Shooting American Robins and Tourism Richmond and BC Bird Trail Features

I haven't been out birding properly since Nov 7th. I haven't photographed a bird since Oct 31st. I finally felt like picking up a camera again today. My target today was American Robins. A common underrated bird that so many of us (including myself) sometimes take for granted. There were large flocks feeding on crabapples today at Garry Point Park. I was there today looking at the late Yellow Warbler that my friend Alan Moat found yesterday. Winter listers will be out on Dec 1st for this bird I can assure you. I saw it and went for my Robins. It was because I was so busy shooting American Robins that I missed the Townsend's Solitaire that briefly came in for a gander and who then immediately took off in less than a minute.

Here are a few fruits of my labour. They are the best shots I've taken of this species and the male was really accommodating. I find in the winter that American Robins are at their most beautiful with their fine breast scaling etc. Note the male with his dark head was incredibly handsome. I used a golden maple tree behind the birds to create a golden background.

American Robins in Richmond - Photos: Melissa Hafting

Yellow Warbler in Richmond - Photo: Melissa Hafting

By the way Tourism Richmond did a interview and blog post with me that you can read about HERE.

The BC Bird Trail website also did a blog post a few days ago about the BC Rare Bird Alert that I run and we discussed why rarities are so important to birders. They featured some of my photos too. You can read the piece HERE.

I was also interviewed about the Common Pochard in Victoria and the challenges of birding during the pandemic. It certainly has been challenging running the RBA in the pandemic with the high degree of rarities being found but I think the moderators and I have done a pretty good job and birders have been really compliant. Sure I've received some criticism which I have deemed to be very unfair criticism as I do all I can to promote compliance and state the rules, I promote birding 2m apart, wearing masks, not birding in groups, staying local, avoiding non-essential travel. I also link to health orders and the guidelines, I post covid notices in bold red... you name it. I am very grateful though to the majority of the birding community who have said "thank you" to me and told me what a good job I've done and sent me so much support for the volunteer work I do for this community out of my own free time. All I can say is THANK GOD for birding because if we didn't have the birds to look at I for one would have a hard time getting through.

Savannah Sparrow in Garry Point Park in Richmond - Photo: Melissa Hafting

Comments

  1. LonelytravellerNovember 30, 2020 at 10:37 AM

    Beautiful Robin Shots! Congratulations on the two articles!

    ReplyDelete
  2. KenDecember 1, 2020 at 1:57 PM

    Mel
    As usual, beautiful shots of a bird to many o us kind of ignore. I am bad abut that to " Just another junco / song sparrow etc).
    Congrats on the articles . I really need to get to Richmond more. Some of those favourite parks of yours, I've never been to. Re: the rare bird alert article, not enough people ( me included) thank you often enough for all the tireless work you do. If some people don't appreciate what you are doing, thats their issue. Our world is a better place for all that you do.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Melissa HaftingDecember 2, 2020 at 9:06 AM

      thanks so much ken for your kindness. it truly means so much to me especially at this difficult time.

      Delete
  3. Alasco LópezDecember 1, 2020 at 5:14 PM

    What a beautiful pictures!
    If you want to see more photos of birds, I share you my blog.

    https://avesdecordobayargentina.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Melissa HaftingDecember 2, 2020 at 9:05 AM

      thanks alasco! lovely shots you have on your site too i need to go to argentina one of these days post covid.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Dowitcher Identification

Image
Birders notoriously find it difficult to tell Short-billed and Long-billed Dowitchers apart. I have got a request to do an identification explanation on them so here goes, I hope it will be helpful. Short-billed Dowitchers and Long-billed look so similar. Using their habitat is helpful but not diagnostic. Short-billed Dowitchers tend to prefer Salt water and brackish water and Long-billed Dowitchers tend to prefer fresh water. However, I have OFTEN seen Short-billeds in freshwater and Long-billeds in brackish and salt water. Therefore, DO NOT rely on habitat. Another feature many people will tell you to rely on is spotting on the side of the flanks of Short-billeds and barring on the side of Long-billeds. Usually this is a mark that you can use but it is not always as distinct as you like. I have seen Short-billeds with a barred appearance to the flanks. It is only at the side of the breast where you have to look for this diagnostic feature for the spots on a Short-billed and t...
Read more

