2016 Photo Big Year

After watching the "Big Year" for the tenth time last night it inspired me to have a photography big year in 2016. A late start was ok because this January / February have been very good shooting. This won't be a crazy drive all over year but will be done closer to home with 90% of my shooting done within 30km of home of birds that I find. As a photographer Males, females, non-breeding and subspecies will all be recorded along with a perched and action shot where applicable. Pics will be replaced by better images as the year goes on so please check back regularly. Be sure to check out my blog on the years progress here http://www.raincoastphoto.com/2016-Photography-Big-Year/2016-Big-year-Photo-Blog/

American Beaver
American Black Duck - a trip into town meant a few birding stops were also on the agenda. A report of an American Black Duck at beacon Hill Park was my first stop. Some nice fall colours added to this image of species 172 for the year.
American Black Duck - a trip into town meant a few birding stops were also on the agenda. A report of an American Black Duck at beacon Hill Park was my first stop. Some nice fall colours added to this image of species 172 for the year.
American Coot
American Coot
American Dipper - male feeding the nest
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
American Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
American Goldfinch - Male breeding plumage
American Kestrel - species 169 . After a total no show by any raptors at East Sooke Park I was really happy to catch a few quick pics of this juvenile American Kestrel over Metchosin. It was a distant shot but considering it has taken till Mid-September to finally see one I will take it. A species I normally come across a few times a year but have come up empty handed at most of the usual spots.
American Pipit
American Pipit - species 167. With 30km/hr winds today I was hoping I mught find some migratory dropouts down at Cowichan Bay. The one walk is a great spot to find horned lark at this time of year. No larks today but was really happy to get my best shots of Amercian Pipits. They are a skittish bird but I was really lucky to have one approach me feeding along the shoreline.
American Robin
American Robin
American Wigeon
American Wigeon -Female
American Wigeon - female
American Wigeon - Male
Anna's Hummingbird - female
Anna's Hummingbird - Male
Anna's Hummingbird - male
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle - adult inflight
Bald Eagle - Juvenile
Bald Eagle eating a salmon
Band-tailed Pigeon
Band-tailed Pigeon
Barn Swallow
Barn Swallow - adult in-flight
Barn Swallow - juvenile
Barn Swallow Chick begging for food
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.
Barred Owl In-flight
Barred Owl In-flight
Barred Owl sitting on her nest
Barrow's Goldeneye - Female
Barrow's Goldeneye - Male
Belted Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher - female waiting with a scuplin for her fledglings.
Bewick's Wren
Bewick's Wren
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
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
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
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler

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2016 Photo Big Year