CrazyM Bird & Nature Photography
Birding in British Columbia, Canada
While I received a heads up yesterday, the news while volunteering at Reifel today was that the resident Sandhill Crane pair are nesting again.
The first egg was laid yesterday and a second should arrive in a day or two. Staff at the sanctuary rebuilt the little island in the centre pond they have favoured earlier in the year. Now the countdown begins for a successful hatching.
Happy Easter and what a glorious holiday weekend it has been so far. Did my usual stint at Reifel this afternoon and there were lots of visitors out enjoying the day. Still fairly quiet on the birding front though. Spotted one Rough-legged Hawk that has not moved on yet,
… and there were still half a dozen Evening Grosbeak around. While there is still a couple present, there were no Northern Saw-whet Owls along the east dyke trail today. Did not see the American Bittern that has been showing well lately either.
At the end of my day at the sanctuary I was informed that some Mountain Bluebirds had been spotted at Boundary Bay Regional Park in Tsawwassen. They pass through here each year at this time. I had been down there last week looking for them without success. With lots of great late afternoon light left, I made my way down there.
It did not take long after arriving before I spotted them.
About a dozen of them busy moving along the beach area foraging for insects.
There were lots of people down at the beach today as well, which also kept the birds moving. This made it more of a challenge to try and get photos.
Then they all flushed and disappeared. As I looked up there was a Merlin right above me. Not long after it left, a Cooper’s Hawk showed up briefly. Needless to say the Mountain Bluebirds did not surface again while I was there. Hopefully they stick around for a few days and I have another chance with them.
Another Sunday afternoon volunteering at Reifel. The skies were a little overcast at first, but there were still a good number of visitors. While still on the cool side, there were definite signs of spring in the air with the Marsh & Bewicks Wrens singing, Swallows flying overhead and even a Bushtit nest under construction. The American Bittern was still showing along the outside dyke, although a little more hidden when I saw it. Back along the east dyke trail,
… I managed this shot of a Brown Creeper as it foraged along the tree line. But, once again, the highlight of the afternoon for most visitors was a Northern Saw-whet Owl. It was not too far off the trail in some overhanging branches and in plain sight. While it spent most of its time sleeping,
… there was a moment when something got its attention briefly.
Then it was back to sleep again. A winter visitor, The Northern Saw-whet Owls are usually gone from the sanctuary by the end of this month.