Post by Chris on Aug 14, 2010 11:27:37 GMT -8
I woke up earlier than I usually do, so I decided to take a trip out to Harrison and Cheam Wetlands. I was curious to see if the Avocet was still there. Due to the number of people that would have been there yesterday, I didn’t expect to see it. The Avocet was not there, but there were a few shorebirds hanging around. I saw two Killdeer and this one Least Sandpiper right away.
I continued walking and all of a sudden a Peregrine Falcon came swooping by me. It was flying extremely low. It shot up into the air and then went after a Killdeer along the shore. It wounded it and flew back up into the air and snatched the Killdeer up and flew away! I felt sorry for the Killdeer but the Falcon has to eat. It was amazing to witness. Here’s a bad picture of him in flight. You can sort of see the Killdeer.
I walked a little further checking the shoreline for shorebirds. I saw this little guy. He seemed to be tired, and not really active, so I didn’t want to get too close. I took a few pictures though. At first I thought it was a Least Sandpiper but now I’m not sure. It might be a Semipalmated Sandpiper.
Here’s another shorebird I found. At first I thought Least but looking at the picture I think it might be a Western. I thought I had all Least Sandpipers but now I am beginning to question some of them. This one seems bigger than a Least.
A little further up I saw two Least Sandpipers feeding. Here are both of them.
As I was leaving I think I had two Western Sandpipers fly over but I am not sure what they were. If wake up early again I’ll probably will head out there. A lot of shorebirds are migrating right now and Harrison Lagoon has great potential.
After Harrison I went to Cheam Wetlands. I got out of my car and started walking to the viewing platform and I scared up two Ruffed Grouse. I haven’t seen one at Cheam for a long time. I was near the viewing platform where I saw two River Otters in the water.
I scanned the lake and saw a few Mallards, Wood Ducks and Pied-billed Grebes. Eastern Kingbirds were flying around as well. I bumped into Gord. He had the same idea as me as I missed him at Harrison. I guess great minds do think alike! Gord spotted a Long-billed Dowitcher flying and then it landed close to the loop trail. It’s the second record for the park. A few Spotted Sandpipers were also on the lily pads.
He had to go and I started walking the loop trail. Gord had told me of a Barred Owl sighting earlier in the week here. As a result, my mind turned away from shorebirds to owls as I began walking the loop trail. But first right where the loop trail begins a Gray Catbird was making a racket.
I saw the usual species along the loop trail. Right where the loop trail splits I thought I heard a Great-horned Owl calling. I walked under a few trees and looked up but no sign of one. As I crossed the second bridge and started walking in the forest area. I heard a lot of Chickadees calling and a few Steller’s Jays making a racket. I was looking up in the trees for an owl. I was also listening in the bush just in case it was a Bobcat, Coyote or Bear. I was walking slowly and I heard a weird whistle call. I stopped and looked up and there was a Barred Owl looking down at me. I think it is juvenile and there was also one across the path as well, as I heard another one making that same noise. I took a few pictures and left. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was.
I walked a little further up and heard some Eastern Kingbirds harassing a bird. I looked up and at first thought it might be an owl. It wasn’t an owl but it was a Cooper ’s Hawk. Just as I was approaching the end of my walk I saw a Solitary Sandpiper. They seem to love this one spot.
Here's the list
3 Canada Goose
4 Wood Duck
11 Mallard
2 Ruffed Grouse
5 Pied-billed Grebe
2 Great Blue Heron
1 Osprey
1 Cooper's Hawk
3 Spotted Sandpiper
1 Solitary Sandpiper
1 Long-billed Dowitcher
2 Barred Owl
2 Belted Kingfisher
1 Downy Woodpecker
3 Northern Flicker
5 Western Wood-Pewee
3 Willow Flycatcher
4 Eastern Kingbird
2 Warbling Vireo
4 Steller's Jay
3 Barn Swallow
14 Black-capped Chickadee
4 Swainson's Thrush
13 American Robin
18 Cedar Waxwing
3 Yellow Warbler
2 Common Yellowthroat
2 Spotted Towhee
5 Song Sparrow
2 American Goldfinch
I continued walking and all of a sudden a Peregrine Falcon came swooping by me. It was flying extremely low. It shot up into the air and then went after a Killdeer along the shore. It wounded it and flew back up into the air and snatched the Killdeer up and flew away! I felt sorry for the Killdeer but the Falcon has to eat. It was amazing to witness. Here’s a bad picture of him in flight. You can sort of see the Killdeer.
