The days of wine and roses...

I got a call about a Phalarope discovered at the mansion at 96th St but the person couldn't identify it so I went down to nail it to species. It would be my first of year regardless the tide was awful and wasn't expecting to see much. I went down and it was 28 degrees harsh light and a sunny beautiful day. Before I even got to the mansion a small plover caught my eye I got my bins on it and could see it was a golden plover. I got the scope out and they started multiplying it was one, then 2 more appearing. My luck ran out at 3 birds now it was the hard task of identifying these guys in the harsh light haha. One was in full breeding plumage and they all had a short primary extension with 3 primaries visible past the tertials and white on the flanks they were all Pacific Golden-Plovers. I have never seen such a full breeding plumaged one in Vancouver before. I know my friend Kevin Louth found one when I was out of town so it was a cool sight to see. The bird were sitting at the foot of 96th St hugged against the dyke resting and feeding in the little islands. The tide was way out so it was a little odd but very cool I went down on the mudflats but photography was useless in that harsh light plus I didn't want to flush them.

1 of 3 Pacific Golden-Plovers at Boundary Bay. This one was in full breeding plumage - Photo: Melissa Hafting

1 of 3 Pacific Golden-Plovers shot under extreme harsh light - Photo: Melissa Hafting

I walked on to the mansion and quickly found the phalarope. It was a male Wilson's and he was hopping around literally jumping up and down catching flies and bugs. It was something I'd never seen before usually you see Phalaropes swimming around in circles.

About the worst photo you could get of a male Wilson's Phalarope - Photo: Melissa Hafting

Anyways back to back great nights of birding and finding my own rarities.

Looking forward to what is next. May is a very cool time of the year, you just never know what will show up.


Comments

  1. Peter ZadoroznyMay 14, 2018 at 8:29 PM

    That breeding plover is a stunner - considering the conditions you sure got some decent images. Congrats

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Melissa HaftingMay 14, 2018 at 10:45 PM

      THANKS WENT BACK AT DUSK WHEN LIGHT WAS GOOD FOR PHOTOGRAPHY AND THEY WERE GONE! HE SURE IS A STUNNER THOUGH YOU ARE RIGHT :)

      Delete

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