Gillian M's 2008 Year/Photo List (1 Viewer)

[Gillian_M]

Seen May 13, 2008 at Hillman's Marsh:

143. Semipalmated Plover
144. Short-billed Dowitcher
145. Black-bellied Plover
146. American Golden-Plover
147. Dunlin
148. Ruddy Duck

 

[Gillian_M]

Also seen May 13, 2008 at Hillman's Marsh:

149. Eastern Kingbird
150. Bald Eagle

Seen May 14 & 15, 2008 in Cambridge:

151. Great-crested Flycatcher
152. Osprey
153. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
154. Indigo Bunting
155. Ruby-throated Hummingbird

I ended up with 7 lifers on my trip to southern Ontario....not too bad at all!

 

[Gillian_M]

Seen May 22, 2008:

156. Eastern Wood-Pewee

 

[Gillian_M]

Seen May 22, 2008:

157. Lesser Yellowlegs

Seen May 23, 2008:

158. Wood Thrush
159. Wilson's Phalarope

I was especially happy to find the Wood Thrush this morning after not seeing one at all in 2007. His beautiful song led me to him!

 

[Gillian_M]

A Day of Sparrows

Today I went to the grassy fields near the airport and was not disappointed.

Seen May 24, 2008:

160. Vesper Sparrow
161. Bobolink
162. Grasshopper Sparrow
163. Clay-colored Sparrow

Also seen were Song, Savannah, Chipping, White-crowned and Field Sparrows! I don't think I've ever seen 8 species of Sparrow before! Both the Grasshopper and Clay-colored Sparrow were unexpectedly approachable, resulting in my best photos to date of the Grasshopper Sparrow and great shots of the Clay-colored Sparrow - a lifer for me!

 

[Gillian_M]

Seen May 25, 2008:

164. Virginia Rail
165. Solitary Sandpiper
166. Purple Finch

 

[Gillian_M]

Seen June 1, 2008:

167. Blackpoll Warbler


Seen June 7, 2008:

168. Alder Flycatcher
169. Semipalmated Sandpiper


Seen June 12, 2008:

170. Least Flycatcher

 

[Gillian_M]

Seen June 15, 2008:

171. Eastern Meadowlark
172. Golden-winged Warbler
173. Wilson’s Snipe

I'm pleased to say that I finally took my first photo of an Eastern Meadowlark! Now I just have to get a little closer!

 

[Gillian_M]

Seen June 26, 2008:

174. Gadwall


Seen June 29, 2008:

175. American Bittern (briefly, in flight)

 

[Gillian_M]

Seen July 1, 2008:

176. Common Moorhen


Seen July 19, 2008:

177. Northern Waterthrush

 

[Gillian_M]

In the beginning of August we had two rarities in the same location here in Ottawa, the kittiwake and the pelican. I managed to see them both on the same day (August 12)! Both were found at a large quarry filled with water, private property which is inaccessible. Although the kittiwake gave excellent views as it flew past the gate from where we watched, the pelican stayed on an island quite far away. My attempt at digiscoping was not very successful, either. However, at least you can tell it's a pelican!

Seen August 6, 2008:

178. Black-legged Kittiwake


Seen August 12, 2008:

179. American White Pelican
180. Red-necked Phalarope

 

[Gillian_M]

I saw this bird gliding over a conservation area near the river yesterday evening. At first I thought it was a falcon. Then I saw the white patches and realized that the other swallows and cedar waxwings hawking for insects were not frightened away. Our field guide confirmed it as a Common Nighthawk...another lifer for me! They are very quick in the air, and this was the best photo I got.

181. Common Nighthawk

 

[Gillian_M]

Trip to Nova Scotia, Part I

Spending almost two weeks in Nova Scotia has done wonders for my year list (as well as my life list!)

Seen August 28, 2008 at Margaretville, NS:

182. Common Eider

Seen August 29, 2008 at Grand Pré, NS:

183. White-rumped Sandpiper
184. Ruddy Turnstone

 

[Gillian_M]

Trip to Nova Scotia, Part II

Seen August 29, 2008 at Scott's Bay, NS:

185. Red-necked Grebe
186. Common Loon
187. Sanderling

Seen August 30, 2008 at Margaretville, NS:

188. Red-throated Loon

The photo of the grebe is my attempt at digiscoping.

I also note that the Common Loon in the photo is a juvenile based on the partial collar around the neck and the white around the eye.

 

[Gillian_M]

Nova Scotia,Part III

We went on a whale-watching cruise on the Bay of Fundy from Brier Island. It was an awesome experience...both the birds and the whales were fantastic (though I couldn't get many good shots of the birds on a moving boat!)

Seen August 31, 2008:

189. Northern Gannet
190. Greater Shearwater
191. Sooty Shearwater
192. Atlantic Puffin
193. Red Phalarope
194. Pomarine Jaeger

Seen September 1, 2008 (also on Brier Island):

195. Buff-breasted Sandpiper

 

[Gillian_M]

Back in Ottawa...

Migration was well under way on Ottawa when I returned from Nova Scotia, so I visited a couple of the hot spots.

Seen September 5, 2008:

196. Tennessee Warbler
197. Pectoral Sandpiper
198. Baird's Sandpiper

 

[Gillian_M]

More migrants seen in Ottawa:

Seen September 7, 2008:

199. Red Knot

Seen September 10, 2008:

200. Stilt Sandpiper

(The Stilt is sandwiched between two Pectoral Sandpipers!)

Seen September 13, 2008:

201. Bay-breasted Warbler
202. Blue-headed Vireo
203. Philadelphia Vireo

I love this time of year!

 

[Gillian_M]

I've missed a couple birds so these two are out of order:

Seen August 30, 2008 (in Nova Scotia):

204. Bank Swallow


Seen September 5, 2008:

205. Lesser Black-backed Gull


Seen September 21, 2008:

206. American Kestrel

 

[Gillian_M]

Seen October 4, 2008:

207. Pine Siskin

This is a bird I've been wanting to see a while...though I would love to see a male with bright yellow on the sides.

 

[Gillian_M]

Seen October 5, 2008:

208. Gray Jay

I visited Algonquin Park today with a friend. While I'm disappointed that the only Algonquin speciality I was able to add to my year list is the Gray Jay, I am pleased with the photos I took - especially as I only managed to take two photos total last year, when it was a life bird. This time we saw seven Gray Jays and I managed to get photos of them all. The only other northern species we saw was a flock of Pine Grosbeaks.