2016 Big year Photo Blog

The idea of embarking on a photo big year has been on my mind for a number of years. After watching one of my favourite movies "The Big Year" I decided there is no time like the present. The plan is a little different then other Big Years in that I will be staying fairly close to home and for the most part be recording birds that I find myself with some rare birds being tracked down if for nothing more then to check out new locations. As a photographer I will be looking for the best possible photos of each species, and will be including males, females, non-breeding and variable subspecies in my list. I will be updating pics as I get them, but images will be replaced by better pictures as the season progresses so check back regularly for updates. Click the link to go directly to the Big Year Photo Gallery http://www.raincoastphoto.com/2016-Photography-Big-Year/2016-Photo-Big-Year/

Cackling Goose - when you see them beside their larger Canada Goose cousins its quite amazing how small they really are. This was a quick stop at Panama Flats as I headed out of town to get species 157 for the year
Clarke 160517 8210
Black-bellied Plover - after a sketchy walk out on the mudflats I managed to get close enough to this small flock of plovers in breeding plumage. Normally we only get them with any regularity in the winter in their drab non-breeding plumage, so was glad to get this shot even if it is a huge crop. Species 155
Clarke 160516 4562 Birds Blackbellied Plover Sandpipers and Shorebirds
River Otter letting me know what it thinks of my presence
Clarke 160513 2325
Purple Martin - female, There is a local beach where the swallows congregate to feed, pick up feathers for nesting material and also apparently small bits of sea shells. I have to hide in the tall marsh grass waiting for the to get used to me and settle back in. On this evening a female purple martin flew briefly , and I was able to get her band number.
Clarke 160512 1427
Western Sandpiper - A great day lying on the beach, in the mud sand and water :) The incoming tide kept pushing this Western Sandpiper and 2 least sandpipers closer too me, you know when you have to zoom out on these birds its a good shoot
Clarke 160512 9634
Sooty Grouse - a long hike up to get this guy, I hear them all the time while out shooting have flushed them more then a few times this year, but this is the first one I was able to get my lens on sp 148
Clarke 160511 8757 Birds Dendragapus fuliginosus Groundbirds Sooty Grouse
Marbled Godwit - A lifer for me today, and was I fortunate to get great shots in nice evening light. The Victoria Golf Course has become a known stopover for many interesting and rare shorebirds during migration and these 5 godwit were hanging out with 20+ Whimbrel and a number of Pectoral Sandpipers. Species 147 for the year
Clarke 160510 7208 Birds Limosa fedoa Marbled Godwit Sandpipers and Shorebirds
Greater White-fronted Goose - One of our prettier geese, it was great to catch it in evening light. Sp 144
Clarke 160510 6980 Anser albifrons Birds Greater Whitefronted Goose Waterfowl
Pectoral Sandpiper - These little speedsters were very tough to catch as they ran around looking for food. Species 145
Clarke 160510 6458 Birds Calidris melanotos Pectoral Sandpiper Sandpipers and Shorebirds
Spotted Sandpiper - this male was putting on quite a display for its mate. One of only a few shorebirds that regularly nests on the southern part of Vancouver Island.
Clarke 160510 4400 Actitis macularius Birds Sandpipers and Shorebirds Spotted Sandpiper
Black-headed Grosbeak - first sighting of the year. It was another strange day with lots of birds singing but staying well hidden at the same time. It was getting late so I scrambled up into a clearing to see if i could find anything with the last few minutes of light. I was lucky to find this Black-headed grosbeak singing up a storm at the far end of the clearing. He gave me some great poses in the nice evening light. Species 142 for the year
Clarke 160509 3613 Birds Blackheaded Grosbeak Sparrows
Turkey Vulture - a poor bunnies demise provided me with one of my closest vulture portraits. Luckily there was no traffic on the country road as I stopped in the middle, rolled down the window and slowly got the camera out and focussed on the perched vulture as it waited for me to leave to get back to its meal.
Clarke 160505 9019 Birds Raptors Turkey Vulture
Wilson's Warbler - I have been on the hunt for these little guys all week, but the wind kept working against me, but this morning when I was awoken by one singing in our backyard I knew I would find one today. Not the greatest pic, but for the first sighting of the year I will take it. Sp 133
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada British Columbia Locations Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 Stuart Clarke Vancouver Island Warblers Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Bonaparte's Gull - with a northern rough-winged swallow also shot today this Bonapartes brought my yearly total up to 131 species. Was lucky this bird was on its own on a quiet part of the beach and a low and steady approach got me within range.
