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.


Additional photos:

Brambling

Fringilla montifringilla

Appearance:
Medium-sized finch
Orange shoulder patches, throat and breast
Brown-black back and head
White belly and rump
Black wings with white and orange bars
Yellow bill
Breeding male:
   Jet black head
   Black bill

Listen to its call.

This native of  northern Europe/Asia has been frequenting a backyard feeder off Lansdowne Road for a number of weeks now. As Bramblings are rare visitors to the island, birders hoping to catch a glimpse of one have been hanging out on the corner of Cochrane Street and Dean Avenue daily. I've seen him two or three times myself.  Unfortunately, I've never been able to get a good shot of him. My camera that I was so pleased with initially just isn't up to the challenge of zooming in from the respectful distance viewers need to maintain. ....sigh

Learn more about the Brambling.

Redhead

Aythya americana

Appearance:
Medium-sized diving duck
Rounded head
Blue-gray bill with pale band near black tip
Male:
    Red head and neck
    Gray back
    Black breast and rear end
    Yellow eye
Female and juveniles
    Brown head and body 
    Darker bill than male

Listen to its call.

I spotted this male Redhead while walking around Elk Lake this week. It was swimming along with an assortment of other ducks. Initially, I thought it was a Canvasback but its bill was shorter and the color was wrong. Its head was also a different shape, much rounder than the elongated head of the Canvasback.

I read somewhere that the male Redhead's call is a cat-like meow and a deep purr.  Hmmm....that must be a bit frightening for the other ducks.

Learn more about the Redhead.

Brown Pelican

Pelecanus occidentalis

Appearance:

Very large aerial waterbird

Smallest of the pelicans

Large, grayish bill with an expandable pouch on the bottom

Gray-brown back, rump and tail

Long, broad wings

Short tail

Immature: (above)

   Gray-brown head and neck

   White underparts

Adult:  (right)

   White head and neck

   Blackish-brown breast and belly

   Chestnet on back of neck during breeding

   Reddish on underside of throat during breeding

Listen to its call.

Brown Pelicans are not commonly seen in Victoria. You hear of the odd report now and then but nothing like this year. Sightings of these birds are being reported daily in the vicinity of the Inner Harbour in downtown Victoria. As many as twenty-one were seen by one observer, according to the Rare Bird Alert. I spotted a group of eight of them today between Fisherman's Wharf and Laurel Point. 

Talk of pelicans always reminds me of my mother saying "A funny old bird is a pelican. His beak can hold more than his bellican. Food for a week he can hold in his beak but I don't know how the hellican".

Learn more about the Brown Pelican.

Snow Bunting

Plectrophenax nivalis

Appearance:
Size of a large sparrow

Non-breeding (pictured):

   White underparts
   Pale brown and white upperparts

   Rust-brown band across top of chest

   Pale brown tipped feathers on forehead, crown, nape, and face 

   Black wingtips

   White wing patches and outer tail feathers

   Black inner tail feathers

   Yellowish-orange bill with black tip

Breeding male:

   Mostly white plumage 

   Black back and wingtips

   Black bill

Breeding female:

   White plumage

   Blackish-gray back and wingtips

   White head streaked with gray

   Black bill

Listen to its call.

I photographed this little fellow while enjoying an afternoon at Clover Point last Thursday. It was a lovely fall day, with very little wind or no rain for a change. Not that cold weather would bother this bird. Winter is the time to see Snow Buntings in our area. In the spring, they head north to spend their summers in the Arctic. 

Learn more about the Snow Bunting.