Tree Swallow

Decided to hit up a few spots this morning but didn't find much shooting action at either Queen Elizabeth Park or Richmond Nature Park, so off to Iona it was.
I was hoping to work some of the tree swallows, hopefully on an actual tree branch.
In the end i settled for a man-made perch in the barbed wire (honestly though, i've always liked the look of a bird on barbed wire anyways) i would get points deducted for that on a critique forum but ya gotta be able to live with what is given sometimes

Ruby crown Indeed

I don't know what this fella's problem was , i wasn't even aware of it at first as i was busy scanning the reeds for more warbler action, the flash of red was hard to miss in the end and turned out to be the only worthy shots from an otherwise uneventful stroll through Maplewood.
very close.
I can only guess that the red on some of the birding patches on my old hoodie (hooded sweater) may have set it off?

Maplewood Reed Warblers

no twitchers, i'm not talking about old world reed-warblers, rather the striking Yellow-rumped warblers that come through Maplewood each spring.
If you are lucky and time it right, watching the "show" (as i call it) at the pond can be pretty amazing.
From the viewing platform you are above the marshy reeds and can get decent shots of the warblers as they hawk insects and whatnot in front of you.
If you shoot from beside the platform along the pathway eye level shots are possible and desired, wood warblers are often viewed high up in the trees so whenever you can get them at eye level, ya gotta spend some time working it













Two days in a row shooting these guys, yesterday i parked my car inside the gate and had to leave early before the automatic gate closed, just as the "show" was getting good, today, i decided to go back (parking outside this time) in the afternoon, after the rain and it was pretty awesome.
All Audubon's variety at the moment, which i needed better shots of anyways. check!

Lonsdale Guillemots

Had a busy easter weekend but did manage to hit a couple of spots on the shore when i could.

I got some shots of these guys last year at Lonsdale Quay and was recently reminded of them by another photog who lives in the hood and mentioned they were quite active at the moment.
After a quick look during the week (with no birds in sight) i discovered on friday that the morning was the optimum time and i spent some time on the small dock shooting away, until a boat cruised up and actually wanted to use the dock for it's purpose and i wrapped things up.











i wasn't set up for flight shots but nailed a couple of semi-decent looks anyways with the 500mm + 1.4x tele on



nothing too special here and i wasn't able to get anywhere near close enough to the flicker due to terrain but it is a nest hole, and one i will be checking up on later - at maplewood flats

First warbler of the year for me





yellow-rumped (audubon's) warbler - maplewood flats