Marbled Godwit

Limosa fedoa

Appearance:
Large shorebird
Long, slightly upcurved bill; pink at base with dark tip
Evenly buff-brown
Dark barring
Long legs

Listen to its call.

This sandpiper was probing for food in the mud on this coastal beach. Okay, so the beach wasn't exactly in Victoria. (It was in San Diego). Although rare, sightings of these birds do occur in the Victoria area most years.

Learn more about the Marbled Godwit.

Eared Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis

Description:
Small waterbird
Slightly upturned, black bill
Red eyes
Peak over the eye
Summer plumage
- black neck
- buffy-gold "ears" on side of dark head
Winter plumage (shown in photo)
- dull and dingy
- gray neck
- whitish ear patches near back of head
- "fluffy" rump/tail area

Listen to its call.

This little fellow was swimming in the ocean with a group of Western and Clark's Grebe. Although the Eared Grebe breeds in shallow lakes and ponds, in winter they prefers salt water.

Learn more about the Eared Grebe. 

Acorn Woodpecker

Melanerpes formicivorus

Appearance:
Medium-sized woodpecker
Mostly black upper parts
White belly with black streaking White rump
Black wings with white patches
Creamy-white face
Black around bill and eyes
White eye
Male
- Red cap starting at the white forehead
Female (photographed)
- Black area between the forehead and red cap

Listen to its call.

I was browsing through the Rare Bird Alert early today when I read about a number of sightings of this bird, a first for Vancouver Island. Excited about getting a new bird for my blog, I grabbed my camera and went to try my luck at spotting her. And I was lucky enough to do just that. To be fair, I wasn't the first one to catch sight of her sitting quietly in a tree enjoying the sunshine. 

Learn more about the Acorn Woodpecker.

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Aegolius acadicus

Appearance:
Small owl
No ear tufts
White facial disk, outlined in brown and white
Brownish head, including forehead, covered with white streaks
Brownish upper parts with white spots
White underparts, streaked with brown
Large, bright yellow-orange eyes
Black bill

Listen to its call.

The Northern Saw-whet Owl is about 7 inches in height, approximately the size of a Downy Woodpecker but with a much larger wingspan. Because of their small size, Saw-whet Owls often fall prey to larger owls and eagles. This little cutie was attacked by a Barred Owl from which he sustained injuries.  Following his recovering at a wildlife hospital in December 2012, I had the privilege of releasing him back into the wild to continue his migration south. 

Learn more about the Northern Saw-whet Owl.


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