Palm Warbler + Shrike

For this afternoon’s walk I headed out to Brunswick Point. Both Swamp Sparrows and Palm Warblers had been sighted there recently. On starting out there was not much in the river or at the pilings. Arriving at the first set of benches where the Swamp Sparrow had been spotted, all was quiet. Carrying on from there I made my way to the second set of benches. There was some activity here,

Palm Warbler
Palm Warbler

… and after a few minutes a Palm Warbler popped up into the branches.

Palm Warbler
Palm Warbler

It stayed long enough for me to get a couple of shots. I also noted a second Palm Warbler while photographing this one.

My attention was then drawn to a Northern Shrike that was active further along the trail.

Northern Shrike
Northern Shrike

I managed to catch up to it and tagged along for a short while.

Northern Shrike
Northern Shrike

It was active along the marsh and the small stand of trees below the dyke prior to the farm house.

On my way back I stopped again at the second set of benches.

Palm Warbler
Palm Warbler

Luck was on my side as one of the Palm Warblers made another brief appearance for me.

Northern Shrike
Northern Shrike

The Northern Shrike also showed up again. While this bird appears to be a juvenile, there was also an adult Northern Shrike present when I reached the first set of benches.

Finally getting some photos of a Palm Warbler was definitely the highlight of today’s walk.

Northern Shrike

Great weather so far for the Thanksgiving weekend and a good crowd at Reifel this afternoon. The only thing of note from the morning walk were a couple of Northern Shrike along the west dyke. I started my afternoon off along the outside to check for shorebirds and the shrikes.

Killdeer
Killdeer

This lone Killdeer was the only shorebird that was cooperating for photos.

Then about half way along the west dyke I could hear a couple of Northern Shrike. They were creating quite the racket,

Northern Shrike
Northern Shrike

… with one eventually coming to roost in a tree over the trail. While I heard one the other week in Boundary Bay, this is the first Northern Shrike I have seen and photographed this fall.

To finish the afternoon off,

Pheasant
Pheasant

… this Pheasant made a brief appearance at the side of the trail.