now it's only my studio room that has ugly old carpet left, no hurry though as it's tiring and back-breaking work.
Got out before the end of the year to re-visit some of the spots on the north shore i took punkrockbigyear and the hollywood actress to (when i didn't have my camera), Harlequin ducks were still out by Whytecliffe, however the approach to the rocks where they sit gives them plenty of time to see you and they always shove off, meaning a long wait before they return, and never as close as they were when you first saw them.
much farther out than i would have liked.
Mew Gull at Maplewood, a location i've been striking out at recently.
Yesterday morning i finally made it out again properly, my first time this year and nice weather as well.
Decided to head out to Blackie Spit first thing in the morning and had no problem spotting the shorebirds i was targeting. Even though they were in among the vast array of roosting ducks their body shape and colour gave them away to me right away.
Long-billed Curlew with godwit companions
Marbled Godwit chilling out in the early morning
Next i headed over to B Bay and checked out a few of the roads before the dike.
104th had a huge flock of Eurasian Collared-doves but since they were coming into a tree next to someone's house i decided to pass on shooting them.
When i arrived at the dike i spotted a harrier perched in the sun (with a photog camped out deep in the field watching it), i took a couple of long-distance shots and was amazed to see that i had caught the catchlight in it's eyes, even from the distance i was shooting from.
Later, i saw a S-eared owl in the spot one would expect to see it although it was not really close enough for quality looks.
Walking further along the dike i came across a group of photogs and some L-eared owls camped out deep in the bushes. I couldn't see anything decent coming out of the looks but took a record shot anyways and then continued on my way. disclosing the exact location is not something i will do online but it would be naive to think that most people don't already know where they can be found in winter anyways (just give them some respect, and space, that's all).
Really, for me the highlight of B Bay was this Flicker posing so nicely for me, happy camper.
Afterwards i decided to head over to Tsawassen ferry jetty to see if i could find any Snow buntings, i hadn't seen any reports the last little while for them but knew from past years that January wasn't too late for them.
I wasn't the only person thinking about buntings however and met up with a Flickr contact looking for the same. he had started at one end and i had started at the other, when we met up neither of us had seen any and i was starting to think i was going to dip on them again (unsuccessful trip for them late last year) when suddenly two little birds flew by our feet low to the ground :o "buntings buntings buntings!" i blurted out and there they were. It was a Lifer for him and we both secured some good looks as the birds worked their way down the beach, later a few more photogs showed up looking for the same as us, it was easy for them however, we just pointed to the dirt road and said "there they are"
On the way home i got lost.
the roads have all changed and i missed the new turnoff to the highway and before i knew it i was on the Alex Fraser bridge.
talk about taking the long way back to North Van :roll:
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