Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) close to the somewhat safe feeding area inside our fenced vegetable garden. Over the past several weeks at least one Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) visiting our feeders here in Courtenay. Although not a rare winter bird on Vancouver Island, it is a bird that is not usually seen regularly in the winter. However, every Christmas Bird …
Birds
Backyard Birds – November 30-December 6
One of the regulars, a male Downy Woodpecker, visits the suet feeder. It’s been a quiet week at the feeders this week with the total number of birds visiting way down. Might be related to the clear, cold weather of the past week with temperatures close to or below 0° C in the early part of the day. My official …
Birding at Woodhus Slough
Ruby-crowned Kinglet in blackberry brambles. Did a little birding at Woodhus Slough, just north of Oyster River on Vancouver Island this afternoon. The slough is accessed by either the parking area at the Salmon Point Pub or at the Oyster River Park parking area near the Fisherman’s Pub – hence its popular name the “Pub to Pub Trail.” The trail …
Backyard Birds – November 23-29
We’ve added another feeder to the mix this week with bird seed and sunflower seed to replace our back alley row of sunflowers that have finally headed to the city’s yard waste composting facility. The feeder is proving popular with both the sparrows and one of our neighbour’s 8(!?!)+ cats. As a result, it looks like we may have to …
Backyard Birds – November 16-22
As part of Project FeederWatch, I’m keeping an eye on our feeders two days out of the week to help scientists track winter bird activity, abundance and diversity. It’s a great way to spend an hour or two drinking coffee and peering out into the rain. I’ve also decided to start a yard list of all the birds that visit …
Backyard Birds – November 8-15
As part of Project FeederWatch, I’m keeping an eye on our feeders two days out of the week to help scientists track winter bird activity, abundance and diversity. It’s a great way to spend an hour or two drinking coffee and peering out into the rain. I’ve also decided to start a yard list of all the birds that visit …
Project FeederWatch
Mark November 14th on your calendars and think about signing up for Project FeederWatch. If you’ve got a yard and a bird feeder you can collect valuable data about birds in your area. As a bonus, it is fun getting to know your regulars. This will be my first winter counting birds that visit our feeder. I’ve done Coastal Waterbird …
Spectacular Snow Geese
Airpark Lagoon, Courtenay, BC I took Clara and Alden out to the Airpark Lagoon yesterday afternoon before dinner. It’s a stroller friendly walk that circles around the Airpark Lagoon and offers fantastic views of the Courtenay estuary. While many use the loop to exercise or to socialize, local naturalists know that it is an excellent place to birdwatch. Many unusual …
Rock Wren at Miracle Beach Provincial Park
Rock Wren | Salpinctes obsoletus Yesterday morning I took my son Alden out for a walk at Miracle Beach Provincial Park to enjoy the crisp fresh air and the changing colours of the fall. I spent some time birdwatching as best as one can with a two year old in tow. It was a good time of year for photographing …
American Dipper
I was out scouting locations for International Rock Flipping Day (September 20) and spotted an expert invertebrate hunter hard at work on the Puntledge River in Courtenay, British Columbia. There’s a lot going on in the Puntledge River right now. This American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) was working the river along with a whole host of gulls and other scavengers. The …