Boatbirder.com: November 2019

'With my blog currently celebrating its tenth year, I thought it would be a great idea to look back at our time in Canada and the U.S over the period, including my extended stay in the winter and spring of 2011 in Vancouver. Within the album, I've incorporated our trips to Oregon in 2015 and our recent trip to Alaska in 2017. Over the past few months, I've sifted through hundreds of photographs and reread many of my notes and blog posts and checked and double-checked many of my sightings. It's been an interesting experience with a few nice surprises on the way, I actually managed to add four new species to my North American listings.'

WELCOME TO MY NORTH AMERICAN PHOTO ALBUM

Canada is my favourite place in the entire world! Since marrying my birding buddy and soul mate Dazza in Banff, Alberta in 2009 I've been lucky enough to live in Vancouver for a short while and got to know the culture and the people a little during my stay. I've visited many times since and our trips have included 2 RV Tours from Calgary to Vancouver and an RV tour of Nova Scotia in 2013. If you want to see a country, a Recreational Vehicle is a great way to do it.

As well as Canada this album incorporates our trips to Oregon in 2015 and more recently Alaska in 2017. Our next planned visit is scheduled for May 2020 when Dazza and I will be returning to Oregon for 18-days.

I'm also proud of the fact that all the wildlife images below are 'self-found' We have not used guides or joined organised tours to locate our wildlife. It's a simple case of good research, patience, long drives and many enjoyable treks through the wilderness.

ALASKA 2017 ~ I certainly hope to return one day!

Dazza and me in Vancouver 2017 after returning from our trip to Alaska.

Included in the album that follows are the numerous species we've been able to capture on camera. It goes without saying that there are many more observations and encounters which have not and these, of course, are now committed to lifetime memories.

LOONS & GREBES

Great Northern Loon ~ An icon of birds for North America for me! And the state bird of Minnesota since 1961. Their eerie calls, particularly at night are one of my favourite sounds

Great Northern Loon ~ During my observations it's noticeable that these birds seem to have a different call for different threats!

Pacific Loon ~ This one in Anchorage Alaska on one of the many small lakes and lagoons within the metropolis. Strangely this is the most abundant of North Americas five loon species

Another Pacific Loon ~ Record shot in the deluge of one offshore near Bandon, Oregon.

Red-necked Grebe ~ This one at Ghost Lake Canada 2013

A short trip across the state line into northern California to visit Tule Lake NWR during our Oregon 2015 tour.

Horned Grebe ~ (Slavonian Grebe) Tule Lake

Eared Grebe ~ (Black-necked Grebe) Tule Lake

Western Grebe ~ Klamath, Oregon. Can often be found in mixed flocks with the Clark's Grebe

Clark's Grebe ~ Klamath, Oregon. Until the 1980s it was thought to be a pale morph of the Western Grebe! Note the white which surrounds the eye unlike the Western Grebe

Pied-billed Grebe ~ Part bird, part submarine an amazing character. Another from Tule Lake

PELECANIFORMES

Brown Pelican ~ Rockaway Beach Oregon 2015

American White Pelican ~ Klamath Oregon

American White Pelican ~ Inglewood Bird Sanctuary Calgary Canada 2013. The 'horn' on the upper mandible depicts a breeding male.

CORMORANTS & GANNET

Pelagic Cormorant ~ Also known as Baird's Cormorant ~ English Bay Vancouver, Canada

Double-crested Cormorant ~ The Lost Lagoon Stanley Park, Vancouver Canada. I was lucky enough to live just a minutes walk from this amazing park

Great Cormorant and Double-crested Cormorant off the coast of Nova Scotia. A good size comparison

Northern Gannet ~ Diving in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Cape Breton Nova Scotia

Firepit lit, a spot of research for the next day and a nice glass of wine for Dazza after a day on the road during one of our RV Tours of Canada.

WADING BIRDS

Great Blue Heron ~ Drying off at 'The Lost Lagoon' Stanley Park Vancouver Canada.

