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By jewill
#91904
I thought we had a Snow Bunting already but it's on the "still to be added" list so I guess we don't. I even tried doing a search on it but was advised that snow and bunting are too common to look for (maybe snow is common but i don't think bunting is all that common a word, even in a birding forum :?).
Anyway I'm posting my photo of said bird and if it turns out that it is a duplicate it won't be the 1st time I've done that :roll:.

ImageSnow Bunting by Jewill on Flickr
#91909
Have enjoyed the recent postings, with special mention to the Bunting, Surfbird, Lincoln Sparrow and Horned Lark shots. Judy, great that you captured those little "horns" on the Lark. I am guessing you captured the Bunting at Blackie Spit. I was out there last week, where five of them literally foraged around our feet. It was quite amazing.
#91911
ImageHudsonian Godwit by R Varga, on Flickr

Its lucky I came across a group of scopers on the Boundary Bay dike, because this bird was so far out I would never have spotted it with my bare eyes, or even binoculars. This group assured me this was a Hudsonian, and when I check the coloration of the bird in my references, am pretty sure they are right. I cropped this image aggressively to get even this small view of the bird. Look for the bird with the rusty breast in the midst of the plovers.
By GMcD
#91912
A small break in the weather this morning allowed a quick walk out to the river near London's Landing here in Richmond, BC. Many winter ducks showing up, watched the Shady Island Eagles chasing a few down, with one making a meal out of a slow Widgeon. But, I spied with my little eye - hey, that's not a juvenile Cormorant, or a female Common Merganser, - got the optics on it and saw a juvenile Red Throated Loon across the channel. Got a few distant photos, heavily cropped in crap light, but another bird can be crossed off the list:
ImageRed Throated Loon02 Nov11_2023 by GMcD2008, on Flickr

ImageRed Throated Loon01 Nov11_2023 by GMcD2008, on Flickr
#91913
Lots of great recent additions, as always. I was lucky to take a walk around Buttertubs Marsh at the right time to see these seven Canvasbacks swim a bit closer and then fly off. The very dark heads and necks on the males confused me at first.
ImageCanvasbacks by Bill Gyles, on Flickr
By GMcD
#91916
After a few years of not visiting Reifel Bird Sanctuary out there in Delta (Ladner), I finally made the effort. The American Avocets were still there, in snooze mode this morning. Bright overcast light, but good enough for a record photo and to cross the Avocet off the list.

ImageAmerican Avocets05 Nov26_2023 by GMcD2008, on Flickr
By GMcD
#91917
While at Reifel, the obligatory photo of a Black Crowned Night Heron must be had. One was there in the usual tree near the entrance, but very well hunkered down in the mess of branches. However, a glimpse of eyes and a beak are good enough for me, and the Black Crowned Night heron can be crossed off this years list.

ImageBlack Crowned Night Heron02 Nov26_2023 by GMcD2008, on Flickr
By jewill
#91919
Well, it seems I did it again! Bill had already posted both male and female Canvasbacks :oops: . I still don’t see the White-throated Sparrow anywhere so at least I got 1 to cross off the list.
By jewill
#91920
I’ve had a second opinion from an experienced birder and the Canvasback is a male in eclipse plumage. Not that it makes all that much difference, except to other Canvasbacks, but I thought I’d make the correction.
#91922
Lol, Judy ... I've been trying to see a Canvasback the last few years in Canada ... no luck for me so far. Glad to see y'all keeping the list going. I step away for a couple of weeks and y'all really get after it! haha. Thanks, everyone, for the contributions. Here is the updated list of YET TO BE ADDED:
viewtopic.php?p=91921#p91921

We are at 236 birds for the year (so far) ... I was a little bit of a slacker this year ... I had several trips out of the Province, so I didn't get to find my normal "Higher Elevation" birds. We also had a change in the Roberts Lake area and that probably drove off a few of the birds I would have found pretty easily. Not to mention the gigantic fire we had (and a small one on Knox Mountain) made everything a little crazy this year. Here are our totals for the last 5 years of the "challenge." I've really enjoyed seeing all of the contributions ... We'll see if we make 240 this year! :mrgreen:
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2023: ??
2022: 232 Birds
2021: 282 Birds
2020: 260 Birds
2019: 273 Birds
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After the Monday windstorm and overnight howling w[…]