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!