Birding in BC Community

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 .

Snow Bunting by Jewill on Flickr

There's not much chance of me seeing another Brant Goose this year, so here is a photo from April at Rathtrevor Beach, Parksville.
Brant Geese by Bill Gyles, on Flickr

DSC_0268a by R Varga, on Flickr

Stumbled across this from earlier this year.

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.

Tropical Kingbird by R Varga, on Flickr

This was the celebrity bird drawing birders out to Boundary Bay Regional Park in Tsawwassen.

Hudsonian 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.

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:
Red Throated Loon02 Nov11_2023 by GMcD2008, on Flickr

Red Throated Loon01 Nov11_2023 by GMcD2008, on Flickr

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.
Canvasbacks by Bill Gyles, on Flickr

Northern Shrike Juvenile (Lanius excubitor) by Randy, on Flickr

I think this was still on our "haven't seen" list.

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.

American Avocets05 Nov26_2023 by GMcD2008, on Flickr

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.

Black Crowned Night Heron02 Nov26_2023 by GMcD2008, on Flickr

In spite of the fog and 0 degree temp I headed out to Brydon Lagoon in Langley this morning and was rewarded with 2 more to cross off the "still to be added" list:

Canvasback (Female) by Jewill on Flickr (Also known as the Mudface duck )

White-throated Sparrow by Jewill on Flickr

Well, it seems I did it again! Bill had already posted both male and female Canvasbacks . I still don’t see the White-throated Sparrow anywhere so at least I got 1 to cross off the list.

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.

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!
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2023: ??
2022: 232 Birds
2021: 282 Birds
2020: 260 Birds
2019: 273 Birds