Blog

Pre Game Walk

Time permitted a Stanley Cup Final pre game walk this afternoon. Not wanting to stray too far from home, I headed out to Reifel.

Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk

Started off with this Cooper’s Hawk in the trees along the driveway.

Then some friends who were shooting this Grosbeak on the ground,

Black-headed Grosbeak
Black-headed Grosbeak

… flushed it nicely into a tree for me to capture.

Still no shortage of new arrivals,

Wood Duck
Wood Duck

… with this Wood Duck family basking in the sun on this log.

Western Wood-Pewee
Western Wood-Pewee

There has also been a Western Wood-pewee around my last few visits.

The treat of the afternoon though was a couple of other new arrivals.

Rufous Hummingbird Fledgling
Rufous Hummingbird Fledgling

These Rufous Hummingbird fledglings were in the bushes along one of the trails.

Rufous Hummingbird Fledgling
Rufous Hummingbird Fledgling

I was hoping to capture one of them getting fed by the adult female. She would come in close above them, but then back off. My proximity to the fledglings may have been spooking her. Sometimes they don’t mind when you are around, other times it may interfere with their behaviour. You have to watch for this. In situations like this, the well being of the birds comes before the picture. So it was time for me to move on.

On checking the watch, it was time to head home for the game. Go Canucks Go!

Waxwing, Owl & Bunting

Was not finding too much this afternoon. A glimpse of a Vireo of some sort, but could not relocate it. There were still lots of Waxwings moving about.

Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing

So I tried for a couple of shots.

Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing

Such a pretty bird, hard to resist not trying to get something.

Late in my walk the cak-cak-cak of a Cooper’s Hawk caught my ear. It was really kicking up a stink. Then another one started calling as well. I know the nest is close by, but this was coming from an adjacent stand of trees. While trying to locate the hawks, the Crows assembled and started chiming in as well.

Great Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl

Finally I located the reason for all the raucousness. This Great Horned Owl was getting dive bombed from every direction. Little wonder its eyes were as wide open as they are.

I was on my way back to the car when I noticed one of the Lazuli Buntings.

Lazuli Bunting
Lazuli Bunting

It was in one of the usual spots and actually allowed me to approach.

Lazuli Bunting
Lazuli Bunting

Better yet, it was not obstructed by branches while singing away in the late afternoon sun.

Osprey Update

It has been about six weeks since I last checked on the Osprey. They had just returned and were fixing the nest then. Some mating behaviour was also observed.

Osprey Nest
Osprey Nest

Today it was apparent they are incubating eggs.

Osprey Nest
Osprey Nest

Here we have a changing of the guard with the female about to leave,

Osprey Nest
Osprey Nest

… and the male preparing for his shift on the eggs.

Osprey Nest
Osprey Nest

When the female returned it provided a chance to get both together.

Osprey Nest
Osprey Nest

She promptly left and returned moments later with another stick for the nest.

Osprey Nest
Osprey Nest

She then did some further rearranging of things. Incubation time is about five weeks, so I will have to check in a little more frequently. No chicks hatched last year, hopefully they will be successful this season.