Search This Blog

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

New Year's Eve

Dec. 31, 2014
On the last day of 2014, I had another lifer(species seen the first time), Golden Eagle! :)
This year has been one of my luckiest year, I had the opportunities to go to Salmon Arm, Okanagan, and Othelo in Washington State.
Golden Eagle
juvenile at Boundary Bay 72nd st

at ''Dog Park'' on 72nd
Great-horned Owl
Brown Creeper
Varied Thrush

On Burnaby Mountain
this afternoon, I was very lucky to see these beautiful winter finches, Pine Grosbeak.
There were 14 of them on the cherry trees near the restaurant, apparently this is the highest count in the past few years.
The Grosbeaks, unlike many other finches, are very cooperative.
At one point they were so close that my lens almost couldn't focus
Pine Grosbeak
male
 female
 view from the mountain, Vancouver



Tuesday, December 30, 2014

White Rock Pier

Dec. 30, 2014
 Had not come to this hot spot in more than half a year. Although my target was Long-tailed Duck, hoped it would come close to the pier today as it did the day before, I did not take many photos because it was pretty far out on the sea as usual. The Long-tailed Ducks were to far to take photos, but I had found my first Vancouver-area Eared Grebe.

Eared Grebe

 Horned Grebe
This grebe looks like Eared Grebe during winter, but there is more white on the face, which gives away its ID.
Long-tailed Duck
only got a few record shots


Black Turnstone

Rock Pigeon

Seal







Mud Bay CBC


On Dec. 28, 2014, I participated in CBC (Christmas Bird Count) at Mud Bay in Surrey.
Mud Bay is a not-very-well-known park located East of Boundary Bay.

Here are some pictures of raptors I took during the event.
American Kestrel
 Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk
 Bald Eagle