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada Bonaparte's Gull Chroicocephalus philadelphia Gulllike Birds Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Yellow Warbler
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada Dendroica petechia Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 Warblers Yellow Warbler
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Black-throated Gray Warbler
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada Blackthroated Gray warbler Dendroica nigrescens Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 Warblers
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Common Yellowthroat -this is my favourite pic of the day. Not a new bird for my year but one of the best photos I have of this species, of the 122 species I have shot this year 47 of those I would consider my best photos of that species.
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Hutton's Vireo
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada Hutton's vireo Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 Vireo huttoni Vireos
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Northern Pygmy-owl

finally, I have hiked a 100km+ and thousands of feet in elevation to finally find one 3km from my house on a flat trail. I knew I would get one sooner or later and I refused to drive up island to get the easy shot up in Parksville. It stayed up high and distant but thats ok with me, I was just happy to find one. It was all the more exciting with the discovery of cougar scat in the same area. It gives you an idea of how small these little owls are when that pine cone on the lower left is bigger then it.
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200
From 2016 Photo Big Year
MacGillvray's Warbler - First sighting of the year and seeing as none have been posted on ebird one of the first arrivals into British Columbia. Typically one of our more difficult warblers to photograph , they really like to skulk in the underbrush making it tough to get a clear shot.
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada MacGillivray's Warbler Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 Oporomis tolmiei Warblers
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Evening Grosbeak
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Marbled Murrelet
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada Brachyramphus marmoratus Diving Birds Marbled Murrelet Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Rhinoceros Auklet
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada Cerorhinca monocerata Diving Birds Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 Rhinoceros Auklet
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Great Horned Owl - Do you see what I see? There is definitely something to be said for getting out a lot, your ears, eyes and senses really get tuned to your environment allowing you to find birds that you otherwise never would have found. Admittedly Great horned owls have nested in this stand in years past so I was keeping an eye out for them, whats funny, at the distance it was, the piece of wood the owl is hiding behind has two horns on it and looked like an owl.
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada Bubo virginianus Great Horned Owls Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 Owls
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Bushtit -Male
Nest building
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada Bushtits Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 Psaltriparus minimus Sparrows
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Northern Saw-whet Owl - As nature photographers we all live for that special moment, when a bird or animal gifts us with an encounter that will live on in our memory. Today was a very special day for me, Owls our one of my specialties and I have been fortunate to have had many amazing encounters over the years but only a few times have I seen Northern Saw-whet owls and always at their usual spot, sleeping in a cedar tree at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary. Today while out looking for pygmy owls I heard a high cadence call far off on the other side of a clear cut, seeing as nothing else was out and about I headed off on a bushwhack to see if I could get closer to where the pygmy was calling, or at least what I thought was a pygmy, (one of my apps I am quite certain has a mislabeled pygmy call on it) Well a couple of soft whistles and this little guy graced me with his presence, pure magic, great perches, great light great memory
2016 Photo Big Year Aegolius acadicus Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 Northern Sawwhet Owl Owls
From 2016 Photo Big Year
American Dipper When you can't escape the rains go looking for birds that live, and hunt around water. After a very quiet and wet hike I headed down to the river to look for an American Dipper. Dippers are very interesting birds that dive in fast west coast streams looking for insects, fish and salmon eggs. Species 87
2016 Photo Big Year American Dipper Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada Cinclus mexicanus Dippers Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Pied-billed Grebe Species number 86 for the year. Was dark and rainy but it cleared for a bit later in the afternoon. After getting the pileated I headed over to a local Provincial Park looking for the pied-billed grebes I had seen there last week. Not ideal light for shooting on the water, but I will still take it for the year. A stand of trees by the waters edge made for a great hiding spot as I waited for them, to swim by. Never came too close but enough for a record shot, will have to try again the next sunny day we get.
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada Grebes Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 PiedBilled Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Pacific Wren -singing
When deciding on doing a big year, it was not all about getting as many birds as possible but also getting the best possible pics of each species. Pacific wren were actually on my short list of birds to get this season anyway and today I feel like I finally got shots I am happy with. Normally they skulk in the deepest darkest parts of the forest but today I came across one singing on the edge of a clearing and with high overcast skies the light was perfect, low iso and no flash needed.
