Post by Gord on Oct 12, 2021 21:55:08 GMT -8
Thanksgiving holiday Monday was a beautiful day; reminding it's hard not to be thankful!
In the yard we saw a Warbling Vireo in our trees for several minutes. Not an overly common October sight. Our Anna's Hummingbirds are back in force and there was lots of activity at the feeders.
We went to Harrison and it was quite birdy. We found an Orange-crowned Warbler near the boat launch. Out on the water we saw White-winged and Surf Scoter, our first Bufflehead of the fall and a Western Grebe that was in quite close.
_0217064 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
Onshore, there were three Lapland Longspurs, a nice flock of Savannah Sparrows and several Yellow-rumped Warbler. We caught a glimpse of a small streaky sparrow that I have a nagging feeling might have been a Brewer's Sparrow. Another look was needed but this was towards the end of the visit and it was getting very busy with people and hard to track things down again.
_0216999 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
We explored Greenpoint afterwards. Quiet for birds but we enjoyed an American Dipper.
Cheam Lake was our last stop. A nice visit was had with friends on the viewing platform at the picnic area and it was quite birdy here too. A Wilson's Warbler was in with some Chickadees for the day's third less-than-expected small bird sighting. We spotted three Blue-winged Teal (I don't ever recall this many in past Octobers) and caught glimpses of a rail twice flying from cattail island to island. It wound up flying closer to the viewing platform and we were able to see that it was a young Sora. Almost on cue, a Virginia Rail called off in the marsh. We got a nice little list of birds while standing in the sunshine leaning on the railing. Sounds good to me.
_0217072 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
In the yard we saw a Warbling Vireo in our trees for several minutes. Not an overly common October sight. Our Anna's Hummingbirds are back in force and there was lots of activity at the feeders.
We went to Harrison and it was quite birdy. We found an Orange-crowned Warbler near the boat launch. Out on the water we saw White-winged and Surf Scoter, our first Bufflehead of the fall and a Western Grebe that was in quite close.
_0217064 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrOnshore, there were three Lapland Longspurs, a nice flock of Savannah Sparrows and several Yellow-rumped Warbler. We caught a glimpse of a small streaky sparrow that I have a nagging feeling might have been a Brewer's Sparrow. Another look was needed but this was towards the end of the visit and it was getting very busy with people and hard to track things down again.
_0216999 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrWe explored Greenpoint afterwards. Quiet for birds but we enjoyed an American Dipper.
Cheam Lake was our last stop. A nice visit was had with friends on the viewing platform at the picnic area and it was quite birdy here too. A Wilson's Warbler was in with some Chickadees for the day's third less-than-expected small bird sighting. We spotted three Blue-winged Teal (I don't ever recall this many in past Octobers) and caught glimpses of a rail twice flying from cattail island to island. It wound up flying closer to the viewing platform and we were able to see that it was a young Sora. Almost on cue, a Virginia Rail called off in the marsh. We got a nice little list of birds while standing in the sunshine leaning on the railing. Sounds good to me.
_0217072 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr