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Post by Harrier on Apr 3, 2011 13:01:55 GMT -8
Geez, are you guys wearing balaclavas to go birding or something?
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Post by Harrier on Mar 29, 2011 14:07:51 GMT -8
One of the definitions of a "species" is the ability to breed and produce fertile offspring. I wonder if various members of the genus Anas are related closely enough for these hybrids to have reproductive capabilities. I guess the same question could be asked about Western Gull/Glaucous-Winged Gull hybrids.
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Post by Harrier on Mar 26, 2011 12:49:38 GMT -8
I saw my first Turkey Vultures of the year today too. There were two over the freeway at Annis Rd.
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Post by Harrier on Mar 21, 2011 9:31:01 GMT -8
No problem Martin. I'm new to this online birding forum stuff so it's really nice to hear that my report helped someone to see something interesting.
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Post by Harrier on Mar 19, 2011 7:03:02 GMT -8
I'm pretty sure that only Kauai, Molokai, and the big island still have endemics like the I'iwi and Apapane. Which one did you go to? My wife and I did our honeymoon on Kauai and had an incredible time. I added a ton of lifers, including a Puaiohi, which I believe numbered only a few dozen birds in 2005.
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Post by Harrier on Mar 19, 2011 6:42:41 GMT -8
I think that the Ringed-Necked Duck is one of the most beautiful species there is. They are certainly photogenic. Beautiful pic.
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Post by Harrier on Mar 18, 2011 11:44:30 GMT -8
There was one in East Abbotsford last month, but they are seldom seen at this elevation, so good bird! Grant Narrows is such an incredible spot for seeing unusual species.
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Post by Harrier on Mar 18, 2011 9:34:50 GMT -8
You could go to the Blue Heron Reserve and pick up a Eurasian Widgeon.
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Post by Harrier on Mar 17, 2011 12:56:55 GMT -8
I was scanning a group of Ring-Necked Ducks and American Widgeon when I came across this little surprise: Sorry about the image quality. The bird was a long way off and I only have a point and shoot.
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Post by Harrier on Mar 11, 2011 19:20:48 GMT -8
Hehe, I see that you guys have met the same guy that got me.
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Post by Harrier on Mar 11, 2011 15:39:28 GMT -8
Wow Ken, that's a good one!
And to add to my list:
-I once to turned around to see a Merlin flying right at my head only to have it turn away at the last second. -I was once stabbed in the leg by a Sandhill Crane. -I have been buzzed by both Red-Winged Blackbirds and a Barred Owl.
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Post by Harrier on Mar 10, 2011 18:35:59 GMT -8
My dad lives by Colony farms, so I've spent lots of time there. It's good for a handful of species that are tough to see in other parts of the lower mainland, but there are lots of times when it's very quiet down there.
Less common species I've seen there: Eastern Kingbird (regularly) Ring-Necked Pheasant (used to be lots, but fewer these days) Lazuli Bunting (best place in the area to see them) Western Kingbird (rarely, but I've seen them more than once there) Mountain Bluebird (they come through in decent numbers some years) Northern Shrike (regularly)
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Post by Harrier on Mar 10, 2011 18:28:24 GMT -8
I'm not talking about sighting a rare species or adding a bird to your life list. I'm talking about the action, excitement, and even violence that we occasionally witness in the avian world. I hope this isn't a repeat topic. I'm new here. I'll start: In the summer of 1995 (I think) I was out on a walk to Deep Lake on the Coldstream Ranch near Vernon with a friend and my brother. We were passing through a pasture area when I saw three of the resident Mallards flying low and fast, zigzagging in obvious panic. They were right to be worried, as there was a Goshawk only 50 feet behind them and closing fast. I had just enough time to point out the spectacle to my companions before the raptor nailed one of the ducks mid-air and they both when tumbling to the ground. I set up my scope (what 17 year old brings a scope on a walk with his friends?) in time to see a grisly scene that I won't go into great detail describing here, but it involved arterial blood, so you get the picture. To this day, that friend says that he can never be a birder because he saw the coolest thing imaginable on his first time out. Anything else would be dull in comparison.
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Post by Harrier on Mar 9, 2011 7:19:35 GMT -8
That's cool. My all-time most exciting birding experience was watching a Goshawk nail a Mallard mid-air.
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Post by Harrier on Mar 5, 2011 11:35:15 GMT -8
One American Kestrel on Powerhouse in Abbotsford near Wellsline. By the way, if anyone is wanting to see or photograph a kestrel, that area is as close to a sure thing as you'll ever get for that species. Just drive around Wellsline, Dixon, or Powerhouse and scan the powerlines and you are almost sure to see one.
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