Boundary Bay 72nd st. to 104th st.

February 15
On the sunny Sunday, I walked west from 104 st. to 72 st. in Boundary Bay. The distance between the two streets is about 8 km. The dyke was in pretty good condition except a little section between 72 st. and 96 st. had a construction; therefore that part of trail was not covered with gravel, instead, mud. Highlights of the day include a Lincoln's Sparrow, a Rough-legged Hawk, two Peregrine Falcons, a Long-eared Owl, and estimated 200 Bald Eagles (more than 80 eagles on the beach, counted at 96 st.) plus a bonus Golden Eagle!
 At around 10:30 a.m., though the sun light shines through at times, visibility was low due to the thick fog and moisture of the morning. As time passed, the fog eventually cleared.

Northwestern Crow

in the fog

Long-eared Owl

as time passed, this Long-eared Owl found it had chosen an exposed roosting spot in the fog in the morning.

Seen at 11:20 a.m. between 104 st. and 96 st..

Lincoln's Sparrow

Bald Eagle

Peregrine Falcon

was hunting Dunlins

 At about 12:40 a.m., when I was having lunch close to 96 st., looking at the 80 eagles on the beach, and three 30+ flocks,  the bonus eagle which I did not expect to see one here came to join others eagles.

Golden Eagle

In the afternoon, the falcon and eagles kept doing what they were doing earlier, chasing Dunlins

Dunlin flocks

in front of Mt. Baker of Washington state.

Their belly sides are white during winters.

 And Backs are gray.

By flying and turning fast on the sea, showing two colours, they can distract predators effectively in big flocks.

Western Meadowlark

at 72nd st.

And lastly, a

Rough-legged Hawk 

was very cooperative for photos.

Viterra Grain Terminal

February  8, 2015
Yesterday afternoon, I went to the railway tracks on the southwest side of Second Narrow Bridge in Vancouver. This place has been one of the best spot to see Gyrfalcon near Vancouver because there are more than 150 Rock Pigeons on the site. Although my estimation on Sunday, 150 pigeons, was significantly less than that of the flock during 2013/2014 winter, multiple birds of prey were seen during the 2 and a half hour I was there.
The famous wintering Gyrfalcon, which looked full, did not chase the pigeons, instead it flew East at around 13:45, and I was not able to relocate it since.

Gyrfalcon

was on its usual perch between 12:45 and 13:45

The falcon was gone, but I was treated with 2 Cooper's Hawk, preying on the pigeon flock.

Cooper's Hawk and Rock Pigeons

the adult hawk attempted at least 3 times with no luck at around 14:00.

However, the immature kept trying and eventually its effort yielded a kill at 15:10.

It ate the pigeon on a tree less than 5 meters from side walk of Bridgeway St., and was found by some fellow birders.

Then when it was flushed by a curious jogger who stopped running and looked at it, it moved to a branch farther away from sidewalk.