Dear reader…
As you know, I have stopped posting to my blog since the Fall of 2016. I have returned for a brief moment, however, to let you know that I was pleased to be interviewed for a blog post by Sharon McInnes, a regular contributor at Bird Canada. If you have a moment, please take a moment to read her article and look at my photos (including the one posted above. To read Sharon’s article, please click here!
Hermit Thrush | Grive solitaire | Catharus guttatus
After a month-long absence from my blog, I’m posting a few pictures taken during Stanley Park Ecology Society‘s most recent monthly bird count, which took place this weekend, on October 9, 2016. It was once again very ably led by Else Mikkelsen and features about 15 dedicated volunteers!
This was an unusually calm count, especially since none of the winter ducks have yet arrived on Lost Lagoon… the flock (or raft, if you prefer) of Surf Scoters featured below was taken on the ocean before the count even began, near Stanley Park’s Ferguson Point. But we still saw many birds rather well, including Ruby- and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Black-capped Chickadees and Northern Flickers. But the highlight for me was not doubt the Hermit Thrushes seen at the western edge of Lost Lagoon, especially since I was able to get several good photos of it, including the one featured above.
All photos taken with a handheld Nikon D5200 and AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR. To see more pictures, please visit (and like, too!) my Facebook photography page and my Instagram account.
Green-winged Teal (female) | Sarcelle à ailes vertes | Anas carolinensis or Anas crecca caroliensis
After a lengthy absence from my blog, I felt like posting a few pictures taken during Stanley Park Ecology Society‘s most recent monthly bird count, which took place last weekend, on September 11, 2016 and was led by Else Mikkelsen.
We saw a number of interesting birds, but the most interesting for me was seeing (and hearing!!!) a pair of kingfishers up close and personal at the northwest corner of the Lost Lagoon, near the lagoon’s tributary. I captured only a marginally acceptable shot of the male, but I have posted it here nonetheless. We were also lucky enough to get some good views of Gadwalls, Green-winged Teals and Wood Ducks, not to mention a few migrating birds such as a Warbling Vireo and Yellow Warbler (the latter is not 100% certain, but I’m fairly confident that this is what I saw).
But the strangest thing that happened as we began our walk was that we got a very good and long look at a bat as it flew on the lagoon in broad daylight to hunt insects. Unfortunately, this may also indicate that this individual had rabies, as it is highly exceedingly rare for most bats to be so active after the sun has fully risen. Let’s hope that it only was temporarily confused! I’ve included a photo of the bat, even though it isn’t very sharp.
Killdeer | Pluvier kildir | Charadrius vociferus: I have decided to break my long blogging silence to publish this photo of a Killdeer because it is one of the many birds that can be found in Antelope Island State Park in Utah (USA).
Although I have never been lucky enough to visit this park (yet!!!), a massive wildfire is currently burning there. I know this because it is one of the favourite places of two wildlife photographers that I greatly respect, Mia McPherson and Ron Dudley. They and many others are understandably quite sad and worried about the situation there. Although I hope the fire will soon be brought under control, I’m also enough of a realist to know that climate change will increase the severity and frequency of this sort of natural disaster.
If you would like to see some of my more recent photos, please visit my Facebook photography page: https://www.facebook.com/avesimago/
Taken May 7, 2016, in Jericho Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada with a handheld Nikon D5200 and AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR (ISO 900 | 500mm | f/5.6 | 1/500, cropped for composition). Not baited, called in or set up.
Dear reader… now that I have your attention thanks to this lovely Northern Flicker, I have a few changes to announce: After much reflection, I have decided that, although you will definitely continue seeing posts on this blog relatively regularly, they will be far less frequent than before. But fear not! When I have a longer story to tell or photo album to publish, you will see it here first!
