Cottle Lake Rufous Hummingbird
Gate Keeper of the bridge. You shall not pass!
Screamin' Redwing (Red-Winged Blackbird)
Not sure what this guy was so upset about. Caught a few frames of him as he dropped down beside me at Buttertubs Marsh.
Swamp Giraffe (American Bittern)
Like most members of the heron family, these guys can really stretch their neck out.
Better Background (Ruby-Crowned Kinglet)
Here is one on a different branch with a less distracting natural background.
Stern Gaze (Northern Hawk Owl)
These guys always seem to look like they are ticked off to me. Not sure why?
Roosting Down Low (Short-Eared Owl)
After a successful hunt a short-eared owl rests down low in the marsh grass near the ocean. Flickr folks please left click for more detail.
Best Eye Contact ( Northern Harrier)
Probably my best perching shot of the grey ghost from our last trip. Flickr folks please left click for more detail.
Coming in Low (Northern Harrier)
On one of his hunting runs the male northern harrier skims low over the marsh weeds as he flies towards the camera. Flickr folks please left click for more detail.
Underside View (Northern Harrier)
Found another harrier image this morning that I thought you might like. Be sure to zoom in for extra detail.
Shortie Environmental Shot (Short-Eared Owl)
The conditions are rarely perfect for shooting these guys and as you can see they are usually found in a similar situation to this image . I guess if wildlife photography wasn't as challenging then everyone would be doing it.
Berry Bandit (Varied Thrush)
Been a bit busy lately so I decided to take a bit of time out to photograph some backyard birds. In this shot a varied thrush steels a red cotoneaster berry from the bush in our back yard.
Sunny Day Kingfisher (Belted Kingfisher)
Went to French Creek and had some fun with the local kingfishers
Change of Diet (Northern Pygmy Owl)
Now that the bugs are all gone the northern pygmy owl has changed over to his winter diet of birds and small rodents. In this image he has caught an unsuspecting chickadee as it fed with the rest of the flock in a near by fir tree.
Back Details (Bufflehead Duck)
Thought you might like this banking shot. Always a bonus when you can get detail in the entire back and both wings.
Pygmy Closeup (Northern Pygmy Owl)
Pretty harsh light at the venue the other day. Had to wait until the owl flew into the shadows.
Fall Colour Pygmy Owl #2
Found another one I like with a less cluttered background. Hope you like it!
Coming in For a Landing (Great Grey Owl)
Sorry, a rather large crop on this one. A great grey owl prepares to land on a small conifer in its favorite hunting area.
Right at Eye Level (Great Horned Owl)
This image taken in the forests of north Nanaimo. Horned owls seem to be everywhere again this year. Flickr folks please left click for better detail.
Out on a Limb (Great Horned Owl) Thanks For Over 5,000,000 views!!!!
The male keeping watch from another near by branch up in the oak trees. Flickr folks please left click for closer view. My thanks to all of the people who came for a look at my Flickr page over the past 10 years! I have just passed the 5 million views mark today (August 16, 2023).
Frank Lake Sora
Another image that slipped through the cracks. A Sora forages for food in the shallows at the edge of Frank Lake in Southern Alberta. We do get the Sora here on the coast of B.C. Just not quite as common as the Virginia Rail.
The Hand Off (Great Grey Owls)
Here is a quick image just before the male owl hands over a vole to one of the owlets. We saw four owlets that evening spread in a small area throughout the forest.
Thanks Dad! (Great Grey Owls)
In this image the male great grey owl has just finished delivering another vole to one of the owlets. He turns to take one last look towards the camera before flying away.
Me and My Mom (Great Grey Owls)
After a brief preening session on a burnt log the female great grey owl and her owlet stop for a quick portrait shot.
Skimming The Grass (Great Grey Owl)
In a farmer's field in Southern Alberta a great grey owl skims the grass as it hunts the fence line.
Bird on a Wire (Rose-Breasted Grosbeak)
Found this guy on the side of the road while photographing the great grey owls in Southern Alberta. Detected him originally with the Merlin sound app. Works pretty good! A lifer for me as we just don't seem to get them in costal BC.
