Sunday 1 January 2017

Ending The Big Year

Dark eyed Junco
The last day of my big year has now past, and what a year it has been! An exciting, fun interesting year full of surprises. I have traveled all across B.C. and all the way to the other side of Canada. I have seen 217 interesting beautiful and incredible species of birds. I am so lucky to be doing this and to not be alone. So many people have helped me along the way and without them I would be nowhere. To all who helped especially Adrian Dorst, Jackie Windh, Artie Ahier, Ian Cruickshank,  Ann Nightingale, Rick Schortinghuis, my loving parents and wonderful bird dog Schooner.


In the last few days of the year I went to Victoria and Delta to bag a few more birds—our goal was to find 5 new ones. We were pleasantly surprised when we saw a short-eared owl, our 7th new bird of the trip. We also saw an American Kestrel a Mute Swan a Long Tailed Duck a Sky Lark a Canvasback and a Ruddy Duck. We also saw some not new birds, (but they're always a joy to see,) like the barred owl, black oystercatcher, brandt goose, common goldeneye and many others.


Black Oystercatcher

American Kestrel
Common Goldeneye
Barred Owl
Brandt goose


 I see new birds all the time, but I always love to see old favourites over and over again,
like Phooey, our resident great blue heron. 
Phooey comes for Christmas dinner!
Phooey gets shooed away due to terrible table manners!
My big year may be over, but birdymcbirdface will continue. ..
Come back soon and visit! Happy New Year!