Snow Buntings and More

Nov 19/14 Blackie Spit, Crescent Beach Cloudy 8c.

When I arrived at Blackie Spit it was cold and windy. Usually there are joggers and walkers but as I approached the tip of the spit it was clear I would have the place to myself. I sat and waited. A few minutes later three Snow Buntings flew in to feed on the plant material that had been blown down by the wind and washed upon the shore. The birds fed on the sandy beach, blending in, camouflaged, crouching down motionless when a patrolling Northern Harrier flew overhead. As soon as danger passed they continued their business.

Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)

Adult non-breeding.

The Snow Buntings gleaned seed from these plants washed up after a recent high tide.

First winter bird

Some walkers asked me what I was photographing. They had difficulty locating the birds even though they were only a few metres in front of them. It reminds me of before the time before I started birding. I remember going to 72nd Ave after someone told me there were lots of birds there. I didn't see a thing so I went again and the same thing happened. These days when I go, I often see ten or fifteen species or more without too much difficulty. These days my eyes are wide open.

***

While photographing the Snow Bunting I had made myself quite inconspicuous so much so that the Common Loons and Horned Grebe seemed comfortable with my presence. 

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)

A harbour seal also patrolled the spit were a rip tide was causing a riffle in the water, perfect fishing location for both seal and loon.

Harbour Seal (Phoca vitulina)

Common Loon (Gavia immer)

***

It was time to move on so I decided to scan the fields along Hornby Drive, who knows what might turn up. I drew a blank.  Eventually I made my way down to 'The Mansion' where thousands of Dunlin and hundreds of Black-bellied Plover were walking in with the flood tide.

Above me a Bald Eagle surveyed the scene, suddenly it launched into the air disturbing two Wilson's Snipe in front of me. It was time to grab the camera. They lifted a few feet in the air and landed into the reeds. A master of disguise they were hard to spot but eventually a slight movement gave them away.

Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata)

The other snipe with slightly different plumage. 

Where the time went I will never know but soon the light was fading and it was time to head home for a warm meal.

"It's never too late to start birding"

John Gordon

Langley/Cloverdale

Acorn Woodpecker/Face of a Clown

Nov 15 2014 Cedar Hill Golf Course Victoria BC. Sunny 5c

I never ever thought I would have the opportunity photograph an Acorn Woodpecker in BC. I may have missed the opportunity had I not bumped into 'Birder Girl' Melissa at 64th Ave last week. She encouraged me to get off my butt and get over to Victoria and search for the bird. Thanks Melissa.

So I put out the word for a companion to share the costs of going over to Vancouver Island. I rose at 5 a.m and met Mike Tabak at the ferry at 6.30 a.m. Mike has been birding since he was a kid and is a wealth of knowledge. On the trip through Active Pass he pointed out Ancient Murrelets, Harbour Seals and Sea Lions.

We arrived at Victoria's Cedar Hill Golf Course at 8.30 a.m. A number of Victoria birders were already there and were very helpful in showing us around. We looked and looked but found only Chestnut-backed Chickadees, some singing Golden-crowned Sparrows and a Hermit Thrush. Eventually the woodpeckers turned up, unfortunately just Downy and Hairy. The area where we searched for the Acorn woodpecker is predominately Garry Oak. The species flourishes in and around the rocky outcrops of southern Vancouver Island. Cavities in the older trees provide valuable nesting sites.

If we thought we would just roll up and find the Acorn Woodpecker we were in for a surprise. At one point we thought we were going to have a blank. Eventually three hours later Vancouver birder Michael Preston and his family found the bird and called us over for a look. We spent the next few hours watching and photographing the bird pluck acorns off one tree and cache them in another. It was an amazing sight, the birds antics drawing quite a crowd, most of whom weren't even birders. Here are some of the results of a fantastic days birding. The bird only came close once, many of the shots are from quite a distance but overall it was an exhilarating experience.

Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)

The Acorn is about the same size as a Hairy Woodpecker. Here it is stashing a shelled acorn in a crevice of a Garry Oak.

I have cropped this image quite a bit to show off the "Clown Face" of this very characteristic bird.

