British Columbia | Nature Notes

September 3, 2012

Bald Eagles on the coast of Vancouver Island

Filed under: British Columbia,Species Account — Tags: British Columbia, hawks, Vanouver Island — Harold Stiver @ 6:00 am

Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus

It is a red letter day when I see a Bald Eagle here in Ontario. There are a couple on the Grand River where my hometown of Paris is located and they congregate in a few favored spots in winter, but I would not call them common.

However they are very common along the British Columbia coast as well as Vancouver Island. On my first day on Vancouver Island I went to sit by the sea at early morning and quickly saw six bald eagles in different levels of maturity.

The plumage of the different levels of maturity is interesting but they all have the massive beak used to tear open fish.

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October 7, 2011

Glaucous-winged Gull

Filed under: British Columbia,Species Account — Tags: British Columbia, Gull — Harold Stiver @ 6:00 am

Glaucous-winged Gull

The Glaucous-winged Gull, Larus glaucescens, breeds from the coast of Alaska to Washington state, while in winter it wanders south to California.This bird was photographed in Victoria, British Columbia.

It regularly hybridizes with the Western Gull which can cause identification difficulties.

Some things to look for in the breeding adult are tail coloring similar to the back, dark eyes, and a dark pink orbital ring.

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September 5, 2011

Northwestern Crow

Filed under: British Columbia,Species Account — Tags: British Columbia, Corvids, Crows — Harold Stiver @ 6:00 am

Northwestern Crow, Corvus caurinus

The Northwestern Crow, Corvus caurinus, is very similar to the American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos. It is generally a bit smaller with proportionally smaller feet and beak. The smaller beak was to me quite noticeable, it looked stubby. It also has a higher pitched call.

As the name suggests, the Northwestern Crow is confined to northwestern North America, ranging from southern Alaska to Washington State. It is usually found on the ocean shore.

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August 21, 2011

Black Oystercatcher

Filed under: British Columbia,Species Account — Tags: British Columbia, California, Oystercatcher — Harold Stiver @ 6:00 am

Black Oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani

The Black Oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani, is one of 11 members of the Oystercatcher family, all of which are variations on a them. In fact there are two other members who are very similar in plumage. The Blackish Oystercatcher,Haematopus ater, ranges along the coasts of Argentina and Chile, and the African Oystercatcher, Haematopus moquini, which is found along the shores of South Africa.

Black Oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani

African Oystercatcher, Haematopus moquini

The Black Oystercatcher found on the Pacific coast from the Aluetian Islands of Alaska to Baja California.

Black Oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani

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July 29, 2011

Rocky Mountain Sunset

Filed under: British Columbia,HDR,Scenic — Tags: British Columbia, Timelapse, Video — Harold Stiver @ 6:00 am

I recently spent 4 days in Pemberton, British Columbia, a half hour drive from Whistler. It is a small town in a valley surrounded by mountains. One of the evenings, dark storm clouds were brewing, resulting in these sunset images.

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July 28, 2011

Blacktail deer with two fawns

Filed under: Animals,British Columbia — Tags: Animal, British Columbia, Mammal, young — Harold Stiver @ 6:00 am

Blacktail deer, Odocoileus hemionus

This Blacktail deer, Odocoileus hemionus, mother has brought her two fawns to the shore on Vancouver Island. I think this may be so they can get some salt.

This species often have two youngsters but it is common for only one to survive.

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July 21, 2011

Belted Kingfisher chase

Filed under: British Columbia,Display,Species Account — Tags: British Columbia, Kingfisher — Harold Stiver @ 6:00 am

Belted Kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon

While on Vancouver Island in the Tofino area, I would take my morning coffee and sit by the sea, watching the world come awake. Its a tough job but I managed it.

A few morning I would witness two Belted Kingfishers chasing each other about. I think it was a territory thing between two males. I finally roused myself to take the image above,

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July 13, 2011

Butchart Garden at night

Filed under: British Columbia,Flowers — Tags: British Columbia, flora, Garden, Night — Harold Stiver @ 6:00 am

Butchart Garden at night

One of the main tourist attractions of the Victoria, British Columbia area is Butchart Gardens. There are 55 acres of cultivated gardens, including a sunken garden, a rose garden, an Italian garden, and a Japanese Garden.

The image above was taken about an hour after sunset and it is about a 45 second exposure, taken with a Canon 5D, 17-40mm lens at f/10 and ISO100.

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