David Bird. However, I hope it's reversible so that he doesn't attempt to mate with a Bald Eagle, as the Eagle would kill him because it would view him as a Hawk. Eagle expert David Hancock said that the bird will likely starve and get killed by an eagle. He said this possibly can be prevented if someone grabs it and takes it to O...
Read more

1 year since I lost my father

Image
My dad and I whom I miss terribly. One year on since I lost him. Today would have been my mother's bday. Her name was Valerie and it is also the first year anniversary of the death of my beloved father, Arne. There is not a day that goes by where I don't think of them. Now for ever more the day of his death will be connected to her birthday, a very sad day but in a way that connection is beautiful to tie them together. My beautiful family before we lost both parents. I put flowers down at their grave to celebrate them both today. I hate that it is one year since I told him I loved him and hugged him. I miss him so very much. I miss his voice, his love and guidance and support. The ground for me feels shakier without his guidance and safety. I hate I will never see him again or talk to him again. Can't believe how quick time passes. This is why it is so important we treasure every single day to the fullest and tell those we love them. I will never forget the day he passed aw...
Read more