tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16842052190101039382024-03-06T02:31:01.650-08:00John Gordon/Listening to Birds "The bluebird carries the sky on his back"
Henry David Thoreau April 3, 1852John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.comBlogger573125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-50215811050010607132023-12-07T19:06:00.000-08:002023-12-07T19:07:50.969-08:00The South Fraser Blog: "On the Trail - 50 Years of Engaging with Nature" ...<div>Come and celebrate the Langley Field Naturalists' new book. See link below from the Mayor of Langley City.</div><div><br /></div><div>John Gordon</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://sfb.nathanpachal.com/2023/12/on-trail-50-years-of-engaging-with.html?spref=bl">The South Fraser Blog: "On the Trail - 50 Years of Engaging with Nature" ...</a>..John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-39057315538924645682023-10-31T20:43:00.001-07:002023-11-26T21:53:10.991-08:00Craning for a View<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><i>SASKATOON </i></h2><p style="text-align: center;">OCT 12-16 2023</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> There are many things to love about Saskatchewan, dramatic light, wide open skies, genuine hospitality and of course the birding. I hadn't visited Saskatoon since 1979. My only recollections were the bridges, and a University. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9x1KTLvEtudb67uujpbNBlzX7jwINlD6BA0o_0DU3FqB7yxTQA0sa9I5sxQTmldV5R0edw5CTDr5menVyVjF78wHKCf9G90dlkzKuJmTR2MJJW7Dz_9A4uE09FMJWJ2ji-Vl2gQx9qlmDfbn-3hbTp9LMLnk3yhWM687AxJkCflaX2SNyOfnkBr5NcOM/s600/Saskatoon%20webIMG_8552.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9x1KTLvEtudb67uujpbNBlzX7jwINlD6BA0o_0DU3FqB7yxTQA0sa9I5sxQTmldV5R0edw5CTDr5menVyVjF78wHKCf9G90dlkzKuJmTR2MJJW7Dz_9A4uE09FMJWJ2ji-Vl2gQx9qlmDfbn-3hbTp9LMLnk3yhWM687AxJkCflaX2SNyOfnkBr5NcOM/w320-h400/Saskatoon%20webIMG_8552.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St John's Anglican Cathedral.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Prairie Birding</b></p><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I had a long standing invitation to visit the Wagner family in Saskatoon during the Whooping Crane migration. That was supposed to happen three years ago but Covid ended all that and last year I was in Australia so that didn't work out either</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">. Finally in early October 2023 the stars aligned, I made a few calls and suddenly the trip was on. </span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFjhvb0pE8Vvd-3rLiMJXXQpGNTgIT5-98MraO6heFZSmMj-g8NuAsaydEUNGI7m-S-UN8Iyt-QRFJ4pctYu2BOgiITlVXvLREiQYky-F7H_UUBCTMqqgxWmGyldPnFlq4I3wk-jVKtjNtrU5T0B4IrXFbrLm_BDba-e7i1I76uSiGhJyfNfxj-EEjpc/s720/Snow%20Geese%20web-5865.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFjhvb0pE8Vvd-3rLiMJXXQpGNTgIT5-98MraO6heFZSmMj-g8NuAsaydEUNGI7m-S-UN8Iyt-QRFJ4pctYu2BOgiITlVXvLREiQYky-F7H_UUBCTMqqgxWmGyldPnFlq4I3wk-jVKtjNtrU5T0B4IrXFbrLm_BDba-e7i1I76uSiGhJyfNfxj-EEjpc/s16000/Snow%20Geese%20web-5865.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thousands of Snow Geese on one of the many lakes we passed on our search for whoopers.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The plan was to venture north of Saskatoon to look for cranes. Whooping Cranes are assessed as endangered by the Committee of the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada and are protected under the Species at Risk Act. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sarah and Brent Wagner were my hosts. Sarah even took a week off from her veterinarian duties to join me. Brent, an educator and outdoorsman had some ideas about where to search. I just followed, I knew I was in good hands</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Whooping Cranes are popular with birding tours. Maybe the guides knew something we didn't because we drove for hours with nothing to show for it. My thinking was there must be dips and hollows that were hidden from the road. There is just so much land to cover. Eventually and just before we were going to give up for the day three white cranes glided over our heads and landed in a close-by marsh. Whoop-ee, the pressure was off, smiles and high-fives all around. I was so exited I almost dropped my lens. We spent an hour with the birds until the wind picked up and it was time to head home for some of Brent's delicious cooking. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b>Whoop-ee!</b></span></h3><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieh9us9bbELp3amv9wbm2Yp5t0_G8K1bYcOla1J5PbbWFGTafKY0Lg2zPlpRhSCeMLpipxGgnYwdDoqQ0odTHJJ07nxmbGp5CyYct9_H07azXi4p13jajBJIgGKdY1fDkGu7n7xdB6vrPC28ZpMUCBhL3lsYeVEmpXRITO1g7s42d2F5hlyDoEsZBlubY/s720/Whooping%20Cranes%20web-4622.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieh9us9bbELp3amv9wbm2Yp5t0_G8K1bYcOla1J5PbbWFGTafKY0Lg2zPlpRhSCeMLpipxGgnYwdDoqQ0odTHJJ07nxmbGp5CyYct9_H07azXi4p13jajBJIgGKdY1fDkGu7n7xdB6vrPC28ZpMUCBhL3lsYeVEmpXRITO1g7s42d2F5hlyDoEsZBlubY/s16000/Whooping%20Cranes%20web-4622.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Three Whoopers landed close enough for photographs.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In the 1940s twenty Whooping Cranes were known to survive. In 1976 fifty birds were counted. Today there are five hundred plus, a remarkable conservation story. Another birder we met saw 36 the same day and even higher numbers have been reported if you are in the right place at the right time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h3><br /></h3></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h3><span>Whooping Crane Migration Map</span></h3></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCpvCZQp8GrWqeCVsI33oEsZiNJz_3VwtQa4KOsO80FXLjnpo3vjYFlTfGgUp_RjIUlGKZRAzKzK6L8H2_IpGsX0gWvkxlGakuN4a9mYqViL5hsGpe1c8OZBGUEI8vawPZbjAVCwmP7YqJyIQmE2QwTlrcpztmYqmdDNfbWRsQ6wtp-P6PVRzq-yXAmI/s660/WHCR%20Migration%20Map%20IMG_8563.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCpvCZQp8GrWqeCVsI33oEsZiNJz_3VwtQa4KOsO80FXLjnpo3vjYFlTfGgUp_RjIUlGKZRAzKzK6L8H2_IpGsX0gWvkxlGakuN4a9mYqViL5hsGpe1c8OZBGUEI8vawPZbjAVCwmP7YqJyIQmE2QwTlrcpztmYqmdDNfbWRsQ6wtp-P6PVRzq-yXAmI/w466-h640/WHCR%20Migration%20Map%20IMG_8563.jpg" width="466" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Former and present Whooping Crane migration routes.</td></tr></tbody></table></h3></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Note the migration path from Wood Buffalo Park through Saskatchewan and into North Dakota.</div><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">On the way home we stopped off at Chief Whitecap Park to watch flocks of Sandhill Cranes coming to roost on the banks and islands of the Saskatchewan River, a truly awe inspiring sight. A conservative count in thirty minutes was two-thousand and they were still arriving as darkness fell. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgljYsPp9A3PLCGG27bYiQLt38Z5jksy4xU-dKFbjZyawrBbuwE2y_fyFUH-mD5tkYbouJb9xQtuCX2z-PFkdSjytcySIapJtwMFG8mDp0cyYK8IRGw9efgpdZVlRY8PjrNj67-guzKFIy-kxO0BqwlaJJwMHfXZI3e5H9_iDObf5hT3CiKUGm_gEwUpQ/s720/Sandhill%20Crane%20web%20-5700.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgljYsPp9A3PLCGG27bYiQLt38Z5jksy4xU-dKFbjZyawrBbuwE2y_fyFUH-mD5tkYbouJb9xQtuCX2z-PFkdSjytcySIapJtwMFG8mDp0cyYK8IRGw9efgpdZVlRY8PjrNj67-guzKFIy-kxO0BqwlaJJwMHfXZI3e5H9_iDObf5hT3CiKUGm_gEwUpQ/w640-h426/Sandhill%20Crane%20web%20-5700.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandhill Cranes.</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3>Day 2</h3></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOcLwm7DPtBv88Gaca5y0rXqKSd0hCNHtv9ocabX-GK7jA64ZHLSfiF8tRrue4Z7yaVZ5k1hWwjKdaO0kCLTU-3jP0eLVHHiRMwn-PQFVCO-vTqJfJnnfPlnFtObU3_-hkgtac9kxJ32s6xc71O5_cAWZ2ZOwUli-wo-AHltx1GU0m9f22MOr3U5Se5A/s720/Scenic%20Swans%20Aspen%20web-5596.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOcLwm7DPtBv88Gaca5y0rXqKSd0hCNHtv9ocabX-GK7jA64ZHLSfiF8tRrue4Z7yaVZ5k1hWwjKdaO0kCLTU-3jP0eLVHHiRMwn-PQFVCO-vTqJfJnnfPlnFtObU3_-hkgtac9kxJ32s6xc71O5_cAWZ2ZOwUli-wo-AHltx1GU0m9f22MOr3U5Se5A/w640-h426/Scenic%20Swans%20Aspen%20web-5596.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides) light up the hillsides as prairie meets rolling hillsides.</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Finally after a few hours of driving through spectacular scenery Sarah spots what she thought might be a white something in the distance. Sure enough another three whoopers but a long way off. This was much better light than yesterday albeit twice as far. A couple of local band members pull up and ask what all the fuss was about, we chat a while, making sure it's ok to linger and with broad smiles they leave us to our birding.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPO4f007H6Tl30ldE5dwKl4AAkVECqD0A_RZS0k5phlWUUAujdTS6S52F1Lm9OOyiurrnGDvUUGaQvCWM8CDx8_0NkUJou1s1kbEtoyZxgOi3FfT67tlOp6DvdbWx1OGRyhNrMAHL39k7QR7uKqLXSa_FY66bzTFZBtB4SR8jB4-hoUvpKPYBypRlEg0/s720/Whoopers%20Crane-%20web4704.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPO4f007H6Tl30ldE5dwKl4AAkVECqD0A_RZS0k5phlWUUAujdTS6S52F1Lm9OOyiurrnGDvUUGaQvCWM8CDx8_0NkUJou1s1kbEtoyZxgOi3FfT67tlOp6DvdbWx1OGRyhNrMAHL39k7QR7uKqLXSa_FY66bzTFZBtB4SR8jB4-hoUvpKPYBypRlEg0/w640-h426/Whoopers%20Crane-%20web4704.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always alert to any danger this family of Whooping Cranes had radio transmitters.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSOqimTWOSq7ZiGcmOW-n0vUwEwBpkvyVKDFJ8Pyh0R6gtAi07q-KVE7lR_44Z0Xr-bd_w2A2cLwWtVrDuYIJyn9N-JRw0XJqEg4yw-6lEMups4xnSeEakdiVKD1JO3Hx6637Cq6ComXrgDotUTFQUyqQh-MMcQ1vNYHR1VPnB7dq1bygqKz-cCTDxf0/s1440/Whoopers%20Crane%20web-4844.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="1440" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSOqimTWOSq7ZiGcmOW-n0vUwEwBpkvyVKDFJ8Pyh0R6gtAi07q-KVE7lR_44Z0Xr-bd_w2A2cLwWtVrDuYIJyn9N-JRw0XJqEg4yw-6lEMups4xnSeEakdiVKD1JO3Hx6637Cq6ComXrgDotUTFQUyqQh-MMcQ1vNYHR1VPnB7dq1bygqKz-cCTDxf0/w640-h214/Whoopers%20Crane%20web-4844.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The larger Whooping Crane takes a run at the Sandhill Cranes that were deemed too close.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkp60kWQFWVhLo2kpeVEOuGrjpezWI_oT7kc7GtqFcyyQ2v4W7pPYd4JQ-qL-l-cejf6FT46dbLxkydyCQGffu0mcZtsafI5gQIDMFFQLeUH6nZIDbXdx1KO8jMpT1381WuEw7qqcUbnNCJ249ymsOCqvLY5LsHOU_0cet4NP7dnSGJttLoMBCTEn3Uc4/s720/Snow%20Goose%20web%201-5572.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkp60kWQFWVhLo2kpeVEOuGrjpezWI_oT7kc7GtqFcyyQ2v4W7pPYd4JQ-qL-l-cejf6FT46dbLxkydyCQGffu0mcZtsafI5gQIDMFFQLeUH6nZIDbXdx1KO8jMpT1381WuEw7qqcUbnNCJ249ymsOCqvLY5LsHOU_0cet4NP7dnSGJttLoMBCTEn3Uc4/w640-h426/Snow%20Goose%20web%201-5572.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">During our search we were graced with some great sightings including Bald Eagles, Common Raven, Red-tailed Hawk, Merlin, Rusty Blackbird, Tundra Swans and Ross's Geese. As we drove along quiet country lanes Sharp-tailed Grouse would explode from the roadside. As much as we tried we couldn't get a photograph.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-iVUA-bOaKZMNQi8RiPXiXEjeQtY51BTGyQV7KOgGIBUdrF_6POr5lqj3tRqW-CI2Oj01H5tERBIqnlbQokxRujmfd7twRPusv0WbxhDIr2EXAmgeHmFK3Pekbe7y9rRpW3r3bic9QsN6vcMuIk3pBVN1dqxeTQxGYcl6gsxidApw7Wj6EzVUmndBBw4/s720/Ruffed%20Grouse%20web-5916.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-iVUA-bOaKZMNQi8RiPXiXEjeQtY51BTGyQV7KOgGIBUdrF_6POr5lqj3tRqW-CI2Oj01H5tERBIqnlbQokxRujmfd7twRPusv0WbxhDIr2EXAmgeHmFK3Pekbe7y9rRpW3r3bic9QsN6vcMuIk3pBVN1dqxeTQxGYcl6gsxidApw7Wj6EzVUmndBBw4/w266-h400/Ruffed%20Grouse%20web-5916.jpeg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rufffed Grouse.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I can still see them gracefully gliding away into the distance, never to be seen again. One afternoon I drove down to Blackstrap Reservoir where eBird sightings were promising. What I didn't figure into the equation was the howling wind that kept smaller birds down with only the occasional Savannah Sparrow brave enough to show itself. Over the lake a small flock of Tundra Swans use the same winds to launch themselves to greener pastures.</div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2cSCJXvn-ZJ2FVSYuIsTniiafvOUUT3TeY4W86-64PaUllJo9GqgXYQAAGZ8wJ8ntUQVoqWMv_HDdKcxGjTklSROMQkw3LJM49bPkQFzQgp5XI6Y2HEgXDX8_32IvHVMazuJf3JC2WKjKQKWnBWNz70MVhYXBBdetkwYA6VCxYHVaP_dFHtOtmlxPa4/s720/Snow%20Geese%20Blackstrap%20web-4918.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2cSCJXvn-ZJ2FVSYuIsTniiafvOUUT3TeY4W86-64PaUllJo9GqgXYQAAGZ8wJ8ntUQVoqWMv_HDdKcxGjTklSROMQkw3LJM49bPkQFzQgp5XI6Y2HEgXDX8_32IvHVMazuJf3JC2WKjKQKWnBWNz70MVhYXBBdetkwYA6VCxYHVaP_dFHtOtmlxPa4/w640-h426/Snow%20Geese%20Blackstrap%20web-4918.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blackstrap Reservoir, <br />Stop-off for migrating Snow Geese, Tundra Swans, shorebirds and assorted ducks species. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZo37ekR90iFktsAjszc-4h4oQN1MRL_VdVqv9DNZjFFzIepE5pwBnkz9VZQdoTRjI2XIQ99y9dRIWKR6vEu3JjTWMCkovaaeL_3fFth7Jn4J0BqZQHIIEeVYDACkeSJeQ_lLp7dV8JnZj3Ltdl7yUAxRgnyBFblGfMOHVRW_ggRyZ2Ce5GH6hSjmAhlg/s720/Snow%20Goose%20web-5554.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZo37ekR90iFktsAjszc-4h4oQN1MRL_VdVqv9DNZjFFzIepE5pwBnkz9VZQdoTRjI2XIQ99y9dRIWKR6vEu3JjTWMCkovaaeL_3fFth7Jn4J0BqZQHIIEeVYDACkeSJeQ_lLp7dV8JnZj3Ltdl7yUAxRgnyBFblGfMOHVRW_ggRyZ2Ce5GH6hSjmAhlg/w640-h426/Snow%20Goose%20web-5554.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Among the thousands of Snow Geese were the smaller Ross's Geese seen here on the edge of the flock.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>City Birding</b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Saskatoon has an excellent trail system on both sides of the </span>Saskatchewan River. A weir creates a natural feeding area for gulls ducks, shorebirds and cormorants. Along Kinsman Park Sarah and I had Yellow-rumped, Orange-crowned and Palm Warblers. At Kiwanis Park American Tree Sparrows, Northern Flicker and at the Water treatment Plant we had a late Osprey, Franklin's Gull and California Gull. I think a week or two earlier there would have been more warblers, Harris's Sparrow were common and a welcome addition to my Saskatchewan list. Along the banks of the river were double-crested cormorants, Greater Yellowlegs and Cackling Geese.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEGv5-NOpickutsvyGOS_2y7RmNVbxWBxn221LQT9FLQU4F29LSdU1KtzR68Smz_ULYHIleAyVvRESZudC6hc8QrWljq-AECoU0EkTsly7P7L9v_dplcF0ydmaFewZI7wLFmKKBGIsByibeLAFD5eETHuj5SvwdxZ4VbDzLtdASGbT3164CS1B4mavuus/s720/Franklin's%20Gull%20web-6274.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEGv5-NOpickutsvyGOS_2y7RmNVbxWBxn221LQT9FLQU4F29LSdU1KtzR68Smz_ULYHIleAyVvRESZudC6hc8QrWljq-AECoU0EkTsly7P7L9v_dplcF0ydmaFewZI7wLFmKKBGIsByibeLAFD5eETHuj5SvwdxZ4VbDzLtdASGbT3164CS1B4mavuus/w640-h427/Franklin's%20Gull%20web-6274.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Franklins Gull</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYyYOY72eTWC8tLLGMzaKtYGLAf8FUWqxOAD_hlprq_XKWUh82ws4cY864KAQIU0S5DwMCDvkgdM585Im7d_y33bmYH0iDHN0E0t6vXtxcLLY61Me20UVQWh-ZsjAOq0JlY2VM3akldRTCRig-fRfy2e313LNKQzabvlSIbP8xPZOhUyM7KGiBXCWAzEA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYyYOY72eTWC8tLLGMzaKtYGLAf8FUWqxOAD_hlprq_XKWUh82ws4cY864KAQIU0S5DwMCDvkgdM585Im7d_y33bmYH0iDHN0E0t6vXtxcLLY61Me20UVQWh-ZsjAOq0JlY2VM3akldRTCRig-fRfy2e313LNKQzabvlSIbP8xPZOhUyM7KGiBXCWAzEA=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harris's Sparrow</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvv7YkfjiKb3a4od80NUWG9oqWX9GrPJIV6Xdmm_yiz1CAr0EKCvoy_elSXwx-iomQaSgADcrxwRh97jgWzuQ_kegAwOWpsIhVNuTy9kju_WSB-Vk4u5fFy6Ql985MBXDlSuf4VRkWVuGW40zOGx8ZzWrJtFcovyHLm9opK6Ej2G6T4BUVCtvg5P3UEwc/s720/Least%20Chipmunk%20web-5750.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvv7YkfjiKb3a4od80NUWG9oqWX9GrPJIV6Xdmm_yiz1CAr0EKCvoy_elSXwx-iomQaSgADcrxwRh97jgWzuQ_kegAwOWpsIhVNuTy9kju_WSB-Vk4u5fFy6Ql985MBXDlSuf4VRkWVuGW40zOGx8ZzWrJtFcovyHLm9opK6Ej2G6T4BUVCtvg5P3UEwc/w426-h640/Least%20Chipmunk%20web-5750.jpeg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Least Chipmunk</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The least chipmunk seen here hoarding of what appeared to be rose hips seeds. The seeds were excreted from the animal's pouch and deposited on the branch. A possible explanation is that the cache will be consumed during the depths of winter. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had so much fun birding and walking along the river trails the days just slipped by. Another morning Sarah and I were joined by Trent Watts. He had accompanied us on the second day looking for whoopers. The multi talented Trent took us for a walk in his neighbourhood. I was looking for Blue Jays and White-breasted Nuthatches. Soon his keen ear picked up a White-throated Sparrow and then an elusive Yellow-shafted Flicker. In one backyard Bohemian Waxwings were feasting on berries.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrx0Bja8_-xtAC_DBV_1sc189P4D-SruN9addCC3VzT1wB-M3iZyRq1Os4WPzZoNURTA1lO84LJVTr34CMjGUphUgen_X04CLBkMgYPcfCBMvAQ_SCK1YG44LlVX9t3PTJ2m-aU-0OaHPVT__rS2RmwT2pgfOgna_Q2GLRExeOUmVuQgJXhwM43ksO5yk/s660/Sarah%20and%20Trent%20IMG_8534.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="660" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrx0Bja8_-xtAC_DBV_1sc189P4D-SruN9addCC3VzT1wB-M3iZyRq1Os4WPzZoNURTA1lO84LJVTr34CMjGUphUgen_X04CLBkMgYPcfCBMvAQ_SCK1YG44LlVX9t3PTJ2m-aU-0OaHPVT__rS2RmwT2pgfOgna_Q2GLRExeOUmVuQgJXhwM43ksO5yk/s16000/Sarah%20and%20Trent%20IMG_8534.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah with Trent with one of his free libraries. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Later on our walk, Trent, a retired veterinarian, photographer and master carver/woodworker was happy to show us some of the little free libraries he had build at various locations around town. They make quite the addition to the neighbourhood. Everyone it seems appreciates Trent and rightly so.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvM2g0UUFc1MVVo60OdnNaEHEIzVA-vqmRMAm4pfd7Gy40ELplZ2xd0QiqcH1tE9zUylxQeZackwsNHhDViH2QNmROhnsa7yaSNh3DJEUUAhk3xPYWSNZijCT53KhrvJVgBBYXC-dP2atSugyC8-nVE7CzrGhSKhANMUJgZFsiiXBU25k9zpuuBUWAog/s720/Northern%20Flicker%20Yellow%20Shafted%20web-6169%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvM2g0UUFc1MVVo60OdnNaEHEIzVA-vqmRMAm4pfd7Gy40ELplZ2xd0QiqcH1tE9zUylxQeZackwsNHhDViH2QNmROhnsa7yaSNh3DJEUUAhk3xPYWSNZijCT53KhrvJVgBBYXC-dP2atSugyC8-nVE7CzrGhSKhANMUJgZFsiiXBU25k9zpuuBUWAog/w640-h427/Northern%20Flicker%20Yellow%20Shafted%20web-6169%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Flicker (Yellow Shafted)</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8PKygZkkFs0-LZkL0ItO_jQddEglzCjBAw7fc35atLWcadtVy8r3BnNUeGVDkFwM7Ye1G7Kqbnupx5u4gq9vu0eyaZA8QgOtnufdQhwWuqEXDwml-uWi03ROwC0zfWt0gflgzaftjAhtR7cFFwRU4ztNz-9SWgoTSG2lvHPiGIhyphenhyphenYPAzoYbJxPISac4/s720/Osprey%20web-6225.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8PKygZkkFs0-LZkL0ItO_jQddEglzCjBAw7fc35atLWcadtVy8r3BnNUeGVDkFwM7Ye1G7Kqbnupx5u4gq9vu0eyaZA8QgOtnufdQhwWuqEXDwml-uWi03ROwC0zfWt0gflgzaftjAhtR7cFFwRU4ztNz-9SWgoTSG2lvHPiGIhyphenhyphenYPAzoYbJxPISac4/w640-h426/Osprey%20web-6225.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Osprey at the Water Treatment Plant</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIewxVHzxf7LBaC-EFAf45c2ecBWIi0TDBHz9lKlMxQueqJ76WmuE_IDEAW9tyT4vTszJ5QeKVENlGCjcO5Lon_qprIYBGVPLcy7-n5T4_fNHdvijPfjMWh0NupfbruXguacd08C5lP2_a-Z6IMF0JU6hswxlXnFf6kTm0zYdXYtsb3ObSSHUBc_R7brs/s720/Red%20Squirrel%20web-5017.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIewxVHzxf7LBaC-EFAf45c2ecBWIi0TDBHz9lKlMxQueqJ76WmuE_IDEAW9tyT4vTszJ5QeKVENlGCjcO5Lon_qprIYBGVPLcy7-n5T4_fNHdvijPfjMWh0NupfbruXguacd08C5lP2_a-Z6IMF0JU6hswxlXnFf6kTm0zYdXYtsb3ObSSHUBc_R7brs/w640-h426/Red%20Squirrel%20web-5017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Squirrel</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Jackrabbits</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sarah had promised me that there were jackrabbits in the local park, they're everywhere, she promised. They're even in the garden, they're not afraid of dogs or people, they'll be easy to see. My stay in Saskatoon was winding down and I still hadn't seen 'hide nor hair' of anything resembling a rabbit. When Sarah's daughter Charlotte sees one on the lawn, we all rush out like school children but it has gone. Sarah suggests a walk around the block after supper. We cover a few blocks but still no luck. Finally I spot a familiar shape, just a silhouette, the long ears are a giveaway.</div><div style="text-align: center;">As we approached it scampers past us at high speed and I swing the camera around and then it stops, motionless under the brightest street light in the neighbourhood.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Moments later it was gone. It has to be my favourite memories from the whole trip.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6c-TMfL-yvc4OrDmi1mg_PXaP-nVNb6azJaZwaROfDFGGNdz6Cuq8jypH5ChrycS93GvF4InyFSdZI1P6yj7ipoPJffM1I2KUTw0O65zJpwbvcpZdfNh3vK-0bjHwJEptDu-8beN-ZO0tocwobZMBU-FNXsq7kMeZquoOmrFmyZWFiyEgf2Mz3QhdTM/s720/White-tailed%20Jackrabbit%20web-4964.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6c-TMfL-yvc4OrDmi1mg_PXaP-nVNb6azJaZwaROfDFGGNdz6Cuq8jypH5ChrycS93GvF4InyFSdZI1P6yj7ipoPJffM1I2KUTw0O65zJpwbvcpZdfNh3vK-0bjHwJEptDu-8beN-ZO0tocwobZMBU-FNXsq7kMeZquoOmrFmyZWFiyEgf2Mz3QhdTM/w640-h426/White-tailed%20Jackrabbit%20web-4964.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A White-tailed Jackrabbit speeds along a sub-division in Saskatoon. </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The species has moved into local parks and gardens. A major difference between rabbits and Jackrabbits (Hares) is the latter have young in above ground nests and do not burrow.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTESCpRX0_arq7_FuKapvojYQgZ4N-J5aHlFgDFaFhK5R9rg1WXo-D1agm8vd8r36198Mk6d9bwVXI9kLAQvRWSRhBJyCYAAgwiS9ZQMi0E-ON3sBYu6LgEPnVdpJrLeWivE3h1Y35wwW7UREYIkJKu52fZulY0NRM5_Bqm9aJ7VYiSthfM81LJLmonnA/s720/White-tailed%20Jackrabbit%20web-4968.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTESCpRX0_arq7_FuKapvojYQgZ4N-J5aHlFgDFaFhK5R9rg1WXo-D1agm8vd8r36198Mk6d9bwVXI9kLAQvRWSRhBJyCYAAgwiS9ZQMi0E-ON3sBYu6LgEPnVdpJrLeWivE3h1Y35wwW7UREYIkJKu52fZulY0NRM5_Bqm9aJ7VYiSthfM81LJLmonnA/w640-h426/White-tailed%20Jackrabbit%20web-4968.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A White-tailed Jackrabbit pauses under a street light before disappearing into the night.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><br /></div><h3>Last Morning</h3><div>Sarah had been making some phone calls on my behalf. We were to meet up with local expert birder Guy Wapple. Guy has been birding the prairies since he was a kid so he knew exactly where to go for a few hours before my flight back to Vancouver. We met him at the Forest Farm Park on the outskirts of town. He keen ear picked up a Palm Warbler right way and Yellow-rumped Warblers were plentiful. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianqPubvtzuM9rEsjSILukXdw5zgF5RdFq4ycx7CqsK9T5_kZuicCbPL9VEMpDzBik41jo9Sui9KSIFHBBIJbBTTx3JOlpQlF4-ssata1ueAxyMXj3ShKZ05VqkfY_AHd6hAqd_aIaoGkV7pKq8zPUv-hJmuAjZMtUSHsqOPvIcHdjyTcH9PUZQVwhQuk/s720/LOng-eared%20Owl%20web-5048.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianqPubvtzuM9rEsjSILukXdw5zgF5RdFq4ycx7CqsK9T5_kZuicCbPL9VEMpDzBik41jo9Sui9KSIFHBBIJbBTTx3JOlpQlF4-ssata1ueAxyMXj3ShKZ05VqkfY_AHd6hAqd_aIaoGkV7pKq8zPUv-hJmuAjZMtUSHsqOPvIcHdjyTcH9PUZQVwhQuk/w266-h400/LOng-eared%20Owl%20web-5048.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-eared Owl.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We soon had twenty-two species including a Long-eared Owl that was brought to our intention by a mob of Blue Jays and Black-billed Magpies that were making its life miserable.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcEQhbOa-413UKwuRv8PfZ-HEK0p6wYD4pK3LZ_J4KErkxq4q2kSftiyx7b596YHKybaSPZEyZWLWQXCWybngmGFN5Nqj2GXmqTDD6_117Bz-QepxaoIpfjmtJmfJ69JNUe_frxJGSgU0xobMEkz2Yc5Ofoza81p3Mq3jF8I6axBB-WKiRnr2MBZJrxQ/s720/Palm%20Warbler%20web-4991.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcEQhbOa-413UKwuRv8PfZ-HEK0p6wYD4pK3LZ_J4KErkxq4q2kSftiyx7b596YHKybaSPZEyZWLWQXCWybngmGFN5Nqj2GXmqTDD6_117Bz-QepxaoIpfjmtJmfJ69JNUe_frxJGSgU0xobMEkz2Yc5Ofoza81p3Mq3jF8I6axBB-WKiRnr2MBZJrxQ/w640-h426/Palm%20Warbler%20web-4991.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Palm Warbler at the Forestry Farm Park in Saskatoon.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>We then visited the John Avant Pond which on close examination turned up some really nice birds. A flock of Rusty Blackbirds always kept one step ahead of us, an immature Merlin couldn't care less as we stood fifteen metres away. Thanks to Guy it was a beautiful way to conclude my brief visit.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fwvvVu_bOiKg-VmylbQzJxSgSAqVIDGRnPGoraznfD_cmzJg3XW5reDxXBbCh1350_BzPoZ1YbwrToHn7VCBEb-WQqv2EUx2BFOVeq8yhbRFMxGx-kcoUfxn9RrjhdOEV8Drc-4dJ8rN7cIUkGw4-zqBT_UR4TyktJY9oDyULWbai9b3Kw9sbG12Lxc/s720/Merlin%20web-5106.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fwvvVu_bOiKg-VmylbQzJxSgSAqVIDGRnPGoraznfD_cmzJg3XW5reDxXBbCh1350_BzPoZ1YbwrToHn7VCBEb-WQqv2EUx2BFOVeq8yhbRFMxGx-kcoUfxn9RrjhdOEV8Drc-4dJ8rN7cIUkGw4-zqBT_UR4TyktJY9oDyULWbai9b3Kw9sbG12Lxc/w640-h426/Merlin%20web-5106.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Merlin at John Avant Park.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PwnK__ruBePmjQkN-WOgqNFUypI55sSARt3XDqq5U_NEpRUh_zGvQZjBx0PCAs3eNFy-suD-1zQFYCrPc3EAMbrqXCWyuh8rQ62e4bDGgxvyma8hPoHjfybNZ8AlS8nTHPPiDrF9RtbeTZ2LPS8Q2XHge1uqzY1sl-3LW-SPjzA-IJvizl2EuCJozMw/s720/Rusty%20Blackbird%20web-5086.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PwnK__ruBePmjQkN-WOgqNFUypI55sSARt3XDqq5U_NEpRUh_zGvQZjBx0PCAs3eNFy-suD-1zQFYCrPc3EAMbrqXCWyuh8rQ62e4bDGgxvyma8hPoHjfybNZ8AlS8nTHPPiDrF9RtbeTZ2LPS8Q2XHge1uqzY1sl-3LW-SPjzA-IJvizl2EuCJozMw/w266-h400/Rusty%20Blackbird%20web-5086.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Rusty Blackbird<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h3>Parting Shot.</h3><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAWbIychWSuoWxI8vUijsrJtXY_x_8_7RNMlytHcjQd8RcghMwXotrs_Fteyh1aPA5tFKoE5yQADVfdhlpnJmz-TjMKllnZV6JHFVwVNka6c4EsKyOnUczXhWDdBpZzypMvuyfrebKTpZQYXvCJNQjGDaBaX6Yz-L7X2ioVm0nWQyI4DgdNudFiGT9Co/s720/Whooping%20Cranes%20web-6380%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAWbIychWSuoWxI8vUijsrJtXY_x_8_7RNMlytHcjQd8RcghMwXotrs_Fteyh1aPA5tFKoE5yQADVfdhlpnJmz-TjMKllnZV6JHFVwVNka6c4EsKyOnUczXhWDdBpZzypMvuyfrebKTpZQYXvCJNQjGDaBaX6Yz-L7X2ioVm0nWQyI4DgdNudFiGT9Co/w640-h426/Whooping%20Cranes%20web-6380%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Opportunistic feeders Sandhill Cranes gather to feed in grain fields south of Saskatoon.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">"Make it happen, it's never too late"</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">John Gordon</p><p style="text-align: center;">Langley Cloverdale </p><p style="text-align: center;">BC</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-24027981650707915122023-05-15T22:18:00.000-07:002023-05-15T22:18:09.094-07:00Birding Israel<h3 style="text-align: center;">Israel Mar 14-April 6 2023</h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h3><div><p style="text-align: center;">I first visited Israel forty-five years ago. Originally I had planned to stay a few weeks before travelling overland to India. Weeks turned into months. I kept a dairy of my adventures describing the wonderful sights and "exotic" birds I saw. I had always wanted to return.</p></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fCFlQWUSzpvAWbmwHq7NS1-jXjsYs240hlzwaudlCA_6pAXphyas-xoGbX7A1DuEV9fSzp2NbVTu4szWxnIzD-Qlf0cXqkTEZvZBBmQu5iIDamN9uoqquXj6IiU0RVCky2NrPgxT1CYhAGbb4394Ej6vYtYtzr42-cSqhKKAYRNztF7i6rQglk6v/s600/Spectackled%20Bulbul%20web-9456.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fCFlQWUSzpvAWbmwHq7NS1-jXjsYs240hlzwaudlCA_6pAXphyas-xoGbX7A1DuEV9fSzp2NbVTu4szWxnIzD-Qlf0cXqkTEZvZBBmQu5iIDamN9uoqquXj6IiU0RVCky2NrPgxT1CYhAGbb4394Ej6vYtYtzr42-cSqhKKAYRNztF7i6rQglk6v/w640-h426/Spectackled%20Bulbul%20web-9456.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-spectacled Bulbul</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">During my stay I hitch-hiked the length and breath of the country including several days in the disputed West Bank. I was shown great hospitality by both Israeli and Palestinian families. </p><p style="text-align: center;">The purpose of the second visit would be two-fold. First to re-visit and photograph places I had written about and second to attend the 2023 Eilat Bird Festival, something planned for 2019 but cancelled due to the pandemic.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><p><br /></p><p><i>"Organized by the Israel Ornithological Center (Birdlife Israel) of the SPNI, the Eilat Birds Festival brings together birders from all over the world for an unforgettable birding week during the peak of spring migration in southern Israel. Since the first festival in 2007, the Eilat Festival is now a well-established event and is known in birder's circles as the ultimate package for birding Southern Israel.</i></p><p><i>The Festival is based in Eilat and takes in all the major sites and key species of Southern Israel. Besides the Eilat area, the festival package includes excursions further afield to Nizzana and the Negev as well as the famous "Stars of the night" tour to the Dead Sea region.</i></p><div><i><br /></i></div></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Tel Aviv</h3><p style="text-align: center;">After the fifteen hour flight, Sandee and I headed for the beach. We encountered the usual suspects, House Sparrows, Common Mynas, Laughing Doves and Hooded Crows. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRQmLVQ-_T7-CciPBl4OraIQlu84ksTYh96lQx56qga2mRRM1VO7ix-rkS5uyMUijMC0ndTfx_Nuy1UOEcO1no8ePRt-1PNGJBVc-S4oLtwmMPXxaOcuP2BSSCzCrlj1XY8UUyk6bIX69Jcg_ZIS86n4nB2P1OkYsxl46Eny7DBY2GCKQIXNKb-UN/s600/Laughing%20Dove%20web-9148.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRQmLVQ-_T7-CciPBl4OraIQlu84ksTYh96lQx56qga2mRRM1VO7ix-rkS5uyMUijMC0ndTfx_Nuy1UOEcO1no8ePRt-1PNGJBVc-S4oLtwmMPXxaOcuP2BSSCzCrlj1XY8UUyk6bIX69Jcg_ZIS86n4nB2P1OkYsxl46Eny7DBY2GCKQIXNKb-UN/w640-h426/Laughing%20Dove%20web-9148.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laughing Dove</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Our walk along the promenade turned-up a solitary Yellow-legged Gull. Between the high-rises and hotel complexes Common Swifts were on a feeding frenzy. The building's ledges and crevices also make ideal roosting and nesting sites.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIknGbzkuqy7QpTMPVvzHonZ5abtHavuDlvN5VdGMGEjVCp9tDYmNiQxtO3FfBXMMMiyCryhnfR9y1Ul0lykC5MzA5JPQQ_rtMbRPFZLKeYaqpRQp4CEetu6ZMYU24GMYm09a_kAS6sGiWyoDW__pKu-L384KZtiyNKzgB08qrGZFBvlC-BMypj98R/s600/Jaffa_DSC3510.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIknGbzkuqy7QpTMPVvzHonZ5abtHavuDlvN5VdGMGEjVCp9tDYmNiQxtO3FfBXMMMiyCryhnfR9y1Ul0lykC5MzA5JPQQ_rtMbRPFZLKeYaqpRQp4CEetu6ZMYU24GMYm09a_kAS6sGiWyoDW__pKu-L384KZtiyNKzgB08qrGZFBvlC-BMypj98R/w640-h426/Jaffa_DSC3510.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jaffa</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Mentioned in both the Old Testament and Greek literature Jaffa is one of the oldest ports in the world. It was a short walk from our hotel. Around the port and with more than a little sleuthing I eventually found a Little Egret in the harbour, a Pied Kingfisher hunting over the surf and a Graceful Prinia in the local park. </p><p style="text-align: center;">A pair of Eurasian Hoopoe, the national bird of Israel paid little notice to passersby. Five lifers was a great way to shake off the jet-lag.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8pmEIM5A3Jiar8e7eDDLiQI4jp--UmD-BPN8qifCVU79qYEh4ZmxVVatVqVn0Wv5c1WTr4_RrauwCmCipM9luAx5n9HAs34a5VcOxD1dS3QCHT-GUsF3E-RQZTTpSm0ekfPWs9IJRJ2cZsv4PGZWX9An3lblvx9REj6rxiEyBr2MddrBVHHsfyvl/s600/Graceful%20Prinia%20web-1479%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8pmEIM5A3Jiar8e7eDDLiQI4jp--UmD-BPN8qifCVU79qYEh4ZmxVVatVqVn0Wv5c1WTr4_RrauwCmCipM9luAx5n9HAs34a5VcOxD1dS3QCHT-GUsF3E-RQZTTpSm0ekfPWs9IJRJ2cZsv4PGZWX9An3lblvx9REj6rxiEyBr2MddrBVHHsfyvl/w266-h400/Graceful%20Prinia%20web-1479%20(1).jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graceful Prinia</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRUJN5LrgEMvx2SyRJ4SJD39ZU7X5fXK30fbWedZ2gFjDeas1v22UOuUQxE1yQ6GPi2cItxSXyT38rdedk26wpEz0tGABwpmMi-5i99iMDkzAZcpHPU9DFfIEBpS_u85EwhcAZPpmVdwH7VZycfiVlxKZHVWgYE5pmkNaDAIoQ7bIynogTA9c2pSL/s600/Hoopoo%20Eurasian%20web-3616.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRUJN5LrgEMvx2SyRJ4SJD39ZU7X5fXK30fbWedZ2gFjDeas1v22UOuUQxE1yQ6GPi2cItxSXyT38rdedk26wpEz0tGABwpmMi-5i99iMDkzAZcpHPU9DFfIEBpS_u85EwhcAZPpmVdwH7VZycfiVlxKZHVWgYE5pmkNaDAIoQ7bIynogTA9c2pSL/w640-h426/Hoopoo%20Eurasian%20web-3616.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eurasian Hoopoe</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><span style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyREHR6teu2YL05s7LTbfHOsADceHzMKqf1prHIlaCxedBbjG_RIc3wKOxuoAzluKGwQYZGGfcVrc_1VxZwgQvq9xiOMICMiz3nvFaIiEIcDYrtZMQl80KGdS1eMt1ovaZAzwJwKF1sKzOoBKctwzz_WkTGr4fMlQO_e02R-2VUPTs6vhFciF46Wsa/s720/Hoopoo%20(Eurasian)%20web-9446%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyREHR6teu2YL05s7LTbfHOsADceHzMKqf1prHIlaCxedBbjG_RIc3wKOxuoAzluKGwQYZGGfcVrc_1VxZwgQvq9xiOMICMiz3nvFaIiEIcDYrtZMQl80KGdS1eMt1ovaZAzwJwKF1sKzOoBKctwzz_WkTGr4fMlQO_e02R-2VUPTs6vhFciF46Wsa/s320/Hoopoo%20(Eurasian)%20web-9446%20(1).jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with Crest lowered</td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span><h3><span style="text-align: center;">Eilat</span></h3></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Situated on the Red Sea and on the southernmost tip of Israel, Eilat is a five hour drive south of Tel Aviv. Development has impacted wildlife. Acres of prime habitat including vital salt marshes have been lost. T<span style="text-align: left;">he Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) </span>and others are working to educate government and the public about the value of protecting the remaining habitat.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7eGSQR0URbiqNOtCXi0_OIov_KxqCVVSZ1IGXJ882OjYV8vA3YV4r53wXXkE-WSnw8l0yxQ_7ZPIJcQkcKfS-2vntOhjykCfgjmBhXhVzAs2eFDA3CjCYtbcawOXCj4QZGBgwsBqyVRELuRiEaY8XEqo2dkfQaZeSQTJIMmb7nc0zqMjVd96fbyW/s720/Scenery%20Eilat%20Buildings%20web-0362.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7eGSQR0URbiqNOtCXi0_OIov_KxqCVVSZ1IGXJ882OjYV8vA3YV4r53wXXkE-WSnw8l0yxQ_7ZPIJcQkcKfS-2vntOhjykCfgjmBhXhVzAs2eFDA3CjCYtbcawOXCj4QZGBgwsBqyVRELuRiEaY8XEqo2dkfQaZeSQTJIMmb7nc0zqMjVd96fbyW/w640-h426/Scenery%20Eilat%20Buildings%20web-0362.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greater Flamingos and Gray Herons are squeezed into a few small salt ponds.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYMYnXZ0rJ_iN6f8i6PCAWHJBTrD2-xrHub8PqjNWJT9u3451wB76n0DYwt0pfNq5Z2YE9opSzxL4wwuAv6lSlwe_ci3LBGYeMzZBw4s7YMZIkhZxk2CJZTRLZ1umqfBofy7XB6FWL0uBqxhQNwQxNcBsMyFzND2bqdaD7x7CdRbmaBrHBYD5rt4Y/s600/Eilat%20Salt%20Flats-web0676.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYMYnXZ0rJ_iN6f8i6PCAWHJBTrD2-xrHub8PqjNWJT9u3451wB76n0DYwt0pfNq5Z2YE9opSzxL4wwuAv6lSlwe_ci3LBGYeMzZBw4s7YMZIkhZxk2CJZTRLZ1umqfBofy7XB6FWL0uBqxhQNwQxNcBsMyFzND2bqdaD7x7CdRbmaBrHBYD5rt4Y/w640-h426/Eilat%20Salt%20Flats-web0676.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Eilat has grown from a sleepy coastal town to a major resort destination.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Attending the Eilat Bird Festival was not only to learn about the birds but to experience the important conservation work taking place in Eilat and elsewhere in Israel. One example is the cross border co-operation with neighbouring Jordan and a long running Barn Owl project. SPNI is also involved in numerous other projects, too many to list here. Our registration fees went to habitat enchantment. Guides donated their time and skills. Following the Eilat Bird Festival, the Champions of the Flyways held their annual fundraiser and with corporate backing raised a substantial amount. Follow link for more info.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://www.champions-of-the-flyway.com">Champions of the Flyway</a><br /></p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUavGh5-c2hBgQPo5EXqqRQVp2uHZFasX39k7WXXF8bA0A0fOTEmbads5b-gx0-sGN6e3GFnk6vHTTnpWoMqCMq6q6GA0HfzPVoT4yyrqwG9S5RDPfraw3nH1VPp2NeTGmpCxqekGfEdvVX0wPVbYaqyGFV82_rYDPL7PMDc74rGrYBOKOK3G0uApE/s600/Lesser%20Flamingo%20web-9030.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUavGh5-c2hBgQPo5EXqqRQVp2uHZFasX39k7WXXF8bA0A0fOTEmbads5b-gx0-sGN6e3GFnk6vHTTnpWoMqCMq6q6GA0HfzPVoT4yyrqwG9S5RDPfraw3nH1VPp2NeTGmpCxqekGfEdvVX0wPVbYaqyGFV82_rYDPL7PMDc74rGrYBOKOK3G0uApE/w640-h320/Lesser%20Flamingo%20web-9030.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greater Flamingo</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Eilat Bird Sanctuary, formally a garbage dump is now a haven for resident and migratory birds. Work is underway to expand with extensive planting of native shrubs and trees. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IQGhfYK6jR7s7vUIG4PfosXA8MH9WnAaqAHTc3YFMeOrFMvBhb7h0DtP2UUTYBuYOOUQW8KMg3oJy-qm-bS_0nwBa5I0_Mjbusqk7EdX77G9YP4NCZI2zQgxpxipfLgOiTtcXa7Oymu7lbXw51HVlz5SCWt7lFnIHc4j_I3n7O5_IEE8igeQUE09/s600/Birding%20CentreIMG_7285.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IQGhfYK6jR7s7vUIG4PfosXA8MH9WnAaqAHTc3YFMeOrFMvBhb7h0DtP2UUTYBuYOOUQW8KMg3oJy-qm-bS_0nwBa5I0_Mjbusqk7EdX77G9YP4NCZI2zQgxpxipfLgOiTtcXa7Oymu7lbXw51HVlz5SCWt7lFnIHc4j_I3n7O5_IEE8igeQUE09/w640-h426/Birding%20CentreIMG_7285.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eilat Bird Sanctuary</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">Eilat would be our home for ten days, seven of which I would be birding while Sandee visited the beaches, the hotel pool, sauna and stores. Isn't life good.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEUEM02DAnVAvBypga4jw7_jJIJ22UX7Ghh0gAFvRxIUF94SPpuVQRZ9tVVR7xjtT_CJVDLK1KcWKeF1uqXtMenn8lEHupugrPSiIZKV9Uv4ywcZamDJND8LQVxqq-aLd_ULrr96nrDJNRVVjWmK95bkw88SpnjNQixy9p4UFOt8EE3eOSb85m8i6F/s600/Citrine%20Wagtail%20web-0433.jpg.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEUEM02DAnVAvBypga4jw7_jJIJ22UX7Ghh0gAFvRxIUF94SPpuVQRZ9tVVR7xjtT_CJVDLK1KcWKeF1uqXtMenn8lEHupugrPSiIZKV9Uv4ywcZamDJND8LQVxqq-aLd_ULrr96nrDJNRVVjWmK95bkw88SpnjNQixy9p4UFOt8EE3eOSb85m8i6F/w640-h426/Citrine%20Wagtail%20web-0433.jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Citrine Wagtail.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">Hazardous infrastructure</h3><p style="text-align: center;">Slowly but surely there has been some progress. Lobbying, backed up with scientific data from <span style="text-align: left;">SPNI </span>has put the brakes on proposed installation of wind turbines around Eilat. Bird Life Israel is even working in conjunction with Eilat's air traffic control to make sure planes, even commercial jets are not taking off and landing during peak migration times when thousands of raptors can be found soaring on midday and afternoon thermals. Early morning and evening scheduled take-offs are less likely to encounter birds and avoid bird strikes. Normal air service returns when migration ends. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mS7Rf68sJp1Hq2U9w9c1gdjeY3wq2TON3tZdIvNmYs-m9EZP1WCrjRR5rXl5HEfX9Qu8-6pS3k7vYDsQ7Wo4Peh6q6H744ULzTM810PIvOF6Z_IJQz49bkE5HIsWlXxfZxP4vOBhLOhmQ4fT-CeRODG7CV0Cx9TGb48h3MW_Eg5ffSoKoyTxZhfO/s600/Eurasian%20Spoonbill%20web-0451.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mS7Rf68sJp1Hq2U9w9c1gdjeY3wq2TON3tZdIvNmYs-m9EZP1WCrjRR5rXl5HEfX9Qu8-6pS3k7vYDsQ7Wo4Peh6q6H744ULzTM810PIvOF6Z_IJQz49bkE5HIsWlXxfZxP4vOBhLOhmQ4fT-CeRODG7CV0Cx9TGb48h3MW_Eg5ffSoKoyTxZhfO/w640-h426/Eurasian%20Spoonbill%20web-0451.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eurasian Spoonbills on the move.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEB_ORMllsdd9FGqsAfFrRkIjRsqlQYBIaw_E3dDCtL1KZ2bicUaj9eo1WWpPL2OrR_zJ0ekzsO0GX5AWcw4p8ETlHME1onu4KvTAkRQgicHbsyzBar9x55hFUq6-11kTimJTksliKYhFYt_yxT3LEp0liFI5Isoq8LdCYivGg60roWsRC0SrwL2Du/s600/Eygptian%20Vulture-0328.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEB_ORMllsdd9FGqsAfFrRkIjRsqlQYBIaw_E3dDCtL1KZ2bicUaj9eo1WWpPL2OrR_zJ0ekzsO0GX5AWcw4p8ETlHME1onu4KvTAkRQgicHbsyzBar9x55hFUq6-11kTimJTksliKYhFYt_yxT3LEp0liFI5Isoq8LdCYivGg60roWsRC0SrwL2Du/w640-h426/Eygptian%20Vulture-0328.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Egyptian Vulture</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="text-align: center;">At one high elevation location a continuous stream of various eagles, buzzards and kites soared on thermals heading northward to Central Europe and the Russian Steppes. At lower elevations Spoonbills and shore birds were on the move as were large numbers of passerines.</span><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><br /><br /></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ61_cYIFS40sznn2Ny6SfsS4Z4fKGkInd8xYU17uRdOPF5L4MV5BnV6KARxoN8ZcnpbqBktdvwbvZlAFlVzSPkdm1a2DY5JIupzQMdyUuQ4EtWp1SwdpQO3uE_gD-8EQkbTyu6Lfncb14qQOlhNW50ulHYG6krbF9n2C54aMjo4XIAQ6f2dZCAdaC/s720/Black%20Kite%20web-0929%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ61_cYIFS40sznn2Ny6SfsS4Z4fKGkInd8xYU17uRdOPF5L4MV5BnV6KARxoN8ZcnpbqBktdvwbvZlAFlVzSPkdm1a2DY5JIupzQMdyUuQ4EtWp1SwdpQO3uE_gD-8EQkbTyu6Lfncb14qQOlhNW50ulHYG6krbF9n2C54aMjo4XIAQ6f2dZCAdaC/w426-h640/Black%20Kite%20web-0929%20(1).jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Kite</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjCHE2NtlyPcXfUT2dueEFVM3iMB_5Pd7ZneudfNs9R5Y64r41Mf634UdMN-uoH9UdKB3cTOgVlLA2JDlRUXvoLXwv3hFk1uFE4MV0KFYE0z_atJ7ahKqFwHUGO4EyXngMldmn2XQe_413Cqsb23bQ-rcRknEGRS_bXLqrLlYiBFvkd0Ae6r6l-iQ/s600/Short-toed%20Eagle-0196.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjCHE2NtlyPcXfUT2dueEFVM3iMB_5Pd7ZneudfNs9R5Y64r41Mf634UdMN-uoH9UdKB3cTOgVlLA2JDlRUXvoLXwv3hFk1uFE4MV0KFYE0z_atJ7ahKqFwHUGO4EyXngMldmn2XQe_413Cqsb23bQ-rcRknEGRS_bXLqrLlYiBFvkd0Ae6r6l-iQ/w640-h426/Short-toed%20Eagle-0196.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Short-toed Eagle</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaD8Cs_htli3R3mEJnMoGTEPD1OY4Z6P4OP41wdgwFDOL-9fgwY0ZjONQjMq_5MR2YjyQIh9JCgy0K60I9bi2FeTskuLGXX8mRbHDPr4Bq1dOl8jHAZ9czy4wgiPXq71fHca-OpLUszEpynp8RPmYwJAW73WHd1zAQ5FGtj3svUgW8j0416Vx6JGX2/s600/Common%20Buzzard-0547.jpg.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaD8Cs_htli3R3mEJnMoGTEPD1OY4Z6P4OP41wdgwFDOL-9fgwY0ZjONQjMq_5MR2YjyQIh9JCgy0K60I9bi2FeTskuLGXX8mRbHDPr4Bq1dOl8jHAZ9czy4wgiPXq71fHca-OpLUszEpynp8RPmYwJAW73WHd1zAQ5FGtj3svUgW8j0416Vx6JGX2/w640-h426/Common%20Buzzard-0547.jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Buzzard</td></tr></tbody></table></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h3><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmTjRzKLYHexlXNzncISouvkOEfnBR2ILE5b9cZ35f8jqClmDxxG6nJMYiBZaNE0VRBOXQWRxOxi_BUFsjn2qWHZUzaFt_VWnRueqDwnz12spc0mXKheOPywUv8J2T8-MgY6ExaEzzBKD8gKX_gOFiUFrPuzwBMZLTSc0-R3zvmDdzmerF06q4ibp/s600/Nubian%20Ibex%20web-0714.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmTjRzKLYHexlXNzncISouvkOEfnBR2ILE5b9cZ35f8jqClmDxxG6nJMYiBZaNE0VRBOXQWRxOxi_BUFsjn2qWHZUzaFt_VWnRueqDwnz12spc0mXKheOPywUv8J2T8-MgY6ExaEzzBKD8gKX_gOFiUFrPuzwBMZLTSc0-R3zvmDdzmerF06q4ibp/w640-h426/Nubian%20Ibex%20web-0714.