Report by Peter Candido

The 2021 Vancouver Christmas Bird Count took place on Saturday December 18th under challenging conditions, at least until mid-day.  In the morning participants were faced with steady rain throughout the area, and wind from the SSE of about 16 kph or higher along the coast.  The rain tapered off around noon and skies began to clear, resulting in relatively pleasant conditions in the afternoon.  Poor conditions on the water in the morning meant that the group who usually survey the waters in English Bay by boat were not able to get out, and observations from shore were also hampered by rain and wind.

As was the case in 2019 (there was no count in 2020 due to covid restrictions), tides were high throughout the day: 4.4 m from 6 to 7 am, 3.6 m at noon, and 3.7 m at 5 pm, leaving little shore habitat and resulting in low counts and some missed species for shorebirds.

Winter finches and grosbeaks were in short supply this year with small numbers of Pine Siskins, one Common Redpoll and no Pine Grosbeaks, Evening Grosbeaks or Red Crossbills reported.  A few Bohemian Waxwings were present in the area this year, though only one bird was seen on count day.

The species total stands at 124 with 70,795 individuals, compared to 126 species and 76,319 individuals in 2019 – impressive considering the conditions (2019 had good weather).   A big Thank You to all who contributed to the count!  

If you notice any errors or omissions in the data, please contact Peter at pcandido328@shaw.ca.

Some Highlights

• Brant – 1 in area T (YVR)
• Rough-legged Hawk – 4 in T
• Snowy Owl -1 in area S (Iona Island)
• Black Turnstone – 1 in D, 8 in B
• Mourning Dove – 1 in K
• Spotted Sandpiper – 2 each in B and R
• Gray Catbird –1 (a continuing bird at the foot of Comox St. near Beach Ave., area W)
• Bohemian Waxwing – 1 in U
• White-throated Sparrow – 1 in N
• Harris’s Sparrow –1 (A continuing bird at Waterfront Park in North Vancouver, area D West)
• Common Redpoll – 1 in E
• Brown-headed Cowbird – 8 in V
• Townsend’s Warbler – 1 in C East
• Orange-crowned Warbler – 1 in U

Notably Missed This Year

Western Grebe, Long-billed Dowitcher, Marbled Murrelet

A complete list of all the species observed is available from the link below: