Until it was pointed out that the bird had a bill deformity i hadn't even noticed.
When i upgraded my Photoshop i lost the nifty Noise Ninja software i used to use with noise, picked up some different software (yes, even the D500 does show some grain at higher ISO's but it's easily dealt with), this shot looking at later i wasn't as happy with and tweaked my settings, a new camera is always a learning process.
Friday after work i headed up to Cypress Mountain, i wanted to head up to the x country area (powerlines) but realized on the drive up that i was short on gas and thought it best to go no further than the picnic area, i always have luck finding Townsend's warbler there, this time was no different but i did run into two birders from Philadelphia as well and enjoyed chatting briefly, they had seen the Red-throated Pipit on the island and were looking for a few more birds before heading to the airport, i suggested they check out Iona.
for a minute i thought this was a "honky-talk" warbler (Nashville) but it was of course an Orange-crowned with a greyer head than we usually see around here.
Saturday morning i headed off to Pitt Meadows and walked the nature trail at Grant Narrows hoping for warblers, other than coming across one birder i knew i came up short, did see a Bullocks Oriole but didn't get any shots because it was directly above me in a tree
a splash of colour
On the way out i ran across a kestrel on the wires, was able to grab a shot before it had enough of me and flew
Colony Farm was next and while i didn't see any Lazuli buntings it wasn't a big deal as i have had them full frame in past years at that location.
Common Yellowthroats were abundant.
Sunday morning i got up at 5am and headed back up Cypress, i had a fuller tank of gas and was determined to make it up to the x country ski area.
When i arrived it was quite windy, chilly and covered in low cloud, not the best conditions but i didn't need to leave the car.
My beanbag was propped on the window-sill and i was able to witness a male Sooty grouse displaying to a female who was playing 'hard to get", the shooting didn't get much easier than that i gotta say and provided the most satisfying shots of the weekend.
Afterwards i headed back down the hill to the picnic area and visited the Townsend's warblers again, the branch the bird was on when i took these shots was swaying so much from the wind that i thought i was on a pelagic
pretty happy with these two poses
Can't wait to get out again!
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