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nubian Ibex</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The map below shows the location and the direction of both spring and fall migrations. Many species had already covered great distances and still face challenges ahead. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlk1tTsaCqHOG8mJnUgeIP551KIFIB0JmFcl-fZIfXN_tbqlTZ39oiqsAL6l_4xPwpmPgkaNtKDVU5mxKOD-Jk6w3Rlv4ziQsuf6Fd2rpNhuK3XlrBGMochugaLo06Cls7uYBVxCve3AfVVG3gF717e4wiWmqBeE9HiTvV-mTZd_9-9g1uqrxebqm/s1000/Migration%20Map_7151.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="880" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlk1tTsaCqHOG8mJnUgeIP551KIFIB0JmFcl-fZIfXN_tbqlTZ39oiqsAL6l_4xPwpmPgkaNtKDVU5mxKOD-Jk6w3Rlv4ziQsuf6Fd2rpNhuK3XlrBGMochugaLo06Cls7uYBVxCve3AfVVG3gF717e4wiWmqBeE9HiTvV-mTZd_9-9g1uqrxebqm/w564-h640/Migration%20Map_7151.jpg" width="564" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbjMSc8SklAi1qWz0BOWS_kik3Iyslf6SsLz8w2N73_uD-59RikjR2URCAumC2IPoVSQ8rXv8tl1hqKFwjf5BBySKMHMy6SoYQm3QR0hwRu2QClSb_S8dT9zsfzxIE4KKKTbAYpDPxzMCuJIzkxjNnjBdyxtniwROEaSTvJKW03VlvGdNicM_4Zyv/s2446/Mixed%20shorebirds%20web-9025.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1376" data-original-width="2446" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbjMSc8SklAi1qWz0BOWS_kik3Iyslf6SsLz8w2N73_uD-59RikjR2URCAumC2IPoVSQ8rXv8tl1hqKFwjf5BBySKMHMy6SoYQm3QR0hwRu2QClSb_S8dT9zsfzxIE4KKKTbAYpDPxzMCuJIzkxjNnjBdyxtniwROEaSTvJKW03VlvGdNicM_4Zyv/w640-h360/Mixed%20shorebirds%20web-9025.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Migratory shorebirds fuel-up at the sanctuary salt ponds. Common Redshank, Ruff and Little Stint.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcGgbj-7MA75mNnKc0G2tW950HFu-7V3reEE21aYcbi6_gLLsTv79Kpb3XHIhvsKWshP1o_rYg3-UJD4dmyD1wMVMv8oNIq5I9dyQUW6BYPLXduAtesoa-G4ILXseZ3ZVCiJZcyNadryM3EAHOsb4EMEyjtsiQ0QxmEv3_goOZ2qy-zzlkpG3dpPP/s600/Praticole%20web-0377.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcGgbj-7MA75mNnKc0G2tW950HFu-7V3reEE21aYcbi6_gLLsTv79Kpb3XHIhvsKWshP1o_rYg3-UJD4dmyD1wMVMv8oNIq5I9dyQUW6BYPLXduAtesoa-G4ILXseZ3ZVCiJZcyNadryM3EAHOsb4EMEyjtsiQ0QxmEv3_goOZ2qy-zzlkpG3dpPP/w640-h426/Praticole%20web-0377.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collared Pratincole winter in Africa and migrate through Eilat to southern Europe to breed.<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87dv1_6AnolxCscPn-BxIHjCl25LFy7NrvQI3_63QBWCqCQnrdSeWufOcWo-rnVZGxY68E9xXI10rrMz17od38kxkGQZrjX7baZqZjhl5RUnv02VRCekxFCMSKL4YhMkkF4Is1rYXFp2fOE7tOdeLkIN5M7e066WmRIdzPgwdvfGNbEOFZHpLz9VC/s600/Spur-winged%20Lapwing%20web-9225.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87dv1_6AnolxCscPn-BxIHjCl25LFy7NrvQI3_63QBWCqCQnrdSeWufOcWo-rnVZGxY68E9xXI10rrMz17od38kxkGQZrjX7baZqZjhl5RUnv02VRCekxFCMSKL4YhMkkF4Is1rYXFp2fOE7tOdeLkIN5M7e066WmRIdzPgwdvfGNbEOFZHpLz9VC/w640-h426/Spur-winged%20Lapwing%20web-9225.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spur-winged Lapwing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCmrphUtqMcAFctFSMwfpcRafzb8E1_qBAyftyv3OotDhcO_ZW2WaV6XqrStfbWdc6NFZSzw6G71uc82eQnrEj8ESXK62DZxU81CRVN2h3qoCXcodQ1ABRfayaUb_EiXpWOZUC9ZSggVpGDPIahFdudjpkNFoe6fLLd556J6FN5HCgRL4X8EHLw4N/s600/Squacco%20Heron%20web-9131.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCmrphUtqMcAFctFSMwfpcRafzb8E1_qBAyftyv3OotDhcO_ZW2WaV6XqrStfbWdc6NFZSzw6G71uc82eQnrEj8ESXK62DZxU81CRVN2h3qoCXcodQ1ABRfayaUb_EiXpWOZUC9ZSggVpGDPIahFdudjpkNFoe6fLLd556J6FN5HCgRL4X8EHLw4N/w426-h640/Squacco%20Heron%20web-9131.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squacco Heron</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"> Along with the McQueen's Buzzard, the Black-Scrub Robin (below) were the highlights for the avid listers in the group. The McQueens's were scope views of them dancing on a Lek. One evening we birded the Dead Sea until midnight and had good looks at a Nubian Nightjar. Those were just a few of the 90 Lifers I picked upon the trip. Two-hundred plus species were seen or heard during the week. I ticked 172 that I actually saw.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">The first and third videos (below) are the best example of what we saw but because of the midday haze it was impossible to video the behavoir ourselves</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://ebird.org/species/macbus1">Macqueens's Bustard</a></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREtb6BPzYbOfj0lU4H4q_z9g-z9y_6leMqH_7v3TwEyGXvBTIOV4B853XIDtiZf2IjZF8EDzQPzA2k_ncCrlyQ1k4Oco1JM-JkHI2QV_T6nZX8nXnjOcqiLHao96VdliW-KsoAG6Im3TtnZ7YpellNCtLJN8WBITfV8lg_Zj_9mdCXiGxlwFLZoAm/s600/Black%20Scrub%20Robin-0567.jpg.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREtb6BPzYbOfj0lU4H4q_z9g-z9y_6leMqH_7v3TwEyGXvBTIOV4B853XIDtiZf2IjZF8EDzQPzA2k_ncCrlyQ1k4Oco1JM-JkHI2QV_T6nZX8nXnjOcqiLHao96VdliW-KsoAG6Im3TtnZ7YpellNCtLJN8WBITfV8lg_Zj_9mdCXiGxlwFLZoAm/w640-h426/Black%20Scrub%20Robin-0567.jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Scrub Robin.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="Black Scrub Robin bird">Black Scrub Robin</a></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnjMmvbisVritOiY6m5yNBCkK0GwLkeF9B_SEGvhuog3jOy5P14B83H4jg4Wv2y3KTaH8yYFb3g8WrMfD9Y1l6em2SNljzncIuZSikNx_y8j12t35mYXxcUC58rgvyOBoSgsRUWLLiPCdz08jQXliimcQos_2Fln5LrU8WYk6R532UpvuD67na1oZ/s600/Black-eared%20Wheatear%20web9666.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnjMmvbisVritOiY6m5yNBCkK0GwLkeF9B_SEGvhuog3jOy5P14B83H4jg4Wv2y3KTaH8yYFb3g8WrMfD9Y1l6em2SNljzncIuZSikNx_y8j12t35mYXxcUC58rgvyOBoSgsRUWLLiPCdz08jQXliimcQos_2Fln5LrU8WYk6R532UpvuD67na1oZ/w640-h426/Black-eared%20Wheatear%20web9666.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-eared Wheatear winters in the Sahara and breeds around the Mediterranean.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgZ0nJFXrlebq-jDeqx8CCplHYR7eh2JSbVOn5DXPksi15IW0umJ7tKeTD9kLV9FagoISZYxETcnYG_NhFkWuvvcu7_N5z6X7FVRAum5_2HDHOCwsRJcp_PLM9KRdv3l5IUmtvMgPMDTbcTHrM7J_32nWnBnx6sCkCfTqZ8j5pjpt4tTLQ8h6bRYI/s600/Blackstart-9760.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgZ0nJFXrlebq-jDeqx8CCplHYR7eh2JSbVOn5DXPksi15IW0umJ7tKeTD9kLV9FagoISZYxETcnYG_NhFkWuvvcu7_N5z6X7FVRAum5_2HDHOCwsRJcp_PLM9KRdv3l5IUmtvMgPMDTbcTHrM7J_32nWnBnx6sCkCfTqZ8j5pjpt4tTLQ8h6bRYI/w640-h426/Blackstart-9760.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Blackstart is a resident. Israel had no endemics.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycVW6Xwb2aqtNUcuxD6TxL3ehwehrhk_0PWqQtuzk0DzXgNS0_qQoETntH6bb9Pe_Kijjp2J6c4EXFq0gNnqPKFdr54sPZCslOPJvb3wBBGSZ9f3955Kz44z5BL5DB_zlIi9LLlSlgGliqNwsgHFhXmBWVYtFDMHy1RpxoRMkBXXM4z1Zktol_MXG/s600/Corn%20bunting%20web-9689.jpg.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycVW6Xwb2aqtNUcuxD6TxL3ehwehrhk_0PWqQtuzk0DzXgNS0_qQoETntH6bb9Pe_Kijjp2J6c4EXFq0gNnqPKFdr54sPZCslOPJvb3wBBGSZ9f3955Kz44z5BL5DB_zlIi9LLlSlgGliqNwsgHFhXmBWVYtFDMHy1RpxoRMkBXXM4z1Zktol_MXG/w640-h426/Corn%20bunting%20web-9689.jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corn Bunting</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><span style="text-align: center;">Native plants were in bloom and a few warblers were passing through and feeding on fruits and insects. One species that has benefited from development is the tiny Palestinian Sunbird. Fifty years ago the species was considered rare and only found where native plants flowered year round. These days with ornamental planting commonplace in cities and residential areas the species is now thriving.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWBAtRXSR58Ug4jACpiiliVnJW1levDyM26wR31RqkHhhgG2xuJQnGJtOHA2zGafOLE_TZflJU46GtaIQStpNNvlSXeec7naNfF1_ki3r0KvSnyJA6bxg3RMkck-HQD03IAmjPFGFwU-PqcNokONH2KgU3vrG0_pBOoXkwG_kj0Oq01l22HiMDuTR/s600/Palastinian%20Sunbird%20web-9397.jpg.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWBAtRXSR58Ug4jACpiiliVnJW1levDyM26wR31RqkHhhgG2xuJQnGJtOHA2zGafOLE_TZflJU46GtaIQStpNNvlSXeec7naNfF1_ki3r0KvSnyJA6bxg3RMkck-HQD03IAmjPFGFwU-PqcNokONH2KgU3vrG0_pBOoXkwG_kj0Oq01l22HiMDuTR/w640-h426/Palastinian%20Sunbird%20web-9397.jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palestinian Sunbird.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJGOkJMZRyKjEqitZT_9KS3GSFiPt_hJsOO0ZtUxvgm2eY3DQoep7p3WNjLKdrWN2sTfYsOSIdexZIF1RfV8hIbHGoYQRGsW9Z68yH3nisa1X5QsQi1nbHpmtwVtUqRgyHLXEUHXRLyhiNQm1-biWmXPtGRKiQQO7fI-c8NIfPBiyLBRBjG-WlGBw/s600/Woodchat%20Shrike-9238.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJGOkJMZRyKjEqitZT_9KS3GSFiPt_hJsOO0ZtUxvgm2eY3DQoep7p3WNjLKdrWN2sTfYsOSIdexZIF1RfV8hIbHGoYQRGsW9Z68yH3nisa1X5QsQi1nbHpmtwVtUqRgyHLXEUHXRLyhiNQm1-biWmXPtGRKiQQO7fI-c8NIfPBiyLBRBjG-WlGBw/w640-h426/Woodchat%20Shrike-9238.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woodchat Shrike</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikT_fG3EHCRVMihngPz_R1uFXdT9dmgVdUUY63NhbzJ7DnNeagvKTUwOOd2MGXBwJ_NaYEvATCx5vkRlbvxBSIFd2ay8S8gBVOl-N_shm2pEg87W83q-KHORJHI6KKGZrU01tRUFidRR_dL4B4MSA7qh0_QrwngiPuh0wj-Dmq1wPp96FhlH7PAD28/s1783/Bluethroat-9276%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="1783" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikT_fG3EHCRVMihngPz_R1uFXdT9dmgVdUUY63NhbzJ7DnNeagvKTUwOOd2MGXBwJ_NaYEvATCx5vkRlbvxBSIFd2ay8S8gBVOl-N_shm2pEg87W83q-KHORJHI6KKGZrU01tRUFidRR_dL4B4MSA7qh0_QrwngiPuh0wj-Dmq1wPp96FhlH7PAD28/w640-h426/Bluethroat-9276%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bluethroat</td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWe6b-R06cFQRKmAtgWMsNj3sHVJvH-eo67C7FfqJROcOiMvP0tvUrgg8oL2-syq0mUybMg7dkrLk-zPxpEUTPE8QkIZsROIUfsIS3sN_esSTEj-019whkEvOEYmoffA-Zxp6sAK07dHez6UOMroB80KW2U8UJuk3_zM2K7jffoNwEiWB_oJvpird/s600/Ruppell's%20Warbler%20web-9872.jpg.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWe6b-R06cFQRKmAtgWMsNj3sHVJvH-eo67C7FfqJROcOiMvP0tvUrgg8oL2-syq0mUybMg7dkrLk-zPxpEUTPE8QkIZsROIUfsIS3sN_esSTEj-019whkEvOEYmoffA-Zxp6sAK07dHez6UOMroB80KW2U8UJuk3_zM2K7jffoNwEiWB_oJvpird/w640-h426/Ruppell's%20Warbler%20web-9872.jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruppell's Warbler</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Hula Valley</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The second part of the trip was for Sandee whose wish was to visit Galilee, Nazareth, Jerusalem and Bethlehem. We did that and more. Between the relics I did manage to fit in a few hours birding. In Galilee I spent an afternoon in the nearby Hula Valley. The contrast from Eilat and Negev Desert was startling. The dry desert heat was replaced by a lush fertile plain. The area was once extensive marshes but had been drained and crops planted. Slowly but surely and with co-operation from government, <span style="text-align: left;">(SPNI) and </span>the farming community the birds are returning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpx_MuyS3xoukGGSGE2CMUVzcfVTFJ_T9nHYai1gqBxt2MTuINQ3_Xrav029lJ-xs1hlSEoetmE-rChEx6bI9zX9Cc5KQsHXMi03fjwaK2J593eLbkeJa7lRNPVhxNAAGTcfirjvCQY4AeTrlJyRj1g_t20vhVWR1SkRtJpbTNYgbDlUv3dPvoGE1/s600/Common%20Crane%20in%20fields-3762.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpx_MuyS3xoukGGSGE2CMUVzcfVTFJ_T9nHYai1gqBxt2MTuINQ3_Xrav029lJ-xs1hlSEoetmE-rChEx6bI9zX9Cc5KQsHXMi03fjwaK2J593eLbkeJa7lRNPVhxNAAGTcfirjvCQY4AeTrlJyRj1g_t20vhVWR1SkRtJpbTNYgbDlUv3dPvoGE1/w640-h426/Common%20Crane%20in%20fields-3762.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Cranes and White Storks forage in Northern Israel's Hula Valley</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzu-f4pr4W66Gqx831sVRI1Q6OpE4SumTUSeSz4ApuWKSAwRfrMmWrTWDNp85d_9VQkDRl9unSfdwsNerT4RrYgiA9Pabe-V1_Ekk6yxXy8oBG0BffP-s1qfbag9QEmBfCG-OBoJC6sfuwX5fUyP1kpBf9k3LxeHqbs0swSvDMuuJrGK_KqoR5Teq/s600/Black-winged%20Kite-0737.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzu-f4pr4W66Gqx831sVRI1Q6OpE4SumTUSeSz4ApuWKSAwRfrMmWrTWDNp85d_9VQkDRl9unSfdwsNerT4RrYgiA9Pabe-V1_Ekk6yxXy8oBG0BffP-s1qfbag9QEmBfCG-OBoJC6sfuwX5fUyP1kpBf9k3LxeHqbs0swSvDMuuJrGK_KqoR5Teq/w426-h640/Black-winged%20Kite-0737.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-winged Kite<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksPVkc1UbdXgcanSe0IbHr0naugHap5-XyDlfupgKHCGEV9Aca3obl-No84wFUKWgTRYAUmKcmwhiJCm58R1APC90T3Ihkm1enysa26DWHu1OJJlQ32g3UpYL93_K-JlISkcwzJJWcyBiHaxU2GV7pygxutXWIQt8dBEokg2MnO_88a0r6gXFrY3C/s600/Eurasian%20Kestrel-0814.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksPVkc1UbdXgcanSe0IbHr0naugHap5-XyDlfupgKHCGEV9Aca3obl-No84wFUKWgTRYAUmKcmwhiJCm58R1APC90T3Ihkm1enysa26DWHu1OJJlQ32g3UpYL93_K-JlISkcwzJJWcyBiHaxU2GV7pygxutXWIQt8dBEokg2MnO_88a0r6gXFrY3C/w640-h426/Eurasian%20Kestrel-0814.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eurasian Kestrel</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdVz3o3hRecALcXu5UoJVYML_LMd6VRFMx4HVvqS9HGjrZaZWsjMwM8kVX0HCrGdb08ad6atMFg0DLAIl7yx6pz7a1520B2CL17I1X9WrxXmyUPG1kefAWSJ-KCtG-ZGNY4NQDLv2lL8dGBGfTx6XE7lp_3e_xmtLM2a0a4vTCU1aJhchs8YcAEO5/s600/White%20Stork%20Migration%20web-0922.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdVz3o3hRecALcXu5UoJVYML_LMd6VRFMx4HVvqS9HGjrZaZWsjMwM8kVX0HCrGdb08ad6atMFg0DLAIl7yx6pz7a1520B2CL17I1X9WrxXmyUPG1kefAWSJ-KCtG-ZGNY4NQDLv2lL8dGBGfTx6XE7lp_3e_xmtLM2a0a4vTCU1aJhchs8YcAEO5/w640-h426/White%20Stork%20Migration%20web-0922.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Storks riding thermals in the Hula Valley</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiIH5ZB1WjY1f6zzmAA_lclcTY1bOMReD30-gnL1hfIrz7P2DsRrZ3wqDNONXbiWoJ1nuioqV_8eEH6zNyrIu-JaWnjT9E_GTiTBO7nQFFr6GuLpRppJqet7mnsvVFRHfC34xUi8UPqAvzNUa-DkCtJnasz-UXPqp3FZdmbugxVefY6wX5y2nSl7g/s600/White-throated%20Kingfisher%20web0913.jpg.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiIH5ZB1WjY1f6zzmAA_lclcTY1bOMReD30-gnL1hfIrz7P2DsRrZ3wqDNONXbiWoJ1nuioqV_8eEH6zNyrIu-JaWnjT9E_GTiTBO7nQFFr6GuLpRppJqet7mnsvVFRHfC34xUi8UPqAvzNUa-DkCtJnasz-UXPqp3FZdmbugxVefY6wX5y2nSl7g/w426-h640/White-throated%20Kingfisher%20web0913.jpg.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-throated Kingfisher</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">Sea of Galilee</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Every evening I would take a walk down to the shore of Galilee to watch the Armenian Gulls, Cattle Egrets, Pygmy Cormorants, Whiskered Terns, Common and Little Swifts.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Gz7B__3jHRB5kbSXq9G29cecOdDGNr8GoCLLGFrgjJUpoqk5QwUtwEB-bC4hdaon1JwVB5YycZNrb3-7t1loVgliucEGobF98GdwLkm2MyVxb1CGID5qXK38yIz1tSyVeYK8pbPexPvCX1eJU-4GsDcnn30e4NXUeFco9PECV96VF6Z9gGOoBuVJ/s600/Pygmy%20Cormorant-1170.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Gz7B__3jHRB5kbSXq9G29cecOdDGNr8GoCLLGFrgjJUpoqk5QwUtwEB-bC4hdaon1JwVB5YycZNrb3-7t1loVgliucEGobF98GdwLkm2MyVxb1CGID5qXK38yIz1tSyVeYK8pbPexPvCX1eJU-4GsDcnn30e4NXUeFco9PECV96VF6Z9gGOoBuVJ/w640-h426/Pygmy%20Cormorant-1170.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pygmy Cormorant<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFemJRZotTRh5hFQXXkCEIEQE75RDWXYswk2IVSMzcm_m0FP-R7VK-JYj23mwEFuRbcGiVZ1HiuvuMzS6yFTF6KR8OhD97H9uiowM3zCySGhL7u9Ri74GSbzk3LuVN-1u_XrmZq9_iENQWf9AG2KaxtEq-22hfxZBi3EmZp_i6aaF9zlwgFRsjeXj4/s600/Whiskered%20Tern-1149.jpg.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFemJRZotTRh5hFQXXkCEIEQE75RDWXYswk2IVSMzcm_m0FP-R7VK-JYj23mwEFuRbcGiVZ1HiuvuMzS6yFTF6KR8OhD97H9uiowM3zCySGhL7u9Ri74GSbzk3LuVN-1u_XrmZq9_iENQWf9AG2KaxtEq-22hfxZBi3EmZp_i6aaF9zlwgFRsjeXj4/w640-h426/Whiskered%20Tern-1149.jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whiskered Tern<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRVmiBjb31lHMmIOSQb8wRPFwhFukna_GShsqoacbW8TWvQhAjWQCioycQbI5OTJr2KO-mCOpYACvj9AB_tYIB4aEG8oDVdEbnTg7mnRTOhjQmO-H44QcUQDZLFMC5TOAaO9k48KA4a23ElV2YJgjL0e2gu5JzUwjZyoxx4TtLjRLjhG8flaXVHR2/s600/Kestrel-%20web1092.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRVmiBjb31lHMmIOSQb8wRPFwhFukna_GShsqoacbW8TWvQhAjWQCioycQbI5OTJr2KO-mCOpYACvj9AB_tYIB4aEG8oDVdEbnTg7mnRTOhjQmO-H44QcUQDZLFMC5TOAaO9k48KA4a23ElV2YJgjL0e2gu5JzUwjZyoxx4TtLjRLjhG8flaXVHR2/w640-h426/Kestrel-%20web1092.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Eurasian Kestrel with lizard.<br />Mount of Beatitudes<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">Jerusalem. </h3><div style="text-align: center;">At the Wailing Wall and Temple Mount Common Swifts swooped above worshippers.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbwb76yWtt5WcVuVqnE_wtkxu-KfigXx73BMAKKjjti7rmFB8Vm5aFXlmAwGfu5EvLs1d7VTyPk3wEHkCL6P27Sfr3T8S0QRiOBOg5BScvUrqCwYtWEnARZtGj62GQAACulzvcfjg9vdytX1ugx87FDLOdqK8fyRy9d4puEUr-YN-0kFG8_mrEUZX/s1800/%20Swift%20Common-1334.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbwb76yWtt5WcVuVqnE_wtkxu-KfigXx73BMAKKjjti7rmFB8Vm5aFXlmAwGfu5EvLs1d7VTyPk3wEHkCL6P27Sfr3T8S0QRiOBOg5BScvUrqCwYtWEnARZtGj62GQAACulzvcfjg9vdytX1ugx87FDLOdqK8fyRy9d4puEUr-YN-0kFG8_mrEUZX/w600-h399/%20Swift%20Common-1334.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Swift</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Our hotel on Jaffa Road was within walking distance from the Old City and conveniently only a twenty minute walk to the Jerusalem Bird Observatory. The Gazelle Valley was a short taxi ride. Before Jerusalem grew into the bustling city it is today there were once wildlife corridors which allowed animals to move freely through the region. That no longer exists. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyfYCo9WpyD3WMAkFZFob9ZPvpTjqZCR85408E_3lWzEJAzNhU42qVd_EVXc9c2YE53EF86-GiFAkeKSM1wvAst4D1h1zFKKN-7I4hkVvZhbud6nkCleSuJKeW2UwTm95voGE1lFRTjfzmT0I9h0LKNA-f9DhNWX6pdrh389FML2Rhu74JyG3tC9r/s600/Gazelle%20Valley%20IMG_7635.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyfYCo9WpyD3WMAkFZFob9ZPvpTjqZCR85408E_3lWzEJAzNhU42qVd_EVXc9c2YE53EF86-GiFAkeKSM1wvAst4D1h1zFKKN-7I4hkVvZhbud6nkCleSuJKeW2UwTm95voGE1lFRTjfzmT0I9h0LKNA-f9DhNWX6pdrh389FML2Rhu74JyG3tC9r/w640-h426/Gazelle%20Valley%20IMG_7635.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gazelle Valley</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">"Under the authority of the Jerusalem Municipality and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI), the Gazelle Valley nature reserve spans 61 acres of land in southwest Jerusalem and is home to around 80 mountain gazelles that are able to live freely in the park."</div><div style="text-align: right;"><i> Jerusalem Post</i></div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrKM6oEuab26YNaqFC9Fe17tV9NC6ay97TwMnQcCdHtXiQLdH-EZHKoCXzNbgIjcyJ9Ju8BOat8MDUPhfl6xP4i9cfnNK8BsGnV3PmuMioC1vLJcFl81JA4LK06u8SX-WCeisHxxYToEiaTY4Y08gR5Q0jrkxKXkX18KTwp_qnOPRNywd4EkU1_RJ/s600/Mountain%20Gazelle-1289.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrKM6oEuab26YNaqFC9Fe17tV9NC6ay97TwMnQcCdHtXiQLdH-EZHKoCXzNbgIjcyJ9Ju8BOat8MDUPhfl6xP4i9cfnNK8BsGnV3PmuMioC1vLJcFl81JA4LK06u8SX-WCeisHxxYToEiaTY4Y08gR5Q0jrkxKXkX18KTwp_qnOPRNywd4EkU1_RJ/w640-h426/Mountain%20Gazelle-1289.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain Gazelle</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Birding Pal</h3><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In Jerusalem I met up with Naomi, a Birding Pal who had kindly offered to show me around the reserve. Her keen ear found me the Sardinian Warbler, a bird I had seen in Eilat but I hadn't been able to photograph.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLk-UYTsScr1oMaBA0w1e-YyzNjnMjBy162bnjB7D6svBrVxzogebnp6CVPdWjhIKBoEb62Ttc-5GoBOwE7oeVdoeG1pvSb-CVrNXbIu9cHRbU-8pR4ZXahl88TkXwqQ0PPCgEPhy0OGMwHrvEoUseRcNSID-LSaU3ZC1iaWnG4j2rH6usPcRZ4mvA/s600/Sardinian%20Warbler%20web-1249.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLk-UYTsScr1oMaBA0w1e-YyzNjnMjBy162bnjB7D6svBrVxzogebnp6CVPdWjhIKBoEb62Ttc-5GoBOwE7oeVdoeG1pvSb-CVrNXbIu9cHRbU-8pR4ZXahl88TkXwqQ0PPCgEPhy0OGMwHrvEoUseRcNSID-LSaU3ZC1iaWnG4j2rH6usPcRZ4mvA/w640-h426/Sardinian%20Warbler%20web-1249.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sardinian Warbler</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaQS73DrTm2WQJTK-no0RlydtIAcMnL-KVNOI0GAsBbmPbBJPwXLpaWnS-M2fOPOOYxFieWda9mlUADC3BDiZRBEM4B0JUdhu4-4qO_95VMjnbGXHKyFCeD4UfCMyHotp1LbueSzq0joZNdui3zgX8PMZb5UCXV2nHJBwrb--DaO4aySICUIHbjTf/s600/Ferruginious%20Duck-1217.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaQS73DrTm2WQJTK-no0RlydtIAcMnL-KVNOI0GAsBbmPbBJPwXLpaWnS-M2fOPOOYxFieWda9mlUADC3BDiZRBEM4B0JUdhu4-4qO_95VMjnbGXHKyFCeD4UfCMyHotp1LbueSzq0joZNdui3zgX8PMZb5UCXV2nHJBwrb--DaO4aySICUIHbjTf/w640-h426/Ferruginious%20Duck-1217.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ferruginous Duck</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The last full day in Israel I visited the Jerusalem Bird Observatory. I joined a group of school children as they attended a bird banding session. Lifers that morning included a Collared Flycatcher and Monk Parakeet and finally after countless hours of searching, a Common Nightingale.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2loXdpC36F8Rv7UIcsgjOFCQueqpqiIKJmrVZ5_wu08Gcnkt0gfmnJyYD_-crUamQ5vq9qftcbgfdvOicaYHOGwaXwx1imTOSSaKEpgPRtYQKWiTnx-ErSpeKAmkyy4Uhu6sjbQqPks5vMaere8aSz5VWncEl-Iv9hufcNDtxYZLH9Iqt24d0uOn/s600/Syrian%20Woodpecker-1663.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2loXdpC36F8Rv7UIcsgjOFCQueqpqiIKJmrVZ5_wu08Gcnkt0gfmnJyYD_-crUamQ5vq9qftcbgfdvOicaYHOGwaXwx1imTOSSaKEpgPRtYQKWiTnx-ErSpeKAmkyy4Uhu6sjbQqPks5vMaere8aSz5VWncEl-Iv9hufcNDtxYZLH9Iqt24d0uOn/w426-h640/Syrian%20Woodpecker-1663.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Syrian Woodpecker</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6hGHRJYk2ASBsrlDTGhwsW-N5iUyIK0RgMUR9qAHfi26tmTDNiOxvp-JFvMnJLP4VE6TnPO9odh7IU2U6MKWwihJrKCUxOKoQa4EFbvS-ULMBG4CtN8rCBggNrm3W_ccX6DEpWiQmcqADXisdfg4Biwx6KcFK5alXZnbrEIU9vTENCEv2EG6c7hU/s1684/Common%20Nightinggale-1494.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="1684" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6hGHRJYk2ASBsrlDTGhwsW-N5iUyIK0RgMUR9qAHfi26tmTDNiOxvp-JFvMnJLP4VE6TnPO9odh7IU2U6MKWwihJrKCUxOKoQa4EFbvS-ULMBG4CtN8rCBggNrm3W_ccX6DEpWiQmcqADXisdfg4Biwx6KcFK5alXZnbrEIU9vTENCEv2EG6c7hU/w640-h426/Common%20Nightinggale-1494.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common nightingale</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Note: Overall we felt safe wherever we went. I was important to keep an open mind and listen rather than take political stands one way or the other. Even though some of our friends felt concerned I personally don’t think Israel is anymore dangerous than Mexico or even my own community Surrey B.C.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"It's never too late to return"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">John Gordon</div><div style="text-align: center;">Langley/Cloverdale</div><div style="text-align: center;">BC Canada</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Top birds </div><div>Mcqueens's Buzzard</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQREwZi_ZFlL28HvNsVPDWPMk8OWsZTR3lwLQQP9ewfnjesAIR2ziydl8pNEdbZfy875HMBEjTQ1wICR0u_vpwZgN_48FqTCg5vfyKNHOMVoUrJMgNiUwKz-62C595Im5-RhmV89O5xvpSjqk1jxE3zdqJfyLFxdq2-YcpUdZqcw55whA6QlYv89V/s1280/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-15%20at%206.59.38%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQREwZi_ZFlL28HvNsVPDWPMk8OWsZTR3lwLQQP9ewfnjesAIR2ziydl8pNEdbZfy875HMBEjTQ1wICR0u_vpwZgN_48FqTCg5vfyKNHOMVoUrJMgNiUwKz-62C595Im5-RhmV89O5xvpSjqk1jxE3zdqJfyLFxdq2-YcpUdZqcw55whA6QlYv89V/w640-h400/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-15%20at%206.59.38%20PM.png" width="640" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Much work has been do see <a href="https://www.birds.org.il/en/articles/type/savethebirds">Save the birds</a> for a list of events, programs and information.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-12725918355655832972023-03-05T14:54:00.003-08:002023-03-23T05:19:29.876-07:00Birding Northern Territory ( Uluru)<h3 style="text-align: center;">Uluru, Olgas and the Red Centre</h3><div><span style="text-align: center;">After completing a long drive from Cairns to Brisbane, my partner Sandee and I were excited to visit the iconic desert landscape of Australia's Red Centre. We knew that a trip to Australia wouldn't be complete without visiting Uluru (Ayer's Rock), a World Heritage site and one of the world's largest monoliths.</span></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEn5MJveHOtyNxJCt8j4-HVINwJP0JT16Ik2R10nmpU2dzO-t7EuGQ9PX0JyPNFEyBJESJMgPww2WbbnKTVo80FM0FIrreAHbKGgYCHumbCiR0pDrvnk8Hqm2ssYYcWKC_wVDiFnyJ32HTDohvSX3s23zWj3Mr2iAG8AEFC4iPK4qj5r-BA_ZiGyOA/s720/Uluru%20Pigeons%20webDSCN3598.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEn5MJveHOtyNxJCt8j4-HVINwJP0JT16Ik2R10nmpU2dzO-t7EuGQ9PX0JyPNFEyBJESJMgPww2WbbnKTVo80FM0FIrreAHbKGgYCHumbCiR0pDrvnk8Hqm2ssYYcWKC_wVDiFnyJ32HTDohvSX3s23zWj3Mr2iAG8AEFC4iPK4qj5r-BA_ZiGyOA/w640-h426/Uluru%20Pigeons%20webDSCN3598.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crested Pigeons.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcjMaf1CLmlmqUAeUhHYmvzntMprQydRHaJlO6lx52YakuA5xFc5IYwKcgUDRBISC6VspsrawIDljlw4_nK_i3VBHO7CUHBhtj2mV5ykhm66eWzNT9Ync8mFWhYa9vQicKJKUg4Tn0X1Dv-jBortDkxb4c488_e9ps9K8XKoRHmxTxQJqUKky_8FM/s720/Spinifex%20web-6541.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcjMaf1CLmlmqUAeUhHYmvzntMprQydRHaJlO6lx52YakuA5xFc5IYwKcgUDRBISC6VspsrawIDljlw4_nK_i3VBHO7CUHBhtj2mV5ykhm66eWzNT9Ync8mFWhYa9vQicKJKUg4Tn0X1Dv-jBortDkxb4c488_e9ps9K8XKoRHmxTxQJqUKky_8FM/w640-h480/Spinifex%20web-6541.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spinifex.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Spinifex is a plant that binds the desert together. The clumps of grass provide refuge for small animals including birds, rodents, lizards and snakes. Termites chew on the stems depositing a fine mulch and nutrients underground. When processed, the plant provides a bitumen like glue substance, used by aboriginal people for making and mending tools.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Uluru's </span><span style="text-align: left;">rock paintings</span><span style="text-align: left;"> easily damage as they have no binding agents. The cave paintings depict religious and ceremonial expression, teaching and storytelling. These include geometric symbols such as concentric circles, figures representing animal tracks and the outlines of animals. </span></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDiZKuLmPaehgvbA_x2tCxOzErOG3zs43tufDjOaaRtjK4AQSEsJSW2URgefHQHlz6MZgMap1BC3dZojlcBw-rbU4Az9kh3KCXl9c5vZDFEa6nfOvHlaxBHpx4_lmjnlEZJtLnn2GduiH83uU-xsm7834yVl3gYSzrGzVRDFqacSQIL0BLC1qz2ni/s720/%20Paintings%20web%20DSCN3796.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDiZKuLmPaehgvbA_x2tCxOzErOG3zs43tufDjOaaRtjK4AQSEsJSW2URgefHQHlz6MZgMap1BC3dZojlcBw-rbU4Az9kh3KCXl9c5vZDFEa6nfOvHlaxBHpx4_lmjnlEZJtLnn2GduiH83uU-xsm7834yVl3gYSzrGzVRDFqacSQIL0BLC1qz2ni/w640-h426/%20Paintings%20web%20DSCN3796.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock Paintings Uluru.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;"> Aboriginal people have lived in the area for at least ten to twenty thousand years, perhaps longer. The first white explorers arrived one hundred and twenty years ago. Today the Anangu people are caretakers of the land and share responsibility for the site with the Australian government.</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: right;"><br /></blockquote><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhWBNe7BW3dGq0PxrZFhT77AUHjjCcQrLGPeVqNp4r_T2wltPngCLHtaogW2z4BBEcu7pvFH4MHBwguGjoVZ8wT5JGUZ-StovhE03aWChKpsCfwcCBK7kqjz208CjWqTPcwtIkMYAMe4JIzuDXZJIX8EV5W2IliZslHt_dhj00ttnd4nx-NJOPG4P/s720/White-browed%20Babbler%20web-5671.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhWBNe7BW3dGq0PxrZFhT77AUHjjCcQrLGPeVqNp4r_T2wltPngCLHtaogW2z4BBEcu7pvFH4MHBwguGjoVZ8wT5JGUZ-StovhE03aWChKpsCfwcCBK7kqjz208CjWqTPcwtIkMYAMe4JIzuDXZJIX8EV5W2IliZslHt_dhj00ttnd4nx-NJOPG4P/w640-h426/White-browed%20Babbler%20web-5671.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-browed Babbler.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">On the third morning I persuaded Sandee to accompany me on nine km base walk of Uluru. It was an unforgettable experience on so many levels. The sun, the gentle breeze, the light hitting the sandstone rock face. At one stop a steady trickle of water filled a pool shaded by trees. A Willy Wagtail was hawking insects at the waters edge.</div><div style="text-align: center;">While walking, we saw a flock of White-browed Babblers and a Brown Falcon flying overhead. We also encountered several flocks of Zebra Finches, Little Woodswallows, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes and White-plumed Honeyeaters.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBPmdPiQehPkVbvD3Td8lTQibba8tMdHiGYVfgcUeJAOLDs8WPw3GIfhCNN6XLZjOhZs3mCYwSFLzdHj0ZFcg6qxMOoW7Kt3MbU3sjInpWfl5z-_bdYJunjW5r6w4HtfSffvCDXeJhDerm3nsEOcKtOY_819YOENMSxpinTjM0Yy-eWFJYbiIRMnE/s720/Zebra%20Finch%20web-5746.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBPmdPiQehPkVbvD3Td8lTQibba8tMdHiGYVfgcUeJAOLDs8WPw3GIfhCNN6XLZjOhZs3mCYwSFLzdHj0ZFcg6qxMOoW7Kt3MbU3sjInpWfl5z-_bdYJunjW5r6w4HtfSffvCDXeJhDerm3nsEOcKtOY_819YOENMSxpinTjM0Yy-eWFJYbiIRMnE/w640-h426/Zebra%20Finch%20web-5746.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Zebra Finch.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAc0CyeqmFAebTsBkRFSL9FXwC2G3EA_b8HJhiElz-ZLZ20Sc7V9Q7QsEwXc4r6_mFIf9BA6cJnoWIk7SIUwoM7wGm2Mup2EopgKqRvJ0KnlDM_qmAZFNbSWzQc37ob8wPz7bDJ55T7TMcJ6dpIKnMJu6aM71Po-1UxK0YvKzpJxB4jlGAxl6xQXM/s660/Rock%20FACE%20Uluru%20IMG_6615.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="660" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAc0CyeqmFAebTsBkRFSL9FXwC2G3EA_b8HJhiElz-ZLZ20Sc7V9Q7QsEwXc4r6_mFIf9BA6cJnoWIk7SIUwoM7wGm2Mup2EopgKqRvJ0KnlDM_qmAZFNbSWzQc37ob8wPz7bDJ55T7TMcJ6dpIKnMJu6aM71Po-1UxK0YvKzpJxB4jlGAxl6xQXM/w640-h466/Rock%20FACE%20Uluru%20IMG_6615.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were many interesting formations where photography was allowed.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We saw Little Woodswallow nests clinging to steep walls and a Nankeen Kestrel surveyed its domain from a cave. </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNBJ2l8qyWlF8wUgjrKcmpwtq83rtvlnyUZAQsGmIa4eikhsRUZtgZu1jvf9LO8ZbutF8yarcUP5daTz4GR8ePv-Umrm3r7x37hn59DCEabnCmSv0IY813OHrciRTmy58IWeOgOHQO_RJ390zhnGElK2bb2t1RwktHw2KClucrw1E_-KHPKM-i_TI/s720/Nankeen%20Kestrel%20web-5798.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNBJ2l8qyWlF8wUgjrKcmpwtq83rtvlnyUZAQsGmIa4eikhsRUZtgZu1jvf9LO8ZbutF8yarcUP5daTz4GR8ePv-Umrm3r7x37hn59DCEabnCmSv0IY813OHrciRTmy58IWeOgOHQO_RJ390zhnGElK2bb2t1RwktHw2KClucrw1E_-KHPKM-i_TI/w640-h426/Nankeen%20Kestrel%20web-5798.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nankeen Kestrel nesting on a cliff face.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZ2H_0MgrEtrNVC8oBxpT0fPKq-MBOuJ2U_W8JiUZACI3JRNG4muJ7N2nIwbygh7_esqqCkdC7C9idwLkkJWKmZT7S-EgrDEviKIAro24bhsQLweWLjvjUkEfiDGPE8CZoBzefqsHIaO6TCASpNMLRr6GQy--vh76fpcO3PyMbU7VYswU6RSAWUWx/s720/Little%20Woodswallow%20web-5498.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZ2H_0MgrEtrNVC8oBxpT0fPKq-MBOuJ2U_W8JiUZACI3JRNG4muJ7N2nIwbygh7_esqqCkdC7C9idwLkkJWKmZT7S-EgrDEviKIAro24bhsQLweWLjvjUkEfiDGPE8CZoBzefqsHIaO6TCASpNMLRr6GQy--vh76fpcO3PyMbU7VYswU6RSAWUWx/w640-h426/Little%20Woodswallow%20web-5498.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Woodswallow.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As we walked around Uluru, we discovered many surprising things about the area. The nine-kilometre base walk was open to the public, except for a particular stretch called Tjukatjapi, which is sacred to the Anangu people. Photography was prohibited in this area.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJlGaIt9t2PQEyP0C19Lmt6t1x6sqKk7asU5_QmF-bukaX9vlrI35Wg7FKlkHpf8IQLTKSOxEhoSmNDXFs0sEV_MSIAqKS8HYDvxMZOI1inBJpS3rmaT7M861YqnliNtGap_Udc3j6PogSg7j7sULZxtzMIQ5dabXLjojpSTuYIAEulHdcQ_JqBmL/s720/White-plumed%20Honeyeater%20web-5852.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJlGaIt9t2PQEyP0C19Lmt6t1x6sqKk7asU5_QmF-bukaX9vlrI35Wg7FKlkHpf8IQLTKSOxEhoSmNDXFs0sEV_MSIAqKS8HYDvxMZOI1inBJpS3rmaT7M861YqnliNtGap_Udc3j6PogSg7j7sULZxtzMIQ5dabXLjojpSTuYIAEulHdcQ_JqBmL/w640-h426/White-plumed%20Honeyeater%20web-5852.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-plumed Honeyeater.</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were desert oak around the base offering much needed shelter for trekkers and wildlife.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Q2KT11Kt3Cvi4P4Q19o4x9CfOy0gyyokBcWXEYCTFZrMfTdai8aqyJbtuKvX6R28p4mS4XaeLS8MAhwXiy8vdDeVO7RNRCuJaKb4K_jAPCwvkbvSIqA9O8-rEdEq0dS6eGf8FbYZ057mg5DwGlu8Mdikcx1IXbG-gQ4EN4c5WojK1LGfFyMUYVRU/s720/Walk%20edge%20webDSCN3749.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Q2KT11Kt3Cvi4P4Q19o4x9CfOy0gyyokBcWXEYCTFZrMfTdai8aqyJbtuKvX6R28p4mS4XaeLS8MAhwXiy8vdDeVO7RNRCuJaKb4K_jAPCwvkbvSIqA9O8-rEdEq0dS6eGf8FbYZ057mg5DwGlu8Mdikcx1IXbG-gQ4EN4c5WojK1LGfFyMUYVRU/w640-h426/Walk%20edge%20webDSCN3749.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Base Walk scenery.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVqYPOlFELJ7oE6qgbpssq6JENBs8vWxsMi7WiH5iwPzrTIdmPHZELp07zT4yr9B9ofjcqZ2iFk31e7WoT29JJoCDkyJc90w5qch2vObziPTtr6CZ7DRhPlw4IBB9F0PMNxUbvJ6WwCGENp4_hF5mjt2XThF0VDe1mGukuhN8onoCs7ap-mQjdZ5h/s720/Yellow-throated%20Miner%20web-5824.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVqYPOlFELJ7oE6qgbpssq6JENBs8vWxsMi7WiH5iwPzrTIdmPHZELp07zT4yr9B9ofjcqZ2iFk31e7WoT29JJoCDkyJc90w5qch2vObziPTtr6CZ7DRhPlw4IBB9F0PMNxUbvJ6WwCGENp4_hF5mjt2XThF0VDe1mGukuhN8onoCs7ap-mQjdZ5h/w640-h426/Yellow-throated%20Miner%20web-5824.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-throated Minor</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJ40r_AIgHHw64Px2ZdGTNNUW-wlRdcHaJwSFO_kchapUYfgr2jewMfR4vhFu2LNQT7VkBIfVtQEAVOju-QVeqrJgRTuN_jwtAIrRZlVZTuj2XpSvRszX0alpDoB_nNbs1eu_KbL3AoqxWsAqvudb2wDM9CKRCwDL0rNSQ_dVSY7pJPupVaINpI7c/s720/The%20Olgas%20web-3556.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJ40r_AIgHHw64Px2ZdGTNNUW-wlRdcHaJwSFO_kchapUYfgr2jewMfR4vhFu2LNQT7VkBIfVtQEAVOju-QVeqrJgRTuN_jwtAIrRZlVZTuj2XpSvRszX0alpDoB_nNbs1eu_KbL3AoqxWsAqvudb2wDM9CKRCwDL0rNSQ_dVSY7pJPupVaINpI7c/w640-h426/The%20Olgas%20web-3556.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Olgas. <br />Desert Oaks dot the landscape.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">We woke up at 4:30 a.m. every morning to catch the shuttle bus out to either Uluru or the Olgas. One day, I went on a six-hour self-guided tour through the Valley of the Winds. The walk turned-up several lifers, including Diamond Dove, Hooded Robin, Splendid Fairywren, Singing Honeyeater, Australian Pipit, Red-capped Robin, Dusky Grasswren, and Red-backed Kingfisher.</div><div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaA4Pa-inp5d2pl_9122LVp5BtQDSKGG4K3saNOHTaAETWF0LYwoOaIxkvQCqIXE-DMilVW8XqT_sbHh3lHNhZn0ccqhOzsfJcZ0Kc5wOJl6jsOQaq86c2Wxk8IzKtv4fbSDQRM3poc3XxOWHpAASfZHAaphT0GCtJjJBrYAeuNkrFEzdy_lLPd-g/s720/Hooded%20Robin%20web-.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaA4Pa-inp5d2pl_9122LVp5BtQDSKGG4K3saNOHTaAETWF0LYwoOaIxkvQCqIXE-DMilVW8XqT_sbHh3lHNhZn0ccqhOzsfJcZ0Kc5wOJl6jsOQaq86c2Wxk8IzKtv4fbSDQRM3poc3XxOWHpAASfZHAaphT0GCtJjJBrYAeuNkrFEzdy_lLPd-g/w640-h426/Hooded%20Robin%20web-.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooded Robin.</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p></blockquote><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFkI3JqyEn7PmY-z5qExjABO2s3TAUU2ZnsaxGi_A4yQpMEtLtuDOFRDUOf7BD8rWdzCcbuojc30t7hoqJE9LMnphFBA7x_TtRZ9FaygG6ZG_j5TvX6OUzaCTgZK84o40SBS7IoBset1i9NzZASQCILQizi-G2ROF8HlT7__Kk7xlDOTNgXs3GC26/s720/Splendid%20Fairywren%20web-1573.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFkI3JqyEn7PmY-z5qExjABO2s3TAUU2ZnsaxGi_A4yQpMEtLtuDOFRDUOf7BD8rWdzCcbuojc30t7hoqJE9LMnphFBA7x_TtRZ9FaygG6ZG_j5TvX6OUzaCTgZK84o40SBS7IoBset1i9NzZASQCILQizi-G2ROF8HlT7__Kk7xlDOTNgXs3GC26/w640-h426/Splendid%20Fairywren%20web-1573.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Splendid Fairywren</td></tr></tbody></table><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finally...but not least</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Late afternoons, we would rest before heading out again for the sunset at Uluru. Each sunset was different, but the third night was the most magical. As we drove out to Uluru, menacing rainclouds began to develop, followed by thunder. Without the sun, Uluru had lost its reddish colour and now appeared to be a deep brown. Our bus driver had told us we might be in for a rare light show if the rains stopped. The rain did stop, and a partial rainbow appeared. As the sun set and for the briefest of moments, a shaft of the sunlight lit up Uluru, creating a magic moment that we and all those present will never forget.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFX371BDLgQDwdK5rZ-PEzA9EfOtNFg8GoxQ-3DbHEpdMyPO1UL_Fnm-MjNNUjuzd9r9bC4lHaogLpL3qRnyuR0gvjF54BqLVzIJkIoIhSGW4HuQXxVQJ9qayPi7-5xCZ_WBYmx7Glbr9mwKXEQfZ8Uw-GRd3BPwCOXNXm6Q3Lw7U3SBSxPGAoX2Gw/s720/Ayer's%20Rock%20sunset%20web-3845.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFX371BDLgQDwdK5rZ-PEzA9EfOtNFg8GoxQ-3DbHEpdMyPO1UL_Fnm-MjNNUjuzd9r9bC4lHaogLpL3qRnyuR0gvjF54BqLVzIJkIoIhSGW4HuQXxVQJ9qayPi7-5xCZ_WBYmx7Glbr9mwKXEQfZ8Uw-GRd3BPwCOXNXm6Q3Lw7U3SBSxPGAoX2Gw/w640-h426/Ayer's%20Rock%20sunset%20web-3845.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKLuqWdXEqSBz9VEwHjnNTXKXxj563D4aOKHSm5VX3rGhUw-bPYLhtydFZlL7foRE6UGnnKcW7J7Hkf7Jr5wOEeWUUMGm3rBDBdJPnancmjEn9tmyc9s4856kLLZpQQtJ5RA4uPLv7tFdi1HlrsRozbGosdJK49IYuHcVpD9WZs_My-pb-yC9QWpV/s720/Ayer's%20Rock%20sunset%20web-3858.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKLuqWdXEqSBz9VEwHjnNTXKXxj563D4aOKHSm5VX3rGhUw-bPYLhtydFZlL7foRE6UGnnKcW7J7Hkf7Jr5wOEeWUUMGm3rBDBdJPnancmjEn9tmyc9s4856kLLZpQQtJ5RA4uPLv7tFdi1HlrsRozbGosdJK49IYuHcVpD9WZs_My-pb-yC9QWpV/w640-h426/Ayer's%20Rock%20sunset%20web-3858.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Our next stop will be the lush old growth at O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat and Lamington National Park. The contrast wouldn't be greater.</div><div><br /></div></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"It's never too late to make a plan"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">John Gordon</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Langley/Cloverdale</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">BC Canada</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><br /></div></div>John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-7164845888070451232023-02-28T13:12:00.004-08:002023-03-01T20:50:57.871-08:00Birding Queensland Part 2<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></blockquote><h3 style="text-align: center;">Fall 2022</h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"> Northern Queensland.</h3><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqEK-NjYU12JGp_ckOAjVhgTVz6GUVMoM2X5vtzDWoBanU4jVV2g4dKrSznZhTBnvVsbztSaVJXAvakUEoPTukfU0BG55U5QMWDe8ktknpZBodXxup5UFI0Qw9jaGUunaCV2VLLv03XjhXp2BL93bAdriaKXk_d3cHIScBtfbGYcaoHFm7B-8Mt1n/s720/Great-tailed%20I%20think%20web-1925.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqEK-NjYU12JGp_ckOAjVhgTVz6GUVMoM2X5vtzDWoBanU4jVV2g4dKrSznZhTBnvVsbztSaVJXAvakUEoPTukfU0BG55U5QMWDe8ktknpZBodXxup5UFI0Qw9jaGUunaCV2VLLv03XjhXp2BL93bAdriaKXk_d3cHIScBtfbGYcaoHFm7B-8Mt1n/w640-h426/Great-tailed%20I%20think%20web-1925.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey-tailed Tatler and Great Knot</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"> Eight days in New South Wales just flew by. The second portion of our trip was a three hour 2420 km flight to Cairns, Northern Queensland. The warmth and humidity was in stark contrast to what we had experienced in New South Wales. We had planned two days rest in Cairns before picking up our next camper van. First stop after checking into our hotel was the Esplanade, a shore birding hotspot and stop-off for guided tours. Unfortunately it was high tide so no new birds were seen except for the Welcome Swallows nesting under the boardwalk.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-04hLkntwzit57dnsLUJq4dtflHDZWajiJ-6hmxuptVIuWH4vfE4c8zRLWLBvs9JTJ_wscktjajpw8k9GaSx0sXzw7pyVLduuIHmKxYgX8vL99CJktNTeGnpkr6y6L0yEXFBtIrUEvfPuxg_AwuvJksyki8LzHMANK7b7RVEbxeEe1li1_H8PiTb0/s720/Red-necked%20Stint%20web-1967.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-04hLkntwzit57dnsLUJq4dtflHDZWajiJ-6hmxuptVIuWH4vfE4c8zRLWLBvs9JTJ_wscktjajpw8k9GaSx0sXzw7pyVLduuIHmKxYgX8vL99CJktNTeGnpkr6y6L0yEXFBtIrUEvfPuxg_AwuvJksyki8LzHMANK7b7RVEbxeEe1li1_H8PiTb0/w640-h426/Red-necked%20Stint%20web-1967.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Knot and Red-necked Stint.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next morning the tide was a little too high but I did manage an Asian Dowitcher, a rarity for the area. One group of birds included Curlew Sandpipers, one Far Eastern Curlew, a Terek Sandpiper, Grey-tailed Tatlers, Common Sandpipers, Red-necked Stints, two Red Knots, a dozen Great Knots and a few Bar-tailed Godwits, that was until a selfish dog owner flushed the flock. The remaining birds on the beach had included Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, a Wandering Tatler and few Little Terns.</div><div><br /><div><p style="text-align: center;"> I thanked the dog owner for her lack of consideration for which I duly received an Aussie finger. That was the end of the shorebirds until the next tide. The sky was heavily overcast and the morning light dismal but a few birds were stirring in the palm trees that lined the Esplanade. Yellow and Varied Honeyeaters and a distant view of a Superb Fruit-Dove rounded out the session. The sun came out.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExqWWSrxlZ4cpZ8yfxdqEj9wjl5bjo2ZXCQbPANneLrAUVpU13jjEnb5T773b4GlYGwAbas2BFog2ZLlJlisKNloR4S3ptc6XXLTtTWBMSXnjK3tQqj5bvm_bryVrxpS6JoLhPZ7w08FUhus6NlQpEfGR8_xKC9xD6KElN_jfbwxMTmBh1Be9MTgx/s720/Varied%20Honeyeater%20web-2331.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhExqWWSrxlZ4cpZ8yfxdqEj9wjl5bjo2ZXCQbPANneLrAUVpU13jjEnb5T773b4GlYGwAbas2BFog2ZLlJlisKNloR4S3ptc6XXLTtTWBMSXnjK3tQqj5bvm_bryVrxpS6JoLhPZ7w08FUhus6NlQpEfGR8_xKC9xD6KElN_jfbwxMTmBh1Be9MTgx/w640-h426/Varied%20Honeyeater%20web-2331.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Varied Honeyeater. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJfpb-uHP6kpzoZ3otWk0FXfxQEp1AMov1YFnFilxCSdo4IpEegXIEQH34Jm7fB7DyR0I4x7WfXviJ00BbVtv_FuneUUHFpFEUbdf1w09O8PFMTyaqX-D6jm8HwvA-YtZKq1CpBLriRjhbPiR4lbDC52-Tqy82M9LYXxmA9B3lZ-IJ8bTnOCCASec/s720/Superb%20Fruit%20Dove%20web-2016.jpg.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJfpb-uHP6kpzoZ3otWk0FXfxQEp1AMov1YFnFilxCSdo4IpEegXIEQH34Jm7fB7DyR0I4x7WfXviJ00BbVtv_FuneUUHFpFEUbdf1w09O8PFMTyaqX-D6jm8HwvA-YtZKq1CpBLriRjhbPiR4lbDC52-Tqy82M9LYXxmA9B3lZ-IJ8bTnOCCASec/w640-h426/Superb%20Fruit%20Dove%20web-2016.jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superb Fruit-Dove.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> I headed for a coffee. A sliver of rocky foreshore provided glimpses of Pacific Reef Heron and Black-necked Stork. A White-breasted Woodswallow was hawking insects. The life list was growing as was my appetite.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTi41Q4jMGGyesONODs6_dV0NT0zfGg4GjT8M9UYtvAHGfn5UP8AP63XmaF_gaP6ez-Aaxe6E5vDo8WJXi1LOwzi6vzNxw-dUUXWMwF-zH4LCJDbfNYh3b2F9jF80TPqGMli4zlHJ0gcAFQbycG_cH12DYcdOduReoyS0YxpfGHxaWLjk2Bflmb9dy/s720/Black-necked%20Stork%20web-2115.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTi41Q4jMGGyesONODs6_dV0NT0zfGg4GjT8M9UYtvAHGfn5UP8AP63XmaF_gaP6ez-Aaxe6E5vDo8WJXi1LOwzi6vzNxw-dUUXWMwF-zH4LCJDbfNYh3b2F9jF80TPqGMli4zlHJ0gcAFQbycG_cH12DYcdOduReoyS0YxpfGHxaWLjk2Bflmb9dy/w266-h400/Black-necked%20Stork%20web-2115.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-necked Stork.