A mountain bird

Whiskey Jack

At the beginning of February a couple of my girlfriends and I went snowshoeing. It was a glorious sunny day. We had stopped just to take in the sights when these little guys started flying overhead. We had some seed snack so my friend put some in her hand and viola. These birds are Whiskey Jacks. They were really friendly birds...something tells me that we weren't the only ones who fed them.

Clark's Nutcatcher

It's been awhile since I have made a post on my bird blog. I unfortunately haven't had much time to get out to do any birding. Today, without even trying my hubby and I spotted this bird on our property. It was around 4:30 when I arrived home and saw this bird in my driveway. Later that evening my husband tells me he spotted a new bird and had photos of it on our camera. Well what a pleasant surprise. It turns out we both were looking at the same bird.

This bird is an obscure bird for our area. Apparently these birds only make it our to the Pacific Coast about every 15 years when the pines fail to produce enough seed.

These are considered a scavenger bird making birds eggs and nestlings as part of their diet. The also eat suet from feeders, and insects. They are generally found in coniferous forests in mountains.

Happy Birding all!!

Brown-Headed Cowbird (male)

These are rather interesting birds and I am not so sure after reading about them that I like the idea of having them around. They say cowbirds historically would follow the bison, feeding off the insects that associated with the huge herds. Since their food source was mobile, these birds divised a way of raising a family without having to settle down. They would deposite their eggs in other birds' nests, they found other species would raise their offspring at the deterement of their own eggs. No longer capable of making their own nest, cowbirds rely completely on other birds to raise their young. They prey upon species that had no previous contact with them and thus have added another pressure to songbirds that are struggling to survive(Birds of Coastal British Columbia, by Nancy Baron & John Acorn).

Golden-Crowned Sparrow

This bird perplexes me....it has characteristics of a finch and sparrow and as both frequent this area I am just not sure....any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.House Finch (male)
Tree Swallow

As always if you click on the picture you can see the bird in a larger view

Update on this post thanks to a fellow birder they have provided me with the identification of the first bird. Apparently it is the Female Black-headed Grosbeak. That would make sense as the male also frequents the feeder.

Weekend birding.....

A little while back it was suggested to me that I purchase a Field Guide to birds. Well I did just that this past weekend. I went to the bookstore and what a variety of bird books there were. I decided on the Stokes Field Guide to Birds Western Region and I am glad that I did. I think what I like most about this book is that not only is it specific to birds in western North America but it is actual photos of the birds. Being a beginner birder I find that very helpful. Case and point. This past weekend I had a frequent bird to my feeder. I heard it's call and looked up in the tree and saw this bird...wasn't sure if I would be close enough to capture a photo of it....but now seeing it in the tree it helped in identifying this bird....

Next I captured this bird in my feeder. Based on it's markings and it antics and the feed that I had in the feeder it would appear that this a Black-headed Grosbeak. What helped me identify this bird was the feeding. According to Stokes these birds feed in the foliage of trees, eating pine(hence that is exactly what tree this bird is in)and it eats seeds, wild berries, insects and spiders. It comes to bird feeders for sunflower seeds, and other types of seed and fruit. It would just so happened that my feeder had sunflower seeds and smaller seeds in it at that time.
Help, what about this one.....I think it is a swallow....possibly a barn swallow...this photo doesn't do it justice. It's body was a lovely white and looked like it had a slight blue huge to it....they loved to sit on the power line.....I like this one of the House finch in the feeder, you can really appreciate it's plummage.

Black eyed Junco and Black Bill Magpie

Today I think it's a black thing....I got the Black eyed Junco....common bird I know....and then I have the Black Billed Magpie...not common where I live...I spotted this when I was visiting a friend in the interior of British Columbia...Again if you click on the photo you can see an enlarged virsion of the picture.....

Although a somewhat common bird..I do appreciate their colour and antics....the Blach eyed Junco...

The Black Billed Magpie

Various Birds

Stellar Jay

Bald Eagle and 2 Juvenile
Golden Eagle(?) Any suggestions?

Cormorants

Looks like a juvenile

Blue Herons

By clicking on any of the photos you can get a better look. I am not certain about the one that I have labled juvenile I wonder if it is a hawk.....any suggestions?