Tag: Surf Scoter

Splendid Stanley Park

An American Dipper chose the Beluga pond in the Vancouver Aquarium as its habitat. The Dipper feeds on small flies who visit the algae at the edge of the pond.
The earliest mention I found of this Beluga pond bird was on winter 2007.
One of the Beluga whales, who is a bird watcher, like me, shows interest in the Dipper. Here’s a video of the Beluga whale observing the American Dipper.
The Beluga and the Dipper can be watched from the periphery of the Vancouver Aquarium for free.

Thanks to a fellow birder, I saw my first Long-tailed Duck among over two thousands Surf Scoters off the shores of the Stanley Park peninsula.

A variety of other ducks were present, males parading their striking breeding plumage: Wood Ducks, Buffleheads, Harlequin Ducks, Hooded Mergansers and Barrow’s Goldeneyes.

A Black Oystercatcher was pecking at the rocks, and an adult Golden-crowned Sparrow was well decorated as his name suggests.

Great Blue Heron

Ring-billed Gull

Harlequin Ducks

Pelagic Cormorants on Siwash rock

A day in Iona

Epic day. Took my bicycle on the skytrain to the airport and from there – a ride to Iona Island – where I spent the rest of the day (8 hours).

Walked about half the jetty. Blue sea on four sides below, blue sky above.

A Peregrine Falcon gave me and a few other passersby a good show on the jetty, sitting and having a bird for lunch.

Dozens of Surf Scoters in breeding plumage, some in very close range.

I was surprised by a female Varied Thrush on the middle of the jetty. Hope she’ll find her way to some trees soon.

Had a nice view of a couple of Caspian Terns, a lone Snow Goose flying overhead and four Ring-necked Ducks.

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