Tag: British Columbia

Spotted Towhee At Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Spotted towhee sitting on a bush at Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Delta, BC, Canada.

Coming from the subzero temperatures at home in Ontario to the warmer climes of coastal British Columbia, Bob and I expected to see an assortment of duck species when birdwatching at the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, but the unexpected sighting of numerous Spotted Towhees caught us totally off guard.  Eastern Towhees are seen in Ontario during spring, summer and fall.  As we soon learned, Spotted Towhees winter on Vancouver Island and temperate areas along B.C.’s western coast. Read more

Northern Shoveler Ducks At Reifel Bird Sanctuary in BC

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Northern Shoveler duck at Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Delta, BC, Canada.

As Bob and I rounded the trail that borders West Field at the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, we could not believe our eyes.  In a wide channel in the midst of a slough were several groupings of very impressive ducks:  Northern Shoveler Ducks, to be exact.  We had never seen this species of duck before but there was no mistaking this Northern Shoveler Duck with its over-sized bill. Read more

Northern Pintail Ducks At Reifel Bird Sanctuary in British Columbia

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Northern pintail duck at Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Delta, BC, Canada.

Even before Bob and I pulled into the parking lot at George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, there was no doubt that we were in for some fantastic birdwatching.  On the approach, paralleling the road, was a channel where Great Blue Herons and Common Mergansers were leisurely passing the afternoon.  Our walkabout began along East Dyke, but we soon branched off onto a trail that meandered alongside a series of very large ponds.  That is where we became enthralled with a flock of Northern Pintail Ducks. Read more

Trumpeter Swans On A Delta Farm Field in BC

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trumpeter swans on delta farmland - BC - 2

After a morning well spent at Boundary Bay Regional Park in the Delta region south of Vancouver, Bob and I made our way towards another popular birdwatching location still situated on the Fraser River estuary, the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary.  While progressing in that northwesterly direction, we had to pass through an extensive array of farm fields, and in one such field, Bob and I spotted a number of Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator) scavenging for remnants of grain. Read more

Juvenile Bald Eagle At Boundary Bay in British Columbia

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Immature Bald Eagle - Boundary Bay - BC - 1

As Bob and I completed the trail that leads to Centennial Beach Cafe, we heard a raucous in a treetop right above our heads.  A sole juvenile Bald Eagle sat perched there at rest, whereas only one week earlier, according to regular visitors, about 200 Bald Eagles were seen in Boundary Bay Regional Park and environs. Read more

Ring-necked Ducks at Boundary Bay, BC

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ring-necked duck at boundary bay - BC - 3

On a trip to British Columbia, Bob and I scheduled a hike at Boundary Bay Regional Park in the Delta and Tsawwassen regions south of Vancouver.  Due to the effects of time change, on the first morning of the trip, Bob and I found ourselves awake bright and early, so hit the trails at the north end of the conservation area by 8 a.m.  We were pleased to spot, right off, a bevy of Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) tucked into a sheltered cove on the west side of Boundary Bay. Read more

American Wigeon Ducks At Boundary Bay

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american wigeons at boundary bay - bc 3

Bob and I were keen to visit Boundary Bay Regional Park near Vancouver, British Columbia because, from my home in Ontario, I have monitored, for the past couple of years, bird sightings at that particular location.  Recognized as a major preserve for migratory birds there on the Pacific Flyway, our hopes were high for spotting some species of waterfowl uncommon in our own locale.  We were not disappointed when, adjacent to Centennial Beach, we spotted a raft of American Wigeon ducks. Read more

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