It's easy to knock off a lot of species early in the year when birds like Song Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds and Mallards are again countable.
The second post details the remaining birds I saw in January 2013. The month ends with one of the most exciting sightings of the year.
As mentioned in my first post, some of the photos are not from the first 2013 sighting, but are one of the best photos of that bird I took in 2013.
Additions to my life list are noted where applicable.
#25 Wood Duck - Date: Jan 19. Location: Burnaby Lake Regional Park.
One of the prettiest ducks you can see, the male is ultra-colourful while the female is subtly beautiful.
#26 Northern Pintail - Date: Jan 19. Location: Burnaby Lake Regional Park.
Another handsome duck. This one's trying to take off from the frozen water.
#27 Fox Sparrow - Date: Jan 19. Location: Burnaby Lake Regional Park.
The last of the big day at Burnaby Lake. Whenever I post Fox Sparrow photos on an Eastern Photo site (www.birdviewing.com) they comment on how different it looks from the Eastern Fox Sparrow. Most of ours are in the Western Slate Coloured group.
#28 Snowy Owl - Date: Jan 20. Location: Boundary Bay, Delta - 72nd Street
No great photos of the owl this year. They had been harassed by photographers so much that I just wanted to get a record shot from a respectful distance.
#29 Great Blue Heron - Date: Jan 20. Location: Boundary Bay, Delta - 72nd Street
Very common and photogenic. I had a tough time choosing a photo for this species and decided on the one below. It was taken at Iona Regional Park in October. The live catch was the decider.
#30 Golden Crowned Sparrow - Date: Jan 20. Location: Boundary Bay, Delta - 72nd Street
A very striking Sparrow that arrives in late fall and departs for the north in mid-Spring.
The photo below was taken at Reifel Bird Sanctuary in April.
#31 Rough-legged Hawk - Date: Jan 20. Location: Boundary Bay, Delta - 72nd Street
My first ever sighting of this species. It was perched in a tree over on the King's Links Golf Course just off the dike. Unfortunately, I did not get a very good photo. Time for a new lens! (See April Blog).
Life List # 354
#32 American Wigeon - Date: Jan 20. Location: Boundary Bay, Delta - 72nd Street
Another common duck in the winter months. They have a distinctive call that identifies them immediately.
This photo was taken in May at Predator Ridge Golf course. It appeared to be part of a mating display by the male Wigeon.
#33 American Tree Sparrow - Date: Jan 20. Location: Boundary Bay, Delta - 72nd Street
A winter visitor from the north, there are one or two each year along the Boundary Bay dike. A tip from my birding buddy Floyd led me to this one, near the King's Links Golf Course. This is the only photo I was able to take.
#34 Northern Harrier - Date: Jan 20. Location: Boundary Bay, Delta - 72nd Street
After seeing the Rough-legged Hawk and Tree Sparrow, I was ready to leave when I noticed some people pointing to something on my left. It was a Harrier sitting at ground level on a small stump. I managed to get a couple of shots off as it took off.
#35 Purple Finch - Date: Jan 20. Location: Boundary Bay, Delta - 72nd Street
There were a number of Purple finches in drab winter plumage along the dyke.
The photo below is the spectacular breeding plumage of the male, taken at Reifel Bird Sanctuary in April.
#36 White-crowned Sparrow - Date: Jan 20. Location: Boundary Bay, Delta - 72nd Street
Many of these birds were in first winter plumage which can cause ID problems with American Tree sparrows and Chipping Sparrows.
The photo below was taken in April at the Red Roost Gift Shop near Okanagan Falls.
#37 Bald Eagle - Date: Jan 20. Location: Boundary Bay, Delta - 72nd Street
Not too many good photos of Eagles this year, they are so common that one does not pay much attention to them.
This photo of a nesting Eagle was taken in Ladner in April.
Not too many good photos of Eagles this year, they are so common that one does not pay much attention to them.
This photo of a nesting Eagle was taken in Ladner in April.
#38 European Starling - Date: Jan 20. Location: Boundary Bay, Delta - 72nd Street
Another common bird that is nice to count on the list, but not pay too much attention to.
This photo is from May at Iona Regional Park.
#39 Trumpeter Swan - Date: Jan 20. Location: Boundary Bay, Delta - 72nd Street
A spectacular winter resident in the Delta/Ladner area. The photo below was taken in February in rural Ladner. Note the size difference between the Swans and Mallards at their feet.
#40 Short-eared Owl - Date: Jan 20. Location: Boundary Bay, Delta - 72nd Street
Another Boundary Bay owl that is harassed by photographers. I think its posture tells the story. I took two quick photos and moved along.
