Post by Dave on Jan 23, 2006 10:35:13 GMT -8
We started the day around 72nd street by Boundary Bay. It was just getting light and through the dim light we picked up our first Glaucous Winged Gulls, Mallards, Great Blue Heron, and Bald Eagle. The usually productive bushes along 72nd street produced Black-capped Chickadee, Crows, Starlings, and House Sparrow in the pouring rain. Shortly before the bay, there was a small ditch on the right. Among the half dozen American Wigeon swimming in the rain was one male Eurasion Wigeon! A life bird for me! (We would see another one before the day was over!) While viewing the Eurasion Wigeon a Short-eared Owl flew out of the stubble and gave wonderful views. A little flock of sparrows consisted of both Golden-crowned and White-crowned. Song Sparrow was also present.
A glance at the sky told us to stay in the car for an early break, as we were under a very dark cloud and were experiencing the effects of it! A flock of about 50 shorebirds circled around us, consisting of Dunlin and Black-Bellied Plovers. Once it lightened up a bit, we braved the elements and headed east down the dyke. We were rewarded with close views of 13 Snowy Owls, several Northern Harrier, a couple American Pipits, and 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler. The ducks were too far away and in poor lighting at this point in the day.
We headed over to the west side of Boundary Bay to start searching for Yellow-billed Loon (yes, we were stretching things!) On the drive across we had the first of many Red-Shafted Flicker, Green-Winged Teal, Thayer’s Gull, and Mew Gull.
At Boundary Bay Regional Park there were many gulls, Pintail, Canada Goose, Brant, 2 Short-billed Dowitcher, Western Grebe, another Eurasion Wigeon, Gadwall, Bufflehead, and an unidentified Hawk species. We then headed to Point Roberts.
At Lily Point we picked up Robin, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Black Scoter, Marbled Murrelet, Red-throated Loon, Common Goldeneye and Scaup.
Lighthouse Marine Park was awesome. We were getting whip-lash as ocean birds were flying around in all directions. I picked up my second life bird with an Ancient Murrelet . I had awesome views of it flying and floating! We also picked up Common Murre, Marbled Murrelet, all 3 commorants (Double-crested, Pelagic, and Brants), Red-Necked Grebe, Horned Grebe, Common Loon, Harlequin Duck, Long-tailed Duck, Surf Scoter, and Black Turnstone. All species were seen within ten minutes of excitement. We spent some time here scanning loons. In the general area were Junco, Raven, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Western Meadowlark, Brewer’s Blackbird, and House Finch.
On the way to Reifel we stopped at the Tsawwassen Ferry Jetty. In the little bay were the Willet usually is (it wasn’t) we added White-winged Scoter so now we had all 3 species. Much better, we got a tip on Snow Buntings and quickly drove halfway down the jetty and soon had another life bird for me! ;D I have some pictures that I will attach. Driving through Ladner and on to Reifel we had Rough-legged Hawk, Red-Winged Blackbird, Ring-necked Pheasant, Common Merganser, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Trumpeter Swans, Rock Dove, American Coot, and Spotted Towhee.
At Reifel we picked up Hooded Merganser, Black-crowned Night Heron, Brown Creeper, and Northern Saw-whet Owl in the same tree as 3 weeks ago. We had a good comparison of both Greater and Lesser Scaup. Fox Sparrow, Downy Woodpecker, and Sandhill Crane rounded out the new species for the day.
We stopped at Brunswick Point at dusk and found 7 more Snowy Owls, a Barn Owl, American Bittern, Peregrine Falcon, Marsh Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and Red-Breasted Merganser.
We ended in the dark with 83 species for the day.
Additional Thought: How do I get these pictures smaller? I tried 'resize' to 50% but nothing changes.
A glance at the sky told us to stay in the car for an early break, as we were under a very dark cloud and were experiencing the effects of it! A flock of about 50 shorebirds circled around us, consisting of Dunlin and Black-Bellied Plovers. Once it lightened up a bit, we braved the elements and headed east down the dyke. We were rewarded with close views of 13 Snowy Owls, several Northern Harrier, a couple American Pipits, and 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler. The ducks were too far away and in poor lighting at this point in the day.
We headed over to the west side of Boundary Bay to start searching for Yellow-billed Loon (yes, we were stretching things!) On the drive across we had the first of many Red-Shafted Flicker, Green-Winged Teal, Thayer’s Gull, and Mew Gull.
At Boundary Bay Regional Park there were many gulls, Pintail, Canada Goose, Brant, 2 Short-billed Dowitcher, Western Grebe, another Eurasion Wigeon, Gadwall, Bufflehead, and an unidentified Hawk species. We then headed to Point Roberts.
At Lily Point we picked up Robin, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Black Scoter, Marbled Murrelet, Red-throated Loon, Common Goldeneye and Scaup.
Lighthouse Marine Park was awesome. We were getting whip-lash as ocean birds were flying around in all directions. I picked up my second life bird with an Ancient Murrelet . I had awesome views of it flying and floating! We also picked up Common Murre, Marbled Murrelet, all 3 commorants (Double-crested, Pelagic, and Brants), Red-Necked Grebe, Horned Grebe, Common Loon, Harlequin Duck, Long-tailed Duck, Surf Scoter, and Black Turnstone. All species were seen within ten minutes of excitement. We spent some time here scanning loons. In the general area were Junco, Raven, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Western Meadowlark, Brewer’s Blackbird, and House Finch.
On the way to Reifel we stopped at the Tsawwassen Ferry Jetty. In the little bay were the Willet usually is (it wasn’t) we added White-winged Scoter so now we had all 3 species. Much better, we got a tip on Snow Buntings and quickly drove halfway down the jetty and soon had another life bird for me! ;D I have some pictures that I will attach. Driving through Ladner and on to Reifel we had Rough-legged Hawk, Red-Winged Blackbird, Ring-necked Pheasant, Common Merganser, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Trumpeter Swans, Rock Dove, American Coot, and Spotted Towhee.
At Reifel we picked up Hooded Merganser, Black-crowned Night Heron, Brown Creeper, and Northern Saw-whet Owl in the same tree as 3 weeks ago. We had a good comparison of both Greater and Lesser Scaup. Fox Sparrow, Downy Woodpecker, and Sandhill Crane rounded out the new species for the day.
We stopped at Brunswick Point at dusk and found 7 more Snowy Owls, a Barn Owl, American Bittern, Peregrine Falcon, Marsh Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and Red-Breasted Merganser.
We ended in the dark with 83 species for the day.
Additional Thought: How do I get these pictures smaller? I tried 'resize' to 50% but nothing changes.