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Monday, November 30, 2015

National Geographic Photo Contest 2015

A few weeks ago, I was notified that 2 of the photos I submitted to National Geographic Photo contest 2015-Taiwan region were awarded with ''merit prize'' which I think means honorable mention.
One of them is probably familiar to you as I shared it here not very long ago.

 Tufted Puffin
taken on St. Paul Island, Alaska this past summer

Long-eared Owl
taken at Boundary Bay, B.C. December 2013

The viewers did not like this last one as much, but I think it was not bad.
Taken in Brooks Lodge, Katmai National Park, Alaska where I saw the grizzlies. Other than wildlife, many anglers also come here to catch the salmons.
A visitor naps in the warmth of the fireplace.





Friday, November 13, 2015

Fall 2015

Sep. 12
Iona
Had never looked at a clean Western Sandpiper so closely before. It took me four years to realize that they have some little webs on their feet! If this bird was not standing on a rock lower than me, I'd probably miss this field mark for another four years.

Western Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Sep. 27
Kirkstone Park
Moon
Needless to say, the moon usually is not red. This photo, however, shows a celestial event called lunar eclipse or blood moon. The moon gained its red hue when it is directly in the Earth's shadow. In 2014 and 2015, a total of 4 lunar eclipse occurred, but I was only able to observe the last one because the sky over Vancouver was overcast during the previous 3 lunar eclipse nights, nothing unexpected. Another thing special about the night is that in 2015, the moon was closest to Earth on September 27, this combination will not occur again until 2033.

Lunar Eclipse
Oct. 3
Maplewood
As I do every month, I birded at the ebird hot spot. The most uncommon visitor is a White-throated Sparrow. White-throated sparrows have been reported all over metro Vancouver this fall.
White-throated Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Red Crossbill
Red Crossbill
Dark-eyed Junco
I believe this was a slate-coloured subspecies
Dark-eyed Junco
Oct. 24
Mt. Baker
American Dipper
On a day trip to Mt. Baker of Washington State, this American Dipper was singing by an alpine lake, even though it looks like a young bird. I managed to snap a few photos of it through branches of a tree before it went on its swim in the lake.

 Oct. 25
Jericho
Canada Goose
This individual has a distinct white collar around its neck. It was about the size of a Cackling, associated with the Cacklings around, but was often left out of groups. It might be an Aleutian subspecies or at least have more related the Aleutian ones than other Canada Geese at Jericho.

Belted Kingfisher
at its usual spot at the pond
Belted Kingfisher
Cooper's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Ring-billed Gull
a close look at the juvenile
Ring-billed Gull