Post by Gord on Oct 30, 2024 22:18:15 GMT -8
I got out in the afternoons the last two days. To say the Cackling and Snow Geese have arrived in numbers is an understatement.
On Banford Road north of the highway yesterday there were thousands of each including two White-fronts. The sound was deafening. There's always some Bald Eagles keeping an eye on these flocks and the geese regularly fly up.
_0249475 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
_0249472 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
A flooded field nearby had exactly 99 Northern Shovelers. I counted twice as that's just too fun a number not to double check on.
_0249490 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
A paler Thayer's Gull that could be getting a bit close to the Iceland Gull end of the scale. I still stuck in old names I know. With the flooded fields and lots of good feeding habitat it feels like there's a few more around this fall than normal but still numbering 2-4 or so at best in a good-sized flock of large gulls.
_0249503 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
The setting sun low in the sky made for very nice light and even with slow shutter speeds, it was nice to relax and get a few shots of what passed by.
Second winter Mew Gull
_0249526 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
_0249529 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
Young Mew Gull
_0249517 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
_0249541 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
A young Ring-billed Gull. Seems the ratio of them to Mew Gull is 1:30 or so as they're surprisingly not as common despite being generally acknowledged as a very common gull species.
_0249533 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
Tundra Swans
_0249540 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
_0249538 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
Today on Dixon and No 5 Road were two Rusty Blackbirds in a mixed flock of blackbirds, starlings and just a few cowbirds. I went with both being males but the second one maybe not? Pretty sure a male as well but didn't get as good a look.
_0249550 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
_0249561 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
A young California Gull and some flight shots for those interested. These guys are mostly gone now so no surprise I only saw one in all the gull flocks I checked.
_0249571 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
_0249583 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
_0249579 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
Another large flock of around 1,500 Snow Geese on Fadden Road. One had a neck collar with some sort of tracking device on it I think? I've submitted the encounter and hope to hear back.
_0249600 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr
All for now
On Banford Road north of the highway yesterday there were thousands of each including two White-fronts. The sound was deafening. There's always some Bald Eagles keeping an eye on these flocks and the geese regularly fly up.
_0249475 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr_0249472 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrA flooded field nearby had exactly 99 Northern Shovelers. I counted twice as that's just too fun a number not to double check on.
_0249490 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrA paler Thayer's Gull that could be getting a bit close to the Iceland Gull end of the scale. I still stuck in old names I know. With the flooded fields and lots of good feeding habitat it feels like there's a few more around this fall than normal but still numbering 2-4 or so at best in a good-sized flock of large gulls.
_0249503 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrThe setting sun low in the sky made for very nice light and even with slow shutter speeds, it was nice to relax and get a few shots of what passed by.
Second winter Mew Gull
_0249526 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr_0249529 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrYoung Mew Gull
_0249517 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr_0249541 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrA young Ring-billed Gull. Seems the ratio of them to Mew Gull is 1:30 or so as they're surprisingly not as common despite being generally acknowledged as a very common gull species.
_0249533 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrTundra Swans
_0249540 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr_0249538 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrToday on Dixon and No 5 Road were two Rusty Blackbirds in a mixed flock of blackbirds, starlings and just a few cowbirds. I went with both being males but the second one maybe not? Pretty sure a male as well but didn't get as good a look.
_0249550 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr_0249561 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrA young California Gull and some flight shots for those interested. These guys are mostly gone now so no surprise I only saw one in all the gull flocks I checked.
_0249571 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr_0249583 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr_0249579 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrAnother large flock of around 1,500 Snow Geese on Fadden Road. One had a neck collar with some sort of tracking device on it I think? I've submitted the encounter and hope to hear back.
_0249600 by Geordie LaForge, on FlickrAll for now