From the Field – Jericho Palm Warbler

Palm Warbler
Palm Warbler
Setophaga palmarum, Parulidae
Jericho Beach Park, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
March 28, 2015

Sara and I made it out to the West Van beaches to check out some recent sightings and collect some sea glass. After seeing the Mountain Bluebird, we headed to Jericho Beach Park to look for the Palm Warbler. By joining a small “focus” of photographers we were easily able to locate the warbler in the cherry trees on the corner of W 2nd Ave just south of the parking lot. The warbler was very cooperative foraging in the open among the cherry trees. I was able to take some acceptable record shots but others were able to take some really great shots of the bird with the cherry blossoms as a background. You can see in the photos that this bird is the process of molting into its breeding plumage.

From the Field – Reifel Great Grey

Great Grey Owl
Great Grey Owl
Strix nebulosa, Strigidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary,
Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
February 22, 2015

I was finally able to make it out to Reifel to see the Great Grey Owl that I missed two weeks ago. I joined the “focus” of photographers to snap this passable record shot. While I have had closer views (two feet from my face when pishing) this is my first Great Grey in BC let alone greater Vancouver.

If you’re heading out there be advised that the owl hangs out in part of the sanctuary that is not publically accessible so a staff member must escort you to the owl’s location. You can find updated info on the owls presence or absence at the sanctuary’s webpage.

From the Field – Grey-crowned Rosy Finch

Grey-crowned Rosy Finch
Grey-crowned Rosy Finch
Leucosticte tephrocotis, Fringillidae
Mount Seymour Provincial Park,
North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
February 9, 2015

I braved the weather today and took a drive up Mount Seymour in search of Grey-crowned Rosy Finches. While I didn’t see the pair of birds initially, after a bit of driving around they showed up exactly where they were previously sighted. They seemed oblivious to the pouring rain, happily foraging in the gravel next to the Alpine Activity Centre.

From the Field – Tropical Kingbird

Tropical Kingbird
Tropical Kingbird
Tyrannus melancholicus, Tyrannidae
Brunswick Point, Delta,
British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
November 1, 2014

I went out birding for the first time in a couple weeks to finally go see the Tropical Kingbird out at Brunswick Point. Like the Ash-throated Flycatcher this bird is nice enough to hang around near the parking lot. This was my first time seeing this bird in North America; the last time I saw this bird was at a banana plantation in Costa Rica.

From the Field – Ash-throated Flycatcher

Ash-throated Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Myiarchus cinerascens, Tyrannidae
Boundary Bay Dyke Trail, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
September 28, 2014

I was finally able to get out to Boundary Bay today to see the Ash-throated Flycatcher (a BC rarity). There was another birder camped out in the flycatcher’s usual spot with a telephoto lens, making the bird easy to find. It was cooperative perching low but in the open. You can see my decent record shot above, but if you want to see some great photos of the bird check out this blog post.

From the Field – Whistler

IMG_2129.JPG
Whistler Valley
Whistler Mountain, Whistler
British Columbia, Canada
iPhone 4
September 14, 2013

Just enjoying the view this morning from the peak of Whistler Mountain.

From the Field –
Rare Bird Round Up

<p><i>Philomachus pugnax</i>, Scolopacidae<br />
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
August 31, 2014</p>

Juvenile Ruff

Philomachus pugnax, Scolopacidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
August 31, 2014

<p><i>Calidris himantopus</i>, Scolopacidae<br />
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
August 31, 2014</p>

Juvenile Stilt Sandpipers

Calidris himantopus, Scolopacidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
August 31, 2014

<p><i>Tringa incana</i>, Scolopacidae<br />
Iona Beach Regional Park, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
August 31, 2014</p>

Wandering Tattler

Tringa incana, Scolopacidae
Iona Beach Regional Park, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
August 31, 2014

I was out birding today trying to catch as many fall migrants as possible. I was lucky enough to see both the Juvenile Ruff (Lifer!) and the Stilt Sandpipers in the West Pond at Reifel. Continuing my lucky streak, I just happened to check my email while at Iona and catch a bird alert about a Wandering Tattler (Lifer!) on the south jetty. With the help of some other birders, the bird was located near the end of the jetty (#242).

From the Field – Long-billed Hawk Syndrome

Red-tailed Hawk with Long-billed Hawk Syndrome
Red-tailed Hawk with Long-billed Hawk Syndrome
Buteo jamaicensis, Accipitridae
Brunswick Point, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

Sara and I were out today enjoying the fog down by the water out in Delta. On the way home from Brunswick Point, we spotted a Red-tailed Hawk with Long-billed Hawk Syndrome. This hawk has apparently been breeding successfully for several years, delivering lots of prey to her nestlings. Here hoping the hawk keeps thriving despite her disability.

From the Field – Whytecliff Park

Harbour Porpoise
Phocoena phocoena, Phocoenidae
Whytecliff Park, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
December 7, 2013

Well this post isn’t exactly from the field, but my fingers were too numb to blog. I was out by myself at Klootchman and Whytecliff parks this afternoon. At Klootchman, I saw a flock of Surfbirds (lifer!) on the grebe islets along with my second ever Long-tailed Duck. At Whytecliff Park I was lucky enough to spot pod of Harbour Porpoises surfacing offshore in Howe Sound just as the sun was going down. I was pretty excited as these were my first wild cetaceans. Sara who has been hoping to see a whale since we first moved was understandably jealous. While the picture isn’t great it does show the hooked dorsal fin that is characteristic of the porpoise.

From the Field – English Bay

20131114-182956.jpg
English Bay
Stanley Park, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
November 14, 2013

Sara and I spent the afternoon in Stanley Park enjoying the sunny weather. There was great late day light along the western seawall creating great photo opportunities like the one above. Look for some field notes here soon.