Birding in BC Community

Thanks StumblingPiper and NewWestBirder - I like this Challenge thing - at least the shots I get of my neighborhood birds gets put to some use, other than Gb of files on my elderly computer.

Tomorrow's weather looks like it might be a sunny dawn, so a Dawn Patrol on the West Dyke here in Richmond might be in order. The Red Winged Blackbirds are singing, raptors are doing raptor things, and there might be a fly-by of some Trumpeter Swans, whatever the dawn light will bring.

Already at 35 birds! Wow! That's a fast start to the year ... we'll see if it bodes well for our goal!! haha

Here's the link to the current list: viewtopic.php?t=16922

Sunny Saturday January 6, 2024, but oh, how that cold Northwester blew down the Salish Sea! The Harriers were having trouble hunting, being thrown around in the strong gusty winds. The only new birds to add to the list are: Snow Geese, Red Winged Blackbird, House Finch, Spotted Towhee and a bonus Lesser Scaup in the pond behind the Steveston Village townhouses.

Snow Geese01 Jan06_2024 by GMcD2008, on Flickr

Red Winged Blackbird01 Jan06_2024 by GMcD2008, on Flickr

House Finch02 Jan06_2024 by GMcD2008, on Flickr

Spotted Towhee04 Jan06_2024 by GMcD2008, on Flickr

Lesser Scaup04 Jan06_2024 by GMcD2008, on Flickr

A bonus bright morning along the South Arm of the Fraser River between Gilbert Beach and London's Landing pier, and a few more local birds to add to the list:
Northwest Crow greeting the dawn, Glaucous Winged Gull, Trumpeter Swans, Greater Yellowlegs, and some Bufflehead ducks.

NW Crow02 Jan07_2024 by GMcD2008, on Flickr

Glaucous Winged Gull01 Jan07_2024 by GMcD2008, on Flickr

Trumpeter Swan03 Jan07_2024 by GMcD2008, on Flickr

Greater Yellowlegs02 Jan07_2024 by GMcD2008, on Flickr

Bufflehead04 Jan07_2024 by GMcD2008, on Flickr

Great adds -- the list grows! I had a good day along Wood Lake (Lake Country), but was only able to add this one bird ... he was at the North end of the Lake on the spit that separates Kalamalka Lake from Wood Lake: Northern Shrike!



I didn't get this guy on my list last year, so happy to add him early!
James

Great Blue Heron by R Varga, on Flickr

The pond at Terra Nova Regional Park in Richmond has been covered by some form of vegatation outbreak that creates a very unique visual appearance. Where there is a duck or grebe on the water it makes it look like its a solid surface. Very different.

I saw beautiful clear sunny conditions this morning, but knew that there was a stiff wind blowing. What the heck, try a dawn patrol on the West Dyke in Richmond. I lasted an hour, enough for the sun to hit the marsh, while my eyes and nose were running like a leaky faucet. In spite of gloves, fingers were numb, and only one Northern Harrier was trying to battle the gale force winds blowing down the strait. OK, not yet on the list, so a few snapshots taken, but we can add the Northern Harrier to the list now:

Northern Harrier02 Jan11_2024 by GMcD2008, on Flickr

Long-Tailed Ducks at Deep Bay.
I consider the 100 km trip to Deep Bay an expedition these days. It is always worth it. A male, female and immature male, I believe.
Long-Tailed Ducks by Bill Gyles, on Flickr

Sorry folks, just noticed my GBH posting was a duplicate as the bird was already posted. Will pay more attention next time.

Two nice birds from a visit to Duncan. A Western Screech Owl in a nest box and a male American Kestrel. The kestrel is a permanent resident at the Dyke walk but the Screech Owl is a new arrival, which I hope will hang around.
Western Screech Owl by Bill Gyles, on Flickr

American Kestrel by Bill Gyles, on Flickr

We're already off to a great start with some really nice pictures posted. It was so cold today that all I managed to do was sit on the patio for about 30 minutes after which my fingers were so cold I couldn't press the shutter anymore (in spite of wearing gloves and having lots of warm clothes on).
I managed to get a few additions for the list:

Varied Thrush (Male) by Jewill on Flickr

Downy Woodpecker (Male) by Jewill on Flickr

Northern Flicker (Female) by Jewill on Flickr

I waited till the local temperature warmed up to a balmy -8 this afternoon, and decided on a character-building stroll along the Fraser River near here. There was still a stiff outflow wind blowing so I walked into it for a while to near Gilbert Beach, then back to London's Landing. Quite a few shorebirds along with the usual flocks of ducks and Canada Geese. Some small groups of Dunlins, Greater Yellowlegs, Killdeers, and some Brewer's Blackbirds. A bonus was a 1st. winter Common Goldeneye drake at London's Landing.

So four new birds for the Challenge List: Killdeer, Brewer's Blackbird, Dunlin and the Common Goldeneye:

Killdeer06 Jan12_2024 by GMcD2008, on Flickr

Dunlin04 Jan12_2024 by GMcD2008, on Flickr

Common Goldeneye 1st Winter drake03 Jan12_2024 by GMcD2008, on Flickr

Brewers Blackbird01 Jan12_2024 by GMcD2008, on Flickr

The Cooper's Hawk has already been posted here, but it was a juvenile example. This morning, an adult Cooper's Hawk flew in to check out London's Landing pier for a while. Less wind than yesterday, somewhat pleasant on the pier, but still cold enough that my shutter button finger was going numb in a minute or two. Here is an adult Cooper's Hawk from this morning:

Coopers Hawk06 Jan13_2024 by GMcD2008, on Flickr

I took a quick look down at the London's Landing pier this afternoon during some sunny periods, very little wind, and a tropical -4C. The usual suspects were about - Red Breasted Mergansers, Common Mergansers, Mallards, Widgeons, Green Winged Teal, some Wilson's Snipe, Killdeers, and a lone American Coot foraging around the pier.

Another bird to add to the list - American Coot, and it's crazy feet:

American Coot02 Jan14_2024 by GMcD2008, on Flickr

American Coot07 Jan14_2024 by GMcD2008, on Flickr

Had a chance to spend an hour on the pier at London's Landing this morning, and a flock of Long Billed Dowitchers flew in for a rest and roost in the marsh on the west side of the pier. Not a great photo, but the Long Billed Dowitchers are there, along with a Greater Yellowlegs, Mallards and Green Winged Teal. So tick off the Long Billed Dowitcher for this years' list:

Long Billed Dowitcher06 Jan15_2024 by GMcD2008, on Flickr