Parasitic Jaeger & Sabine's Gull Is 22 Oct 2

[Gord]

Late this afternoon after the heavy rains while at Island 22 I paused to look over the river and within a few seconds I saw an odd-looking bird coming downriver not too high over the water. I suspected a jaeger and was pleased to see when it got closer that it indeed was and that it turned out to be a Parasitic Jaeger! A new bird for Island 22 and one I have not seen for many years. Talk about the right place at the right time!

I managed a few long-range photos as it passed.

Dsc_7670 by Gord G, on Flickr

Dsc_7664 by Gord G, on Flickr

Dsc_7660 by Gord G, on Flickr


I had barely finished watching it disappear downstream and making a note in my notebook when I looked back upstream to see a small gull approaching. Turned out to be an adult Sabine's Gull! I'm not sure I've ever had two rare species come past in such fast order. The Sabine's Gull is also a new species for the park.

Dsc_7699 by Gord G, on Flickr

Dsc_7700 by Gord G, on Flickr

It has been a good year for new species at Island 22:
Parasitic Jaeger
Sabine's Gull
Wilson's Snipe
Solitary Sandpiper
Veery

A kerfuffle of chickadees, kinglets, etc in a thicket caused me to do a little investigation to determine the source of the fuss. I found this little guy peeking out.

Dsc_7716 by Gord G, on Flickr

A fun bit of birding to say the least!

[paulos]

Woah! Nice day. Do you know if either the jaeger or gull stuck around?

[butterfly]

Wow, what an amazing day!!! Bruce and Joanne

[Gord]

Oct 3, 2018 8:01:32 GMT -8 paulos said:

Woah! Nice day. Do you know if either the jaeger or gull stuck around?

Paul, I’d be surprised if they stuck around unfortunately. They took a pretty direct route downstream. I didn’t see any this morning. It was one of those at the right place at the right time deals. There were also four Bonaparte’s Gull on a sandbar with the big gulls; suggesting a little migrating puse of rare and uncommon seabirds going by.

Bruce and Joanne thanks

[birder1942]

Hi Gord. What wonderful sightings!
I guess it is time to schedule pelagic trips out to Island 22!
John Vooys, land-locked birding in Abbotsford.