Birding – Page 3 – Bewitched by the Beauty of Birds

Westham Island

On January 15, 2011

40% chance of showers was the best I could get, so I headed out to Ladner again. This time I made a detour in an attempt to have a look at a single Northern Mockingbird who was visiting the area. Nothing! Coyotes were roaming the distant fields. Like every frustrated bird watcher, I made a call to the bird complaint department. “I told you I’m coming. Way to treat a client.” The public relations representative twittered. She asked for my location and my destination, and said she’ll try to arrange something.

Within a short while I noticed a Peregrine Falcon perched on a tree, and nearby 5 Eurasian Collared-Doves. I was still on River Road. I was pleased. I entered Westham Island, and a male Northern Harrier performed an air show together with a Rough-legged Hawk. The bird department was making an effort to keep their clients happy.

In a yard at the intersection of Westham Island Road and Kirkland Road there were 6 male Ring-necked Pheasants. Reportedly these were introduced from Alberta by a different kind of bird watchers who enjoy, ahmm…, shooting their birds.

In Reifel nothing new. At 2pm the promised showers had arrived and by 4pm the showers were turning into rain, and I was heading back on my bike, binoculars packed, no more birding today, and getting soaking wet. Guess no Hawk Owl today. The Hawk Owl has appeared in all the local newspapers and gained the status of a celebrity by now.

At 2 minutes past 4pm I passed the first bend on Westham Island Road. Through my raindrop covered glasses, perched on a 2 meter high signpost right in front of me, there he was! I wasn’t used to see the Northern Hawk Owl without all the crews and cameras. The few cars passing by didn’t stop, and for 10 minutes it was only me and him! He flew from the signpost to an adjacent powerline, dived down and caught a rodent in front of me. Then he flew to some tree and bid me a safe ride. What a dude!

Hollyburn Mountain

By Sigal

On January 9, 2011

In Birding

Gray Jay (Photographer: Amy Hou)

A flock of at least seven Gray Jays waited for us on the summit, and demanded nuts. A couple of Ravens were keeping a watchful eyes on the snowshoers along the path.

Scrub-Jay @ Strathcona Park

By Sigal

On January 7, 2011

In Birding

Friday afternoon, the rain, which lasted several days, finally subsided, so I headed to Strathcona Park in a second attempt to meet the Western Scrub-Jay.

A bird of brushy areas, oak woods and bird feeders, common in western Washington and south but an uncommon visitor in BC, was reported a few times in my home range within the last month; two birds were seen in Strathcona Park community garden, on the west side of the park. But will it still be in this 0.8 hectare garden today’s afternoon?

It was. “Wow, you have a nice long tail. I was here for only 7 minutes, and here you are. You must really like this garden”. “7 minutes?!” The Scrub-Jay was concerned that I’m going to take him for granted, so he flew to another tree and then out of sight. Another human approached.

Before I got to say “You have a rare bird here!”, the human said: “Were you looking at the Scrub-Jay?” He was one of us. So we talked about birds for an hour, and he gave me a sweet bun.

Surrey – White Rock Christmas Bird Count

By Sigal

On January 2, 2011

In Birding

I still have a lot to learn. Some bird watchers can recognize birds by their shadows… Cumulatively about 70 bird species were counted in our sub-area and I gained two lifers – a group of 7 Mourning Doves, an American Kestrel – and maybe a birding pal!

Other notable species: a Pileated Woodpecker in flight, another evasive Wilson’s Snipe, a Hermit Thrush who decided wintering here is ok, Red-tailed Hawks in every corner and two triads of River Otters.

What a grand day. Doug, thank you for the ride.

Surfbirds at Lighthouse Park

By Sigal

On December 31, 2010

In Birding

My last birding destination for 2010 was Lighthouse Park with Debra and Harley the dog, in a calm, sunny day, -1°C. Old Harley was watching the squirrels and Debra and I were scanning the waterbirds.

After a few hours on the rocks of Eagle Point, with seven or more Bald Eagles hovering above and calling, we were rejoiced to see a flock of 20+ chirpy Surfbirds, an uncommon, stocky shorebird of the Pacific coast.

The Surfbirds put my Metro Vancouver bird species count for the year at 160 (starting from scratch in July!).

A large, mixed flock of Suft Scoters and Goldeneyes was also present, as well as a Loon, who chose to remain unidentified. Harley had some good squirrels too.

Tomorrow’s a new year.

