Adam J. Blake

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.

Enjoy this week’s photo of some bathing crows. Birds use bathing to removing excess oils and help maintain their plumage. My favourite part of the photo is how the fast shutter speed froze all of the droplets in the air.

I was out hunting for a tufted duck at the Iona sewage ponds late in the day a couple of Sundays ago. I did finally see my duck; it was sleeping behind several other ducks with its tuft neatly slicked back. I just happened to snap this photo on my way out without too much thought or planning but I really do like how the sunset silhouettes the leafless trees.

Returning to Celestún this week we have a scoop of pelicans. Besides the central landing pelican, my favourite part of this image is the expanded gular pouch on the bird to the right. When pelicans raise these pouches above their heads they have a truly odd shape, resembling more a plant than a bird.

Here we have what I think is a 2nd winter immature Glaucous-winged Gull. Most large gulls go through several plumages in the 4 years it takes for them to reach maturity. As one can imagine when we consider multiple species with multiple plumages gull identification can become tricky fast.

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.

Here we see a group or flamboyance of flamingos in alert posture in reaction to our boat. If you look closely you can make out the less vividly colored immatures. It takes up to five years for these birds to develop the bright pink plumage of the adults.

I was doing a bit more bird portraiture at Reifel on the weekend and grabbed this expressive shot of a Mallard drake. Hover the image to make him quack.

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.