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.

Black-headed Grosbeak

I started off this morning at Reifel. While starting down the east dyke trail I came across a Bewick’s Wren taking a dust bath.

Bewick's Wren
Bewick's Wren

Something birds, and other animals, will do to keep clean.

Sandhill Crane & Chick
Sandhill Crane & Chick

Of course you could not go to Reifel without checking out the Sandhill Crane family.

Sandhill Crane Chick
Sandhill Crane Chick

They are venturing outside of the closed off area now that the chick is bigger.

Sandhill Crane Chick
Sandhill Crane Chick

It is amazing how fast it is growing.

Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird

This Red-winged Blackbird struck a nice pose in the cat tails when leaving the Cranes.

Black-headed Grosbeak
Black-headed Grosbeak

Then it was back to the east dyke trail again for the Black-headed Grosbeak.

Black-headed Grosbeak
Black-headed Grosbeak

This was one bird I was hoping to be able to spend some time with today.

Black-headed Grosbeak
Black-headed Grosbeak

There were several around today, both males and females.

Black-headed Grosbeak
Black-headed Grosbeak

While not quite the settings I was hoping for,

Black-headed Grosbeak
Black-headed Grosbeak

… it was better than the fleeting glimpses I had managed until now.

Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwings were also around in good numbers today to round out my morning.

A brief walk in Boundary Bay late in the afternoon did not produce much.

Western Wood-Pewee
Western Wood-Pewee

It was starting to get gloomy, but this Western Wood-pewee was busy fly catching.

An Afternoon Of Song

The Lazuli Bunting continue in the Boundary Bay area by the airport.

Lazuli Bunting
Lazuli Bunting

They are not hard to locate. There are at least two males singing regularly. Their song is fairly loud and they can be heard some distance away.

The afternoon had no shortage of song, but no others cooperated quite like this one.

Song Sparrow
Song Sparrow

This Song Sparrow was singing its little heart out while allowing for this close-up.

Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing

A pleasant surprise before leaving was this Cedar Waxwing. The first I’ve seen in a while.