Wings Down Version (Black-Headed Grosbeak)
Had some fun with the black-headed grosbeaks today at Morrell Bird Sanctuary in south Nanaimo.
Male Townsend's Warbler
Another one from the Enos Lake trail.
Holden Creek Mountain Bluebird
I had heard rumors of a fallout of bluebirds after this lousy weather we have been having lately. Sometimes the odd one will show up but usually at the end of March or first week in April. So, this morning I went on a quest locally to find some. I ended up at Holden Creek south of Nanaimo where I found 3 male and 2 female birds. We don't usually get to photograph these guys until we go to the interior later on in the spring so this is a special treat.
He's Still Out There! (Great Horned Owl)
Remember when you walk in the forest, after all of these years, "Jabba The Hoot" is still watching you.
Keeping a Vigil (Northern Pygmy Owl)
A northern pygmy owl keeps an eye on some ravens as they pass close by his perch.
Buttertubs Snipe (Wilson's Snipe)
As the snow recedes a Wilson's Snipe feeds in the exposed vegitation at Buttertubs Marsh.
First Jewel of Spring (Ruby-Crowned Kinglet)
Found this little guy bouncing in the alder trees on the edge of Buttertubs Marsh today.
Male Harlequin Duck in Flight
Really liking some of the recent results of the 2X converter on ducks in flight!
Don't Go Into The Light! (Short-Eared Owl)
Nice position for me but not so great for these guys. Can't imagine what they were thinking.
Skimming Over The Bulrushes (Short-Eared Owl)
Still a few good shots left from my last two trips to Brunswick Point.
Twilight Glide (short-eared owl)
Just after sunset a short-eared owl glides by during a hunt.
Saving The Best For Last (Short-Eared Owl)
This image also taken before the sun came out in the morning.
Last Leaves of Autumn (Northern Shrike)
A northern shrike in afternoon light. Not considered a raptor but eats everything from bugs to mice and other birds. Sometimes called "The Butcher Bird", it has been known to impale its prey on sharp objects such as thorns and barbwire fences for eating at a later time. Nasty!
Olden Golden (Short-Eared Owl)
Here is one from a few years back that I re-worked. I used the frame after this one for the original post as it seemed a bit sharper. Here is hoping that the shorties come in close like in this image. Can't believe we got shots like this with only 16MP.
Male Wood Duck Portrait
Taken in the springtime. They should all be looking like this now after the fall eclipse.
ID Please? (Pheasant?)
Found this guy/girl wandering down the road the other day at the Nanaimo Estuary. Anyone out there have a clue as to what it is? Thought it was someone's chicken that had escaped at first. Pretty tame. Almost ran over it with the car. Have never seen one so blue.
Keeping a Lookout (Great Horned Owl)
A great horned owl keeps an eye on some ravens from a nearby fir tree branch.
Landing With Flair (Belted Kinfisher)
A kingfisher lands on a stick during a shoot with friends today at French Creek.
Red-Breasted Nuthatch
These little guys like to move around a lot!
Early Morning at Swan Lake (Barn Swallow)
Dodging shadows before the harsh light hit.
Eyes on Target (American Kestrel)
A male American kestrel prepares for a landing on an old tree snag at Cinnamon Ridge near Kamloops.
Focus Test - WIngs Up (Red-Winged Blackbird)
Here is another example with wings up.
Red Head Duck Liftoff
A red head duck blasts off from the surface of Python Lake in Kamloops. Thank you for the "Explore" and all the wonderful comments. This was just a quick grab in a sequence of several images as he unexpectedly burst out of the water.
Afternoon with "Mr. T" (Western Tanager)
Found a lovely cooperative western tanager today in Linley Valley. Took a while but they are finally back from Costa Rica.
Oliver Woods Pileated Woodpecker
Another in flight image from Oliver Woods Marsh.
Distant Image (American Kestrel)
Here is another one from last weekend. Couldn't get them to come in close so we had to do long distance stuff.
