I figured I'd post a quick update on the year list, since I've added a few species since the black turnstone at #80 in Tofino a couple weeks ago. The next additions came at Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, where the Eurasian wigeon (81) that I added to last year's list in the fall was still hanging out. I was also surprised to find an American black duck (82) hanging out with all the mallards. They're considered rare here, but there has been a small population on Vancouver Island that they think is declining.
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| American black duck next to female mallard |
Next stop was over at the Cowichan Bay estuary, which has quickly become one of my favorite places to bird and take photos. While there have still been some trumpeter swans hanging out there, they've been joined by some mute swans (83), another species we don't see much on the west coast in the States but that has established a population on Vancouver Island. In the distance I also picked out a northern shrike (84).
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| Sunset over Cowichan Bay estuary |
One species I was surprised I was still missing was the northern shoveler (85) which I found on the local sewage lagoons. A nearby park also helped me pick up a herring gull (86), Brewer's blackbird (87), and ruddy duck (88), and while there I also got some great photo opportunities of some other local water birds.
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| Hooded merganser |
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| American coot |
It's definitely an early spring, and with lots of flowers already blooming I've been out taking macro photos with the new RicohGR. While out in the yard and neighborhood I spotted a Hutton's vireo (89), my most recent addition to the year list.
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| Crocus in the yard |
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| Underside of a mushroom on a fence |
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| Unique colored crocuses |
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| Glory of the snow emerging from last year's oak leaves |
Next up, time to shift gear's a bit, and I think I'll share some of my favorite photos from my recent efforts at trying out street photography!
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