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 Pacific Wren Troglodytes pacificus Wrens
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Virginia Rail
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada Coots and Rails Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 Rallus limicola Virgina Rail
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Common Merganser - Male
Clarke 160314 8511 Birds Common Merganser Waterfowl
Common Loon - Adult - Breeding Plumage Growing up in Ontario the yodel of the Common Loon was a true sign of summer in cottage country. Here on Vancouver Island they are mostly around in the winter time on the ocean in non-breeding plumage and generally not calling. Today I not only got some of my best shots of the adult birds but also was lucky to here a bit of a yodel. Considering the torrential rain the hour before this it was well worth the effort. Another great day out wind and rain included :)
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada British Columbia Common Loon Diving Birds Gavia immer Locations Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 Stuart Clarke Vancouver Island
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Harlequin Duck - Male Species number 73 for the year. Today was a quick stop down at Cloverpoint for Harlequin Ducks, Black Oystercatcher and a lone Herring Gull. The surf was huge so was unable to get down to water level, so these were taken from the top of the sea wall.
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada British Columbia Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus Locations Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 Stuart Clarke Vancouver Island Waterfowl
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Hooded Merganser - Male This Hoodie did not like this coot interfering with his dance moves. He's been putting on quite a show, but must be getting a little frustrated with the two female mergansers being off in the bulrushes with another male
Clarke 160306 2397 Birds Hooded Merganser Waterfowl
Western Gull - Adult A lifer for me today this Western Gull stood out among its Glaucous-winged peers. Gulls not having been a focus of mine over the years its great with doing a "Big Year" that I am actually starting to learn them , with the help of my buddy Mike down in New Zealand.
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada British Columbia Gulllike Birds Larus occidentalis Locations Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 Stuart Clarke Vancouver Island Western GULL
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Red-breasted Sapsucker - So far I have been keeping a new bird a day pace, which with the arrival of the southern migrants over the coming weeks I am hoping to be able to keep up into May - early June after which I'm sure it will be a lot tougher. A long hike in search of pygmy owls again, at least I was able to find this sapsucker along with another pair of Barred Owls thats three pairs in the last three days.
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada British Columbia Locations Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 Redbreasted Sapsucker Sphyrapicus ruber Stuart Clarke Vancouver Island Woodpeckers and Flickers
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Barred Owl - That time of year when the Barred Owls are staking their territory. Came across two separate pairs along a 1km trail. Such amazing opportunists as pretty as they are to photograph in the mossy older growth forests its a bad sign for our smaller native west coast owls.
2016 Photo Big Year Barred Owls Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada British Columbia Images of Canada Locations Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 Owls Strix varia Stuart Clarke Vancouver Island
From March 2016
RESQ 9794
Red Squirrel - As much as Big Years are typically centred around bird I will also be including any wildlife I encounter as well. This little cutie was hiding in the shadows as I hiked down the trail. It sat motionless I was lucky to recoginize the profile as it was sitting on the log. By far my favourite pic of this species. Another west coast species that is struggling from the introduction of invasive species, not only are they being pushed out by the large eastern gray squirrel they also have to now be on the look out for Barred Owls
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada British Columbia British Columbia Wildlife Canadian Wildlife Hooded Merganser Images of Canada Locations Lophodytes cucullatus Mammals Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 North American Wildlife Red Squirrel Stuart Clarke Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Vancouver Island Waterfowl
From March 2016
Ruddy Duck - Female - a rare visitor to the island, on the few occasions I have encountered them, they have been on the far side of the lake. Today I was lucky to get shots of two females and a male in non breeding plumage.
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada British Columbia Locations Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 Oxyura jamaicensis Ruddy Duck Stuart Clarke Vancouver Island Waterfowl
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Red-winged Blackbird - Male Singing - spring is in the air with the males putting on quite a display, atop the bullrushes, trying to impress a mate.
2016 Photo Big Year Agelaius phoeniceus Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada Blackbirds British Columbia Locations Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 Redwinged Blackbird Stuart Clarke Vancouver Island
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Wood Ducks
2016 Photo Big Year Aix sponsa Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada British Columbia Locations Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 Stuart Clarke Vancouver Island Waterfowl Wood Duck
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada British Columbia Chestnutbacked Chickadee Locations Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 Poecile rufescens Sparrows Stuart Clarke Vancouver Island
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Common Merganser - Female. This female merganser had no idea I was laying amonst the rocks as she came in for a landing.
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada British Columbia Common Merganser Locations Mergus merganser Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 Stuart Clarke Vancouver Island Waterfowl
From 2016 Photo Big Year
Red-breasted Merganser
2016 Photo Big Year Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada British Columbia Locations Mergus serrator Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 Redbreasted Merganser Stuart Clarke Vancouver Island Waterfowl
From 2016 Photo Big Year
American Robin
2016 Photo Big Year American Robin Birds Birds Of North America Birds of British Columbia Birds of Canada British Columbia Locations Nikon Nikon 200500mm f5.6E Nikon D7200 Stuart Clarke Thrushes Larks and Pipits Turdus migratorius Vancouver Island
From 2016 Photo Big Year

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2016 Big year Photo Blog