The Nicola Naturalist Society, along with the Kamloops Naturalists, is responsible for monitoring the Douglas Lake Plateau IBA (Important Bird Area). We relish the opportunity to visit these grasslands, wetlands and ranch areas, counting birds from the public roads. On 21 April 2014, with good weather, 13 members of NNS spent a very productive day in the IBA area, driving as far as Salmon Lake with some of us returning via Minnie Lake and Pennask Lake Road. The goal was to check on the Sandhill Crane migration (this time last year we encountered over 2,300 cranes). Alas, this year we saw only two cranes. But there were many other species to make this an interesting trip. Highlights were:
- Snow Goose – single bird at Chapperon Lake
- Sandhill Crane 2 (in marsh 3-5 km west of Chapperon Lake)
- American White Pelican: 25 roosting at Nicola Lake and 9 in flight near Chapperon Lake
Many raptors were about – some migrating through the area:
- Peregrine Falcon – a pair is back for the third year at Nicola Lake cliffs and was mobbing a passing Bald Eagle
- Merlin 2
- American Kestrel 50+
- Cooper’s Hawk 4
- Sharp-shinned Hawk 4
- Golden Eagle 2
- Northern Harrier 15
- Great Horned Owl 1
Spring arrivals:
- Barn Swallow 1 (first for this spring)
- Yellow-headed Blackbirds 5 (first for the spring)
- The only warblers seen were Yellow-rumped Warblers.
Overall, we recorded 61 species. For a complete checklist of the day click here: Douglas Plateau birds 21 April 2014
Below are some photos from the day’s outing.
Ring-necked Ducks on a grassland pond near Douglas Lake. Photo: © Bob Scafe
A pair of Cinnamon Teal on a pond – Douglas Lake Plateau. Photo: © Bob Scafe
A pair of Red-tailed Hawks circling over the grasslands. Photo: © Alan Burger
Killdeer breed alongside many of the small watering holes on the Douglas Lake Plateau grasslands. Photo: © Bob Scafe
This Great Horned Owl regularly roosts in the thickets bordering Douglas Lake. Photo: © Bob Scafe
A lone Sandhill Crane in the marsh near Chapperon Lake. Photo: © Alan Burger
This Sharp-shinned Hawk was hunting small birds in the aspen thickets, Pennask Lake Road. Photo: © Alan Burger
This Merlin had just caught a small bird (likely a Vesper Sparrow) and was plucking and eating it on a post – Pennask Lake Road. Photo: © Alan Burger
Tail feathers fly as the Merlin plucks its prey – Pennask Lake Road. Photo: © Alan Burger
American White Pelicans roost on the edge of Nicola Lake, 21 April 2014. Photo: © Alan Burger