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">After breakfast we both headed to the </span><a href="https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/experience-cairns/botanic-gardens/garden-areas" style="text-align: left;">Cairns Botanical Gardens</a><span style="text-align: left;">. The gardens were a welcome break from the bustle of the Esplanade. First up was the strange looking Orange-Footed Megapode, numerous Australian Brush Turkeys, Rainbow Bee-eaters and a Varied Triller, After picking up our new camper we headed to the the outskirts of Cairns. The first birds we saw were a pair of Bush Thick-knees in a suburban park, another lifer. They were content to sit still on the ground or just freeze mid-stride like a bittern. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7IIi32iddDvJvIjyYFQaHuvVQeHxHOWsiwv7boXXYO59XPSrx8F3FbzDl88CRnHHFMXnyWPQoko4C9lNyRmvv6lVmxPwjsI2Oqookaj87UPE3xcyQlYhVQ_BN0HzVwhDiQBZ6vmXFHCZflylqj3aF1xjFOUi1j21h8XaF7wPBVpWzeSbQF6gcKSl/s720/Bush%20Stone%20Curlew%20web-2212.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7IIi32iddDvJvIjyYFQaHuvVQeHxHOWsiwv7boXXYO59XPSrx8F3FbzDl88CRnHHFMXnyWPQoko4C9lNyRmvv6lVmxPwjsI2Oqookaj87UPE3xcyQlYhVQ_BN0HzVwhDiQBZ6vmXFHCZflylqj3aF1xjFOUi1j21h8XaF7wPBVpWzeSbQF6gcKSl/w640-h426/Bush%20Stone%20Curlew%20web-2212.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bush Thick nee</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;">Soon it was time to leave Cairns but not before noticing a flock of House Sparrows picking bugs off the grill of a 4x4, a behavior. I hadn't seen them do anywhere else on my world travels, be it Churchill Manitoba or Kathmandu. It was time to leave the coast and take the steep and windy road to the cooler climes of the Atherton Tablelands. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Our first stop was <a href="https://www.australia.com/en/places/cairns-and-surrounds/guide-to-kuranda.html">Kuranda</a> for local information. We spent a few hours at the Rainforest Nature Park checking out critters (mostly nocturnal) we might not see in our travels. Around the parking lot I picked-up a Silvereye, Barred Cuckoo-shrike, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Spotted Catbird and a Forest Kingfisher before heading to the Billabong Campground for the night.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5tQaJgqArJih7onsIMSGzNF5_951R8Ytiwo9Ak5VIgoyOsylTSCvKfU__OTTiy7U7xxG0LRgFuAqh3Ffvh8brzvthTVrGl1qi2tcp09wGYx-COTOxn0gUADbyeLKFwMCUU3sJMmryKnucKirQ863ilHdD22jSQvARideC8MCHC5iXO_0SlfpUKjr/s720/Silvereye-2437.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5tQaJgqArJih7onsIMSGzNF5_951R8Ytiwo9Ak5VIgoyOsylTSCvKfU__OTTiy7U7xxG0LRgFuAqh3Ffvh8brzvthTVrGl1qi2tcp09wGYx-COTOxn0gUADbyeLKFwMCUU3sJMmryKnucKirQ863ilHdD22jSQvARideC8MCHC5iXO_0SlfpUKjr/w640-h426/Silvereye-2437.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silvereye</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;">After a long day we settled into <a href="https://www.thebillabong.com.au/camping">Billabong Campground</a> for the evening. It was one of the few paid campsites we used but proved to be well worth it. Daybreak couldn't come soon enough. The birds were our alarm clock and at 5 a.m. I was awake, my other half still in dreamland.</p><p style="text-align: center;"> The first lifer of the morning was a Victoria's Riflebird followed by an Olive-sided Sunbird, Leaden Flycatcher, Scarlet and Dusky Myzomela, Black-faced Monarch, Northern Fantail and a great selection of honeyeaters including Macleay's, White-throated, Brown, Cryptic and Brown-backed. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9Bp5A-3A3M3KG2JcuBsA3-nI_Onrc0JWHsP6Y68sI2WpO3qq00VHTHHVXxuuVi60G57561LpYra56oBwhQWttx49afjcIDWyENAAcHk4hRz24KvkBNPE0QWQ7Rg95qyTxRWS9nZxKlJXl0nanpBp2mxsdgycmiqt0bys6-NnRUzbx7BF1qB33WOu/s720/%20Macleay's%20Honeyeater%20web-2678.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9Bp5A-3A3M3KG2JcuBsA3-nI_Onrc0JWHsP6Y68sI2WpO3qq00VHTHHVXxuuVi60G57561LpYra56oBwhQWttx49afjcIDWyENAAcHk4hRz24KvkBNPE0QWQ7Rg95qyTxRWS9nZxKlJXl0nanpBp2mxsdgycmiqt0bys6-NnRUzbx7BF1qB33WOu/w640-h426/%20Macleay's%20Honeyeater%20web-2678.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Macleay's Honeyeater.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;">What a morning and those were just a few of the birds noted! High above the campground on a rocky outcrop I watched a flock of Scaly-breasted Lorikeets feeding on termites. The sunrise quickly followed.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34EHnEa8fpas8_DSG-JGWyu-D0Y1VY8sX2XRLZea81mDGyRlWvFZAaJtzLbkJ_wfMJtuwv66JV7iimn9e3zJuhDLH-0qD7ALdlQwFYLj0uEkiD1BryFW0jxUKrSnPFyRPMaeV_JUHNB14jR5drtcHbxb0bpKQbZIByn90lIVVO6Ci7eTQR5fsd2fi/s720/Scaley-breasted%20Lorikeet%20web-2830.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34EHnEa8fpas8_DSG-JGWyu-D0Y1VY8sX2XRLZea81mDGyRlWvFZAaJtzLbkJ_wfMJtuwv66JV7iimn9e3zJuhDLH-0qD7ALdlQwFYLj0uEkiD1BryFW0jxUKrSnPFyRPMaeV_JUHNB14jR5drtcHbxb0bpKQbZIByn90lIVVO6Ci7eTQR5fsd2fi/w640-h426/Scaley-breasted%20Lorikeet%20web-2830.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scaly-breasted Lorikeets</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Soon it was time to leave the rainforest and head into the drier Savannah habitat of the Atherton Tablelands proper. Over the next two weeks we drove back to Brisbane passing through picturesque villages and towns, met some colourful characters and stayed at some wonderful campsites. I suggest downloading the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.com.angryrobot.wikicamps&gl=US&pli=1">WikiCamps</a> which outlines all free and paid campsites on your route. We found the free campsites to have better birding as they were often in undeveloped areas while the paid campsites were often a little too groomed. On the flip side the latter had showers and were sometimes the only option to bird certain hotspots like <a href="https://oreillys.com.au">Oreilly's Rainforest Retreat</a> which I will be featured in the last of the Australia blogs.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOqAS1cIJDxukpeQ0L4cICH7ylLCKIDZNswspJ7gvGrHKVNV4p102xmUi0TG1QYF3y9frdZ1NkkF9a_bHWZnCS4B6TE593N3e36XLGRq5XzWoDW0fO8tvIoeSxz-r_fOLHVhBhGif3MdyEWcbbzoXQYZKGgQ4vDkJj-nUzgVndBV8E4qllRmzdJWq/s720/Spotted%20Catbird%20web-2527.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOqAS1cIJDxukpeQ0L4cICH7ylLCKIDZNswspJ7gvGrHKVNV4p102xmUi0TG1QYF3y9frdZ1NkkF9a_bHWZnCS4B6TE593N3e36XLGRq5XzWoDW0fO8tvIoeSxz-r_fOLHVhBhGif3MdyEWcbbzoXQYZKGgQ4vDkJj-nUzgVndBV8E4qllRmzdJWq/w640-h426/Spotted%20Catbird%20web-2527.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted Catbird</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFd1UJ2bP4gOb5Kc5mzcii92SycshiSpj_FvLelnVrAz3tZvTjolv3rNik9ZK_knAYsKepBwHfNE9UKncMOuaIs92AjhsAZ8hegQbaMC1IJUiMOm14Yfd5Gvec_Axl7Y4NA6fNYDpgn8rwPgmFpIlWdTg4A95hIRklIKeKdB_LaZQDqEaxXcpWGtz0/s720/Red-browed%20Finch%20web-6172.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFd1UJ2bP4gOb5Kc5mzcii92SycshiSpj_FvLelnVrAz3tZvTjolv3rNik9ZK_knAYsKepBwHfNE9UKncMOuaIs92AjhsAZ8hegQbaMC1IJUiMOm14Yfd5Gvec_Axl7Y4NA6fNYDpgn8rwPgmFpIlWdTg4A95hIRklIKeKdB_LaZQDqEaxXcpWGtz0/w640-h426/Red-browed%20Finch%20web-6172.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-browed Finch</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;">The <a href="https://www.athertontablelands.com.au/bird-watching-on-the-atherton-tablelands/">AthertonTablelands</a> had it all. Big skies and red dirt farmland dotted with lakes and swamps, some of which were impassable due to flooding. Recently tilled fields provided ample food sources for the large flocks of Red-tailed Black Cockatoos and Sarus Cranes. Finches fed on the wild grasses that were lining the ditches.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1Jso8iuIuv0kzI9Clt07RuvthcRm19R02eHT8eJN3K2MkgdAvVM-D4Z8XNHihnr403HUaILp4ZvUE8wg-iNXdBxTsVp72FfjVAtcdq4j-xXGinds2g5btkenhgd9ifw7Mx66HHVgAiyYcC_gI10yQ-yI0ItBmHLzRn3QK5RAK7y4e5EPxkGT8odJ/s720/Red-tailed%20Black-Cockatoo%20web-2906.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1Jso8iuIuv0kzI9Clt07RuvthcRm19R02eHT8eJN3K2MkgdAvVM-D4Z8XNHihnr403HUaILp4ZvUE8wg-iNXdBxTsVp72FfjVAtcdq4j-xXGinds2g5btkenhgd9ifw7Mx66HHVgAiyYcC_gI10yQ-yI0ItBmHLzRn3QK5RAK7y4e5EPxkGT8odJ/w640-h426/Red-tailed%20Black-Cockatoo%20web-2906.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-tailed Black Cockatoo</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;">Overhead Whistling, Black and Brahminy Kites rode thermals. Keeping one's eyes on the road was a challenge as the birds swept overhead. We always made a point of stopping for the night well before dusk so as not to encounter kangaroos and wallabies. Lizards sunning on the road were particularly vulnerable.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlqdxLI35BKSF8iItQKBajiGmM1Bxmte7R--DBSsDpPbUo1gfXrYe0bM3Si38PZtCy7m6ub5BJy8vAPlHnFVN3WsP2-a5JoRf9WGhtJJB8VsatbUu8a85pIj7iQv7OTcimy5wkUlPknJleVvfWIkm5RD8QqggY8bFrJCJJN0hNb_JBWSJl282VY4y/s720/Brahminy%20Kite%20web-4328.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlqdxLI35BKSF8iItQKBajiGmM1Bxmte7R--DBSsDpPbUo1gfXrYe0bM3Si38PZtCy7m6ub5BJy8vAPlHnFVN3WsP2-a5JoRf9WGhtJJB8VsatbUu8a85pIj7iQv7OTcimy5wkUlPknJleVvfWIkm5RD8QqggY8bFrJCJJN0hNb_JBWSJl282VY4y/w640-h426/Brahminy%20Kite%20web-4328.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brahminy Kite<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4g_MD51LhwzjJQFJCVoQYQPQUSsj1unCcfXu8WO2YlV-5jxg9h4IUquIrMXta4_Gpa0uT1QCXTfRwM6IT2E76TFleyUdHEuuG-F0KfuU1h4bq0OkL3c_zKjsA_L5kxXe6Ol3jDK6Br0xOstt0Mn3XKf2eC1tAvpBQGWq-wgW3GNObC9fuvqsqAb34/s720/Whistling%20Kite-1428.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4g_MD51LhwzjJQFJCVoQYQPQUSsj1unCcfXu8WO2YlV-5jxg9h4IUquIrMXta4_Gpa0uT1QCXTfRwM6IT2E76TFleyUdHEuuG-F0KfuU1h4bq0OkL3c_zKjsA_L5kxXe6Ol3jDK6Br0xOstt0Mn3XKf2eC1tAvpBQGWq-wgW3GNObC9fuvqsqAb34/w640-h426/Whistling%20Kite-1428.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whistling Kite<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><span style="text-align: center;"> Hastie's Swamp was quieter than normal, the water much too high but it did produce a few lifers in the form of Dollarbird, Comb-crested Jacana and down the road at Curtain Fig National Park, an Atherton Scrubwren, a real skulker. </span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-gf7PS1RpoSyeTVOmzUpxQYdzb4ddPHGi0gDI8EExR_xVK4uZKCY4jCpSvT5L2jtJCWnPcm-sNhZvePiwJk3f0e0oqUuQq8NqZBvQ4uradb2n-ha71rUwlgMUTIuej83b4GaKThA73BDT1eZ3VB8Kz9SSI-gGOzT6ZAhcDElgPsAOaxvugVAtoCX/s720/Dollarbird%20web-3722.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-gf7PS1RpoSyeTVOmzUpxQYdzb4ddPHGi0gDI8EExR_xVK4uZKCY4jCpSvT5L2jtJCWnPcm-sNhZvePiwJk3f0e0oqUuQq8NqZBvQ4uradb2n-ha71rUwlgMUTIuej83b4GaKThA73BDT1eZ3VB8Kz9SSI-gGOzT6ZAhcDElgPsAOaxvugVAtoCX/w266-h400/Dollarbird%20web-3722.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dollarbird</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: center;"><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RPtDBq7hJoz5Cufex-fKGN3dJbZevhkopB1eoh2Zx8GlGyrLFJ_k84-RQ_fjCTV4AM1HydNP_wTTEI9KfdkvKoq7encqJ5pYEZnMDH6LvCq69EiFnBwpy-ahZCSru1QWMHKXyUrGrajbdZF8_6wsNPtV3Hf46YAvbVdsgkSqrlEZIVwb1uGX2V8x/s720/Comb-crested%20Jacana%20web-4345.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RPtDBq7hJoz5Cufex-fKGN3dJbZevhkopB1eoh2Zx8GlGyrLFJ_k84-RQ_fjCTV4AM1HydNP_wTTEI9KfdkvKoq7encqJ5pYEZnMDH6LvCq69EiFnBwpy-ahZCSru1QWMHKXyUrGrajbdZF8_6wsNPtV3Hf46YAvbVdsgkSqrlEZIVwb1uGX2V8x/w640-h426/Comb-crested%20Jacana%20web-4345.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comb-crested Jacana</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p style="text-align: center;">****</p><p style="text-align: center;">We headed south for the coast and <a href="https://www.weseektravel.com/etty-bay-cassowary/">Etty Bay</a> where we hoped to spot a Southern Cassowary. On the way we met quite a number of Brits and Canadians, mostly young people who had made the leap across the pond. Australia seems to have it all, especially if you enjoy the outdoors.</p><p style="text-align: center;">On the first day, the Cassowary was a no show so we booked a second night and kept hoping. A large track of forest that borders the ocean has been set aside just for the giant birds. Loss of habitat is the main threat to the species, road kill and dogs another. There are no trails in the forest so the only hope is if a bird comes down to the beach to feed.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDDTWJR-uYaM8rMxnSqerJcrJE4R82iGJwQRxZK93f_PYxTtEW566aMc2fY9npc7q-6_3xP46--o0I80n2MlTx_O8DybtgQmHZ8vQPGoEnxjufTR8YN9pI9JSRmZsBJo9dSdwjI3tNVKJQJO6WzAYoH0nITE7WgVBWsO4bi_W3tzFU_DTNPr4Yacn/s720/Southern%20Cassowary%20web-3225.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDDTWJR-uYaM8rMxnSqerJcrJE4R82iGJwQRxZK93f_PYxTtEW566aMc2fY9npc7q-6_3xP46--o0I80n2MlTx_O8DybtgQmHZ8vQPGoEnxjufTR8YN9pI9JSRmZsBJo9dSdwjI3tNVKJQJO6WzAYoH0nITE7WgVBWsO4bi_W3tzFU_DTNPr4Yacn/w426-h640/Southern%20Cassowary%20web-3225.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were plenty of warning signs. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Finally on day two we were in luck. Cassowaries are big birds. The height is normally 1.5 to 1.8 m (4.9–5.9 ft); females average 58.5 kg (129 lb), while males average 29 to 34 kg (64–75 lb) and when one walked out of the forest and on to the beach everyone had the cameras and phones out to record the sight. I grabbed my camera but with a 500mm lens had trouble fitting the huge bird into the frame so I ended up using a point and shoot with a zoom lens. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPX9Uz_Yh5fM3JwRdIpbgNKQ4vqPchdwXT4fkY-VdYl0Uh20_1n-6ZFyLVUL1wBQwxxX-L58UUcqIQq4lndJo8an74Qd5r0xT-DlEacE9L-GvHsTwbf7u7_vIuUSaj4lJCT44KzR7DURvQscRK1nY6Y-4FfORBUu22kqCkN8PitTVaM8UyCW-Uxyx/s720/Southern%20Cassowary%20web-3250.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPX9Uz_Yh5fM3JwRdIpbgNKQ4vqPchdwXT4fkY-VdYl0Uh20_1n-6ZFyLVUL1wBQwxxX-L58UUcqIQq4lndJo8an74Qd5r0xT-DlEacE9L-GvHsTwbf7u7_vIuUSaj4lJCT44KzR7DURvQscRK1nY6Y-4FfORBUu22kqCkN8PitTVaM8UyCW-Uxyx/w640-h426/Southern%20Cassowary%20web-3250.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">A second bird appeared and wandered into the campground which is where Sandee, my wife, had a close encounter of sorts. Later she told me that while reading her book she felt a puff of wind on her neck, a burp she thought, turning around she was more than surprised to find herself face to face with a Cassowary. Eventually the bird moved on. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFKgsSQbff9wBySlOi6cM96bE_qhtF4kzQi1xMLWg1leCiX09nPMF4KrAQvbz_gzyAHxQLYvfRksPust6-bhrKanbezTT3uYnOU_YNew0nt_K_64MiF83CCglZ3ugJ31OgcJyaa3j21KHZzjaLsof_10qw_0riVWlxH6n6Svfhszv0YTSILzY7585/s720/Southern%20Cassowary%20web-3645.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFKgsSQbff9wBySlOi6cM96bE_qhtF4kzQi1xMLWg1leCiX09nPMF4KrAQvbz_gzyAHxQLYvfRksPust6-bhrKanbezTT3uYnOU_YNew0nt_K_64MiF83CCglZ3ugJ31OgcJyaa3j21KHZzjaLsof_10qw_0riVWlxH6n6Svfhszv0YTSILzY7585/w640-h426/Southern%20Cassowary%20web-3645.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Southern Cassowary searches for fruits washed onto the beach.</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br />Etty Bay to Gumlu</h3><p>Dairy Entry;</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>It's so hot and humid, the ocean was warm, no crocs or stinging jellyfish to contend with but I stupidly got sunburnt. After Etty Bay we drove toward Townsville. stayed in another free campsite, heard the most unusual and loud bird calls, </i><i>beautiful sunset, </i><i>rained at night. Some new birds but too tired to check the bird guide. Must get a decent nights sleep for a long drive tomorrow. The side winds off the ocean could easily send the van off course, the sugar cane trucks barrelling past us to keep us on our toes. Sandee doesn't want to drive in case she hits a roo. She becomes designated bird spotter.</i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfU7-Az6x_tHsihLZzTbxgnB3vlWrwHkpaXEIBdM2_4sUYzbvbIpuDahh7RYDuJ5yN6qN2CFdGzVPSlorJFhmnuyirUizkrWxhshiszERTDpFvEYq1mmNS5ftuYagFOG6cM1sdxrhwOsHJsscW3G73TG5XNW0AoXH6yxjD57rItDxtMfOLH77qw9Y/s5568/Scenery%20Central%20Queensland%20web-4232.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfU7-Az6x_tHsihLZzTbxgnB3vlWrwHkpaXEIBdM2_4sUYzbvbIpuDahh7RYDuJ5yN6qN2CFdGzVPSlorJFhmnuyirUizkrWxhshiszERTDpFvEYq1mmNS5ftuYagFOG6cM1sdxrhwOsHJsscW3G73TG5XNW0AoXH6yxjD57rItDxtMfOLH77qw9Y/w640-h426/Scenery%20Central%20Queensland%20web-4232.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Countryside around Gumlu. Cattle, sugarcane and vegetables were the main crops.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><br />At the end of the day we stop in Gumlu, pop 181. We are the only campers. The post office acts as liquor store, bar and restaurant and everything else for the surrounding farming community. Farms hands bring in watermelons and squash and leaves them for anyone who wants them. They leave with 48 packs of beer, thirsty work farming. We ate a delicious meal outdoors, swapped stories with locals and drank beer. Overhead a flock of Cockatiels passed close enough for a positive ID. They are known locally as Quarrybirds.<span style="text-align: left;"> Suddenly five </span>Whistling Kites appear out of nowhere feasting on a passing swarm of grasshoppers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOQl25uHEChIRcwYTK4w-hg7KzMao7ExRoXH1ZoGsZYII8Mkg6VcICQAt0da7oxgqaoWv5V4EsFH_BjohnibcNDSC2HzZzAYgLI18YmYx6g-xkADRIMIYVpeXSQPK3_xNiOZ_3PAvIa1WDbbbpH5SaULOviHO_Knn9F6qSelbADPcDtxlSLuIohCI/s720/Goanna%20web-3573.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOQl25uHEChIRcwYTK4w-hg7KzMao7ExRoXH1ZoGsZYII8Mkg6VcICQAt0da7oxgqaoWv5V4EsFH_BjohnibcNDSC2HzZzAYgLI18YmYx6g-xkADRIMIYVpeXSQPK3_xNiOZ_3PAvIa1WDbbbpH5SaULOviHO_Knn9F6qSelbADPcDtxlSLuIohCI/w640-h426/Goanna%20web-3573.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Goanna is one of twenty-five Australian monitor lizard species. Some like this one above can reach 2.5 m or eight feet. </td></tr></tbody></table><p> A refreshing wind picks up as the sun sets on another day in paradise. I have to pinch myself and wonder how fortunate we are to see all this. Next day in one rest area a Grey Kangaroo and its joey hop off into the undergrowth, I spooked them while stalking a bird.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUf94jZoAhwzaYYzTA1UGYCA3I15K_WG70kit2DgUY7tlJpMfXcxxkrwRTN7Y-8DvOsKLTjptu88zihBfjcp8Px0T7L4knGCKqSUKE4JYohm-3ZLhYstWEUQyFhbBpEtMIjdB6d6rXRZaxvQLdYWp7MtvdZvThesL6UlZB92WGTTJEwKBdcDGKty1h/s720/Grey%20Kangaroo%20and%20Joey%20web-1857.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUf94jZoAhwzaYYzTA1UGYCA3I15K_WG70kit2DgUY7tlJpMfXcxxkrwRTN7Y-8DvOsKLTjptu88zihBfjcp8Px0T7L4knGCKqSUKE4JYohm-3ZLhYstWEUQyFhbBpEtMIjdB6d6rXRZaxvQLdYWp7MtvdZvThesL6UlZB92WGTTJEwKBdcDGKty1h/w426-h640/Grey%20Kangaroo%20and%20Joey%20web-1857.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey Kangaroo and her joey.</td></tr></tbody></table></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div><p style="text-align: center;">The trip down to Hervey Bay, pronounced Harvey was a long, hundred mile plus drive. "I used to think ten miles was a long way when I grew up in the UK." We met Andrew and Cliff, who we met through the Ap <i>Birding Pals</i>, who were to be our hosts. I had phoned them on an off chance. I'm glad I did. A couple, they told us about their aboriginal heritage and mixed blood. Eugenics Australia style, they called it. There are always two sides to a story and we were happy to listen. Australia and Canada have much in common when it come to the treatment of Aboriginal and First Nations. We both learnt a lot and have continue to read up on the history of Australia. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8h9tevk_ih0o0PyB7KfbP05x05YYUX2S62JaikMqDKHzMC7EYsMNKcrYxGvx-sTCD_L9tmans5dNAVpOrJD3ZEwN2mJ769ULxy8PWtdEqgXCEDTapdRT-1keM-GTl1T8eBfWhYhvNNYzGR_yvuzH5P03zbNiMuw5M_pzca_y3v_ELnq111TI6Tsi/s720/Suphur-Crested%20Cockatoo%20web-4736.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8h9tevk_ih0o0PyB7KfbP05x05YYUX2S62JaikMqDKHzMC7EYsMNKcrYxGvx-sTCD_L9tmans5dNAVpOrJD3ZEwN2mJ769ULxy8PWtdEqgXCEDTapdRT-1keM-GTl1T8eBfWhYhvNNYzGR_yvuzH5P03zbNiMuw5M_pzca_y3v_ELnq111TI6Tsi/w640-h426/Suphur-Crested%20Cockatoo%20web-4736.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sulphur-crested Cockatoo comes to the feeder.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;">Years ago they two bought a property and are letting it return to nature. Their house is surrounded by a small forest. There were feeders everywhere, a resident python hangs around waiting for a hapless parrot or rodent. Eventually as they age, the house will be entwined and return to the earth. It was an honour to spent a brief time with such hospitable people. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUb5Hm3E_75Hkw6M7p0mIlgLIjT_O9ECCrDh-t_XXKKwMSO2RvTAeDQPBePiDLsv-1rfsx8_mUhocCVwJFy4wFilEpRQz-zmMeDi8pFUPTE1mnS-moBbPrwNDUy26jx5flyqCV_HeANaRPY3QYLnO9OyBSErqzOw_6LvpuAxP_t5jhDtg1i86zSAtf/s720/Pale-headed%20Rosella%20web-4776.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUb5Hm3E_75Hkw6M7p0mIlgLIjT_O9ECCrDh-t_XXKKwMSO2RvTAeDQPBePiDLsv-1rfsx8_mUhocCVwJFy4wFilEpRQz-zmMeDi8pFUPTE1mnS-moBbPrwNDUy26jx5flyqCV_HeANaRPY3QYLnO9OyBSErqzOw_6LvpuAxP_t5jhDtg1i86zSAtf/w640-h426/Pale-headed%20Rosella%20web-4776.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pale-headed Rosella.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><br />After a quick 'cuppa' we headed for Hervey Bay, our first stop was a nondescript field behind a mall. Amongst the few trees and sparse shrubs was a nesting Grey Butcherbird, although commorn, it was a lifer. The beach was a rare opportunity to see some shorebirds. First up a Striated Heron, Pied Cormorant, Lesser Crested and Common Tern, Ruddy Turnstone, Red-capped, Greater and Lesser Sand-Plovers and a Brown Booby. Across the road from the beach was a Flying Fox colony. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkooFp3ECmUcsmaBmVWnB3OFFceCJpIcVAqetmJN6PxR4CF8S-awqRDUTIda4dpEWjGEmtwbt8YvKGH6LtuByiBdlazPh4EtMjYZ8NVXQA70gzRHPJLV_qeNZjaj2zy-6rFx7I5bn72Uj-zZVhLwf1AlrmQFDipxtBPQcuVjtDOT_fzhn0jxF0K0k/s720/Black-flying%20Fox%20web-4989.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkooFp3ECmUcsmaBmVWnB3OFFceCJpIcVAqetmJN6PxR4CF8S-awqRDUTIda4dpEWjGEmtwbt8YvKGH6LtuByiBdlazPh4EtMjYZ8NVXQA70gzRHPJLV_qeNZjaj2zy-6rFx7I5bn72Uj-zZVhLwf1AlrmQFDipxtBPQcuVjtDOT_fzhn0jxF0K0k/w640-h426/Black-flying%20Fox%20web-4989.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Flying Fox or Black Fruit Bat among the largest bats in the world. <br />They eat fruits, pollen and nectar.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Back at the house we sat on the veranda and watched the birds. Again my 500mm lens was too long and I wished I had my 200-500. I can't remember how many times I have mentioned that in previous blogs but for travel the zoom is a better bet. A few were lifers including a Pale-faced Rosella, Spangled Drongo and a White-throated Gerygone, pronounced GERIGIONE, most new birders to Australia get it wrong and call it GERRYGONE as in Jerrygone.... It took me a while to get the pronunciation correct.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOvgd4c-nw65tqzaEnThDwlRZzjAVT6ecbl0ZfxISI6EicntNqQ00NVOUYWCHfhleKmBjMapya4cOUMnk78q7AHWfXkjRkCDANH-yNMmhIKujxrtT0OAyI3SGng19v2Pof-tGfN6121nGFlSDTiOqmlbOTcl--PkcFgDVjDVGFbRHrpUZuPC92_Rg/s720/White-throated%20Gerygone%20web-5322.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOvgd4c-nw65tqzaEnThDwlRZzjAVT6ecbl0ZfxISI6EicntNqQ00NVOUYWCHfhleKmBjMapya4cOUMnk78q7AHWfXkjRkCDANH-yNMmhIKujxrtT0OAyI3SGng19v2Pof-tGfN6121nGFlSDTiOqmlbOTcl--PkcFgDVjDVGFbRHrpUZuPC92_Rg/w426-h640/White-throated%20Gerygone%20web-5322.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-throated Gerygone</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The next few days we reached the coast and enjoyed a break from the driving. We stopped at Moomola National Park, another free campsite and I had a few more lifers including Rufous Fantail, and White-throated Treecreeper. It was beginning to feel like birding at home, same basic skillset. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The last night before hitting Brisbane and our next leg to Uluru was Bridle Island. There I had a Caspian Tern and Pied Oystercatcher. Finally it was time to say goodbye Hiatchi Van and a real bed for the next three days.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzNzc0p32TTbPGqLr0ppMya04Gt8aEdUdk0EsSpYwpxdBoBobzFCuBl8RldcxqXxIvGs-pJHb385Aar_FZ2Lsftky52tIYnokITNtZZx11mN4TZsTrZ8C8Pc3CFm6bIj3Q4EHpzADUijCCVbHBhprCWUodmAiw74AmSwdMlISlVQK40VVeAOj38kP/s720/Glasshouse%20Mountains%20NP-3394.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzNzc0p32TTbPGqLr0ppMya04Gt8aEdUdk0EsSpYwpxdBoBobzFCuBl8RldcxqXxIvGs-pJHb385Aar_FZ2Lsftky52tIYnokITNtZZx11mN4TZsTrZ8C8Pc3CFm6bIj3Q4EHpzADUijCCVbHBhprCWUodmAiw74AmSwdMlISlVQK40VVeAOj38kP/w640-h426/Glasshouse%20Mountains%20NP-3394.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Glass House Mountains just north of Brisbane attain a height of 490 m or 1600 ft.</td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> As we approached Brisbane the spectacular Glass House Mountains greeted us and offered us the opportunity to contemplate the past 17 days and how much we had seen and done. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOKCDLAl0sG9MsGpF5DUCt11K_J5ly2iPFUJvHc5LTuZzWOd9Oa8U-7ixtcG2TxdjLIJk3coMsVcq5lI-XBNZJq0LByeGvyJ7TCe7KJ8cZBhpoMI2JGr4tTqlDtlM1e4nDVH0B7mNVODzGJiiQw1kofMeLcUXYSLwz9rJlSMwHVKIjzJMTEz7h3W9/s720/Common%20Grass%20Yellow%20web-5277.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOKCDLAl0sG9MsGpF5DUCt11K_J5ly2iPFUJvHc5LTuZzWOd9Oa8U-7ixtcG2TxdjLIJk3coMsVcq5lI-XBNZJq0LByeGvyJ7TCe7KJ8cZBhpoMI2JGr4tTqlDtlM1e4nDVH0B7mNVODzGJiiQw1kofMeLcUXYSLwz9rJlSMwHVKIjzJMTEz7h3W9/w640-h426/Common%20Grass%20Yellow%20web-5277.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Grass Yellow.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;">Finally, when I saw the address we were going to stay at in Brisbane I knew our trip was meant to be. The address was #1 Birdie Place with cross street of Albatross Crescent, perfect but being bird brained it never occurred to me that we were staying next to a golf course. Finally it twigged, those are golf terms and have nothing to do with birds at all!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfMMgmX4ANTt3iNmW-nEtv4w1ul2hQVphC4aMTG9bYH-avXTvWhmJm1n5WuN0vvyGFZbo8HhwyzJ2oYnFX5KzF6ebjJrsRFc9NVbTpm-Vdl94aujHF4SdaKgjY8wIIHYepayqMbjCFjJn2KoEbJxQb2QHIkSCtGW14WeuB7uvlm00WUemcuFVjA8a/s720/Galah%20web-1682.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfMMgmX4ANTt3iNmW-nEtv4w1ul2hQVphC4aMTG9bYH-avXTvWhmJm1n5WuN0vvyGFZbo8HhwyzJ2oYnFX5KzF6ebjJrsRFc9NVbTpm-Vdl94aujHF4SdaKgjY8wIIHYepayqMbjCFjJn2KoEbJxQb2QHIkSCtGW14WeuB7uvlm00WUemcuFVjA8a/w640-h426/Galah%20web-1682.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pair of Galah</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;"> In the next and final Australia blog we fly to Uluru,</span><span style="text-align: center;"> formally know as Ayer's Rock,</span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">"It's never too late, MATE"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">John Gordon</div><div style="text-align: center;">Langley/Cloverdale</div><div style="text-align: center;">BC Canada</div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com0PRGJ+HX Beaufort QLD, Australia-23.2736086 146.8323803-51.51816753913225 111.67613030000001 4.9709503391322478 -178.0113697tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-85058676392483909232023-01-25T20:36:00.001-08:002023-01-25T20:36:18.740-08:00Birding New South Wales Part 1<h2 style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">New South Wales </div><div style="text-align: center;">Australia </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></h2><div style="text-align: center;">Flooded farmland, bridges washed away and roads closed, <span style="text-align: left;">not the Australia Sandee and I had read about or expected.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> Rural areas had been hardest hit, including major population centres including Sydney.</span> Historically Australia has always had bouts of drought, wildfires and floods. Following the devastating wildfires of 2019 the country was now in the third year of the <a href="https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/la-nina">La Nina</a> phenomenon, leaving many parts of the country wetter than normal.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINa4CQ_ypDdsyupw1JngqXX7w4ST-ofGZ69YWWxwDvItQuHWGckPzdnC9At1aD3c_9VtYuJczxuOIfIEuQ2_MDYvN-GzuaHCaQ28CDSjfzC9MIkSiJ2EwEmomXaG2HSQO8_aaF8rRTYBGwtxdNyvvbhTtruDpRkJqEDAtwZCi2P8GWy5qnmiV7lSx/s773/la-nina.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="773" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINa4CQ_ypDdsyupw1JngqXX7w4ST-ofGZ69YWWxwDvItQuHWGckPzdnC9At1aD3c_9VtYuJczxuOIfIEuQ2_MDYvN-GzuaHCaQ28CDSjfzC9MIkSiJ2EwEmomXaG2HSQO8_aaF8rRTYBGwtxdNyvvbhTtruDpRkJqEDAtwZCi2P8GWy5qnmiV7lSx/w640-h480/la-nina.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Nina (shown in red) enveloping Australia while New Zealand surrounded is mostly spared.<br /> (National Geographic)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJTbbLwK-EZCAzUNpi3K9dn7py26WTGJSsxVoP_skWofipJqjhBIr810NcXnytkFlv_4bZ-9GXTwAQ1iGqPjR502wN0r51F-YDBhfSHipC_hJB26y6P65hCVO8eKaFyih2hgm9QTDJHr8mGHYHtqHVpc3xWATCbUhIY0PTU6XYFRNoPtylJXWMuZ1/s600/Scenery%20NSW%20Strawback%20Ibis%20web-0962.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJTbbLwK-EZCAzUNpi3K9dn7py26WTGJSsxVoP_skWofipJqjhBIr810NcXnytkFlv_4bZ-9GXTwAQ1iGqPjR502wN0r51F-YDBhfSHipC_hJB26y6P65hCVO8eKaFyih2hgm9QTDJHr8mGHYHtqHVpc3xWATCbUhIY0PTU6XYFRNoPtylJXWMuZ1/s16000/Scenery%20NSW%20Strawback%20Ibis%20web-0962.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Straw-necked Ibis and Little Ravens scavenge along a flooded roadside. Birds that would normally congregate around waterholes were scattered everywhere making birding more challenging.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: center;">Day 1-3 Sydney NSW</h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: center;">Cumberland State Forest, Marayla, Bushel's Lagoon, Boongala Gardens and Windsor area.</h3><p style="text-align: center;">Our Australian trip began with three days of orientation in Sydney. Sandee and I took a tour of the city. At a windy Bondi Beach a large flock of shearwaters battled the way to an offshore island. They were too far away to tell the exact species.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDc_ndGMwcDOnaxFnGPAbQaDSkgXGYyJwCyPHv3HKNM6CFMTqVrqkGwAbily6B6wywYIR4iEpDq0r0NkdFn0v_f_4oSbi3V-PiyPdbqxHtiJ2CWrxwilox0PGu4nhk7isU5MGLcX0s2QkATtmMcDfJXF9xgyDPPN9L3QNKUojsnGIXu8SDx2f097N/s720/Magpie%20Lark%20web-9982.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDc_ndGMwcDOnaxFnGPAbQaDSkgXGYyJwCyPHv3HKNM6CFMTqVrqkGwAbily6B6wywYIR4iEpDq0r0NkdFn0v_f_4oSbi3V-PiyPdbqxHtiJ2CWrxwilox0PGu4nhk7isU5MGLcX0s2QkATtmMcDfJXF9xgyDPPN9L3QNKUojsnGIXu8SDx2f097N/w640-h426/Magpie%20Lark%20web-9982.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magpie Larks are common across the continent.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"> A short walk from the hotel an Australian White Ibis bathed in an ornamental fountain. They are known as 'bin chickens' or 'tip turkeys' due to their scavenging habits.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGORFz7G3CXj8E1nUemwnXEZHgtZFRN3HXGDNV57jJyI_Qc5jKllo6TEfokl0piqMZ2s1UcicUXIcgEqRZeesLbenmeK2rVJc1ofNU17nHbMO_yXMgB8FrVYLp_qlqkQlscUTo-AODVu4PBJGsx9h18vw8oO_yru7QsH15Ixe5AQVuDyPNe-q8U79D/s720/Bin%20Bird%20webIMG_5862%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGORFz7G3CXj8E1nUemwnXEZHgtZFRN3HXGDNV57jJyI_Qc5jKllo6TEfokl0piqMZ2s1UcicUXIcgEqRZeesLbenmeK2rVJc1ofNU17nHbMO_yXMgB8FrVYLp_qlqkQlscUTo-AODVu4PBJGsx9h18vw8oO_yru7QsH15Ixe5AQVuDyPNe-q8U79D/w426-h640/Bin%20Bird%20webIMG_5862%20(1).jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian White Ibis or 'Bin Chicken'.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;"> I thought the background of multiple spray nozzles made for an interesting juxtaposition. I used my iPhone 8 to capture the fleeting moment, Bin Chicken or not, the bird was the first lifer of the trip. Downtown offered a chance to bird the Sydney Botanical Garden where I picked up a dozen new species. A great way to shrug off jet lag. Most large centres had botanical gardens, Rockhampton and Coff's Harbour were some of the best.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2U8z21GrEwe-T3AkZHW0lHrOa41K-FX-iT87xQ3wOCToUFb1koEr1c9Pswv6_1l7KXHY6j16MdjyrBgf0iiI2qq2FROfvrSznHsnfAPT0fPovEgqGBRv2U03mefr5BDo5ts1aYVMffq6GaPGHuFMLNKPf8ya1SlEjs7HfMRDBtB0tER8qs58Vo_P/s600/Pacific%20Black%20Duck%20web-4488.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2U8z21GrEwe-T3AkZHW0lHrOa41K-FX-iT87xQ3wOCToUFb1koEr1c9Pswv6_1l7KXHY6j16MdjyrBgf0iiI2qq2FROfvrSznHsnfAPT0fPovEgqGBRv2U03mefr5BDo5ts1aYVMffq6GaPGHuFMLNKPf8ya1SlEjs7HfMRDBtB0tER8qs58Vo_P/w640-h426/Pacific%20Black%20Duck%20web-4488.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Black Ducks are found throughout Australia.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Sydney Natural History Museum (free admission) was the perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon, one hall was devoted to Australia birds, another to aboriginal history and culture. Both good primers for our upcoming adventure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On Day 3, while Sandee indulged in retail therapy I met up with <i>Birding Pal</i> Barry Lancaster who took myself and another birder out to Cumberland State Forest on the outskirts of Sydney.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> An early start made sure we had time to see parrots and cockatoos before they left their forest roosts to search for food in the surrounding orchards and farmland. The forest was full of birdsong and the ultimate skulker and vocalist, the Eastern Whipbird. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzRw5epKMcWjntQeRC65FvVMnWLmEYwXvcdQLViduMOJt7Al5kkl5FIfzvLfFk_fjvEXon538GiQtveBTcJKXWUZSt9ClXr_LOplyaep7ppPlKQ5A3JC-gVwIgxCzaehv7c1X6McvOSSWoE7zqxwMJsEKbe5bFbE5g6W6mBBE3WjnicYheBrWpkcL/s600/Eastern%20Whipbird%20web-6373.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzRw5epKMcWjntQeRC65FvVMnWLmEYwXvcdQLViduMOJt7Al5kkl5FIfzvLfFk_fjvEXon538GiQtveBTcJKXWUZSt9ClXr_LOplyaep7ppPlKQ5A3JC-gVwIgxCzaehv7c1X6McvOSSWoE7zqxwMJsEKbe5bFbE5g6W6mBBE3WjnicYheBrWpkcL/w640-h426/Eastern%20Whipbird%20web-6373.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Whipbird.</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> A colourful flock of Red-rumped Parrots feeding on a suburban lawn was another highlight. A ground feeder, small flocks are confined to south-eastern Australia.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">By the end of the day and with Barry's expert knowledge I had added sixty-six more lifers to my Aussie list. An introduced Eurasian Blackbird, House Sparrow, Rock Pigeon and Common Starling were Australian ticks. I couldn't have asked for a better start. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWJ7bPlUrH9QOKuwT2fFdxZeSqVQeRehVJj9eL0cG1ucZgRCLyILyYPODy-vbpP--ikMZ8ade5ypP7oqcU1VMH_6sa-xUm-M_ktU7i9-YZ6DQcwYAt6Vr-5QOd73gc2krfp4uVkw_5mOMFvTK_yNtkGzxSt9NV9iomFpc0w4euU5kD38wf1EBdnoo/s600/Red-rumped%20Parrot%20web-1263.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWJ7bPlUrH9QOKuwT2fFdxZeSqVQeRehVJj9eL0cG1ucZgRCLyILyYPODy-vbpP--ikMZ8ade5ypP7oqcU1VMH_6sa-xUm-M_ktU7i9-YZ6DQcwYAt6Vr-5QOd73gc2krfp4uVkw_5mOMFvTK_yNtkGzxSt9NV9iomFpc0w4euU5kD38wf1EBdnoo/w640-h426/Red-rumped%20Parrot%20web-1263.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Red-rumped Parrot on a garden fence.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9QxwkdJoorWTk_zCZJYffQH9UpW3_eAbpseCXxiGb18kBK9-VGcHfJ61Ciq2MfwaJLSoAtVcK4TagbitqJejkNA6VawgnvUWtkkuGD0XGY5bUIsO_c1QsNOOuEpmuFLtO0XwE-4mOgrbfSY36y00f0-bVxYOMiaSk8Eh29uqxGPFhlrFe2pp10DE/s720/White-faced%20Heron-1916.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9QxwkdJoorWTk_zCZJYffQH9UpW3_eAbpseCXxiGb18kBK9-VGcHfJ61Ciq2MfwaJLSoAtVcK4TagbitqJejkNA6VawgnvUWtkkuGD0XGY5bUIsO_c1QsNOOuEpmuFLtO0XwE-4mOgrbfSY36y00f0-bVxYOMiaSk8Eh29uqxGPFhlrFe2pp10DE/w640-h426/White-faced%20Heron-1916.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-faced Heron<br /> Sydney Olympic Park.</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: center;">Sept 26-Oct 3 2022</h3><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Day 4 we picked up our camper and headed south toward Goulburn and inland to Jugiong. There we met </span><span>Lyn Burden, another <i>Birding Pal</i> I had been corresponding with for months. Lyn had taken the trouble to make up a five day itinerary for us but due to inclement weather had decided to reverse the tour to avoid the rains. </span>Our destination, Lake Cargelligo was five hundred kms inland. We stayed at a combination of free and paid campsites. </p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAu15a-Lt57cn4n3iv4J0EDdGTP-L98S4P8YHPXDpck3MA8x4-mVyo2uyWz1v1ZTRYYnbyn8J9Kbhkcg68eSvpcXKWM0tjeIwuQWFx5TkAwYI0K5gSLbNbHC4iGS77JGZJa4SIQtY9CTTbiaGrxsiyYGubVAKE9Y3kkv0pX0Erai3Ucj2y9PMsXQhZ/s720/Double-barred%20Finch%20web-0210.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAu15a-Lt57cn4n3iv4J0EDdGTP-L98S4P8YHPXDpck3MA8x4-mVyo2uyWz1v1ZTRYYnbyn8J9Kbhkcg68eSvpcXKWM0tjeIwuQWFx5TkAwYI0K5gSLbNbHC4iGS77JGZJa4SIQtY9CTTbiaGrxsiyYGubVAKE9Y3kkv0pX0Erai3Ucj2y9PMsXQhZ/w640-h426/Double-barred%20Finch%20web-0210.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double-barred Finch.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;">We made numerous stops including Pioneer Park in Jugiong where Lyn found me a speckled Warbler. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbV7UpBimE1kZzDvh07IhO27lpQ4yiFwkGKGrYZLR17ip7rR_f2lH88w7oUG3-ibozZDs7enM1M7gJfYJh0yhludqzpqLyPqfXs1ATWMdz-mzU_zS-zsHTxjmLLTCYe8Pw5QMi4l0vZjBArqRbAbyZUVFyDyz8hTBYCtDsiA7kyxwJmOhoigo8xw8f/s720/Speckled%20Warbler%20web-0576.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbV7UpBimE1kZzDvh07IhO27lpQ4yiFwkGKGrYZLR17ip7rR_f2lH88w7oUG3-ibozZDs7enM1M7gJfYJh0yhludqzpqLyPqfXs1ATWMdz-mzU_zS-zsHTxjmLLTCYe8Pw5QMi4l0vZjBArqRbAbyZUVFyDyz8hTBYCtDsiA7kyxwJmOhoigo8xw8f/w640-h426/Speckled%20Warbler%20web-0576.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speckled Warbler.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;">Other stops included, Campbell's Swamp, Fivebough Wetlands, Hooey Road Lookout and Lake Wyanger where we picked-up White-winged Chough, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Nankeen Kestrel and Sacred Kingfisher. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrc2XRYQXAoW5DQ7C1OsikLqcvCJTt_bglkoUdxWY1sr2LiCHF4V7YJ0_WnrhAgiglRXqhYarx2n7dY64jPsjRKnKMZAXFMuF-edK8A_od4KGYeoTj47J9xx0Qb7kOvnFTG6LmfQYf1sT9sNnWjMjVP7BZOiClt_uSrSxJ64f5Y-b5dnNbR6LA2ewX/s720/Eastern%20Yellow%20Robin%20web-1212.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrc2XRYQXAoW5DQ7C1OsikLqcvCJTt_bglkoUdxWY1sr2LiCHF4V7YJ0_WnrhAgiglRXqhYarx2n7dY64jPsjRKnKMZAXFMuF-edK8A_od4KGYeoTj47J9xx0Qb7kOvnFTG6LmfQYf1sT9sNnWjMjVP7BZOiClt_uSrSxJ64f5Y-b5dnNbR6LA2ewX/w426-h640/Eastern%20Yellow%20Robin%20web-1212.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Yellow Robin</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;">The rains had made the roads treacherous with potholes everywhere, one of our planned campsites was even under water. Overall the free campsites offered the best birding opportunities</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEies-oFGXeKjEjXOyeySnV4s9Y6_IB-0J2uVpkBZxsVOq8Oy3HPpq3AuaAbpLJfinFj49yV0wmPYeR0jL_Bqh5FpxsNXAZvBiftXXqlFqJN9zYVxwp86orImKbJxJ5_T3Fb9k8DYxDFV_jwpTbipk_aGSQUp6MqIaazB0LNlXcxwsGgIZtetvVWEHny/s720/Black%20Swan%20web-1425.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEies-oFGXeKjEjXOyeySnV4s9Y6_IB-0J2uVpkBZxsVOq8Oy3HPpq3AuaAbpLJfinFj49yV0wmPYeR0jL_Bqh5FpxsNXAZvBiftXXqlFqJN9zYVxwp86orImKbJxJ5_T3Fb9k8DYxDFV_jwpTbipk_aGSQUp6MqIaazB0LNlXcxwsGgIZtetvVWEHny/w640-h426/Black%20Swan%20web-1425.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Swans take advantage of the recent rains</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;">At least we didn't have to deal with dusty roads which meant the camera was always out and ready to go. Later in the trip we had to drive through 14 kilometres of flooded roads to make our way back via the Blue Mountains to Sydney 600 kms to the East.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWkJKLKy6Sreg91HF_BUeaq722iGLlzOdQOD3v4DDYuFRnBSkcUMMmMYOE4mZ6HLBr8qoU0mh3yJFji4YyohxyFF6N8wABIuNw2M8wa3ahHgDAzTKPPA5MgEnqSd3TCDf1iFNKG0MyR_RPR3VPJclNLJYarW8z2mqhNttF_-YutQEL3-UJsAHYDCj/s720/White-breasted%20Woodswallow%20web%20-1403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWkJKLKy6Sreg91HF_BUeaq722iGLlzOdQOD3v4DDYuFRnBSkcUMMmMYOE4mZ6HLBr8qoU0mh3yJFji4YyohxyFF6N8wABIuNw2M8wa3ahHgDAzTKPPA5MgEnqSd3TCDf1iFNKG0MyR_RPR3VPJclNLJYarW8z2mqhNttF_-YutQEL3-UJsAHYDCj/w266-h400/White-breasted%20Woodswallow%20web%20-1403.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-breasted Woodswallow.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="text-align: center;">The wetlands, of which there were more than usual provided some good birds including Blue-billed Duck and Whiskered Tern. Soon I had photographed one hundred new species, way too many to list here. The scenery was spectacular, the rolling hills and thousands of sheep reminded us of Scotland and Wales. The economy and surrounding towns were all built around sheep and grain exports. We even had time to visit a shrine in honour of Don Bradman, the greatest cricketer of all time. That was a real treat.</span><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsL6ECVJYSXbtYp3jaJbxfO8F_mrYB-3z1r0VpJA0G0DkbNLrC_dTWaucVenMMz6a4U-y6xbOFEOd6gy87My_gOfPIuvs04vstoU3pRTgm4IwcU6rD2lBlkhB9SsLE4wpT0LBaAh0v7CpdXr1ugGau5MWagBkP0st0v-gu6Ubl__SeubvLLbuy2JX/s720/Grey%20Kangaroo%20web-1491.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsL6ECVJYSXbtYp3jaJbxfO8F_mrYB-3z1r0VpJA0G0DkbNLrC_dTWaucVenMMz6a4U-y6xbOFEOd6gy87My_gOfPIuvs04vstoU3pRTgm4IwcU6rD2lBlkhB9SsLE4wpT0LBaAh0v7CpdXr1ugGau5MWagBkP0st0v-gu6Ubl__SeubvLLbuy2JX/w640-h426/Grey%20Kangaroo%20web-1491.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Grey Kangaroo bounds across a watery landscape.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Birding can be dangerous as well as exhilarating. At one point while crossing a flooded roadway we felt our camper slide sideways and slip down stream before gripping the road and pulling us to safety. The whole incident still gives us goose bumps, something neither of us will ever forget. Something I would do differently should we return would be to hire a 4x4 Utility or UTE with tent on top rather than a camper van. A number of National Parks were totally unsuitable for our vehicle.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmNTsyLZ_K8fJ1GMat-cmuPOGRI8wr5b_VuKEE6LPSAKWTTOoXTNjWYeRZrLbYJRBl1QBRAynLRLRkb7S7nC_pLpKNoGf285MkEPI35i1bfTAo2zEP55SoX6s7OWVxKADV7Tfb7S0OTbYVpuj8ig3qQRa5vA-OugLVygGC4Pq449Fz_v9A0kMHCoH/s1800/Crimson%20Rosella-6012.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmNTsyLZ_K8fJ1GMat-cmuPOGRI8wr5b_VuKEE6LPSAKWTTOoXTNjWYeRZrLbYJRBl1QBRAynLRLRkb7S7nC_pLpKNoGf285MkEPI35i1bfTAo2zEP55SoX6s7OWVxKADV7Tfb7S0OTbYVpuj8ig3qQRa5vA-OugLVygGC4Pq449Fz_v9A0kMHCoH/w426-h640/Crimson%20Rosella-6012.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crimson Rosella.</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: center;">Lake Cargelligo</h3><p style="text-align: center;">"You missed the Major Mitchell's Cockatoo" Sandee announces as I returned from an afternoon birding session. Sandee loves to tag along on trips and seems happy to take in the sights and sounds. She potters around doing whatever non-birders do. Wildlife feels comfortable around her, probably oblivious to her presence. Later over supper she describes the many 'red, white and yellow' birds that visited the campsite during my absence, from her descriptions probably Noisy Miners, Peaceful Doves, Sulphur Crested Cockatoos, Galahs and Australian Magpies, all birds comfortable around humans. There were others I could never quite figure out. They would come within inches of her, looking for handouts or perhaps just curious. On one occasion, so deep into her novel that an Australian Brush Turkey crept up and scratched her toe, drawing blood. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19Xp2Vntyiel89oPHblf1EVISYyZYmZWbYWUIqdAh1vM6zUMjTVOHq3vc8VzAwE6HqydwVHo5Hwx3t_7TmuFqRt1zZH4AF8eeoZYloAxQ2FNgM3c-KoPUSNX2brGXKKb5rd1fwDy5pFemJIgy61WxfG9LiYLMHmmLp966XoTUGNgELEBBRSpN2qmx/s600/Australian%20Brush%20Turkey%20web-2151.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19Xp2Vntyiel89oPHblf1EVISYyZYmZWbYWUIqdAh1vM6zUMjTVOHq3vc8VzAwE6HqydwVHo5Hwx3t_7TmuFqRt1zZH4AF8eeoZYloAxQ2FNgM3c-KoPUSNX2brGXKKb5rd1fwDy5pFemJIgy61WxfG9LiYLMHmmLp966XoTUGNgELEBBRSpN2qmx/w426-h640/Australian%20Brush%20Turkey%20web-2151.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Brush Turkey.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Then there were the lizards and giant centipedes, favourite prey for the Laughing Kookaburra. Fortunately we did not encounter any nasty spiders, scorpions and only one snake, a large Python that had wrapped itself around a tree at the base of the verandas few feet from our camper. It waited patiently to pounce on a hapless rodent or bird. It posed no risk to us, but at six feet long it was an imposing sight, especially in the dark and on our way to use the facilities. Creepy to say the least.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyE_3znoWx9bVemj9ABb7IcZFMKX8iAV26z3ppK5oO31aKe0xfOwE2YTP_6yZnK32Y0zXRZOueRSvLbKWVFn4PpJ-ry0EC943_w6caWCJya4Cs-6gFLpbTZhGCtPGYBXxX2luBmhkPVp70c8ulP7kwId9CDmxT6LxdC4IkGRgjwLepXmV21Btyx4Lr/s1800/Snake%20Bite%20IMG_6113.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyE_3znoWx9bVemj9ABb7IcZFMKX8iAV26z3ppK5oO31aKe0xfOwE2YTP_6yZnK32Y0zXRZOueRSvLbKWVFn4PpJ-ry0EC943_w6caWCJya4Cs-6gFLpbTZhGCtPGYBXxX2luBmhkPVp70c8ulP7kwId9CDmxT6LxdC4IkGRgjwLepXmV21Btyx4Lr/w640-h426/Snake%20Bite%20IMG_6113.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wear sturdy boots, stay out of long grass and keep to trails was good advice.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> Thanks to Lyn's keen eye and knowledge of birdsong every day provided a new set of birds. Equally interesting were encounters with kangaroo and lizards. The red earth that held the recent rains was especially vibrant, wildflowers covered the landscape, and the smell of the eucalypts was something else</div><div style="text-align: center;">. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyQOVRugpNVePpZeddXilhEui3ylweOpLVuzfwMoDOissLm0jK_kx08jHOolgnqFBJLPYHfAmtXTpnEu8rFCHL7ug2bbEnp-4Um2ioCF6bXyeOoWywSoQSr8uR2QDWrycV9zgO_zlAoPE94tdc6TdVhU1VUV7_DitUuBjlBOAd9tIqEZFufCKa5Ac/s720/Painted%20Button%20Quail%20web-0837.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyQOVRugpNVePpZeddXilhEui3ylweOpLVuzfwMoDOissLm0jK_kx08jHOolgnqFBJLPYHfAmtXTpnEu8rFCHL7ug2bbEnp-4Um2ioCF6bXyeOoWywSoQSr8uR2QDWrycV9zgO_zlAoPE94tdc6TdVhU1VUV7_DitUuBjlBOAd9tIqEZFufCKa5Ac/w640-h426/Painted%20Button%20Quail%20web-0837.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painted Button Quail in Nangar National Park.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Finally this was the Australia we had read about, far from the city and quite stunning. During one of our excursions Lyn spotted a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagle feeding on carrion, a few metres further on an Emu was browsing and a flock parrots flew overhead. Birdsong filled the air.</div></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOWWqzxa_CkHA50QPrNNbk411YHi-HmHoXAEaB6c-hhNop0fxiCLqI-K0Deo28q3PvvllapTXDI_1UpJwCDvjmdCYwJ1a0SuIy471GyHLLd9jIo1Gv48PBS8lP8OmOnBDVX-WQsXDhizdIgTQJ51jjPwu9imEBsHiS5i4FumPii7OBHV3ryYs5RvP/s720/Wedge-tailed%20Eagle%20web-0821.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOWWqzxa_CkHA50QPrNNbk411YHi-HmHoXAEaB6c-hhNop0fxiCLqI-K0Deo28q3PvvllapTXDI_1UpJwCDvjmdCYwJ1a0SuIy471GyHLLd9jIo1Gv48PBS8lP8OmOnBDVX-WQsXDhizdIgTQJ51jjPwu9imEBsHiS5i4FumPii7OBHV3ryYs5RvP/w640-h426/Wedge-tailed%20Eagle%20web-0821.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wedge-tailed Eagle.<br />Australia's largest bird of prey.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;"> After negotiating flooded roads we made our way back to Orange some five-hundred kms east of Sydney. At the botanical gardens in Orange I ran into a local birding group on their Sunday morning walk. They helped me pick-up two lifers, an Eastern Spinebill and a Spotted Pardalote.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mtW6ciMeDCssPW3JTs8S7sX9zlr27QEif7ZdnMzdJVjHDLW03u9AIRfN1GeaAAgoedS-C0Wwtb9ulKEcwvfn5CHEB_aPfr8gV2nZOZmespxa1GCMPzX333XG47p7YylB2NBaEWWRAmsv0Fjhri-o7Mg8AAyJaGWqasLMEMlHgNh7SbRlj_l6h4Jh/s720/Golden%20Whistler%20web-6485.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mtW6ciMeDCssPW3JTs8S7sX9zlr27QEif7ZdnMzdJVjHDLW03u9AIRfN1GeaAAgoedS-C0Wwtb9ulKEcwvfn5CHEB_aPfr8gV2nZOZmespxa1GCMPzX333XG47p7YylB2NBaEWWRAmsv0Fjhri-o7Mg8AAyJaGWqasLMEMlHgNh7SbRlj_l6h4Jh/w640-h426/Golden%20Whistler%20web-6485.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Whistler.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Time was running out for the first leg of our trip. A few days later we were in the famed Blue Mountains where we viewed a Wollemi Pine at the Blue Mountains Botanical Gardens. The Wollemi Pine is one of the world's oldest and rarest plants dating back to the time of the dinosaurs. With less than 100 adult trees known to exist in the wild, the Wollemi Pine is now the focus of extensive research to safeguard its survival. </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nY4AciDtwKxSVj39iggi3qQcrqbCkitk3iMaxq3Wv06W4qgA2ytUjXdRIXBkKn3bkbsegDbewNk7ix87Jf8tUFHzcRNS2PwADdgYsxDmxyjQZO6sZmbzcsw-faRi2mYBm0raOrMWLHV6IpNbWJb2zcnnnwW16eYbutBI0M6MS-vzCFAVT_c1j4XL/s720/Eastern%20Rosella%20web-1847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nY4AciDtwKxSVj39iggi3qQcrqbCkitk3iMaxq3Wv06W4qgA2ytUjXdRIXBkKn3bkbsegDbewNk7ix87Jf8tUFHzcRNS2PwADdgYsxDmxyjQZO6sZmbzcsw-faRi2mYBm0raOrMWLHV6IpNbWJb2zcnnnwW16eYbutBI0M6MS-vzCFAVT_c1j4XL/w640-h426/Eastern%20Rosella%20web-1847.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Rosella.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Part two will cover our trip from Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands and the seventeen hundred km drive south to Brisbane.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Part three will cover the Ulur or Ayer's Rock portion including the return journey from Brisbane back to Sydney.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Stay posted.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"It's never ever too late to say G'day"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">John Gordon</div><div style="text-align: center;">Langley/Cloverdale</div><div style="text-align: center;">BC Canada</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-4457414371045902762022-07-28T19:10:00.002-07:002022-07-29T21:58:13.274-07:00A non-birder goes birding<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Big Bar Ranch Birding </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> - June 24 to July 1, 2022</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Story by Tineke Goebertu</p><p style="text-align: center;">Photography John Gordon</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p>After a two year hiatus, Gareth’s Pugh's annual birding trip was on again …. and I was invited to join. Most participants are avid birders. I am a nature lover and enjoy a bird or two.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWyZLsuI1-rqAftsNWhDpQBb100oBxzeaLbVASBOgSkFvjrJ5tLfxZwuU67VSXjkR34-GI4COQXlBqi6hKSvZgVsDiANYU6eJrMXevSbU9ZCOgX8ERcb9CMlzF38m8C8u3ktIhtygJi66f7-ckNQu2K_7u7z1onqMDV-vzyJWf7bnYPPSPQL4FZOG/s720/Big%20Bar%20Scenery%20web%20DSCN2595.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWyZLsuI1-rqAftsNWhDpQBb100oBxzeaLbVASBOgSkFvjrJ5tLfxZwuU67VSXjkR34-GI4COQXlBqi6hKSvZgVsDiANYU6eJrMXevSbU9ZCOgX8ERcb9CMlzF38m8C8u3ktIhtygJi66f7-ckNQu2K_7u7z1onqMDV-vzyJWf7bnYPPSPQL4FZOG/w640-h426/Big%20Bar%20Scenery%20web%20DSCN2595.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Bar Ranch</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZN_P7Je-ZPhIzX5Te35yuvCKbzuqKNk3eub8W400BtpG5t-3CQHMXZsP1WXJTC5nA8RufyUXy-We9YbDeusFIlK7ENRgE38hTgDAmprILt16ezEXcL7PnUlv4DPLJuaeI1sLPFUkhycCrn-o0KplptXczzKDMkuoUd29tbJXUVGcQsYJMHGL_kMa/s720/Savannah%20Sparrow%20web-8729.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZN_P7Je-ZPhIzX5Te35yuvCKbzuqKNk3eub8W400BtpG5t-3CQHMXZsP1WXJTC5nA8RufyUXy-We9YbDeusFIlK7ENRgE38hTgDAmprILt16ezEXcL7PnUlv4DPLJuaeI1sLPFUkhycCrn-o0KplptXczzKDMkuoUd29tbJXUVGcQsYJMHGL_kMa/w640-h426/Savannah%20Sparrow%20web-8729.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Savannah Sparrow. <br />Dropping provide nutrients for the lichen.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGighy4vX6etcXeqZG47qUaxW5xGu90mBF2rhNQ5eKby10MCgKQ6NM-MUxBaA2TslZW3VQ6PCNHr4lxf2491gmUd3Oj18VKya110FGZb9l0fPasrAIvLhFvgSkIrTOE37bwEjUSc3hI-Uvcx9YUtZaWUBOkLGKUSNx_NiyN5QBcMlbB8tlfBRbBGlA/s720/LFN%20Big%20Bar%20Ranch%20Group%20web-8466.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGighy4vX6etcXeqZG47qUaxW5xGu90mBF2rhNQ5eKby10MCgKQ6NM-MUxBaA2TslZW3VQ6PCNHr4lxf2491gmUd3Oj18VKya110FGZb9l0fPasrAIvLhFvgSkIrTOE37bwEjUSc3hI-Uvcx9YUtZaWUBOkLGKUSNx_NiyN5QBcMlbB8tlfBRbBGlA/w640-h426/LFN%20Big%20Bar%20Ranch%20Group%20web-8466.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birders being chased by mosquitos.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWpryEdtV0oCTQztu40b-wZLizldqpdKAYZ8Rc13wJ0-hlTOYWg3ZXUAQz7m5i8zQmYEwxn4NirvMWniDaw1U8stLOaZ9RoK044QgDJn3ln3zF0bkN-VuhD4RHA5kwD7zeNKgSkkST7drG3DtYAE85meweG3_u2qZqC6lNj37vJbtusgakbDePfXc/s600/Dreamy%20Duskywing%20web-8087.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWpryEdtV0oCTQztu40b-wZLizldqpdKAYZ8Rc13wJ0-hlTOYWg3ZXUAQz7m5i8zQmYEwxn4NirvMWniDaw1U8stLOaZ9RoK044QgDJn3ln3zF0bkN-VuhD4RHA5kwD7zeNKgSkkST7drG3DtYAE85meweG3_u2qZqC6lNj37vJbtusgakbDePfXc/w640-h426/Dreamy%20Duskywing%20web-8087.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dreamy Duskywing.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;">The Big Bar Ranch is in the Cariboo between Clinton and the Fraser River; ranches, grasslands, lakes, and last but not least the dramatic Fraser Canyon. There was spectacular scenery all around.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Arriving at our cabin, we were welcomed by the Mountain Bluebirds and Cliff Swallows that were nesting right there. Amazing to see them so close-up sitting at our porch, a true birder’s cabin. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWTeif4M4hB-ndLe1hbMFzbVOYmYuVwRJ2CJ-xq8cz5DFWZBd4vAm1TaOgr0YM-PsW_4ZCdDT5z-g9dS5EP9WKeS9lqrit1ZES4gogKGvnJqVuyccQR_V8v3Ys16JmLdE1aUqts--Wv4VBYm6EUTyWCNBHoU5RlcyovHWgGxwQH0311xhA96jz9gQ/s720/Mountain%20Bluebird%20web-8271.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWTeif4M4hB-ndLe1hbMFzbVOYmYuVwRJ2CJ-xq8cz5DFWZBd4vAm1TaOgr0YM-PsW_4ZCdDT5z-g9dS5EP9WKeS9lqrit1ZES4gogKGvnJqVuyccQR_V8v3Ys16JmLdE1aUqts--Wv4VBYm6EUTyWCNBHoU5RlcyovHWgGxwQH0311xhA96jz9gQ/w640-h426/Mountain%20Bluebird%20web-8271.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain Bluebird were nesting in the cabin eaves.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;">After our first homemade dinner of chilli, the evening program was birding. All 9 of us jumped on board with our binoculars and went to a pond we had seen on the way up. As soon as we left our vehicle the mosquitos attacked us, and we were not prepared for them at all. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuV_M5eDHv5OBqWesFtg1LEqhSlTnFPthyiEbULKfSQ5F4SUoJ9E-brmCG1cCN9GF_Z9alY6LVJ1lMvMLN5qoXZMvidkLT2Oh8y8lSbdyzcXNvamA2FTi__-S4wZNP3DXNbkbSLnQwT_5dSpX5TcsnpcNXY5UzHS1B6xLvLjUT38tMu5MclODmxYF/s720/Sora%20web-8746.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuV_M5eDHv5OBqWesFtg1LEqhSlTnFPthyiEbULKfSQ5F4SUoJ9E-brmCG1cCN9GF_Z9alY6LVJ1lMvMLN5qoXZMvidkLT2Oh8y8lSbdyzcXNvamA2FTi__-S4wZNP3DXNbkbSLnQwT_5dSpX5TcsnpcNXY5UzHS1B6xLvLjUT38tMu5MclODmxYF/w640-h426/Sora%20web-8746.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were a pair of Sora and several thousand mosquitos at the pond. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;">Within 5 minutes we were all in the car again, and from then on, we made sure that we "Deet-ed" ourselves thoroughly. It was a M&M Memorable Mosquito trip, coming home I had more dead mosquito bodies on the inside of my windshield than on the outside.</p></blockquote><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvaBBtmflyJIx8lM1R61bGAUSt9qAE6HwuPDv8gFFAsa9QcZLBAHXpjyYBmRU6DBdWtlMRTr1t7fj8zAYPiZpxsgpsZn8c3gLkeeUlBhZcccmYZ6Up1ojJihzsoqPHM9jLPm9fFF1d5BCbXhSpEf1gvMfCQpY5IHFqIBNS5PPL2tJ6HJaHNz6ElsQ3/s720/Four-spotted%20Skimmer%20web-8430.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvaBBtmflyJIx8lM1R61bGAUSt9qAE6HwuPDv8gFFAsa9QcZLBAHXpjyYBmRU6DBdWtlMRTr1t7fj8zAYPiZpxsgpsZn8c3gLkeeUlBhZcccmYZ6Up1ojJihzsoqPHM9jLPm9fFF1d5BCbXhSpEf1gvMfCQpY5IHFqIBNS5PPL2tJ6HJaHNz6ElsQ3/w640-h426/Four-spotted%20Skimmer%20web-8430.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four-spotted Chaser.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;">This has been one of the very few trips I was not the first one up in the morning. Birders rise early, and birding happens from the early morning into the late evening (nightjar survey). After the first day of stop and go with our cars on a route of Gareth’s choosing, I was exhausted. </p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnaWfoNSjSbQlAK_epilSiFTjdrnra7ELmwwovinEqIVE3QDl3ZpYKJ38ySk8aj4eV2C2LpV-fLj9Z2YRIMocU9gmrqy2mP_chIb9rvD7dXztJu6nMV7CmuBoxFT7_O5kBMo9jUQw_CgNXppb6YFrsxkWqrR2b3mLOH9MZoYbk9jSKm1ozcXD9OMap/s720/Spotted%20Sandpiper%20web-8896.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnaWfoNSjSbQlAK_epilSiFTjdrnra7ELmwwovinEqIVE3QDl3ZpYKJ38ySk8aj4eV2C2LpV-fLj9Z2YRIMocU9gmrqy2mP_chIb9rvD7dXztJu6nMV7CmuBoxFT7_O5kBMo9jUQw_CgNXppb6YFrsxkWqrR2b3mLOH9MZoYbk9jSKm1ozcXD9OMap/w640-h426/Spotted%20Sandpiper%20web-8896.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted Sandpiper</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>A lot of bird species were recorded, and I enjoyed a “lifer” *of my own; the Few-flowered shootingstar. Big pockets of them. It has also been cooler and wetter than usual in this area, and we hit it right with the wildflowers. Together we tallied over a one hundred (plant) species, and in very large numbers.</p><p><br /></p><p>*Lifer as in a new plant.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixc5uysY0D_kRUY6YE1m4BQEPVZqesR5DGB__4OAee2cwmSK1VO-pGyrAM1tPB4Cjjc8eBmUpgALX8kN77JTdP7o6S6Xv2SCe9GotANNHKtZQC_HWkvaxoEdsl9JscfrVHbfyqGek_JgqAh2Ye9QkNDtlsY8VWdnLCHeRcSL1kgxPpAT8CSilCBHM0/s720/Cutleagf%20Amenome%20web-8431.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixc5uysY0D_kRUY6YE1m4BQEPVZqesR5DGB__4OAee2cwmSK1VO-pGyrAM1tPB4Cjjc8eBmUpgALX8kN77JTdP7o6S6Xv2SCe9GotANNHKtZQC_HWkvaxoEdsl9JscfrVHbfyqGek_JgqAh2Ye9QkNDtlsY8VWdnLCHeRcSL1kgxPpAT8CSilCBHM0/w266-h400/Cutleagf%20Amenome%20web-8431.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutleaf Anemone <br />(<span face="Inter, helvetica, arial, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; text-align: start;">Anemone multifida)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTGJUA0vzssni10jLq108h2wt_u_u97D8OUWGfKdeEzZgNyBKV8N04OiKV89zryzVkXbInSOxzsn1LEif-xpOwEwBSHFFR8Wz0xH4T7NwyDYJdYU6y5fDRvKpAXz-VrSp71Pyu7h55nV2Z2mHIP-8D6c4bpleP6qCiiqOeShL5dpq77eEUcPxtWvE/s720/Yellow-bellied%20Marmot%20web-8030.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTGJUA0vzssni10jLq108h2wt_u_u97D8OUWGfKdeEzZgNyBKV8N04OiKV89zryzVkXbInSOxzsn1LEif-xpOwEwBSHFFR8Wz0xH4T7NwyDYJdYU6y5fDRvKpAXz-VrSp71Pyu7h55nV2Z2mHIP-8D6c4bpleP6qCiiqOeShL5dpq77eEUcPxtWvE/w640-h426/Yellow-bellied%20Marmot%20web-8030.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-bellied Marmot pups</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Birders use a lot of gadgets, obviously binoculars, scopes, and cameras. But also, their phones to either let it record and tell you which birds it hears, or to play a bird call. In the evening, the many birding books were put to good use when the discussions got heated over the true identity of some birds. Consensus was always reached in the end.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuv-N1yxxIWYkq7OWFty5pPXjMsvb6G-gxpQZVhGBp0vgiVpT7KEG4dEF84lFGbfaaYHbakW21O_vkI8b6QzrWZYSwSNVywNwIMYHsgiXJsOPLwHwmFzDPprwFNTRSxJRAWspyoGJ6S0BdoGmDxb-ncqFjFC6XjldZ4fjV2mjpx3wcWajnGdjtsqvL/s720/Horned%20Grebe%20web-8568.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuv-N1yxxIWYkq7OWFty5pPXjMsvb6G-gxpQZVhGBp0vgiVpT7KEG4dEF84lFGbfaaYHbakW21O_vkI8b6QzrWZYSwSNVywNwIMYHsgiXJsOPLwHwmFzDPprwFNTRSxJRAWspyoGJ6S0BdoGmDxb-ncqFjFC6XjldZ4fjV2mjpx3wcWajnGdjtsqvL/w640-h426/Horned%20Grebe%20web-8568.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horned Grebe</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">I appreciate how they love to share their knowledge and enthusiasm and are only mildly disappointed when you don’t share the same excitement over a certain species…. </p><div><br /></div></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGMCC7dizom2nOgui3iXoDn3wtmled_rPept8GAOh10sCMa6YN95mo2du77s-y_p16MVxQR-mKiQ-mnQnRN89v5uZPb-zXPXHIUv9EzuY_i0TSF1fAQ5-83gCvpUdYhfTcHUFXLuAjzgCX7ElyXrCAI6XJ-_ypEs0r-aWrXdybkStXg6JdFz9eCpq/s720/Raven%20web-8042.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGMCC7dizom2nOgui3iXoDn3wtmled_rPept8GAOh10sCMa6YN95mo2du77s-y_p16MVxQR-mKiQ-mnQnRN89v5uZPb-zXPXHIUv9EzuY_i0TSF1fAQ5-83gCvpUdYhfTcHUFXLuAjzgCX7ElyXrCAI6XJ-_ypEs0r-aWrXdybkStXg6JdFz9eCpq/w640-h426/Raven%20web-8042.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Raven</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Churn Creek Day Trip</span></b></p><p>Our day-trip to Churn Creek on the west side of the Fraser River was memorable. A very warm day in and around the Fraser Canyon which is out of this world beautiful and to my surprise so little known.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bKHQJ7hZcRKyjKIGbFfScDZhfumEnWU6XATz1XdPXyBthZIXnl2TLdKbz4-r9cKn7ZBaOzPD4jeLyr-AamMgrM_Si99THUlTJwMDcfxXt0WRgROlwzhQSEYl3tFvFyHQbxco-tA2FPIwEQgdlegYJDFobpOedBhCa_3S1H4Qd5AeUMr7mNBeHONI/s720/Churn%20Creek%20webDSCN2635.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bKHQJ7hZcRKyjKIGbFfScDZhfumEnWU6XATz1XdPXyBthZIXnl2TLdKbz4-r9cKn7ZBaOzPD4jeLyr-AamMgrM_Si99THUlTJwMDcfxXt0WRgROlwzhQSEYl3tFvFyHQbxco-tA2FPIwEQgdlegYJDFobpOedBhCa_3S1H4Qd5AeUMr7mNBeHONI/w640-h426/Churn%20Creek%20webDSCN2635.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LFN Members take a break to photograph the scenery leading toward Churn Creek.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpL_iS3hXTOAfHj4mkEkTHLpJZEo2NMZAM40YZKi2jrPk4VDHP9OUM3otkHAIe_-FPOKLYaaaQymhPZ2VQIrchq9mFHQo5k2Ra09w8CSHTyPDXRorfBe8Vxfqo6fzEWPwekmaYFOFvhv2ZUzKqnBTHnfwKJLf-QwQpqcgAPcgUM6BpqBfCYQYooOh/s720/Big%20Horn%20Sheep%20webDSCN2649.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpL_iS3hXTOAfHj4mkEkTHLpJZEo2NMZAM40YZKi2jrPk4VDHP9OUM3otkHAIe_-FPOKLYaaaQymhPZ2VQIrchq9mFHQo5k2Ra09w8CSHTyPDXRorfBe8Vxfqo6fzEWPwekmaYFOFvhv2ZUzKqnBTHnfwKJLf-QwQpqcgAPcgUM6BpqBfCYQYooOh/w640-h426/Big%20Horn%20Sheep%20webDSCN2649.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">California Bighorn Sheep. There are 300-500 in the area.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> With a few stops on the way to bird, to admire “wild” horses, to take in the breathtaking landscape and to celebrate the first flowering Brittle Prickly Pear Cactus, of which we later did see patches and patches, we arrived at the bridge to cross the Fraser River to Churn Creek. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhSPSGvVu0EnRy04VwNJn_2KnJ5jYwVmTFfGBBilu72JCf4vDngFuokLF_WrTCdOKGLq-NfyamU5yFXKzBLjiy1L-_vxEmLcryDgvAM_EAHxr6qx5aKwQsUbk_WehnWLxYqy3ASWRL8vS5LS6za1-3DrwciDbGaKzz5rubUWi_Vwk6hIf7zVLMLDV/s720/Prickly%20Pear%20CactusDSCN2684.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhSPSGvVu0EnRy04VwNJn_2KnJ5jYwVmTFfGBBilu72JCf4vDngFuokLF_WrTCdOKGLq-NfyamU5yFXKzBLjiy1L-_vxEmLcryDgvAM_EAHxr6qx5aKwQsUbk_WehnWLxYqy3ASWRL8vS5LS6za1-3DrwciDbGaKzz5rubUWi_Vwk6hIf7zVLMLDV/w640-h426/Prickly%20Pear%20CactusDSCN2684.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prickly Pear Cactus</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogHaUVJOPq1yKIRgKw27Tox2rVejeawWL0j0OpWC21HQ52T-7XCHG5mkx3YlPZyoFD7S17QEMQKpiGQZR3K7mAXW4BnnaSHWBU_FydKXDARBqItwOmInnYeZhtB_u8B84X3jyt3sFq2ejxWNMa2lfb7ueXB5jtGbVPSkBg0-OvodULOSNd-q-QZti/s720/Western%20Kingbird%20web-8717.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogHaUVJOPq1yKIRgKw27Tox2rVejeawWL0j0OpWC21HQ52T-7XCHG5mkx3YlPZyoFD7S17QEMQKpiGQZR3K7mAXW4BnnaSHWBU_FydKXDARBqItwOmInnYeZhtB_u8B84X3jyt3sFq2ejxWNMa2lfb7ueXB5jtGbVPSkBg0-OvodULOSNd-q-QZti/w640-h426/Western%20Kingbird%20web-8717.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Western Kingbird pants in the hot weather.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: left;">It was an extremely hot lunch break in between the fields of flowering cactus. After, we descended to the river and found a few new bird species. I loved the vibrant yellow of a pair of Bullock’s Orioles higher up on the hill. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqkB4rZ7zX3wAnus6pRMBkPL_R-Fybo5kAV7lA5eomMZ6eicSbQPn09ZgYBB_-IoofuvcFzONcsPV851iwh3MnjgPp3weK6y9WBVuSas9MfJqKJggIK5_StDzaA9dzwiAd7X-v5dKy2AZFpiqXh1QlOAcjgAHP85t2P1KRsOpvyJXeScx2z_Hax-u/s720/Deer%20web-8670.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqkB4rZ7zX3wAnus6pRMBkPL_R-Fybo5kAV7lA5eomMZ6eicSbQPn09ZgYBB_-IoofuvcFzONcsPV851iwh3MnjgPp3weK6y9WBVuSas9MfJqKJggIK5_StDzaA9dzwiAd7X-v5dKy2AZFpiqXh1QlOAcjgAHP85t2P1KRsOpvyJXeScx2z_Hax-u/w640-h426/Deer%20web-8670.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blacktail Deer keeps an eye on the group.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAMMbNrsVyiH3HCxru4IAK0PuRbPZFHm1gCCu5K-FgJtqCR0yDXa7EawezFP5uXX_FoT70mfts9wnRDaLiufvB3bPwA9V9TNhIQ-QKtQDUys0QWHDw7qIHu4GXnGTYis0NrMdRqlOc8u6IwJ1-KmWfxz-B-LDxlcfqdSX411rI1lt0CVc-61VB84-/s720/Vesper%20Sparrow%20web-8696.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAMMbNrsVyiH3HCxru4IAK0PuRbPZFHm1gCCu5K-FgJtqCR0yDXa7EawezFP5uXX_FoT70mfts9wnRDaLiufvB3bPwA9V9TNhIQ-QKtQDUys0QWHDw7qIHu4GXnGTYis0NrMdRqlOc8u6IwJ1-KmWfxz-B-LDxlcfqdSX411rI1lt0CVc-61VB84-/w266-h400/Vesper%20Sparrow%20web-8696.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vesper Sparrow.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> The Secwepemc Sacred Rock</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnf30AfrQfNf1Tq0LUo6imicrCIiqIWX00ZCBztHk8U-CWb-3ed9Xv-vU4uOkEg-GL2bIFYZAlvp4vFybo149mjhfsnCqKEOTN44fNE_6kFReacUPaF801a-ULWhwGMrTne1andyHQYlkUD-KnfNGRVXySVrh9aP4QKbsfEBVudv_59oLM3OQAKLM/s4608/Secwepemc%20Sacred%20Rock%20web%20DSCN2706.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnf30AfrQfNf1Tq0LUo6imicrCIiqIWX00ZCBztHk8U-CWb-3ed9Xv-vU4uOkEg-GL2bIFYZAlvp4vFybo149mjhfsnCqKEOTN44fNE_6kFReacUPaF801a-ULWhwGMrTne1andyHQYlkUD-KnfNGRVXySVrh9aP4QKbsfEBVudv_59oLM3OQAKLM/w640-h426/Secwepemc%20Sacred%20Rock%20web%20DSCN2706.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sacred Rock.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWC4y-HdiEnWLXGkcqRkJTG08xGBiMGusjVS8Bq5VxiyXKKIwO-jTpTtsmUrJgXN2RuxKtGEcaQbSHAsjfdPMSqX51H1YwYALfwCg_czaedsynmyL8g8azgYDFGH18yV3_Bl3fS69ZYobH1yP1ZyPkTRk_ftKj2PZdMJ1g8_zVlp6ZzWhxKIKOIgX4/s1320/Secwepemc%20Sacred%20Rock%20webDSCN2707.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="1320" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWC4y-HdiEnWLXGkcqRkJTG08xGBiMGusjVS8Bq5VxiyXKKIwO-jTpTtsmUrJgXN2RuxKtGEcaQbSHAsjfdPMSqX51H1YwYALfwCg_czaedsynmyL8g8azgYDFGH18yV3_Bl3fS69ZYobH1yP1ZyPkTRk_ftKj2PZdMJ1g8_zVlp6ZzWhxKIKOIgX4/w640-h426/Secwepemc%20Sacred%20Rock%20webDSCN2707.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rock was moved to Vancouver without permission and repatriated back to Churn Creek in 2012.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">That evening we enjoyed 1 of our 4 variations of chicken-with-rice dinners we had that week.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Just after leaving the ranch the next day, we did spot a Sandhill Crane family with 2 colts. <span style="text-align: left;">So gracious.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNQ8aa2VDiTiQDRYgKETQkqt9PGjBDkdAgcKTP4yR7N2jAC8rqCfxBkr3fQ9CJ43hnhh_ANfPJSKV3uy1A9w7G2yxv-FOiLIRL-qRrfPfaomJeRDWYg_RVHGUScPg8aSeXbl-g1dRDIeweH7Dnd8yFCeywq6NCbgWL3Qe2RU8LExCehqnATuifkQh/s1320/Sandhill%20Crane%20web-8551.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="1320" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNQ8aa2VDiTiQDRYgKETQkqt9PGjBDkdAgcKTP4yR7N2jAC8rqCfxBkr3fQ9CJ43hnhh_ANfPJSKV3uy1A9w7G2yxv-FOiLIRL-qRrfPfaomJeRDWYg_RVHGUScPg8aSeXbl-g1dRDIeweH7Dnd8yFCeywq6NCbgWL3Qe2RU8LExCehqnATuifkQh/w640-h426/Sandhill%20Crane%20web-8551.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandhill Crane, the rest of the family were close-by.</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p> Big Bar Lake was our destination. Another gorgeous day in a beautiful place. But before we got to see the lake, we spent 30 minutes in the parking lot… birding…. but so worth it as a Northern Waterthrush was heard and then seen. We hiked part of the Otter Marsh Loop: sun, birds, and flowers. It does not get any better.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FhdfQseLqmSulErudX1CMlJ3p4WAFeUIgz2mP_IdytcLDuDVmfSOdyPT44gzJqomdis47U6ntAtLGebtbe4ltW01n7Cs6QePGcU7HXKhqrfDLbOCBUv7ZgpTd_MIapAzekPwAJna5JQcyweQRiU-y1Ih2Y1f267q4XaYrnXSHCufv4N3QJsKkHfI/s987/Northern%20Waterthrush%20web-8822.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="987" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FhdfQseLqmSulErudX1CMlJ3p4WAFeUIgz2mP_IdytcLDuDVmfSOdyPT44gzJqomdis47U6ntAtLGebtbe4ltW01n7Cs6QePGcU7HXKhqrfDLbOCBUv7ZgpTd_MIapAzekPwAJna5JQcyweQRiU-y1Ih2Y1f267q4XaYrnXSHCufv4N3QJsKkHfI/w640-h426/Northern%20Waterthrush%20web-8822.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A closer view of the Northern Waterthrush.</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8llEMIJcXYrd5V4pn44Ed4BxedomEZJqEa24E21wVLybBjhYO0i4ysIEwSpIv5HnWy3MDwf1H-tNyH7W0hN_iYlc-elZe2mx7ulZXk3p9AM-VSCqcmFgYX-cnu6pwCaK6EGNS33mZuTykjZECO_tFVAmvbE-iXYNE4czhi59JEcoAAjIT91DNH2m/s720/Clouds%20Caribou%20web-8318.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8llEMIJcXYrd5V4pn44Ed4BxedomEZJqEa24E21wVLybBjhYO0i4ysIEwSpIv5HnWy3MDwf1H-tNyH7W0hN_iYlc-elZe2mx7ulZXk3p9AM-VSCqcmFgYX-cnu6pwCaK6EGNS33mZuTykjZECO_tFVAmvbE-iXYNE4czhi59JEcoAAjIT91DNH2m/w640-h426/Clouds%20Caribou%20web-8318.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The calm before the storm.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Indeed, it got worse the day after with soggy rain. But I learned that you can also go birding in the rain, and that is what we did. We boarded our dusty cars and came back with muddy cars instead. We found the reward for our perseverance though: American Avocets with chicks that were not recorded before in this area. I now know what a Scottish lunch is; eating your lunch in the car on the side of the road while it is pouring rain outside. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCDM8ShEenmr_URWB_yo8zHIJXZ8PLwf_lADHOPmpj4TDL5HP7MpeRkJqqMHbvUXZL0CF5j4kUlJ_v7ZyobaeJYihl19_R5xtrrocFmYs0rKYlSjEdzfEHueIAxNe6JexQf-AZLxEEwaEDz0XH0Z09nkk8W6RnsaLN45SMIXkHirnKO2SUEXKByLH/s1320/Red-naped%20Sapsucker%20web-8917.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1320" data-original-width="880" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCDM8ShEenmr_URWB_yo8zHIJXZ8PLwf_lADHOPmpj4TDL5HP7MpeRkJqqMHbvUXZL0CF5j4kUlJ_v7ZyobaeJYihl19_R5xtrrocFmYs0rKYlSjEdzfEHueIAxNe6JexQf-AZLxEEwaEDz0XH0Z09nkk8W6RnsaLN45SMIXkHirnKO2SUEXKByLH/w426-h640/Red-naped%20Sapsucker%20web-8917.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-naped Sapsucker</td></tr></tbody></table></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p>Our last day was another trip into the Fraser Canyon, the road to the decommissioned Big Bar Ferry. We found out that we were traveling mainly on OK Ranch land when talking to the owners. They did not mind us as long that all we did was birding. Here I did see my first Lazuli Bunting, what a colourful bird! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlW9xNNPUkq8KAx7IPAmuQgQCAjeeIW6zQVp6tGIUpzkEZFzHsm048hse5MRtwbm6as5ngT1G7vwAiCR8p3KZbhxMQDQaccry6m65rHrKqHz4QeYQYDuQFM0NBGUpJcVHEc3fKQCnoaPfGm4X1FscPa9txyPICQdP8UYuJeG5y9l2zc3rMFdme1gw/s1320/Lazuli%20Bunting%20web-8498.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1320" data-original-width="880" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlW9xNNPUkq8KAx7IPAmuQgQCAjeeIW6zQVp6tGIUpzkEZFzHsm048hse5MRtwbm6as5ngT1G7vwAiCR8p3KZbhxMQDQaccry6m65rHrKqHz4QeYQYDuQFM0NBGUpJcVHEc3fKQCnoaPfGm4X1FscPa9txyPICQdP8UYuJeG5y9l2zc3rMFdme1gw/w266-h400/Lazuli%20Bunting%20web-8498.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lazuli Bunting</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>After yesterday’s rain, the sandy roads were so slick which made us decide to turn our cars around and enjoy lunch in the sunshine looking at the landscape and the raging muddy waters of the Fraser River. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2JM_GF88hNCtQvGpGYlPpoBVPbpZqpWJJYnaL5hgSbfmZ0D7LyBjVMcmzVj_Ku_j8KBLOr4XfhBZM_zaKnuzTFtB14kLjHQTy8Gzn8daZg2k5HwOUfb8iJqjQo-drXNWwTTvsXoVMdNVgSE9nxG4b372KpAVNWF48vXSlIjABmLg-w8vOvA9Od8H/s720/Ruffed%20Grouse%20web%20DSCN2755.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2JM_GF88hNCtQvGpGYlPpoBVPbpZqpWJJYnaL5hgSbfmZ0D7LyBjVMcmzVj_Ku_j8KBLOr4XfhBZM_zaKnuzTFtB14kLjHQTy8Gzn8daZg2k5HwOUfb8iJqjQo-drXNWwTTvsXoVMdNVgSE9nxG4b372KpAVNWF48vXSlIjABmLg-w8vOvA9Od8H/w426-h640/Ruffed%20Grouse%20web%20DSCN2755.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very wet Ruffed Grouse following a downpour.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Undeniably, birding is rubbing off on me. On the way home I spotted an owl sitting on a post along the highway. After a U-turn it appeared to be a Stoic Owl 😊</p><p><span style="text-align: center;">Tineke Goebertus</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXF7owx0151mDGLFM-fXBvanfZTPc8nGswZ6Ugfj-da_-fi8Nss638aBSakdzAn9zQSRfuBdJeIzLK_qfffCrjpeT0F1uQMcJZzwtrJt2BTuGYM4NWzilKXbDTWCLUh7WGrDIqzyM7HljYgt-Dov5KCOC4lCVebzVZGdw8gfTkUGtbAl-xPodcL-J3/s720/Saskatoon%20Berry%20%20webDSCN2715.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXF7owx0151mDGLFM-fXBvanfZTPc8nGswZ6Ugfj-da_-fi8Nss638aBSakdzAn9zQSRfuBdJeIzLK_qfffCrjpeT0F1uQMcJZzwtrJt2BTuGYM4NWzilKXbDTWCLUh7WGrDIqzyM7HljYgt-Dov5KCOC4lCVebzVZGdw8gfTkUGtbAl-xPodcL-J3/w640-h426/Saskatoon%20Berry%20%20webDSCN2715.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saskatoon Berry</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">We recorded the following number of species:</p><p style="text-align: center;">125 birds</p><p style="text-align: center;">101 flowers</p><p style="text-align: center;">12 mammals</p><p style="text-align: center;">18 butterflies</p><p style="text-align: center;">3 dragon flies</p><p style="text-align: center;">3 bees</p><p style="text-align: center;">8 beetles</p><p style="text-align: center;">2 reptiles</p><p style="text-align: center;">5 lichens</p><p style="text-align: center;">8 fungi</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">"It's never too late to give up the writing duties"</p><p style="text-align: center;">John Gordon</p><p style="text-align: center;">Langley /Cloverdale </p><p style="text-align: center;">BC Canada</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-83492252501993996232022-07-28T16:02:00.004-07:002022-07-29T22:03:18.581-07:00The Narwal: Extreme Heat and Habitat Loss<p style="text-align: center;"> July 28 2020 </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Extreme heat a strain for birds already burdened by habitat loss</b></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Habitat conservation and action on climate change are needed to lessen threat to at-risks species.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">See story in the The Narwal which used my Red-breasted Sapsucker and Merlin images.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kwktiZZx9SJZjDgmRO2dcMhj8MVhU9g-BkkuWagLHkb5x4GacMQpJbbF8lDFTRxJLwjNaHZvICHjdgrOp4o-eEYgjtkagQ1FV5WikCeKqKjQJ8gCFynHEp0VsVtyk9Olo3z4UlkQKNZowfT2cZtlIkwiGFqOovAX1GYDMgcZrYpXYixBcbOkR6Fp/s600/Merlin%20Nicola%20Valley%20web-6744-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kwktiZZx9SJZjDgmRO2dcMhj8MVhU9g-BkkuWagLHkb5x4GacMQpJbbF8lDFTRxJLwjNaHZvICHjdgrOp4o-eEYgjtkagQ1FV5WikCeKqKjQJ8gCFynHEp0VsVtyk9Olo3z4UlkQKNZowfT2cZtlIkwiGFqOovAX1GYDMgcZrYpXYixBcbOkR6Fp/w640-h426/Merlin%20Nicola%20Valley%20web-6744-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Merlin had two hungry offspring to keep happy.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Click on the link below</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://thenarwhal.ca/birds-bc-heatwave/">Birds and Heatwaves</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: small;">The image below was not used as the Narwal magazine format is for landscape rather than vertical. The vertical shot below would make a perfect cover shot. Don't forget to leave room the magazine's name and inside contents. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3qRkW3X4rsviInM67B-Dhr-qCPMFf5F12FlEpav8ObTa5IEkjsSR58lHBeyTjF2JmVlTHyN72QLacDvlbxouF40X-ry1J1jqTgyCmQEIRAVma4EAVYcfbTF1YQnJoDnG3wLqOMz-g_Zr6BeqlsAwktYzsTvrzlZXSmUAAlPXjGD04IJqpGN_QqPY/s600/Rebreasted%20Sapsucker%20web-5942.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3qRkW3X4rsviInM67B-Dhr-qCPMFf5F12FlEpav8ObTa5IEkjsSR58lHBeyTjF2JmVlTHyN72QLacDvlbxouF40X-ry1J1jqTgyCmQEIRAVma4EAVYcfbTF1YQnJoDnG3wLqOMz-g_Zr6BeqlsAwktYzsTvrzlZXSmUAAlPXjGD04IJqpGN_QqPY/w426-h640/Rebreasted%20Sapsucker%20web-5942.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"It's never too late for deadlines"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">John Gordon Photography</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Langley/Cloverdale</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">BC. Canada</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></b></h3>John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-24606581140194181522022-01-10T21:05:00.006-08:002022-01-19T15:08:52.551-08:00Fraser Valley Big Year 2021<p style="text-align: center;"></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Banford Road/Chilliwack</span></h3></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"> The last few moments of my Fraser Valley (FV) Big Year were spent on</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> Banford Road. It was freezing cold, </span></span><span style="text-align: justify;">I lent out the car window and photographed snow drifting across the road. </span><span style="text-align: justify;"> It was my last chance to add a few more birds to my year list. </span><span style="text-align: justify;">The light was fading, the roads icy, it was time to call it a day.</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">It had been a good year, better than I ever thought possible with so </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">many good memories to carry forward.</span></span><span style="font-size: 18.719999313354492px;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: 18.719999313354492px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.719999313354492px;"></span>I had previously birded a few of the better known FV locations including Cheam Wetlands, The Great Blue Heron Reserve and Hope Airport. There were however many areas I hadn't. The idea was to explore, bird and have quality time. </div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h3><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqPINSb1E4pM0BaMXD7vrB1E9VPVtr299t2o8U86Ow_iC2W_H-WyYAIaBfRt030Acwjprxe_qB0GkqZBMcLjUdu5L7fABoL7oD5BcmHfwQ5fu1cliFXBAuFrjiGyont8E9GrI5RZwrPI7uHcFMJkg0hMuQykWOB2FHFucCHYZG6lGJUoVyerLNsN0u=s700" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="700" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqPINSb1E4pM0BaMXD7vrB1E9VPVtr299t2o8U86Ow_iC2W_H-WyYAIaBfRt030Acwjprxe_qB0GkqZBMcLjUdu5L7fABoL7oD5BcmHfwQ5fu1cliFXBAuFrjiGyont8E9GrI5RZwrPI7uHcFMJkg0hMuQykWOB2FHFucCHYZG6lGJUoVyerLNsN0u=w640-h458" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">-13 celsius with a wind sheer of -35c. Snow drifting across Banford Road.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><span style="text-align: left;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoNbN4NktLCff-cJTDrnwTt38rbExVH_AbtH_vzrj8hSB2czrvf3MHoI0qI_ac947tALVB9-d7ETudQHLvtEUaL5CTPRgXEHzHHEfKiGSLz8sMK4vTVCkVaARIrs_9ePxGgbqUV5iU9f9I5JiT87RVbAjTECu7cIzkJVasNThl6d_iAGp7SCKTBCVc=s700" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="700" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoNbN4NktLCff-cJTDrnwTt38rbExVH_AbtH_vzrj8hSB2czrvf3MHoI0qI_ac947tALVB9-d7ETudQHLvtEUaL5CTPRgXEHzHHEfKiGSLz8sMK4vTVCkVaARIrs_9ePxGgbqUV5iU9f9I5JiT87RVbAjTECu7cIzkJVasNThl6d_iAGp7SCKTBCVc=w640-h458" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain Bluebird<br />January 19/2021</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="text-align: center;">There was help. The </span><a href="https://bcbirdalert.blogspot.com" style="text-align: center;">BC Rare Bird Alert</a><span style="text-align: center;"> run by Mel Hafting regularly lists FV rarities and the </span><a href="https://bcbirding.proboards.com" style="text-align: center;">Fraser Valley Birding</a><span style="text-align: center;"> site operated by Gord Gadsden reports local sightings. Both are invaluable assets. Another resource for the FV birder is eBird's </span><a href="https://ebird.org/region/CA-BC-FV/hotspots" style="text-align: center;">Fraser Valley Hotspots</a><span> </span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">The free ap provides stats and sightings. I studied it, mapping out where and when birds might be found. </blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">In the last decade <a href="https://ebird.org/home">eBird</a> has changed the science of birding in the same way digital photography has. </blockquote></span></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><br /></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXYTfJGO-LUffCI3W2G0i-z2gptIoXyvKyFKxQKiOWDnii59ANKsKmDoCjkgXOhoNnHJwD_bpkmt3bzdnnYON-gIdk8gyK4rkMJat9ra8mJyU884pHiezjwxcHlSoUmbuUlUaWlpP0zdnbCIDScsczbfsW8dbmmChMfTqVNdJCs7VuhvPTFsWJwGg0=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXYTfJGO-LUffCI3W2G0i-z2gptIoXyvKyFKxQKiOWDnii59ANKsKmDoCjkgXOhoNnHJwD_bpkmt3bzdnnYON-gIdk8gyK4rkMJat9ra8mJyU884pHiezjwxcHlSoUmbuUlUaWlpP0zdnbCIDScsczbfsW8dbmmChMfTqVNdJCs7VuhvPTFsWJwGg0=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horned Lark on a warmer day</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"> Birding in the FV was different right from day one. Unlike Metro Vancouver where a well oiled network of birders share finds 24/7 the FV has no such network, none I could find initially. At first I hardly ever met another birder. That changed as the months passed by and I began to make a few contacts, some of whom have become good friends. The only time birders seemed to meet en masse would be for a twitch. A good example was the recent sighting of a Red-shouldered Hawk at the Tuyttens Rd Wetlands in Agassiz.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h3></blockquote></blockquote><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrZYkbM1P6r9RPbOKSNayTi7-DOlZDTGVxA4i5wTp0cjbGOB0Gy9auEf3F5Z1VdejBXXFIOSgUTFRgfYEmMF3zA2CmnWhsDMPxq6gfwhYq9Ih44YsBiEGAmbP4HKgdBg1ThcmV_0bOAY9-S0m5cVl9GkmTWWliHpXkkVjzRvz9zTqJlI3qm2o8M-sG=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrZYkbM1P6r9RPbOKSNayTi7-DOlZDTGVxA4i5wTp0cjbGOB0Gy9auEf3F5Z1VdejBXXFIOSgUTFRgfYEmMF3zA2CmnWhsDMPxq6gfwhYq9Ih44YsBiEGAmbP4HKgdBg1ThcmV_0bOAY9-S0m5cVl9GkmTWWliHpXkkVjzRvz9zTqJlI3qm2o8M-sG=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tuyttens Wetlands</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p><div>Earlier in the year I had some good birds at Tuyttens. Townsend's Solitaire, Least and Western Sandpiper, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs and Redhead, all the while surrounded by stunning scenery. I made at least a dozen trips on my way back and forth to bird Harrison Lake and nearby Cheam Wetlands</div><div><br /></div><div><h3><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-Nc0H339TeKOxVbQrKJZLbdCzKDudkYvUrJaIqMMxHLlkhiyGErAw81lAwYp7jrlmRVql6qzNuj4VL7ypHDprZFvrAzS3zY0lDAJh5w0StuNGWYpiSXVAiKoD-vRtNKO--MCRRk1kficJgShfP_-s8I7m25a4nkL2cTbyOPEsvwL7taYfSArmoKjw=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj-Nc0H339TeKOxVbQrKJZLbdCzKDudkYvUrJaIqMMxHLlkhiyGErAw81lAwYp7jrlmRVql6qzNuj4VL7ypHDprZFvrAzS3zY0lDAJh5w0StuNGWYpiSXVAiKoD-vRtNKO--MCRRk1kficJgShfP_-s8I7m25a4nkL2cTbyOPEsvwL7taYfSArmoKjw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></blockquote></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;">Red-shouldered Hawk.</blockquote></td></tr></tbody></table></h3></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"> Other notable twitches included a Least Flycatcher, American White Pelican, Blue Jay and Black Phoebe to name just a few. Birding in the FV was mostly a solitary affair except for a couple of group trips with Ed, John, Joel and Larry up to Manning Park. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2G0k2-za1KfBcmh_Uxlr9pkdVGFw1MiyiqFLhKGOV03r4-KLdxRvVKlSAOWLbyPuciKr4OrBk0lbJvD_bw8gnAx-t-DWCeL9lZJ-6rb6fNnxy_Ww8pSXDOPVbs8dt1-n_nvEa-bkEERDp4_6Keq2o6H6b2ZhPf6lhsO9Se0sSN3Ma_2uXJk2cml4z=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2G0k2-za1KfBcmh_Uxlr9pkdVGFw1MiyiqFLhKGOV03r4-KLdxRvVKlSAOWLbyPuciKr4OrBk0lbJvD_bw8gnAx-t-DWCeL9lZJ-6rb6fNnxy_Ww8pSXDOPVbs8dt1-n_nvEa-bkEERDp4_6Keq2o6H6b2ZhPf6lhsO9Se0sSN3Ma_2uXJk2cml4z=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glaucous Gull</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><h3 style="text-align: center;">Here are some of my favourite FV Big Year birds by location. </h3></blockquote></blockquote><div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Columbia Valley</span></h3></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;">The Columbia Valley is reached by passing through Cultus Lake and completing a loop which skirts along the US border. A little creepy when you know there are camera watching your every move but great for birding. </p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyC6utnvgJjBeTs4ALQ9IjHeFOSJmyg53oTsd9mbQ1Fx4Qe0XsQztwSrRl7ddGvhNjzOpn0mpKF6FQQrkLwhqrX2AWF4YM1-zikfQow6GnCxDt4jUruhd92lllJP0MKRfsAyRhL5ymCYIpXA0loo_vYZdjBiPl2Frmg-DLNoB7dgktyef01Qxk0MzY=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyC6utnvgJjBeTs4ALQ9IjHeFOSJmyg53oTsd9mbQ1Fx4Qe0XsQztwSrRl7ddGvhNjzOpn0mpKF6FQQrkLwhqrX2AWF4YM1-zikfQow6GnCxDt4jUruhd92lllJP0MKRfsAyRhL5ymCYIpXA0loo_vYZdjBiPl2Frmg-DLNoB7dgktyef01Qxk0MzY=w426-h640" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-breasted Sapsucker.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">John Vooys and Ed Klassen showed me around the valley including a feeder where on my third attempt I snagged these grosbeaks as they came to ground for a drink.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPY9qt78m2OI8f9GlIpv1jXgdU9Z46TXO0nbW-oLJFWjkZVrYUqeeItI0KDlagN31nB9zfbpRGfJXgNZ3tzL1x8D5ryA0fI_ySl1vcrj-M680sH_PbPuTOFpGBQs3aZSyFE9BvwezMJwhLWzWtE1ayKGW81xN2ooUXFHsVVOYfSlubYQjx7PT9Jvyn=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPY9qt78m2OI8f9GlIpv1jXgdU9Z46TXO0nbW-oLJFWjkZVrYUqeeItI0KDlagN31nB9zfbpRGfJXgNZ3tzL1x8D5ryA0fI_ySl1vcrj-M680sH_PbPuTOFpGBQs3aZSyFE9BvwezMJwhLWzWtE1ayKGW81xN2ooUXFHsVVOYfSlubYQjx7PT9Jvyn=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evening Grosbeak.