Ambleside, Friday Afternoon - Oct 25

Decided on Thursday that i would head over right after work on Friday to see about the Palm Warbler reported and shot by the two Rob's, didn't get off until noon though but it was a quick hop over and i was soon set-up.
Met two photogs out walking the path but they didn't see the Palm, one of the guys showed me a nice shot of a Macgillivray's warbler though, later i spotted a fall plumage Townsend's warbler but didn't secure a shot, saw a couple of Y-R warblers so they are still around, perhaps the Palm is as well. First Ruby-crowned Kinglet of the season for me as well.

Spent some time shooting the Greater White-fronted geese that were grazing near the gulls, on a grassy island between the road. Trick was getting an angle where road or curb weren't in the shot, didn't want any urban artifacts in the shots if i could help it.

Later, at the pond i heard the call of the kingfisher and proceeded to spend the next two hours waiting for it to land on any of 3 or 4 perches, all in one general area. sweet.

I recently purchased some new camera items, the most important being a Nikon MC-DC2 cable remote shutter for the D7100. 
I hate using the little wireless shutters and pretty much always had a cable remote on the old D300s since my 500f4 AFS-I is an older model, pre-VR, i need all the help i can get sometimes. The other item i got (but haven't received yet) from B&H Photo in NYC is a right angle viewer, maybe it will help when i shoot low angle, wanna do more of that this winter with the ducks.

Anyways, the kingfisher was the highlight, cable remote shutter worked like a charm as i was using natural light to shoot with and it wasn't all that bright out.









I've always had good luck with the kingfishers on the North Shore though.


digiscoped, 2007.

Gray Jay for a Grey Day Oct 05

Believe it or not, i did have fun on Cypress Saturday morning.
Arrived at the lookout at 9:30 and stayed there till 12 noon, the whole time in light drizzle and grey conditions. 
No pygmies of northern descent seen and the weather probably had something to do with it.
I'd like to thank the sole birder out there i spent time with for the company, it's always great to talk about birding and places visited with another keener, hope you went back and got your lifer this morning as i heard it was seen.
Eventually i came across other forum birders and enjoyed their company as well.

The hike up wasn't that bad, only one or two huff and puff moments on the switchbacks  :lol:

Because i neglected to bring my camera rain covers up i was forced to keep the body and lens in the backpack i carried it up with, deciding to only take it out if the owl showed.
Missed a few moments of non-owl activity because of that decision but did get a decent shot or two of the grey jays though, Vancouver area Lifer of the Day!

The Owlbum

It's official, this "punk birdr" is pleased to see one of my bird pics actually used for an album cover.

Their Facebook page info https://www.facebook.com/WeAreTheGoodnight?fref=photo

Ash-throated Flycatcher Sept 21

Better late than never eh.
Got up early this sunday morning and drove out to the flycatcher spot off 104th and parking lot, only one other photog there when i arrived around 7:15am or so.
We were joined by a few more birders and photogs but not as many as i expected on a sunday morning.
Russ & Ilya came by and helped look for the bird, and it was cool to meet up with two of my birding idols again. 
The bird wasn't found until after 8am by a bearded sharp-eyed older photog type (who's name i didn't get) and then we finally had it in our sights for a while.

Best looks were when it flew from the main tree to some bushes to the left and i was able to separate it from the BG a bit more than when it's in the tree.
The reddish cast is from a BG building, and i quite like the effect.

once i got these shots, i knew i could go home happy.










i've seen a lot of great shots of it with dragonfly, but has anyone else gotten it with feather?


there's been some talk about it possibly eating berries, we saw it do so a couple of times but i did see it regurgitate one later and let it fall, this was after it ate a dragonfly.

Iona Larks Sept 15

Here's a few shots of the Horned larks on the jetty sunday morning, not as nice as some i've seen but far better than any of my previous efforts.




nice to get some "horn" action.



Here are some previous looks


2009


2007

A Black-bellied Plover was spotted at the tip and we got a few looks of that as well.





I admit, it being a Sunday i wanted to sleep in a bit (i get up at 5am every morning during the week for work) and didn't get out till the sun was bright in the sky, next weekend i'll get up earlier i think.

