Thursday, May 25, 2017

Diary Update #9 ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ 2017

☀️  Thursday 25th May 2017 ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ   ~ Over the past few days we've spent time enjoying Vancouver and mixing the sightseeing with birding. We've certainly been lucky with the weather, cloudless skies and temperatures in the mid 20s!

Vancouver's Coal Harbour ~ Vibrant at night!
On Thursday we met up with Derek once again and headed off to visit Whytecliff Park and Cypress Provincial Park. Whytecliff Park is located along the rugged coastline of Howe Sound in West Vancouver and has scenic views across the Sound. Below several Seals and small rafts of Surf Scoter, plus Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled Murrelet, Double-crested Cormorant and Pelagic Cormorant.

Spotted Towhee ~ Whytecliff Park
We spent a while enjoying the weather and watching the ferries passing through to Vancouver Island! While here an Anna's Hummingbird kept us company, zipping around everywhere and Spotted Towhee, White-crowned sparrow, Warbling Vireo, Wilson's Warbler and Orange-crowned Warbler were all noted. From here we took a short drive and walked the Eagle Lane access road, normally a good place for Warblers. It's a blessing to have Derek with us, being so family with North American bird song. I've barely tuned in and am now suffering from what Derek calls 'Warbler Neck', staring endlessly into the high canopy looking for signs of movement!

Finally a chance to photograph a MacGillivray's Warbler 
Still it was a good walk with a selection of Flycatchers: Olive-sided, Hammonds and Pacific-slope. A few more Warbler additions to the day included MacGillivray's and Townsend, plus other sightings: Swainson's Thrush, Western Tanager, Brown Creeper, Northern Flicker and at least four Black-headed Grosbeak.

Olive-sided Flycatcher
From here Derek actually took Dee and I on a Canadian 'Twitch' up to the Cypress Bowl picnic area for an unusual Hermit Warbler X Townsend's Warbler hybrid! After a half hour we actually found the bird, albeit briefly, before we headed off for a late lunch. Also of note today: Turkey Vulture, Band-tailed Pigeon and of course Bald Eagle!

Western Tanager from today!