Great Egret ~ Tule Lake NWR

Snowy Egret ~ Very similar to the much rarer Little Egret, Tule Lake NWR.

Black-crowned Night Heron ~ During a visit to George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, BC Canada

American Bittern ~ George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, BC Canada ~ This bird didn't seem at all fazed by our close proximity!

White-faced Ibis ~ A Western replacement for the Glossy Ibis, Tule Lake

A group of White-faced Ibis at Tule Lake

GEESE & DUCKS

Cackling Goose ~ Richardson's I think? This photo was taken in 2017 within the hotel grounds of the Alyeska Hotel in Girdwood, Alaska. The 1st stop of our 14-day tour

The view from our bedroom window at the Alyeska Hotel in Girdwood, Alaska

Snow Goose ~ Actually taken just across the state line from Oregon into California at the amazing Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Although I've seen some huge flocks in the winter during my stays in Canada, particularly around the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, strangely this photo seems to be my only one on record.

Brant Geese ~ The Brant, or Brent Goose, is a species of goose of the genus Branta. The Black Brant is a Pacific North American subspecies. The Brent System, a major oilfield, was named after them.

American Black Duck ~ This one was taken at Cleveland Beach Provincial Park, Oregon.

Wood Duck ~ One of many seen during our visits to North America

The Northern Pintail has a wide geographical distribution ~ This pair at George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Canada.

American Wigeon ~ Quite a common sight throughout North America, this one taken during our Alaska 2017 tour.

Blue-winged Teal ~ Has a breeding range extending right across North America from southern Alaska and British Columbia to southwest Newfoundland, south to northern Texas. This one at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary Calgary Canada, during our 2014 RV Tour

Another Blue-winged Teal ~ Reifel Bird Sanctuary, Vancouver Canada

Cinnamon Teal ~ Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge 2015. Always a wonderful sight to see these in breeding plumage

Green-winged Teal ~ Common and Widespread, This one at Potters Marsh Reserve on the outskirts of Anchorage Alaska

Canvasback ~ The largest duck found in North America, Iona Beach, Vancouver.

Greater Scaup ~ Some huge groups off English Bay Vancouver

Redhead ~ Uncommon and local, this one taken at Ghost Lake, Banff National Park Canada

Ring-necked Duck ~ Regularly seen during my stay in Vancouver at Iona Beach. An amazing habitat on the peripheral of Vancouver International Airport.

Lesser Scaup ~ Tule Lake

Common Eider ~ This small group off the coast of Nova Scotia

Surf Scoter ~ Canadian RV Tour 2012 - Horse Lake BC.

Surf Scoter ~ This individual at Canon Beach settling ponds Oregon 2017

Black Scoter ~ Record shot of a single bird at Rissers Beach Provincial Park Campground during our 2013 RV Tour. A coastal duck that breeds in the subarctic

White-winged Scoter ~ Mixed group of Scoters offshore during my many early spring walks around English Bay, Vancouver Canada

Harlequin Duck ~ This trio near Portage Lake in an unfrozen area, Alaska 2017

One of the many frozen lakes around Portage even in May, Alaska.

Barrows Goldeneye ~ Named after Sir John Barrow. This pair at English Bay, Vancouver Canada.

Bufflehead ~ Banff National Park Canada

Common Merganser or Goosander as we know them!

Hooded Merganser ~ George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Canada.

Red-breasted Merganser ~ Common and always great to see during my visits.

Ruddy Duck ~ Luckily on home waters and not persecuted like in the UK.

Over the state line from Washington into Oregon during our 2015 visit.

VULTURES, RAPTORS & FALCON

Turkey Vulture ~ The most widespread of 'new world' Vultures

Northern Harrier ~ This one of ten birds seen on the 7-mile hike from Templeton Station to Iona Beach, Vancouver Canada

Osprey ~ Never a day goes by during my visits without an Osprey sighting!