Sunny Day Kingfisher (Belted Kingfisher)
No swallows at Foothills Marsh yesterday so I got a few more shots of my favorite kingfisher.
A Bit Farther Away (Violet-Green Swallow - Male)
Here is one of the male at a bit farther distance.
Showing His True Colors (Yellow-Rumped Warbler)
Every year I try to get at least one image of all four yellow areas on a yellow rump warbler. In this photo you can see a tace of yellow on the head, yellow on the throat, yellow on the side of the breast, and the yellow rump. It would have been a bit better with a different head position but this is pretty close. Please click twice for more detail.
Crash Landing! (Long-Tailed Duck)
Long-tailed ducks look pretty majestic when they are flying and taking off but for some reason are a bit awkward when it comes to their landings. In this image a drake attempts a landing but crashes into the water instead. A bit comical to witness in person.
Morning Star Harry Woodpecker
Photographed this guy down at the Morningstar Ponds in Parksville today. He was digging for bugs in an old dead stump. Please click twice for extra flavor and crispness.
Out in The Open (Wilson's Snipe)
Photographed this Wilson's snipe today at Buttertubs Marsh. This was a rare treat to see one of these birds out in the open. Normally they are hidden away in the grass somewhere and you end up flushing them inadvertently when you get too close. They bob up and down like a dipper. Fun to watch!
WIngs Down Version (Red-Breasted Merganser)
On the way out of Piper's Lagoon. Not the same bird believe it or not.
Windy Day Long-Tail Duck
A few more long-tail ducks showing up at Deep Bay now. The north wind was pretty cold out there yesterday.
Beautiful Even in Winter Time (Horned Grebe)
The horned grebes have totally converted over to their winter plumage once again at Deep Bay. Such an amazing transformation. Like two totally different birds.
Take a Bow (Roosevelt Elk)
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Pygmy Portrait 2021 (Northern Pygmy Owl)
Tried to get close but the pygmy owl was a bit elusive today. Should have used a higher F/stop. Forgot how super telephotos tend to compress at close distances. Thanks for your faves and comments everyone! I am shooting a bit less lately but seem to be getting more explores too.
More Even Light (Northern Pygmy Owl) #108
It was an uncommon day today where we got nice even light and the pygmy owl on an open perch with a good background. I had a high shutter speed as I was trying to catch the bird in flight. Unfortunately he turned at the last moment to fly away from me.
Portrait Version (Yellow Legs)
Here is another photo in the same sequence that I cropped in portrait. Thought it was also good because of the separation in the birds. You be the judge.
Moma is Watching (2021) (Great Grey Owl)
Here is a picture of the female great grey. Not much in the way of hunting in the usual places while we were there so unfortunately we didn't get any flight shots. Only saw one male and one female adult this time and they took off a few seconds after we found them. I guess timing is everything.
The Three Caballeros (Great Grey Owlets)
An image from our second trip to the BC interior. Thanks for the great comments everyone! There were four owlets but one was too bashful to join the other three. Could be he/she was visiting from another brood near by. They don't seem to mind sharing their territory and there are several broods within a short distance from one another. They seem to act as a community at times rather than individual family groups.
Resting on Some Marsh Grass (Yellow-Headed Blackbird)
The yellow heads seemed to be the dominant blackbird in the interior but you could still find some red wing and brewers blackbirds as well.
Taking a Breather (American Kestrel)
The male American kestrel takes a brief rest at the nest hole after delivering another lizard. Folks on Flickr please left click for the best detail.
A Smile For The Camera (American Kestrel)
Could have sworn that the lizard in this picture is looking at me and smiling. Did my best with this one in some harsh light.
Three Eyes Are Better Than One (Great Horned Owlets)
About a day before they left the nest. All three owlets are out now. Not sure where the other sibling was at the time of this image.
On Guard For Ravens (Great Horned Owl)
This is the male just after a tussle with some ravens. Taken in the jungles of Linley Valley. Folks on Flickr please left click twice for the best detail.
Momma and Owlet Pose For The Camera (Great Horned Owls)
Somewhat better eye contact on this image.