From now own, most single photos will be posted to my Facebook photography page or my Instagram account. I would therefore strongly urge you to “like” one (or both!) of these to stay informed about my latest photos. And I am also working on setting up my own website over the summer and hope to be ready to launch it in earnest by the end of the summer. So… I look forward to continue interacting with you here, on my future website or on Facebook/Instagram:
Northern Flicker (female) | Pic flamboyant | Colaptes auratus cafer: Taken May 21, 2016, in Ambleside Park, West Vancouver (British Columbia), Canada, with a handheld Nikon D5200 and AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR (ISO 800 | 500mm | f/5.6 | 1/500), cropped for composition. Not baited, called in or set up.
Merlin (female juvenile) | Faucon émerillon | Falco columbarius: Photo taken in Queen Elizabeth Park, Vancouver (British Columbia), Canada, on May 13, 2016 with a handheld Nikon D5200 and AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR (ISO 400 | 500mm | f/5.6 | 1/1250), cropped (quite significantly). Not baited, called in or set up.
[Update: After looking at my field guide yet again, I’ve come to the conclusion that this must be the female of a nesting pair in the park. The darker west coast version of this bird had essentially no “moustache.”]
Barn Swallow (male) | Hirondelle rustique | Hirundo rustica: Gathering mud for its nest in Jericho Park in Vancouver (British Columbia), Canada. Photo taken on May 7, 2016 with a handheld Nikon D5200 and AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR (ISO 560 | 500mm | f/5.6 | 1/1000), cropped for composition. Not baited, called in or set up.
American Bushtit (male) | Mésange buissonnière | Psaltriparus minimus: Taken in Queen Elisabeth Park on the Seawall in West Vancouver (British Columbia), Canada, on May 8, 2016, with a handheld Nikon D5200 and AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR (ISO 400 | 500mm | f/5.6 | 1/1250), cropped for composition. Not baited, called in or set up.
Stanley Park Ecology Society’s monthly bird count took place last weekend, on May 8, 2016. This count is normally led by Else Mikkelsen, but for the next few months, she will be spending time in the United States to assist a PhD student with her research on Hermit Warbler speciation and the impact of Townsend’s Warbler hybridization. As a result, the next few walks will be led by Leslie Hurteau, who acquitted himself quite well on his first count.
We saw a number of interesting birds, but the most interesting by far was the flock of 11 Long-billed Dowitchers (pictured above), that circled Lost Lagoon on several occasions.
Now this blog will most certainly be a work in progress, as I will continue adding some information over the next few hours and days, but I wanted to be sure to post it by the start of the weekend!
And now, here are two bonus photos taken before the count at Stanley Park’s Second Beach:
Red-throated Loon (juvenile), Second Beach
Glaucous-winged Gull on Second Beach
Belted Kingfisher (male) | Martin-pêcheur d’Amérique | Megaceryle alcyon: I’m glad I was able to capture this kingfisher on one of its favourite perches, but I wish he had chosen to stay a few more minutes, so that he could have turned his head my way slightly more. Hopefully, I can get him or his mate there another time!
Both photos taken yesterday (May 7, 2016) at the pond at Jericho Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with a handheld Nikon D5200 and AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR. Not baited, called in or set up.
Pine Siskin | Tarin des pins | Spinus pinus: This siskin was part of a small flock that was busily feeding on several deciduous trees. Unfortunately, the lighting conditions were not great, but my fabulous Nikon 200-500mm lens managed to get a few good shots (with the help of a lot of tweaking on Photos).
Taken April 23, 2016, in Jericho Park in Vancouver (British Columbia), Canada with a handheld Nikon D5200 and AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR (ISO 800 | 500mm | f/5.6 | 1/640, not cropped). Not baited, called in or set up.
Least Sandpiper | Bécasseau minuscule | Calidris minutilla: This very cooperative Least Sandpiper allowed me to take many good pictures of it (the one above is with food) at the pond in Jericho Park in Vancouver (British Columbia), Canada. I have never photographed one of this species and wanted to make it skip the line, so to speak. I may very well post another photo later this month.
