Oct. 22 - Backyard Birding

After 2 trips in 5 days to Victoria (the Rosy-finch was worth it), it was time to stay home and focus on chores, not birds. Garden chores were going well despite the steady parade of chickadees, nuthatches, Steller Jays, Juncos, and even Towhees to the sunflower plants. The Towhees were comical as they didn't have the dexterity to hang upside down on the seed heads like the other birds. Their technique was to perch on a nearby branch and jump at the seeds with a frantic flutter, often losing their balance on the way down. The distraction was too distracting. I finally had to set up my camera for a few shots.

The Towhees were always hidden behind a tangle of branches and leaves, but the Red-breasted Nuthatches seemed to like the tallest plants.

They had no problem reaching over or even hanging upside down to look for a seed.

Easy pickings - another sunflower seed to cache away.

The Chestnut-backed Chickadees also had no problem hanging upside down on the sunflower heads.

Oct. 23 - More Backyard Birding

The boundaries of my backyard birding were expanded slightly today - okay, they were expanded radically as I took advantage of Melodee's backyard hospitalty in Saanich for the Blue Jay. Just to really make it worthwhile, I also enjoyed Ted's hospitality for the White-throated Sparrow.

I was worried about intruding on Melodee's privacy, but she was the perfect hostess and had the Blue Jay trained to come regularly. She even put out some more cracked corn and seed to take advantage of the sunnier locations in her yard.

The Blue Jay was very cooperative, coming regularly to fill up its crop and then disappearing for a few minutes to stash the goodies. I think it has enough to last the winter.

For those people who have mistaken a Steller Jay for a Blue Jay, now you see the difference.

Blue Jays are uncommon on Vancouver Island, but there seems to be at least one or two a year that stray over from the central and eastern part of the country. This was the first real Blue Jay for me. Thanks again Melodee, and hi to you too, Ann.

The Final Backyard

Last but not least, Ted's backyard. It wasn't too long ago I was here for the Clay-coloured Sparrow.

Patience was the name of the game. After an hour of watching a parde of Gold-crowned, Fox, Song, and House Sparrows, there was no sign of the White-throated. Finally, after and hour and twenty minutes, it popped out and dashed around grabbing seed from here and there.

It seemed to prefer being away from the other birds as well as the photographer.

Although I was never as close as I wanted, I was thankful just to see the bird and get a few reasonable images.

The other sparrows weren't too shy. I was intrigued by the blue colouring on this young House Sparrow. Once again, Ted, thanks for sharing your backyard and birds.

BOOKS AVAILABLE AT

PARKSVILLE - QUALICUM - MULBERRYBUSH BOOKSTORES

NANAIMO - BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE

SAVE-ON FOODS (WOODGROVE)

SAVE-ON FOODS (COUNTRY CLUB)

CHAPTERS

FALCONER BOOKS

COLE'S

PORT ALBERNI - CLOCKTOWER GALLERY

COURTENAY - GRAHAM'S JEWELLERS

SAVE-ON FOODS

SIDNEY - VICTORIAN BIRD HOUSE

TANNER'S BOOKSTORE

COMOX - BLUE HERON BOOKS

BOWSER - LIGHTHOUSE GIFTS

DEEP BAY - Ship & SHORE

SAANICH - WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED

BUTCHART GARDENS

VICTORIA - BOLEN BOOKS

MUNRO'S

CAMPBELL RIVER - CAMPBELL RIVER MUSEUM

BOOK BONANZA

SAVE-ON FOODS

DUNCAN - VOLUME 1 BOOKSTORE

CHEMAINUS - LITTLE SHOP OF NOVELS

LADYSMITH - SALAMANDER BOOKS

NANOOSE - SCHOONER COVE MARINA

SOOKE - SOOKE HARBOUR HOUSE

LAKE COWICHAN - GALLOPING MOON GALLERY

TOFINO - BOTANICAL GARDENS

UCLUELET - WORDS END BOOKSELLERS