Pacific Northwest Raptors

We had planned to go see the raptors when we were in this area a few weeks ago, but it ended up raining. The forecast looked good on Friday so we drove up. It's a relatively small place, but they have a good variety of birds and usually some of them are out where you can photograph them without a cage getting in the way.

The first one that was out (being held by one of the staff) was a Gyrfalcon, the largest falcon in the world.

Next was one of the smaller owls, a Western Screech Owl.

The flight show is always good to see the birds in action, not just perched. It started with a Bald Eagle. It takes Bald Eagles a number of years to get the white head and tail. This one was almost there.

It was still learning to pick fish out of the water.

Harris's Hawks are one of the only raptors that hunt in groups, cooperatively. They live in the southern US but I don't think I've ever seen one in the wild.

The Barn Owl was the most entertaining. It was not in a cooperative mood and would not land on the presenter's glove. It would only take its treats from the posts. And it kept flying off and perching in the nearby trees. (The birds have radio trackers in case they decide to wander.) When it was time for the owl to leave, it refused and the show had to be cut short because they couldn't bring out the next bird while the owl was still out. Another trainer came and eventually lured it out of the trees.

There were several American Kestrels, the smallest and most common falcon in North America.

There was also an Aplomado Falcon.

Coincidentally, driving home from the raptor center we spotted this wild Bald Eagle.

See all 21 photos in this batch

Return of the Harlequins

I did my weekly long run yesterday since it was supposed to rain today. But it was calm and sunny first thing this morning so I got out kayaking. As I paddled around the little island in front of our place I spotted a pair of Harlequin ducks. Now I know winter is coming. They were shy at first, swimming away faster than my slow unobtrusive paddling.

I was just about ready to give up and leave them in peace when they got out of the water and stood on the shore for me to photograph.

As usual with birds it's the male that's colorful. I probably wouldn't recognize the females if they were on their own.

According to iNaturalist the peak months for observations in BC are October and March so I guess they are on schedule. We usually have a few around all winter.

See also my previous post with more photos

Gorge Waterway Park

A few photographs from a walk along the Gorge.

There are still some flowers hanging on.

And one of the crazy magnolia trees had a few out of season flowers:

Fall is the season for the Cross Orbweavers:

There were Canada Geese on the gorge and when a bunch took off they looked good backlit by the low sun. So I set up to catch the next group when they took off. Which they didn't, despite some kayakers going by. Eventually something triggered them to take off and I had a few seconds to catch them in action.

See all 17 photos in this batch

Belted Kingfisher

We saw this Belted Kingfisher in Cowichan Bay on a railing overlooking the harbor. Usually you hear their chattering call before you see them. But this one was silently watching us. I happened to look up and there he was. I assume it's a male because it doesn't have a brown stripe on its chest.

other posts with Kingfishers

Sweet Peas

These Broad-leaved Sweet Peas (I think) are common "weeds" around here. I love their bright color. All summer I was thinking I should take some photos of them, but it never seemed urgent since they were so common. Now summer is gone and so are almost all of these flowers. On my long run yesterday, I spotted these ones, but at that point I wasn't up to carrying flowers. Today I went for an easy recovery run and took a few home to photograph. My mother always liked sweet peas and my father used to take flowers indoors to photograph, so I figure I'm following the family traditions.

I just thought of these as wild sweet peas but when I looked them up, I found they are yet another non-native species. I really start to think nothing is native around here, not even me!