Found on Vancouver Island's eastern shores...

Photos by Dave Kemp

Black-bellied Plovers

(Pluvialis Squatarola)

These shorebirds are found all along the shores of North and South America as well as four other continents.   In breeding season they are a brilliant mix of snow white and jet black.   In these photos by eastern Vancouver Island photographer, Dave Kemp, they are seen in non-breeding plumage in January.

Dave Kemp is also a keen photographer of otters in his home province, as seen in the submitted photos below.

Dave

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BarrytheBirder

 

Vancouver Island Kestrels...

Photos by Dave Kemp

Male American Kestrel

(Falco sparverius)

Dave Kemp is a British Columbia nature photographer on the east coast of Vancouver Island.   In these two photos he has perfectly captured the colourful presence of a male and female America Kestrel.   The American Kestrel is the smallest but most colourful of falcons and one of the fiercest.  It is also known as the Sparrow Hawk.   It is the most widespread falcon in North America and is commonly seen in open country perched on roadside wires.   They are often camera-shy.   Thanks for sharing these photos, Dave.

Female

American

Kestrel

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if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

More Canada Geese photographs...

 

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Barry Wallace

Most hunted dove in North America...

    Photo by BarrytheBirder

MOURNING DOVE

(Zenaida Macroura)

also a favourite food of Cooper's Hawks

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BarrytheBirder

American Tree Sparrow...

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Small winter warrior

The American Tree Sparrow is a small round-headed creature that often fluffs out its feathers, of lets the wind do it, making their plump bodies look even chubbier.   They have fairly small bills and long, thin tails.   They spend summers in the far north but are regular winter-time visitors in southern Canada. 

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BarrytheBirder

The appearance of mourning...

Photos by Barry Wallace

The Junco

The muted colours of the Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) always make me think this shy, wee creature is dressed in mourning wear.  It is my favourite bird at the winter feeders.

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BarrytheBirder

Canada Geese by BarrytheBirder & Brawley Parekh

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Photo by Brawley Parekh

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if you wish.

          

Barry the Birder

Foraging in the cedar hedge...

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Black-capped Chickadee

(Poecile atricapillus)

A chickadee's food in winter is up to 50% seeds, fruits and berries, augmented by suet and peanut butter when available.

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BarrytheBirder

Dave Kemp photos from Vancouver Island...

Barn

Swallow

Photos 

by 

Dave Kemp

Long-tailed Duck

    Seaweed, Kelp and driftwood...

    West coast droplet

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BarrytheBirder

Juncos are basically ground-feeders...

 

Photo of females (above) and male (below) by BarrytheBirder

Despite what you see in the photos here, know that Dark-eyed Juncos are almost exclusively ground-feeders.  They hop around the base of feeders, trees and shrubs looking for seeds.   They number about 640 million around North America and are the 6th or 7th most common winter bird in Ontario.

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BarrytheBirder

Project FeederWatch 2020-2021 in Ontario

Photo by BarrytheBirder

1,667 Feeder Watchers in Ontario report

The top 5 bird species reported at birdfeeders last year were:

                                                            % of sites visited

        1. Black-capper Chickadee               95.86

           2. Dark-eyed Junco                           88.96

           3. Downy Woodpecker                      87.16

           4. Blue Jay                                         84.46

           5. Northern Cardinal                          81.94

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BarrytheBirder

Richmond Hill Millpond outflow...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

No birds - just icy water

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BarrytheBirder

Wee winter warrior...

 

Photo by BarrytheBirder

DOWNY WOODPECKER

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BarrytheBirder

The joy of Juncos...

 

Photos by Barry Wallace

Dark-eyed Junco

Junco hyemalis

Known as the 'snowbirds of the mid-Atlantic', the Dark-eyed Junco is one of the most common birds in North America.   There are approximately 630 million individuals and they are often found feeding on the ground under bird feeders in this part of the world.   They are of winter's bird-watching treats.

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BarrytheBirder

New Dave Kemp photos from snowy B.C.

 

Photos by Dave Kemp

Female Surf Scoter

with shell in beak

My British Columbia friend and Vancouver Island birder has sent along some terrific bird photos, even though snow has truly set in  along the Comox Valley on the east side of Vancouver Island.   I was especially taken by the photo above of a female Surf Scoter with a golden shell in its beak.  Below are a pair of female and male Surf Scoters.

Above ~ a pair of male Bufflehead Ducks

Below ~ Buffleheads in flight

A very attractive female Gadwall

A perfect looking Killdeer

Dunlin in flight

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BarrytheBirder

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Just a minute or two of watching Cardinals will show that they represent devotion, loving relationships, courtship and monogamy above everything else.

 

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BarrytheBirder