</td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"> Sumas Prairie</h3><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg67brvnbCi9rq7O4s-baVqy6AtXvgTC5vRrd3-fjNXrMg5P2D232EiDSt5niXWlbIha6qaGPNDY8uY1xlML3jWSOjs_2UncvM8adTXZRarQuXc3WCsDIwTL65lSl2wgKGFkS1YrzfRfCLCH0hjU_ehX5r9LcYMpxAtUUjAsqdg-HqXCORL8Q3jBzdk=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg67brvnbCi9rq7O4s-baVqy6AtXvgTC5vRrd3-fjNXrMg5P2D232EiDSt5niXWlbIha6qaGPNDY8uY1xlML3jWSOjs_2UncvM8adTXZRarQuXc3WCsDIwTL65lSl2wgKGFkS1YrzfRfCLCH0hjU_ehX5r9LcYMpxAtUUjAsqdg-HqXCORL8Q3jBzdk=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trumpeter Swans and Snow Geese on Sumas Prairie, days before the Big Flood.<br />iPhone 8<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Driving along Sumas Prairie an American Kestrel was hunting alongside the road. The car made for a great blind, opening a car door would no doubt have flushed the bird and more importantly lost any chance of the bird making a kill. Later on the same field a Rough-legged Hawk provided another opportunity. I waited for it to fly low so I could frame it against mountains in the distance. A White bird </span>against a white sky does not normally make for a good composition.</div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVf9SSGXfP5fXhlTOyb_i-Yu42XiRQW28M2aRaxr67TRpVHi3-XYcw38Qsso1qjHRmsEUk79RAoQP_IYILzR_nib7YWsjw6tHjIezaVLvvPWtLFoHBAEhnwmt54tEfOInB9SPXl8TlkWYhSrePT6clCL_MjnBGkNM9fMiGzcHYIaeqJ94itKwMHPUh=s600" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVf9SSGXfP5fXhlTOyb_i-Yu42XiRQW28M2aRaxr67TRpVHi3-XYcw38Qsso1qjHRmsEUk79RAoQP_IYILzR_nib7YWsjw6tHjIezaVLvvPWtLFoHBAEhnwmt54tEfOInB9SPXl8TlkWYhSrePT6clCL_MjnBGkNM9fMiGzcHYIaeqJ94itKwMHPUh=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">American Kestrel hovering over a ditch.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGFiyVwYBamKymJuGdxGDrTQx9mwdchuQN70dBYjjbWNQKJ6Iph2lpXJsMyYMS012wQLZ2jVahiR39veuyfsCZjcOV1KxdrpwoMQ7l1XTDMv-J3pYHM__9ESCUEKiaaZGczJa1r8CRQSW35T9LJaO2rRHoUcxjvotpIwT8gn5Kt9OYXzYzn2dzcnRl=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGFiyVwYBamKymJuGdxGDrTQx9mwdchuQN70dBYjjbWNQKJ6Iph2lpXJsMyYMS012wQLZ2jVahiR39veuyfsCZjcOV1KxdrpwoMQ7l1XTDMv-J3pYHM__9ESCUEKiaaZGczJa1r8CRQSW35T9LJaO2rRHoUcxjvotpIwT8gn5Kt9OYXzYzn2dzcnRl=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rough-legged Hawk.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"></p><h3 style="text-align: center;"> Hillkeep Regional Park/Chilliwack Mountain</h3><p></p></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"> My favourite park for migratory birds was <a href="https://www.fvrd.ca/EN/main/parks-recreation/parks-trails/hillkeep-regional-park.html">Hillkeep Regional Park </a>where I found several species of warblers, flycatchers and swifts between early mid-May and June1. An easy hike and quiet. Part of the park overlooks the Trans Canada where the noise of traffic is evident. The north side of the park however overlooks the Fraser River and is quiet enough to make sound recordings. I was lucky enough to bird Hillkeep three times and had fallouts twice. My first visit resulted in several species of warblers, the second a fallout of Olive-sided flycatchers. On another visit I was treated to a small flock Black Swift feeding on an insect hatch.</div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsc5NKUc3EuCVOMHKdJgCUltBpK8eeFPJq9pVrEGk27E0i1bD6MEZdG2EK5_si3k6xpMXt3E882RZT7kUNtokl0D5tz0BXjBg0CTcXFj6iIi_ucMAllJoKleYqfGo9wpknweM6hMqnYlBIF0ezoM6Ah5ClHRxlKs1z-XsjGE8epWDoe2kj0xEYdFJh=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsc5NKUc3EuCVOMHKdJgCUltBpK8eeFPJq9pVrEGk27E0i1bD6MEZdG2EK5_si3k6xpMXt3E882RZT7kUNtokl0D5tz0BXjBg0CTcXFj6iIi_ucMAllJoKleYqfGo9wpknweM6hMqnYlBIF0ezoM6Ah5ClHRxlKs1z-XsjGE8epWDoe2kj0xEYdFJh=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-throated Grey Warbler/Hillkeep Park Chilliwack.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></blockquote><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsa1_x0FlQi7WzAf1V5J_YnXpcig7sQ8SX5nYXzi8dUYWC2bBHU7swypwRLYob_Q9iWmZAn58rdS9MX2pJ1z27nwu52cRB8b9SzokgF2nHVFXEPRvsnBdYZZZBSyJUyq0zmIrJKlzCGnjzbL6hynOWoi6Ey1GMGiNYxPJrMeh-a3CwdVVUReJd6wik=s1800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsa1_x0FlQi7WzAf1V5J_YnXpcig7sQ8SX5nYXzi8dUYWC2bBHU7swypwRLYob_Q9iWmZAn58rdS9MX2pJ1z27nwu52cRB8b9SzokgF2nHVFXEPRvsnBdYZZZBSyJUyq0zmIrJKlzCGnjzbL6hynOWoi6Ey1GMGiNYxPJrMeh-a3CwdVVUReJd6wik=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from Hilkeep.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5HJLQ98ydaDVMwVZdiUx3zUffXpV5HIG8AHmnsP5ICHnl2aCRDxqS816TR0ByxFP3Bd73uY9Vo0fl1jH3QF82i-hmrUlgYf19wr9x0KNG5mZasxvS8AJog6fxmGEBI8NLSyMXtTZxICNVJil7lK8EN3axVNBgJyIHbJkwnB589LkFmkzJgdOMs_uO=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5HJLQ98ydaDVMwVZdiUx3zUffXpV5HIG8AHmnsP5ICHnl2aCRDxqS816TR0ByxFP3Bd73uY9Vo0fl1jH3QF82i-hmrUlgYf19wr9x0KNG5mZasxvS8AJog6fxmGEBI8NLSyMXtTZxICNVJil7lK8EN3axVNBgJyIHbJkwnB589LkFmkzJgdOMs_uO=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Swift.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><h3 style="text-align: center;"> North Bend/Fraser Canyon</h3><p style="text-align: center;">I spent one day in the Fraser Canyon a week before wildfires closed the roads. In the scheme of things it was the beginning of an Annus Horribilis for BC residents dealing with fires, heat domes, floods and a deep freeze. My heart goes out to anyone caught up in any of those climate disasters. In the scheme of things a Big Year was somewhat of a frivolous endeavour compared to all the woes many others experienced. It did however keep me grounded while so many suffered and continue to suffer from the pandemic.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;">There were a number of birds that were relatively easy to find in North Bend including Nashville Warbler, Chipping Sparrow and Veery, all really tough in the lower FV.</p></blockquote><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEib904UfNUGJXzMo23HTHjgILWuQUAZw6KkE3C3IIgqY_XVq5DkQhPstinmUttWJ25ELwVbx55hFAUuDZVB13ufNhpVnT7QLbfzRxfGJFB8O1rdK38ZZxjiEJJPjaVRJDuzxF_HrIoVNm54WN6dCj6H1i4jgnjtY7_V86qlSReHWlJ383YJUKEhw8mx=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEib904UfNUGJXzMo23HTHjgILWuQUAZw6KkE3C3IIgqY_XVq5DkQhPstinmUttWJ25ELwVbx55hFAUuDZVB13ufNhpVnT7QLbfzRxfGJFB8O1rdK38ZZxjiEJJPjaVRJDuzxF_HrIoVNm54WN6dCj6H1i4jgnjtY7_V86qlSReHWlJ383YJUKEhw8mx=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nashville Warbler.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJzvVT27oreCxSqhj_UJX6j3_5_Co2H-M4wkZFoydi2nilAnn7K4LxZQyNpp_L6NG1ScfHD34hrXTzaHCM5bLnG-8Tm4APE_znPJTRYuIQuhjFTfYMP02Wp6h3fQ0br0rSW7os7Fl1flyqFILx5cWidK6-FbFlg3uRQjHTlgsH2ZOVmyei3qKFvvdf=s1800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJzvVT27oreCxSqhj_UJX6j3_5_Co2H-M4wkZFoydi2nilAnn7K4LxZQyNpp_L6NG1ScfHD34hrXTzaHCM5bLnG-8Tm4APE_znPJTRYuIQuhjFTfYMP02Wp6h3fQ0br0rSW7os7Fl1flyqFILx5cWidK6-FbFlg3uRQjHTlgsH2ZOVmyei3qKFvvdf=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North Bend looking toward Boston Bar.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkHY6NliuQT4N2VQ0NcNFDH5zl5JponUOKxPu7ombucC3D24kPwiFHkq6dRv67csfq39WR4eSIQyjIv1lW1ZwQSlGdGy7HQEDxoIptuPYGPoNVEG01250m17_FZDJPIpW0-okiQzRKBG5Egfw4P6QwHgTFfnSR39yqr0K_wyx6lSJlhCR_6Y8PauY5=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkHY6NliuQT4N2VQ0NcNFDH5zl5JponUOKxPu7ombucC3D24kPwiFHkq6dRv67csfq39WR4eSIQyjIv1lW1ZwQSlGdGy7HQEDxoIptuPYGPoNVEG01250m17_FZDJPIpW0-okiQzRKBG5Egfw4P6QwHgTFfnSR39yqr0K_wyx6lSJlhCR_6Y8PauY5=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Veery.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><h3 style="text-align: center;"> Willband Creek Park</h3><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOkKjQpMNLXn9UaEJOmUUfZ9goLcErnHvYwyO8HlCSpc9PU-SBLjPN2C01twLBVg0pRM0vAOzs3PfsHNSoLdlBM1s2v0xMdQnQUqFzhTiC2n5eKf9rtzm32-DYhfyr1wwhiJisvKIh72oFksMKE4faR6-YR43tSHcmuR5igKFZDGkFf6uhTjYCQ27g=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOkKjQpMNLXn9UaEJOmUUfZ9goLcErnHvYwyO8HlCSpc9PU-SBLjPN2C01twLBVg0pRM0vAOzs3PfsHNSoLdlBM1s2v0xMdQnQUqFzhTiC2n5eKf9rtzm32-DYhfyr1wwhiJisvKIh72oFksMKE4faR6-YR43tSHcmuR5igKFZDGkFf6uhTjYCQ27g=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early morning at Willband.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Willband Creek Park is the place to find several species of duck, swan, sandpiper, warbler, four species of swallow, Green Heron, and American Bittern. The latter so elusive that all I ever had were scope views but that is all a lister really needs for a tick. The former bird photographer in me would have been most disappointed but over the years I have incorporated scoping and general birding into my photography and as the Brownies say, </div><div style="text-align: center;">"Get what you get and don't get upset".</div><div><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioqfpNuHwQGWMjDu9Lb2GYx2vOLKIT2BXxg-aibVoZdHgbGlar9QtNGJZ5NL8A-17jEfGxDbRgBTJCHmVDLAske-T4j43JIE7uziA2U0l3hanGj1s_uwJnyHaASvpIGt2Aqg9X6eQmhZQGnV4976Jk-3Lo07cYGeJZ5a5xmZzqeknbHJCbiDVNrdfF=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioqfpNuHwQGWMjDu9Lb2GYx2vOLKIT2BXxg-aibVoZdHgbGlar9QtNGJZ5NL8A-17jEfGxDbRgBTJCHmVDLAske-T4j43JIE7uziA2U0l3hanGj1s_uwJnyHaASvpIGt2Aqg9X6eQmhZQGnV4976Jk-3Lo07cYGeJZ5a5xmZzqeknbHJCbiDVNrdfF=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern rough-winged Swallow.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2z_AunDnkHeUFfunod777f_qS-XMKmbjPOUw2m5PNGGgRLIQXsgkTnGC4D2oZYPIWkY2fHuNx5hXHZgHVAmiWno0njBBVyQgK_ReOfFWlEVycEEIB1niLn5S9xA8EHzntfDp41L-ByBaA_Pb35rFxPCZGQNcT96vSFEskSJVf_kuc80Y26-Aqbz1C=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2z_AunDnkHeUFfunod777f_qS-XMKmbjPOUw2m5PNGGgRLIQXsgkTnGC4D2oZYPIWkY2fHuNx5hXHZgHVAmiWno0njBBVyQgK_ReOfFWlEVycEEIB1niLn5S9xA8EHzntfDp41L-ByBaA_Pb35rFxPCZGQNcT96vSFEskSJVf_kuc80Y26-Aqbz1C=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-breasted Chat.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">It was June 14 when</span><span style="text-align: center;"> John Vooys alerted me to a rare Yellow-breasted Chat. His keen ear had picked up the bird in a far corner of Willband Creek and he had asked me to see if I could check it out and make sure of the ID with a photograph. The chat was feeding on what looked like English Hawthorn although </span><span style="text-align: center;">I might be corrected on that. His hunch was dead on. T</span><span style="text-align: center;">he chat stayed around for a couple of weeks and </span><span style="text-align: center;">eventually many </span><span style="text-align: center;">got on the bird, It was about this time I was beginning to make more some contacts in the FV birding community.</span></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"> Kilby Provincial Park</h3><div style="text-align: center;">Due to wild fires and Covid-19 travel restrictions I decided to plan my birding/camping around a number FV campgrounds. Kilby Regional campground for example allowed me to bird not only the Kilby Village area but also nearby Harrison Mills and areas upstream. There were good numbers of birds both on the water and in the forest where I found a Cassin's Vireo, one of my target birds. Purple Martins were singing from telephone wires and fledgling Barn Swallows were taking their first flights. One of my Purple Martin sound recordings made it on the Macaulay Library which was a first for me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFPyti37GHwBqMTs7C9BCvt4aJNxkuReLYtilGQoWCTFjYrD0MeqOH-xYn_KfgE3u0cD2Th4PkEYMRfCbQ4Rj2beblHRhIGwo-RVquTbPFTsHvS0Bg3TSpy2EDmKBKFUyaA0YxJt8VJ2JWdEmVUKp-9HcxPyDJGT6tihxlVVlASypyOXc0QFzAbs3k=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFPyti37GHwBqMTs7C9BCvt4aJNxkuReLYtilGQoWCTFjYrD0MeqOH-xYn_KfgE3u0cD2Th4PkEYMRfCbQ4Rj2beblHRhIGwo-RVquTbPFTsHvS0Bg3TSpy2EDmKBKFUyaA0YxJt8VJ2JWdEmVUKp-9HcxPyDJGT6tihxlVVlASypyOXc0QFzAbs3k=w426-h640" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Townsend's Solitaire/Kilby Regional Park.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></blockquote><h3 style="text-align: center;"> Cheam Wetlands Regional Park</h3><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxn-lkLxzJv2dAHEolCmZ9OSSGwM8MWfF4IpPgb0qSiRZZthBo3bzvI-dROLOsgGsYkCjzTqxIGcMMIASR2s7Ja2vgRQOxwdavMQNJD67GYDtKy6hDUvJw5-LgOLFXkBjPlTLM-d6cVJTGpcUMfHJjzaXQJCGP08Vn9z83bf9u-l3nuXEnNQDqR0Nj=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxn-lkLxzJv2dAHEolCmZ9OSSGwM8MWfF4IpPgb0qSiRZZthBo3bzvI-dROLOsgGsYkCjzTqxIGcMMIASR2s7Ja2vgRQOxwdavMQNJD67GYDtKy6hDUvJw5-LgOLFXkBjPlTLM-d6cVJTGpcUMfHJjzaXQJCGP08Vn9z83bf9u-l3nuXEnNQDqR0Nj=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheam Wetlands in summer.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cheam Wetlands produced some really good birds including Eastern Kingbird, Solitary Sandpiper and American Redstart. There was always something of interest on the lake itself. Blue-winged, Cinnamon Teal and Northern Waterthrush, Osprey and others.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8AkOBswTj29Z_U0XLFr0Jb5Sm_DfMrpNTU0J-RzqqPODE9HetWqedSzt52hYvgBExd8Z9XbfHAs1jLb1jMnTQlkK9vG0Q5N9ZeIlek6D7W3Cxrdg18_ZR5U2on3snflDSNpNVb6MeBHrMJMIFj5SN8_mwDdmDynjAx2Gj2nZAAgSHSKVnfM0E2KAw=s700" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="700" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8AkOBswTj29Z_U0XLFr0Jb5Sm_DfMrpNTU0J-RzqqPODE9HetWqedSzt52hYvgBExd8Z9XbfHAs1jLb1jMnTQlkK9vG0Q5N9ZeIlek6D7W3Cxrdg18_ZR5U2on3snflDSNpNVb6MeBHrMJMIFj5SN8_mwDdmDynjAx2Gj2nZAAgSHSKVnfM0E2KAw=w640-h458" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Western Wood-Pewee.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Island 22 Regional Park</h3><div style="text-align: center;">One species I particularly wanted to see in the Fraser Valley was the American Redstart. After dipping on the species several times and wary of the notorious Island 22 mosquitos I arranged to meet Ed Klassen. I remember the day very well, it was around the time that 751 unmarked graves were found at the site of a former residential school in Saskatchewan. We exited our respective cars having both listened to the same news broadcast on CBC radio. Both of us were stunned, shocked by the horrific stories we had just heard. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We needed to get into the forest and look for birds, it would help soothe our thoughts. Soon enough, after searching a number of likely spots Ed heard the telltale call and song of the redstart.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The beauty of the situations is that when looking or listening for a bird the hours go by and the thought processes just calm right down. I can see why many birders forgo the camera and just carry bins.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiW96-Ygz1LK8rXRMtHUSYR1-JAb8rZWu20OjQZV5-E56K7zW2pm0mBCUS5DJehNAAZGpNfHPsi7QOLJ7BtVw00n6DqbzIjsHPk2JGhv4xnHFXA-a8XWUbhDXM6RZyx279EdA6JPBEfhBHseWIe0VZE_TLgqT0Cq3ldpBkCDKu_FP4jD2I-17NOtS9V=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiW96-Ygz1LK8rXRMtHUSYR1-JAb8rZWu20OjQZV5-E56K7zW2pm0mBCUS5DJehNAAZGpNfHPsi7QOLJ7BtVw00n6DqbzIjsHPk2JGhv4xnHFXA-a8XWUbhDXM6RZyx279EdA6JPBEfhBHseWIe0VZE_TLgqT0Cq3ldpBkCDKu_FP4jD2I-17NOtS9V=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Redstart.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">Great Blue Heron Reserve</h3><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The birds and the ticks (not the biting type) kept coming, a few of us re-found the Least Flycatcher at the Great Blue Heron Reserve where I bumped into Ed again. Krissi Martin was there too. Later in the year she would help me find a Harris Sparrow. While looking for the elusive flycatcher an American Redstart flew a few feet above us, this time a female. Eventually I would have redstarts at three different locations. On the way back to the car a pair of raucous Great Horned Owls provided another year bird, what a way to end the day.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6LC9oZVfATVtfbaFTohdVOoEKtw4kff6RAjm41WXXvuBdnk7tv4qp0ps1n5ENd2TlOEdJB-Jps7jXzNl5DWjAotC3Z-5pubqd7XmWA9IPcTGrRPj-x47B-EznD5T0ohSJWgP5VG4yMn3O0yfKpRroX9Ygnwt1kSATgfa4GlLWkUeFsINXEcp7sfQN=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6LC9oZVfATVtfbaFTohdVOoEKtw4kff6RAjm41WXXvuBdnk7tv4qp0ps1n5ENd2TlOEdJB-Jps7jXzNl5DWjAotC3Z-5pubqd7XmWA9IPcTGrRPj-x47B-EznD5T0ohSJWgP5VG4yMn3O0yfKpRroX9Ygnwt1kSATgfa4GlLWkUeFsINXEcp7sfQN=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Least Flycatcher.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Harrison Lake and Lagoon</h3><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZNKxigCqNO4I4aOYDDPFxpGYIlTStDfZNCt7Vz5P35QbMWms_tPdRU2Pyc3aDm_4qK3_crCVOVRUH3cDW4-oPniph9jZZV_paXZmqddTqqgAy_3uGj40_ofAt-5-JTZOfbEJKZjLH_YO8RgTcoNnnpoXL3bzB8MnKB-5Yg3f27U5yvtaHGGoLZoCW=s2100" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2100" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZNKxigCqNO4I4aOYDDPFxpGYIlTStDfZNCt7Vz5P35QbMWms_tPdRU2Pyc3aDm_4qK3_crCVOVRUH3cDW4-oPniph9jZZV_paXZmqddTqqgAy_3uGj40_ofAt-5-JTZOfbEJKZjLH_YO8RgTcoNnnpoXL3bzB8MnKB-5Yg3f27U5yvtaHGGoLZoCW=w640-h458" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harrison Lake foreshore.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Harrison Lake is a hotspot. Birds of all kinds birds funnel up and down the valley during migration, some staying longer periods while other species may only dwell a few hours. Some birds were five minute wonders, only seen by a lucky few. Good examples were Arctic Tern and Semi-palmated Plover. I tried for Vesper Sparrow six times without luck. The sheltered lagoon in town is always a good spot for wintering wildfowl. It was around the lagoon I photographed of Horned Lark, Caspian Terns, Bonaparte Gulls, Western, Least, Baird's and Spotted Sandpipers and on several occasions Red-necked Phalarope. Out on the lake the prize sighting was a Black Scoter in September. Other scoters included White-winged and Surf.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One day I met FV eBird co-ordinator Gord Gadsden and we discussed the ever changing procession of birds on the lake. He suggested if I had the time I might want to spend a day just scoping the lake. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A few days later Oct 6 I did just that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj327lbkeZg715XI_GYWSPMwAdKX46OclTIFF12FQVPbK6jn9Z-GXFXWaN-PZHncmAPA2qn8ZzKWEOil_1eZkbXZpHFRwuCE_uXDwFy51oHr2pr1Qpq_b88gVAzSBVi39cJ0Nb2lxz-MZoaZOAQBn8WtV9OsWJLe5VZmnuip3NAisVu_I4bR_lLtz23=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj327lbkeZg715XI_GYWSPMwAdKX46OclTIFF12FQVPbK6jn9Z-GXFXWaN-PZHncmAPA2qn8ZzKWEOil_1eZkbXZpHFRwuCE_uXDwFy51oHr2pr1Qpq_b88gVAzSBVi39cJ0Nb2lxz-MZoaZOAQBn8WtV9OsWJLe5VZmnuip3NAisVu_I4bR_lLtz23=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baird's Sandpiper</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The day began slowly with a pair of Western Grebes in the distance. Then a White-winged Scoter and eight Greater Scaup. Twenty-Two surf Scoters appeared out of nowhere. Periods of no birds gave me time for my lunch and coffee, all the while sitting on a conveniently placed park bench. Four very hungry Snow Geese and Two Greater White Fronted Geese landed metres from me and provided some great photo ops. Just as Gord had predicted the procession of birds kept coming and going. Horned and Red-necked Grebes. Yellow-rumped warblers feeding amongst the shoreline willows. The day had been most interesting, 15 species in all but no new year birds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDZsUMPx59zPaqsrFtGTkdvNWYgHYe3PwUP83Zgx-7yU9yJjyDYwMIt3oQIwf1GmrIShw0i6k2qg0YESpzCdLV_GywoFHh9-ytBSidudm7uZr47p7PR44wyFwv4hYv5TXURZBTK3sbpii0RKGo8Ekqdb253jQO9x_ZilSp4kHCtUn8QKr3dxHwnyUo=s1800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDZsUMPx59zPaqsrFtGTkdvNWYgHYe3PwUP83Zgx-7yU9yJjyDYwMIt3oQIwf1GmrIShw0i6k2qg0YESpzCdLV_GywoFHh9-ytBSidudm7uZr47p7PR44wyFwv4hYv5TXURZBTK3sbpii0RKGo8Ekqdb253jQO9x_ZilSp4kHCtUn8QKr3dxHwnyUo=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harrison Lagoon.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivrFLT0OZBGQnpTlPmQeFDigcucDKJpsbB_NDhToPPrfxNiK9qivh3n21JbufiuQ0rMQi7rxtBgIKMJtdBqvDjSH2HPT4Mz_C5L0_IWXYzpcr4ud7XSwg22a8WbRIKCgC6PY35Dn-n98gUjpOy-paemTs1yJV8RHlPYAPaPn_1IdmZL7DAnJaKfc-u=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivrFLT0OZBGQnpTlPmQeFDigcucDKJpsbB_NDhToPPrfxNiK9qivh3n21JbufiuQ0rMQi7rxtBgIKMJtdBqvDjSH2HPT4Mz_C5L0_IWXYzpcr4ud7XSwg22a8WbRIKCgC6PY35Dn-n98gUjpOy-paemTs1yJV8RHlPYAPaPn_1IdmZL7DAnJaKfc-u=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-necked Phalarope showing the webbed feet.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I decided to take one more scan of the lake before leaving for home, to my complete surprise I spotted a what looked like a Brown Pelican, it was just a speck in the distance. I drove to the marina to get a better look. Any suggestions circulating that I exceeded the speed limited are just ugly rumours. The moment I arrived the bird had flown off toward Sasquatch Provincial Park. Thinking that the opportunity was lost I sent the news out to Gord and anyone else who had helped me in my Big Year. I sent a blurry pix Mel the BC Rare Bird Alert co-ordinator and soon other birders began arriving, the word was out. The pelican then suddenly returned and spent close to an hour flying around Harrison Bay and marina, periodically landing amongst the California Gulls. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The bird was a new FV bird for everyone. Brown Pelicans are turning up more often on the BC coast but inland is highly unusual. If I had contributed one thing to anyones FV year list the Brown Pelican was it, that's good Karma and my 200th FV year bird. </div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmsmyUYT4LkZ1-ao4KbyvVjxEnCwSEVHt2llJ3w_kyYijdhLwS_uG1Zf5vRqfIqWh93VKvXH8FQi-pQM1zRSugNMadAXd2RJZfjw4Py77sG_VRJkV0h6RzbjSx3ukwdcQhAXq5ck1ZN9fvybxeSWLloE0lZuVrIQQM5cN6sM27SVjLYJD8mTBo3lnL=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmsmyUYT4LkZ1-ao4KbyvVjxEnCwSEVHt2llJ3w_kyYijdhLwS_uG1Zf5vRqfIqWh93VKvXH8FQi-pQM1zRSugNMadAXd2RJZfjw4Py77sG_VRJkV0h6RzbjSx3ukwdcQhAXq5ck1ZN9fvybxeSWLloE0lZuVrIQQM5cN6sM27SVjLYJD8mTBo3lnL=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Pelican</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><h3 style="text-align: center;">Some odds and ends</h3></blockquote></blockquote><p>Sometimes a bird proves really elusive. One such case was the Harris Sparrow in Abbotsford. Once it was reported a number of us went to have a look. The bird was coming to a balcony feeder. Several of us spent hours in the cold and rain peering at the feeder while standing on the roadside. I cannot imagine what the neighbours were thinking but it was a fruitless and frustrating exercise. The only birds we did see were House Finches and Dark-eyed Juncos. The Harris we were told was travelling with a few White-crowned Sparrows but they rarely showed up and always without the Harris. After two attempts I decided to be pro-active and knock on the door of the house across the street where Krissi had seen it fly to. I knocked on the neighbours door explained the concept of a Big Year and politely asked if I could peer over their backyard fence to see if I could see the bird. I tried twice and both times could only stand the bitter cold for about thirty minutes. I finally came up with a cunning plan and vowed to return. The third visit I brought along some bird seed and asked the owner to spread some on the ground. Being a ground feeders, it only took a few minutes for both the White-crowned and the Harris to appear out from the undergrowth and bingo, I had my two-hundredth and sixth species for the year and what eventually turned out to be my last FV tick.</p><p>Finding the Harris Sparrow reminded of the lengths I used to go to get a picture when I worked on newspaper photo stories . I felt good to find the Harris and that my plan worked. </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><span style="text-align: left;"></span></div></blockquote></blockquote></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfI1Ok2GkoSxWhTEwDBwYvL4lRIWyUReQBOHVWkc1O6CULlMB-NRRgA-RlgGRJ9Sfvftfi05Boqp-c1ghVyc_T5flQo4Nok4lEvzBrWbLhU6tJQ2i9rJZm_p26mSegeMclek74FJnvrXPNm_z-4U--j_8OVi01aCl33bC6PQE36j12lZGMADol7pF4=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfI1Ok2GkoSxWhTEwDBwYvL4lRIWyUReQBOHVWkc1O6CULlMB-NRRgA-RlgGRJ9Sfvftfi05Boqp-c1ghVyc_T5flQo4Nok4lEvzBrWbLhU6tJQ2i9rJZm_p26mSegeMclek74FJnvrXPNm_z-4U--j_8OVi01aCl33bC6PQE36j12lZGMADol7pF4=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harris Sparrow<br />Private Yard Abbotsford</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"> Last Thoughts</h3><div> Finally, I would like to thank first and foremost Gord Gadsden, Ed Klassen and John Vooys for taking me under their wings right from the very start. It was Gord who suggested two-hundred year birds would be a good benchmark. I took him on his word. Their combined local knowledge made a huge difference to my final tally. Larry Hooge and Joel Schmidt for the tips on where to find a Western Grebe and Chipping Sparrow on the Matsqui Trail. Krissi Martin for a tip about the Harris Sparrow and the McDonald family for timely texts, all very much appreciated.</div><div>Dave Beeke who tipped me off to Band-tailed Pigeons at his feeder and for pointing out an Eared Grebe on Cultus Lake. Jonathan Pap for setting up a Whats Ap group to relay our finds to each other. If I have missed anyone I apologize*.</div><div>I can't possibly try to convey a years worth of birding in a blog but for those who keep tabs on such things I birded over one thousand hours ending with two hundred and six species, six more that my target. I heard a few birds but not enough to count them, a few hoots of a Western Screech Owl never made the list but there is alway hopefully another day out in the valley. I upped my Fraser Valley life list to 218 from 156 species a gain of 56 species.</div><div>If you got this far in the blog then thanks for reading and have a healthy, happy and birdy 2022.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*In my rush to publish this blog I did forget Jim Buis from Brookside Inn who allowed me to check out his feeders and introduced me to Jim Telford who allowed me to wander around his back-forty. It was there that I eventually snagged a Bank Swallow for my year list.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0ZIFUyLq_uGW6kqZCOIvbLCF0mJRSqThvTZKkI2pbUzL88G9AjwWaABeK7oecKZSsNT20UZpcdBQEc8kGwEI1ga5X3BC3U5DXF9nGfM4a5595EqTtAwQily6gRF-uqEGyJ5jJ-9Ph8vdDTnAxLYJfWgkhyNUme52P3SZXBwMLB5HktZnLdWSxs0Sq=s1800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0ZIFUyLq_uGW6kqZCOIvbLCF0mJRSqThvTZKkI2pbUzL88G9AjwWaABeK7oecKZSsNT20UZpcdBQEc8kGwEI1ga5X3BC3U5DXF9nGfM4a5595EqTtAwQily6gRF-uqEGyJ5jJ-9Ph8vdDTnAxLYJfWgkhyNUme52P3SZXBwMLB5HktZnLdWSxs0Sq=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vedder Canal</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdHgN8reGzG2NABW1SCqgHeijY5yeUn9M0DbgnX1TAo-_4TzlK6ZPKdFI-uJGrfZMudEiezYGJNUmjkzMqIDrdAkMjAKIgSVkIIj7Z5qe7rF6QklWSC4WZ4IrLaQ1uemyX9mm5r1By5zx-CpQtpn5QWTxiDZjCnwFYTAa8kLUI-zFVCW4mYHWrT9mJ=s600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdHgN8reGzG2NABW1SCqgHeijY5yeUn9M0DbgnX1TAo-_4TzlK6ZPKdFI-uJGrfZMudEiezYGJNUmjkzMqIDrdAkMjAKIgSVkIIj7Z5qe7rF6QklWSC4WZ4IrLaQ1uemyX9mm5r1By5zx-CpQtpn5QWTxiDZjCnwFYTAa8kLUI-zFVCW4mYHWrT9mJ=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American White Pelican/Vedder Canal</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;">"It's never too late for a Big Year"</div><div style="text-align: center;">John Gordon</div><div style="text-align: center;">Langley/Cloverdale</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-84683114754487432642021-11-13T19:25:00.002-08:002021-11-13T19:28:14.316-08:00Size Matters<p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Sat Nov 13, 2021 <br />Sumas Prairie</h2><p>Today while out looking for the elusive Cattle Egret I happened upon a flock of swans. As usual I scanned the birds until one caught my attention. It was quite a bit smaller than the swan next to it. Through my bins I noticed the yellow lore, the field mark for a Tundra Swan. Here was an opportunity to photograph both species in the same frame, all I had to do was wait until a Trumpeter walked close enough. Like many, I have difficulty in separating one scaup from another or for that matter one gull from another. The list goes on. Bird identification it seems is a life-long study. Often the swan's bills are covered in mud making precise identification difficult. The comparison photo included shows difference in size between the two species.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4tB9pSO6FpV_SVxHyizJ47tFt5W66okqt4poN2qYUENbcEDkJEe71ffsXkj2nousp05WymifKSIy2XjbJFSh_z_UpYidB-cAl70q_Z3t72UwElAQK6NJFvZw1eZxOc3ND7ObsLofoh4/s660/Tundra+Swan+web-3459.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="660" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4tB9pSO6FpV_SVxHyizJ47tFt5W66okqt4poN2qYUENbcEDkJEe71ffsXkj2nousp05WymifKSIy2XjbJFSh_z_UpYidB-cAl70q_Z3t72UwElAQK6NJFvZw1eZxOc3ND7ObsLofoh4/w640-h426/Tundra+Swan+web-3459.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trumpeter on the left.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-63267795768539990642021-10-07T19:48:00.005-07:002021-10-14T18:27:06.174-07:00Flatiron<p> Friday Sept 24 2021</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Flat-out on Flatiron.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;">Granite slabs are scattered everywhere on Flatiron. The nooks and crannies in the rock harbour insects and plants, the flowers and seeds providing a rich food source for the many inhabitants.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmI2I_Da8AXBD4LaTPL1azTwOmVcN6olL4mXr4veRZnwp8dfNYjMfW2XU43qwII9tlrOtcR667tn-p8-31LXzV3AZOcDqIkwT17FzTe9S-_6wLgw7q9HEvZD5rhHU1KG9Rv3esugdMYzA/s720/Flatiron+web-1045.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmI2I_Da8AXBD4LaTPL1azTwOmVcN6olL4mXr4veRZnwp8dfNYjMfW2XU43qwII9tlrOtcR667tn-p8-31LXzV3AZOcDqIkwT17FzTe9S-_6wLgw7q9HEvZD5rhHU1KG9Rv3esugdMYzA/w640-h426/Flatiron+web-1045.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flatiron gleams in the sunlight</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The forest trail to Flatiron was steep, rocky, slippery and wet. There was hardly a sound in the forest, just the odd Chestnut-backed Chickadee and Douglas Squirrels. Mushrooms were abundant. A few pickers were out collecting. After a two kilometre hike the forest opened up providing 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlHAv4UPzy0d2xjyp16zd9uT1LBRcUwqCrHFbZr40fqXjcfpSXqlANtFRLxeNr2VElNvFEqipISJsULD__gv2VyrtibQeqxywblgI5VMzCwZpm85HjjEdWXMfrJi8PFUcALrWsUtyGC0/s600/Flatiron+120+IMG_4171.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlHAv4UPzy0d2xjyp16zd9uT1LBRcUwqCrHFbZr40fqXjcfpSXqlANtFRLxeNr2VElNvFEqipISJsULD__gv2VyrtibQeqxywblgI5VMzCwZpm85HjjEdWXMfrJi8PFUcALrWsUtyGC0/w640-h426/Flatiron+120+IMG_4171.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yak Peak and mountain pond.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">During the summer there had been numerous reports of Northern Pygmy Owls, Mountain Chickadees, White-winged Crossbills and White-tailed Ptarmigan, all birds I needed for my Fraser Valley Big Year* </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Craig, my hiking companion for the day soon picked up the call of a Northern Pygmy Owl. Fortunately we were able to climb a little higher until we stood on the same level as the bird which was perched right above the trail.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUnqgb6vcD3OqUyexl_aZrsVRjIarE8CUjdzJfl84yQgGassdg0dEeklRSSXCaBmLx5ZtLOPtttsp6NGQP8PEbNSGC74Av-wXa__MdGdbfwObnH7V4OJCAqh6O50ISNxjjJbUU_nS59A/s720/Northern+Pygmy+Owl+web-0890.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUnqgb6vcD3OqUyexl_aZrsVRjIarE8CUjdzJfl84yQgGassdg0dEeklRSSXCaBmLx5ZtLOPtttsp6NGQP8PEbNSGC74Av-wXa__MdGdbfwObnH7V4OJCAqh6O50ISNxjjJbUU_nS59A/w426-h640/Northern+Pygmy+Owl+web-0890.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Pygmy-Owl<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;">Then to our surprise a second owl perched alongside. The birds had their eyes on something, they seemed agitated. One of the birds plunged into the undergrowth and out of sight, looking back the other owl had left too. What a start to the day.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZT0OSWgDVhzsUq5iR90xLLKurK2KYsDVLyjZtxaW4pGryz0tGeQNAbdbedqGzAr9oKQmiiHAMFj1gOr1QLUSemuOxhhRHDML2pt8Vzybqbh6zGjP_Cg8CY6QitQp0VzXX8t-Mtfc5QkU/s720/Northern+Pygmy+Owl+web-0904.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZT0OSWgDVhzsUq5iR90xLLKurK2KYsDVLyjZtxaW4pGryz0tGeQNAbdbedqGzAr9oKQmiiHAMFj1gOr1QLUSemuOxhhRHDML2pt8Vzybqbh6zGjP_Cg8CY6QitQp0VzXX8t-Mtfc5QkU/w640-h426/Northern+Pygmy+Owl+web-0904.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Moments later they were gone.</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We continued upward, my legs turning to putty and heart racing, my lack of fitness leaving something to be desired. Five minute breaks were the order of the day. Climbing higher a flock of White-winged Crossbills were feeding on Sitka Spruce cones. They stayed long enough for a few photographs.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0KdTVCfhUCR0NTcK4rzoQ_WcB89zndOTmu-8PBogkI2vSk2KQ8e4IAEMNWxfbdbDhZ-SJvwAtJ0DC7v5-EoiPrrsvTZv-eTTJyEvpO6a-DxRUmVpJKWuyYtgZRAw4Q45RyPYagB0JLs/s720/White-winged+Crossbill+web-1005.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0KdTVCfhUCR0NTcK4rzoQ_WcB89zndOTmu-8PBogkI2vSk2KQ8e4IAEMNWxfbdbDhZ-SJvwAtJ0DC7v5-EoiPrrsvTZv-eTTJyEvpO6a-DxRUmVpJKWuyYtgZRAw4Q45RyPYagB0JLs/w640-h426/White-winged+Crossbill+web-1005.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-winged Crossbill.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoT7GEJ_FFBDe4rrWQQRF48o3Np3kJzy7sU6dSz_Vc_eYoA_TS7hb649PFbG82Exao3weGvACIeGldXYgEQ7sv9Kjs5er5LOn_0Dus364YhvxK12UlJeDRULeHGACRzFPGX1F5pZYq-9A/s720/White-winged+Crossbill+web-1012.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoT7GEJ_FFBDe4rrWQQRF48o3Np3kJzy7sU6dSz_Vc_eYoA_TS7hb649PFbG82Exao3weGvACIeGldXYgEQ7sv9Kjs5er5LOn_0Dus364YhvxK12UlJeDRULeHGACRzFPGX1F5pZYq-9A/w640-h426/White-winged+Crossbill+web-1012.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossbills pry open the cones with their powerful bill and extract the seeds. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> Eventually we reached the monument and a fork in the trail. Needle Peak to the left and to the right Flatiron and hopefully the Ptarmigan. We were still 1.5 km away. When we arrived there were already a few hikers and swimmers cooling off in the lake but alas no Ptarmigan. A flock of birds flew overhead, they sounded like Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch but I couldn't make them out or get an ID picture.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwmhZmZafLUA3N2N9H4ViW7ecvDix0n7hgpZS_lMbCxcUnSaJn40BVyC5WsGG-3PzlR8GJ5t4fm5bUqdsBLHr_W37EKjuIgKUPXkl5DeHtx0bRX6NBde9IHmHotyMQHPggbjdbn8RKbw/s500/Flatiron+IMG_4175.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwmhZmZafLUA3N2N9H4ViW7ecvDix0n7hgpZS_lMbCxcUnSaJn40BVyC5WsGG-3PzlR8GJ5t4fm5bUqdsBLHr_W37EKjuIgKUPXkl5DeHtx0bRX6NBde9IHmHotyMQHPggbjdbn8RKbw/w640-h480/Flatiron+IMG_4175.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Craig takes in the view with Flatiron in the middle distance. <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> Craig decided to make his own way up the granite strewn escarpment. I waited below. Eventually through my binoculars I could see by his stance he was photographing something, probably the Ptarmigan. It was time for me to move.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0V5ubvQmacqC4DLx_WTq_6aOQlFvQHIH813PGfUjpgT2kAv8R3nPG3NEUma_lNrZ8AoDFAd2Q6FqI7S6646InqzZsU67rY5044WP7ZI-X6w_hoawzAwKGlXriz1_EOpzsalguckbQeJ8/s720/Flatiron+SummitIMG_4180.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0V5ubvQmacqC4DLx_WTq_6aOQlFvQHIH813PGfUjpgT2kAv8R3nPG3NEUma_lNrZ8AoDFAd2Q6FqI7S6646InqzZsU67rY5044WP7ZI-X6w_hoawzAwKGlXriz1_EOpzsalguckbQeJ8/w640-h426/Flatiron+SummitIMG_4180.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> A climb from the lake to the summit took another twenty minutes. </td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Suddenly my legs came to life, the energy that had been drained away on the hike had miraculously returned. Soon I was within metres of the summit and the radio tower. That last scramble was a 167 m gain but well worth it. As I reached the summit my heart was beating so hard I couldn't hold the camera still, especially a 500 mm. I waited a few moments before firing off a few frames in case the Ptarmigan decided to take off on me. They didn't. </span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcMouOfHa2ThIF6rXN5sdQQ3fM2qGjU99MOi8bMrU46gghRcVL-4QwBkDFj61Ar19xZVY_ZeYRVALd90TStrOh1NPnD6P7jLTmuB8jh2yXS-0QVOQabFQ13sCYn7oS73ngYCsBDPp1kQ/s720/White-tailed+Ptarmigan+web-1058.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcMouOfHa2ThIF6rXN5sdQQ3fM2qGjU99MOi8bMrU46gghRcVL-4QwBkDFj61Ar19xZVY_ZeYRVALd90TStrOh1NPnD6P7jLTmuB8jh2yXS-0QVOQabFQ13sCYn7oS73ngYCsBDPp1kQ/w640-h426/White-tailed+Ptarmigan+web-1058.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The master of disguise.</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Among the tangle of rocks a slight movement gives away an elusive White-tailed Ptarmigan. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The Ptarmigans's plumage is a perfect defence against aerial predators.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hI-jB1mlUoD19W3AfQq-53TkikdwnGW0LIgIPsBhZcI9KLO2sn9U82ZNwzOwZ2zh9Miiw3_v5hIZeEDZn68q3IKIPom4JnMEnY6MLgq3kRlsW18d4IAIMOB_Wbw5JN-cCsaWpQZPfic/s720/White-tailed+Ptarmigan+disguise-1118.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hI-jB1mlUoD19W3AfQq-53TkikdwnGW0LIgIPsBhZcI9KLO2sn9U82ZNwzOwZ2zh9Miiw3_v5hIZeEDZn68q3IKIPom4JnMEnY6MLgq3kRlsW18d4IAIMOB_Wbw5JN-cCsaWpQZPfic/w640-h426/White-tailed+Ptarmigan+disguise-1118.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The perfect camouflage. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Eventually we counted twenty-five or more Ptarmigan, most were hidden in cracks or in the shade of the rocks, yet others nibbling on a type of sedge. Their presence became apparent only when they moved. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgH54wZ_sy1V5u06eLAIrQ8w5J5_tIUk8Rnq97Kz0aCFlVELVE0jMx0gXfzpkkBC8gga0s05Wwz-EoM7zqBotm4i4KYkWp16TnK3FECiZng_rfdxl6IvdTR3oz5rwCTpsu3gtC6rZfmQ/s720/White-tailed+Ptarmigan+web-1150.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgH54wZ_sy1V5u06eLAIrQ8w5J5_tIUk8Rnq97Kz0aCFlVELVE0jMx0gXfzpkkBC8gga0s05Wwz-EoM7zqBotm4i4KYkWp16TnK3FECiZng_rfdxl6IvdTR3oz5rwCTpsu3gtC6rZfmQ/s16000/White-tailed+Ptarmigan+web-1150.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Once the birds realized we posed no threat the covey came out to feed.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXc2-TyVy44HAxa3sYl6e5HmkTesQ5MUQcLgRQYjTg7ZwvFtiLsL0evhwcp5cryw8rv_UAt8Ij9T3bxprq2vzTppdpaEZrc1z8sF74JlFPHZAZCe90g0GJVZWFd5Hxq3SF3MfBIW2DJI/s720/White-tailed+Ptarmigan+web-1186.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXc2-TyVy44HAxa3sYl6e5HmkTesQ5MUQcLgRQYjTg7ZwvFtiLsL0evhwcp5cryw8rv_UAt8Ij9T3bxprq2vzTppdpaEZrc1z8sF74JlFPHZAZCe90g0GJVZWFd5Hxq3SF3MfBIW2DJI/w640-h426/White-tailed+Ptarmigan+web-1186.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was plenty of vegetation between the outcrops.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: left;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">At this point I wish I had brought my Nikon 200mm-500mm F 5.6 zoom rather than my fixed 500 mm F5.6 prime. While Craig was able to stand in one spot and compose his photographs I had to back up. A zoom would have been a better option, albeit heavier. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I used a CCS G3 Cotton Carrier camera and binocular harness with the 500 mm on my chest and my binoculars on the side. During the hike I hardly noticed their presence except when I needed to shoot. I've photographing for forty years and it has proven to be the very best carrying system I have ever used.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://cottoncarrier.com">G3 Harness</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vWYHilBuwqnmaoDxmY-FWYGES1sYGocVwe5fam__mWH4_by6kuRlO-51ykhMzwuFgLWcVQw_wuvgXDp_YbHD03wKwU_hqy72FRHaN8BbgGupub9XDwaJh1GjyBx2LHcXhwY99i5NUa0/s720/White-tailed+Ptarmigan+web-1171.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vWYHilBuwqnmaoDxmY-FWYGES1sYGocVwe5fam__mWH4_by6kuRlO-51ykhMzwuFgLWcVQw_wuvgXDp_YbHD03wKwU_hqy72FRHaN8BbgGupub9XDwaJh1GjyBx2LHcXhwY99i5NUa0/s16000/White-tailed+Ptarmigan+web-1171.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the covey.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">We reached an elevation of 1898 m with a combined elevation gain of 867 m from the car park. </span>Eventually it was time to leave and make our way back down the mountain. The Ptarmigan were my third year bird** for the day. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8cKpc68xjxQWKG2dqR5fPwu9fermGynCmdftGJ-MS51intmPHe-MapTHzLY7L-nJiuXTIyapb-S60HGOGzUIPveclTJm_WzRzjikCp91y-OpBnkxd-p32QhzQmLhFAUw4FFBargCl0k/s600/Flatiron+Neddle+Peak+IMG_4182.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8cKpc68xjxQWKG2dqR5fPwu9fermGynCmdftGJ-MS51intmPHe-MapTHzLY7L-nJiuXTIyapb-S60HGOGzUIPveclTJm_WzRzjikCp91y-OpBnkxd-p32QhzQmLhFAUw4FFBargCl0k/w640-h426/Flatiron+Neddle+Peak+IMG_4182.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Needle Peak from the lake.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The walk back was filled with the most majestic views imaginable, it's been a long time since I had been hiking. I had forgotten how beautiful the mountains can be. I used my iPhone 8 to take the accompanying scenics.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkTwYlHasUw305OWCc_6N0BPPb_7cksvXBtCWbxvZvr_Md6P16fAhPCvuWpRuChjo0-lbrZ1a3sbbQNtbWblRTaHkV3L7uHrfFl4w61AweCiTyZtRr6aryaYzciY3MJjcc_Vcs5UpqxI/s720/White-tailed+Ptarmigan+web-1212.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkTwYlHasUw305OWCc_6N0BPPb_7cksvXBtCWbxvZvr_Md6P16fAhPCvuWpRuChjo0-lbrZ1a3sbbQNtbWblRTaHkV3L7uHrfFl4w61AweCiTyZtRr6aryaYzciY3MJjcc_Vcs5UpqxI/w640-h426/White-tailed+Ptarmigan+web-1212.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"> The descent I was warned could be as difficult as the accent. True to form the steep trail was a combination of wet moss and slippery granite, for me at least it was treacherous. I'm glad I carried a pole for balance.</p><p style="text-align: center;">On the decent I thought I heard chickadees. Eventually, after a bit of searching we found four Mountain Chickadee, right on the trail, the fourth year bird of the day. I screwed up the exposure but thankfully I had shot in Raw and was able to save the picture albeit the highlights were lost. A shame really as the background was perfect.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mog6cKyvENLe97r8YZrLzRP2VQLD_o5kNotEH_kfbyw3z36OG2_mw6b-_uiZ_-f11assmWJWTgtjjF_VMaSjojzWYWJ0tZmyrYx3DUOex8zpjlgm1gpAEDzUW0KaXsBspEL1_04L67c/s720/Mountaion+Chickadee+web-1228.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mog6cKyvENLe97r8YZrLzRP2VQLD_o5kNotEH_kfbyw3z36OG2_mw6b-_uiZ_-f11assmWJWTgtjjF_VMaSjojzWYWJ0tZmyrYx3DUOex8zpjlgm1gpAEDzUW0KaXsBspEL1_04L67c/w640-h426/Mountaion+Chickadee+web-1228.