Category Archives: Class Aves

Bubo virginianus: Great Horned Owl–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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This great horned owl showed up at Race Rocks on November 12, 2011. There has only been one other reported sighting, on October 14 2006, by members of the Friends of Ecological Reserve field trip . While visiting the island, they saw that an owl had been sitting in a window ledge of the tower, and it flew out when people were going up inside the tower. It was later sighted on the cliff west of the docks, but it flew before they could get a picture.

Images by Alex Fletcher November 12, 2011

Alex reports that this time it was perched at the upper crane deck platform, and goes in under the crane deck as well. It was still there on November 13. The wind has gusted to 60 km. at Race Rocks on both days, and it has rained frequently during that time.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae
Genus Bubo
Species virginianus
Common Name: Great Horned Owl
Other owls photographed at Race Rock

taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams.  Alex Fletcher

 

Pandion haliaetus: Osprey—The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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This is the first image taken of this species at Race Rocks. Ryan states: “While counting marine mammals from the lighthouse I noticed the sea gulls take flight similar to a bald eagle response.  I then saw this osprey flying SE over Great Race about level with the top of the tower.  The next day I observed a pair of ospreys hunting in the shallows West of Pedder Bay Marina.”.We have seen ospreys previously in Pedder bay, where a pair had a nest up until the early-1980’s.

Image by Ryan Murphy

 

Other Members of the Class Aves at Race Rocks 
taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams.

Ryan Murphy

Puffinus griseus : Sooty sheerwater- The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Sooty Sheerwater images by Raisa Mira, Ecoguardian

Images by Raisa Mirza
These are the first images taken of this species at Race Rocks. It occurs only rarely around Race Rocks, as it is mainly pelagic.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Subclass Neomithes
Superorder Neoaves
Order Procellariiformes
Family Procellariidae
Genus Puffinus
Species griseus Gmelin 1789
Common Name: Sooty Shearwater
taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams.

 

Calidris alba: Sanderling- The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Sanderling photogrepahed by Adam Harding- Ecoguardian at Race Rocks

This is the first image taken of this species. It breeds circumpolar and is a long distance migratory species. It must be back on its way down south having made this stopover here at Race Rocks August 11, 2011

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Scolopacidae
Genus Calidris
Species alba Pallas,1764
Common Name: Sanderling
taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams.

 

Mergus merganser: Common merganser–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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rmmar2911mergstand

Mergus merganser photos by Ryan Murphy

rmmar2911We see flocks of the common mergansers (Mergus merganser) in the winter and spring months hunting for fish in a line of up to a dozen birds which will dive simultaneously to corral fish underwater. We see this in Pedder Bay, and off Taylor beach. They are not so common at Race Rocks however. This individual is in female plumage, and was perched on the end of the docks. Males are brightly coloured with contrasting white and dark greenish black markings. This is the first record of one on the island.

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Mergus merganser photos by Ryan Murphy

Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class :Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Mergus
Species: merganser
Common Name: Common Merganser

 

 

Return to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by the students, faculty, staff and volunteers of Lester B. Pearson College March 2011 Ryan Murphy

Brachyramphus marmoratus: Marbled murrelet–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Marbled murrelet in Race Passage: photo by Raisa Mirza, 2010

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Marbled murrelet ,(Brachyramphus marmoratus) photo by Ryan Murphy 2010

 

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Alcidae
Genus: Brachyramphus
Species: B. marmoratus
Binomial name
Brachyramphus marmoratus
(Gmelin, 1789)

Other entries on Murrelets at Race Rocks

taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams. Raisa Mirza PC

 

Strix varia: Barred owl–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Barred Owl at Race Rocks , November 2010. Images by Raisa Mirza

Raisa Mirza (Ecoguardian) took these photos of the first Barred Owl to be photographed at Race Rocks on November 2, 2010. Raisa notes: ” When I woke up this morning, Virginie said that she had seen an owl and taken a picture which was pretty awesome. Lo and behold when I went outside half an hour later, I spotted this Barred Owl behind the boat house. He was covered in mist. This picture was taken later in the day when the sun had come out. My first owl sighting in the wild ever! I’m pretty excited to share the other shots of him. Couldn’t wait to put this one up. Another first sighting at Race Rocks! Its pretty awesome to know that my photography is contributing to building a cool record.”

The barred owl is a permanent resident of nearby Southern Vancouver Island, It is frequently heard at night in the farms and wooded areas of Metchosin.

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In this photo by Raisa, the barred owl has its head turned 180 degrees and it is looking to the left on this photo.  The wind pushes up the feathers on the back of the head giving it a very weird appearance!

 

 

 

Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Sub-Phylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Strix
Species: varia
Common Name: Barred Owl, (Barton,1799)
Other owls photographed at Race Rock

taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams.

Raisa Mirza, Nov. 2 2010.

 

Synthliboramphus antiquus: ancient murrelet–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Ancient Murrelet  Synthliboramphus antiquus photo by Ryan Murphy

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Ancient murrelets with a loon in the background: Photo by Raisa Mirza, November 2010

RM_ancient_murreletScientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Alcidae
Genus: Synthliboramphus
Species: S. antiquus

Synthliboramphus antiquus  (Gmelin, 1789)

These murrelets are seen only occasionally in the waters off Race Rocks. They are easy to confuse with the rarer Marbled Murrelet which also shows up in the fall.

Other entries on Murrelets at Race Rocks

taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams.Raisa Mirza PC .

 

Gavia pacifica: Pacific Loon– The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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pacloonraisanov182010

Pacific Loon , Gavia pacifica photo by Raisa Mirza-Nov. 18 2010

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Pacific loon following a Common murre–Photo by Raisa Mirza

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Pacific Loon photo by Raisa Mirza, Nov 2010

RM_loonScientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Gaviiformes
Family: Gaviidae
Genus: Gavia
Species: G. pacifica

Gavia pacifica (Lawrence, 1858)

Other Loons ( members of the order Gaviformes)  at Race Rocks

taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams. —–——- PC yr 31

 

Zonotricha atricapilla: Golden-crowned sparrow–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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This is the first winter plumage of a young Golden -crowned sparrow.

These sparrows are common fall transients throughout southern Vancouver Island although this is the first one photographed at Race Rocks in November 2010. Images by Raisa Mirza

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-Phylum: Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae
Genus Zonotricha
Species atricapilla (Gmelin 1789)
Common Name: Golden-crowned sparrow

Other Members of the Class Aves at Race Rocks 
taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams.

 March October 2003-  Rahilla (PC)