Osprey ~ Canadian RV Tour 2012 - Kootenay Lake, BC. Taken from the RV at a designated observation point just off the highway!

Broad-winged Hawk ~ Kejimkujik National Park Nova Scotia Canada during our 2013 RV Tour.

Red-tailed Hawk ~ As common as our very own Common Buzzard

Bald Eagle ~ This was the first image we ever took of this icon and one of Dazza's.

Bald Eagle ~ Canadian RV Tour 2012 - Horse Lake Lone Butte, British Columbia

Peregrine Falcon ~ Always a pleasure to see anywhere in the world

American Kestrel ~ North Americas smallest and most colourful raptor. This one photographed in Banff National Park 2012

Taiga Merlin ~ The Taiga race occurs throughout most of North America but is the only race seen in the eastern part. This one photographed at the Corney Brook Campground Cape Breton, Nova Scotia during our 2013 RV Tour

UPLAND GAME BIRDS

Californian Quail ~ Oregon 2015

Spruce Grouse ~ A very confiding bird, Alaska 2017

Wild Turkey ~ Oregon 2015. It's a bit surreal seeing these birds just wandering around!

GRUIFORMES

Virginia Rail ~ Record shot at Tule Lake by Dazza

Sora ~ Another record shot taken by Dazza once again at Tule Lake within seconds of spotting the Virginia Rail

Sandhill Crane ~ Klamath Wildlife Area, Oregon

SHOREBIRDS

Black-bellied Plover ~ Among several waders noted at China Creek Beach Access, Oregon in 2015

Semipalmated Plover ~ Another wader on the beach from China Creek Oregon.

Killdeer ~ Widespread, common and Conspicuous!

Killdeer ~ A very obliging individual while out on my morning walk in Oregon 2015

American Avocet ~ This bird takes elegance to a new level.

Greater Yellowlegs are seen mostly during migration as they pass between nesting grounds.

Lesser Yellowlegs ~ At first glance both Greater and Lesser look identical except for size!

Solitary Sandpiper ~ Often alone, hence the name! Canadian RV Tour 2012 - Canyon RV Park, Radium Hot Springs BC during a morning walk.

Spotted Sandpiper ~ Fairly common around the shoreline and rivers.

Willet ~ Tule Lake. Sadly a declining species in North America

Dunlin ~ Nehalem Bay Treatment Plant, Oregon

Whimbrel ~ A familiar sight for us UK birders

Black Oystercatcher ~ A familiar sight during my morning walks along English Bay, Vancouver

Black Turnstone ~ Sadly asleep Alaska 2017

Least Sandpiper ~ Nehalem Bay Treatment Plant, Oregon

Western Sandpipers ~ Quite widespread along the Pacific Coastline

Long-billed Dowitcher ~ Alaska 2017. Flocks twitter at each other while feeding ~ a habit that sets them apart from the Short-billed Dowitcher

Short-billed Dowitcher ~ Anchorage Alaska 2017

Unlike the UK Birders are welcomed at most treatment plants in Oregon and can be extremely productive.

PHALAROPES

Red-necked Phalarope ~ One of 22 at Nehalem Bay Treatment Plant, Oregon

Red-necked Phalarope ~ Lucky thirteen of 22 at Nehalem Bay Treatment Plant, Oregon.

GULLS & TERNS

Black-legged Kittiwake ~ Lands End Nova Scotia.

Bonaparte's Gull ~ This one on a local park lake in Anchorage Alaska

One of the many small lakes to be found around Alaska

Franklin's Gull ~ Nehalem Bay Treatment Plant, Oregon

Mew Gull at Potters Marsh Reserve on the outskirts of Anchorage Alaska

Ring-billed Gull ~ Taken from the short ferry crossing at Arrow Lake, British Colombia Canada

American Herring Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull ~ Probably the most common during my Canadian visits.

Western Gull ~ Taken at Squamish British Colombia, Canada

Forster's Tern ~ One of several at Tule Lake.