Hawk Identification Tips from every angle (Sharpie vs Cooper and Red-tailed Subspecies)

Image
I get several questions about the difference between accipiters. The most common ones are between Sharp-shinned Hawks and Cooper's Hawks and between Cooper's Hawks vs Northern Goshawks (to a lesser degree). Next, I get many questions dealing with a certain race of buteos the Western Red-tailed Hawk and Harlan's. So I thought I would do a post on these to help answer those questions. I will deal with Cooper's and Sharpies and not Goshawks because they are much more common here and look much more alike. My friend John Reynolds inspired me to write this up. COOPER'S AND SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS EYE COLOUR - YELLOW OR ORANGE? RED? Normally a juvenile Cooper's hawk has a bright yellow eye and a Juvie Sharpie has a orange eye but some cooper's can have a dull yellow eye that looks a bit orangish. Cooper's Hawks usually only transition to the orange eye colour when they are sub adults, so in good light, it's a very very reliable feature. However you ...
Read more

STINT IDENTIFICATION

Image
As per request, here are some tips that I hope will be helpful in identifying and differentiating Red-necked Stint from Little Stint. I will also do a brief intro on Long-toed and Temminck's Stint... if you build it they will come right?😉 Red-necked and Little Stints look very much alike in worn breeding plumage. The amount of Red on the face, throat and breast in Red-necked Stint is vary variable). They look even more alike in non-breeding plumage, that is why it is essential to learn structural differences to separate the two. They are similar to Semipalmated Sandpipers as well as Sanderlings. Both species are often confused for Red-necked Stints. Little Stints rarely get confused with Sanderling because they have a hind toe which helps differentiate it from this species. Sanderlings in breeding or worn breeding are usually confused with Red-necked Stints but they are much larger than Red-necked Stints. Let's first start with Bills in this complicated ID proces...
Read more

*Updated - The most famous Red-tailed Hawk is eating fish on the ground just like a Bald Eagle!

Image
Update - There are plans in the works to make a documentary film on this young Red-tailed Hawk who thinks he's an Eagle. You can read the latest news about that on CBC HERE . Watch this incredible footage of the little Red-tailed Hawk who grew up in a family of three Eaglets and 2 Bald Eagle Parents. He is imprinted now on Bald Eagles. He looks and acts just like one, as you can see here in the video below. He is standing over a large salmon carcass, just like a Bald Eagle would and he's eating the decaying flesh. Red-tailed Hawks like to eat voles and rabbits etc. not fish! Imprinting is usually irreversible according to raptor expert David Bird. However, I hope it's reversible so that he doesn't attempt to mate with a Bald Eagle, as the Eagle would kill him because it would view him as a Hawk. Eagle expert David Hancock said that the bird will likely starve and get killed by an eagle. He said this possibly can be prevented if someone grabs it and takes it to O...
Read more

1 year since I lost my father

Image
My dad and I whom I miss terribly. One year on since I lost him. Today would have been my mother's bday. Her name was Valerie and it is also the first year anniversary of the death of my beloved father, Arne. There is not a day that goes by where I don't think of them. Now for ever more the day of his death will be connected to her birthday, a very sad day but in a way that connection is beautiful to tie them together. My beautiful family before we lost both parents. I put flowers down at their grave to celebrate them both today. I hate that it is one year since I told him I loved him and hugged him. I miss him so very much. I miss his voice, his love and guidance and support. The ground for me feels shakier without his guidance and safety. I hate I will never see him again or talk to him again. Can't believe how quick time passes. This is why it is so important we treasure every single day to the fullest and tell those we love them. I will never forget the day he passed aw...
Read more