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain Chickadee</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;">A hour later were we almost back at the car. My brain and feet were completely out of sync. I was exhausted, both mentally and physically. However both the birds and scenery were well worth the effort. Who knows, I might even try another hike one day.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Established in 1986, Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area lies in the territories of the Nlaka’pamux, Sto:lo, and Yale First Nations. (<span style="font-size: x-small;">Outdoor Vancouver</span>) </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">*A big year is a personal challenge or an informal competition among birders who attempt to identify as many species of birds as possible by sight or sound in any one year.</p><p style="text-align: center;">** A year bird is a new species found during a big year.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"It's never too late to take a hike"</span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">John Gordon</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Langley/Cloverdale</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">BC Canada</span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-84244834262533802162021-06-14T19:51:00.003-07:002021-06-15T11:04:01.947-07:00Aldergrove Lake Park<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Aldergrove Lake Park</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">May/June 2021</span></p><p><span style="text-align: justify;">The warm spring weather has been a welcome change. Even June has been kind, not too hot nor too cold. The winter boots, toque and hand warmers long put away, the coffee flask exchanged for a bottle of water. The smell of new growth in the air is intoxicating. Eastern Cottontails scurry along the trails. There's a plentiful banquet for all the creatures of the forest. At the Aldergrove Park Bowl a colony of Savannah Sparrow hatchlings can be heard, soon fledglings will be appear, climbing the long grass in search of insects and seeds. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3hCAFBc-_c1-WoFjnAJhN2EIOv9y3Sqrd7uJBATz7ONuIhhsZd2YY8Jy-dg0Cv6LGh5QndY8jfT-aQVPLLXdgFWQ1KoYubKiNrEuIulp903cTdPDkq2BCgr_WXtQfbS8U3qGv7GmTLg/s600/Savannah+Sparrow+web-6470.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3hCAFBc-_c1-WoFjnAJhN2EIOv9y3Sqrd7uJBATz7ONuIhhsZd2YY8Jy-dg0Cv6LGh5QndY8jfT-aQVPLLXdgFWQ1KoYubKiNrEuIulp903cTdPDkq2BCgr_WXtQfbS8U3qGv7GmTLg/w640-h426/Savannah+Sparrow+web-6470.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adult Savannah Sparrow</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">The same cannot be said for an adjoining portions of the park that have already been hayed and where dozens of Savannahs can be seen 're-nesting' or perhaps salvaging nests that weren't destroyed by the bailer. A park representatives I spoke to told me a new contract is being put in place so that haying is held-off in future seasons, good news the birds. Wardens in the park are also aware of ground nesters along the trails, especially Song Sparrows. Now if only the dog walkers would keep their animals on lease and pick up their poop, life would be perfect.</p><p></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: -webkit-standard; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: auto; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4JUpIkw9hWDvp5olvoMvS7RM5JqrVL1UFZf07jVGbc_I3QgLaaNTwcPYqorgw13z4_3Q4ZTTV1tivb5bbdtYxYG9HqIhCVOicCcObIzuzaHDlYdDADsjPutsqKXF-GfRpqAVn7942wA/s600/Aldergrove+Lake+Park+Bowl_3591+web.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4JUpIkw9hWDvp5olvoMvS7RM5JqrVL1UFZf07jVGbc_I3QgLaaNTwcPYqorgw13z4_3Q4ZTTV1tivb5bbdtYxYG9HqIhCVOicCcObIzuzaHDlYdDADsjPutsqKXF-GfRpqAVn7942wA/s16000/Aldergrove+Lake+Park+Bowl_3591+web.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Aldergrove Bowl<br />iPhone 8 HDR</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The winter chattering of Pacific Wren and the delicate whispering of Golden-crowned Kinglets has been replaced by the Western Tanager and Black-headed Grosbeak, meanwhile the orchestral leader and beautiful songster, the Swainson's Thrush can be heard on every trail. Sometimes referred to as the 'Salmonberry bird' their arrival coincides with the first ripening ruby coloured berries.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsH76UwmBi2PiQP28Qzuw4bNi_2ZE8ckmpXmQH5do0VDLjClH3FlDF80S7FCpcfIxJZRZkDVQ0TmiMzys1CGDZxTXef8iK8mxWRV95XzntWu0C1hLYtlKKKDnaZX_qKBwVbOmoWopWQE/s600/Swainson%2527s+Thrush+web-6527-.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsH76UwmBi2PiQP28Qzuw4bNi_2ZE8ckmpXmQH5do0VDLjClH3FlDF80S7FCpcfIxJZRZkDVQ0TmiMzys1CGDZxTXef8iK8mxWRV95XzntWu0C1hLYtlKKKDnaZX_qKBwVbOmoWopWQE/w640-h426/Swainson%2527s+Thrush+web-6527-.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swainson's Thrush</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">I could listen the trumpeting sound of the little brown thrush all day long. Hours go by and I realize half a day has passed and I have left my lunch in the car. Thank goodness for the bottle of water and sunscreen, meanwhile a melted snack bar will have to make do. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>On a photographic note I have dispensed with a big lens and tripod and now carry a DSLR and small 500mm F 5.6 lens held on my chest with a Cotton Carrier. I can walk all day, my hands free to use my bins to quickly observe birds and make sound recordings. Everything fits in a small bag. This set-up has radically changed the way I photograph and bird. I am now recording some of my favourite images. The only downside of the long fixed lens are the landscape shots which I need to illustrate my photo stories, for those I use my iPhone as seen in this blog and other posts. </i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvQ_4Iqjq9ffRMNn6s-wqbLEgOOZV_N5ZG0HpQmyPxMWMiugUJuo1xTotKOW7dsR9hA4Wk2rzncBK0pGjN_I6vvs4kO9SCi7C9kbA18DsRwzsX9eIncXxEHmE6HG69G4hVH4GHQ2zHrI/s600/Salmonberry+web-6466.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvQ_4Iqjq9ffRMNn6s-wqbLEgOOZV_N5ZG0HpQmyPxMWMiugUJuo1xTotKOW7dsR9hA4Wk2rzncBK0pGjN_I6vvs4kO9SCi7C9kbA18DsRwzsX9eIncXxEHmE6HG69G4hVH4GHQ2zHrI/w640-h426/Salmonberry+web-6466.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salmonberry in various stages of ripening.</td></tr></tbody></table><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p style="text-align: justify;">A pair of Townsend's Warblers dance around the forest canopy gleaning insects. It's understandable why they venture north each summer, the forest is it crawling with emerging insects and for the next few months, an inexhaustible supply of nutritious food.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i>Most Townsend Warblers are migratory to British Columbia, with different populations of the species wintering in two separate areas. Some Townsend's Warblers winter along the West Coast from Oregon south to Mexico's Baja Peninsula, while others move further south to the highlands of central Mexico and Central America </i>(American Bird Conservancy)</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNm-2XpDOdbO-RMtN-X66B48kURAMb8yGQjcSAysgZ9RfJxmBpqlAZYHjq0ufmmqFiarCe_UGT7sLt0NC_At-EswJgAFkoRq-vXTvlli4823SO-U13mMbH3WolJFSeKinqEVoImYN-HS0/s600/Townsend%2527s+Warbler+web-4774.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNm-2XpDOdbO-RMtN-X66B48kURAMb8yGQjcSAysgZ9RfJxmBpqlAZYHjq0ufmmqFiarCe_UGT7sLt0NC_At-EswJgAFkoRq-vXTvlli4823SO-U13mMbH3WolJFSeKinqEVoImYN-HS0/w400-h266/Townsend%2527s+Warbler+web-4774.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Townsend's Warbler</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">While looking at the Aldergrove Park Big Rock a Townsend Warbler lands beside me. Amazing what can happen when a person is quiet and still. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkwKmJo523vjCscWH9D7pHl85YSrfRsEgcPQlpFFPiOWVQq6IIUCXPGVr9mKXu-HRem1qMEaXrc5KHJWSL3x7GlR_H7KADfcsVDklHS6ubdO7CpC3pjtze8uYRit3YEJn-4FiEky2Pa4/s600/Big+Rock+_3476.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkwKmJo523vjCscWH9D7pHl85YSrfRsEgcPQlpFFPiOWVQq6IIUCXPGVr9mKXu-HRem1qMEaXrc5KHJWSL3x7GlR_H7KADfcsVDklHS6ubdO7CpC3pjtze8uYRit3YEJn-4FiEky2Pa4/w640-h426/Big+Rock+_3476.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://nwgeology.wordpress.com/the-fieldtrips/glacial-erratic-field-trips/the-mother-of-all-erratics-so-far/">More about the Big Rock</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: left;"></span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAp0z8fbKH6GiVfXq5aWqk3j5m2XNqM-PHgyNa3fT5pdI9XjAKmxqkEnQadFGXiBPdL9b3DX6tsHwJQdIpQGJy0hRgpm0UyNFqUXMD0Tm_6h1HNeMDv3ceOJkb7p-ClmP5Wn8nTIrbz8/s600/Red-legged+Frog+web-6463.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAp0z8fbKH6GiVfXq5aWqk3j5m2XNqM-PHgyNa3fT5pdI9XjAKmxqkEnQadFGXiBPdL9b3DX6tsHwJQdIpQGJy0hRgpm0UyNFqUXMD0Tm_6h1HNeMDv3ceOJkb7p-ClmP5Wn8nTIrbz8/w400-h266/Red-legged+Frog+web-6463.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Immature American Bullfrog in Pepin Brook. I had originally <br />posted it as a Red-legged Frog.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpzH94-a_RfyRFHSJk35b0oWCnCx_YXc1gDIjjRPZOtNZE-kO9QyA-m8A6NbF4aJVnJbKzFv2A6_6240k1OEGJpwSge34-gXbMCQha9bk6yndh1gLtw8kE5PhJlOgq2NBJJn9naXzeMY/s600/Orange-crowned+Warbler-web+4927.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpzH94-a_RfyRFHSJk35b0oWCnCx_YXc1gDIjjRPZOtNZE-kO9QyA-m8A6NbF4aJVnJbKzFv2A6_6240k1OEGJpwSge34-gXbMCQha9bk6yndh1gLtw8kE5PhJlOgq2NBJJn9naXzeMY/w400-h266/Orange-crowned+Warbler-web+4927.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange-crowned Warbler</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I heard a rustle in the bushes and slowly turned around to catch a Douglas Squirrel munching on some fresh plant material. I watched for several minutes until the little critter caught sight of me. </div><span style="text-align: justify;">Within seconds it was gone. Taking time to pause and listen to the birds has plenty of benefits. </span></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOL23_AgHTA39wC1s5OBbSg1CoOowFcJBvNxcDzF_LJSHyiKkrrHidJKSjyDcbxN_jLcuMKwJePNil47cau2IQAWFKoAb07pYW0D5LVRIftYXZyZT-3TEANL7C9SnIbIoN_l5Jp25Z4Q/s600/Douglas+Squirrel-6453+web.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOL23_AgHTA39wC1s5OBbSg1CoOowFcJBvNxcDzF_LJSHyiKkrrHidJKSjyDcbxN_jLcuMKwJePNil47cau2IQAWFKoAb07pYW0D5LVRIftYXZyZT-3TEANL7C9SnIbIoN_l5Jp25Z4Q/w266-h400/Douglas+Squirrel-6453+web.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Douglas Squirrel</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYtAY_WqbWvAsRdFBtqhItDRbj-7NNOfvSpQa-U_3ajfK0RsZuKT9sWU9XM4GMpc-KGGkDXwRnUuh_ajA-UNu4LMOYdheNI-2p4_xev1It7dzlM408bKhMCuLmFgMXPlMHUYI8kMcBhY/s600/Douglas+Squirrel-6454+web.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYtAY_WqbWvAsRdFBtqhItDRbj-7NNOfvSpQa-U_3ajfK0RsZuKT9sWU9XM4GMpc-KGGkDXwRnUuh_ajA-UNu4LMOYdheNI-2p4_xev1It7dzlM408bKhMCuLmFgMXPlMHUYI8kMcBhY/w266-h400/Douglas+Squirrel-6454+web.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smile for the camera.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Around Aldergrove Lake pond nineteen Western-painted Turtles soaked up the warmth, maybe a twentieth was hiding out of sight. A poster asks park visitors to report turtle sightings. A Common Garter snake sunned on the pathway. Finally the forest has gone quiet, it's time to head home for an afternoon nap, life can be so good at times.</span></div><br />,<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"It's never too late for a walk in the park"</div><div style="text-align: center;">John Gordon</div><div style="text-align: center;">Langley/Cloverdale</div><div style="text-align: center;">BC Canada</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-72147796076769526042021-05-03T22:36:00.005-07:002021-06-10T18:33:28.041-07:00Fraser Valley Birding <h2 style="text-align: center;"> Fraser Valley Birding</h2><div style="text-align: center;">April 27 2021</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Stunning scenery, great birds, wide open spaces and friendly birders, that's Fraser Valley birding. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some of the most popular locations to bird include Fishtrap Creek, Mill Lake, Willband Creek Park, Cheam Wetlands and of course the Great Heron Reserve. Hope Airport is a mecca for rarities at any time of the year, where in the past I have had some really good birds including Loggerhead Shrike, Nashville and Palm Warblers. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">This year I am steering clear of the Metro Vancouver area, way too much traffic and with Covid-19 far too many people.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirRRBKD7Np4V7weQts9743B5p8y_lptCRGqiPWWxhaa4MTInUxU5j1Jz4AUzxj65blafLgf0-HC1w5IHZ57hDa0I5_sveVoFwsEUHOyCFOtodMsgwmi9GQKP9eLp7sySByJ_ARXrWySkw/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirRRBKD7Np4V7weQts9743B5p8y_lptCRGqiPWWxhaa4MTInUxU5j1Jz4AUzxj65blafLgf0-HC1w5IHZ57hDa0I5_sveVoFwsEUHOyCFOtodMsgwmi9GQKP9eLp7sySByJ_ARXrWySkw/w640-h426/Fishtrap+Creek+web+IMG_3280.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fishtrap Creek <br />Abbotsford.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Besides the well know locations there are any number of back roads, hidden away sloughs and dense woodland to explore. There is open prairie and cultivated farmland that attracts wintering raptors and their prey. Flooded scrapes in the old lake bed attract migrating shorebirds. As the Fraser Valley narrows mountains tower above and offer the opportunity for some excellent hiking and birding especially during migration when birds funnel through the valleys and into the Interior. During the spring anything can be expected. A flock of Greater Yellowlegs at Ruskin Dam last week or a pair of Townsend's Solitaires along the Harrison River has made for some interesting birding. </div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4oyVw0bpKvO6Ova85kDumL7gIai6jaUIA4F5fRVVOuFG-DMQF8QMfObw1rKjRouzJqTCO_5lNpvU0fx8U4fd5l_nKKCcksevhW9e5cp3EMRsoWix0Imi6FHkStysMjFoTaag_lGmlm4/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4oyVw0bpKvO6Ova85kDumL7gIai6jaUIA4F5fRVVOuFG-DMQF8QMfObw1rKjRouzJqTCO_5lNpvU0fx8U4fd5l_nKKCcksevhW9e5cp3EMRsoWix0Imi6FHkStysMjFoTaag_lGmlm4/w427-h640/Townsend%2527s+Solitaire+web-4064.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Townsend's Solitaire<br />Kilby Regional Park.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Last week five Black-bellied Plovers and ten Whimbrel on migration were a real treat, common on the coast but harder to find in the valley. Every week throws up a surprise.</div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNhDH3awh7wcVRINCLDahYrY7HJIj7fZGZf0VQmhlc87yuZINZQnKmVIO9zrIqB_V1lviT1p4ilOPHTO05w-Ojre39uzt1nSZXe0XQT40AkYP1s68xS2x43hxbxY3ROnZeayuTI4Tbbk/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNhDH3awh7wcVRINCLDahYrY7HJIj7fZGZf0VQmhlc87yuZINZQnKmVIO9zrIqB_V1lviT1p4ilOPHTO05w-Ojre39uzt1nSZXe0XQT40AkYP1s68xS2x43hxbxY3ROnZeayuTI4Tbbk/w640-h426/Red-tailed+Hawk+Harlen%2527s+web-2496-.jpg-focus.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk<br />Glen Valley.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SPTA6poKweHDvHoEE5IU6DUZzdLcCVmcDDwzeClQZBJPEVPzP089UDaGXGev6AHL4lpi4sKYwW3Odj4xD_JX56kSNrtNjlDT6Hn9hcFweCuLnpzeHoZqmrmhYytfR6ECg36VKgmmuXo/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SPTA6poKweHDvHoEE5IU6DUZzdLcCVmcDDwzeClQZBJPEVPzP089UDaGXGev6AHL4lpi4sKYwW3Odj4xD_JX56kSNrtNjlDT6Hn9hcFweCuLnpzeHoZqmrmhYytfR6ECg36VKgmmuXo/w640-h426/Tuyteens+webIMG_3356.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning Scenery at Tuttyens Rd Wetlands<br />Agassiz. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90nBm6ucfrqf92SbysDTPtg4PR3VpqAi_rSBBaM5YoH3rxnrpRK4z_9X27Za72zfR9Ay7o99g5snrdNXOrc8n_Adc3CYAfbwwVhaH8kg3x2HDdWra4Xtc85gr8FJTDkvYCGMgUz9_OAk/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90nBm6ucfrqf92SbysDTPtg4PR3VpqAi_rSBBaM5YoH3rxnrpRK4z_9X27Za72zfR9Ay7o99g5snrdNXOrc8n_Adc3CYAfbwwVhaH8kg3x2HDdWra4Xtc85gr8FJTDkvYCGMgUz9_OAk/w640-h426/Greater+Yellowlegs-3252-web.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greater Yellowlegs <br />Tuttyens Wetlands. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>After Tuttyens I visited the Bert Brink Wildlife Management Area which skirts along the Sumas Lake Canal. I was there for less than twenty minutes and had all the usual duck species, a Northern Shrike and two Turkey Vultures. A recent brush fire ravaged the Nature Trust lands, it took hours to put out and caused substantial damage. The land will eventually heal and the burn area will provide new habitat before returning to its former state.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/plants-animals-ecosystems/wildlife/wildlife-habitats/conservation-lands/wma/wmas-list/bert-brink">Bert-Brink Management Area</a><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmirJVsuqriWVuhJc5utC3ZtB_j0lG69qK8TLn3oAdwhnDU3daNKyNB8ryrx0WcIQo4_R698yBGZglQEjZt4Nr5PHcZzow0rNbcXJnTwCg-nkwKw4N7MpH58_Bh3jGL_NL5WstTJ23pUc/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmirJVsuqriWVuhJc5utC3ZtB_j0lG69qK8TLn3oAdwhnDU3daNKyNB8ryrx0WcIQo4_R698yBGZglQEjZt4Nr5PHcZzow0rNbcXJnTwCg-nkwKw4N7MpH58_Bh3jGL_NL5WstTJ23pUc/w640-h426/Bert+Brink+Wildlife+MA+IMG_3360.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bert Brink Management Area <br />Chilliwack.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtaUnKRyMdFgMfS122TEkbZme0CecDbYGE_bFDsXyl0fd_DX8lDgMgvA3Narjb4X7u2aVFWrLuHBsY1r3aOl0jBAiXn1N9A7H4fAV9aAaGdTnw8Ccnfja7JNZEPtzV5_W7WPA43qO5ZE/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtaUnKRyMdFgMfS122TEkbZme0CecDbYGE_bFDsXyl0fd_DX8lDgMgvA3Narjb4X7u2aVFWrLuHBsY1r3aOl0jBAiXn1N9A7H4fAV9aAaGdTnw8Ccnfja7JNZEPtzV5_W7WPA43qO5ZE/w640-h426/Fraser+Valley+Tulips+web+Ap26-4443.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tulips/Sumas Prairie</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">Chilliwack Lake</h3><div style="text-align: center;">On my first ever visit to Chilliwack Lake I found five Canada Jays and a pair of courting Red-breasted Sapsuckers, both good year birds. There was still some snow hanging around in shaded areas. Ruffed Grouse were booming in the cut block while Common Ravens soared overhead. Apart from the flock of Red Crossbills flying overhead there was a blissful silence, no trains, planes or automobiles and best of all no thoughts.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyWOlOAzNhzSjDAY9uqRb-9JRaVGAaIdZAyPQLn-RxGHPbAyhxXdRQKwAIpbyf1skuQoIzoI4Tj_sO06SUMFndC0RJpBjoOeqJZmQEnKnfEWklJc8NCWTE-fK01xvk_7nLvDV5Rb8l7I/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyWOlOAzNhzSjDAY9uqRb-9JRaVGAaIdZAyPQLn-RxGHPbAyhxXdRQKwAIpbyf1skuQoIzoI4Tj_sO06SUMFndC0RJpBjoOeqJZmQEnKnfEWklJc8NCWTE-fK01xvk_7nLvDV5Rb8l7I/w640-h426/Chilliwack+Lake+webIMG_3400.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chilliwack Lake.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO46vxkHV6j1hJFD2_9bN7QViP3ZQ3cKrn5r73xhBZPqFgThQ8DDN-GiiNocbtlvxijaLJLZM-ds9PnlLXRMUw-cBpQ4WVbWbqn6yZRTrHqdlW9hs4P8p8JZkYu5_0LuJcOY0M39gbhZM/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO46vxkHV6j1hJFD2_9bN7QViP3ZQ3cKrn5r73xhBZPqFgThQ8DDN-GiiNocbtlvxijaLJLZM-ds9PnlLXRMUw-cBpQ4WVbWbqn6yZRTrHqdlW9hs4P8p8JZkYu5_0LuJcOY0M39gbhZM/w640-h426/Canada+Jay+web-3533.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canada Jay/Whisky Jack/Camp Robber/Grey Jay<br />Chilliwack Lake.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href=" https://corvidresearch.blog/2019/02/25/the-bird-of-many-names/">The Bird of Many Names</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHHxOpAXx6CPm5WKq-8azehrbbDVAntIW2t3P7jKGb2xNI_0ErhyphenhyphenA_SQJIvnYw8jg8v1fFZ0CzlqroMukU0R1UdjMnUFdWbOtSUp5jbSNI9DnXj26lI6IbbocjCd50-0G72U6jL2cqqY/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHHxOpAXx6CPm5WKq-8azehrbbDVAntIW2t3P7jKGb2xNI_0ErhyphenhyphenA_SQJIvnYw8jg8v1fFZ0CzlqroMukU0R1UdjMnUFdWbOtSUp5jbSNI9DnXj26lI6IbbocjCd50-0G72U6jL2cqqY/w427-h640/Red-breasted+Sapsucker+web-3602.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red breasted Sapsucker<br />Chilliwack Lake.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;">Willband Creek Park</h3><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDNcVin7bC4-kcogc65hQdj6SEGa-uRFzfRyyLSOb7yUllDolKhpHaza3K8JLonHjHB-yXEPB1kFLi_IYtqg1WOFjUWyJsm7pdgAuiS3ZlEe5i3HO73K0OFozXqjGK0ect1kUka65t3E/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDNcVin7bC4-kcogc65hQdj6SEGa-uRFzfRyyLSOb7yUllDolKhpHaza3K8JLonHjHB-yXEPB1kFLi_IYtqg1WOFjUWyJsm7pdgAuiS3ZlEe5i3HO73K0OFozXqjGK0ect1kUka65t3E/w640-h426/Willband+Creek+Park+Web+IMG_3347.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawn at Willband Creek Park<br />Abbotsford.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjd2cvhm33mxUm8Zjlohq9q6g-t11lUlGwUANA5KzeLvn_PJPp5nwWsAYoeJyCi-lrWQpMnqc9darLOnEZMfBqYSX4G_hWsJpjOzLJvZoZ_qA1ChDXORvpzAmhtwB8fNmLHviFMlh4oHE/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjd2cvhm33mxUm8Zjlohq9q6g-t11lUlGwUANA5KzeLvn_PJPp5nwWsAYoeJyCi-lrWQpMnqc9darLOnEZMfBqYSX4G_hWsJpjOzLJvZoZ_qA1ChDXORvpzAmhtwB8fNmLHviFMlh4oHE/w640-h426/Northern-Rough-winged+Swallow-3890-.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Rough-winged Swallow<br />Willband.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGoa91NZo3uV4I_qzC-1pPhh8bQd09zoBPxwcsx_2QahkZIe7HLM2sG1PqiKp02lp5KPIBfOo5rHbqhyFYNlKwGxLbiJvGFTCnAp39RInP51Oc3jqnlcHgWkDq8cgy-M4tyGLlNqdM-o/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGoa91NZo3uV4I_qzC-1pPhh8bQd09zoBPxwcsx_2QahkZIe7HLM2sG1PqiKp02lp5KPIBfOo5rHbqhyFYNlKwGxLbiJvGFTCnAp39RInP51Oc3jqnlcHgWkDq8cgy-M4tyGLlNqdM-o/w640-h426/Violet-Green+Swallow+web-3220.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lucky Violet-green Swallow shot.<br />Technically imperfect but I like it and that's all that counts.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Delving deeper in the Fraser Valley to bird means doing some homework, planning trips to specific areas, figuring out where particular species might turn-up and of course making contacts with local birders who know the lay of the land. Local knowledge is and has been invaluable. Many thanks to Gord G, Ed K, Dave B and John V for sharing their knowledge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5U2VZ89BVp40c8LcKsWecAD8lyCHxl225i-R0GaZZA7xw4L_tzAx7ufJOXOisi5AEjNbXP19BmpAMf_eoLbY4ryk5xAlLnjTQp5t8W5P1605cGhLvjXPuORRS4_rOPvZUsul9ZBEcx4/s600/Muskrat-web4707.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5U2VZ89BVp40c8LcKsWecAD8lyCHxl225i-R0GaZZA7xw4L_tzAx7ufJOXOisi5AEjNbXP19BmpAMf_eoLbY4ryk5xAlLnjTQp5t8W5P1605cGhLvjXPuORRS4_rOPvZUsul9ZBEcx4/w640-h426/Muskrat-web4707.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Muskrat, one of a pair carries food or nesting material.<br />Matsqui Trail.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYImx_RzNgn_icwebB7HJhZ0DDANXcR9S94LPihQCFJW0xylDW2kJP9ZegUecW74rY3AAtlCqk5w3TI9CJG6x3aUg3sHvf5S2-eYf-jugSRXbP5XiGFLwu8vvSAgV4cVgL838O_6iIos/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYImx_RzNgn_icwebB7HJhZ0DDANXcR9S94LPihQCFJW0xylDW2kJP9ZegUecW74rY3AAtlCqk5w3TI9CJG6x3aUg3sHvf5S2-eYf-jugSRXbP5XiGFLwu8vvSAgV4cVgL838O_6iIos/w427-h640/Hairy+Woodpecker+web-2617.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hairy Woodpecker<br />Great Blue Heron Reserve feeder.<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhMDEDfWm7aB7iMc4t0O34I010cbv_SsX7XqeY-64vU9UYjX7D_TEvBCxwKXjEWmWS9IQ7f7YDs5Hjc4LG2Lz_oCNJNRishBJ1oo022aII_Ddbkv1qL4fFezWNFhPoDh_Fse79Q7jgJ0/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhMDEDfWm7aB7iMc4t0O34I010cbv_SsX7XqeY-64vU9UYjX7D_TEvBCxwKXjEWmWS9IQ7f7YDs5Hjc4LG2Lz_oCNJNRishBJ1oo022aII_Ddbkv1qL4fFezWNFhPoDh_Fse79Q7jgJ0/w640-h426/Osprey+web-4224-.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Osprey<br />Matsqui Trail Park/Page Rd.<br /><br /><br />"It's never too late to explore the Fraser Valley"<br />John Gordon<br />Langley/Cloverdale <br />BC Canada<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div>John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-35181757772220015182021-02-18T15:27:00.003-08:002021-02-18T21:28:30.541-08:00Snow Goose/Blue Goose<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">Sumas Prairie</h3><h3 style="text-align: center;">Tuesday Feb 16 2021</h3><p style="text-align: center;">A large flock of Snow Geese have spent the winter on Abbotsford's Sumas Prairie. A rare occurrence local birders tell me. The winter rye planted by farmers and other left over crops are a good food source for swans, geese and ducks. There are also plenty of fallow fields for the birds to turn over, if the pickings are that good why haven't the Geese been regular visitors in the past? A mystery indeed, if they return next year there may be factors at work that are not yet fully understood. Normally Snow Geese spend their winters in the Skagit Valley and places further south to California. Lesser but increasing numbers winter on the coast around Boundary Bay. </p><p>*Since I published this blog 30 minutes ago it has been brought to my attention by someone who knows more about the subject that there have been a few Snow Geese on the prairie since around 2000 but not in the large numbers seen this year. I stand corrected.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42jEeKadtBgfzKMfzd6wvsuCTOKmnxkuceVPXQRhQihLzLW-O8KchsXVVf8YYjYkONZLYuzZ3UH_ZA5LD9WZBywxfocKz2mN0KcMpwwD3w1EX7saLZwWAe6jDvjGw5E_fddiVxQoI5Vc/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42jEeKadtBgfzKMfzd6wvsuCTOKmnxkuceVPXQRhQihLzLW-O8KchsXVVf8YYjYkONZLYuzZ3UH_ZA5LD9WZBywxfocKz2mN0KcMpwwD3w1EX7saLZwWAe6jDvjGw5E_fddiVxQoI5Vc/w640-h422/Sumas+Prairie+Snow+Geese+web-1211.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">On Tuesday I came across a large flock of perhaps 800-1000 birds. At first they were out of reach for photographs so I just stayed in my car and used my bins to see if there was anything interesting in the flock. The first series of images all turned out as if they had been shot through a mirage. Later I read that it was due due to the heat emanating from the car itself, something I didn't realize until I began editing. Fortunately pictures taken twenty minutes later were sharper as the car had had time to cool down. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> Eventually as the flock munched their way toward me (a car is the perfect blind) the flock suddenly lifted off the ground and came even closer, close enough to take a few pictures. Had I got out of the car I'm sure I would have flushed the whole flock.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTT77T4zHMrfSILCua8-IJTOS2qzd4oBJ0XWjuVzEWN98q-nojCgm0GS21VTmEpW92NjX3NhYvTZSm1nQpQJMmvn6kLipk3NA3TsbBznSj2fgGEs5YSLTIEFaw3Zl1Sr9DNROy8ckc7H4/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTT77T4zHMrfSILCua8-IJTOS2qzd4oBJ0XWjuVzEWN98q-nojCgm0GS21VTmEpW92NjX3NhYvTZSm1nQpQJMmvn6kLipk3NA3TsbBznSj2fgGEs5YSLTIEFaw3Zl1Sr9DNROy8ckc7H4/w640-h422/Snow+Geese+Flock+web-1276.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They soon landed back on the same field. <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They were now close enough to study and soon two darker birds stood out, One very dark overall and one an intermediate morph. What a treat to see those birds, it made my day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> "Blue Goose" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxDRvE5sGUQXmJCmk5de9S7shPNk8Es8z8DLUko75fr_g81-vLTRYLW2mYey_qVfHRCZ8KiNXwAOqaKtYFBJpL4I1kOKX2csaRQhvjwK5Evt0AqSllhZyj0J3O3oovOQQBa-QudHCoxI/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxDRvE5sGUQXmJCmk5de9S7shPNk8Es8z8DLUko75fr_g81-vLTRYLW2mYey_qVfHRCZ8KiNXwAOqaKtYFBJpL4I1kOKX2csaRQhvjwK5Evt0AqSllhZyj0J3O3oovOQQBa-QudHCoxI/w640-h422/Snow+Geese+Adult+Dark+Morph+web-1308.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I believe this an intermediate dark morph. I might be proven wrong..let me know.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div>Dark morph "Blue Goose" #2</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkf8ALaiFg3LcYDMV2CvsQZcm6-UEOPYWBHeK5W7M0-qtMjvvXp05BUuuI7eG5dWviuNOttyGAfzJ2BQWXtN0prIfCDo0J2U2U58cKIxUeyIss8MsMRUOIxcwrFWE5yVcb-rjWtPYWL8E/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkf8ALaiFg3LcYDMV2CvsQZcm6-UEOPYWBHeK5W7M0-qtMjvvXp05BUuuI7eG5dWviuNOttyGAfzJ2BQWXtN0prIfCDo0J2U2U58cKIxUeyIss8MsMRUOIxcwrFWE5yVcb-rjWtPYWL8E/w640-h422/Snow+Geese+Adult+Dark+Morph+web-1327.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's hard to believe that a century ago only three thousand Snow Geese were left in North American. They almost followed the Passenger Pigeon on the path to extinction. Like the Trumpeter Swan Snow Geese have made a remarkable comeback. The Passenger Pigeon weren't so fortunate. see the link for the whole sordid story.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.audubon.org/magazine/may-june-2014/why-passenger-pigeon-went-extinct">More on the Passenger Pigeon</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These days, so great are Snow Goose numbers that their breeding grounds in the arctic have become threatened, not only from climate change but from the birds themselves. At least they are tolerated on Sumas Prairie, unlike parts of the US and Canada where hunting up to forty-thousand birds a year is permitted. Meanwhile, enjoy the spectacle, soon they embark on their migratory journey up north.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"It's never too late to morph into something better"<br />John Gordon<br />Langley/Cloverdale <br />BC Canada</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-76611704045323490082021-02-13T18:43:00.006-08:002021-02-15T10:14:24.704-08:00Valley Birds<p style="text-align: left;"></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></blockquote><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> Jan 2021</div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h3>Valley Birding</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Where to bird in 2021? Just one of the many question I posed myself as I polished off the last of the turkey, mince pies and Christmas pudding. I suppose freezing ones bits off during the Christmas bird count a few days later was a kind of penance for eating the gravy bird. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">After birding the Metro Vancouver region for 364 days in 2020 I decided to try something a little different for 2021. After much deliberation I hatched a cunning plan to bird the Fraser Valley region. I am fortunate to live on or quite close to the border of two ebird regions. For those not familiar with ebird, the app splits regions, provinces, countries and world into portions and birds recorded in each region are assigned to an online database for all to use. The app makes it easier to find good birding spots or at least get a start.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ebird.org/home">More on ebird</a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33QQf9Oxpj_BgmuTxXbRvyq8oN04RWzcGYmlDmZ3vEv1Q5hXSvpTfRVavJRd_XEzBlwzqLPM3aFbSdoWb_f5vNO6N6j2zFazjosYX7fBWw7Qp1oWXzD2dVL6jPZ4gB9XAC5m4_0OPgBM/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33QQf9Oxpj_BgmuTxXbRvyq8oN04RWzcGYmlDmZ3vEv1Q5hXSvpTfRVavJRd_XEzBlwzqLPM3aFbSdoWb_f5vNO6N6j2zFazjosYX7fBWw7Qp1oWXzD2dVL6jPZ4gB9XAC5m4_0OPgBM/w640-h422/Red-tailed+Hawk+web-8461.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-tailed Hawk/Sumas Prairie</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> The Fraser Valley region for the purposes of ebird includes Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Hope and into the Coast Mountains. There's the Skagit Valley, Sunshine Valley, Manning Park and many areas to be explored. As travel is restricted this will act as a perfect substitute. Distances are the only downside and some heed will have to be taken so as not to pile on too many kilometres.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> Even so, Aldergrove Regional Park and Glen Valley are just fifteen minutes away. I've already seen some good birds there..</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><h3><span style="text-align: left;">Glen Valley</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzSvmeAdpaXQMpQH3DFf0MxexeboetHyfFv-ce6CZxc6d7uCoQ-xevpxhkH4HJFrvVe451Fm9t-WzW38woKeWHp5fHAXaH0M9RO_Kyt98hNmezybG-wdsCAXX9fFUcEvlthvNmiHeWt4/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzSvmeAdpaXQMpQH3DFf0MxexeboetHyfFv-ce6CZxc6d7uCoQ-xevpxhkH4HJFrvVe451Fm9t-WzW38woKeWHp5fHAXaH0M9RO_Kyt98hNmezybG-wdsCAXX9fFUcEvlthvNmiHeWt4/w640-h422/Glen+Valley+web+IMG_3133.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Glen Valley from the Bradner Rd looking west over to the Fraser River,</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> All that said I still plan to bird the Metro Vancouver area as I can do so from my kitchen window and I'm only minutes from Brydon Lagoon and a number of close-by locations. Even Boundary Bay, White Rock and the farmlands around Delta are within easy reach. Although I won't bump into my birding friends as much I won't miss the traffic and crowds. </span>Birding in the Fraser Valley however offers certain challenges. There are not as many birders to pass on tips, the region is larger and of course it takes time to learn about those special spots where one might find a particular target species. That's where ebird comes in handy up but only to a certain point. Local knowledge is paramount. Yesterday for example I met up with two well seasoned Fraser Valley birders John Vooys and Ed Klassen who kindly offered to show me around the Columbia Valley, a rural area south of Cultus Lake. A small valley that looks like a a great migrant trap come the springtime. It was bitter cold minus 4 and a wind chill made it feel even colder. The two showed me around some of their favourite spots including two feeders. I think we ended up with 17 or 18 species which was very good considering the dipping temperatures brought on by a rare arctic front. I didn't take any pictures as there weren't really any opportunities and besides it was too bloody cold.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: center;">Sardis Park</h3><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEXEoONthlAiQxeRhGwB3xqYxlbEdQqd16DBSp9ekUM_OkgbIDErKnG1GifM2FB3hmzhT5f3MDcJoQWTtcEcM4Ng4NdHSfqmd8nuzwvgmGyWu-nJDojS3kt_s60BvsLV2NqmHD4_Ers8/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEXEoONthlAiQxeRhGwB3xqYxlbEdQqd16DBSp9ekUM_OkgbIDErKnG1GifM2FB3hmzhT5f3MDcJoQWTtcEcM4Ng4NdHSfqmd8nuzwvgmGyWu-nJDojS3kt_s60BvsLV2NqmHD4_Ers8/w640-h422/Sardis+Pond+web+IMG_2948.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sardis Park</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Not to be outdone I stopped off at Sardis Park on the way home to search for and hopefully photograph the well documented resident leucistic Northwestern Crow. The bird which is a bit of a local celebrity lacks the pigment to give it the black colour normally associated with crows. According to a local resident I spoke with the bird has been resident at the park for at least five years. Luckily, it was the first bird I saw as I entered the park.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_7a1FAuZkSvLVNL1wcq1IxxUFe-isErbcWp-PLofXV_6TK-nds0JMiYSqEzmp_skFuNvM4MUwgfcX704pP-Kj1nZst2RH8PETo_cy4QiJhgp2e8wl6Gxnbccd87hcIpvOXNbxSvOGXo/" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_7a1FAuZkSvLVNL1wcq1IxxUFe-isErbcWp-PLofXV_6TK-nds0JMiYSqEzmp_skFuNvM4MUwgfcX704pP-Kj1nZst2RH8PETo_cy4QiJhgp2e8wl6Gxnbccd87hcIpvOXNbxSvOGXo/w640-h422/North-Western+Crow+Leucistic+web-1117.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leucistic Northwestern Crow</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Unlike the burgeoning Metro Vancouver birding community I spent January birding in the valley and met just one birder and one photographer. <span style="text-align: left;">I did however meet up with an old acquaintance and excellent birder Gord Gadsden who passed on some great tips. Eventually he re-located a super nice Glaucous Gull that I had found a few days earlier but couldn't get a photograph of. I had run my camera battery down and slipped in the replacement only to find that was dead too. I had forgotten to charge it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKadm3sB-g457oe59727EsXZH5wAdUOiO4t8s82JNCU8SeIhEMSE09ySU8_TJ__VRSgwgirfJsLqlQYkpAsO3Q6pvdUP3ng3dYucsqE_IbAng9T_coPaNYJ1F5fMR-wh4I6bAI44AUrSg/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKadm3sB-g457oe59727EsXZH5wAdUOiO4t8s82JNCU8SeIhEMSE09ySU8_TJ__VRSgwgirfJsLqlQYkpAsO3Q6pvdUP3ng3dYucsqE_IbAng9T_coPaNYJ1F5fMR-wh4I6bAI44AUrSg/w640-h422/Glaucous+Gull+web-0964.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glaucous Gull</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfRECnOzhn70eooMrpwG7hK7BWNc0NvPSMUPQjgCf9WQZgxFqYQLWo_sIcwSvet7bAK0NRAe0pUtQIJjLlmNEOL-yGWmnaVbntAs0OsQiQW9IeX7awOy66Q6_-iwO1-LN_0mWNbdYoCs/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfRECnOzhn70eooMrpwG7hK7BWNc0NvPSMUPQjgCf9WQZgxFqYQLWo_sIcwSvet7bAK0NRAe0pUtQIJjLlmNEOL-yGWmnaVbntAs0OsQiQW9IeX7awOy66Q6_-iwO1-LN_0mWNbdYoCs/w640-h422/Lapland+Longspur+web-9231.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lapland Longspur</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Another tip resulted in an American Pipit and a Lapland Longspur.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> I was lucky, on my first attempt. I have returned three times to the same location looking for Horned Larks but have never seen the flock again.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: right;">Sumas Prairie</span></h3><div><span style="text-align: right;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: right;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWuHJnwMD9j5U0jclr78t4BRcmiJ2-b6_-omgfx14wTbDZk8CR7s_aIVqD2BzSEQhg61LY5u9UlH08aAmGrbDTTzrYEqzpR5fFOjBoQA-yh7lE4Vihsfwth4AB5CwQVxdpdSxOMCJF2s/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWuHJnwMD9j5U0jclr78t4BRcmiJ2-b6_-omgfx14wTbDZk8CR7s_aIVqD2BzSEQhg61LY5u9UlH08aAmGrbDTTzrYEqzpR5fFOjBoQA-yh7lE4Vihsfwth4AB5CwQVxdpdSxOMCJF2s/w640-h422/Rough-legged+Hawk+web+1-8797.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rough-legged Hawk/Sumas Prairie</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One thing the valley does have are large tracts of agricultural land that once supported the mighty Sumas Lake. Each time I bird Sumas Prairie I imagine the old lake bed I'm driving on and a great expanse of water stretching for the US border to Sumas Mountain and up toward Chilliwack. It must have been a stunning sight, that is apart from the legendary swarms of vicious mosquitos. A hundred year ago plans to drain the lake began. It took millions of dollars and years of political machinations to make it a reality. Indigenous peoples had lived there for millennia. They were eventually shafted by white settlers, greedy businessmen, federal, provincial and municipal governments. One of the most prolific lakes in the region was completely gone. Lost were the sturgeon, millions of migrating waterfowl, salmon rearing beds and the livelihood of the Semath, Nooksack and Sto:lo people. A compelling account of how the lake was lost can be found in Chad Reimer's book, <i>Before we Lost the Lake </i><br /><br />see link<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://caitlin-press.com/our-books/before-we-lost-the-lake/">Before-we-lost-the-lake</a><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnhDjme40UqX_YB9XBYtUMht_BdewLyAKoZ8UP1DJoNpYatVAIJ7il9KPSZh7DAFu3UXOm1-IUI9hA5CIBej2wmkSKSjvtjlfWwbJipiCkKHzikEV3j-fy72y_DJF4j5feESw5MqxHss/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnhDjme40UqX_YB9XBYtUMht_BdewLyAKoZ8UP1DJoNpYatVAIJ7il9KPSZh7DAFu3UXOm1-IUI9hA5CIBej2wmkSKSjvtjlfWwbJipiCkKHzikEV3j-fy72y_DJF4j5feESw5MqxHss/w626-h413/Sumas+Prairie+webIMG_3151.jpg" width="626" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A couple of iPhone shots of Sumas Prairie looking east toward Chilliwack.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Below) some of the undulating farmland and former lake bed is low enough to trap water during the winter. Originally the spring freshet would inundate the lake raising levels which reduced flooding downstream. Today dykes divert local rivers and streams into the Fraser River while keeping freshet water at bay. Pumps move any water around. There still remains a few thousand ducks, some wintering raptors but nothing to compare with what was lost. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnuHsQ1y5vA9C_Ui2uVtJcS5-_Blr0vb2VaeGpw9JK7F-vI5tqYJZx1VBgoRAK_1kUy6EuM-uMmr9GO_mx3l2vWO1Re4poLiv7gOgjXcTmP_AVN07c24vKw4CO-2HhPc8XiZUr6H6ugpo/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnuHsQ1y5vA9C_Ui2uVtJcS5-_Blr0vb2VaeGpw9JK7F-vI5tqYJZx1VBgoRAK_1kUy6EuM-uMmr9GO_mx3l2vWO1Re4poLiv7gOgjXcTmP_AVN07c24vKw4CO-2HhPc8XiZUr6H6ugpo/w625-h422/Sumas+Prairie+web+IMG_3154.jpg" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A flooded field on Sumas Prairie conjures up what Sumas Lake may have looked like.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xmlx1ZIj_C_1TEFe6y2lalf9_S3NmbHr2vJPokPq0TOa5IVH6NBe0bnMXgieWAcI3Qdqm_U-OafgDnMxGbSl8scDB7DeBtkEH8-k1JirppoGvjo9481lZClsxjC_qQBkGchmpJxA72A/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xmlx1ZIj_C_1TEFe6y2lalf9_S3NmbHr2vJPokPq0TOa5IVH6NBe0bnMXgieWAcI3Qdqm_U-OafgDnMxGbSl8scDB7DeBtkEH8-k1JirppoGvjo9481lZClsxjC_qQBkGchmpJxA72A/w640-h422/Mountain+Bluebird+web-9180.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain Bluebird.<br />Lickman Rd, Chilliwack</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTZ8Nah63B51vvNqW99_uXl-43iCGfV9nrsHnXqBKx_ZX-ZjmXJmzsw56WYaQELS4Cx1yMUc6DUEdQFuMhCs4KB8pKQopW9cNaIo1qZZiJHSLa_SridPIbiTFoZfaOU43hb73F_FEeZk/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTZ8Nah63B51vvNqW99_uXl-43iCGfV9nrsHnXqBKx_ZX-ZjmXJmzsw56WYaQELS4Cx1yMUc6DUEdQFuMhCs4KB8pKQopW9cNaIo1qZZiJHSLa_SridPIbiTFoZfaOU43hb73F_FEeZk/w640-h422/White-throated+Sparrow+web-8870.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-throated Sparrow.<br />Great Blue Heron Reserve</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><div><br />My first visit to Brown Creek Wetlands was quite eventful. The wetlands are just past Yarrow and before the turn-off to Cultus Lake.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQx9-SNR9X4NLMHx4x4B7u0gj42XAD0gre6UOjGRK3JzfG-34i6QZO_IAFotC4_LHdEJEia5DEWcsi3JEVudHncqEsGkbSSFOvlenw3ce7TVpsaVBgWCDuPqqpRKI3eVU6vim6QnSOw6M/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQx9-SNR9X4NLMHx4x4B7u0gj42XAD0gre6UOjGRK3JzfG-34i6QZO_IAFotC4_LHdEJEia5DEWcsi3JEVudHncqEsGkbSSFOvlenw3ce7TVpsaVBgWCDuPqqpRKI3eVU6vim6QnSOw6M/w640-h422/Brown+Creek+wetlands+web+IMG_2964.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Creek Wetlands<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div> From the parking lot to the river is only a few hundred metres. Half-way along the trail I stumbled upon mixed flock of Black-capped Chickadees, Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Brown Creepers and a Hairy Woodpecker. Soon a flock of junco's joined in and they brought along an Anna's Hummingbird. Needless to say I never made it to the river to look for a dipper. As I was leaving a Belted Kingfisher plunged into the creek and came up with a nice juicy salmonoid, a testament to how important the wetlands are as a nursery for fish and other creatures. Across the river is the Rotary Trail that I am told has excellent year round birding, somewhere I'll be exploring during migration time. At a recent Christmas bird count the trail turned up an American Dipper and a Glaucous Gull. </div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6oP7PkeAJ0pBiLp1810byGoOGw6S9WYz2leCBhK-2gu7PYneU-is8n4-Rc0tk4caz__5rhSThkVzr8yzyIogCx3kfCs_EVVkLn1XC7xfdwbSSIZvlP5Mnmw9mqLnXiwTA9nh0kJRya0/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6oP7PkeAJ0pBiLp1810byGoOGw6S9WYz2leCBhK-2gu7PYneU-is8n4-Rc0tk4caz__5rhSThkVzr8yzyIogCx3kfCs_EVVkLn1XC7xfdwbSSIZvlP5Mnmw9mqLnXiwTA9nh0kJRya0/w640-h422/Belted+Kingfisher+web-9762.