I walked a little further checking the shoreline for shorebirds. I saw this little guy. He seemed to be tired, and not really active, so I didn’t want to get too close. I took a few pictures though. At first I thought it was a Least Sandpiper but now I’m not sure. It might be a Semipalmated Sandpiper.
Here’s another shorebird I found. At first I thought Least but looking at the picture I think it might be a Western. I thought I had all Least Sandpipers but now I am beginning to question some of them. This one seems bigger than a Least.
A little further up I saw two Least Sandpipers feeding. Here are both of them.
As I was leaving I think I had two Western Sandpipers fly over but I am not sure what they were. If wake up early again I’ll probably will head out there. A lot of shorebirds are migrating right now and Harrison Lagoon has great potential.
After Harrison I went to Cheam Wetlands. I got out of my car and started walking to the viewing platform and I scared up two Ruffed Grouse. I haven’t seen one at Cheam for a long time. I was near the viewing platform where I saw two River Otters in the water.
I scanned the lake and saw a few Mallards, Wood Ducks and Pied-billed Grebes. Eastern Kingbirds were flying around as well. I bumped into Gord. He had the same idea as me as I missed him at Harrison. I guess great minds do think alike! Gord spotted a Long-billed Dowitcher flying and then it landed close to the loop trail. It’s the second record for the park. A few Spotted Sandpipers were also on the lily pads.
He had to go and I started walking the loop trail. Gord had told me of a Barred Owl sighting earlier in the week here. As a result, my mind turned away from shorebirds to owls as I began walking the loop trail. But first right where the loop trail begins a Gray Catbird was making a racket.
I saw the usual species along the loop trail. Right where the loop trail splits I thought I heard a Great-horned Owl calling. I walked under a few trees and looked up but no sign of one. As I crossed the second bridge and started walking in the forest area. I heard a lot of Chickadees calling and a few Steller’s Jays making a racket. I was looking up in the trees for an owl. I was also listening in the bush just in case it was a Bobcat, Coyote or Bear. I was walking slowly and I heard a weird whistle call. I stopped and looked up and there was a Barred Owl looking down at me. I think it is juvenile and there was also one across the path as well, as I heard another one making that same noise. I took a few pictures and left. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was.
I walked a little further up and heard some Eastern Kingbirds harassing a bird. I looked up and at first thought it might be an owl. It wasn’t an owl but it was a Cooper ’s Hawk. Just as I was approaching the end of my walk I saw a Solitary Sandpiper. They seem to love this one spot.
Here's the list
3 Canada Goose
4 Wood Duck
11 Mallard
2 Ruffed Grouse
5 Pied-billed Grebe
2 Great Blue Heron
1 Osprey
1 Cooper's Hawk
3 Spotted Sandpiper
1 Solitary Sandpiper
1 Long-billed Dowitcher
2 Barred Owl
2 Belted Kingfisher
1 Downy Woodpecker
3 Northern Flicker
5 Western Wood-Pewee
3 Willow Flycatcher
4 Eastern Kingbird
2 Warbling Vireo
4 Steller's Jay
3 Barn Swallow
14 Black-capped Chickadee
4 Swainson's Thrush
13 American Robin
18 Cedar Waxwing
3 Yellow Warbler
2 Common Yellowthroat
2 Spotted Towhee
5 Song Sparrow
2 American Goldfinch