A great day at Reifel - Aug 21

[martin]

Well before I post part 2 of shots of the day for July, I had to get this report out.
I took way too many pictures this time, boy processing all these shots took me 2 nights. Now that I have sorted through them, there were alot of cool shots and I cannot wait to post the shots of the day for August, got some lovely pics and colors.

Oops sorry getting way ahead of myself. Well I had to pick up the boy, (my son) on Sunday from the ferry, so I got to spend most of the day at Reifel, and what a day it was. Sunny warm and lots of action to keep even a dozen photographers busy. It did start off good, as I was getting a couple of waters from the main gate building I looked through the window out onto the duck pond behind, and saw a few Greater Yellow legs and Dowitchers on a small Island


I walked around to the warming hut and set up my camera and fired of a couple of quick bursts.



















Headed down the center treed trail, not to much in the way of activity but did see these:

Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrows, lots
BC Chickadee
Tree swallows
Barn swallows
Brown creeper




As there was not too much going on there I doubled back and headed around the center ponds. Did see
a couple of wasps nest about the size of watermelons.









Around the center ponds there were

Mallards Mallards everywhere, tons actually
a few Wood ducks
Canada Geese
A. Coot
Hooded Mergansers
And more Greater yellow legs,
as well quit alot of GBH's must have wandered over from Tsawasseen
breading grounds.

































I then headed out to the outer ponds by the tower, there was a Red-necked Phalarope the week earlier, but I was not to see it this time. Lots of ducks and shorebirds, unfortunately there were also Harriers and Bald eagles flying over and a couple of Peregrine Falcons hunting, which were scattering all the birds. So lots of
walking back and forth and waiting but did see these. I was also treaded to a fly-by by 14+ Sandhill Cranes.



I sure most of you have experienced this but if you are lucky enough and close enough to be
around Eagles or Falcons when they are swooping you would be surprised have much sound there wings generate,
its really awesome and something I hope everyone gets to experience at least once if not twice.




The Bird seen were

Greater Yellow-legs (30)
Dowitchers ( 6)
Peeps (20)
Mallards
wood Ducks
Green wing teals(10)
Bonaparte Gull(1)
GBH
American Bittern
N shovelers (4)
Sandhill cranes (17)
Bald Eagles (4)
Harriers (3)
Peregrine Falcons(2)
Northern Goshawk


Well here are the rest of the shots.



Dowitchers





Bonaparte Gull






Harrier and Peregrine






Greater Yellow-legs and others



















These Sandhills must have been watching the Snowbirds at Abbots,




The missing man formation





another flyby













And this radio tagged sandhill (H001) if anyone is interested







The 3 residents, babys almost grown.






Another flyby - Harrier












These next shots aren't for the squeamish PG 18 - there is also now 1 less yellow-legs



















Hope you enjoyed.

[Dave]

So many super sharp images...I especially like the first one of the Yellowlegs.

Thanks for sharing

[butterfly]

Great report. We agree, wings of large birds make an awesome sound. That wasp nest looks huge. The birds are great. That shot of the flying Cranes is beautiful. We saw that Crane with the transmitter several times before at the same area. Good work.

[kestrel]

Great captures and report!

[martin]

Thanks everyone, I'm glad everyone is enjoying the shots and reports.

[Chris]

Wow Martin what a day! All of them are amazing photos. Really liked the crane flight shot. Nice job!

Around two years ago at Harrison I was observing a small flock of Horned Larks when a Peregrine came swooping down about two feet from my ear. Scared me a little but sure was an amazing experience.

[kenpossum]

Great shots Martin! Super sharp!

[martin]

Thanks Chris and Ken, great to see that you are able to get out and post a bit Ken, continue to get better

[Gord]

Utterly fantastic photos! Hard to find a favourite, but the cranes in flight and the yellowlegs with the small fish are especially nice.

The falcon is well captured. Good work for that young bird to get a meal. It's make or break for a young bird to gain experience in surviving in a world where its food is hard to catch. I wonder what the band on the leg is from or are they jesses such as a falconer would use?

[martin]

Aug 30, 2011 22:25:57 GMT -8 Gord said:

Utterly fantastic photos! Hard to find a favourite, but the cranes in flight and the yellowlegs with the small fish are especially nice.

The falcon is well captured. Good work for that young bird to get a meal. It's make or break for a young bird to gain experience in surviving in a world where its food is hard to catch. I wonder what the band on the leg is from or are they jesses such as a falconer would use?

I don't remeber seeing any loose leather bits hanging off. I believe both legs were banded and one was numbered, will check my shots and see if I can post a closer image for reference, later tonight.

[martin]

Gord here is the shot of the tags one is black and the other Aluminium. Both are marked with numbers, the alum has 2 rows of markings.

Could not find a clearer one the bird was a bit away and my lens is not that big,and to those that have not seen it, no it doesn't look like the hubble telescope.