Gary Davidson

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The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is the brighter southern cousin of the northern Willow Flycatcher whose feather tones are more demure.

Southern flycatchers flashier than northern relatives

There are many differences between the birds of tropical and subtropical regions, and those of more temperate places like B.C.

The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is the brighter southern cousin of the northern Willow Flycatcher whose feather tones are more demure.
You won’t see any snow behind this Northern Cardinal because it’s posing for its Davidson portrait in Texas.

Northern birds and birders flock south to Texas for winter

Once again, Marie and I have retreated to south Texas for the winter. In addition to the warm weather and good golf, there are the birds.

You won’t see any snow behind this Northern Cardinal because it’s posing for its Davidson portrait in Texas.
This Short-Eared Owl is a wonderful but rare sight in the Nakusp area.

Rare birds sighted during cusp of new year

Short-eared Owls breed in grassland or marshy areas, something we have very little of.

This Short-Eared Owl is a wonderful but rare sight in the Nakusp area.
An American Goldfinch in winter plumage could be one of the birds you count as part of the annual bird counts taking place across the country.

Birding enthusiasts join 113th annual Christmas Bird Count

The Christmas Bird Count is a project of the National Audubon Society in the U.S. and is coordinated in Canada by Bird Studies Canada.

An American Goldfinch in winter plumage could be one of the birds you count as part of the annual bird counts taking place across the country.
Both Tundra Swans, like the ones pictured here, and Trumpeter Swans have been spotted in the area.

Swans of two feathers flock to Kootenay

Last Friday morning, November 2, I saw two swans on the lake at Burton but they were too far away from me to identify.

Both Tundra Swans, like the ones pictured here, and Trumpeter Swans have been spotted in the area.
A Black-footed Albatross like the one pictured here can have the wingspan of a Bald Eagle.

Birds of Nakusp visits Oregon coast seabirds

While in Oregon recently, I went on a boat trip to look for seabirds, a large group of birds that is unfamiliar to most people.

A Black-footed Albatross like the one pictured here can have the wingspan of a Bald Eagle.
Up in the sky! Is it a sparrow or a swift? It’s a swift, who is closer to hummingbirds genetically than nighthawks, for your information.

Swift recognition slow for most

There is a family of birds found throughout the world that is not well known to most casual observers. They are the swifts.

Up in the sky! Is it a sparrow or a swift? It’s a swift, who is closer to hummingbirds genetically than nighthawks, for your information.
Data that Gary Davidson has collected over the years show that 2012 has been an extremely poor year for Osprey numbers. Why is unknown, but the high level of water the area has experienced this year may have something to do with it.

Ospreys numbers falling prey to high water?

For the last 18 years I have been systematically monitoring the Osprey nests between Nakusp and Fauquier.

Data that Gary Davidson has collected over the years show that 2012 has been an extremely poor year for Osprey numbers. Why is unknown, but the high level of water the area has experienced this year may have something to do with it.
Although the Upper Arrow Lake doesn’t have much shore to speak of at the moment, shorebirds like this Greater Yellowlegs are still poking around our lake’s edge this summer.

Shorebirds now busily shoring up for winter

As the name suggests, these birds spend most of their time at the water’s edge either feeding in the shallow water or on the adjacent shore.

Although the Upper Arrow Lake doesn’t have much shore to speak of at the moment, shorebirds like this Greater Yellowlegs are still poking around our lake’s edge this summer.
Great Horned Owls, like this one, are rare to spot around Nakusp, but they do exist.

Owls a rarity, but can be found around Nakusp

A couple of weeks ago, I was told about a family of owls living just on the north edge of Nakusp.

Great Horned Owls, like this one, are rare to spot around Nakusp, but they do exist.
A Marbled Godwit makes an unusual visit to our temporary wetlands for a little time on the beaches.

Birds of Nakusp plumbs the shoreline

The Arrow Lakes Valley is normally quite poor for shorebirds and will never challenge Salmon Arm.

A Marbled Godwit makes an unusual visit to our temporary wetlands for a little time on the beaches.
These sparrows are easy to identify thanks to their distinctive head plumage.

White-crowned Sparrows flock to Nakusp, for now

During the last couple of weeks, a large number of White-crowned Sparrows have been moving through Southern B.C.

These sparrows are easy to identify thanks to their distinctive head plumage.
A Townsend’s Solitare enjoys the berries from a backyard pyracantha bush.

Welcoming the latest wave of Spring migrants

Spring migration – I have been reminded recently just what an amazing spectacle this is!

A Townsend’s Solitare enjoys the berries from a backyard pyracantha bush.
Gary Davidson captures the colours of a Barn Swallow.

Swallows herald the beginning of Spring

Every year at this time many species of birds that flew south for the winter begin to return.

Gary Davidson captures the colours of a Barn Swallow.
A Turquoise-browed Motmot captured on film in balmy Costa Rica.

Colourful southern cousins make for a birding treat

The Birds of Nakusp is brought to you from Costa Rica this week.

A Turquoise-browed Motmot captured on film in balmy Costa Rica.
A Swainson’s Thrush found a feast of leftovers in a local compost.

Your compost may be another bird’s preferred repast

This winter continues to produce some unusual species.

A Swainson’s Thrush found a feast of leftovers in a local compost.
A Northern Hawk Owl, whose name is not hyphenated, was seen in Nakusp this year.

Record number of species spotted on Christmas Bird Count

In our region there were three counts: in Fauquier, Nakusp and New Denver. Here a few of the highlights.

A Northern Hawk Owl, whose name is not hyphenated, was seen in Nakusp this year.
A Yellow-rumped Warbler rests in Nakusp a little longer than usual.

Where the birds are this winter

Gary Davidson went for a walk around Nakusp last week and found a few surprises.

A Yellow-rumped Warbler rests in Nakusp a little longer than usual.
The Lettered Aracari is one of 450 species of birds Gary Davidson was lucky enough to see on his recent visit to Peru.

Davidson returns to Nakusp with hundreds of birding feathers in his cap

I saw a total of almost 450 species in twenty days in Peru. In 40 years of birding in Canada I have seen only 408!

The Lettered Aracari is one of 450 species of birds Gary Davidson was lucky enough to see on his recent visit to Peru.
A Collared Inca, one of 120 species of hummingbirds that makes its home in Peru.

Gary’s humdingers of Peru

In B.C. we have four regularly occurring species, in Peru alone they have over 120 species of hummingbirds.

A Collared Inca, one of 120 species of hummingbirds that makes its home in Peru.