Best of 2016

Northern Shrike

Short-eared Owl - as I decided to do a big year in early February I had missed my Short-eared Owl photo ops last winter and was hoping a few would show up again on the island before year end. A few rumblings from up island made for a road trip that and the rough-legged hawk rumours. The light was low and the owls kept their distance for the most part but i did manage some nice in-flights for species 176 photogrpahed for the year.

Short-eared Owl - as I decided to do a big year in early February I had missed my Short-eared Owl photo ops last winter and was hoping a few would show up again on the island before year end. A few rumblings from up island made for a road trip that and the rough-legged hawk rumours. The light was low and the owls kept their distance for the most part but i did manage some nice in-flights for species 176 photogrpahed for the year.

Western Meadowlark - a species I rarely come across on the south island. They are around just normally in the middle of a field hding in the grasses. I got lucky today and found two perched along the pathway. Not an easy bird to get close to at the best of times, these were shot at 700mm and still needed to be cropped quite a bit. Still very happy to get them locally for species 173 for the year

Western Meadowlark - a species I rarely come across on the south island. They are around just normally in the middle of a field hding in the grasses. I got lucky today and found two perched along the pathway. Not an easy bird to get close to at the best of times, these were shot at 700mm and still needed to be cropped quite a bit. Still very happy to get them locally for species 173 for the year

Northern Harrier diving for a mouse

Red-breasted Sapsucker - The skies opened up just as I was getting out to the estuary today. Not one to shy away from rain, I was putting the rain cover on my camera ready to go when the sun came out and the wind blew all of the clouds off. I started down the trail and came across this sapsucker soaking up the sun drying out its wings.

Spotted Towhee with fall colours in the background

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.

Common Raven - inflight

Northern Shrike

Cedar Waxwing Juvenile

Bushtit - Female