Bufflehead

Spent some time at Ambleside again on Saturday and tried to locate the Harris's sparrow for a couple of photogs there unsuccesfully, one guy had been there all morning, at least there were other birds to shoot and i wasn't there for the sparrow myself anyways.

My photog friend Peter Holmes had mentioned in an email that a Eurasian Wigeon was currently at the pond and i had seen buffleheads there last weekend already so another short trip over was called for since i enjoy shooting ducks immensely for some reason.

The first thing i heard when arriving was the call of a drake Hooded Merganser, displaying for a female, sweet.







spotted the Eurasian Wigeon soon after, not the first time i've had one of these birds at Ambleside.



The real personal highlight for me was getting a couple of decent shots of Bufflehead as the session was winding down. I shoot these guys every year with varying degrees of success, i find the camera has a hard time dealing with the white and dark contrast of the bird and blowout is always a concern, not an easy bird to shoot IMO.

I used to think that i needed flash to bring out the subtle irridescence in the face but i guess not. 

ISO 400, f/5.6 700mm (500mm f4 + 1.4x tele), no flash. 
RAW file post-processed though to bring out those details that are subtle in the white.



one more buffy

Anna's Hummingbird

I bought a hummingbird feeder a few years ago but to this day have never had a hummer come by our place. 
There are plenty around in North Vancouver though and when i realized that the community garden my wife tends has a couple of Anna's whipping around most times of day decided this was a great spot for the neglected feeder and we set it up in her plot, the birds were already coming around to her bean stalk anyways and it didn't take long before we had two coming regularly. 
Since i prefer not to show feeders in my shots i set up a couple of perches around the feeder in hopes that one will become a habitual perch, took a while but finally i have one setting down briefly before feeding on a regular basis. Too bad it's not the more gorgeted one i saw last week (when i could only get them on the feeder) but this location could prove a good spot, it's really close to home and i can set-up quickly, change perches as whim would have it and just wait. 
hoping for a full-gorget male one of these days    



yes, i pulled out the ol' flash unit for these as it was really grey out, haven't used it much this year for some reason. 

Harris's Sparrow - Ambleside Nov 8th

I had been meaning to head over to Ambleside and the duck pond for the last couple of days to check out the reported Harris's Sparrow and finally got over there today after work.
I know the area quite well and knew without GPS coordinates where to look and after about 10 minutes of walking up and down the side trail that runs next to the channel close to golf course (and as reported, by the "replanting in progress" sign) spotted the bird.
It stays in the bushes with juncos and golden-crowed sparrows for the most part but when i saw it just before noon it was on the trail, in the hedgerow and mostly on the grassy side of the scrub-brush next to fields.
Didn't seem all that concerned by my presense, as i was the only one viewing it at the time.
Got some shots and a few birders came by asking about the bird, they were able to get some looks but a pair of birders who came later were left looking when i left, i'm sure they eventually got looks but like i said when i left "it must be lunchtime for the birds" as things had gotten quiet.












Having seen this species twice before can't call it a Lifer but can say these are the best shots i've gotten of them, so far, as illustrated below.


Boundary Bay 2011




digiscoped Lifer South Surrey 2008

Killdeer - West Vancouver Oct 26

Went out to Maplewood Flats yesterday and spent far too much time waiting for a Horned Grebe to come in close enough for something decent, didn't happen but this Common Loon popped up out of nowhere and i was able to get some pretty close shots.




another bird seen during my walk was a Snipe of all birds, which i inadvertently flushed by the bridge, i could only watch as it flew right by me and off into the distance, so close! 

We went to Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park this morning, my mission was White-throated Sparrow by the stone bridge, i've gotten it there in years past but not this time, Spotted Towhees were seen as well as Golden-crowned sparrows, Dark-eyed juncos, Song sparrows, Fox sparrows and Black-capped chickadees.







Later we checked out a spot in West Vancouver by the lighthouse and got a lone Killdeer on the beach, Harlequin's were out in the water so i decided to try and get some down low shots of the bird, which had landed in front of my setup, the sun even broke out of the clouds then and i had some nice light to work with.

Iona South Jetty - Sept 14th

Work has kept me in a tired state this last while and i haven't been getting out as much but that's life sometimes.

This morning i was determined to get out and do some shooting, decided to give Iona a go and figured i was due for a jetty walk (i like to get at least few walks in yearly with 500mm on shoulders to test endurance) and was hoping for a beautiful morning.

Was surprised by the low cloud and grey conditions, still it wasn't raining and i was determined.

Near the base i ran into my first bird, an active Black-throated Grey warbler.

Iona is an interesting environment with the rocks, it's refreshing to shoot birds down low that you are used to seeing up high in trees. 

Later i spied a Townsend's Warbler further down the path but was only able to get a long distance grab off before it flew out of sight.

Quite a few Yellow-rumped warblers encountered.

Saw a lot of spider eating going on as well  :) 

Once i walked to the end i realized i had come across a mini fallout of sorts. 

A mixed flock of birds all looking quite exhausted hanging out by the elevated platform.

A Hermit Thrush was in this group of birds.

as well as a flycatcher i believe is a Pacific-slope Flycatcher. 

ID correction is welcome by the way  :) 

Was able to get pretty close to the kinglets as they flitted from bush to bush, low to the ground.

The walk back was rewarding as the Caspian terns were out fishing and making a racket.

In the back of my mind i was thinking to look closely at terns in flight in case a Parasitic Jaeger was mixed in.

Sure enough it happened, quickly, almost too quickly  :lol: fired off 5 shots and got two with bird in frame.

A lucky moment  :) 

All in all, a rewarding morning out  :)

Green Heron Sept 2nd

Yeh, went back at 7am to Piper Spit this monday morning since i had dipped on the Green Heron on Friday afternoon and Sunday morning as well.

3rd time was the charm, weather was spitting rain at times, with some lightning and thunder thrown in as well.

Belted kingfisher pair flying about and one landed briefly by the creek for some dark looks.

And yes, i did finally see the Green Heron, as did a couple of more photogs who stuck out the rain  :) 

:)

Burnaby Lake Aug 30th

Being put back on a 5 day work week has cramped my style lately  :lol:
I used to enjoy the Friday off since i would always head out shooting.
Since coming back from holidays it's been back to the grind, i need the money so no big deal in the big picture.

Went out to Burnaby lake after work today to check out the Pied-billed grebe family at Piper Spit but was really hoping for a glimpse of Green Heron.
No dice on the the heron but the grebes proved memorable.

Was nice to meet a couple of birders with cameras out, i encouraged them to post on the birding in BC site but for many it's a hassle and i understand.
It's cool to know that many people do come and check this forum out on a regular basis, even if they don't post.













Even got some shorebirding in off the floating dock, laying down low.