Iona Shorebirds Sept 08

Went to Iona Saturday morning and was disappointed not to be able to walk the south jetty, made do with the waste water treatment ponds and ran into D. Tang and later on Featherweight, always a pleasure to see both. 
There wasn't a whole lot of variety in the ponds but i did get a few shots.







Lesser Yellowlegs





Least Sandpiper





Pectoral Sandpiper

Green Heron Sept 02

Went out to Burnaby lake yesterday with Api and our current student in tow.
Did get some looks at the heron out in the reeds, didn't get it on the bare branch everyone was hoping to get it on but i like the lushness of surroundings, reminds me of the tropics, where this species is much easier found.






I'm amazed that i got any shots of it feeding due to the stampede of photogs rushing in at that point, this shot was from behind some guys head, i just wasn't quick enough securing an opening in the bushes, the windows of opportunity were small.

Reifel Ruff (Reeve) Aug 31

Tough shooting angles, almost shooting down on it, but got a few looks before it got too crowded.
Also, a lot smaller than i visualized Ruff being.
A Lifer for me!

Reifel Bonus Birds Aug 31

This morning was all about getting a shot of the Ruff, succeeded on that regard, mission accomplished.
Posted some shots of Ruff in the current Ruff/Reeve thread running in the local bird sightings forum.

Getting there (Ruff) and back, i did see a couple of other species, the kingfisher was between me and the Ruff otherwise i would have staked out the spot longer for cleaner looks.




quite the hub of activity at one lookout as the rails and soras were putting on a show.
I got crowded out of there pretty fast however and was never able to set up properly, this one's not bad.


The day wouldn't be complete without a yellowlegs sighting, Greater in this case.

Recent Shots (Part 1) Aug 05

Just kidding about the Part 1  

Did finally get out to do a bit of local shooting in late last week, took advantage of a slow period at work and booked a few holidays Thurs and Friday.

Getting into the swing again decided to play it close to home to start, checking out both Grouse Mountain and Cypress during one day.

Red-breasted Sapsucker was my target bird for Cypress ski area, it's one spot i know they are usually reliable. 

Did find at least 5 or 6 during my walkabout but none that would come down lower in tree for nicer shots.

Anna's Hummingbird

I know, the dark shadow over it's face kills me too, some would suggest cloning it out but i say why bother (in this particular instance), it is what it is, it documents what i saw during my walk and how bright it was (pretty bright).

My first Willow Flycatcher of the year (geez, i haven't been getting out enough).

Looked a bit for grouse on the way down from the ski hill but other than the faint hooting heard up top, nada for roadside encounters. Did see a deer on the road though.

Checked out Grouse next and it was true, you have to pay to park in the gravel lot now, kinda not cool but it was only $2 for 3 hours so not a big dent to the wallet.

Plenty of dog-walkers with dogs off leash on powerline trail but i hardly noticed them, it was all good.

looks like a young Warbling Vireo.

Macgillivray's Warbler with a bite to eat (or feed).

intergrade Northern Flicker (the tail was quite yellow, not quite noticeable in pic)

The sun was pretty bright, as it had been all morning pretty much, not ideal conditions for shooting but whatever.

Western Tanager




Townsend's Warbler

Rufous Hummingbird

The next morning i decided to drive out to Colony Farm, arriving at around 6:30am.

The mist hung low across the fields and it was all quite magical.

a scruffy juvenile-looking Common Yellowthroat.

I gotta say, i didn't get much at Colony Farm this morning, it was getting hotter by the minute and the sun was quite bright when the mist finally evaporated, nonetheless, i continued on my walk and was rewarded with a bird i haven't seen in a while.

I was actually expecting to see it's cousin Band-tailed Pigeon (fairly reliable bird there) but was surprised to see a small group of Mourning Dove.

Getting a few shots of these birds was the highlight for me.

I had more shooting lined up for the weekend but unfortunately i tweaked my back on friday somehow and the pain got progressively worse as the weekend went on.

So i took it easy instead.

Bad backs are nothing new to me but thankfully it started to feel better on monday, just in time for work on tuesday  :|