Common Tern

Arctic Tern waiting for a train in Anchorage Alaska!

Caspian Tern ~ The largest in the world with a subcosmopolitan but scattered distribution. This one on the Oregon Pacific coast

The Pacific shoreline Oregon

ALCIDS

Black Guillemot ~ Part of a breeding population in Nova Scotia

Pigeon Guillemot ~ Taken offshore while walking in North Vancouver

Tufted Puffin

Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach Oregon ~ A great place to see breeding Tufted Puffins.

Tufted Puffins ~ Haystack Rock ~ Note the Common Murre in the right foreground.

PIGEONS & DOVES

Mourning Dove ~ One of the most abundant and widespread in North America

Mourning Dove ~ Canadian RV Tour 2012 - Priests Valley Indian Reserve 6, Vernon British Columbia.

OWLS

Short-eared Owl ~ Boundary Bay Canada

Snowy Owl ~ The briefest of encounters, Alaska 2017

Great Horned Owl ~ This particular one found by Dazza at Tule Lake

Great Horned Owl

Great Horned Owl ~ Try as she might Dazza just couldn't find an angle without the branch over the eye!

Northern Saw-whet Owl ~ A tiny Owl with a catlike face, this one in British Colombia, Canada

HUMMINGBIRDS

Anna's Hummingbird ~ A regular find throughout our visits and actually winters in Stanley Park, Vancouver Canada.

Rufous Hummingbird ~ A common summer visitor.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird ~ One on someone's porch feeder as we passed by in Oregon

KINGFISHERS

Belted Kingfisher

WOODPECKERS

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker ~ A lucky photo in Nova Scotia as the bird was literally there seconds!

Downy Woodpecker ~ The smallest Woodpecker in North America

Hairy Woodpecker at a nest in Nova Scotia

Hairy Woodpecker ~ Like a large long-billed version of the Downy!

American Three-toed woodpecker ~ A small, unobtrusive woodpecker of northern North America and western mountains ~ This one in the Rockies

Northern Flicker ~ Large and noisy, just like our own Green Woodpecker ~ When they fly you’ll see a flash of colour in the wings – yellow if you’re in the East, red if you’re in the West – and a bright white flash on the rump ~ Oregon 2015

TYRANT FLYCATCHERS

Alder Flycatcher? ~ So similar to the Willow Flycatcher ~A small, nondescript flycatcher of northern wet thickets, the Alder Flycatcher is difficult to distinguish from the Willow Flycatcher by any feature other than voice. This particular specimen did not oblige.

Willow Flycatcher? ~ Another bird that did not sing!

Western Wood-Pewee ~ A quick listen in almost any forest patch should reveal the burry, slightly descending peeer of a Western Wood-Pewee throughout the spring and summer months

Hammonds Flycatcher ~ Oregon 2015

Ash-throated Flycatcher ~ The trick to finding an Ash-throated Flycatcher is to listen for its distinctive ka-brick call in dry, open woodlands and scrub ~ This one at Hatfield Lakes near Bend, Oregon 2015

Western Kingbird In between flycatching flights, Western Kingbirds perch on trees, shrubs, fence posts, and power lines; as you can see this makes them fairly easy to spot ~ Harfield Lakes near Bend, Oregon 2015

Eastern Kingbird ~ A chance encounter at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Alberta Canada

SHRIKES & VIREOS

Northern Shrike ~ Perimeter Road, Vancouver Int. Airport Canada

Red-eyed Vireo ~ Very common in Eastern forests during summer. They can be hard to see in the treetops, particularly after the trees leaf out, but this is one bird that really highlights the value of learning bird songs ~ Peggy's Cove Nova Scotia 2013

One of our overnight stops along the Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Nova Scotia

JAYS, CROWS, AND THEIR ALLIES

Steller's Jay Common in forest wildernesses but are also fixtures of campgrounds of which we've visited many

Californian Scrub-Jay ~ The “blue jay” of dry lowlands along the Pacific seaboard. This photo was taken from the hotel balcony in Bend Oregon.