Reifel short report

By Sigal

On December 28, 2010

In Birding

Rough-legged Hawk on the road to Reifel (Photographer: Mike Bailey)

Well hidden in the conifers on the eastern trail were four Northern Saw-whet Owls and a pair of Great Horned Owls. Other birds Jonathan and I met: a Northern Shrike, a Merlin, ten Sandhill Cranes… at least four thousand Mallards… and more!!!! wow!

Raven rolling in the snow

By Sigal

On December 24, 2010

In Birding

Background: me and Andrew made it to Cypress Mountain. the plan was cross-country skiing, but it was raining there and no discount for skiing in the rain. So I went for a walk around, hoping to see some birds (specifically, I was trying to get the Gray Jay who haven’t made it to my year list since I started birding). I took the free trail around the skiing area up till the first slope down, nothing. On the way back, almost at the trail head, a flock of 8 or 9 Chestnut-backed Chickadees and a single call by a Red-breasted Nuthatch. and a Raven.

Back on the road, as our attention was arrested by a Raven who kept shoving his beak into the snow, a second Raven came and start rolling over in the snow: tilting to one side, then laying on his back with feet in the air, and coming back up through the other side… The bird repeated this maneuver about a dozen times (admittedly, I cheered every time), before both Ravens flew elsewhere.

I can’t tell whether the Raven was taking a snow bath or playing – M. Brazil in his article Common Raven Corvus corax at play; records from Japan (Ornithol. Sci. 1: 150–152, 2002) reckons it’s the latter.

Smart Raven – the people on the other side of the hill were paying exuberant prices for snow tubing – but no prices were posted for just rolling over in the snow.

Snipe in a snap

By Sigal

On December 19, 2010

In Birding

My contribution to the Vancouver Christmas Bird Count was Wilson’s Snipe. Long was this bird hiding among the grasses from me. Today’s sighting was short – I flashed the bird, and observed it as it flew away.

From all places, I found it in the Hastings racecourse infield – a habitat which is slated to become a parking lot in a 20 years redevelopment plan for Hastings Park. Contended with this plan are The Friends of Hastings Park, who would like to have a real park in the neighborhood.

So what if I’m not a Canada Goose

By Sigal

On December 13, 2010

In Birding

Canada Goose x Graylag Goose hybrid at Hastings Park racetrack

Juvenile Snow Goose at Deer Lake Park

Monday Alaksen

By Sigal

On December 6, 2010

In Birding

While the weather is still cooperative, I must bird! Rose early for another bicycle/public transit 2 hours commute (one way). Destination: Alaksen National Park. This park is adjacent to Reifel, so I passed Westham Island Road on the way, but no Northern Hawk Owl this morning.

Bird Studies Canada man Pete Davidson found a Yellow-breasted Chat at Alaksen National Park as he was looking through his office window a few days ago.
I’m not chasing after rare birds, but… the Yellow-breasted Chat breeds in areas across the United-States and also in south-central BC, and winters in Middle America from Mexico to Panama. The lower mainland BC is somewhat out of his normal range in summer, with only a few records per year. So what is it doing here in December?!

When I arrived, a few photographers and no Yellow-breasted Chat, so I went for a walk around Alaksen. It was birdy, and there were at least a thousand Mallards standing on the furrows of one plowed field. Apparently that’s what they grow there.

After a couple of hours I came back to the office area. On 13:15pm, a short stroll in the grassy field across from the said office – a bird – pale gray-olive above and a bright yellow breast – the Chat! I signaled the other photographers and we all started following the bird around as it flew from one thicket to the next, hiding and appearing by turns. All the while a Red-tailed Hawk was screaming, a male Northern Harrier and a Bald Eagle flew overhead and Marsh Wrens where calling.

Yellow-breasted Chat

After a couple of hours of Chat I headed back home. On Westham Island Road, I spotted the Northern Hawk Owl perched on a tip of a tree before I spotted the photographers (as they were not perched so prominently). The Owl moved from one perch to another, scanning the area, undisturbed by his human admirers.

Northern Hawk Owl

Suddenly he dived to the ground a short distance from me, with spread wings and face down! Soon he flew back up to perch on another tree; now there was a rodent in his claws. He munched on it. All of a sudden a Merlin appeared and swooped the Owl! I was told the Merlin is a local and has territorial claims here. The Owl flew about and eventually landed on top of a utility poll, and got swooped by the Merlin again!

What a day. Very tired on the way back, and a tired, loyal, bicycle with a flat tire, that luckily exerted itself only when I was comfortably back home.

Category: Birding Page 3 of 6