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Post by nickinthegarden on May 6, 2021 14:47:09 GMT -8
The other morning I had an enjoyable trip to explore the backroads on Nicomen Island (where I spotted a pair of Blue-winged Teal) I was driving over the Mission Bridge which was a little more busy than I liked and spotted a large flock of large white birds flying northeast over and up the river. Due to traffic I only got a quick glimpse and part of my mind is still on the wintering Swans (long since gone). When traffic cleared up I headed for Matsqui Trail Park and I forgot about my sighting. At Matsqui Trail park I would see a Western Kingbird, the Osprey mating and the Brown-headed Cowbirds mating the next pole over, a very good morning to my mind. Now in thinking about it I realize they were very large white birds with a little black and they were most likely a flock of American White Pelicans, bigger than gulls. A bird I dearly want to spend some time with in the Fraser Valley. Not enough to stop traffic on the Mission Bridge in order to catch a picture though. I guess we all have birds on our bucket list or just birds that give us great pleasure to see.
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Post by Ben on May 6, 2021 19:39:08 GMT -8
I hate those cases... Another frustrating thing is when at a later date you doubt your earlier sighting. That said, if you saw a large white bird with black on the wings, then I don't know what else it could've been. Egret has no black, Osprey isn't very white... I guess male Common Merganser meets the criteria albeit it's smaller, and Swans are still possible (but no black on wings). It still sounds like Pelicans to me. Then again, it's far more satisfying to have a "100% certain" bird on your list. That also usually helps keep the doubt away 😉
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Post by old coot on May 6, 2021 20:27:12 GMT -8
What about Snow Goose? Klaus
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Post by Randy on May 6, 2021 20:46:01 GMT -8
I would just log them as whooping cranes and move on
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