One of the few birds at eye-level was the Black-throated gray Warbler. It was feasting on a variety of green and red worms gleaned from the branches of a small arbutus.
Kaye Road was buzzing with birds. They never seemed to stop for more than a second. I was lucky to get a half-decent photo of the Lincoln's Sparrow.
SEPT. 7/05 - OUT OF BOUNDS
I visited my daughter in Vancouver today and deviously suggested a bike ride on the Boundary Bay dike. I knew it was low tide so there wouldn't be any need for birding. We had a fine bike ride and picnic, but since I had my camera, I had to take a couple of pictures.
The pilings Pectoral Sandpiper was also having a picnic.
The pilings American Pipit was catching a few rays on one of the the pilings.
SEPT. 8 - DUCK POND
At high tide, San Malo mudflats is a veritable duck pond, filled with Mallards, Northern Pintails, and Green-winged Teal.
ALOHA! Mrs Pintail was enjoying the hawaiian hospitality.
Of course, Mrs. pintail brought the children along.
Probably the most abundant duck at San Malo was the Green-winged Teal.
SEPT. 11/05 - CONSOLATION BIRD
My plan was to go to Port Alberni to visit the Sandhill Cranes at Arrowvale Campground. However, a phone call informed me that the flock had only booked for 1 night and had already checked out. Plan B was to check out Holden Creek despite the hoards of mosquitoes I had encountered there a few days ago.
The swarms of mosquitoes attacked as soon as I opened the car door. I lathered on some mosquito spray and headed out the field. Guy and Donna were already out there fixated on a bird. I knew it was something special. As soon as I was close enough, I focussed my camera. It was a Golden-plover. After I got my shots, Guy explained that I was a juvenile American.
The Golden-plover was extremely compliant. It even came closer and turned the other cheek for a profile shot. This was a new bird for me.
SEPT. 12 - PATIENCE REWARDED
In the past few weeks I had stopped at Deep Bay several times, and except for the Common Terns, there hasn't been anything to photograph. The same was true as I stopped on the way up to Campbell River. Undeterred, I stopped again on the way home. I'm glad I did.
I was hoping to catch the Parasitic Jaegers in action harassing the Bonaparte Gulls. There were a few Bonies hanging around the rocky roost. To my surprise, one of them had a black head, and on further inspection, a yellow tip on its bill. It was my second new bird in 2 days - a SABINE'S GULL! It flew as soon as I tried to get closer, but I got the record shot.
Back to the Jaegers, there were 2 Parasitic Jaegers making life miserable for the Bonies. The action was mostly too far out in the straits, but after a 100 shots, I finally got one that was presentable.
There wasn't much else that was interesting on our trip, except maybe this scene at Nile Creek. Ominous sign? What would you think if you saw a flock of Turkey Vultures parked above your house?
ON THE ROCKS - Campbell River is the best place to photograph cormorants as they are always camped on the rocks close to the roadside. There were Pelagics and Brandt's on this rock and Double-crested on the next.
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