Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalis

Appearance:
Medium-sized diving duck 
Solid, black wings
White rump and belly 
Male:    
     Long, pointed, black tail
     Dark bill with pink band 
     Black breast
     White back, neck and head with grey cheek patch (winter)
     Dark back, neck and head with white patch around eye (summer)
Female:
     Short, pointed tail
     Grey bill
     Brown upperparts
     White face with dark crown and cheek patch (winter)
     Dark head with white around eye and at nape (summer) 

Listen to its call.

Looking out at the ocean from Glencoe Cove towards Haro Strait, large flocks of Long-tailed ducks are not unusual at this time of year. Unfortunately, they tend to stay quite a distance from shore making it difficult to photograph their distinctive plumage. This is the best I've managed so far... but I'll keep trying!

Learn more about the Long-tailed Duck.

Black Scoter

Melanitta americana

Appearance:
Large, bulky, sea-duck
Large bill
Male:
   All black
   Bulbous yellow knob on black bill
Female:
   Brownish-gray with pale cheeks
   Dark bill

Listen to its call. 

Learn more about the Black Scoter. 

Cassin's Auklet

Ptychoramphus aleuticus

Appearance
Small seabird
Dark gray above and pale below
Small white crescent above eye
Dark bill with pale base to lower mandible
Blue feet

Listen to it's call.

A boat trip on the Juan de Fuca Strait off East Sooke Park this afternoon awarded us with a nice, close look at this auklet. There was quite a bit of excitement on board at the sighting as the Cassin's Auklet is on the near threatened list. 

Learn more about the Cassin's Auklet.

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Contopus cooperi 

Appearance:
Bulky flycatcher
Short tail
Large head
Dark olive face, upperparts and flanks
Light underparts
Dark bill

Listen to its call. 

This flycatcher was perched at the top of a tall tree waiting to catch insects as they flew by.  Its distinctive "quick-three-beers" song made identification easy for a change.

Learn more about the Olive-sided Flycatcher. 

Townsend's Solitaire

Myadestes townsendi

Appearance:
Slim, medium-sized songbird
Short bill
Small, round head
Long tail
Grey overall
Prominent white eye-ring
White outer tail feathers
Buff wing patches 

Listen to its call.

We spotted this bird in the Garry oak meadow in Mount Tolmie Park this morning. Cleverly camouflaged, its plain grey plumage blended so well with the trees that it was difficult to keep in our sights. 

Learn more about the Townsend's Solitaire.

Black Phoebe

Sayornis nigricans

Appearance:
Medium-sized flycatcher
Large head
Medium-long, squared tail
Slight peak at rear of crown
Straight, thin bill
Dark charcoal gray upperparts and chest
Darker black head
White belly
Pale grey edges on wing feathers

Listen to its call. 

A rarity for Victoria, one of these birds has been hanging around Maber Flats lately. Unfortunately, I needed a scope to see that bird making it impossible to take a decent photo. Luckily, I did have this one in my photo library taken a few years ago in San Diego. 

Learn more about the Black Phoebe.