Ivory Gull

Posted on December 16, 2012 by birdquest2004

Yesterday, I returned to work, on the midnight shift,  feeling kind of blue about the whole heart problems.   Following my shift, I woke up Saturday at 1:10pm, couldn’t decide whether I needed more sleep or not.  So I decided to killed a few minutes by checking my Ontbird email.  There was a posting for an Ivory Gull but not recognizing the name I countinued reading down the page.   Checking back on the posting for the Gull, figuring it would be some obscure  part of Ontario, you can imagine my surprise when I saw that someone had posted it for Mike Runtz and it was being seen at the moment at the headpond of the Madawaska River.

I think it took me all of 8 minutes to get in the car, camera and binoculars in hand.  Twenty-eight minutes and change, to drive 59kms. Yup, I think I went faster than the posted speeds.

My GPS took me to the  exact spot and I saw  familiar faces, my first words were “is it still here”.

The rest is history, a bird I’ve chased over the past 10 winters, up and down the eastern seaboard was finally in the books.  Bird 631 of my quest to “GET THEM ALL” and a new bird for my Ottawa list.  This species has only been seen locally in the area back in 2001 (Amherst) and 1995 (Lake Dore), thanks Bruce.  It had never been seen in the Ottawa 50k….

The photo is at extreme distance but its a keeper for sure.  I would have loved to stay and try for more images but I did have to get to work.  Work always does get in the way.  I’m going to have to do something about that, soon.

IvoryGull

IvoryGull3

Thanks to Mike Runtz, a great find.

Ciao for now…..My spirits are a bit more Ivory, today

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Lewis Woodpecker

Posted on November 19, 2012 by birdquest2004

This past August, Sue and I, met up with Pat and Dave, in British Columbia’s, Okanagan Valley.  Sue and I had met Pat and Dave on one of our first trips to Arizona, they are both passionate birders and we clicked right away.

We visited the town of Osooyos,  spenting a few days relaxing and birding.  We  hadn’t seen Dave and Pat for a few years and it was nice to visit with them and spend a bit of time birding.  I had mentioned to Dave, that I’d love to get a better image of a Lewis Woodpecker.  He knew a spot that had a family of Lewis Woodpeckers.  As usual he didn’t dissapoint.

Following the Crowsnest Hwy (3) eastbound, up the hill, the first road on the left is Chapman Road, following this road about 1/2 km you will come to a split, take Deerfoot Road left at the end of it is a lovely B & B.  They have a bird feeder and the Lewis Woodpecker comes in frequently for a few seeds.

In the area we saw a family unit of about 8-10 birds, one was a brightly colored male and he was the one I just had to photograph, with the permission of the owner of the B & B, I parked near the feeder using my car as a blind.

I saw California Quail, Towhee, Finches and even a small Wren as I was waiting.

I was about ready to give up when in he came for some seeds and gave me a lovely view from about 40 feet. A keeper image.

Thanks, Pat and Dave was a real pleasure to see you, I think I gained about 2 pounds…lololol

CaliforniaQuailFemale

CaliforniaQuailMale

HouseFinch

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Lewis5

LewisWoodpecker3

SpottedTowhee

Ciao for Now

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