I'm trying
hard to catch up on my photojournal entries. This one is from Wednesday,
the 21st of July. In the morning, I went to Burnaby Lake Park. My
plan was to take photos in the bog (where the equestrian paths are)
and then head on up to work. The park is almost right on my usual
route to work.
It was pretty quiet
when I got there, but then the birdies started showing themselves.
First I got a little Bewick's Wren.
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He sang
for me for a little while. Further along, I saw some motion in a
tree and eventually found the source of it. This is a Black-headed
Grosbeak, either a juvenile or a adult female. None of my guide
books seem to show it, but that yellow streak down the middle of
the breast seems pretty distinctive to this species. |
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I stopped and pished
at a T-junction on the paths. I eventually saw this girl, who
I think is a Purple Finch. I liked the way she curved her body
here, seemingly stretching in order to see something.
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Turning around, I noticed
some movement on a mostly-bare tree trunk. A careful scan revealed
a Brown Creeper--a new bird for me, but one that was easy to identify
by its behavior. It was intermittently hopping up the trunk. (This
is much like what a woodpecker or nuthatch will do, although nuthatches
can climb while face-down.) Check out the way this guys legs are
splayed to support him.
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I walked around a bit
more, exploring some of the paths that I had never been down.
I saw robins and other thrushes and finches and sparrows all over
the place. Here's an American Robin with a berry of some sort
in his mouth.
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And here's a Fox Sparrow.
These guys seem a little less common in these parts than the Song
Sparrow.
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Finally,
I decided to head in. On my way back to the car, I noticed a white-
breasted bird with a dark eyestripe in a tree to my left. This guy
is is Red- eyed Vireo, and he's another lifer for me. Two in one
morning! |
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So I headed to work
and had some meetings and gave a lecture. In the evening, I took
a few photos around home. Here's one of a guy working on the back
of a small tug right across the river from my place.
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I'll leave you with
that one...
Your hyperactive shutterbug,
Tom
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