British Columbia Wild

Spotted Sandpiper

The Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) is a medium-sized shorebird that is fairly common near both fresh and salt water across BC during summer. Some stay year-round on the South Coast. They are ground nesters and build loose nests out of rocks, sticks and dried vegetation. Like some other shorebirds the parents will fake a broken wing in order to drive predators away from the nest. They are fairly easy to distinguish from other sandpipers, which can be very hard to identify. The adults have dark brown backs and heads and have white chests with spots. They have a white stripe through their eye and an orange-reddish bill.

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) eggs, Valemount, BC.

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius), Comox Valley, British Columbia.

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) eggs, Valemount, BC.

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius), Comox Valley, British Columbia.

Common Merganser

The Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) is found year-round on the coast and in the Southern Interior. They are found across the rest of BC in summer. They are one of three merganser species found in BC and one of two true mergansers – members of the genus Mergus. They are similar in appearance to the Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) but have a less wispy head crest and the males have a greenish vs. black head. Common Mergansers are usually found in rivers and lakes but sometimes fish in the ocean as well, usually in estuaries. They primarily consume small fishes and often hunt cooperatively by driving fish into the shore as a group. Common Mergansers normally nest in cavities, whereas Red-breasted Mergansers usually nest on the ground.

Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) chick with its mother, Oyster River, British Columbia.

Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) chicks, Oyster River, British Columbia.

Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) chicks with their mother, Oyster River, British Columbia

Hardhack (Douglas’ Spirea)

Hardhack (Spiraea douglasii), also known as Douglas’ Spirea, is found across much of British Columbia but is especially common on the South Coast and Vancouver Island. It is a shrub which can reach up to 2m tall and form dense thickets. It likes moist areas and is found in marshes, bogs, streambanks, ditches and other wet sites. Its pink flower clusters bloom in late spring or early summer and persist for many months. The thickets provide habitat for nesting birds and the flowers provide nectar and pollen for hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators. There are other species of Spirea found in British Columbia but they are mostly low shrubs, therefore hardback is distinguishable by its larger size, as well as its pink flowers.

Hardhack (Spiraea douglasii), Comox Valley, British Columbia.

Bonaparte’s Gull

Bonaparte’s Gulls (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) are seen on the coast and throughout the province during migration in spring on route to their northern breeding grounds and in late-summer/fall when flying to the western and southern US coast and Mexico, where they spend the winter. Some overwinter on the South Coast of BC and some breed in Northern BC where they nest in trees; unlike most other gulls. The adults have dark black heads during the breeding season, orange legs, black wing tips, white chests and grey wings. The head of the juveniles is lighter and often streaked with white. The adults have a white head with a dark spot behind the eye during the non-breeding season. They are often seen in groups, sometimes in the hundreds, and feed on small fishes, crabs and other crustaceans.

Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia), Comox Valley, British Columbia.

Bonaparte’s Gulls (Chroicocephalus philadelphia), Comox Valley, British Columbia.

Merlin

The Merlin (Falco columbarius) is a small falcon found across most of British Columbia in summer and on the coast and in the Southern Interior year-round. They are dark brown to grey on their back and head. Their chests are lighter and are usually streaky and/or spotted and their tails are often striped. They mostly eat other birds and are capable of taking down a bird larger than themselves. They are very noisy birds, especially the juveniles, and you will often know one is in the area by hearing their near constant shrieking. They often harass and chase larger raptors, including Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).

Merlin (Falco columbarius), Oyster River, British Columbia.

Merlin (Falco columbarius), Comox Valley, British Columbia.

Pacific Crabapple

Pacific Crabapple (Malus fusca) is a common shrub (or small tree depending on who you ask) found along the coast, including the Lower Mainland, and on Vancouver Island. It prefers moist low to mid-elevation sites and is often found in or near marshes, bogs, lakes, estuaries, stream-sides and in open forests. It is deciduous and blooms beautiful white flowers in the spring. It produces small pomes in summer which can be eaten by people, as they were by First Nation peoples for centuries. Bears and many species of birds consume the apples and deer and other ungulates feed on the leaves.

Pacific Crabapple (Malus fusca), Parksville, British Columbia.

Pacific Crabapple (Malus fusca), Comox Valley, British Columbia.

Warbling Vireo

The Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) is a songbird (also known as a passerine) that breeds in BC during the summer. It is found across the entire province usually in mature deciduous stands, which they prefer to nest and feed in. They tend to live close to water where there is a good source of insects for them to feed on. They are less colourful compared to some other summer breeders but still quite beautiful. They have a light grey back, wings and head and a cream coloured belly, throat and “eyebrow.” Their “warbling” song is very distinctive and gives them their name. To see videos of the chicks being fed click here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BH26UdPBj2c/ and here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BH28aq6hHXs/.

Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) feeding its chicks, Comox Valley, British Columbia.

Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) chick, Comox Valley, British Columbia.

Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) nest, Comox Valley, British Columbia.

Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) feeding its chicks, Comox Valley, British Columbia.

Black Oystercatcher

Black Oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani) are found up and down the BC coast and are rarely found far from the shoreline. They prefer rocky shores and outcroppings but are also sometimes found on sandy beaches and are usually seen in small groups. They primarily consume molluscs, such as mussels, but will also eat crabs and isopods and other marine invertebrates. They nest on the ground in depressions they make out of small rocks and usually have 2-3 offspring in the spring or early summer.

Black Oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani), Saratoga Beach, British Columbia.

Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani), Saratoga Beach, British Columbia.

Black Oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani), Saratoga Beach, British Columbia.

Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani), Saratoga Beach, British Columbia.

Yellow Pond Lily

Yellow Pond Lily (Nuphar polysepala) is an aquatic perennial plant that is found in marshes, wetlands, ponds and slow moving water across southern and central BC and along the coast; becoming less common in northern and eastern parts of the province. It is a perennial plant that usually flowers from June to late-July depending on latitude, elevation and local conditions. The build up of decomposing lilies and other aquatic vegetation is part of the succession of marsh habitats to meadows and eventually forests. This process allows for shrubs to move in and eventually trees. The plant has many potential medicinal uses and was/is used by First Nations.

Yellow Pond Lily (Nuphar polysepala), Comox Valley, British Columbia.

Fawning Season

Fawning season is well underway for BC’s two native deer species. Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are found across most of BC except for the extreme North. White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are found in BC’s Southern Interior, Central BC and sections of the northeast. Both have one or two and rarely three fawns in late-May or June. For the first few months the fawns are light tan with white spots. These spots are thought to help camouflage them when their mothers leave them to go off feeding. The mothers do this regularly as the young slow them down and hinder them while they try to gain the nutrition needed for nursing. The fawns are weaned by the end of summer but start to consume vegetation before then. BC’s other cervids (members of the greater deer family) are also raising young at this time; Elk (Cervus canadensis), Moose (Alces alces) and Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) cows are raising their calves in many places across the province.

Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) fawns, Comox Valley, British Columbia.

Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) fawns with their mother, Comox Valley, British Columbia.

Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) fawns with their mother while one watches an American Robin (Turdus migratorius) fly by, Comox Valley, British Columbia.

Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) fawn nursing, Comox Valley, British Columbia.

Author: British Columbia Wild