#41 Canada Goose - Date: Jan 27. Location: Burnaby Lake Regional Park..
The ubiquitous Canada Goose. These goslings were photographed at Sardis Park in May
#42 Bushtit - Date: Jan 27. Location: Burnaby Lake Regional Park..
One of our smallest birds, they generally travel in packs.
The photo below was taken in our backyard in June.
#43 Hairy Woodpecker - Date: Jan 27. Location: Maplewood Flats Conservation Area
I've never had much luck at this North Vancouver location. However, I did get three 2013 species on this day. The photo below was taken in April at the Red Roost gift shop near Okanagan Falls.
#44 Common Goldeneye - Date: Jan 27. Location: Maplewood Flats Conservation Area
A winter duck that is seen on lakes, rivers and salt water.
The first photo is a male seen on the date and location above.
The second is a female that was taken at Burnaby Lake Regional Park in March.
#45 Glaucous-winged Gull - Date: Jan 27. Location: Maplewood Flats Conservation Area
Our most common big gull, sometimes hybridizes with other species to torment local birders.
The photo is from White Rock Pier in March. It looks like a pure-bred specimen.
#46 Gyrfalcon - Date: Jan 27. Location: Hastings Park Racecourse, Vancouver
This bird was being reported daily on the rare bird alert. After coming from North Vancouver, I was able to park on a small pull-out off of McGill street. I looked in the large cottonwoods where the bird had been seen with no luck. Suddenly, there was a furry of action above me as the Gyrfalcon chased off a smaller bird, probably a Peregrine. It then set down near the top of the cottonwood. It was a miserable day and conditions were very grey. I was able to get a few decent shots, the best of which is shown below.
I did not count the possible Peregrine falcon that day as I did not get a good look or any decent photos of it. I did get it later in the year with great photos.
My January birding ended with lifer #356, my fourth this year.
Stay tuned for February 2013 post.
Lou Davidson
Delta BC
Another common bird that is nice to count on the list, but not pay too much attention to.
This photo is from May at Iona Regional Park.
#39 Trumpeter Swan - Date: Jan 20. Location: Boundary Bay, Delta - 72nd Street
A spectacular winter resident in the Delta/Ladner area. The photo below was taken in February in rural Ladner. Note the size difference between the Swans and Mallards at their feet.
#40 Short-eared Owl - Date: Jan 20. Location: Boundary Bay, Delta - 72nd Street
Another Boundary Bay owl that is harassed by photographers. I think its posture tells the story. I took two quick photos and moved along.
#41 Canada Goose - Date: Jan 27. Location: Burnaby Lake Regional Park..
The ubiquitous Canada Goose. These goslings were photographed at Sardis Park in May
#42 Bushtit - Date: Jan 27. Location: Burnaby Lake Regional Park..
One of our smallest birds, they generally travel in packs.
The photo below was taken in our backyard in June.
#43 Hairy Woodpecker - Date: Jan 27. Location: Maplewood Flats Conservation Area
I've never had much luck at this North Vancouver location. However, I did get three 2013 species on this day. The photo below was taken in April at the Red Roost gift shop near Okanagan Falls.
#44 Common Goldeneye - Date: Jan 27. Location: Maplewood Flats Conservation Area
A winter duck that is seen on lakes, rivers and salt water.
The first photo is a male seen on the date and location above.
The second is a female that was taken at Burnaby Lake Regional Park in March.
#45 Glaucous-winged Gull - Date: Jan 27. Location: Maplewood Flats Conservation Area
Our most common big gull, sometimes hybridizes with other species to torment local birders.
The photo is from White Rock Pier in March. It looks like a pure-bred specimen.
#46 Gyrfalcon - Date: Jan 27. Location: Hastings Park Racecourse, Vancouver
This bird was being reported daily on the rare bird alert. After coming from North Vancouver, I was able to park on a small pull-out off of McGill street. I looked in the large cottonwoods where the bird had been seen with no luck. Suddenly, there was a furry of action above me as the Gyrfalcon chased off a smaller bird, probably a Peregrine. It then set down near the top of the cottonwood. It was a miserable day and conditions were very grey. I was able to get a few decent shots, the best of which is shown below.
I did not count the possible Peregrine falcon that day as I did not get a good look or any decent photos of it. I did get it later in the year with great photos.
My January birding ended with lifer #356, my fourth this year.
Stay tuned for February 2013 post.
Lou Davidson
Delta BC
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