Gray Jay or Canada Jay ~ Highly curious and always on the lookout for food, the friendliest of any Jay species I've encountered.

Clark's Nutcracker ~ Taken while on honeymoon at Lake Louise, Banff National Park Canada

American Crow

Raven ~ This one taken near Anchorage Alaska 2017

SWALLOWS

Cliff Swallow ~ Often found around bridges and underpasses, this one in Oregon 2015

Tree Swallow ~ A familiar sight during our visits.

Violet-green Swallow ~ Can look dark at first, but their true colours come to life when sunlight illuminates their metallic green backs and iridescent purple rumps

Violet-green Swallow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow ~ A common summer visitor often flying low over the water. This one photographed resting at Iona Beach, Vancouver Canada.

Purple Martin ~ This one a member of a nesting colony at Maplewood Flats Bird Reserve, North Vancouver Canada.

CHICKADEES

Black-capped Chickadee ~ At one time the Willow Tit was considered conspecific with this species due to their very similar appearance.

Boreal Chickadee ~ Finding Boreal Chickadees can take time and patience: they are not as numerous or conspicuous as many chickadee species and they lack a sweet, whistled song ~ This one photographed in woodland while at Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

Chestnut-backed Chickadee ~ Stanley Park, Vancouver Canada.

NUTHATCHES

Red-breasted Nuthatch ~ One of the four species of Nuthatch in North America

WRENS

Marsh Wren ~ Seeing a Marsh Wren in its often impenetrable marsh habitat can be tough ~ With patience, this one briefly in Delta BC Canada

Rock Wren The Rock Wren is not known to drink water, but instead gets all it needs from its food ~ Smith Rock State Park Oregon.

OLD WORLD WARBLERS, THRUSHES, AND THEIR ALLIES

American Dipper ~ Lynn Canyon, North Vancouver Canada

Ruby-crowned Kinglet ~ Inglewood Bird Sanctuary Calgary Canada

Hermit Thrush An unassuming bird with a lovely, melancholy song ~ Photographed in Homer Alaska 2018

The view across Homer Airport runway towards Homer Spit, Alaska

American Robin ~ Like our own Robin, the quintessential early bird

Varied Thrush ~ Its simple ringing song gives a voice to quiet forests of the Pacific Northwest.

Varied Thrush ~ My favourite American Thrush!

Mountain Bluebird ~ We've been lucky enough to come across many during our visits.

PIPITS

American Pipit ~ This one taken at Nehalem Bay Treatment Plant, Oregon

WAXWINGS

Cedar Waxwing ~ Squamish, British Columbia, Canada 2017 ~ Sporting sunglasses!

WOOD-WARBLERS

Northern Parula ~ A small warbler of the upper canopy and difficult to photograph. Taken during my morning stroll while staying at Peggy's Cove Nova Scotia

Orange-crowned Warbler ~ Common in the west but somewhat scarce in the east ~ Oregon 2017

Nashville Warbler ~ Green Lake Provincial Park BC Canada

Yellow Warbler ~ Although not threatened the nest of this beautiful warbler is often parasitised by the Brown-headed Cowbird!

Yellow Warbler ~ This one an adult male

Magnolia Warbler ~ Many male warblers are black and yellow, but Magnolia Warblers take it up a notch ~ Taken during our RV Tour of Nova Scotia 2013

Blackburnian Warbler ~ This bird dropped down with several other species shortly after a major thunderstorm in Nova Scotia 2013. Canopy experts, these birds rarely come down to eye level

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) ~ This Warbler you're most likely to see acting like a flycatcher. Fluttering out of a tree for a passing insect.

