Backyard Today

My attention was drawn to a Merlin hunting birds while I was having lunch today. He upset the crows which were very vocal after being chased, the starlings scattered and he focused his attention on the flickers. The most difficult bird shots to get have to be birds in flight and especially a fast moving falcon. I failed on numerous attempts and settled for one, it's not in focus but I'll keep trying.

Neck Point Park

A little relief from the warm weather this morning with clouds overhead I headed out to Neck Point. Through the forest there were Yellow-rumped Warblers, Chestnut-backed Chickadee's, Bush Tit, Spotted Towhee and Northern Flicker.  With a cool breeze off the ocean I scanned the forth beach for shorebirds and managed to find a small group of Spotted Sandpipers feeding amongst the rock and seaweed.    

Adults in breeding plumage

 

A juvenile

Crested Caracara

He was sitting at the top of our eagle tree this morning for 25 minutes before finally flying off. I could hardly believe my eyes, a Crested Caracara all the way from its normal territory in the southern states, central and South America sitting atop the Douglas Fir just waiting to be photographed. The local birders are now going crazy looking for it for their life lists.

BCFO Trip to Oliver BC

I know I stated that my blog is sightings at home and in and around Vancouver Island. Well I've expanded my fields!

I recently had the opportunity to attend the annual conference of the BC Field Ornithologists and as they offered field trips over two days and presentations including a banquet I decided to give it a try and I was glad I did. We saw a total of some 140 species including birds I don't get to see at home.

Here's a selection of my shots

Common Yellowthroat

Western Kingbird's at nest

 Yellow-headed Blackbird

 

 Bobolink

 Yellow-headed Blackbird

 Black-headed Grosbeak

 Bullock's Oriole

 Lazuli Bunting

 Dusky Flycatcher

 Red-necked Phalarope

 Northern Harrier

 Eastern Kingbirds at nest

 

Sunny morning at Buttertubs

I went looking for warblers today, heard orange-crowned and common yellowthroats but none of them cooperated for my camera. I did catch a busy female robin collecting material for her nest and  pied-billed grebes were in evidence.

 When I returned home a dapper looking white-crowned sparrow was catching some rays and we had a standoff at the feeder.

Scoters in Hammond Bay

 Mainly surf scoters, maybe a thousand birds, can you spot the white-winged scoter?  

Neck Point Park

During my beach survey the wind was strong ESE, 11 Celsius and the tide was rising.

Seaducks riding the waves, Bufflehead, Harlequin and Barrow's Goldeneye.

Buttertubs Tuesday

The Redwings were establishing territory and Steller's Jays were foraging at a squirrel dray.

Herring fishers are back

Buttertubs on the 17th

Cedar Waxwings, Golden-crowned Sparrows and Trumpeter Swans

Buttertubs Marsh - Robin Anting

This male American Robin was standing on an ant nest busily putting ants on his plumage.

Many passerines treat their plumage with the body fluid from ants (formic acid ) which aids feather maintenance.

 A female Belted Kingfisher rests on a branch over the water waiting for the next meal.