Lewis's Woodpecker May 30

[Gord]

A nice visit to Hope Airport today.

Western Wood-Pewee were quite numerous today. One was quite photogenic and I enjoyed watching it catching lots of insects.

_0222339 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr


The insect it seemed to catch a lot of was what I've always called 'manure flies' given no cow pie is ever without a crowd of them. One day I should find out their real name

_0222293 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr

_0222310 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr


Dropped one!

_0222341 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr


Western Kingbirds were numerous as well. I went for there being 11 but 13 would have been realistic.

_0222349 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr


A pair of Mourning Dove. Never an overly common sight in the Fraser Valley for some reason.

_0222363 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr


A flock of over 40 California Gull went over made up of the usual non-adult birds for this time of year.

_0222352 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr


Dusky Flycatcher are still around with four being counted. No Vesper Sparrows today though.

_0222374 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr


Literally the last new bird I saw as I was leaving was a Lewis's Woodpecker making headway in a easterly direction. It paused at the top of a tree before carrying on.

_0222377 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr


A very enjoyable visit!

[Randy]

Great report and photos!

I think you were pretty close with your insect ID. I believe they are yellow dung flies:

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scathophaga_stercoraria

[kenneth2019]

I saw the same Western Kingbird and Mourning Dove & Western Wood-Pewee on Sunday. I was a bit worried about reporting so many Kingbirds and Pewees. I have been spending a lot of time viewing flycatchers, as I realised it was more than Me that had a difficult time telling some of them apart and there has been a lot around Hope.

Thanks Randy, seems obvious now.

[Gord]

Ken, a challenge for sure. The open mind and careful approach like your have is the way to work at it.

I put a few photos and some light reading on the topic at the link.

bcbirding.proboards.com/thread/13257/little-greenish-monsters

I like your profile picture of the hummingbird by the way!

Thanks, Randy! I was not far off!