Wandering Tattler July 25 2013 Iona Jetty

Thanks to Tak Shibata for finding the Wandering tattler on the Iona south jetty and Mike Tabac for reporting it.  It gave Dian and I an excuse to leave hot Abbotsford for the cool ocean breezes.  We found the Tattler about half down the jetty and shortly after we were joined by Mark Wynja and Paul Levesque.  The bird was easy to photograph from the top of jetty as it foraged along the shoreline and here are some of the results.

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The Birds of July 2013

July is usually a month of boredom for a birder.  Most migrants have passed through and those that are left are losing their breeding finery.  However some of the birds that headed north are starting to show up again on their way south.  An example is the Wimbrel.

Whimbrel at the Ferry Jetty

Whimbrel

Black Oystercatcher Ferry Jetty

Black Oystercatcher Ferry Jetty

Bushtit Mill Lake

A Bald Eagle was being harassed by Gulls and Crows at the ferry jetty.  It was quite a distance away.  Not clear shots but nice to catch the interaction.  The Eagle defended itself against the gull but was indifferent to the crows.

I thought the Eagle may have had eye problems as many of my shots showed clouded eyes.  However I did see a few photos with clear eyes.  It appears the eagle may have activated the nictitating membrane every time it was attacked.

Glaucous-winged Gull 

Tangle Bank Nursery in Abbotsford grows Crocosmia and it really attracts the Anna's Hummingbirds.  I had to buy some.

I have a hard time picking out the best picture.

Tangle Bank Nursery ( http://tanglebank.com ) ( http://goo.gl/maps/M4lUu ) is a boutique nursery with a nice cafe.  Very friendly to photographers and a joy to visit, if even for a cup of coffee and muffin.

Anna's Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Mallard Duckling at Mill Lake.  This picture came out a little large.  You may have to scroll across it to see the whole image.

Red-breasted Sapsucker at Golden Ears.  Looking a little ragged this time of year.

This adult had 3 young ones to feed.  One is seen in background.  Feeding this hungry bunch probably explains why it is not looking its' best.

The young ones are getting quite large.  They wait by the sap wells for the adults to return with bugs.  

Spotted Sandpiper with a little baby down.

Adult Spotted Sandpiper

Barely hatched Spotted Sandpiper.  Looks like a young Ostrich.

Barely hatched again

This Spotted Sandpiper is a little older then the one above and younger than the first one.

The Spotted Sandpiper and Mallard coexist peacefully

Barn Swallow

Barn Swallow.  Capturing them in flight takes a lot of patience.

Barn Swallow.

Least Sandpiper.

Even though July is a slow month there is always something to photograph.

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