Jan 2019, Cape May Warbler, Dusky Thrush-Nanaimo, Pied-billed Grebe, Anna's Hummingbird, Rough-legged Hawk, Wood Duck

After the mega-rare Fieldfare last month in Salmon Arm we thought we had exhausted all the excitement for a while.  But on the first day of January a Cape May Warbler showed up locally here in Abbotsford, at Mill Lake.  This bird created a lot of interest amongst the many walkers and birders that frequent this area and it made the local news media. 

This Warbler can drink flower nectar and consume bugs to survive.

Although the Cape May has been known to nest in the Peace River area, this is the first record for it in southern BC.

I don't think I have ever seen a more obliging subject.  Its many admirers didn't seem to bother it at all.  As I write this, it has been in the same location for a least 22 days.  

Nectar has caked up on its bill but it was washed off the next day.

 The tongue of the Cape May Warbler is unique among warblers. It is curled and semitubular, and is used to collect nectar during winter.

This range map shows the Cape May should be in the West Indies this time of year.

This Pied-billed Grebe was frequenting the same area as the Cape May.

American Goldfinches were also at Mill Lake.

The Cape May Warbler considered Anna's Hummingbirds competition and it was kept busy chasing them away from the nectar source.

We had a Wood Duck pose for us.

A Rough-legged Hawk was vacationing in Delta, BC from its breeding grounds in the Arctic.

Just when we thought all the rare birds had been found, a report of a Dusky Thrush took us on a day trip to Nanaimo.  The bird was close to the ferry docks so we decided to go for it.  This is BC's third record for this Siberian beauty.  It was difficult to get a good picture but you get the idea.

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Nov 2018-Dec. 31 2018-Fieldfare, Mandarin Duck, Great Gray Owl, Leucistic Crow

This blog covers birds seen in November and December of 2018.  

In November there was a Mandarin Duck making headlines in Central Park, New York.  Then Vancouver news outlets (wanting to get in on the bandwagon) reported one in Burnaby.  Not to be outdone, Chilliwack also had one.  Many theories to their origin were speculated but anyone with a knowledge of birds realizes these ducks have probably escaped from some bird fanciers or farmer's yard.  The Wood Ducks above seem to find the Mandarin a source of curiosity. 

We spent a few days in Kamloops in December.  On a ride out in the grasslands we encountered an actively hunting Great Grey Owl.

This Mew Gull was hovering over the water gleaning Salmon eggs at the Kilby Eagle Festival.

We get many Common Mergansers spending the winter in our area.  If you look closely you will see the serrated edges on the upper bill.

Bald Eagles are always a welcome sight at an Eagle Festival.

Hooded Merganser.

A tip from the Fraser Valley Birding site led to us to Chilliwack to find this leucistic crow.  Leucism is a lack of pigment.  This crow appears to be silver.

This crow was quite skittish; probably because many people found it interesting.

It was acting like any other crow-turning over leaves looking for grubs.

One morning we had a Northern Shrike on our property.  These shy birds usually avoid humans but this one was quite approachable.

The big birding event of the month or possibly the year, was the report of a Fieldfare in Salmon Arm by Roger and Nan Beardmore, and Peter and Sharon Lawless. Amazing find.  The location is above.

After the hubbub of Christmas was over Dian and I went on a road trip to find this mega rarity.  We found it within 15 minutes of arriving and took some pictures under cloudy skies.

A variety of thrush, the Fieldfare is usually found in northern Asia and Europe.  

This one was keeping company with our common thrush, the Robin.  This is only the second time this species has been seen in British Columbia.

Mountain Ash berries were keeping it in one particular yard.  We went back to the location on our second day.  The sun was shining but the bird never got into a very good photographic position while we were there.  This was the best I could get.

One of the Fieldfare's companions (Robin) tosses back a Mountain Ash Berry.  As of Jan.1 2019 the Fieldfare had been at the same location for at least 2 weeks.

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