CrazyM Bird & Nature Photography
Birding in British Columbia, Canada
The challenge of late has been finding a spot to go where the fog is not. While it appeared to be clearing when I started off in Boundary Bay, it was not long before it started drifting in again. Before calling it a day,
… I did manage this shot of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
The last day of another year and this afternoon’s target bird was a Gyrfalcon. One had been sighted recently in the Boundary Bay area around 112 St. On checking the surrounding area and speaking with a few other birders, there was no sign of the bird today.
As the light rain was stopping, I decided to stop at 72 St. on the way home for another winter visitor. Heading east along the dyke it was at the end of the adjacent golf course that I spotted a likely group of sparrows. At first look I was just seeing White-crowned Sparrows,
… then the ones I was looking for, American Tree Sparrow. There were a few of them in the mixed flock and they were constantly on the move between the mash and the trees on either side of the trail.
This stretch of Boundary Bay is usually a good spot to see American Tree Sparrows each winter. A good end to 2013.
Happy New Year!
Late this afternoon It was overcast with mixed snow/rain falling, but I still wanted to get out and check for one of our winter visitors that had been spotted in the Boundary Bay area. Not long after arriving,
… I was delighted to find this Long-eared Owl roosting in the open. More often than not, they will be tucked away a little more than this. While this one continued to snooze, I carried on checking the trail as more than one had initially been reported. Not finding any others,
… I returned to the Long-eared Owl before it got too dark.
Luck was on my side when I did so as something got its attention behind me over the marsh and I managed a couple of shots with its eyes open.