Haven't done too much birding this week, with one thing and another. I've noticed a couple more
turkey vultures migrating through here and there but otherwise it's been a bit quiet.
Jenny and I got out yesterday (Saturday) for a good walk - we set off to
Oak Bay Marina and continued along the coast to
Ross Bay. We made a small but exhilarating detour up through
Walbran Park, the views from here were superb and I couldn't help but think what a great 'vis-mig' point this could be...
Anyway, despite the miles of coastline trudged, we saw very little to get excited about bird-wise.
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| Bewick's wren |
On Sunday I spent a bit of time rooting around in the
Government House grounds. There was lots going; the air was filled with singing
Pacific and
Bewick's wrens (pictured),
dark-eyed juncos,
pine siskins and
house finches while excavating
red-breasted nuthatches and
downy woodpeckers worked industriously.
Looking skyward, a
Cooper's hawk was engaging in fabulous aerial display and a lone
sharp-shinned hawk even spiraled over heading northward.
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| Great horned owl |
I looked in vain for a resident barred owl but was rewarded big-time by the discovery of my first
great horned owl on the site (pictured). I wonder if this was a transient short-range-migrant or a local bird seeking new territory? It'll be interesting to see whether this bird hangs around...
