November 2015, Otter, Golden Plover, Ruffed Grouse,Rock Wren, Dunlin, Cascade Falls

When I look back at all the pictures I got this month I have a hard time believing we covered so much territory.  We also saw a Hudsonian Godwit and Tropical Kingbird; 2 rare species but the photographs were not up to par.  I was also surprised to find a suspension bridge at Cascade falls in Mission that was erected this summer.  It is worth a visit.  I have also taken the liberty to add a commercial for our Honda at the end.  We have to sell so someone will get a good deal.  

Oct 31 2015-Furry Creek

A report of a Field Sparrow sent us to Furry Creek, north of Vancouver.  We didn't find the sparrow but this River Otter made an appearance as it briefly left the ocean.

This Pheasant on Sumas Prairie had broken tail feathers, bald head and other signs that it was a released bird from a cage.

A Bushtit outside our window.

An American Pipit was the only bird I photographed on a day trip to Manning Park.

Last month I photographed a Pacific Loon.  This Common Loon was at the same location; Hougen Park.

The blog in September featured this Red-tailed Hawk with Long-billed Syndrome.  I found it again this month with a rodent.  Not sure how much longer it will survive with that compromised bill.

A Horned Grebe in winter plumage at Harrison Hotsprings.

Sasquatch Park, just past Harrison, had this Ruffed Grouse.  It ran into the bush as we approached, so we waited and it eventually reappeared. 

There appears to be a mirror between these two Snowbirds at Harrison.

A Rock Wren is a rare bird on the lower mainland.  This one was beside the Fraser River.

Harrison also had this Pine Siskin.

This American Golden Plover was quite tame at Blackies Spit in South Surrey. 

The reason is, it was wounded.  I once saw a Peregrine Falcon grab a duck and immediately start plucking it.  The duck managed to escape.  I wonder if the same thing happened to this plover.

A woman was fascinated by thousands of Dunlin and Western Sandpipers at Blackies Spit as they rested at high tide.

More shots of the shorebirds.

Notice the little guy on the left.

This is a Western Sandpiper which looks like a mini Dunlin.

A Thayers Gull dips for fish eggs at Eagle Point.

Success.  Gord G. pointed out the fact that this gull had a pale eye, which is unusual for a Thayers.

Cascade Falls in Mission gave me an opportunity to try my new 17-40mm lens.  One needs a wide angle lens to get all the falls in the shot.

We were really impressed with this new suspension bridge at Cascade Falls.  Eat your heart out Capilano.

And now for a commercial break.  Dian and I bought this new 2015 Honda CR-V SE this summer.  Now we have purchased a trailer and this SUV won't pull it, so we have to sell.  If anyone is interested in a great car with about 15,000km, please check craigslist;  http://abbotsford.craigslist.ca/cto/5336268209.html
WE SOLD IT!! 

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October 2015 Barn Owl, Pacific Loon, Eclipse, Green Heron, Grizzly, Merlin

This month's blog covers a lot of territory and subjects.

There was a "blood" eclipse of the moon Sept. 27.  Here are a few shots.

Impossible to say how many, but Yellow-rumped Warblers were certainly plentiful in October as they migrated south.

A Green Heron was using a Beaver dam for a hunting location at Wilband Ponds.  It was highlighted by the setting sun.

We travelled to the Kootenays to check out an RV that was for sale.  On the way we spotted these Desert Bighorns.

The Kootenays provided this Grizzly foraging along a river bank.  A Bald Eagle waits expectantly for scraps of fish.

Piles of flotsam along the river banks trap spawned-out fish.  The bear would check out the tangled mess and was successful on a few occasions. 

It came quite close as it submerged itself in a slow moving part of the river.

A Eagle had what the bear was looking for; Kokanee Salmon.

We saw a few Ruffed Grouse along the road but hunting season has them jittery.

Back home at Sumas Prairie I got a reasonable shot of a Merlin.

I drive by a certain barn quite often and occasionally stop to check out an open door in the loft.  I can do this by staying in the car.  One day I was rewarded by spotting a Barn Owl tucked back in the dark recesses. High ISO and slow shutter speed enabled me to get a photo, albeit grainy.

Female Belted Kingfisher.  I see this bird quite often on Sumas Prairie.  It appears to get all the fish it needs from an irrigation ditch.

A Pacific Loon was at Hougen Park in Abbotsford.  We usually only see this bird on the ocean in winter and then in drab winter plumage.  Thanks to Henry Wall for the tip.

Here is a picture of a Pacific Loon close to Yellowknife in full breeding plumage. In comparison the Hougen bird is starting to look a little shabby, if that is the right word.

Wood Duck at Reifel. 

Golden-crowned Kinglet in the shade at Reifel.  Love the yellow "slippers".

End of this blog.  

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September 2015 pelagic trip, Long-billed Syndrome, Sooty and Dusky grouse. Bear and falls

An eclectic collection this month.  The highlight being a pelagic trip out of Uclulet on the west coast of Vancouver Island where the rain was pounding, the wind was raging and I was up-chucking a meager breakfast overboard in hopes of attracting some rarities.

I sent this picture to Falcon Research in Washington.  Bud Anderson there said it was probably the worst case of Long-billed Syndrome he had seen in a Red-tailed Hawk.  The yellow eye indicates juvenile and it is amazing how the beak has deformed in such a short time.  He said they still do not know what causes this.

It caught a vole but had a difficult time dissecting it.

Close-up

I captured these grouse in Manning Park.  One is a Sooty and the one in foreground may be a Dusky.  Notice the terminal band in the tail.  It may be that upper tail coverts are covering the tail feathers but I can't tell.  The ranges overlap here.

I always have a hard time with Flycatchers but I think Willow Flycatcher is a safe bet here.  Taken Sept 15 at Harrison Hot Springs.

Sooty Grouse at Manning Park displaying separation between primary and secondary feathers.

Finally got a picture of a Ruffed Grouse in the Harrison Mills area.

September 20 (my birthday) was the day we sailed from Uclulet on a pelagic trip.  I believe it was about 40 miles offshore(see the dot on the map)  and as stated earlier, the weather was not nice.  We had about 95 birders on board and many contributed to the chumming by regurgitating over the sides of the boat.  

One of the highlights of a pelagic trip are the Albatrosses.  Here a Black-footed chases a Northern Fulmar.

A Black-footed Albatross soars by.

Northern Fulmars were plentiful.  Here is a dark phase.

A Northern Fulmar light phase.  I believe I personally chummed this one in with a little rolled oats and orange juice.

This Fulmar was developing some new propulsion features.

Pink-footed Shearwaters were plentiful but not so Sooty Shearwaters.  We saw a few Sootys at the beginning but not many later on in the trip.

A Pomarine Jaeger does a fly-by while my camera was set at 100mm instead of 600.

Another record shot.  This time a Sabines Gull.

How many birds can you identify?

Fulmar Frenzy

Here is my personal list of birds seen.  There were more birds recorded but not seen by me on the trip.

Greater White-fronted Goose  X
Cackling Goose  X
Surf Scoter  6
loon sp.  1
Black-footed Albatross  4-5
Northern Fulmar  X     both dark and light phase.  100's
Pink-footed Shearwater  X     over 100
Buller's Shearwater  1
Sooty Shearwater  X
Brandt's Cormorant  X
Double-crested Cormorant  X
Pelagic Cormorant  X
Bald Eagle  2
Pomarine Jaeger  3
Parasitic Jaeger  1
Pigeon Guillemot  6
Rhino Auklet  4
Sabine's Gull  4
California Gull  X
Herring Gull  X
Glaucous-winged Gull  X
Northwestern Crow  X
Common Raven  X

This old, scraggy Black Bear looks like it has a deformed rear foot.   Perhaps the result of a battle or infection.

Here is a wide shot of the bear.  The sun was shining and the wind was nonexistent the day after the pelagic trip.

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