High Centered (Red-Eared Slider)
It was pretty slow for birds today so I went to the turtle races. This guy was in the lead until he got high centered on a log 🙂 Left click twice for higher detail.
Moma Was Busy Today (Anna's Hummingbird)
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Crown of Thornes (Mountain Bluebird)
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American Bittern Close Up
Trying to conceal himself in the shadows.
First Pygmy Owl of 2021 (Northern Pygmy Owl)
Sorry about this one. I will try to get closer next time 🙂
Common Golden Eye Duck (Piper's Lagoon)
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Sunshine Oystercatcher
Dave Pley and I had a lot of fun yesterday with the Deep Bay oystercatchers. It's been a long time since the sun was shining so it was good to get out for a bit. Had to reel back on the magnification as the birds were flying pretty close at times.
What Are You Lookin' At? (Great Horned Owl)
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You Have Lovely Eyes (Crested Cormorant)
There were some cormorants hanging around the pilings at Brunswick Point last Friday. Made for a few interesting photos.
A Bit Closer Today - Coming (Harlequin Duck)
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French Creek Female Kingfisher
Looking a bit scruffy like she's in the molt.
On Another Favorite Perch (Northern Pygmy Owl)
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Patience Pays Off (Northern Pygmy Owl)
Stayed behind after all the other photographers had left today and had a great shoot with the pygmy owl at around 11:00am.
Tufts Up! (Great Horned Owl)
On high alert after an attack by mobbing ravens. They don't call them "Great Horned" for nothing.
Morning Feeding Time (Barn Swallow)
Beat myself up a bit over this one. I decided to post it anyway. Not quite there yet with my tracking and technique on the new Sony but starting to try faster more elusive subjects. This barn swallow was feeding over top of the algae covered areas of Swan Lake in Victoria yesterday morning.
Red-Eared Slider
You may have noticed that I haven't been posting a lot lately. Just figuring out a new camera system. Thought I would start on slower subjects first :-). This turtle is a red-eared slider. Probably just let go from someone's private collection. They are invasive and are direct competition for our native western painted turtles. Amazing how big they can get in the wild as some of the larger ones can be the size of a dinner plate.
Another Great Horned Owlet
Ran into another great horned owlet yesterday at Hemer Park in Cedar. Momma was too shy and refused to come close for a good photo.
GHO Portrait (Great Horned Owl)
Taken somewhere in the temperate jungles of Vancouver Island.
What Are You Lookin' At? (Western Tanager)
This one taken at Oliver Woods Marsh here in Nanaimo B.C.
Enos Lake Townsend's Warbler
Did my yearly expedition to the Enos Lake trail in Nanoose Bay today. Ran into yet another Townsend's warbler singing up a storm in the arbutus trees.
Mandarin Suprise (Mandarin Duck)
Guess we have our own mandarin duck on the island now. He has a wood duck girlfriend just like Trevor too!
Better Focus? (Northern Pygmy Owl)
They must have given my camera a real tune up at Canon when I sent it in. Could swear that it is even better focus than before.
Coming In For a Landing (Long-Tailed Duck)
I was a bit out of practice after being in the house for five weeks so finally got out to Deep Bay to play with the long-tailed ducks. Sorry for the quality. It will take time to get all of my flight photos up to snuff and shake the rust off.
Coming Straight At Me (Short-Eared Owl)
Another image in the series of a short-eared owl flying straight at the camera at close range.
Great Grey Glide (Great Grey Owl)
Another image of the great grey owl on its way past me as I stand in a mountain meadow. Love the feather patterns on these guys.
Shortie On A Snag ( Short-Eared Owl)
Here is another nice one from 2016 that was never posted. I probably won't be getting over to the mainland this winter so you may see me posting more of my oldies but goodies. Perhaps next year?
Evening Shoot (Northern Hawk Owl)
Here is a nice shot of the northern hawk owl from last spring. Really like the background color on this one. Shot in evening light just before sundown.
Shortie Flight Shot (Short-Eared Owl)
Another nice short-eared owl flight shot from the archives.
