Vaux's Swift, Hybrid Green-winged Teal Apr 15
Apr 15, 2024 23:14:25 GMT -8
oldfulica, Wetlander, and 1 more like this
Post by Gord on Apr 15, 2024 23:14:25 GMT -8
This afternoon on Chilliwack Central Road near Upper Prairie Road I checked out a flock of ducks. Northern Pintail, Mallard and American Wigeon and a male Green-winged x American Wigeon hybrid. I've never seen one before. Neat bird. A tad larger than a Green-wing and was happily plucking grass with the wigeon.
_0245403 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
_0245397 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
Not far away I had a bunch of swallows passing by. All species but Bank Swallow were present. Among them was a Vaux's Swift. This is my earliest sighting for them in the spring with April 20 the other 'early' one. Otherwise, they're extremely dedicated to April 25 or so every year for me. I checked it carefully as sometimes a swallow can flutter around in a swift-like manner for a bit and can play tricks especially if flying a bit high and the observer doesn't stick with it to see it go back to more typical flight pattern. Two peep sandpipers were flying by as well at this moment but I didn't try to ID them opting to focus on the swift.
_0245403 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr_0245397 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrNot far away I had a bunch of swallows passing by. All species but Bank Swallow were present. Among them was a Vaux's Swift. This is my earliest sighting for them in the spring with April 20 the other 'early' one. Otherwise, they're extremely dedicated to April 25 or so every year for me. I checked it carefully as sometimes a swallow can flutter around in a swift-like manner for a bit and can play tricks especially if flying a bit high and the observer doesn't stick with it to see it go back to more typical flight pattern. Two peep sandpipers were flying by as well at this moment but I didn't try to ID them opting to focus on the swift.