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Belted Kingfisher<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><br /><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0s97prj8UP8OgJzyS9k_4od3ICxb5RfDxQzXiNbKVxVn7kQXbmjDLAlQ0B2Ed2O6yOGSlFBKxbBlKMdKtVbIfYwWiQuEIvTFjgMPxrjRqwcGGN1FwFVRP-CD2TFmcVfHDpuSQA-sv2IQ/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0s97prj8UP8OgJzyS9k_4od3ICxb5RfDxQzXiNbKVxVn7kQXbmjDLAlQ0B2Ed2O6yOGSlFBKxbBlKMdKtVbIfYwWiQuEIvTFjgMPxrjRqwcGGN1FwFVRP-CD2TFmcVfHDpuSQA-sv2IQ/w640-h422/Brown+Creeper+web-9705.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Creeper</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At Harrison I was able to photograph a couple of male Redheads that had spent the winter in the lagoon. Out on Harrison Lake whitecaps rules the waves, several Horned Grebes and flock of Common Mergansers were busy feeding. At the mouth of the oddly named Miami River was a single American Dipper doing what dippers do. Three year birds just like that. I had a pleasant lunch and birded my way home. Later in the year i'll be going back and maybe camp up at Sasquatch Provincial Park, a good spot for forest and marsh birds.</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqHEZkmCPZ1xfaxWlj4SQN_kl-Lx6AlnPv3LNlpvq_qYK-BejJniUQ664kIzlrn8BVNegLvl0QEocFafz4KUs4qReWLGgUmPBM-nW6QsejUjGGMG5Gr7ZUi_kxL4YFBbVdHSD9BMr7Sg/" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqHEZkmCPZ1xfaxWlj4SQN_kl-Lx6AlnPv3LNlpvq_qYK-BejJniUQ664kIzlrn8BVNegLvl0QEocFafz4KUs4qReWLGgUmPBM-nW6QsejUjGGMG5Gr7ZUi_kxL4YFBbVdHSD9BMr7Sg/w655-h432/Redhead+web-0662.jpg" width="655" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Redhead</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>So the first thirty or so days in the Fraser Valley have been a refreshing change, almost like a holiday and as the migration begins and spring slowly takes hold i'll be eager to see what shows up. Meanwhile I'm hunkered down, reading books and waiting out the cold snap. Apparently for only the third time in a hundred years every province in Canada is below freezing at the same time. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/canada-freezing-cold">vancouver/canada-freezing-cold</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yv0c_J01hu9hQG8fwh6w6GIXQ_d7qAGRJbIJg8btp_AKzMOfNwFfqQL3k9RoasdwgAkgog-89XIHGYmvDhCNZebgxyd7IJPObJPl0rMv_qtquuWL6CYjJitd2VvE53ouDkvjixRjcQQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">"It's never too late to bird the valley"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">John Gordon</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">Langley/Cloverdale</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">BC Canada</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></div><h3><br /></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yv0c_J01hu9hQG8fwh6w6GIXQ_d7qAGRJbIJg8btp_AKzMOfNwFfqQL3k9RoasdwgAkgog-89XIHGYmvDhCNZebgxyd7IJPObJPl0rMv_qtquuWL6CYjJitd2VvE53ouDkvjixRjcQQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yv0c_J01hu9hQG8fwh6w6GIXQ_d7qAGRJbIJg8btp_AKzMOfNwFfqQL3k9RoasdwgAkgog-89XIHGYmvDhCNZebgxyd7IJPObJPl0rMv_qtquuWL6CYjJitd2VvE53ouDkvjixRjcQQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yv0c_J01hu9hQG8fwh6w6GIXQ_d7qAGRJbIJg8btp_AKzMOfNwFfqQL3k9RoasdwgAkgog-89XIHGYmvDhCNZebgxyd7IJPObJPl0rMv_qtquuWL6CYjJitd2VvE53ouDkvjixRjcQQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yv0c_J01hu9hQG8fwh6w6GIXQ_d7qAGRJbIJg8btp_AKzMOfNwFfqQL3k9RoasdwgAkgog-89XIHGYmvDhCNZebgxyd7IJPObJPl0rMv_qtquuWL6CYjJitd2VvE53ouDkvjixRjcQQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yv0c_J01hu9hQG8fwh6w6GIXQ_d7qAGRJbIJg8btp_AKzMOfNwFfqQL3k9RoasdwgAkgog-89XIHGYmvDhCNZebgxyd7IJPObJPl0rMv_qtquuWL6CYjJitd2VvE53ouDkvjixRjcQQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yv0c_J01hu9hQG8fwh6w6GIXQ_d7qAGRJbIJg8btp_AKzMOfNwFfqQL3k9RoasdwgAkgog-89XIHGYmvDhCNZebgxyd7IJPObJPl0rMv_qtquuWL6CYjJitd2VvE53ouDkvjixRjcQQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yv0c_J01hu9hQG8fwh6w6GIXQ_d7qAGRJbIJg8btp_AKzMOfNwFfqQL3k9RoasdwgAkgog-89XIHGYmvDhCNZebgxyd7IJPObJPl0rMv_qtquuWL6CYjJitd2VvE53ouDkvjixRjcQQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yv0c_J01hu9hQG8fwh6w6GIXQ_d7qAGRJbIJg8btp_AKzMOfNwFfqQL3k9RoasdwgAkgog-89XIHGYmvDhCNZebgxyd7IJPObJPl0rMv_qtquuWL6CYjJitd2VvE53ouDkvjixRjcQQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yv0c_J01hu9hQG8fwh6w6GIXQ_d7qAGRJbIJg8btp_AKzMOfNwFfqQL3k9RoasdwgAkgog-89XIHGYmvDhCNZebgxyd7IJPObJPl0rMv_qtquuWL6CYjJitd2VvE53ouDkvjixRjcQQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yv0c_J01hu9hQG8fwh6w6GIXQ_d7qAGRJbIJg8btp_AKzMOfNwFfqQL3k9RoasdwgAkgog-89XIHGYmvDhCNZebgxyd7IJPObJPl0rMv_qtquuWL6CYjJitd2VvE53ouDkvjixRjcQQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yv0c_J01hu9hQG8fwh6w6GIXQ_d7qAGRJbIJg8btp_AKzMOfNwFfqQL3k9RoasdwgAkgog-89XIHGYmvDhCNZebgxyd7IJPObJPl0rMv_qtquuWL6CYjJitd2VvE53ouDkvjixRjcQQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><p></p></div>John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com2Unnamed Road, Summerland, BC V0H 1Z8, Canada49.4515366 -119.811940422.914341237317679 -154.96818771779098 75.988731962682323 -84.655693082209012tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-39187669797972335052021-01-12T19:17:00.000-08:002021-01-12T19:17:14.704-08:00Some thoughts on Composition<h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> Using Negative Space</span></h3><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">The use of negative space is often overlooked in bird photography. The technique can be a very powerful storytelling tool, working in subtle ways to draw the viewer into the frame.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;"> It’s not uncommon when photographing with long lenses to crowd the subject within the frame. What might be appropriate for submissions to a bird guide and magazines etc may not always the best way communicate one's vision.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;"><div><br /></div><div>Below is an example of a close-up used in a popular bird guide of Pacific Northwest birds. </div><div><br /></div><div>***</div><h3>The Close-up</h3><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5yUsm7PvX1cV1EEOoEpFCcWIknXBWKW4Nwu2I44bshn6ONIqjH1ML9u3TvgyVexNYSk8SY9cR9gcKXp6FMjcTATYSeeITsJ1Jjt6DLzScYUC_xCio3m9q7O_JuLnZzHbEZTtD__57mM/s3255/JGo+Least+Sandpiper-2250.TIF" style="caret-color: rgb(18, 18, 18); font-family: Proxima-Nova, serif; font-size: 18px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2162" data-original-width="3255" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5yUsm7PvX1cV1EEOoEpFCcWIknXBWKW4Nwu2I44bshn6ONIqjH1ML9u3TvgyVexNYSk8SY9cR9gcKXp6FMjcTATYSeeITsJ1Jjt6DLzScYUC_xCio3m9q7O_JuLnZzHbEZTtD__57mM/w640-h426/JGo+Least+Sandpiper-2250.TIF" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Least Sandpiper</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">****</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;"><h2 style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">Telling a Story</h2></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;"> Although a close-up image could be technically perfect, it may often lack context, not all situations call for close-up treatment. Many of my seasoned birding friends (some really well seasoned) tell me they prefer to see at least some background information that gives the subject matter a sense of place that include clues to habitat and other information. Photographs depicting some or all of those criteria can be one of the most difficult forms of bird photography. Most photographs posted on social media lack this important factor. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">How about the image below. The Band-tailed Pigeons are clearly identified and so are ripening Red Elderberries the birds are feeding on. There's the story right there. A close-up may have worked too but it wouldn't have shown a flock feeding. Just as an aside, I also shot a close-up, a horizontal as well a vertical shot for a possible magazine cover.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;"> Did the image hold your attention for more than three or four seconds, if so then consider the image successful. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">If the photographer can transport the viewer albeit just for a brief moment, that's all the maker of the image can hope for, especially nowadays when thanks to social media and non-stop streaming services we are all on image overload.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzQzMxn69GD15Js7ch6CcNP75ydfK4v5U4JabKFXSNiaUdOu1fRa7FXmXTuvTK1hiLR6O6phe2by97e3kwaq8gdn22s6u1gG8nVFSXYscbe2vFxV5in-qK_7fH3XriqChoIaviNESZ_w/s720/Band-tailed+Pigeons+best+web-8499+2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzQzMxn69GD15Js7ch6CcNP75ydfK4v5U4JabKFXSNiaUdOu1fRa7FXmXTuvTK1hiLR6O6phe2by97e3kwaq8gdn22s6u1gG8nVFSXYscbe2vFxV5in-qK_7fH3XriqChoIaviNESZ_w/w640-h426/Band-tailed+Pigeons+best+web-8499+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Band-tailed Pigeons feeding on Red Elderberry<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;"><h2 style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">Using Negative Space</h2></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">Unlike the painter who begins with a blank canvas, the bird photographer often has to deal the opposite. Messy backgrounds, branches in front of the subject, awkward backgrounds and a host of other challenges. The photographer needs to bring order to the composition. Using negative space is one such technique.<br /><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">Recently on a visit to Surrey’s Blackie Spit I was drawn to the strange colour to the water. At first I thought it was an algae bloom but on closer inspection it turned out to be a torrent of duckweed that had been released from farmers ditches following days of rain. A flock of thirty plus American Coots were feeding on the floating carpet of weeds. I had never seen so many coots in one place. I alsomade some close-up shots of Common Loons chowing down on crabs. None of those shots really worked out very well.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />I then I noticed a Great Blue Heron hunting in the thick carpet of duckweed. I knew from experience that this is something I might never witness again. An opportunity not to be missed. I placed the heron using the Golden Ratio of the frame to act as a visual anchor. The difference in tones draws the eye creating tension with the frame, the heron then becomes the centre of interest.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4d61gm04uxdwDVp4R2LIDlnl7oDVayvr0mLmEb8AjNKJMcFeZhJAoJv8ZyfrNpj0zkLQwUeSSb-uXWeGVkTzE1PX6WnCueLxbJu6UrhNv_mLc-lB1YAWdEGieaHaHOBNJNA8xibjRKE/s720/Great+Blue+Heron+Scenic+web-4369.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4d61gm04uxdwDVp4R2LIDlnl7oDVayvr0mLmEb8AjNKJMcFeZhJAoJv8ZyfrNpj0zkLQwUeSSb-uXWeGVkTzE1PX6WnCueLxbJu6UrhNv_mLc-lB1YAWdEGieaHaHOBNJNA8xibjRKE/w640-h426/Great+Blue+Heron+Scenic+web-4369.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">Using my 24mm-3000mm Nikon P1000 I had the option of many different compositions, something that shooting with a fixed prime 500mm or 600mm lens would have never be been possible. The 200mm-500mm on my D500 could have worked but it would still have been too restrictive compositionally. I could have zoomed in but I already have numerous images of herons flying or feeding and some great shots of their courtship rituals. I decided to use negative space to render my vision. The light was soft, the sun barely penetrating the clouds, the colours muted. I decided to meter off the bright mudflats and underexpose, causing the heron to be silhouetted. I made sure the bird was looking in to the frame from left to right, a ploy to entice the viewer to wander around the image and then back to the heron. The technique works so well because in Western culture we are accustomed to read from left to right, placing the heron in the bottom left encourages the viewer’s eye to naturally roam around the image as if reading a book.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">"Its never too late to be composed"</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">John Gordon</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">Langley/Cloverdale </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">BC, Canada</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(18, 18, 18); color: #121212; font-family: Proxima-Nova, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Golden Ratio, also sometimes called the Fibonacci Spiral. It is the result of when you do some complex maths on a rectangle to the tune of: a/b = (a+b)/a = 1.61803398875. </p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(18, 18, 18); color: #121212; font-family: Proxima-Nova, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Theres no need to memorize this, you can find the overlays everywhere on the Internet to download and paste over your images, as well as being built in (but very well hidden) in Lightroom. </p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(18, 18, 18); color: #121212; font-family: Proxima-Nova, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To access this spiral, press R to get your cropping function open, then cycle through the available overlays with O until you find the spiral. Turning it around is done by pressing Shift + O. There are eight variations to it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-73055632723787254642021-01-02T19:18:00.001-08:002021-01-02T19:18:26.025-08:00Something to Crow About or How not to take oneself seriously.<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"></h3><h2 style="text-align: center;">Something to Crow About </h2><div>The Crow is purely a fun endeavour, a challenge open to birders who have the time and inclination to tick at least two-hundred and fifty different species of birds in the Lower Mainland in any one year. There is no winner per se and the trophy is shared equally among all those who crack the two-fifty mark. There is of course one person who will see more birds than any other and to them goes the highest perch. </div><div>More info than you will ever need about the Crow can be found at the end of this blog. A big thanks goes to Carlo Giovanella who came up with the novel idea few years ago. Many of us have enjoyed the chase and made 2020 that more sufferable.</div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_FtvRgArlOYsncQVUKc38ETjNzj8vNgokFWluLqemvt6V7WWsqnaVYmRYJCwxnfhQRoYwKGEvYU6vbzco0A-RUww5IWlA0AJ4pzwLUeO4jYGPTX14qpf4wuw8uqMeHBT96h4GqoyspI/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_FtvRgArlOYsncQVUKc38ETjNzj8vNgokFWluLqemvt6V7WWsqnaVYmRYJCwxnfhQRoYwKGEvYU6vbzco0A-RUww5IWlA0AJ4pzwLUeO4jYGPTX14qpf4wuw8uqMeHBT96h4GqoyspI/w427-h640/California+Scrub+Jay+web-6859.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">California Scrub Jay/Delta</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I had had two unsuccessful flaps at the Crow in 2018 (243) and 2019 (244) and for whatever reasons those last few birds always proved elusive having flown the coop before I arrived. I really wanted to try one last time. One last flutter I suppose, even if I would have to wing it.<p></p><p style="text-align: left;"> My other 2020 resolution was to create one or more eBird lists every day of 2020. That would prove to be an interesting but much easier endeavour. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMgthFeB_7BfIB4ZjIhHInCzbKhk-0gEWu26Rc5-jgaFT9gqUqHBmKUfgmgGJio4UTeDCi8gvJLUD_teVzps7fc0IoBaIb1DgrjLgldwGxx5_3HGp0n43EnLLkJ2Frli_zmekRUx_Hho/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMgthFeB_7BfIB4ZjIhHInCzbKhk-0gEWu26Rc5-jgaFT9gqUqHBmKUfgmgGJio4UTeDCi8gvJLUD_teVzps7fc0IoBaIb1DgrjLgldwGxx5_3HGp0n43EnLLkJ2Frli_zmekRUx_Hho/w640-h426/Red-eyed+Vireo+web-5477.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-eye Vireo/Campbell Valley Park</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">When I embarked on the quest in the previous years I had always made it little more challenging by periodically taking off for the UK or Mexico. When 2020 began, little did we know how the rest of the year would turn out. No international travel, birding with masks, social distancing, who could have predicted that.</p><p style="text-align: left;">As mentioned the history of <a href="https://rokman61.wordpress.com/2017/06/03/the-metrovan-250-crowing-award/">The Crow</a> is to try and tick 250 or more different species of birds in the Lower Mainland in any one calendar year. I say try because it can take a certain amount of dedication, determination and a fair amount of luck. Add to that the cost of gas, the outrageous carbon footprint and the most important part of the equation, blessings from spouses. The latter being the most delicate to negotiate but that subject deserves a whole column on its own.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMWS1RFIwAS3bWJFbIrZE_lokxocrXL1rEwfdLgAS5OJSHpjq_YIRuO6RRjmyT8QOBEVd2lNVs4FlkU4UWjLrdDM0nULgCO06KpSCxIo7CqXIAKjaYknNZHEiEVjs7jlRoqjXvzxonCQ/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMWS1RFIwAS3bWJFbIrZE_lokxocrXL1rEwfdLgAS5OJSHpjq_YIRuO6RRjmyT8QOBEVd2lNVs4FlkU4UWjLrdDM0nULgCO06KpSCxIo7CqXIAKjaYknNZHEiEVjs7jlRoqjXvzxonCQ/w640-h426/Black-billed+Magpie+web-3274.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-billed Magpie/Iona Regional Park</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Each and every birder who embarks on this somewhat madcap adventure faces different challenges. An unattached individual who can bird any time may possibly have an edge. A student may have classes, homework or have to rely on an understanding parent or public transport. The retiree may have all the time in the world, each and every birder is different. Sadly, I've even met a couple of female birders who were afraid to bird on their own, something us of the male persuasion never really take into consideration.<p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1v8JgE0SDadG9ZZ220zgMWb-3fW9wRZxNAj6ssaEkktamiJkXEgWwFCDwGFm9O75W_2XhcCfVB2ludcJio0_S-Vs02EIsq53GImiUHX4b8cJjqUB4mcN5XuID-ssKU7SA9cYdIOW75Vw/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1v8JgE0SDadG9ZZ220zgMWb-3fW9wRZxNAj6ssaEkktamiJkXEgWwFCDwGFm9O75W_2XhcCfVB2ludcJio0_S-Vs02EIsq53GImiUHX4b8cJjqUB4mcN5XuID-ssKU7SA9cYdIOW75Vw/w427-h640/House+Wren+web-4350.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House Wren/Aldergrove</td></tr></tbody></table><br />These days finding birds has never been easier. Digital networks including <a href="https://ebird.org/home">eBird</a>, the BC Rare Bird (RBA) alert and regular texts from fellow birders all helped us all find birds. These and other great resources have helped everyone involved. <p></p><p style="text-align: left;">That said, a few have tossed around the idea that the benchmark for the Crow should now be 260 which is fine except that wasn't the original intent. Perhaps 260 is the new 250, only another year will tell. This year a dozen birders have reached the 250 mark, more I think than ever before, a number have even surpassed 260. </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfmGG7yCp_WFj5t6GDFgIdLn29ZvmPSh8gs1SiMMXKbO-DtF_j1Yx6UCaYs7ROUjv6bJHpgsBbnVJGrofDZasDQHeZ2UsJ0BJvia2C-dqbhaXjtIAW9keg7dF-emXCujPrc7-RRgUuJA/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfmGG7yCp_WFj5t6GDFgIdLn29ZvmPSh8gs1SiMMXKbO-DtF_j1Yx6UCaYs7ROUjv6bJHpgsBbnVJGrofDZasDQHeZ2UsJ0BJvia2C-dqbhaXjtIAW9keg7dF-emXCujPrc7-RRgUuJA/w640-h426/Bushtit-web+7710.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bush Tit/Boundary Bay</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Could it be that the every birder was grounded due to Covid-19 or was it just a great year for birds? One experienced birder thought that some of the birds normally seen only in the Spring returned again in the Fall too, especially fortuitous for those who missed them first time round. That doesn't always happen. <div>My Big Year (261) brought me a number of new Metro Vancouver birds which was an added bonus. <br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">New Year's Day</h3><p style="text-align: center;">Bird #1</p><p style="text-align: center;">I began the year on New Year's Day with a 10 min drive to a small pond in the Cloverdale Fairgrounds where a female Redhead (below) had taken up residence. By the end of the day and without too much effort I had ticked forty-eight species. Amazingly one year later the Redhead is back at the same location, perhaps the same bird.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsti8zcQSf1ZLcxHmgLmyFuPI09NlTK-WYffGxMG6SBThwaLwXQVhov4GWIgI9CCDPdac1uJGk1jMztqjDtXT1E65A5m6wpy2vr2ucRj72xzgLNmnxWt69kuzB460GqSf7eyxm6eu7yl4/*Redhead-web1687.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsti8zcQSf1ZLcxHmgLmyFuPI09NlTK-WYffGxMG6SBThwaLwXQVhov4GWIgI9CCDPdac1uJGk1jMztqjDtXT1E65A5m6wpy2vr2ucRj72xzgLNmnxWt69kuzB460GqSf7eyxm6eu7yl4/w427-h640/*Redhead-web1687.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At the end of January I had a tally of one hundred and twenty-one species. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Great fun ticking new birds everyday. Taking part in a couple of Christmas bird counts helped as they were hardcore eight-hour birding days with expert birders.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxO-Ta1QVSohIK73lEB10o1jPpbgigQeBX5AOPKC3motLkaX9xzTBRigZ84_1roWr3GDiCPBgvkgvvz6dWNy_iAdO_-j_qYszZkm2_GvM6H6uq9sRX76y06X8zpd6br6AU6gwTwQrwTg/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxO-Ta1QVSohIK73lEB10o1jPpbgigQeBX5AOPKC3motLkaX9xzTBRigZ84_1roWr3GDiCPBgvkgvvz6dWNy_iAdO_-j_qYszZkm2_GvM6H6uq9sRX76y06X8zpd6br6AU6gwTwQrwTg/w427-h640/Brewer%2527s+Sparrow+web-3919.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brewers Sparrow/Iona</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="text-align: center;">As the weather warmed and the first seriousness of Covid-19 began to sink in, waves of new species were arriving. Some like the Yellow-rumped Warbler already had young. I saw one adult carry food to the nest. I heard a Cassin's Vireo singing on Burnaby Mountain. I was kind of chuffed to find a bird by its song, I then tracked it to a branch and photographed it.</span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYRL6uVROeuxDHKvYCmJWUaWgHokNwLutzchVnNF0fc5UbcjX3LXyz09YLe-Sp7Bh5q3swNKAafnM-Nr7yRNA2QG_etVjXStFj5v0wHrrfXLvBr34KF424GWZ9hW3xflQT_zhDnSZWhI/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYRL6uVROeuxDHKvYCmJWUaWgHokNwLutzchVnNF0fc5UbcjX3LXyz09YLe-Sp7Bh5q3swNKAafnM-Nr7yRNA2QG_etVjXStFj5v0wHrrfXLvBr34KF424GWZ9hW3xflQT_zhDnSZWhI/w640-h426/Cassin%2527s+Vireo+web-2456.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cassin's Vireo/Burnaby Mountain</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"> I managed to get a number of friends on the bird before it moved on. I had John Neville's CD of BC bird songs to thank for that, The CD was a constant companion in my cars sound system.</span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJ_N6MPIczzE2xPokfDIKp2kyUTTMEqP-lDwRP5IOmuOvRRH68ezu-hSotF5wa4EHcLyFoFp4kP96MvPkpLVkLMxOpHsLJyJ5t2XZsV-8RbvnjfId5zwoT3YdC-R7hGsxwhgZJ5pJVGs/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJ_N6MPIczzE2xPokfDIKp2kyUTTMEqP-lDwRP5IOmuOvRRH68ezu-hSotF5wa4EHcLyFoFp4kP96MvPkpLVkLMxOpHsLJyJ5t2XZsV-8RbvnjfId5zwoT3YdC-R7hGsxwhgZJ5pJVGs/w640-h426/Townsend%2527s+Warbler+web-3141.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Townsend's Warbler/Joe Brown Park Surrey</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span>In May I had a Western Tanager in my garden which was species #200 for the year and </span><span>a new yard bird</span><span>.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> I downed a Corona beer to celebrate.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></span><div><span><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fuJGQSrbaEDGOCnJVDkdfaSFHzdyVGjXA4XLaO6eKhMuu6H6eWfy3LKFlVe0HMV7XLogY9Aepq62kYJyviNtIwAJre4gWlVOhCLWU8z8-Hh2Ly0usflNs9OwFzX8DI-oYov-qx6ACI8/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fuJGQSrbaEDGOCnJVDkdfaSFHzdyVGjXA4XLaO6eKhMuu6H6eWfy3LKFlVe0HMV7XLogY9Aepq62kYJyviNtIwAJre4gWlVOhCLWU8z8-Hh2Ly0usflNs9OwFzX8DI-oYov-qx6ACI8/w640-h426/Western+Tanager+web-3677.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">A Western Tanager hawks an insect in my backyard.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></div><div><p><span style="text-align: center;"></span></p><h3 style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lBKHiW7bJjQqEdeyemxUM1A4BidWA_tm1JI-9jmr6bHm3VXo1IlH18HK1xKxomaEd_TDMYkm1p_3l-gObXAFt3x1aGayi3FRHVXRMB-faNbnkC3XD_wlvbofzgjBwQ0mq17Mpty9NQM/s600/Western+Tanager+web-3679.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lBKHiW7bJjQqEdeyemxUM1A4BidWA_tm1JI-9jmr6bHm3VXo1IlH18HK1xKxomaEd_TDMYkm1p_3l-gObXAFt3x1aGayi3FRHVXRMB-faNbnkC3XD_wlvbofzgjBwQ0mq17Mpty9NQM/w640-h426/Western+Tanager+web-3679.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">See how the bird tucks its wings in as it snatches the insect. Avian aerodynamics in action.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></h3><div><br /></div><p><span style="text-align: center;">As summer set in there were fewer and fewer new ticks. One August day I had a Franklin's Gull and Wilson's Phalarope, both in the pouring rain. In late August I dipped on a Chestnut-side Warbler at Colony Farm, twice I dipped on a Stilt Sandpiper at Reifel and then a Northern Waterthrush in Stanley Park. Very little to show for all the driving. Between Aug 10 and Aug 16 I found one of my six target birds. The following week I dipped again on everything. Things started to look up in September and by the end of the month I was at 247 species and everyone was egging me on. Even my old photographer friends who thought I had gone completely mad wanted to know how the list was going.</span></p><p><span style="text-align: center;"></span></p><h3 style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRzgFeA4jw0txTDcFakywwTf-yFDHAz7-qUwO_C9-PpuYnFYGN_ATpyRhU2oHiw2habLw-oNcTbR_USJFbTWrJ3d9BmSGRWgrROKK4Nqi0n4r2g2W6wp9N0bk0LSBodWp9WXyjmdS9wE/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRzgFeA4jw0txTDcFakywwTf-yFDHAz7-qUwO_C9-PpuYnFYGN_ATpyRhU2oHiw2habLw-oNcTbR_USJFbTWrJ3d9BmSGRWgrROKK4Nqi0n4r2g2W6wp9N0bk0LSBodWp9WXyjmdS9wE/w640-h426/American+Redstart+web-5390.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Redstart/Catbird Slough</td></tr></tbody></table></h3><p><span style="text-align: center;"></span></p><p><span style="text-align: center;">The next bird was to be the most unusual and controversial as it was a first for Vancouver or least as recent records go. Had I been on my own that day I wouldn't have have been able to count it. Raymond Ng and I were chatting at the first bench at Brunswick Point. He was going out to photograph the Ash-throated Flycatcher (246) and I was biking back to my car. Neither of us were birding, just chatting and catching up. Raymond suddenly pointed out a large bird flying close-by, almost over my shoulders. Long-tailed Jaeger (247) Raymond shouted. My camera was in my backpack, the bird too close for Raymond's 800mm. We were stunned, rooted to the spot, the moment was over in seconds. Both of us pride ourselves at being sometime photographers but neither of us could react in time except to see the bird fly off toward the ocean. Really too bad we didn't get pictures but we were able to describe the bird well. Below is what I wrote on eBird. </span></p><p><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(66, 66, 66); color: #424242; font-size: 12px;">Large streamlined white pelagic type bird with black cap and white/cream coloured breast. Solid black underneath the wings, no white whatsoever ruling out PAJA. Trailing long feathers, not sure of exact length. Witnessed by myself and Raymond Ng. Fly-over from 20 metres directly above us. Heading toward the ocean from the farmers fields. Great views, could even see the catchlight in the eye but neither of us could get our cameras on the bird.</span></p><p><span style="text-align: center;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjKXZz7VtOH6i5xk9FM0v89nUHZmwLlJYspIsKonRHxIoEBMoNZ01SQJvBIe1k6bbIopWcUP9XXUyZyy86KDKYDG-TGWA3GroaJmfsa5vqkH5_xd9COfH8ayZXCD1QR9keWPnGMpW72Y/w640-h426/Ash-throated+Flycatcher+web-6899.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ash-throated Flycatcher/Brunswick Point<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="text-align: center;">My sole contribution to the Metro Vancouver Big Year pool was the Curlew Sandpiper I found on a visit to Reifel Aug 8 2020. I was a great birthday present, a new Canada bird and another Metro Vancouver tick.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></p><p><span style="text-align: center;"> See</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a href="https://thecanadianwarbler.blogspot.com/2020/09/finding-good-bird.html" style="text-align: center;">Finding a good bird</a></p><p><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="text-align: center;"></span></p><h4 style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3h_HxrOOh8Rm64tcxIsn0DgSggihscDwPMOLu-bOPTff781moiXPnJBrCCMJq-nKy4rYKkpmwwtC05AVwjai8KVCOLuU0hyphenhyphenn_Fv32JCSeIvyMWOtuUEIWOd8auoxW6glPp6djYH_9sQ/" style="font-size: 18.719999313354492px; font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3h_HxrOOh8Rm64tcxIsn0DgSggihscDwPMOLu-bOPTff781moiXPnJBrCCMJq-nKy4rYKkpmwwtC05AVwjai8KVCOLuU0hyphenhyphenn_Fv32JCSeIvyMWOtuUEIWOd8auoxW6glPp6djYH_9sQ/w640-h426/Curlew+Sandpiper+web-1790.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curlew Sandpiper/Reifel</td></tr></tbody></table></h4><p><span style="text-align: center;">It wasn't until middle of Oct that I ticked a Palm Warbler </span><span>found by Rob Lyske </span><span style="text-align: center;">at Maplewood Flats (248) and the same day a Northern Mockingbird (NOMO) at Iona (249) </span><span>The secretive NOMO counted, even if it was just a glimpse. A view is all most listers need although a good long look is the preferred outcome. As it turned out there was never any need to rush, the NOMO is still there weeks later, even being trapped in the banding mist nets. </span>One thing I did learn about the listing game was to strike when the iron was hot, as soon as a new bird turned up it was in the car and off on another twitch. Unfortunately no car pooling this year. It became second nature to drop all plans at moment's notice. </p><div>Once my wife was onboard, my disappearing acts became much more accepted, even applauded. The only condition was to bring home a Wendy's Frosty and only if I found a new year bird, that started around the Pectoral Sandpiper bird (214) so you can see, quite a few frozen treats were consumed.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-KtlmBoqH25v_Wza4hmx4EhIijaUv8e64jZgY-c-IiiaDOS2hDKNHtP0WuJv3-tU0FlOOLRW93Jj5Zvvb4u6JhRO8X5qN5Wgtor6EgDqJRsCjq9tNM2vDKhDJfVZMpJB_1HHNXpIir8/s300/Cassin%2527s+Auklet+web-5826.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-KtlmBoqH25v_Wza4hmx4EhIijaUv8e64jZgY-c-IiiaDOS2hDKNHtP0WuJv3-tU0FlOOLRW93Jj5Zvvb4u6JhRO8X5qN5Wgtor6EgDqJRsCjq9tNM2vDKhDJfVZMpJB_1HHNXpIir8/w400-h267/Cassin%2527s+Auklet+web-5826.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cassin's Auklet/Stanley Park</td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>After the NOMO it left just one bird to go. <span style="text-align: center;">I was more than happy that when after three years of trying I eventually saw my #250 bird when I photographed a Clarke's Grebe at the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal on Oct 14.</span> Like most birders I found the bird from an online source. <span style="text-align: center;">On reflection and</span><span style="text-align: center;"> back in September when I was racking up the kilometres and when I still needed ten more birds and I really thought my Big Year might never happen.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6kae0FeSWn0HZ5mZJn873DoHVxqqUagjgYi57dZWjKasXcwOFU0T7h9bXJ4U9iodHRME97TWtp02fDI4n9amTGUlPfyYOyy2rM_pKWnaiTZiGuL81C8pIyknFdc-eDtIvxFLYdE8_tA/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6kae0FeSWn0HZ5mZJn873DoHVxqqUagjgYi57dZWjKasXcwOFU0T7h9bXJ4U9iodHRME97TWtp02fDI4n9amTGUlPfyYOyy2rM_pKWnaiTZiGuL81C8pIyknFdc-eDtIvxFLYdE8_tA/w640-h426/Pine+Grosbeak-7329.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pine Grosbeak/Maplewood</td></tr></tbody></table></blockquote><p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></blockquote><p>There wasn't even time for a little celebration when young birder Sage found a Cassin's Auklet in Stanley Park's Cold Harbour. What an amazing find, a pelagic so close to the city. All the regular listers were there, even for many of them it was a first for Vancouver. That was #251 for me. I also had also made sure I had covered two potentially difficult birds to identify in getting a second Sharp-shinned Hawk at Reifel and a second Eared Grebe at Iona. </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p style="text-align: left;"> I couldn't have done the big Year it on my own. A special thanks go out to Mel of the BC Rare Bird Alert for being so diligent in getting out the word out and to all the other birders who have shared their sightings with the rest of us in the birding community.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://rokman61.wordpress.com/2016/03/22/the-listing-game-birding-on-the-fringe/?blogsub=confirmed#blog_subscription-4">History of the Crow</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://rokman61.wordpress.com/2018/03/27/the-second-biennial-listy-awards/">The Crow updated</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"It's never too late to attempt a Big Year"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">John Gordon</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Langley/Cloverdale</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">B.C. Canada</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p></div></div>John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com11Vancouver BC47.3889465 -122.749436620.649381909933872 -157.9056866 74.128511090066127 -87.5931866tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-48733397549915064422020-11-08T19:50:00.003-08:002020-11-10T18:15:24.839-08:00Red-backed Shrike Mega Twitch<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rare Bird Alert. A Red-backed Shrike had turned up on BC's Sunshine Coast. A MEGA find if there ever was one. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The shrike normally breeds in Europe and Western Asia and winters in tropical Africa. Twitchers began frantically checking ferry schedules and booking hotel rooms. I wasn't so quick to react. I thought about it for a full three days before I got my act together and decided to make the six hour, two ferry trip up the Sunshine Coast and beyond to the bustling metropolis of Powell River. It would be a 12-14 hour day trip. Prior to leaving I decided to hedge my bets and stay overnight. That would give a me a better chance in case I dipped on my arrival. I am glad I did.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdGPgDfafcjyuHu8OdCNmA_-sCrLYHqK4f65wxMk4_urHGfZnSTgatKFSBfm3IvNdCn35TOjeVPnM06PdYoey9SrLef3SKr-Rj5dkfMP3HQjjAR4ym1He7OVJESd1PpWsibsRlTraZOA/s600/The+Twitch+web-6892.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdGPgDfafcjyuHu8OdCNmA_-sCrLYHqK4f65wxMk4_urHGfZnSTgatKFSBfm3IvNdCn35TOjeVPnM06PdYoey9SrLef3SKr-Rj5dkfMP3HQjjAR4ym1He7OVJESd1PpWsibsRlTraZOA/w640-h426/The+Twitch+web-6892.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twitchers wait for some action.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Arriving at midday I arrived in Powell River and headed for the stakeout (see above) where a number of other birders had been patiently waiting for several hours. There was a bitter cold with blowing off the Salish Sea. I wore three layers and I was still shivering. Eventually three hours later and as the light began to fail the shrike finally appeared. I quickly captured some so-so video footage on my Nikon P1000 bridge camera. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2khC8ZFY9k">Red-backed Shrike Video</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The camera has excellent 4K video qualities and has a 24mm-3000mm which proved ideal for this particular twitch where we couldn't approach too closely.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCOPLEbOjtbzsIEJOhxGzQ7SZbgsJDvnbdkHvVrVxEzgB538uW6ewan6Iwzgu3itgmiRo7wbG0Vlx4glJaE8QxQKlYK8xYb2P1B0tXtYIuf9MyAtXq8-K_b4kyAJleRTLAqQLv581xz0/s600/Shrike+Red-backed+web-6877.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCOPLEbOjtbzsIEJOhxGzQ7SZbgsJDvnbdkHvVrVxEzgB538uW6ewan6Iwzgu3itgmiRo7wbG0Vlx4glJaE8QxQKlYK8xYb2P1B0tXtYIuf9MyAtXq8-K_b4kyAJleRTLAqQLv581xz0/w266-h400/Shrike+Red-backed+web-6877.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nikon P1000 <br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The P1000 is not a replacement for a DSLR or a quality mirrorless but not everybody wants to go that route. I then switched to my D500 and 200mm-500mm F5.6 Nikon zoom for some crisper shots by which time the light had dropped and I forced me to shoot at ISO 1000 to get enough shutter speed. The light was terrible but photographers have to work with whatever is available. Thankfully the rain held off.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBM_aIZ4Vt5s7-zeWEpRGZVNRvEie9MaBEh96tmk9a8VPysYdcsU5RGFpjqPRiMYHDTN9-7ErnpUzJ9sAKcR5fXIUCrxPiVfh1xbKSEtLOPQfV78M0-aWHVPfOzj7J0jh8XLqyusuV_jc/s600/Shrike+Red-backed+web-7020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBM_aIZ4Vt5s7-zeWEpRGZVNRvEie9MaBEh96tmk9a8VPysYdcsU5RGFpjqPRiMYHDTN9-7ErnpUzJ9sAKcR5fXIUCrxPiVfh1xbKSEtLOPQfV78M0-aWHVPfOzj7J0jh8XLqyusuV_jc/w640-h426/Shrike+Red-backed+web-7020.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shrike flew to the ground<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvXjygHfGm1uMz55NWBb5Jin65eRKOkwBtJH3PO5Hz8ojjrXI9srf4JxmLm6_WUt_4DsZ_QmVyn0-wEeAy8KR16XC_IRJcVUjK1jxHukmYzPrfqylOcTRERJwnXDhQz_SrMDqO7pffIw/s600/Shrike+Red-backed+web-7026.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvXjygHfGm1uMz55NWBb5Jin65eRKOkwBtJH3PO5Hz8ojjrXI9srf4JxmLm6_WUt_4DsZ_QmVyn0-wEeAy8KR16XC_IRJcVUjK1jxHukmYzPrfqylOcTRERJwnXDhQz_SrMDqO7pffIw/w640-h426/Shrike+Red-backed+web-7026.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and picked up an earthworm</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbPHI5BnrsZHHSxCYZs4Hy7UVk763hnovHxadJaHgthkI6_xdoBchL0HzmjiqyI71zRW3R62Y3YGCfIb5OIqHmODxKSikrsK-BWk1OLKV7HkurrNmhSMK0IGSoFgpA5b-ZUJbUqNS6nw/s600/Shrike+Red-backed-web7029.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbPHI5BnrsZHHSxCYZs4Hy7UVk763hnovHxadJaHgthkI6_xdoBchL0HzmjiqyI71zRW3R62Y3YGCfIb5OIqHmODxKSikrsK-BWk1OLKV7HkurrNmhSMK0IGSoFgpA5b-ZUJbUqNS6nw/w640-h426/Shrike+Red-backed-web7029.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">then scolded me.<br />Nikon D500 and 200mm-500mm</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I stayed at the historic <a href="https://www.oldcourthouseinn.ca">The Old Courthouse Inn</a> which is unique in every way and well worth visiting </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">even if it's only for breakfast. I had a restful stay after my long day's drive and headed out next morning </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to try my luck for the shrike again. There were already birders from Nanaimo when I arrived. It wasn't long before I had to peel off two of my three layers, a complete change in weather from the day before. This time the bird was in the same garden where it had taken up residence. The owners of the house were very gracious allowing an ever growing numbers of birders to keep watching the bird, one twitcher flew in from the Okanagan another from Ontario.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">This time I managed to get a few frames off without flushing the bird while the newly arriving birders eagerly searched for the bird. By noon there were no more sightings which meant more than a few returned home without seeing the bird. Those who stayed were luckier next morning.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div> </div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">A few days later I procrastinated again and missed the the Prairie Warbler in Kelowna so I may have to get my act together or just not worry about chasing every bird that's reported. </div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kxt7jXBQ1C14p1qTe4UErKu2_gvlvj6HwsDd8Y57lxMlqy2S5vp07P34sJL6pKOONmLcUOQK27Lxbb8tHCEgarY68wBIsGfBxSJq0lOo_6f1rxqHOJXdUntdVVwc8-rwRD6jLESt40g/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kxt7jXBQ1C14p1qTe4UErKu2_gvlvj6HwsDd8Y57lxMlqy2S5vp07P34sJL6pKOONmLcUOQK27Lxbb8tHCEgarY68wBIsGfBxSJq0lOo_6f1rxqHOJXdUntdVVwc8-rwRD6jLESt40g/w640-h426/Shrike+Red-backed+web+1-7047.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.prpeak.com/community/red-backed-shrike-spotted-in-powell-river-neighbourhood-1.24228095">Local Newspaper Coverage</a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Very rare birds are termed Mega</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">see</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://birding-world.com/glossary-birdwatching-slang/">Birding Slang</a></div> <p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"> "It's never a good idea to procrastinate"</span></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"> John Gordon</span></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"> Langley/Cloverdale </span></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"> BC Canada </span></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote>John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com1Powell River, BC, Canada49.8352352 -124.524706141.25374796036494 -133.3137686 58.416722439635059 -115.7356436tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-47774261206483174762020-11-03T14:26:00.001-08:002020-11-03T14:26:22.312-08:00 Nature Walk & Forest Bathing (Shinrin Yoku)<h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; text-align: center;">Nature Walk & Forest Bathing</b></span></h1>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In September a few DRBIPA members, supporters, and volunteers headed out on a socially-distanced guided nature walk at Derby Reach - with John Gordon, professional photographer, author, and Langley Field Naturalist. We learned about letting ourselves be encompassed by our surroundings and how this can help nature photographers. John also shared some of his best tips and tricks for getting good nature shots. It was a great morning out in the park surrounded by trees, even in the rain! </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbqHD6xdFGJhMfX_Ns_2H4jqpatqYTiyFOcpmoeNkK3vuqYXUSHiwphLAUlWFeLCFSPcZNOJiIqRPIYtv4ci2rbsZ6r4nj0R1lTSVCefZrWuHfTZ_NTzKkRk14IOH-N1vtAHsPoGuS3E/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1366" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbqHD6xdFGJhMfX_Ns_2H4jqpatqYTiyFOcpmoeNkK3vuqYXUSHiwphLAUlWFeLCFSPcZNOJiIqRPIYtv4ci2rbsZ6r4nj0R1lTSVCefZrWuHfTZ_NTzKkRk14IOH-N1vtAHsPoGuS3E/w267-h400/Osoberry-8599.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Osoberry or Indian Plum</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /><br /></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Forest bathing is simply spending time outdoors under the canopy of trees and immersing oneself in the forest and soaking in the atmosphere through the senses. John taught us about his approach to forest bathing, about being still and silent until the quiet forest becomes alive with sounds and sights you didn't know were there. A perfect activity for nature photographers and all nature lovers!