Mountain Bluebird

 Sialia currucoides

Appearance:
Small thrush
Round head
Thin, black bill
Male: 
- bright blue above
- paler blue on chest
- white belly
Female/immature: (photographed)
- mostly grey-brown
- tinges of pale blue on wings and tail
- belly colour varies from pale rufous to grey

Listen to its call.

Its always funny when you arrive at a spot where a rare bird has been seen and run in to every other birder in the area.  Frequently, we all stand around for what seems like hours and never catch a glimpse of our 'prey'. This morning, however, this one arrived right on cue. She and a male Western bluebird were foraging for insects, pouncing on their prey from power lines and fence posts. 

Learn more about the Mountain Bluebird. 

Lazuli Bunting

Passerina amoena 

Appearance: 

Small, finch-like songbird 

Coned shaped bill

Gently sloping forehead 

Male (breeding): 

     Bright blue above 

     Pumpkin-colored breast 

     White belly and shoulder patch 

Juvenile / Male (non-breeding):

     Mottled blue and tan above 

     Pumpkin-coloured breast 

Female: 

     Grayish-brown above 

     Blue tinge to wings and tail 

     Two buffy wing bars 

     Pale cinnamon or tan breast

This gorgeous bird has been frequenting Beckwith Park for the last few days. And he’s certainly been attracting a lot of attention singing from exposed branches in his bright breeding plumage.  Unfortunately, as Lazuli Buntings are a rarity in the area, it was from birders and not females of his own species. 

Listen to it’s call. 

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristata

Appearance:

Large, crested songbird

Blue upper parts, with black and white markings

White underparts

Black necklace

Rounded tail

Listen to it’s call.

Growing up in Ontario, I was used to seeing Blue Jays year-round. However, this is the first time I’ve seen one in Victoria. Although scarce, there always seem to be a few reports every Winter.  Better photos to follow, hopefully. 

Learn more about the Blue Jay. 

Ancient Murrelet

Synthliboramphus antiquus

Appearance:
Small auk
Black face and crown
Grey back
White underparts
Pale, stubby bill
White throat extending back and up to ears
Breeding plumage:
   Black throat
   White band at neck
   White eyebrow

Listen to its call.

I stopped off at Ogden Point yesterday for a chilly walk along the breakwater. There were a number of seabirds around including Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot and a couple of these little fellows: another lifer for me and a rarity for this area.

And now a bit of trivia for you. The name Ancient resulted from the grey back resembled a shawl draped across an old person's shoulders

Learn more about the Ancient Murrelet.

Rusty Blackbird

 Euphagus carolinus

Appearance: 

Medium-sized blackbird

Pale yellow eye

Slender, slightly decurved bill

Male (breeding):

     Glossy black

 Male (non-breeding):

     Rusty feather edges 

     Bold eyebrow

Female :

    Grey-brown

    Rusty feather edges

    Bold eyebrow

    Darker feathers around eye

Listen to its call. 

With a new year upon us and COVID making it difficult to do much else, I've decide to ramp up my birding a bit.  Friday netted me a distant view of a Wilson's Snipe and a Black Phoebe in Central Saanich.  This afternoon, I made a trip to King's Pond in search of a Rusty Blackbird that has been hanging about lately  Happily, I located it in a large flock of Brewer's Blackbirds that flew in to partake of the bird seed liberally scattered on the ground by the many families enjoying the sunshine. 

Learn more about the Rusty Blackbird. 

Common Pochard

Aythya ferina 

Appearance:

Medium-sized diving duck
Triangular head shape 

Male:

   Long, dark bill with grey band
   Reddish-brown head and neck

   Black breast and tail
   Grey body
   Dark bill with pale grey saddle
   Red eyes

Female:
   Brown head and body
   Dark bill with narrow grey band

Listen to it’s call.

This duck, a native of Europe and Asia, must have flow off course a tad as it turned up on Summit Reservoir in Victoria. This is the first sighting of a Common Pochard in B.C. and it’s caused a fair bit of excitement in the birding community.

Learn more about the Common Pochard.  

Merlin

Falco columbarius

Appearance:
Small falcon
Adult male: slaty gray to dark gray
Females and immatures: browner
Broad, heavily streaked chest
Medium length tail with narrow white bands
Dark underwing
Sharply pointed wings

Listen to its call.

I witnessed this Merlin in pursuit of a Steller’s Jay earlier this week. Although the two birds were comparable in size, the Merlin relentlessly chased its prey, performing impressive turns and other aerial maneuvers. I'm happy to say that the two birds went their separate ways without any injuries sustained. 

Learn more about the Merlin.