Post by Chris on Oct 10, 2009 18:57:13 GMT -8
Today I went out to all three places in search of lifers. The parents tagged along as they wanted to see the Snow Geese at Reifel.
First, White Rock was fairly cold with the wind blowing like crazy. My goal was to see Black and White-winged Scoters. I got the later as twelve White-winged Scoters were amongst about forty Surf Scoters which is a new BC bird for me. Also at White Rock were about 12 Western Grebes, one Horned Grebe, Mew Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls, Glaucous-winged Gulls, one Red-necked Grebe, four Double-crested Cormorants one Pacific Loon (again BC lifer) and four Common Loons.
Here's the Horned Grebe. The Scoters were close but right in the sun and the pictures didn't turn out.
At Blackie Spit the target bird was a Marbled Godwit. There have been, if I remember correctly, about six seen there along with a Long-billed Curlew. The tide was in, and the wind was blowing, so I did have the weather on my side. I have never been here and it seems like it's a great place.
A lot of ducks were in one corner so I began scanning the waterfowl in search of the shorebirds. I discovered Greater Yellowlegs but no Godwits or Curlews. However, my last scan of the ducks I noticed four ducks or at least I thought they were ducks, but they had long narrow bills. So it turns out that they were the Godwits and right next to them was the Curlew. The ducks were Pintails, Wigeons and Green winged Teal.
The next stop was Reifel and right away I heard reports of a Great-horned Owl that was spotted and some American Tree Sparrows.
As soon as you got out of the car you could hear the snow geese. It's an amazing sight and if you haven't witnessed it and are thinking about going I would definately recommend going.
In the first body of water was a lone Cackling Goose. In the first field were the Snow Geese. Here's some pictures of them.
The whole field was covered with them and I would estimate about 3000-4000 of them.
Right by the large observation deck were about 40 Long-billed Dowitchers, 20 Pectoral Sandpipers a lifer for me and Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. Also among the shorebirds were 14 Sandhill Cranes.
Walking along the extreme west portion of the park I also spotted about 50 more Dowitchers.
Here's a Dowitcher
I discovered the Great Horned Owl in a tree sleeping.
The usual species were seen as well such as Pintails, Coots, Green-winged Teal, American Wigeons and of course Mallards. Five Ring-necked Ducks were spotted along with four Hooded Mergansers and also a Varied Thrush was seen as well. No American Tree Sparrows were seen.
As we were leaving all of the Snow Geese got spoked by two eagles I believe and there was so much noise. Even this Great-blue Heron wondered what was going on.
First, White Rock was fairly cold with the wind blowing like crazy. My goal was to see Black and White-winged Scoters. I got the later as twelve White-winged Scoters were amongst about forty Surf Scoters which is a new BC bird for me. Also at White Rock were about 12 Western Grebes, one Horned Grebe, Mew Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls, Glaucous-winged Gulls, one Red-necked Grebe, four Double-crested Cormorants one Pacific Loon (again BC lifer) and four Common Loons.
Here's the Horned Grebe. The Scoters were close but right in the sun and the pictures didn't turn out.
At Blackie Spit the target bird was a Marbled Godwit. There have been, if I remember correctly, about six seen there along with a Long-billed Curlew. The tide was in, and the wind was blowing, so I did have the weather on my side. I have never been here and it seems like it's a great place.
A lot of ducks were in one corner so I began scanning the waterfowl in search of the shorebirds. I discovered Greater Yellowlegs but no Godwits or Curlews. However, my last scan of the ducks I noticed four ducks or at least I thought they were ducks, but they had long narrow bills. So it turns out that they were the Godwits and right next to them was the Curlew. The ducks were Pintails, Wigeons and Green winged Teal.
The next stop was Reifel and right away I heard reports of a Great-horned Owl that was spotted and some American Tree Sparrows.
As soon as you got out of the car you could hear the snow geese. It's an amazing sight and if you haven't witnessed it and are thinking about going I would definately recommend going.
In the first body of water was a lone Cackling Goose. In the first field were the Snow Geese. Here's some pictures of them.
The whole field was covered with them and I would estimate about 3000-4000 of them.
Right by the large observation deck were about 40 Long-billed Dowitchers, 20 Pectoral Sandpipers a lifer for me and Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. Also among the shorebirds were 14 Sandhill Cranes.
Walking along the extreme west portion of the park I also spotted about 50 more Dowitchers.
Here's a Dowitcher
I discovered the Great Horned Owl in a tree sleeping.
The usual species were seen as well such as Pintails, Coots, Green-winged Teal, American Wigeons and of course Mallards. Five Ring-necked Ducks were spotted along with four Hooded Mergansers and also a Varied Thrush was seen as well. No American Tree Sparrows were seen.
As we were leaving all of the Snow Geese got spoked by two eagles I believe and there was so much noise. Even this Great-blue Heron wondered what was going on.
