CrazyM Bird & Nature Photography
Birding in British Columbia, Canada
Not much out of the ordinary today, so it provided time for some of the regulars.
Still good numbers of juvenile Cedar Waxwings around.
Spent a little time by the tower,
… watching the Red-winged Blackbirds on the bulrushes.
Numerous sparrows including this White-crowned Sparrow,
… and Golden-crowned Sparrow.
With most of the shore bird migration behind us now, it is time to change gears. This started with the last post focusing mostly on water birds. Despite the grey and drizzly weather the last few days I have managed a few walks. They have been to Reifel where there have been some interesting song birds worth giving a try. One bird that has been seen off and on for a few weeks now is a White-throated Sparrow. Unfortunately I have yet to locate it, so I turned my attention to some of the regulars.
Lots of White-crowned Sparrows around,
… including immature birds. One change of pace,
… was this Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco. In this part of British Columbia we are most likely to see them at this time of year.
The Oregon Dark-eyed Junco is what we are used to seeing here most of the time. The other bird I was hoping to see was the Evening Grosbeak that had been sighted.
While I did manage to locate and photograph it, the location and lighting were not the best. The bird itself was looking a little bedraggled as well.
Of course there is never any shortage of House Sparrows. This species was introduced to North America from Europe and are referred to as Old World Sparrows.
While similar in appearance and behavior, they are a different family from the other New World Sparrows. Another change of pace while watching sparrows,
… was a couple of Hermit Thrush mixed in with them foraging on the ground. Continuing to scour the mixed groups for the White-throated, something else caught my eye.
This odd colored Fox Sparrow, perhaps partially leucistic.
This is how I would normally expect them to look. So while nothing too much out of the ordinary, a couple of interesting finds.
With the weather, work and other commitments it has been almost two weeks since I have had a chance to post. Finally this morning I had an opportunity to head out before the weather changes again. First stop of the day was Reifel. One of the Black-crowned Night-Herons was in the bramble a little closer to the trail,
… unfortunately it was still obstructed by a few branches.
Along the east dyke trail I spent a little time with some of the regulars.
Along the centre dyke trail the Pacific Crab Apple was popular this morning.
Attracting both American Robins,
… and Cedar Waxwings.
It has been several months since I last photographed any Waxwings.
So it was fun to spend a little time with them.
On my way out there was a fairly bedraggled looking immature Bald Eagle in the parking lot. It was soaking wet from what I suspect may have been a failed attempt at a duck.
It was now roosting in this snag, wings spread and trying to dry out.
Second stop of the day was Boundary Bay. I wanted to have another go for the American Tree Sparrows. After not locating them where they had been last time,
… I back tracked a little to where I had noticed some White-crowned Sparrows. On closer examination I found the American Tree Sparrows busy foraging in the grass. Now it was just a matter of waiting,
… for them make there way into the branches.
A little patience was in order,
… as they were not always in the open for their short stays in the trees.
But it was worth the wait as they were cooperating this afternoon.
I had been out for several hours now, was getting cold and it was time to head home.
However, I could not pass up this parting shot of a Snowy Owl roosting in the logs across from where the Tree Sparrows were. It was here on its own away from the others.