For Wild Bird Wednesday

I'm doing a huge catch-up day in hopes that I can do (short!) daily posts.  This one will just show some of the birds I saw before the actual catch-up posts begin.  I guess you could call it the catch-up before the catch-up.  

The herons are back!  

This is the 13th year that a colony of Blue Herons has taken up residence by the tennis courts in Stanley Park.  You can read the final update for 2012 at the Stanley Park web site, if you are interested.  My very first post ever was inspired by that phenomena.    I discovered them in August of 2008 so this will be my sixth year to watch them.  They suffer eagle attacks and racoon invasions (though the metal sheets around the  base of the trees are helping with that) and each year, I think it may be the last to see them at that location. But, on March 7th I caught my first sight of a few herons in the nests (they had probably arrived two or three days before that) and by March 18th, a great many nests were occupied.  Here, just two photos from March 7th. 

LOST LAGOON - STANLEY PARK - MARCH 8TH
Plump Chickadee

 Goose Disagreement

Wish I could have managed to get this in focus but it the argument broke out all of a sudden.  The one on the right tried to interfere with a couple that were getting along just fine. Maybe it wanted to steal a mate, or maybe it was a young one from last year?  No idea.

After the scuffle (lots of squawking and flapping) the original pair settled on a rock.  The one behind had quite a story to tell.  

"I just don't believe the nerve of..."

"Aw.  It's okay.  Give me a little neck scratch and forget all about your worries."

I guess the aperture was too large.  I would have loved to get the two of them in focus here but still love the detail in the wing.

Mystery Goose

I've never seen one like this in Lost Lagoon before.  It was alone.

The Canada Geese came up to take a look, but then left it alone.

My guesses are White Fronted or a young snow goose, but neither feels right.

Can anyone help me identify it?

JERICHO PARK - FEBRUARY 27

Ring-necked Ducks in the pond - female on the right

Common Merganser - female - Bad Hair Day

Red-winged Blackbird

Seagull..

on the bridge railing.

Same Ring-necked pair - the male..

and the female.  

It's not really possible to see the rings.  Will try for next time :)

A Walk to Lost Lagoon

A female Barrow's Goldeneye spiffing herself up..

to make herself presentable for her dapper boyfriend.  (I think that's him.)

Nice that keeping clean was important to both of them.

The noon-time light was a bit strange.  I think this is the male here drying his wings. 

Off they go, clean and happy to have the worry of selecting a mate over for another year.

Lesser Scaup

One of the few ways to distinguish a "Lesser" from a "Greater" is the more peaked crown (such as I think I see here).  This one was in the pond at Lost Lagoon.

American Coot

I missed the shot I really wanted of it running across the path and hopping into the pond.  They are truly comical to watch.

Common Merganser - Female, looking especially beautiful.

Brown Creeper

I hope I identified this one correctly. 

I've only seen one other one since I began bird watching, though I know they're around.

A Blue Heron working hard to calm its catch (poor little fish).  

Black Jack

Okay, not a bird but Black Jack just wanted to say..

"Here's looking at you." 

"Have a good week.  Check out Wild Bird Wednesday to see more birds."