Winter Birding

Winter is here. Last time I checked, fall was just beginning, and migration was just getting underway. Somehow I missed the rest of fall. Now as I walk outside, along the Fraser River, we are into winter birding. This is the time of the year when we see large rafts of birds out in Boundary Bay, Snowy Owls begin to appear along the shoreline (4 last weekend), and species like the Western Grebe arrive at the mouth of the Fraser.

On a recent walk along the dyke in Ladner, we had great views of two Red-tailed Hawks as they swooped and chased each other about, low to the ground and right above us. In the water, the Western Grebes were fishing and, while we watched them for a few minutes, several Harriers flew by, intent on scanning the adjacent fields for food. But it was windy and (very) cold, so we didn't last too long out there.

Now the Bald Eagles are congregating upriver, so it's time to head to Kilby Provincial Park to watch them feasting on salmon. But first, a stop at Timmy's...

This Red-tailed Hawk watched us as he swooped low overhead

This Harrier was intent on a patch of grasses.

We hadn't seen Western Grebes for a while, so this was a nice view from the dyke.