Say's Phoebe

Sayornis saya

Appearance:

Medium-sized flycatcher
Pale brownish-gray upperparts
Pale rufous belly and undertail
Long, black tail

Listen to its call.

This bird was spotted yesterday on Mount Tolmie in a Garry Oak meadow. I love the fact that the Rare Bird Alert on eBird indicates where interesting birds have been sighted. Whenever I see a report of one that's not on my blog yet, I rush right over hoping to snap a picture. Of course, I'm not always successful in my quest but it does make things a lot easier.



Learn more about the Say's Phoebe.

Western Bluebird

Sialia mexicana

Appearance:
Small thrush
Thin, straight bill
Male:
    Cobalt blue on upperparts and throat
    Reddish-brown breast, flanks and center of back
    Gray belly
Female:
    Gray-brown with blue tinge on head, wings and tail
    Pale chestnut colour on breast and flanks
    Solid gray throat and belly

Listen to its call.

Three of these birds (two males and a female) were perched on a fence in a field north of Blenkinsop Lake yesterday afternoon. They were quite a distance away, the fence being on the opposite side of the field from the the trail, but were still visible to the naked eye (when you knew what you were looking for). Flashes of the brilliant blue of the males could be seen as they flew back and forth between the fence posts and the ground foraging for food.

Learn more about the Western Bluebird.

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus ruber

Appearance:
Medium-sized woodpecker
Red head and breast
Yellowish-white belly
Black upperparts with white barring
White stripe on sides
Two rows of whitish bars on back
Juvenile:
   Brown head
   Extensive brown mottled on underparts

Listen to its call.

I went for a walk through Royal Roads Forest today and it was glorious. The weather was perfect, the company was delightful and I added another bird to my list of sightings. I have to credit my husband with catching sight of this woodpecker near the top of a rather tall snag.

Learn more about the Red-breasted Sapsucker

Harris's Sparrow

Zonotrichia querula

Appearance:
Large sparrow
Pink bill
Black bib, forehead and crown
Brown back with dark streaks
Underparts white with some streaks along side
Two white wing bars
Breeding plumage:
    Grey cheeks
Non-breeding plumage:
     Brown cheeks
Juveniles:
    Similar in appearance to non-breeding adults but lack the black face and head

Listen to its call.

The Harris's Sparrow is rarely found east or west of the middle of North America. So, I have to wonder what this foolhardy one was doing in a garden in Oak Bay. He appears to be overwintering in Victoria, having joined a flock of Golden-crowned Sparrows. Apparently, it is not uncommon for smaller birds to form mixed-species flocks in winter. The benefits? It both improves foraging and reduces the risk of becoming prey.  hmmm .... Maybe this little one isn't featherbrained after all.

Learn more about the Harris's Sparrow.

Marbled Murrelet

Brachyramphus marmoratus

Appearance:
Small, chunky auk
Short, pointed, black bill
Short tail
Winter plumage:
   Black upperparts
   White underparts, throat, chin and collar
   White stripe over wings
Breeding plumage:
    Dark mottled brown all over

Listen to its call.

I saw a pair of these murrelets yesterday off the breakwater at Ogden Point.  They only stopped by for a minute before diving underwater, presumably in search of food.

Learn more about the Marbled Murrelet.

Black-legged Kittiwake

Rissa tridactyla

juvenile

Appearance:
Medium-sized gull
Black legs
White head and underparts
Slate-gray back and wings
Black wingtips
Small, yellow bill (adult)
Juvenile:
    Gray patches on nape and crown
    Dark spot at the ear
    Black spot above rear half of eye
    Black collar and terminal band on tail
    Black "W" bar across wings
    Black bill

Listen to its call.

The Black-legged Kittiwake is usually far out at sea. However, a number of them have been seen around the Victoria shoreline lately, probably as a result of the storm we had a few weeks back.  I photographed this bird off the Ogden Point Breakwater this morning. Apparently, there had been two immature birds and an adult around a bit earlier, but I only saw the one.

Learn more about the Black-legged Kittiwake.

Northern Flicker - yellow-shafted

 Colaptes auratus auratus

Appearance:
Large woodpecker
Brown back with narrow black bars
Black chest patch
Black spots on belly
White rump
Yellow under wings and tail
Grey head
Brown face and throat
Red crescent on nape of neck
Black moustache (male)

Listen to its call.

Yellow-shafted Flickers reside in eastern North American while the Red-shafted ones reside in the west. So, you can imagine my surprise to see one with a yellow tail at my backyard feeder this morning.  In the picture below, you can just see the red crescent on the nape of her neck. Note the absence of a moustache.

Learn more about the Northern Flicker.