Journal 209 - May 7 - 9
May 7 - My goal today was to check out the Western Kingbird by the airport reported yesterday by the Backyard and also to explore Brookwood Marsh. On my way to Cassidy I changed my mind and turned around down Jinglepot Road. Stopping at the Millstone River, it was my pleasure to meet Ray G. and photograph his resident Brewer's Blackbird. I also met a kind lady on her bike who invited me to her place the next morning to see her hummingbirds being banded. As I was busy, I had to decline, but it would have been interesting to observe and maybe help out. My next goal was to check Brookwood for a possible Blue-winged Teal also reported the day before by the Backyard. If time permitted, I would also stop at Legacy Marsh to check for Black-headed Grosbeak.
Hello Up There - male brewer's Blackbird in Ray's yard.
Pretty Colours - I saw several Wood Ducks at Brookwood Marsh and a few Mallards - no Blue-winged Teal. Meanwhile, the pond alive with the calls of Common Yellowthroats and Marsh Wrens while many Yellow-rumped Warblers hawked for insects from the alders and maples along the shoreline.
Camouflaged Warbler - It was a challenge to find the Orange-crowned Warbler in the spirea tree at Legacy Marsh.
Too Close for Comfort - It was an awkward moment with the Bewick's Wren at point blank range. I wanted to move to get a better angle, but I knew it would fly as soon as I moved. A side view would have been more interesting.
I had to be satisfied with the Bewick's Wren as there was no sign of any Black-headed Grosbeaks, flycatchers, or Western Tanagers.
May 8 - I had been waiting for a chance to check San Malo when the tide was rising with the hope of finding a few interesting shorebirds. It was a very interesting morning as a lot of peeps were present and a lot of people and dogs weren't. Least Sandpipers were abundant and busy foraging in the mud and weeds for a little sustenance. Eureka! look what I found.
I enjoyed the Least even though I was hoping for a fallout of Pectorals like 2 years ago.
There must have been about 300 peeps busy foraging in the mud and swirling from place to place.
There were a few Dunlin mixed in with the "calidris." There were also 3 Semipalmated Plovers.
The Western Sandpipers were looking handsome in their rufous breeding plumage.
Three American Pipits pretended to be peeps as they bobbed their tails along with the sandpipers.
I said goodbye to the Bonies over a week ago, but there were still 4 lingering at the beach in Qualicum. I wonder if they would ever consider spending the summer here?
The Bonies did look like they were in no hurry to go anywhere.
The Harlequins don't have far to go so they were in no hurry to leave.
My final stop was Kaye Road. I was looking for flycatchers, but first came across some Northern-rough Winged Swallows on Rascal lane.
I was fortunate to find them on a snag instead of hydro lines.
May 9 - Today was a home day, but that didn't mean I couldn't do any birding.
The songs of the Black-throated Gray Warblers seemed to waft in from every corner of my yard. I find them very difficult to photograph as they they never seem to stop moving.
Don't tell my wife but I spent 2 hours trying to get these photos when I was supposed to be doing chores.
Talk about a bonus bird. The Townsend's Warbler is still on my "wish list" for a better photo although I'm not unhappy with this image. Like most warblers, it's a good example of perpetual motion as they forage through the trees.
