Lapland Longspur

Calcarius lapponicus

Appearance:
Medium-sized sparrow-like bird
Short, thick, pointed, yellow bill 
Orange-brown face
Chestnut nape
White outer tail feathers
Rufous patch in wings
Streaked back and sides
Smudge on breast
Breeding male:
    Black head and throat
    Yellowish-white eyestripe
    Rufous nape
    White underparts
    Heavily streaked black-grey back

Listen to its call.

A rarity in the area, this bird was seen by several birders this morning foraging on the rocks near the Cattle Point boat launch.

Learn more about the Lapland Longspur.

Baird's Sandpiper

Calidris bairdii

Appearance:
Small to medium shorebird
Black legs
Slightly drooping, black bill
Long wings extending beyond the tail
Dark brown, scaly upperparts
White underparts
Dark centre of rump and tail
Light brown head and breast, with dark streaking
Juvenile:
     Buff colored breast
     Scaly upperparts

 Learn more about the Baird's Sandpiper.

Northern Mockingbird

Mimus polyglottos

Appearance:
Medium-sized songbird
Long tail
Grey-brown upperparts
Whitish-grey underparts
Two white wingbars
White patches on wing seen in flight
Black bill with slight downward curve
Yellow to greenish-yellow eyes


I would never have noticed this bird if it weren't for someone else drawing it to my attention.  It effectively blended into its surroundings, its drab plumage acting as camouflage.

Learn more about the Northern Mockingbird.

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.