Vanier Park Sightings

RickWright · **Posted:** Nov 04 2:19 pm

Four Hooded Mergansers on the pond this morning, but rather little else.

stickman · **Posted:** Nov 04 6:08 pm

yep. Went for a spin around the point this evening and saw 2 Hooded Mergansers and the Canvasback. There was a Horned Grebe off shore and 4 Buffleheads in kits pool as well!

RickWright · **Posted:** Nov 08 4:17 pm

Eurasian Wigeon, Hooded Merganser, and Snow Goose at Vanier this morning. I'm wondering whether there would be interest in a field trip to the area sometime in the next six weeks. We shouldn't expect a big species count or anything notably rare, but could be fun.

stickman · **Posted:** Nov 08 4:45 pm

Biked past the ponds on my way home from work today. Saw the Eurasian Wigeon, 1 Hooded Merganser, Canvasback & 2 Green-Winged Teals.

The highlight was definitely seeing a Bald Eagle take a gull though. Arrived right as it was happening. It rested with talons firmly on the poor gull's throat to make sure it had killed it then flew off a few minutes later...

I would be interested in a field trip for sure.

Julian

RickWright · **Posted:** Nov 09 9:28 am

I've 'posted' a couple of field trips to the Nature Vancouver site.
http://naturevancouver.ca/events/field_trips

Peatbog · **Joined:** Nov 03 8:09 pm **Posts:** 12

Saw a bird with a flock of Barrow's goldeneye off Vanier, that resembled a common goldenye except that it had a large light grey patch under its eye, and brighter white ovals ahead of its eye and near the back of its head, and had a dark eye. Had the white underside and black top of a common goldeneye, but didn't see the usual black streaks coming down into the white. Stayed down for a long time when it dove, and travelled a long way underwater.

Any ideas?

Hugh

RickWright · **Posted:** Nov 11 1:09 pm

Interesting, we'll keep an eye out. Meanwhile, here's a strange Bucephalus-like duck from the same location this past January.
http://birdaz.com/blog/2010/01/07/an-odd-duck/

Hayabusa · **Joined:** Nov 12 12:44 am **Posts:** 14

I'm new to the area and been trying to catch some of the amazing birds on camera... with not too much luck.
I've done some research and heard that there's a pair of eagles in the park, but haven't spotted them yet. I plan to go by on the weekend to try again.
Also I'm definitely interested in joining the field trip :mrgreen:

RickWright · **Posted:** Nov 12 8:49 am

Great, the field trip dates are on the Nature Vancouver site. See you then!

RickWright · **Posted:** Nov 16 5:31 pm

Thanks to all who came out to bird Vanier Park this morning! It was a very nice walk in spite of the wind, with highlights including Cackling Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, and Cassiar Junco.
We'll do it again.

RickWright · **Posted:** Nov 18 8:17 pm

Presumably the same juvenile Snow Goose that has been lingering at Vanier Park was visible across False Creek this noon. No sign of the Cackling Goose that was there a couple of days ago, but we didn't stand out in the miserable weather long enough to look thoroughly.

RickWright · **Posted:** Nov 20 8:05 pm

Cackling Goose and Eurasian Wigeon on the pond this morning, but the real excitement was provided by a Short-eared Owl, which was found by the Northwestern Crows and chased vigorously up, up, up and out over English Bay.

nucks · **Joined:** Nov 22 11:00 pm **Posts:** 1

Hayabusa wrote:

I've done some research and heard that there's a pair of eagles in the park, but haven't spotted them yet. I plan to go by on the weekend to try again.
:mrgreen:

I've seen the eagles a few times when I've been riding to work in the morning. coming north on cypress they've been sitting on top of the totem pole in front of the museum. I saw an eagle there a few months ago fly by with a cormorant in its talons.

Hayabusa · **Joined:** Nov 12 12:44 am **Posts:** 14

I was thinking of going by on the way to work, but it's actually a bit out of the way so I haven't succeeded yet.
Probably dropping by on the weekend to see if I can spot anything

juncadee · **Posted:** Nov 30 6:30 pm

Did the field trip go ahead this morning? I was hoping to join in but got scared off by the dire rain forecast. I will aim for the next one on the 9th.

Vanier Park Sightings

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