Blog – Page 125 – CrazyM Bird & Nature Photography

American Bittern

Being such a beautiful day, I made sure to take time and get out to enjoy it. Today’s stroll was at Reifel which was fairly busy with it being spring break for the kids. There had been a report of a Green Heron in the southwest pond the other day, so I started my walk along the outside dyke trail. While there was no sign of it today,

… at the opposite end of the trail in the northwest pond was this American Bittern.

This heron usually prefers to keep out of site and tucked away amongst the reeds,

… but will occasionally surprise you and take the odd stroll out in the open.

I spent most of the afternoon with this bird pointing it out to other visitors while taking a photo here and there of course.

Common Redpoll

Over the winter I have made several trips out to locations around here where Common Redpoll had been sighted. These outings netted me neither sightings or photos. Yesterday took me to Deas Island Park, a spot I had not been in some time. Lo and behold, I came across a small flock of Common Redpoll. Unfortunately they were high up in the trees, which is normal, and the back light was too bright. I did manage a few record shots which I did not bother to blog about.

Hoping for better luck I returned today. I located them again early into my walk and once again they were in a poor spot for photos. They then moved off out of sight and I lost track of them. After several laps around the park I was on my way out when I located them again along the same stretch of trail as yesterday.

After a little wait, some of them did make their way a little lower with a more neutral background.

This small finch is normally found and nests in the arctic tundra.

During the winter they will migrate further south.

You will usually find them feeding on the catkins in Alder and Birch trees.

It has been about four years since my last Common Redpoll photos.

Needless to say I was delighted to finally get these today.

Sparrow, Finch & Eagle

It was not too bad of an afternoon for a walk despite still being cold and windy. I headed out to the Boundary Bay area again. There was one group of Golden-crowned Sparrows busy foraging both on the ground and in the trees.

I managed a few shots while they were eating the buds on the branches. Then I could hear something different singing higher up in the trees.

Some Purple Finches had arrived, but were not coming down lower or any closer. As there were several soaring overhead most of the afternoon,

… I could not leave without at least one shot of a Bald Eagle.