</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabjN4mlq07tTR5JyKAhrWlhLKMhEUyFuAH6Lv4NeyMuw_vWM8gZH-svEgJ4-xmxM8Ngf4Xt2A-QPCk4VujNR3QRSg-2StyId15EcronK17Kifk4sQW_46auopS-LlO5qDVVmvdKhyphenhyphenEto/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabjN4mlq07tTR5JyKAhrWlhLKMhEUyFuAH6Lv4NeyMuw_vWM8gZH-svEgJ4-xmxM8Ngf4Xt2A-QPCk4VujNR3QRSg-2StyId15EcronK17Kifk4sQW_46auopS-LlO5qDVVmvdKhyphenhyphenEto/w267-h400/Page+43+Sunset+web.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset with a 50mm lens shot<br /> wide open at F1.4<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">According to Dr. Qing Li, author of <i>Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health & Happiness</i>, the key to unlocking the power of the forest is in the five senses. He advises to let nature enter through your ears, eyes, nose, mouth, hands and feet. A two-hour forest bath will help you to unplug from technology and slow down. It will bring you into the present moment and de-stress and relax you.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEaaFjxm8F795Gh0NEcEAc8kQ-YW_jtCmETEnyx_kRTxeAVvfbLgUICCdb-zQPmdxhh85J7UiCaeCu3aQVsqFO4ED9kxHZiQgIRAG8qoPWE-1q_U9TVn6yL0GDDIv2PV-4ejLsoMN5Sw/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEaaFjxm8F795Gh0NEcEAc8kQ-YW_jtCmETEnyx_kRTxeAVvfbLgUICCdb-zQPmdxhh85J7UiCaeCu3aQVsqFO4ED9kxHZiQgIRAG8qoPWE-1q_U9TVn6yL0GDDIv2PV-4ejLsoMN5Sw/w267-h400/Stepping+Stones+web-7247.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pathway/Brydon <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://mailchi.mp/696fc90b07fc/news-from-drbipa-6125488?e=2a16f5279f">DRBOBA Newsletter</a><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">"It's never too late to take up the art of forest bathing"</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">John Gordon</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Langley/Cloverdale</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">BC Canada</span></p>John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com0Derby Reach Regional Park - Dog Off-leash Area, Langley Twp, BC V1M 3H8, Canada49.2073459 -122.621338349.02753100464669 -122.895996503125 49.38716079535331 -122.346680096875tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-34468160360635360552020-11-03T13:41:00.001-08:002020-11-03T13:41:59.478-08:00Bird Watching During a Pandemic<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A few weeks ago Black Press contacted me about an article they were putting together about birding for seniors. Birding has seen a huge spike in popularity in recent years among all age groups but particularly seniors. Despite the current situation with Covid-19 many groups and clubs are still offering opportunities for seniors and others to get out in a responsible manner. One example is the Langley Field Naturalists, other groups are also offering walks that follow strict social distancing and health protocols. We have had numerous walks around the Lower Mainland and we even have some new faces attending. I've met many who are despondent and are having a tough time with the isolation. To those I I urge you to get out on your own, with your family unit or in a safe group and take walk in the forest, listen to the birds, take a very deep breath, relax and try to put everything into perspective. Nature is perfect and it will see us all through these uncertain times.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">*Note: Since the article was published just a few weeks ago cases of Covid-19 have begun to rise and the health authorities are asking everything to take even more precautions. Please keep this in mind when you read the article.</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Follow the link below to read the whole story. </span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhacaJeuKvlq1sIH85HkPcz5WUBlzbU9EadUAGV5rs8UdRr9lkkwo27Z8LowT_HMr9ChzzSE7c4qtwx32GTq5Bf8qGmsN1K7JttK2DKdFPQoFqJujL9e1EPBl-jRfNXr5wzRvHHvBDkA/s414/page_1_thumb_large.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhacaJeuKvlq1sIH85HkPcz5WUBlzbU9EadUAGV5rs8UdRr9lkkwo27Z8LowT_HMr9ChzzSE7c4qtwx32GTq5Bf8qGmsN1K7JttK2DKdFPQoFqJujL9e1EPBl-jRfNXr5wzRvHHvBDkA/s16000/page_1_thumb_large.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John with Canada Jay/Photo Carlo Giovanella</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p><br /></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">Link to Birdwatching during a Pandemic</p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p> <a href="6&&headline=TGl2aW5nIDYwcGx1cyBNYWdhemluZSBPY3QgRWRpdGlvbg==&&doc_id=201016170036-2bee176dc7159b506862f062ea2c6a18&&pid=p20120309121148491" style="text-align: center;">Birding for Seniors/Covid19</a></p><p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"> <a href="https://www.langleyfieldnaturalists.org" style="text-align: center;">Langley Field Naturalists</a></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">"Its never too late to get out birding"</p><p style="text-align: center;">John Gordon</p><p style="text-align: center;">Langley/Cloverdale</p><p style="text-align: center;">BC Canada</p><p> </p><p><br /></p>John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-12410328289166241532020-09-27T18:47:00.002-07:002020-09-27T19:22:40.954-07:00Finding A Good Bird<p style="text-align: center;"> Sept 22 2020</p><p style="text-align: center;">A few months ago, fellow birder Colin Classen and I were chatting about finding rarities, the ones that turn up once or twice a year or in extreme cases once in a decade. As it turned out a few weeks later, Colin found and photographed an Ash-throated Flycatcher (ATFL) while on one of his regular walks at Colony Farm. He couldn't have been happier to share his find with others in the birding community. I and others tried for Colin's bird but we all dipped. I wouldn't be the first bird I would miss but that's just one of the many aspects that makes birding so fascinating.</p><p style="text-align: center;">In birding parlance the ATFL was a "really, really good bird" occurring in the Lower Mainland perhaps once or twice every couple of years. Over the last ten years I have only seen two myself including one a few nights ago at Brunswick Point. That bird was found by Grant Edwards who shared his find via the BC Rare Bird Alert allowing numerous other birders to get on the bird. For many, the Brunswick Point ATFL was a lifer. It's still there as I write a week later.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Most often when a rare species is found word spreads quickly. That's what happened to me a few weeks ago during a visit to Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Delta. Due to Covid19 I and others had to book visits beforehand. Prior to mid-March one could just turn up at the sanctuary and bird away. Fortunately I just happened to be booked in Tuesday September 8. I chose that date as the migration of shorebirds would be in full swing and the tides high enough to force the flocks off the foreshore into Reifel's ponds. That's the theory anyway.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I found myself at the West Field where many of the smaller sandpipers find suitable habitat in the shallows. Other sandpipers present included Long-billed Dowitchers, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, a few Pectoral and the flock of Western Sandpipers. The longer-legged birds can feed in deeper water. The diminutive westerns however prefers the shallows where they are continuously on the move, probing for food, re-fuelling for the next leg of an epic southern migration.</p><p style="text-align: center;"> It was time to scan the flock again. Flushed earlier by a Merlin the small flock of westerns were agitated and rarely stayed in one spot. Eventually they settled down to feed. Birders are always hoping for something different, scanning the flock over and over in the hope of finding the proverbial diamond in the rough. Perhaps there would be an early Sharp-tailed or even a Stilt Sandpiper. The westerns were on the move again, now barely visible even with a scope. Once again they flew closer which gave excellent views. Scanning through the flock of 30 or so was one bird which looked quite different in size, somewhat larger and with a long decurved bill. What I needed was a picture to help identify the bird. If it flew off what proof would there be, believe me I been stung before with an odd looking hummingbird a few years back, no picture, no proof, no kudos. This time I shot off a few frames with my Nikon P1000 but the distance and reeds blocking the view made it difficult to get a clear image. Finally I managed three frames but being nervous and shot at 3000mm handheld, the results were far from perfect, in fact they were terrible, but proof nevertheless. Looking at the images I came to the conclusion that it was a Curlew Sandpiper, a bird I had photographed in the UK but never in Canada. I needed back-up confirmation but no-one close-by could help. I sent a picture via text to Mel who does an invaluable job running the BC Rare Bird Alert, the fuzzy picture impressed her enough have her immediately make her way to Reifel to confirm the sighting. Once she had put the word out other birders began to converge on Reifel.</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0fRPAJ7oO4Y7bI_hPZD5-aFoxpJApPx5tFaRcFVo7yCQ56DMOo1ek3M-qkSpfhG4zwOaPy4CgrGFk4KAZzAOOgjqV3evVjVc4H7SnZBb9BTGNvEddlnCMEaNWq5_yWSk5aJKwVYCJZQ/s720/Curlew+Sandpiper+web-1720.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0fRPAJ7oO4Y7bI_hPZD5-aFoxpJApPx5tFaRcFVo7yCQ56DMOo1ek3M-qkSpfhG4zwOaPy4CgrGFk4KAZzAOOgjqV3evVjVc4H7SnZBb9BTGNvEddlnCMEaNWq5_yWSk5aJKwVYCJZQ/w640-h426/Curlew+Sandpiper+web-1720.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Curlew Sandpiper was much larger than the Western Sandpipers it was associating with.<br />Nikon P1000</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The buzz of finding a rare bird is something only a birder can fully appreciate. It's not that a common experience but when it happens it's gratifying. Being Johnny on the spot means waiting for others to arrive to get them on the bird but better still there is no need to battle traffic, drive like a bat out of hell or slip away from work for a fictitious doctor's appointment. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Y45t0qsHu4vwVXxNtezKY7Zb7ZLtv5kcIJ79WtX48RvvBHBupWC0jgZAdnuO2txVSzeq4jJZSm0vuX-MYLwjGrLFMmbjlRVln_Qs583KmkbJn9hinQvZ9Xh8z2fzpKFcJmkiUWl_ysE/s720/Curlew+Sandpiper+web-1790.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Y45t0qsHu4vwVXxNtezKY7Zb7ZLtv5kcIJ79WtX48RvvBHBupWC0jgZAdnuO2txVSzeq4jJZSm0vuX-MYLwjGrLFMmbjlRVln_Qs583KmkbJn9hinQvZ9Xh8z2fzpKFcJmkiUWl_ysE/w640-h426/Curlew+Sandpiper+web-1790.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The large decurved bill was a giveaway toward identification.<br />Nikon P1000</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p style="text-align: center;">Thirty minutes later an out of breath Mel arrived but the curlew had taken off. Every birder knows that sinking feeling, it's not nice. Mel decided to stay put in case the birds flew back and l went to scout the other end of the pond. Five minutes later I was on the bird again by which time other twitchers were arriving. I texted Mel who joined us, there were smiles all around. For many the bird was lifer. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJALPpAMzMOhiQ4iDb9os5pREyB1kEGc6kMSnjNz84Ty6uJPahoMZJeP2a-K9GloOGhUCt7atYMs18IEv0jF9L_JrJcyjYXwJQcsy1rRh81sqZopVRH3JUaqW69HczAVBGjjrhfUv3rj8/s600/Curlew+Sandpiper+web-1708.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJALPpAMzMOhiQ4iDb9os5pREyB1kEGc6kMSnjNz84Ty6uJPahoMZJeP2a-K9GloOGhUCt7atYMs18IEv0jF9L_JrJcyjYXwJQcsy1rRh81sqZopVRH3JUaqW69HczAVBGjjrhfUv3rj8/w640-h426/Curlew+Sandpiper+web-1708.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVwqpZ0QaQgNoLXIhzvczBB0ROrMwGBTiksSCb1Onq5eekiuzd0u2oGks5Q74vUCiQQPVG8Y4Q1AOW7D16Q0naW1VoDHImOm_6uEdlQnuytxa8r1PM98WKRj_8pG1thqE7GI7taiAAOk/s600/Curlew+Sandpiper+web-1758.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVwqpZ0QaQgNoLXIhzvczBB0ROrMwGBTiksSCb1Onq5eekiuzd0u2oGks5Q74vUCiQQPVG8Y4Q1AOW7D16Q0naW1VoDHImOm_6uEdlQnuytxa8r1PM98WKRj_8pG1thqE7GI7taiAAOk/w640-h426/Curlew+Sandpiper+web-1758.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Curlew Sandpiper is a rare visitor from Eurasia.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">More birders arrived and there was much back slapping and high fives which reminded me of my conversation with Colin a few weeks earlier. </span></div></blockquote><p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;">"It's never too late to find a </p><p style="text-align: center;">good bird"</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">John Gordon</p><p style="text-align: center;">Langley/Cloverdale </p><p style="text-align: center;">BC Canada</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com0Bobcat Forest Service Rd, Manning Park, BC V0X 1R0, Canada49.1613699 -120.512306543.109544941124156 -129.301369 55.213194858875838 -111.723244tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-90801496362352565382020-06-15T20:22:00.001-07:002020-07-24T11:53:48.284-07:00 Changing the Way I Photograph<div style="text-align: center;">
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Changing the way I photograph or how I became a Cotton Carrier fan</h3>
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<div style="text-align: center;">I've always enjoyed photography. Back in the day I even made a good living from it. Apart from a few days here and there I have been making and creating images for fifty years.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Bird photography is by far the most challenging yet most enjoyable I have ever tackled. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Photographing a tree creeper or a warbler flitting from branch to branch demands somewhat the same skillset as photographing Wayne Gretzky flipping a puck past Richard Brodeur or David Beckham scoring a goal. I should know, I've done both.<br />Often I would use 300mm F2.8 or 500mm F4 lenses. I would carry one or the other around all day. On numerous occasions even walking out to the end of the Iona south jetty and back. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">During my press days (1983-2011) I can't remember how many times I visited the chiropractor with sore shoulders and stiff neck. Finding a perfect way to carry gear was a never ending quest. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZnEkl0jJWaWVhog7SY_D5vRj64Y5CIFR3L2aCh4Y_Itp9CQoDGc1Sm9j7g4KH5VKDIRvWfsiFrO-1CLxMjYO9MZVEI4ZuLWvV2RfBA3sLKgr2MI_8QBgXEWjRIUTprbUVc3qNI02D7s/s840/Tutu+and+Dalai+Lama+web.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="840" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZnEkl0jJWaWVhog7SY_D5vRj64Y5CIFR3L2aCh4Y_Itp9CQoDGc1Sm9j7g4KH5VKDIRvWfsiFrO-1CLxMjYO9MZVEI4ZuLWvV2RfBA3sLKgr2MI_8QBgXEWjRIUTprbUVc3qNI02D7s/w625-h416/Tutu+and+Dalai+Lama+web.jpg" title="A long lens" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A long lens was useful to get this shot at the PNE.<br />Afterwards I got to meet the Dalai Lama shake his hand and exchange a few words. </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Even so, carrying one of the new lightweight 200mm-600mm super zooms and camera attached has a combined weight of 8.5 lbs which can weigh heavy on the shoulders. So after years of trying various carrying systems I have now found the perfect solution, namely the Cotton Carrier system. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I recently tumbled over a rock and landed awkwardly. While I and my camera came out of the situation unscathed my Cotton Carrier suffered from the impact. It was a freak accident with the vest taking the brunt of the fall. These things happen and I suppose the designers made the vest to carry a lens and not to break the fall of a doddering senior.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I continued to bird but I missed the vest. I lasted a week before contacting Cotton explaining what had happened and asked it they could repair the damage. After sending some pix I received an email from Brook Parker at Cotton's Vancouver headquarters explaining they would replace the harness free of charge. I was gobsmacked. As much as I offered to pay for postage and repairs and even an upgrade I became clear they weren't going to have any of it. A few days later I received a brand new vest in the mail. That's what I call amazing customer service. Talk to anyone you see wearing one, I'm sure they'll all agree that it has changed the way they bird, it sure has for me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xHJDN0R6gtkqPWI9KMt16P4n5ngIAmi9PfCEVOnSdmoMmWfmvWf5tyrLNwjMJPlhi9lFxfiiIt3N3br_95IyqwlynYTTThSNZItz7zssaVUz2nUC0D8ouum0IrP1WwG6ZTusV_-MRuU/s1800/Khutzeymateen+web-8040.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xHJDN0R6gtkqPWI9KMt16P4n5ngIAmi9PfCEVOnSdmoMmWfmvWf5tyrLNwjMJPlhi9lFxfiiIt3N3br_95IyqwlynYTTThSNZItz7zssaVUz2nUC0D8ouum0IrP1WwG6ZTusV_-MRuU/w625-h416/Khutzeymateen+web-8040.jpg" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Khutzeymateen Grizzly bears play fight.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The ability to bird, cover long distance and be ready to catch a fleeting moment has changed the way I photograph. I am having more fun, getting better results and photographing way more birds than I ever did lugging around a tripod and super-telephoto lens. I can now keep up with birders on organized hikes, better still, I don't mss a beat when I go abroad and I take exactly the same set-up that I use when birding around Vancouver. It's a win win situation.</div><div style="text-align: center;">That said, the Cotton Carrier system can be used to carry large prime lenses although most photographers would need a tripod for best results. Attachments are also available to attach multiple cameras, tripods and bins. </div><div style="text-align: center;">In conclusion, go forth, don't take life too seriously and enjoy your photography. I am.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDi-2qZPSDjxnwyRwDzI0IgKzzfik7OeBjItlYVnDdicK-NBKnK-5QQdABmgVo6czr0MWs4g2Bp52Qgma8co_6R_oqGq0ytpaWxjvAN65fy0guNXPlAeBZu0iNYirMDo4gGLPofOUpQ4/s720/Flower+Bed+or+Bed+of+Flowers+web.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDi-2qZPSDjxnwyRwDzI0IgKzzfik7OeBjItlYVnDdicK-NBKnK-5QQdABmgVo6czr0MWs4g2Bp52Qgma8co_6R_oqGq0ytpaWxjvAN65fy0guNXPlAeBZu0iNYirMDo4gGLPofOUpQ4/w625-h416/Flower+Bed+or+Bed+of+Flowers+web.jpg" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bed of flowers or a Flower Bed<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">John Gordon</div><div style="text-align: center;">Langley/Cloverdale</div>
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<a href="https://www.cottoncarrier.com/discount/JOHNGORDON">CottonCarrier Discount </a><br />
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John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-25137924553731269072020-06-15T09:13:00.001-07:002020-06-15T10:27:51.529-07:00Young birder and Covid-19 lockdown<div style="text-align: center;">Here is an interesting link to a young birder from the UK as well as some other odd goings on across the pond.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-nottinghamshire-52009781/birdwatcher-14-making-the-most-of-lockdown-wildlife" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px;">https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-nottinghamshire-52009781/birdwatcher-14-making-the-most-of-lockdown-wildlife</a><br style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px;" /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and owls too.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/11/barn-owls-are-back-in-growing-numbers-and-for-once-its-thanks-to-humans-aoe" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/11/barn-owls-are-back-in-growing-numbers-and-for-once-its-thanks-to-humans-aoe</a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">John Gordon (JOGO)</div>John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-53779599868246967692020-06-10T18:15:00.003-07:002020-11-22T16:15:29.726-08:00Forest birds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Forest Birds </h2>
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Spring in the Lower Mainland</div>
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2020</h3>
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Campbell Valley Park</h3>
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I spent the morning birding in the forest, it's my favourite place to be, especially at this time of year. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnt9ko8qU2urUElAOVm0f_1pI1eg3hw6FsH_WDZfTAUUvZZxGlzTTfddsEGTABuFsQmjqqxapxAUkTMyf7Ea7tPHPhSoClDToE0fbQFEgQNZ5tcDwaHjBYvA7PsLM2OzBikfB4Tbtk2bk/s1600/Western+Tanager+web+-3695.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnt9ko8qU2urUElAOVm0f_1pI1eg3hw6FsH_WDZfTAUUvZZxGlzTTfddsEGTABuFsQmjqqxapxAUkTMyf7Ea7tPHPhSoClDToE0fbQFEgQNZ5tcDwaHjBYvA7PsLM2OzBikfB4Tbtk2bk/s400/Western+Tanager+web+-3695.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Western Tanager<br />
Nikon D500 200mm-500mm</td></tr>
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The birds are only outnumbered by the insect population, their emergence perfectly timed for the arrival of millions of hungry migrants</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0Lxn4Mlji0ZKBqqvIPtzMbFpaXqOxy1l5diD1R8FRBL99e6oYjed74NWgquaQdSVJdyMRx0c6xdQKe6jmBG_rtOMGG-4OAwvwJ1zcO3EY6r6sImUqNdjVGHf3lucF4q3MLci77SoICc/s1600/Orange-crowned+Warbler+web-2823.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0Lxn4Mlji0ZKBqqvIPtzMbFpaXqOxy1l5diD1R8FRBL99e6oYjed74NWgquaQdSVJdyMRx0c6xdQKe6jmBG_rtOMGG-4OAwvwJ1zcO3EY6r6sImUqNdjVGHf3lucF4q3MLci77SoICc/s400/Orange-crowned+Warbler+web-2823.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Orange-crowned Warbler<br />
Nikon Coolpix P1000<br />
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During the migration I can think of no better place to be than in a forest. My childhood was spent in the UK's Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley, both places of outstanding natural beauty. I would spend the summers in the forest or on the riverbanks either fishing or rambling. I remember the Kingfisher and the Song Thrush but little other birdlife. </div>
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Within the protective canopy of the forest stresses can dissipate within seconds, it's really quite remarkable. The sights, sounds and smells of the forest are a powerful force. Any thoughts I might have floating around my bird brain take a backseat to the forest chorus. </div>
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Latimer Lake</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_NgspPOzUAuDwm7xfllVR54e2ym43NxCvV1wia21C5bSW6mn-nWA83k3zoxF0_wSRfOw_JtqlEWvwuLt-7ghXG5I9fSY74DTcA_nOPTqwcRlo589fmhH9Mal4NfolXWaGPeFBBDIXWM/s1600/Orange-crowned+Warbler++P1000+web-2244.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_NgspPOzUAuDwm7xfllVR54e2ym43NxCvV1wia21C5bSW6mn-nWA83k3zoxF0_wSRfOw_JtqlEWvwuLt-7ghXG5I9fSY74DTcA_nOPTqwcRlo589fmhH9Mal4NfolXWaGPeFBBDIXWM/s640/Orange-crowned+Warbler++P1000+web-2244.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange-crowned Warbler<br />
Nikon Coolpix P1000</td></tr>
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Latimer Lake is a postage stamp parcel of forest, bush and lake on the Surrey/Langley border. Surrounded by industry, the park offers more than it should considering the loss of farmland and forest that surrounds it. </div>
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Burnaby Mountain</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoch8PF8WBbaBCcGHfoJseeUjmyqXlBEFhcs3JwGnFLXISSzAEEItaTpIqEdHXu9Ve5Oc3nJVZJLUL0wn8nn9PK4RhFYKRaGg3INUkXBbAOSVF4CG8qg2Z1hBW2-7N1F2GlHbFlxReJv0/s1600/Cassin%2527s+Vireo+web-2456.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoch8PF8WBbaBCcGHfoJseeUjmyqXlBEFhcs3JwGnFLXISSzAEEItaTpIqEdHXu9Ve5Oc3nJVZJLUL0wn8nn9PK4RhFYKRaGg3INUkXBbAOSVF4CG8qg2Z1hBW2-7N1F2GlHbFlxReJv0/s1600/Cassin%2527s+Vireo+web-2456.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cassin's Vireo<br />
Nikon D500 200mm-500mm</td></tr>
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High above in the forest canopy, Black-throated Grays, Yellow-rumped Warblers and the Warbling Vireos plucked juicy insects from the unfurling blossoms and buds, easy pickings after an epic migration. One sound rose above the others but before I could locate the source a Yellow-rumped Warbler flew right past me directly into a nest, she wiggled her rump and settled down. Every trip to the forest brings a surprise.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjsLWFaQgwErthMOcwdLy61N_Gz6AqF3IqgYAYsDLA7TMdGlHNCzZz1Asnq5wXzev_bsK5gyPi-SzYJB603v60HVJObWCLJUOCgGCrWmpefjv_ukHYfhNWBK5y4eXHDih40xDrY19Flw/s1600/Cassin%2527s+Vireo+web-2436.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjsLWFaQgwErthMOcwdLy61N_Gz6AqF3IqgYAYsDLA7TMdGlHNCzZz1Asnq5wXzev_bsK5gyPi-SzYJB603v60HVJObWCLJUOCgGCrWmpefjv_ukHYfhNWBK5y4eXHDih40xDrY19Flw/s1600/Cassin%2527s+Vireo+web-2436.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cassin's Vireo<br />
Nikon D500 200mm-500mm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3>
Joe Brown Park </h3>
A simple puddle of water is a welcome respite for a migrating bird that may have flown all night, all the while avoiding the many perils that long distance travel might entail. How birds battle the elements and find their way over great distances is one of the great wonders of nature.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtSYIfzHN-HCkHQqTt54CWCyXQ1OKBzALH5_IBbcWvu99016-3Z8iDaMlbpkbazWTguLzmkSq0LiHtcw7O6BF6IlUUHD_baEUKt3zJMMj1LRX_fGOzA_CeW4xg-C2cGa3Q9EFMldt6L8/s1600/Yellow-rump+Warbler+web-3125.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtSYIfzHN-HCkHQqTt54CWCyXQ1OKBzALH5_IBbcWvu99016-3Z8iDaMlbpkbazWTguLzmkSq0LiHtcw7O6BF6IlUUHD_baEUKt3zJMMj1LRX_fGOzA_CeW4xg-C2cGa3Q9EFMldt6L8/s640/Yellow-rump+Warbler+web-3125.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-rumped Warbler<br />
Nikon D500 200mm-500mm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I immediately hatched a cunning plan to secure a photo. I hid just off the trail waiting to see which birds might come down to bathe. After being interrupted by a couple out for a stroll a Yellow-rumped Warbler eventually returned to the puddle. A Townsend's Warbler thought about a dip but was flushed by a cyclist and never returned. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1KxKbCZ4w1VMZseXoQ9QSM5u8rGW2DwdwwlEMeGi8uD9Wv4DF6xEwmyHjFvdxBiakDuV9hMGnXg2JzxAFTrSWuvO2m3tno8OEOGNftgdpgDU80DUIDV9HmIPedfKfhuN-rgIjr2cRhI/s1600/Townsend%2527s+Warbler+web-3141.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1KxKbCZ4w1VMZseXoQ9QSM5u8rGW2DwdwwlEMeGi8uD9Wv4DF6xEwmyHjFvdxBiakDuV9hMGnXg2JzxAFTrSWuvO2m3tno8OEOGNftgdpgDU80DUIDV9HmIPedfKfhuN-rgIjr2cRhI/s640/Townsend%2527s+Warbler+web-3141.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Townsend's Warbler<br />
Nikon D500 200mm-500mm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
At eye level Wilson's Warblers and Warbling Vireos plucked insects from low hanging shrubs, the warblers showed no fear, seemingly intent on fattening up after their long journey. After taking a few pictures I tucked away my camera and just watched and listened. A few sounds like the Bushtits and the Black-throated Grays were familiar, others however will remain a mystery.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCV1RSQszsG9sb01srD4iifQCLZRgmi-PE-msJKpKpRMvljCkDFcqMypzG2S06vtmzyiGqw_ut0xPz_joqayq_bZVkLofDQwCKDsQRxgH0nEZ7QkOm45Mkq_ALulccPZAL8tVQZPT696s/s1600/Warbling+Vireo+web-3494.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCV1RSQszsG9sb01srD4iifQCLZRgmi-PE-msJKpKpRMvljCkDFcqMypzG2S06vtmzyiGqw_ut0xPz_joqayq_bZVkLofDQwCKDsQRxgH0nEZ7QkOm45Mkq_ALulccPZAL8tVQZPT696s/s1600/Warbling+Vireo+web-3494.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Warbling Vireo<br />
Nikon D500 200-500mm<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Home Sweet Home</h3>
<div>
After birding all morning I returned home to tackle the foot high grass that my wife had been asking me to cut for weeks. It was a hot day and hard work so I treated myself to a nice cool Mexican beer. Part-way through my first swig a flash of yellow caught my attention. It happened so quickly that I couldn't be sure what species of bird I had just seen. I went out to the street and sitting in my Acacia was a Western Tanager. A pleasant surprise and a new yard bird. </div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9XJhP5y8uqJ9BP3EL7eulgBEWbi8BBV7uvdLuVzj1jcCRjUQEOOhZfu9NUBF1UN-FbxAEel_5AyfiEf0ob3tsoe6H81zlStKOxU__aEkbTYDE_3qt0vlhvzHLx6Car1hKOmm1sovHCM/s1600/Western+Tanager+web-3677.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9XJhP5y8uqJ9BP3EL7eulgBEWbi8BBV7uvdLuVzj1jcCRjUQEOOhZfu9NUBF1UN-FbxAEel_5AyfiEf0ob3tsoe6H81zlStKOxU__aEkbTYDE_3qt0vlhvzHLx6Car1hKOmm1sovHCM/s1600/Western+Tanager+web-3677.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tanager leaves its perch and prepares to snag a juicy insect.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitddKySgOQ3Cnc03f4qgui0BuM9UqoqdP8fQKhAbyTXljADvGqaKXrcB7OHLr-rnMDOyMaAgPr0ayHninBDr3WAo3ep0Fx9vdA2sze_FQ2Vf72TittMhoyDlnaH4lVnvmxsEExgWzrIHo/s1600/Western+Tanager+web-3679.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitddKySgOQ3Cnc03f4qgui0BuM9UqoqdP8fQKhAbyTXljADvGqaKXrcB7OHLr-rnMDOyMaAgPr0ayHninBDr3WAo3ep0Fx9vdA2sze_FQ2Vf72TittMhoyDlnaH4lVnvmxsEExgWzrIHo/s1600/Western+Tanager+web-3679.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wings tucked in at the last moment provided the tanager with an extra amount of precision.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmx1pztV0BkU_03KglBVUznd6pjcGy97EV34lsN5tozDXX0UO56RGO3KKmXbk0KP_JYe0ZIi1Kde1CgO_tXs23ONIyRa0nOFRKcJgW3T-EjdQksSvk2-_7I4_ZUIyTLBy-EUuTWD59X4/s1600/Western+Tanager+web-3672.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmx1pztV0BkU_03KglBVUznd6pjcGy97EV34lsN5tozDXX0UO56RGO3KKmXbk0KP_JYe0ZIi1Kde1CgO_tXs23ONIyRa0nOFRKcJgW3T-EjdQksSvk2-_7I4_ZUIyTLBy-EUuTWD59X4/s1600/Western+Tanager+web-3672.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;">
Looking for its next victim.<br />
Nikon D500 200mm-500mm</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Queen Elizabeth Park</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Vancouver</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKy4BmsIyTBHR2Jhz6Q4MSMJKl-SLhSsC6z-_109xBUz56dxmEjUCvRJ63TJ7fXaVtNGdZejuomSWg2CB4nze5QjWvQD3XpsZShK7Mzc-tvdR1_vS6icWRhL9EBhsWuKwZjvRfAkJJwHE/s1600/Olive-sided+Fycatcher+web-3520.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKy4BmsIyTBHR2Jhz6Q4MSMJKl-SLhSsC6z-_109xBUz56dxmEjUCvRJ63TJ7fXaVtNGdZejuomSWg2CB4nze5QjWvQD3XpsZShK7Mzc-tvdR1_vS6icWRhL9EBhsWuKwZjvRfAkJJwHE/s1600/Olive-sided+Fycatcher+web-3520.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olive-side Flycatcher<br />
Nikon D500 200mm-500mm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Technically not a forest but the closest thing in Vancouver City is Queen Elizabeth Park. A pair of Olive-sided flycatchers used the same snag for almost a week before moving on to places unknown. They are more common in the Interior forest than in Metro Vancouver but any forest of good size will hold a few during migration with some even breeding locally in the Lower Mainland.</div>
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<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Campbell Valley Regional Park</h3>
</div>
<div>
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<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8siuLSTPmOq9SOh5quu__Jp9qvSJg2iLGkhV0GpV0Kv_7yXCasP0ek2r-rekSiNmQXshDkrFoMiBPjbDb6r8mQjyb2zYz0LgWmkAN_2erMfdpLvJlS2j-s-rALEKqfId1Q6_YJCqk_k/s1600/Red-eyed+Vireo+web-5477.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8siuLSTPmOq9SOh5quu__Jp9qvSJg2iLGkhV0GpV0Kv_7yXCasP0ek2r-rekSiNmQXshDkrFoMiBPjbDb6r8mQjyb2zYz0LgWmkAN_2erMfdpLvJlS2j-s-rALEKqfId1Q6_YJCqk_k/s640/Red-eyed+Vireo+web-5477.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Red-eye Vireo<br />
Nikon D500 Nikon 200mm-500mm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Catbird Slough</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Although not technically a forest, the riparian stand of Black Cottonwood along Catbird Slough is an important buffer between the 3000 acre Pitt Lake and the Pitt-Addington Marsh. The narrow strand of forest between the two stands of water offers shelter and sanctuary for many species of birds and animals.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpVdBk5rurV8t8cYPqwceqJ8rrnAeygDXGrj2oJlqg8oC2H4xTZboESaX-7B_6trxA4lUpd1j8o-99_7ZRepiQo3xsTfMiRh0TIvddrlLzqRMAlKy9VIqR9AoTbSgCblSaBTAuBvoi34/s1600/American+Redstart+web-5390.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpVdBk5rurV8t8cYPqwceqJ8rrnAeygDXGrj2oJlqg8oC2H4xTZboESaX-7B_6trxA4lUpd1j8o-99_7ZRepiQo3xsTfMiRh0TIvddrlLzqRMAlKy9VIqR9AoTbSgCblSaBTAuBvoi34/s640/American+Redstart+web-5390.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Redstart<br />
First year male<br />
Nikon D500 200mm-500mm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">The American Redstart was singing but very shy. I recorded its song on my iPhone, when I played it back to myself the bird suddenly appeared and then disappeared as quickly, never to return. This image was shot through leaves, a technique called selective focus. The lens has to be shot wide open which on the 200mm-500mm is F5.6</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> I have learnt from experience that it's best to shoot as many frames as possible to get one that portrays the subject well. Initially I thought I had a few out of focus shots due to the shyness of the subject. Although not technically perfect is the first time I have managed to photograph an American Redstart in the Lower Mainland. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Many thanks to Quentin Brown who differentiated the similar sounding Yellow Warbler and redstart making locating the bird so much easier. We actually found two apart from the one pictured here.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<h2>
Final Frame</h2>
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</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
A Sign from Anna's Place</h3>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKzCqNU3dfn7S6NQhv9phrMlTsQ3hce3j4mGNarCsMPBDQas9l69OWtL_9D4UGqVxvQgd5iUyt_v8bCgeV0Bhrko1VSnzPDxHikQYza4e2QpsElo8E1m9fpRl3SBl6QHLew537smUA_Q/s1600/Porch+Rules+web-4178.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKzCqNU3dfn7S6NQhv9phrMlTsQ3hce3j4mGNarCsMPBDQas9l69OWtL_9D4UGqVxvQgd5iUyt_v8bCgeV0Bhrko1VSnzPDxHikQYza4e2QpsElo8E1m9fpRl3SBl6QHLew537smUA_Q/s640/Porch+Rules+web-4178.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"It never too late to listen to the birds, read a book and enjoy the quiet moments"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
John Gordon</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Langley /Cloverdale</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
BC Canada</div>
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<br />John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1684205219010103938.post-35968411134402960392020-04-07T18:37:00.000-07:002020-04-07T18:37:48.810-07:00Mindfull Birding/ Vortex /Garbage and Birds<div style="text-align: center;">
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Please bird mindfully</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
By Team eBird<br />
March 27, 2020</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For birders, one way to get through this period is to spend time outdoors enjoying birds—just remember to keep health and safety your top priorities. Follow the recommendations of your local health authorities at all times, even if it means staying at home and focusing on your yard or garden list instead.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Full article below</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://ebird.org/news/please-bird-mindfully?utm_source=Cornell+Lab+eNews&utm_campaign=3656171d79-ebird+enews+apr+2020&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_47588b5758-3656171d79-318060701">Mindfull birding tips from eBird</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgWWXh6RSSFb32Nv5_8Rk-VKNbLacJ7T5L4Ebqonh4kYgB7f6gNbJuhVPj0KgEW82rFc9nF9PWFDwvsHTw2z6QM3RVcGBGiKseK3jO5TVGErTdG4u8G8xkGzF6uVVhDad9KImJ-nxh6E/s1600/Douglas+Squirrel++webP1000-0235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgWWXh6RSSFb32Nv5_8Rk-VKNbLacJ7T5L4Ebqonh4kYgB7f6gNbJuhVPj0KgEW82rFc9nF9PWFDwvsHTw2z6QM3RVcGBGiKseK3jO5TVGErTdG4u8G8xkGzF6uVVhDad9KImJ-nxh6E/s1600/Douglas+Squirrel++webP1000-0235.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">N.A.B. (Not a Bird)<br />
Douglas Squirrel</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Vortex Rocks</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Two months ago I dropped my Vortex Diamondback bins, they wouldn't focus so I sent them back to Vortex Canada. Vortex is well known for offering a lifetime guarantee so I put it to the test. The process was simple. The cost of shipping is covered by the owner and the return shipping by the company which is fair. Meanwhile my birding buddy and neighbour Carlo G saved the day and lent me his old bins so I could continue birding. Imagine my surprise when a month later the front bell rang and the courier handed me a box. What I found inside was not my old battered pair but a brand new and undated version off my old bins.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thanks Vortex, you made my day.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Customer for life.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
John Gordon (JOGO)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.vortexcanada.net/">Vortex Canada</a></div>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
The Songster</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWtxdyFmf6XG9okynPSwBXuSxPyedt_g7JpT8RRshjGGn0LjbZNE7leKo9NdyQRq8yn5TDjPaBYDrnVdhq6aihnNGXEAbXpFTJ8KkUckGV7pR_UfQ8xGfk-tCzFTnLV9syOI3g6Jv9wk/s1600/Bewick%2527s+Wren+web+P1000-0303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWtxdyFmf6XG9okynPSwBXuSxPyedt_g7JpT8RRshjGGn0LjbZNE7leKo9NdyQRq8yn5TDjPaBYDrnVdhq6aihnNGXEAbXpFTJ8KkUckGV7pR_UfQ8xGfk-tCzFTnLV9syOI3g6Jv9wk/s640/Bewick%2527s+Wren+web+P1000-0303.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bewick's Wren</td></tr>
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Another bird song I have mastered this year is the Bewick's Wren. During winter the call is very recognizable, the song even more distinctive. That's how I found and photographed this bird.</div>
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<b>Garbage and Birds</b></h3>
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The birding was amazing. Sandee my wife, a non-birder and I visited Surrey's Latimer Lake Park. It's our way of trying to bird closer to home and spending more time together. While I leisurely birded Sandee scoured the trails for litter. It drives her nuts to see how loutish some people are. One has to wonder what type of thinking, if any these people have when they're not busy throwing aways their paper wrappers, coffee mugs and cigarette butts. It boggles the mind. Please don't get me going on the crappy dog walkers who leave their <i>poopy</i> bags on the trail or hanging in bushes like gaudy Christmas ornaments. </div>
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After a few hours birding we counted the total number of species of birds I had seen and she the bags of garbage collected. Her count was three to my twenty-one. I conceded that her effort far outweighed mine. We were both more than happy as we headed back to the car. When I went to put away my camera I noticed I had lost the lens hood. </div>
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As we retraced our steps I suddenly heard a Hutton's Vireo. While I was hard at work looking for any movements in the bushes Sandee returned with the lost hood. Brilliant! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKVpsy2pN8oYX2Emyv_5HXIyHVbV2fKp4wqERGiFafNfSQlJvVNYeC4Hy7rZ7eu1nez0J-yZO5HkSfsiFChyphenhyphenv6tenp51VgRbRscK0cClnxjvLOsLdyluyXDXJlWKfaCCNXbuQlaI8XTM/s1600/Hutton%2527d+Vireo+web+P1000-0262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKVpsy2pN8oYX2Emyv_5HXIyHVbV2fKp4wqERGiFafNfSQlJvVNYeC4Hy7rZ7eu1nez0J-yZO5HkSfsiFChyphenhyphenv6tenp51VgRbRscK0cClnxjvLOsLdyluyXDXJlWKfaCCNXbuQlaI8XTM/s1600/Hutton%2527d+Vireo+web+P1000-0262.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hutton's Vireo.<br />
Note the broken eye-ring and olive colouring.</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">Finally I spotted the bird, but in the excitement of the moment I managed to get my camera and bins in a tangle, loosing sight of the bird and almost choking myself in the process. When I untangled myself I needed to make sure it wasn't a similar looking Ruby-crowned Kinglet, a mistake I've made numerous times before. I scanned the bushes again, found the bird and fired off a few shots. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIm_qSkUnqE7eb-ieICIYbk5-cFEs_t0aWLHzjJfpk5YszdbpQrkA0xo-gHeSqJpJvgsCC5CwiKD_wyilZl4qEwc_-ZYDsTrc5w6ftG7ts8MTxPU8KP7N_aQGJgcbTnvaDCHfulDsjF4/s1600/Hutton%2527d+Vireo+P1000+web-0278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIm_qSkUnqE7eb-ieICIYbk5-cFEs_t0aWLHzjJfpk5YszdbpQrkA0xo-gHeSqJpJvgsCC5CwiKD_wyilZl4qEwc_-ZYDsTrc5w6ftG7ts8MTxPU8KP7N_aQGJgcbTnvaDCHfulDsjF4/s640/Hutton%2527d+Vireo+P1000+web-0278.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Changing the background was as simple as moving a few steps sideways. The cottonwood made for a pleasant backdrop..</td></tr>
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The curved at the end of the bill and lack of black bar on the base of the secondaries sealed the deal, it wasn't a kinglet. </div>
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Final Frame</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaepxHZxMmU0lxNMyu5dwBFQmU9hH-ZbEI3w8fCO90y7SRNmkKPPHw7Zl_Bh-6ksikn85dK71SkCRPNymbA4hST74W6lzLwHSFIvNII4_Vew8xsRXT2GNS2oFjAIcz7GQa3Rl7dPQqTp8/s1600/Golde-crowned+Kinglet+web+P1000-0257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaepxHZxMmU0lxNMyu5dwBFQmU9hH-ZbEI3w8fCO90y7SRNmkKPPHw7Zl_Bh-6ksikn85dK71SkCRPNymbA4hST74W6lzLwHSFIvNII4_Vew8xsRXT2GNS2oFjAIcz7GQa3Rl7dPQqTp8/s640/Golde-crowned+Kinglet+web+P1000-0257.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden-crowned Kinglet</td></tr>
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Just a few feet away from the car I spotted a Golden-crowned Kinglet perched in the foliage of the flowering Indian Plum. It seemed transfixed, allowing me to fire off few frames before finally calling it a day.</div>
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All pix Nikon Coolpix P1000</div>
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"It's never too late to pick-up garbage"</div>
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John Gordon</div>
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Langley/Cloverdale</div>
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BC Canada</div>
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John Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05000639742722231998noreply@blogger.com2