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's)

Black-throated Gray Warbler ~ A striking yet monochrome warbler! Oregon 2015

Townsend's Warbler ~ Photographed in Oregon 2015 NB: The Townsend's Warbler hybridizes with the similar-looking Hermit Warbler where their ranges overlap here in Oregon and Washington

Black-throated Green Warbler ~ An untiring songster, finally a brief encounter during our RV Tour of Nova Scotia.

American Redstart ~ seemingly hyperactive I was lucky this one stayed put long enough!

MacGillivray's Warbler ~ This one taken in North Vancouver during a day out with my Vancouver birding buddy Dere Killby

Common Yellowthroat ~ Seattle 2017, nothing common about this species.

Wilsons Warbler ~ One of the very first warblers we encountered on our trips to North America.

TANAGERS, CARDINAL AND THEIR ALLIES

Western Tanager ~ A clear look at a male is like looking at a flame!

Western Tanager ♀

Black-headed Grosbeak ~ A common sight in the American West. Oregon 2015

Rose-breasted Grosbeak ~A good way to find one is to listen for them. The song sounds like an American Robin in an unusually good mood ~ Nova Scotia 2013

EMBERIZINE SPARROWS AND THEIR ALLIES

Spotted Towhee ~ Taken at Iona Beach, Vancouver Canada in 2017

Chipping Sparrow ~ A crisp, pretty and quite tame sparrow whose bright rufous cap both provides a splash of colour and makes adults fairly easy to identify.

Savannah Sparrow ~ The most numerous throughout our visits but often causes confusion due to its variable plumage.

Lark Sparrow ~ Many American Sparrows are challenging to ID but this one is a striking exception. Photographed at Nehalem Bay Treatment Plant, Oregon 2015

White-crowned Sparrow ~ This one in Alaska 2017 ~ Unlike in other states Alaskan White-crowned Sparrows migrate around 2,600 miles to winter in southern California!

Golden-crowned Sparrow ~ Canadian RV Tour 2012 - Pemberton, BC

White-throated Sparrow ~ My favourite Sparrow! Their song is a pretty thin whistle that cuts through the air. This one was photographed in Nova Scotia in 2013 just after the remnants of tropical storm Andrea passed through

Fox Sparrow ~ Common but retiring birds, so you may have to look carefully to spot one, Oregon 2015

Song Sparrow ~ Canadian RV Tour 2012 - 100 Mile Marsh BC.

Having searched for a few hours a surprise when this bird suddenly appeared in full view in Oregon 2015! Lincoln's Sparrows have a talent for concealing themselves, sneaking around the ground and rarely straying from cover

Dark-eyed Junco ~ This one photographed in Canada 2017

ICTERIDS

Western Meadowlark ~ The buoyant, flutelike melody is enough to brighten anyone's day!

Brown-headed Cowbird ~ Like the Cuckoo 'brood parasite' they lay their eggs in the nests of other birds

Brown-headed Cowbird ~ Shelter Bay/Galena Bay Ferry, BC

Red-wing Blackbird ~ One of the most abundant birds across North America. You can often hear them on TV while watching any US golf tournament!

Juvenile Red-winged Blackbird ~ Iona Beach, BC Canada

Yellow-headed blackbird ~ Iona Beach, BC Canada. Despite its beauty, it sounds like a rusty farm gate opening 😀

Brewers Blackbird ~ This one bathing at Nehalem Bay Treatment Plant, Oregon

Rusty Blackbird ~ Beluga Lake Obs Platform, Anchorage, Alaska

Bullock's Oriole ~ This one photographed in Oregon 2015. At one time thought to be a single species with the Baltimore Oriole

FINCHES AND OLD WORLD SPARROWS

Purple Finch ~ Squamish BC, Canada

House Finch ~ Common and widespread

White-winged Crossbill ~ Uncommon and very irregular, this one during an evening walk in Girdwood, Alaska while searching for Redpolls

Common Redpoll ~ One of the 'winter finches' nesting in the Arctic and sometimes invading southern Canada and the US northern states. This one photographed near Girdwood, Alaska.