The bird was busy all the time, hardly taking a moment to rest. The normal range for this bird is Washington State south to Mexico. This is the first record for Vancouver Island. Another bird was recorded this week in Powell River so perhaps there are more out there. Keep your eyes open.

This is the closest the bird got to us and was from the first few frames I shot. I didn't hang around very long before flying up to a stand of oaks.

I'm glad I made the effort and the trip was fruitful arriving home in time for some taped Footy. Until next time, Good Birding!

"It's never too late to start birding"

John Gordon

Langley/Cloverdale

Fraser Valley Birding

Nov 11/14 Sumas Prairie Abbotsford BC Cold 1c

American Pipit (Anthus rubescens)

Driving around Sumas Prairie in sub zero temperatures looking for raptors can be a frustrating experience. On calmer days American Kestrels, Red-tailed Hawks and even the odd Golden Eagle can make it an exciting place to bird. We did find a dark phase intermediate Red-tailed Hawk but the buffeting winds made holding the camera still somewhat of a challenge. The American Pipit (above was shot from the car window from about twenty-five metres with the Tamron 150mm-600mm. I bought the lens for situations like this when a larger lens would have been too cumbersome to set up in the cramped quarters of a small car. With no Black-backed Gull to be found we headed toward Mission to find Bald Eagles that had congregated to feed on spawned out salmon.

Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius)

Another car window shot with the Tamron. The lens is so light and agile it can be very useful in situations where a wary bird like the Varied Thrush can only be approached by using the car as a blind. Plus it was really windy and cold outside.

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
An adult Bald Eagle (left) clashes with a 2nd year bird on Nicomen Slough. The spent salmon the eagles were fighting over can be seen in the water below the birds.

"It's never too late to start birding"

John Gordon

Langley Cloverdale

Mountain Birding

Oct 6 2014 Cypress Mountain Vancouver BC
The alarm went off at 5 a.m and again fifteen minute later. I'm a breakfast person so after a bowl of Weetabix, marmalade on toast and a piping hot cup of tea (the morning papers would have to wait) I was ready to battle the early morning Vancouver rush hour. The drive from Cloverdale to Vancouver can be brutal even at 6 a.m in the morning!
On our arrival, Cypress Mountain was cloud hidden. The climb was gentle if not a little heart pounding. A Merlin was the first highlight. On the very first switchback we spotted the bird we had hoped to see, the Northern Pygmy Owl #1. What a beautiful bird, so small, it weighs just 2.5 ounces and stands 6.75 inches high. The owl looked at us, its head bobbing around and moving from side to side and then, in a split second, it was gone. A diurnal owl or a daytime hunter, its prey, chickadees or juncos scattering into the thickets as it flew past us.

Northern Pygmy Owl #1. Some of us think this owl is a different bird than the we photographed later.

After catching our breath from the exertion and the excitement of seeing such a rare bird it was onward and upward to see if the forest would reveal more wonders for our party. The owl was a 'Lifer for me as well for quite a few of our group. We continued our climb up Cypress Mountain in anticipation.

Northern Pygmy Owl #2 (Glaucidium gnome)

Sharp-shinned Hawk  (Accipiter striatus)

At the first lookout we rested. It wasn't long before a Steller's and several Gray Jays put in an appearance.  Their antics kept us amused for quite a while, that is until what we believe to be another owl (slightly different markings) landed on a tree several hundred metres away. A Sharp-shinned Hawk also put in an appearance.

Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelli)

 Slowly the owl flew from branch to branch approaching closer all the time until finally it was within 30 metres. We all got our 'trophy shots' when suddenly the tiny owl flew between us, unsuccessfully we think chasing one of several Yellow-pine Chipmunks which had been fed seeds by hikers.

Yellow-pine Chipmunk (Tamias amoenus)

This is the same bird as the second picture.

More intent on hunting, the owl landed on a grey branch with grey clouds behind, not a pleasing composition. By moving a few feet I was able to juxtapose the bird with a weathered tree trunk giving the background a little more character. It was a treat to see the bird flying around, I just wish the photographers would have backed off and let it hunt, it has to eat too! I hope photographers will realize that wildlife viewing should never be taken for granted and that the animals ALWAYS come first.

Gray Jay(Perisoreus canadensis) with peanut.

"It's never too late to start birding"

John Gordon

Langley/Cloverdale