Taken with a handheld Nikon D5200 and AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR (ISO 560 | 500mm | f/5.6 | 1/1000, cropped for composition). Not baited, called in or set up.
Mew Gull (breeding plumage) | Goéland cendré | Larus canus brachyrhynchus*: I found this Mew Gull among the much-larger Glaucous-winged Gulls on Ambleside Beach in West Vancouver (British Columbia), Canada, on April 20, 2016.
As “luck” would have it, a woman was busily (and obliviously) walking toward this gull from the other side, but although she did scare the bird away, I was able to capture this rather nice shot with its wings completely extended vertically, before the takeoff.
Taken with a handheld Nikon D5200 and AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR (ISO 400 | 500mm | f/6.3 | 1/1600, cropped for composition). Not baited, called in or set up.
*NOTE: An interesting discussion has arisen on the North American Gulls Facebook group: Most seem to think (and I agree) that this is not in fact the North American subspecies (or Mew Gull), but a sub-species of the Common Gull (most experts believe Mew and Common are conspecific). If we arrive at a 99% or better consensus, I may revise the sub-species a bit later.
You may have noticed that I published this blog a few hours later than usual. I guess I was inspired by this handsome gentleman (Wood Duck) to take a bit of a rest… from blogging, that is. But I promise to not be away for too, too long: I’ll be back in a few days with more photos! And please know that I greatly appreciate your visits, likes and comments.
Wood Duck (male) | Canard branchu | Aix sponsa: Taken February 16, 2016 near Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park, Vancouver (British Columbia), Canada with a handheld Nikon D5200 and AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR (ISO 800 | 500mm | f/5.6 | 1/500), cropped for composition. Not baited, called in or set up.
Harlequin Duck (male) | Canard harlequin | Histrionicus histrionicus: I had the privilege of seeing a pair (male and female) of Harlequin Ducks up close from Ambleside Beach in West Vancouver a few days ago (April 20, 2016), as they were busily foraging for food. Several families were on the beach at this time, but the birds did not seem especially perturbed. This was the closest shot that I got on that day, but I have many other pictures that I am quite happy to have captured.
Taken with a handheld Nikon D5200 and AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR (ISO 400 | 500mm | f/6.3 | 1/1600, cropped for composition). Not baited, called in or set up.
Bufflehead (male) | Petit Garrot | Bucephala albeola: Taken on the pond at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver (British Columbia), Canada, on April 16, 2016, with a handheld Nikon D5200 and AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR (ISO 400 | 500mm | f/6.3 | 1/1600, cropped for composition). Not baited, called in or set up.
Red-winged Blackbird (male) | Carouge à épaulette | Agelaius phoeniceus: Taken in Jericho Park in Vancouver (British Columbia), Canada, on April 16, 2016, with a handheld Nikon D5200 and AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR (ISO 400 | 500mm | f/6.3 | 1/1600, cropped for composition). Not baited, called in or set up.
Northern Flicker, “red-shafted” (male) | Pic flamboyant, “forme rosée” | Colaptes auratus cafer: This beautiful male was feeding on one of the lawn areas of Jericho Park in Vancouver (British Columbia), Canada. Taken on April 16, 2016, with a handheld Nikon D5200 and AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR (ISO 400 | 500mm | f/6.3 | 1/1600, cropped for composition). Not baited, called in or set up.
Horned Grebes | Grèbes esclavons | Podiceps auritus: As I posted a few days ago, I was able to see three Horned Grebes fairly closeup from Jericho Beach. The two individuals on the right are in full breeding plumage, while the one on the left is clearly still transitioning from its non-breeding plumage.
I photographed three individuals (including this one) as they were drifting quit close to Jericho Beach in Vancouver (British Columbia), Canada. Taken April 16, 2016, with a handheld Nikon D5200 and AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR (ISO 400 | 500mm | f/6.3 | 1/1600, cropped for composition). Not baited, called in or set up.
Not only for the birds? 