May 13-15/06
Ladies' Day
As usual, Harry has been getting the lion's share of attention, but he's been strangely quiet for the past week. Perhaps, he's been busy with his reproductive duties and just doesn't have the energy for the ususal buzzing around. Meanwhile, the gals have also been quite subdued. I suspect many are sitting on eggs. Last week I was filling almost 2 feeders a day. This week it's down to less than a feeder a day. Anyway, I want you all to know that I do enjoy photographing the ladies as well as the gents.
Hi Babe!
It's always a joyful sight to see the little fledglings. The first one in obvious, but can you identify the next 2?
May 13 - Kaye Road
May 14 - Fairwinds Golf Course
May 18 - Garry Oak Meadow at Fairwinds
May 15 - Colour Day
I wasn't birding, but I did have my camera handy as I prepared for a few chores. On the way to the car I spotted a Purple Finch in my feeder tree. This wasn't unusual, but the sun was just right to bring out the colours.
I've noticed lately that this Purple Finch likes lurking in the leaves of my feeder tree as if it were a warbler foraging for bugs.
Rainbow bird - As I drove past Ozero's farm, I spotted a Ring-necked Pheasant in the tall grass. I drove slowly beside it and managed a few pictures before it flew. What a beautiful bird.
I think it had all the colours of the rainbow.
May 16 - Duncan Day
I've probably mentioned somewhere in the past couple of years that I was born in Duncan. I used to shop there as a youngster back in the 50's, and it was nostalgic to see shops like Martin's Mens Wear and Bucky's Sport Shop still in existence. In fact, it was comforting to see that the town has maintained much of its original character. I was back in town as a guest speaker for the Probus Club in the morning and the Naturalist and Camera Clubs in the evening, in between I had a chance to do a little birding and a trip down memory lane strolling around town. Being the heat of the day, there weren't many photo opportunities, but there's always the Somenoes swallows.
The Violet-green Swallows were busy collecting dried grass for their nests.
All of the ones I saw were females.
Was this another case of the gals doing all the work and the guys having all the fun?
The handsome male Tree Swallow
The slim and sleek female Tree Swallow.
The trail at the Eco-Centre was alive with bird songs. Besides the Starlings, the only bird I saw was a Black-headed Grosbeak. It was my first for this year.
The Grosbeak was too far away, but it was kind enough to stay in the sunlight for a few distant shots.
May 18 - Flycatcher Day
By this time last year, I had already seen a Dusky and an Olive-sided Flycatcher. My mission today was to find at least one flycatcher, regardless of species.
My first destination was Kaye Road where I have traditionally found the Olive-sided. I was in luck. I heard one calling as soon as I stopped by the nature trail. I searched the whole area but could only find a few Northern Flickers. This one seems to be a cross between the Red and Yellow-shafted.
I finally gave up on Kaye Road and headed for Fairwind's Garry Oak Meadow. What a beautiful area covered with moss, grasses, wild flowers, and oak trees. The Olive-sided called as soon as I got there. It didn't take long to find it on an arbutus snag. It was resting up after its long journey from Chile.
May 19 - Almost deja-vu
Checking my notes from last year, I was expecting a pectoral fallout at San Malo and a flock of Pacific Loons at French Creek. Despite ideal conditions with the receding tide at San Malo, there were no shorebirds except crows. I know, crows aren't shorebirds, but they sure spend a lot of time at the shore. Things also looked bleak at French Creek, but just as I was leaving, I spotted a dark shape in the distance. I stopped and looked through my binoculars. It was a Pacific Loon.
There was a lot of feed in the area and 4 Pacific Loons and 1 Common Loon. Although the Pacifics were a long ways out, I decided to wait to see if they would come in. An hour later, I was rewarded by the loons but not the sun. It was still a thrill to get some close-up looks.
Four about 3 minutes the loon was oblivious of my presence as it made repeated shallow dives for the small fish.
I was praying for the sun to break through the clouds, but it didn't happen, and the loon moved on. I watched as it approached an oncoming Common Loon. There was no dispute as to who had the right-of-way. The Pacific took evasive action immediately and flew 20 meters out of the way.
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